Muhammad Kazim Khurasani

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Muhammad Kazim Khurasani
Personal Information
Full NameMuhammad Kazim Khurasani
Well-Known AsAkhund Khurasani
Birth1255/1839-40
ResidenceMashhad
Studied inMashhad, Sabziwar, Tehran and Najaf
DeathDhu l-Hijja 20, 1329/December 12, 1911
Burial Placethe Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (a) in Najaf
Scholarly Information
Professorsal-Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari,Mulla Hadi Sabziwari,Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Jilwa etc.
StudentsMirza Husayn Na'ini,Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani,Sayyid Husayn Tabataba'i Burujirdi
WorksKifaya al-'usul, Al-fawa'id, Takmila al-tabsira etc.
Socio-Political Activities
Socio-Political
Activities		He supported Iranian Constitutional Movement


Muḥammad Kāẓim Khurāsānī (Persian: محمدکاظم خراسانی ), (b. 1255/1839 - d.1329/1911), known as Akhund Khurāsānī (Persian: آخوند خراسانی ) , was a prominent Shiite authority (marja' al-taqlid) and a scholar of 'usul al-fiqh in the 14th/20th century; he was the author of the seminal work in 'usul, Kifaya al-'usul, and was a main supporter of Iranian Constitutional Movement (nihzat-i mashruta). His explicit positions in support of the Iranian Constitutional Movement and his serious decision to move to Iran in order to defend the country against the occupation of parts of this land by aliens indicates his resolve against colonialism and despotism. He viewed the Constitutional System as a means to prevent cruelty, and believed that it is an obligation for any Muslim to help this movement. Khurasani issued a fatwa for jihad against Mohammad 'Ali Shah after he bombarded Majlis in 23 of Jumada I in 1326/June 23, 1908.

Akhund Khurasani had many great students, including Mirza Husayn Na'ini, Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani, Sayyid Husayn Tabataba'i Burujirdi, Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita', Aqa Diya' 'Iraqi, 'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri Yazdi.

Birth

Akhund Khurasani was born in 1255/1839-40 in Mashhad. His father, Mulla Husayn Hirawi Khurasani, was a clergyman who was originally from Hirat, but he migrated to Mashhad before the birth of his son.[1]

Education

Muhammad Kazim Khurasani initially studied in Mashhad with his father and some other scholars. And in Rajab 1277/1861, he went to Najaf.[2]

On his way to Najaf, Akhund Khurasani attended the philosophical courses of Mulla Hadi Sabzawari in Sabziwar for three months. When he arrived in Tehran, he stayed in Sadr School for a while and studied philosophy with Mirza Abu l-Hasan Jilwa and Mulla Husayn Khoei.[3]

Teachers

Akhund Khurasani attended the courses of Shaykh Murtada Ansari for two years.[4] He also attended the courses of Mirza Shirazi. Khurasani attended the courses of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) by Sayyid 'Ali Shushtari[5] and Shaykh Radi al-Najafi.[6]

Teachings

Akhund Khurasani teaching in a seminary in Najaf

When Mirza Shirazi migrated from Najaf to Samarra, Akhund Khurasani was already a well-known teacher in Najaf.[7] Mirza Shirazi asked some of his students who had stayed in Najaf to attend the courses of Akhund Khurasani.[8]

After Shirazi passed away in 1312/1895, many students returned from Samarra to Najaf and attended the courses of Khurasani. This helped him establish his place as the greatest teacher and scholar in Najaf.[9]

Features of his Teaching

Akhund Khurasani was very strict in holding his classes and rarely did he close them; even at the time when there was a cholera outbreak in Najaf because of which many courses in Najaf were closed, Akhund still held his classes despite the fact that three of his close relatives died of cholera.[10]

In the first half of the Rajab month in some years, Akhund used to go to Karbala; even then he held some classes there. And in Ramadan months when the usual courses of the Islamic seminaries are off, he taught courses such as the principles of Shiite beliefs or ethics.[11]

Khurasani taught fiqh in Farsi, and 'usul in Arabic.[12]

After Mirza Shirazi passed away and some of his followers consulted Akhund Khurasani in order to follow his fatwas, he held some meetings with some of his students in order to answer istifta'at (asking for fatwas); students such as Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani, Muhammad Husayn Isfahani, Sayyid Husayn Tabataba'i Burujirdi, 'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri Yazdi, Aqa Diya' al-Din 'Iraqi, Aqa Husayn Qumi, Muhammad Husayn Na'ini.[13]

Pupils

Akhund Khurasani had over 1200 students; and about 500 of them were mujtahid (experts in fiqh).[14]

Here are some of his students:[15]

