The College of Islamic Sciences at the University of Karbala discussed a master’s thesis titled ‘Differences in Jurisprudential Definitions and Their Impact on Sharia Rulings in the Shia Perspective – Presentation and Analysis’ by the student Zainab Rahim Radi, in the hall of Al-Sadiq Al-Amin (AS) at the college.

This topic is crucial as it is one of the reasons for the differences among jurists in religious rulings. Each juristic term is defined by the jurist with a specific definition, and based on this definition, the religious ruling and obligation become apparent. Therefore, we see that one of the main sources of disagreement among jurists begins with these juristic definitions. There is no doubt that definitions hold significant importance. Through them, the general and distinct aspects of something are determined and clarified accurately, distinguishing it from other things. Just as a person is defined by their name, characteristics, and unique attributes, so too is a definition the boundary or description. The spoken definition chosen by the jurist leads to a religious effect according to the adopted definition.

The thesis concluded several important results:

1. Differences in jurisprudential definitions do not mean conflict and discord; rather, this difference implies careful consideration and contemplation of the term to arrive at the correct judgment.
2. Each jurist or authority has their own understanding, tools, and foundations that they rely on for inference and deriving religious judgments. Therefore, these reasons are sufficient to have differences in religious judgments, and differences in jurisprudential definitions are also a cause, given their impact on changing the judgments.
3. Differences among jurists in independent juristic reasoning (ijtihad) in jurisprudential branches can be attributed to reasons such as differences in reliance on linguistic meaning, concept, or authenticity, or variations in methods of combining and prioritizing evidence from conflicting narrations, or the absence of a clear text on the issue, and similar reasons.

The examination committee included the following members:

• Dr. Mohammed Hussain Aboud from the University of Karbala/College of Islamic Sciences, Chairman.
• Dr. Nasser Hadi Nasser from the Directorate of Education in Najaf, Member.
• Dr. Ammar Mohammed Hussain from the University of Karbala/College of Islamic Sciences, Member.
• Dr. Huda Abbas Mohsen from the University of Karbala/College of Islamic Sciences, Member and Supervisor.