Minhaj al-karama fi ma'rifat al-imama (book)

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Minhaj al-karama fi ma'rifat al-imama
Bibliographical Information
Bibliographical Information
AuthorAl-'Allama al-Hilli
Original titleمِنهاج الکَرامَة فی مَعرِفَة الإمامَة
LanguageArabic
Series1 vol.
SubjectTheology, Imamat
GenreAnalytical
Published1379 Sh/2000-1
PublisherMashhad: Tasu'a


Minhāj al-karāma fī maʿrifat al-īmāma (Arabic: مِنهاج الکَرامَة فی مَعرِفَة الإمامَة) in Arabic, is written by al-'Allama al-Hilli (d. 726/1325). In this book the author proves the rightfulness of Shi'a sect and imamate of 'Ali (a) and other Twelve Imams (a) with many rational and narrated reasons.

Author

Main article: al-'Allama al-Hilli

"Abu Mansur Jamal al-Din Hasan b. Yusuf b. Mutahhar al-Hilli" (Arabic: ابومَنصور جَمال الدّین حَسَن ابن یُوسُف ابن مُطَهَّر الحِلّي) known as al-'Allama al-Hilli, is one of the greatest Shi'a scholars. His debates and writings led king Sultan Muhammad Khudabanda convert to "Shi'a", which led to the spread of Shi'a belief in Iran. "Al-'Allama al-Hilli" has many works on jurisprudence, Usul al-Fiqh, theology, philosophy, logic, supplications and other fields of Islamic studies. After the demise of al-Muhaqqiq al-Hilli in 676/1277 who was marja' of Shi'a people, they found "al-'Allama al-Hilli" suitable for becoming marja', so he took the leadership and became marja' in age of 28.

Name

Aqa Buzurg Tihrani in his book al-Dhari'a, mentions the name of the book as Minhaj al-kirama ila ithbat al-imama

Content

The book contains six parts:

Part one: in this part al-'Allama al-Hilli cites opinions of Islamic sects about imamte. "Shiite believe that imamte is continuation of prophethood and necessity of infallibility of imam, but Sunnis believe different" He says.

Part two: the author explains reasons of rightfulness of Shi'ism extensively:

Part three: in the third part, the author enumerates reasons for imamate of Imam 'Ali (a)

  • Rational reasons: "imam" must be infallible, imam must be assigned by the prophet (s), imam must maintain the religion, only God is capable for assigning imam, and imam must be the most virtuous.
  • Narrated reasons: 40 reasons from Qur'an, 12 hadiths from the prophet (s), and twelve qualities exclusive to Imam 'Ali (a) indicates his "imamate".

Part four: in this part the author explains three ways to prove imamate of other Twelve Imams (a):

  • Assignment
  • Necessity of presence of an "imam" all times
  • Their virtues which indicates their "imamate"

Part five: in this part 14 reasons is mentioned that the ones became caliph before him are not "imam". He rejects reasons of caliphate of Abu Bakr:

Importance

Minhaj al-kirama is written for king Muhammad Khudabanda and has a strong influence on conversion of him and many people to Shi'ism.

Some of Sunni scholars when saw the influence of the book went to Ibn Taymiyya and requested him for help, so he wrote Minhaj al-sunna in rejection of Minhaj al-kirama which was entirely insult and slander. Later two books has been written in rejection of Minhaj al-sunna: Ikmal al-minna by Hasan b. 'Isa al-Yamani and Minhaj al-shari'a by Sayyid Mahdi Kazimi.

Commentary

There's an Arabic commentary on Minhaj al-kirama by Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Milani. This book, published for the first time by "Hijra" publications in Qom in 1417/1996-7, only contains the first and second parts of Minhaj al-kirama.

Manuscripts

Publication

This book is published in 1421/2000-1, edited by "'Abd al-Rahim Mubarak" by "Tasu'a" publications, Mashhad.

References

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