Structural and Content Analysis of the Imam Kazem Letters

This research is going to study the letters of Imam al-Kadhim (as) the numbers of which are 97. To this purpose we analyze them from two perspectives: apparent structure and content structure. Regarding the first perspective, through examining the internal and external structure of the Imam’s letters, we clarified the forms of the mentioned letters as well as their differences and adaptation to the typical correspondences in the time of Imam al-Kadhim (as). In examining the internal structure of the letters we dealt with the following issues: The letters’ beginning and ending, the sender and how he is addressed, the receiver and his position, letters’ length, and inner citation. Also, in examining the external structure of the letters we focus on the following issues: number of letters, the letter’s type, the letter’s destination, stationery, the letter’s transferring system and the main carrier. Regarding the second perspective i.e. the content structure study, we found the Imam and Shias’ main concerns through studying the letters’ contents, the primary and peripheral topics of the letters and their classification. Now due to this research we come to the conclusion that the structure and main forms of the Imam’s letters are not so different from other letters. So, the lack of uniformity of Imam’s letters is due to the negligence in the ways of transmitting letters in the texts. Since, the narrators have narrated some parts of the letters selectively and according to their tastes. In addition to that, more quantity of the Imam al-Kadhim (as)’s letters are dedicated to the religious and jurisprudential laws. According to the notable number of the remaining letters from Imam (as), we assume that the letters are not just restricted to these 97 ones. However, these letters themselves are a clear sign of the Imam’s jurisprudential and religious authority in the Shiite communities.