Akhbari, an Arabic word referring to traditionalist Shiites who hold that only the literal and apparent meaning of the Qur'an and hadiths is valid, has several synonyms. Some of these synonyms include Al-Asfar, Al-Karakiyah, Al-Lubnan, and Al-Shirazi. These terms refer to different schools of thought within the Akhbari tradition, each with its unique perspective on Islamic law and the role of reason in interpreting religious texts. While the Akhbari school of thought is relatively conservative compared to other Shia schools, several sub-schools and thought streams exist, each with their particular interpretation of Islam. These synonyms are useful in distinguishing the various schools from one another.