Ebü'l Hüseyin el-Basrî's understanding of imamate

In this study, it has been determined that Ebü'l Hüseyin el-Basrî is a Mu'tazili scholar who produced works not only in the field of Islamic jurisprudence but also in the field of kalam. Later, by shedding light on the period in which Basri lived, his scientific personality was revealed. Then, the views of Basri, who lived in the Buwayhid period, when there were discussions about the imamate, were discussed. Basrî's thoughts on the imamate were evaluated in the context of his work Şerhu Usûli'l-Hamse. Because, apart from this work, Basri's other works about the imamate have not survived to the present day. As a matter of fact, Basrî, by including definitions about the imamate, argues that the necessity of the imamate is both rational and transmitted. Basri, who does not stipulate the innocence of the imam, considers election as the method of determining the imam. In addition, he proves the legitimacy of the first four caliphs by defending the companions. Finally, he answers the opposing claims of Shiites by stating that the first legitimate imam after the death of the Prophet was Abu Bakr.