Transliteration in this study follows the standard Arabic conventions for both Arabic and Persian. The four extra Persian letters will be transliterated as follows:
p
پ ch
چ zh
ژ g
گ
In Arabic passages, the tāʾ marbūṭa is recorded as an -a (with one exception in an iḍāfa form, which is recorded as -at before a hamzat al-waṣl). In Persian passages, the tāʾ marbūṭa is also recorded as -a (except where it has been converted to a tāʾ in the course of its transplantation into Persian when it is written -at). The Persian iḍāfa is recorded as -i or -yi as appropriate.
The terms ḥadīth and khabar are used interchangeably to denote “tradition.” The terms aḥādīth and ḥadīths are used interchangeably as the plural form of ḥadīth. And the terms akhbār and khabars are used interchangeably as the plural form of khabar. Furthermore, it will be used Shiʿi, not Shīʿī, and Sunni, not Sunnī.
As far as translations of the Qurʾānic verses are concerned, I have generally used The Study Quran of Nasr et al, except for a few sections which are highlighted. Aḥādīth and other Arabic and Farsi texts have been translated by the author unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Throughout this work, dates are given as the following format: Common Era and Hijrī Qamarī dates without qualification, and ‘Sh’ is added to Hijrī Shamsī dates. In the Bibliography, however, ‘H’ is added to Hijrī Qamarī dates.
Regarding individuals whose research has been cited here in Arabic and Persian, their names are written as follows: with ‘al’ when their works in Arabic are cited and without ‘al’ when their studies in Persian are mentioned.