Riyad al-'ulama' wa hiyad al-fudala' (book): Difference between revisions

| title_orig = {{ia|ریاضُ العُلَماء و حیاضُ الفُضَلاء}}

| subject = Biography of Shi'a and Sunni scholars

'''''Riyāḍ al-ʿulamāʾ wa ḥiyāḍ al-fuḍalāʾ''''' (Arabic: {{ia|ریاضُ العُلَماء و حیاضُ الفُضَلاء}}) is a book that was written by [[Mirza 'Abd Allah Afandi]] (b.[[1066]]/1656 – d.[[1130]]/1718) and is about biography of [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] scholars. Afandi authored this book in an alphabetical way consisting of ten volumes; five volumes were dedicated to biography of Shi'a scholars, and the other half had to do with Sunni scholars.

''Riyad al-'ulama'' is the most notable work of Afandi. It is compared to ''[[Jawahir al-kalam (Book)|Jawahir al-kalam]]'' (written by [[Muhammad Hasan Najafi]]) in terms of technicality, and it represents the validity and significance of the book. Afandi was going to author a book on the biography of Shi'i scholars since [[occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a)]] to his era, but sometimes he dealt with other subjects. This book remained forever in a draft form.

It is said that he spent half of his life making travels and visited a lot of Islamic territories such as [[Hijaz]], [[Iraq]], [[Ottoman Empire]], Caucasus, Turkestan, [[Afghanistan]] and [[India]].<ref>Afandi, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', vol.3 p.230</ref> He passed away in [[1130]]/1718, before [[Iran]] was attacked by Mahmud Afghan.<ref>Al-Jazayiri, ''al-Ijazat al-kabira'', p.147; Khwansari, ''Rawdat al-jannat'', vol.4 p.256-257</ref> His death place is not known yet.<ref>Mar'ashi Najafi, ''Zahr al-riyad'', p.22</ref>

Riyad al-'ulama is the most notable work of Afandi. It is compared to ''[[Jawahir al-kalam (Book)|Jawahir al-kalam fi sharh sharayi' al-islam]]'' (written by [[Muhammad Hasan Najafi]]) which is considerable in Imami jurisprudence- in terms of technicality,<ref>Nuri, ''al-Fayd al-qudsi'', p.86</ref> and it represents the validity and significance of the book. Afandi began to write the book at the age of forty.<ref>Afandi, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', vol.3 p.233</ref> This book remained forever in a draft form, and perhaps that is why there are some neglects in phrases and themes.

The sources of ''Riad al-'ulama' '' are the most noteworthy works of [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] including history, "tarajim" (biographies and autobiographies) and literature. Moreover, his findings from his contemporary men has raised the significance of this work.<ref>Sa'idi Khurasani, ''Tarikh wa safarnama-yi hazin'', Diwan</ref> He has quoted exactly the same phrases and has been loyal to the sources,<ref>see: Afandi, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', vol.1 p.163, vol.2 p.20</ref> yet he has mentioned the refined instances after correcting and juxtaposing the references.<ref>see: Afandi, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', vol.1 p.18,23,30,82, vol.2 p.440</ref>

He dealt with the social affairs of his age, and even sometimes touched on the subjects such as [[khiraj]], [[Friday Prayer]], use of tobacco, and disagreement between Shi'a and Sunni, and expressed his point of view independently.<ref>Zikawati, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', p.43</ref> As were widespread in his era, He was severely opposed to the [[Sufism]], sages and philosophers and believed that Sufi convictions and doctrines ought to be regarded as sins.<ref>Afandi, ''Riyad al-'ulam' '', vol.2 p.258</ref> He was going to author a book on the biography of Shi'a scholars since [[occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a)]] to his era, but he sometimes dealt with other subjects.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from {{ia|[[:fa:ریاض_العلماء_و_حیاض_الفضلاء|ریاض العلماء و حیاض الفضلاء]]}} in Farsi Wikishia.