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Draft:Khayr al-umur awsatuha

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The hadith of Khayr al-umur awsatuha in Jali Nasta'liq script, executed by Master Akbar Sa'atchi.

Khayr al-umur awsatuha (Arabic: خَیرُ الْاُمُورِ اَوْسَطُها)[1] or Khayr al-umur awsatuha[2] translated as "The best of matters is the middle of them [moderation]," is a hadith recorded in both Shi'a and Sunni narrative sources. This narration has been transmitted on the authority of the Prophet (s),[3] Imam 'Ali (a),[4] and Imam al-Kazim (a);[5] it is also classified as a Hadith qudsi in the compendium Bihar al-anwar.[6]

Scholars have questioned the strength of this narration on various grounds.[7] Furthermore, some jurists maintain that its applicability is limited to instances of doubt or conflict; otherwise, they argue, its citation is inappropriate.[8]

When Harun al-'Abbasi approached Medina during his Hajj pilgrimage, the city's notables came forth to welcome him. Imam al-Kazim (a) preceded them, riding a mule. Rabi' remarked to the Imam: "What is this mount upon which you greet Harun?! With such a mount, should you wish to overtake someone, you would fail, and should you wish to flee, you would lack the power!" The Imam replied: "This mount is beneath the vanity of swift horses yet above the abasement of slow donkeys; and indeed, 'Khayr al-umur awsatuha' (The best of matters are the middle ones)."

Al-Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Irshad, 1413 AH, vol. 2, p. 234.

Some researchers posit that the term "awsat" in the narration signifies "the wisest" (a'qal) rather than a mere intermediate point. This interpretation draws upon Qur'an 68:28 and Qur'an 2:143, which use "awsat" to denote the most rational or excellent state.[9]

Ibn Abi l-Hadid, the commentator on Nahj al-balagha, similarly asserts that "wasat" linguistically denotes the best, citing the concept of Ummat wasat (the middle nation) in the Qur'an as meaning the most excellent of nations.[10]

Nasir Makarim Shirazi, a Shi'a exegete and faqih, emphasizes that moral virtues do not invariably occupy a middle ground; in certain contexts, such as proximity to God, excess is praiseworthy.[11] Muhammad Taqi Misbah, a Shi'a philosopher, argues that domains such as knowledge and divine gnosis possess no intermediate limit, as these concepts involve an infinite trajectory where a middle ground cannot be assigned.[12]

Parallel narrations identify alternative manifestations of "Khayr al-umur," interpreting it as "Divine Satisfaction," a "Good End" (husn 'aqiba), "clarifying the truth," "freedom from greed," and "facilitating human reform."[13]

Some observers suggest that the conduct (sira) of the Shi'a Imams appears to diverge from the principle of moderation in certain instances, such as when Imam 'Ali (a), Fatima al-Zahra (a), and the Hasanayn (a) donated their food to the miskin (indigent), orphan, and captive for three consecutive days, or when Imam al-Hasan (a) gave away his entire wealth to the poor.[14] However, Abd Allah Jawadi Amuli resolves this by explaining that while "Khayr al-umur awsatuha" mandates the avoidance of excess and negligence (ifrat and tafrit) in general human attributes, for the Shi'a Imams—who are the paragons of conduct—the "best action" (Khayr al-umur) signifies the highest possible degree of action. Therefore, the conduct of the Imams transcends ordinary moderation to reach the zenith of perfection.[15]

