Manaqib-i Murtadawi (book)

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Manaqib-i Murtadawi
AuthorMir Muhammad Salih al-Tirmidhi
Original title مَناقب مُرتَضَوی در مناقب شاه اولیا، امیرالمؤمنین علی مرتضی علیه‌السلام
LanguagePersian
Subjectvirtues of Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali (a)
GenreHadith, poem


Manāqib-i Murtaḍawī dar manāqib-i shāh-i awlīyāʾ Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī Murtaḍā ʿalayh al-salām (Persian: مَناقب مُرتَضَوی در مناقب شاه اولیا، امیرالمؤمنین علی مرتضی علیه‌السلام) is a Persian book concerning the virtues of Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali (a) written by Mir Muhammad Salih al-Tirmidhi (d. 1060/1650), a Sunni scholar with an Iranian origin, residing in India.

Author

Mir Muhammad Salih al-Tirmidhi al-Husayni al-Akbarabadi was a Sunni scholar with the pen-names, "Kashfi" and "Subhani". He was a scholar of hadiths, a poet, and a calligrapher. He was of an Iranian origin and a Sufi of the Qadiriyya Chain in India. He wrote works concerning Prophet Muhammad (s) and Shiite Imams (a), including Manaqib-i Murtadawi. In this work which is a combination of prose and poems, al-Tirmidhi is concerned with the virtues of Imam 'Ali (a). Given the contents of his work, he might count as having Shiite tendencies.

Motivation for Writing

In his preface to the book, the author refers to his motivation for writing Manaqib-i Murtadawi as follows: "in a meeting where the mystical significance of 'Ali (a) was mentioned, a prejudiced Sunni Muslim denied it, leading to debates and discussions. After that, he was asked by some people to write a book concerning the significance of 'Ali (a)".[1]

Method of Writing

Although the author is a Sunni Muslim, his strong tendencies to Ahl al-Bayt (a) and Shiism made his books very similar to Shi'a works. He writes the material in rhythmic prose, and the contents have mystical orientations. Since the author was Indian, he wrote in a similar way to Indian authors. In addition to verses of the Quran and hadiths, he also cites remarks by prominent scholars, mystics, proverbs, and poems.[2]

Contents

The contents of the book are largely devoted to the virtues of 'Ali (a). The 12 chapters of the book are concerned with virtues of 'Ali (a), and hadiths by the Prophet (s) regarding his asceticism, generosity, courage, and the like. Some of them are concerned with 'Ali's (a) marriage with Fatima al-Zahra (a) and the events of the period of his caliphate.

Chapters

  • Chapter 1: the Quranic texts concerning the virtues of 'Ali (a).
  • Chapter 2: hadiths by the Prophet (s) regarding his virtues.
  • Chapter 3: the Murtadawi virtues.
  • Chapter 5: on knowledge and revelation.
  • Chapter 6: on extraordinary acts and miracles.
  • Chapter 7: on his asceticism and piety.
  • Chapter 8: on his generosity.
  • Chapter 9: on his courage and power.
  • Chapter 10: on his intelligence.
  • Chapter 11: on Imam 'Ali's (a) formal and spiritual caliphate.

Sources of the Book

There are many sources cited in this book. The book cites the relevant sources before articulating any of its materials. Some of them are as follow:

The book also cites many poems.

Manuscripts and Publications

  • A manuscript in Karbala written by Nizam al-Din in 1103/1691-2.[5]
  • A lithographical print in Mumbai, octavo size, twenty seven lines, with broken nasta'liq calligraphy which is a little difficult to read.
  • A lithographical print in Pakistan, nineteen lines, with Iranian style of nasta'liq calligraphy.

The book was published in 1380 Sh/2001-2 by Rowzanah Publications in Tehran.

Notes

  1. Tirmidhī, Manāqib murtaḍawī, p. 11.
  2. Tirmidhī, Manāqib murtaḍawī, p. 11.
  3. Tirmidhī, Manāqib murtaḍawī, p. 15.
  4. Tirmidhī, Manāqib murtaḍawī, p. 354-357.
  5. Āqā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, al-Dharīʿa ilā taṣānīf al-Shīʿa, vol. 22, p. 334.

References

  • Āqā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, Muḥammad Muḥsin. Al-Dharīʿa ilā taṣānīf al-Shīʿa. Beirut: [n.d].
  • Kitāb-i Shinākht-i sīra-yi Maʿṣūmān. Noor Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences.
  • Tirmidhī, Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ. Manāqib murtaḍawī. Tehran: Ruzana, 1380 Sh.