themselves from the Sunni tradition, which employed methods such as qiyas (analogical reasoning), while Shi'a law was developed directly from the traditions of the Imams.

In the early Buyid period, Twelver ulama' believed that since the Imam had entered the Occultation and the Na'ib al-Khass was no longer present, all functions vested in the Imam had effectively lapsed. These functions included:
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