Abstract

In this paper, I investigate how Shaykh al‑Mufid approached juristic authority or delegacy in early Shi'i thought in the fourth/tenth century. I explore Shi'i juristic authority in light of the doctrine of deputyship to suggest that deputyship and therefore the juristic authority that is based upon it were apolitical in Mufid’s approach. There is no clear evidence in Mufid’s writings that he regarded the jurists as possessing both the power to judge in the community and to administer the affairs of its members – that is to be a political leader. Deputyship for Mufid is limited to the judgeship.