Draft:Shaykh Tusi Millennium Congress

Template:Infobox conference The Shaykh Ṭūsī Millennium Congress was a commemoration of the 1000th birth anniversary of Shaykh Ṭusi (385/995 – 460/1067), one of the renowned Shia muḥaddiths and jurists, which was held in 1389-90/1970 (during the Pahlavi era) in Mashhad. In this commemoration, the personality, views and thoughts of Shaykh Ṭusi were discussed and examined by domestic and foreign scholars. The collection of articles and lectures presented in this congress were published in the form of pamphlets and books.

Who is Shaykh Tusi?

Main article: Shaykh Tusi

Muhammad b. Hasan b. Ali b. Hasan (385/995 – 460/1067), famous as al-Shaykh Tusi and al-Shaykh al-taifa (meaning the chief of the denomination or the chief of the Shia), is one of the most famous Imami Shia muhaddiths and jurists. Al-Shaykh al-Tusi is the author of two books, Tahdhib al-ahkam and al-Istibsar, which are counted among the Four Books (al-Kutub al-Arbaa) of Shia hadith.

Proposal for Holding the Congress

Before the 1000th birth anniversary of Shaykh Tusi, Agha Buzurg Tihrani corresponded with scientific and cultural figures and proposed holding this commemoration. After the approval of the Council of the University of Tehran, and considering that the birthplace of Shaykh Tusi was Khorasan, the responsibility for holding this ceremony was entrusted to the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies of Mashhad University. Agha Buzurg Tihrani, together with Muhammad Hadi Amini outlined the agenda of this congress to include the following:

A group of scholars at the Shaykh Tusi Commemoration Congress

• Compiling a bibliography of research resources focused on Najaf and Shaykh Tusi.
• Researching and publishing the works of al-Shaykh al-Tusi, specifically his manuscripts.
• Authoring books focused on the life of al-Shaykh Tusi and Najaf
• Publishing a monthly newsletter to convey news related to the congress.
• Forming a financial committee to accommodate executive costs.
• Choosing the motto and official logo of the congress.
• Inviting scientists and literati to participate in this ceremony.

Date of the Event

Al-Shaykh al-Tusi Millennium Commemoration in Mashhad From left to right: Ni'mat Allah Salihi Najafabadi, Ali Dawani, Morteza Motahhari, Sayyid Hashim Rasuli Mahallati, Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Hujjati, and an unidentified individual

The Shaykh Tusi Millennium Commemoration was held from 19 March 1970 to 23 March 1970 (coinciding with 11 to 15 Muharram 1390) at Mashhad University. Dr. Abd Allah Faryar, the president of Mashhad University at the time, was also president of the congress, and Muhammad Waiz-Zada Khurasani was the editor-in-chief. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi issued a message for the congress which was read by Majid Rahnama who was the Minister of Science and Higher Education at the time.

Articles and Speeches

The book Hazāra-yi Shaykh Ṭūsī

Al-Shaykh al-Tusi Millennium Congress

The Shaykh Tusi Congress included articles, a part of which was prepared before the formation of the congress, a part parallel to the opening and some during the sessions of the congress. The collection of writings and speeches presented in Persian, Arabic and English during the congress was made available to scientific institutions, local and foreign scholars and was later published in the form of independent pamphlets and books.

Compilation of the Books of the Shaykh Tusi Millennium

The book Hazara-yi Shaykh Tusi (al-Shaykh al-Tusi Millennium), which was the collection of articles and speeches delivered in the Millennium Congress, was published in two volumes in 1390/1970-71 by the efforts of Ali Dawani by Dar al-Tabligh Islami Publications of Tehran and with the cooperation of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. According to Dawani, he put aside his own writings and what he had separated from the articles of others, and prepared and organized the articles and speeches with his own selection, arrangement, translation and summarization in six sections.

Another book that included all speeches and scientific researches of the members of the Shaykh Tusi Millennium Congress was the three-volume book Tadnama-yi Shaykh Tusi (Memorial of al-Shaykh al-Tusi) which was published by the efforts of Muhammad Vaiz-Zada Khurasani in 1393-4/1972-73 by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Publications.

Nasir al-Din Kamarai also published a book titled Kungira-yi hazara-yi Shaykh Tusi dar Mashhad-yi Muqaddas-yi Radavi (al-Shaykh al-Tusi Millennium Congress in Mashhad), which contained the articles and speeches of the commemoration ceremony, at Haydari Printing House in Tehran.

See Also

• List of Works by al-Shaykh al-Tusi
• World Congress on the Millennium of al-Shaykh al-Mufid
• International Congress on Imam al-Rida (a)
• International Congress on al-Sayyid al-Murtada Alam al-Huda