النظرية القصدية عند الأصوليين : شواهد و مبررات من تاريخ الفكر الإسلامي

Abstract EN

The theory which focuses on the intention of the author within the process of interpreting texts is known as the Intention Theory.

This theory, adopted by the scholars of ‘usul al-fiqh (the principles of Islamic jurisprudence), studies the connection between the intention of the author and the meaning and interpretation of the text.

This essay presents, and then analyzes, the most prominent general and specific reasons which have driven ‘usulis to present this theory.

This essay also surveils the examples and declarations of major ‘usulis on the adoption of the Intention Theory.

We may divide the proposed methodologies in the field of interpretation of texts into two main theories: The Intention Theory and the Non-Intention (or the Anti-Intention) Theory.

The main and famous theory adopted by Twelver Shia ‘usuli scholars and many scholars of hermeneutics is the Intention Theory.

In brief, the proponents of this theory are concerned with discovering the intention of the author and they consider that the main task when attempting to understand and interpret a text is the exposure of the aim of the author.

This is completely in contrast to the position of the proponents of the Non-Intention Theory who claim that it is necessary to isolate the author from the text during the process of interpretation so that the text can be open to numerous analyses.

The proponents of these two theories have presented many justifications to their claims and have both discussed the rationales of either party.

What is of concern in this essay is observing the reasons which led ‘usulis to adopt the Intention Theory.

Before this, it is necessary to define the Intention Theory more specifically and to mention examples on the adoption of ‘usuli scholars of this theory.

The reason is that some opinions have recently appeared which claim otherwise, stating that ‘usulis are not concerned with the “purpose” but with the “meaning” which falls as a topic for hujiyya (authority).