Asad Haydar

Asad Haydar

Personal Information
Full Name	Asad Allah Haydar b. Muhammad b. 'Isa
Birth	1327/1909-10
Place of Birth	Najaf
Residence	Najaf • Kuwait
Studied in	Najaf
Death	1400/1985
Burial Place	Najaf
Scholarly Information
Professors	Al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim • al-Sayyid Abu l-Qasim al-Khoei • Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita' • 'Abd al-Husayn Amini
Works	Al-Imam al-Sadiq wa l-madhahib al-arba'a • Ma' al-Husayn fi nahdatih

Shaykh Asad Allāh Ḥaydar b. Muḥammad b. Īsā (Arabic: شیخ أسَدالله حَیدَر بن مُحمّد بن عیسی), known as Asad Ḥaydar (Arabic: أسد حیدر), (b. 1327/1909-10 - d. 1400/1985) was a Shiite researcher in Iraq. He was born in Najaf in 1327/1909-10 and studied in Najaf Seminary under Ayatollah Sayyid Abu l-Qasim al-Khu'i and Ayatollah Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim. Shaykh Asad's communications with al-Allama al-Amini introduced him to the history of Ahl al-Bayt (a). He wrote the book, al-Imam al-Sadiq wa l-madhahib al-arba'a. Although he was not a clergyman, he was respected in the seminaries. Shaykh Asad died in 1400/1985 in Kuwait and was buried in Najaf.

Birth and Demise

Asad Haydar was born in Najaf in 1327/1909-10. However, he left Iraq because of pressures from the government and had to go to Kuwait and died there in 1400/1985. However, his corpse was moved to Najaf and was buried there. His father, Muhammad b. Isa b. Muhammad Ali Haydar, was a student of Shaykh Muhammad Taha in Najaf.

Education

Shaykh Asad Haydar studied the preliminaries under teachers of Najaf Seminary School, and then attended the lectures of Ayatollah al-Hakim and Ayatollah al-Khu'i. His scholarly character was formed after he met al-Allama al-Amini. His meetings with al-Allama al-Amini encouraged him to write about the hisotry of Ahl al-Bayt (a). He wrote about the life of Imam al-Sadiq (a) in several volumes. He is also said to have had met Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita'. Although he was not a clergyman, he was respected by people and scholars.

Works

Asad Haydar wrote some works:

• Al-Imam al-Sadiq (a) wa l-madhahib al-arba'a (Imam al-Sadiq (a) and the four sects) is the best-known of his works presenting a new and comprehensive analysis of the character of Imam al-Sadiq (a).

• Ma'a l-Husayn fi nihdatih (Along with Imam al-Husayn (a) in his movement) which is translated into Farsi.

• 'A'isha wa l-tashri' al-Islami (A'isha and the Islamic legislation)

• Al-Shi'a fi qafas al-ittiham (Shia in the cage of accusation)

• Tarikh al-Kufa (History of Kufa)

• Ana wa l-hayat (The life and I)

• Ahsan al-tibb (the best medicine)

• Miscellaneous papers in journals and magazines.

In the Words of Others

• Sayyid Ja'far Murtada highly regarded of Shaykh Asad Haydar's attempts to reply to the objections of Ibn Khaldun, considering it as an effective attempt.

• The translator of the book, al-Imam al-Sadiq (a) wa l-madhahib al-arba'a, considered him as one of the few scholars who wrote great scholarly works regarding Shiite history.

Poem and Orations

Asad Haydar was also skillful in poems and literature. His epical poems were recited in Shiite celebration and mourning ceremonies. One of his well-known poems is a ballad he composed to mourn the death of Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani. He was also an adept orator.