The Evolution Process of the Meaning of the Word "Fiqh" and the Rijālī Term of "Faqīh" Relying on the Earlier Rijālī Sources of Shiite

Abstract

The word "Fiqh" in the Holy Qur'an, the narratives and interpretations of the scholars of the science of rijāl, has been used in various verbal and nominal forms. A look at the applications of this root in the mentioned sources shows that this word has undergone a semantic evolution from the time of the revelation of the Qur'an to the middle Ages. From the absolute understanding of the science of religion to the knowledge of the rules of Sharia, etc. At first glance, it is thought that in the interpretations of the scholars of rijāl, the word "Fiqh" has observed its literal meaning, while there are evidences that show this word, from the very first century, has distanced itself from its lexical meaning and usage and has been used in a specific meaning. In the present study, by using the library method and by describing and analyzing the extracted data, first the lexical meaning of the material in the Qur'an, the narrations of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and dictionaries have been examined and then with historical reference to the formation of Shiite hadith discourse, narrations and earlier rijālī reports in the use of this root has been analyzed. The result is that; what is meant by the Faqīh in the news of the authenticity of the narrators is the scholars aware of what is lawful and what is unlawful, rules and laws, which have sometimes been the place of reference and fatwā for other companions. However, the use of the word "Faqīh" in the earlier books of Shiite rijālī will mostly refer to the last stage of semantic evolution of the word "Fiqh".