The suitability of ruling to subject as a source for revealing the emergence of legal evidence and its role in the process of jurisprudential deduction

Abstract

The concept of "the appropriateness of the ruling to the subject" constitutes a fundamental pillar in the methodology of Imami jurisprudence, as it serves as a non-verbal cue influencing the formation of legal manifestation and contributing to the determination of the implications of legal evidence. This study aims to analyze this appropriateness as a rational basis for manifestation, elucidating its probative value and pivotal role in the process of jurisprudential deduction, supported by an applied examination of examples from Quranic verses and narrations from the Infallibles (peace be upon them). The study addresses the concept of "the subject" in obligatory and situational rulings, clarifying its relationship with the ruling and its referents. It details the modes of extending the ruling to broader contexts, such as extension through explicit reasoning, refinement of the rationale, and appropriateness, focusing on the latter as an internal cue that expands or narrows the scope of the subject based on the understanding of common convention or the jurist’s discernment due to their expertise. The study highlights the probative value of this appropriateness as an instance of manifestation, grounded in the rational convention, where the understanding of common convention or the jurist’s discernment is deemed valid evidence. Furthermore, it explores its extensive role in jurisprudential and methodological issues, such as specification, generalization, resolving conflicts and prioritization, implied requirements, and the elimination of particularity. The study seeks to address a gap in treating this concept as an independent source of manifestation through an analytical approach rooted in rational principles and established methodological frameworks, emphasizing its distinct contribution compared to prior treatments by focusing on its foundational role in the structure of legal signification, thereby enhancing the precision of jurisprudential deduction and broadening its horizons.