Notes

  1. ↑ 'Ajluni, Kashf al-khafa, 1408 AH, vol. 1, p. 391.
  2. ↑ Al-Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Irshad, 1413 AH, vol. 2, p. 234.
  3. ↑ Safi, al-Jadwal fi i'rab al-Qur'an, 1418 AH, vol. 15, p. 49; Ibn 'Atiyya al-Andalusi, al-Muharrar al-wajiz, 1422 AH, vol. 1, p. 219.
  4. ↑ Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, 1403 AH, vol. 75, p. 11.
  5. ↑ Irbili, Kashf al-ghumma, 1381 AH, vol. 2, p. 229; Kulayni, al-Kafi, 1363 Sh, vol. 6, p. 541.
  6. ↑ Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, 1410 AH, vol. 74, p. 166.
  7. ↑ For example, see: 'Ajluni, Kashf al-khafa, 1408 AH, vol. 1, p. 391.
  8. ↑ Sarakhsi, al-Mabsut, n.d., vol. 3, p. 165; Kashani, Bada'i' al-sana'i', 1409 AH, vol. 1, p. 23.
  9. ↑ Zari'ian, "Adilla-yi naqli bih naf' ya 'alayh-i nazariyya-yi hadd-i wasat-i Aristu'i", p. 66.
  10. ↑ Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Sharh Nahj al-balagha, 1377 Sh, vol. 17, p. 29.
  11. ↑ Makarim Shirazi, Akhlaq dar Qur'an, 1385 Sh, vol. 1, p. 103.
  12. ↑ Misbah, Akhlaq dar Qur'an, 1384 Sh, p. 319.
  13. ↑ Laythi Wasiti, Uyun al-hikam wa l-mawa'iz, 1376 Sh, p. 237.
  14. ↑ Zari'ian, "Adilla-yi naqli bih naf' ya 'alayh-i nazariyya-yi hadd-i wasat-i Aristu'i", p. 72.
  15. ↑ Jawadi Amuli, "Bayad dar hama-yi awsaf-i 'ilmi wa 'amali az ifrat wa tafrit parhiz kard".

References

  • 'Ajluni, Isma'il. Kashf al-khafa. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1408 AH.
  • Al-Shaykh al-Mufid, Muhammad b. Muhammad. al-Irshad fi ma'rifat hujaj Allah 'ala l-'ibad. Qom: Congress, 1413 AH.
  • Ibn 'Atiyya al-Andalusi, 'Abd al-Haqq b. Ghalib. al-Muharrar al-wajiz fi tafsir al-kitab al-'aziz. Edited by 'Abd al-Salam 'Abd al-Shafi Muhammad. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyya, 1st ed., 1422 AH.
  • Ibn Abi l-Hadid, 'Izz al-Din Abu Hamid. Sharh Nahj al-balagha. Qom: Kitabkhana-yi Ayatallah Mar'ashi, 1377 Sh.
  • Irbili, 'Ali b. 'Isa. Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma. Edited by Hashim Rasuli Mahallati. Tabriz: Nashr-i Bani Hashimi, 1st ed., 1381 AH.
  • Jawadi Amuli, 'Abd Allah. "Bayad dar hama-yi awsaf-i 'ilmi wa 'amali az ifrat wa tafrit parhiz kard". Esra Site. Posted: 1 Tir 1402 Sh. Accessed: 16 Murdad 1403 Sh.
  • Kashani, Abu Bakr. Bada'i' al-sana'i'. Pakistan: al-Maktaba al-Habibiyya, 1409 AH.
  • Kulayni, Muhammad b. Ya'qub. al-Kafi. Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, 1363 Sh.
  • Laythi Wasiti, 'Ali. Uyun al-hikam wa l-mawa'iz. Qom: Dar al-Hadith, 1st ed., 1376 Sh.
  • Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir. Bihar al-anwar. Beirut: Mu'assisa al-Tab' wa l-Nashr, 1410 AH.
  • Makarim Shirazi, Nasir et al. Akhlaq dar Qur'an. Qom: Madrasa Imam 'Ali (a), 1385 Sh.
  • Misbah, Muhammad Taqi. Akhlaq dar Qur'an. Edited by Muhammad Husayn Iskandari. Qom: Mu'assisa Imam Khumayni, 1384 Sh.
  • Qummi, 'Ali b. Ibrahim. Tafsir al-Qummi. Edited by Sayyid Tayyib Musawi Jazayiri. Qom: Dar al-Kitab, 1367 Sh.
  • Safi, Mahmud b. 'Abd al-Rahim. al-Jadwal fi i'rab al-Qur'an. Damascus-Beirut: Dar al-Rashid - Mu'assisa al-Iman, 1418 AH.
  • Sarakhsi, Shams al-Din. al-Mabsut. Beirut: Dar al-Ma'rifa, n.d.
  • Zari'ian, Shams'ali. "Adilla-yi naqli bih naf' ya 'alayh-i nazariyya-yi hadd-i wasat-i Aristu'i". Pazhuhish-ha-yi Akhlaqi, no. 19 (Spring 1394 Sh).
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