List of Figures -- Acknowledgements -- Note on Dates, Transliteration and References -- Preface -- Chapter One: The Akhbari-Usuli Dispute and the Early "Akhbari" School -- Shi'ism and Akhbari Shi'ism -- Akhbarism before Astarabadi -- Conclusions -- Chapter Two: Muhammad Amin al-Astarabadi and the Formation of the Akhbari School -- Astarabadi and the Shi'i Biographical Tradition -- Chapter Three: Astarabadi's Legal Thought -- Astarabadi's al-Fawa'id al-Madaniyya -- Astarabadi's Positive Law -- Conclusions -- Chapter Four: Astarabadi's Theological and Philosophical Thought -- Astarabadi's Approach to Theology and Philosophy -- Astarabadi's Theological Views -- Astarabadi's Philosophical and Theological Development -- Conclusions -- Chapter Five: The Spread of Akhbarism after Astarabad? -- The Transmission of Knowledge in Imami Shi'ism -- Astarabadi's Scholarly Network -- The Development of Akhbari Ideas Outside of Astarabadi's Scholarly Network -- Mature Akhbarism -- Conclusions -- Chapter Six: Defining the Akhbari-Usuli Conflict -- Defining the Akhbari-Usuli Conflict -- Presenting the Akhbari-Usuli Dispute -- Conclusions -- Chapter Seven: Akhbari Qur'anic Interpretation -- The Unavailability of Qur'anic Meaning -- The Limited Availability of Qur'anic Meaning -- Marginal Akhbaris -- Conclusions -- Chapter Eight: Sunna and the Akhbar in Akhbari Jurisprudence -- Arguments for the Authenticity of the Akhbar -- Akhbari isnad Criticism -- Marginal Akhbaris -- Conclusions -- Chapter Nine: Akhbari Hermeneutics -- Hermeneutic Theory and Exegetic Practice -- Akhbari Conceptions of Language -- Evidence for Diverted Meaning -- Akhbari Hermeneutic Maxims -- Revelatory Contradiction -- Conclusions -- Conclusions -- Appendix One: Akhbari Scholars from Astarabadi to the End of the Thirteenth Century AH.

Appendix Two: "Difference Lists" detailing the Differences between Akhbaris and Usulis -- Appendix Three: Muhammad Amin al-Astarabadi's Fatwa for Shah 'Abbas al-Safawi on the Purity of Wine -- References -- Index.