AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On the occasion of the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet of Mercy (p.b.u.h), the scholarly session titled “Transtextual Studies in the Analysis of History and the Conduct of the AhlulBayt (a.s.)” was held at the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
During the session, Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Yousofi Gharavi—a distinguished researcher, contemporary historian, and author of the Encyclopedia of Islamic History—presented a discussion entitled “The Methodology of Compiling and Researching the Encyclopedia of Islamic History.” Additionally, Nematollah Safari Foroushani, a faculty member of Al-Mustafa International University, delivered a presentation titled “Transtextual Studies in the Analysis of History and the Conduct of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
As the principal presenter, Safari Foroushani paid tribute to Ayatollah Yousofi Gharavi and his distinguished work, “Mawsu‘at al-Tarikh al-Islami” (Encyclopedia of Islamic History), and elaborated on its methodological distinctions from the book “al-Sahih” by the late Sayed Ja‘far Morteza.
Entering the main theme of the session, he emphasized the necessity of employing traditional scholarly discourse alongside modern conceptual frameworks. He stated that students of history encounter texts such as Tarikh al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Ya‘qubi, and biographical compilations that merely report events, clarifying that a text in itself does not constitute knowledge but represents only “data” or a “record.”
The researcher of Islamic history added that merely studying such texts does not amount to profound intellectual inquiry, as these sources are at times conflicting and contradictory.
He described the term “transtext” as a translation of the English term “Hypertext,” explaining that in this context, the prefix “trans” denotes a transcendental and governing relation to the text. He defined transtextual studies as an activity that revolves around the text from a higher analytical plane without being of the same nature as the text itself, thereby contributing to enhanced understanding and the transformation of raw historical materials into meaningful outputs.
Explaining the various layers of transtextual studies, Safari Foroushani distinguished between “method” and “methodology.” He illustrated this distinction by noting that observing the behavior of others constitutes a “method,” whereas examining the manner of their conduct from a superior analytical standpoint represents “methodology.”
He further addressed the importance of “approachology,” asserting that an analyst must recognize the perspective through which historical events are examined. The seminary and university professor referred to various approaches, including purely historical approaches, such as those associated with Orientalists, purely theological approaches, and composite approaches, and emphasized that when conflicts arise between historical and narrative texts, the researcher’s chosen approach becomes decisive.
Safari Foroushani also underscored the necessity of “rule formation” in historical studies, noting that in analyzing the conduct of the Infallibles (a.s.), factors such as governance or the absence thereof, as well as the exigencies of time, must be taken into account. He referred to the difference between the livelihood practices of Imam Ali (a.s.) during his caliphate and those of other Imams, such as Imam Sadiq (a.s.), stating that the principle “the best garment is the garment customary among the people of one’s time” exemplifies such transtextual rules.
Another portion of his remarks addressed the issue of lifestyle and the manner of deriving models from the Infallibles (a.s.). He raised the question of how temporal differences spanning more than a millennium may be bridged to achieve emulation, arguing that the answer lies in identifying immutable ethical principles and distinguishing them from time-bound matters.
The university professor also pointed to the role of interdisciplinary sciences—including economics, management, jurisprudence, and theology, in historical analysis, considering the regulation of relations among these disciplines as an instance of transtextual studies.
During the question-and-answer session, a researcher inquired about the influence of philosophy on transtextual studies. In response, Safari Foroushani emphasized the role of rational and philosophical foundations in historical analysis, describing Morteza Motahhari (r.a.) as a prominent example of a thinker who examined the conduct of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) from a philosophical perspective. He cited works such as “Hamaseh-ye Hosseini” and “Mutual Services of Islam and Iran” as products of this outlook.
The discussion subsequently addressed the sincerity of interdisciplinary studies in Iran and the risk of their transformation into mere professional occupations. In response, Safari Foroushani referred to the existence of various historical movements and schools, such as the Annales School and positivism, stating that understanding these intellectual currents is essential for achieving theoretical development.
He further maintained that jurisprudence requires historical knowledge even more than certain foundational legal discussions. As an example, he referred to claims that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) practiced dissimulation (taqiyyah) in relation to Imam Shafi‘i, explaining that since Imam Sadiq (a.s.) passed away two years prior to Shafi‘i’s birth, such a claim is historically untenable.
He urged scholars not to expend their youthful vigor on repetitive work and to instead turn toward neglected fields of study.
Also speaking at the session was Davood Safa, a faculty member of Al-Mustafa International University and head of the Office for Studies, Research, and Investigation at the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. Congratulating participants on the forty-seventh anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of the Noble Prophet (p.b.u.h.), he elaborated on the Assembly’s research missions.
Safa further explained the position of transtextual studies, stating that they comprise both theoretical frameworks and methodological foundations. Referring to the two fundamental domains encountered in historical studies, he noted that textual analysis requires attention to linguistic structures, latent meanings, and discursive frameworks.
The university professor emphasized that history is not merely a reflection of reality but rather a constructed structure shaped by power, ideology, and language. He observed that since the twentieth century, subjects such as discourse analysis, hegemony, the representation of power relations, and the linguistic turn have gained particular importance, and that modern methodologies, unlike positivist approaches, pursue a cyclical and iterative process in the critique of sources.
It is noteworthy that the Office for Studies, Research, and Investigation of the Scientific and Cultural Deputy of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the Institute for Short-Term Training and Research Opportunities of Al-Mustafa International University, and the ABNA News Agency participated in organizing this scholarly session.
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