The Concepts of Rajʿa and Badāʾ in the Imami Shi‘a Belief System

Abstract

This study aims to examine the concepts of rajʿa (return) and badāʾ within the doctrinal framework of Imāmī Shīʿism from historical, theological, and sociological perspectives. While the doctrine of rajʿa refers to the belief that certain individuals will be resurrected and returned to worldly life prior to the Day of Judgment, badāʾ is understood as a conceptual framework explaining the manifestation of divine decree in ways that may appear different from prior expectations. The study analyzes the Qurʾānic foundations of rajʿa, its relationship with early Shīʿī sects, and its systematic formulation within Imāmī thought. Likewise, the emergence of the doctrine of badāʾ, its development beginning with al-Mukhtār al-Thaqafī, and its subsequent theoretical elaboration by scholars such as al-Shaykh al-Mufīd are examined in detail. Furthermore, the study explores the interrelation of rajʿa and badāʾ with the doctrines of imamate, occultation (ghayba), and mahdism, arguing that these concepts function not only as theological constructs but also as mechanisms that reinforce communal cohesion and sustain collective hope in times of crisis. In addition, critiques directed at these doctrines by Sunnī and other theological schools are taken into account, providing a comparative analytical perspective.