  1. Mirza Husayn Na'ini (a Shiite authority)
  2. Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani (a Shiite authority)
  3. Sayyid Husayn Tabataba'i Burujirdi (a Shiite authority)
  4. Husayn Qumi (a Shiite authority)
  5. Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita (a Shiite authority)
  6. Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Gharawi Isfahani
  7. Aqa Diya' 'Iraqi
  8. Mirza Jawad Maliki Tabrizi (a well-known mystic or 'arif)
  9. Sayyid Ahmad Karbala'i (a well-known mystic or 'arif)
  10. Sayyid 'Ali Qadi (a well-known mystic or arif)
  11. Shaykh Muhammad 'Ali Shahabadi (a well-known mystic or 'arif, and the teacher of Imam Khomeini)
  12. Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri Yazdi (a Shiite authority)
  13. Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Khwansari (a Shiite authority)
  14. Sayyid Sadr al-Din Sadr (a Shiite authority)
  15. Shaykh Hasan Ali Nukhudaki Isfahani
  16. Sayyid 'Abd Allah Bihbahani (a leader of the Constitutional Movement in Tehran)
  17. Shaykh 'Abbas Qumi (author of Safina al-bihar and Mafatih al-jinan)
  18. Shaykh Muhammad Jawad Balaghi
  19. Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin al-'Amili (author of Mawsu'a a'yan al-shi'a )
  20. Sayyid Abu l-Qassim Kashani
  21. Sayyid Hasan Mudarris
  22. Sayyid 'Abd al-Hadi Shirazi (a Shiite authority)
  23. Sayyid Mahmud Husayni Shahrudi (a Shiite authority)
  24. Sayyid Muhsin Hakim (a Shiite authority)
  25. Sayyid Ahmad Khunsari (a Shiite authority)
  26. Mirza Ahmad Kifayi (the son of Akhund Khurasani)
  27. Aqa Nur al-Din 'Iraqi
  28. Sayyid Jamal al-Din Gulpayigani (a Shiite authority)
  29. Shaykh 'Ali Zahid Qumi
  30. Aqa Najafi Quchani (the author of Siyahat-i sharq and Siyahat-i Gharb)
  31. Aqa Buzurg Tihrani (the author of Al-Dhari'a)
  32. Sayyid Ahmad Khwansari

Political Thought

Akhund Khurasani was keen to the political and social problems of Islamic countries, in particular, the Shiite country of Iran. His explicit positions vis-à-vis the Iranian Constitutional Movement and his serious decision to move to Iran in order to defend it against the Russian occupation are evidence of his concerns regarding despotism and colonialism.

An examination of Khurasani's political positions helps classify his struggles in four fronts:

  1. A struggle against despotism and for constitutionalism,
  2. A struggle against people who had employed shari'a against constitutionalism,
  3. A struggle against some leaders of constitutionalism who overlooked shari'a,
  4. A struggle against foreigners who sought to occupy Iran.[16]

Akhund Khurasani and Constitutionalism

Akhund Khurasani knew Constitutionalism very well, but since he took the occurrence of the revolution to be certain, he tried his best to lead it to the way of religious doctrines and to prevent it from secular tendencies like those of post-Renaissance revolutions.[17]

Khurasani had no role in the initial formation of Constitutionalism. Following the turbulent economic, social and political circumstances of Iran and the tensions between the State and the opposition groups in Tehran, Akhund was frequently asked—for example, by some scholars who later opposed Constitutionalism—to support the movement.

One of the first measures taken by Akhund Khurasani in this regard was his joint announcement (together with Muhammad Sharabiyani, Muhammad Hasan Mamaqani, and Mirza Husayn Khalili Tihrani) on Jumada II 21, 1321/September 14, 1903 stating a strong dissatisfaction by the performance of the Chancellor of Muzaffar al-Din Shah, Mirza 'Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Sultan, saying that he is the cause of all corruptions and the dominance of foreigners in the country.[18]

Akhund Khurasani viewed Constitutionalism as a means of preventing the cruelty against people and announced that it is an obligation for all Muslims to help the movement. In a letter to a preacher in Tehran, Akhund Khurasani wrote: "our purposes in all these efforts are the satisfaction of people, preventing the cruelty against them, helping the oppressed people, enjoining the virtue and forbidding the vice (al-amr bi l-ma'ruf wa al-nahy 'an al-munkar) and other helpful Islamic laws".

Some well-known scholars opposed Constitutionalism, however, such as Sayyid Kazim Yazdi or Shaykh Fadl Allah Nuri who was first with the movement, but took side with the opponents of the movement since he believed that it deviated from its origin.

As a response to the opponents of Constitutionalism, Na'ini who was a student of Akhund Khurasani wrote a book— Tanbih al-umma wa tanzih al-milla. Akhund Khurasani also wrote a praise note for the book.

Constitutionalism finally gained victory; Muzaffar al-Din Shah accepted Constitutionalism in Jumada I 1324/August 1906, and he ordered the establishment of Majlis (parliamentary)— the first meeting of Majlis was held in Sha'ban 18, 1324/October 7, 1906.

Khurasani was occasionally asked about the law of Constitutionalism, for example, about the national system (the law of Conscription), and the August 1907 agreement between Russia and England. Akhund wrote a letter to the representatives of Majlis asking them to perform Islamic laws, pay the debts of the country and eliminate poverty.

After Majlis was bombarded by Muhammad 'Ali Shah in 23 of Jumada I, 1326/June 23, 1908, Akhund Khurasani issued a fatwa for jihad against the Shah which led to the victory of the Constitutionalists. But soon after that, Akhund Khurasani had to take a position against Constitutionalism for some reasons, including the execution of Shaykh Fadl Allah Nuri, the insult of Islam and the clergy in the Habl al-matin magazine which led Akhund Khurasani to ask for the magazine's ban, the exile of Qurban Ali Zanjani who was a mujtahid, and the assassination of Bihbahani at the command of Taqizada.

Akhund Khurasani also struggled against the presence of Russian soldiers in Iran. Though it was two months after the establishment of the second Majlis, no measure had been taken for the exit of Russian forces. Akhud Khurasani sent a message to Iranians and asked them not to purchase Russian goods.

When Majlis finally resisted Russia, Russia occupied Iran from the north to Qazvin in the year 1328/1910. Khurasani closed all his classes, and following him all other classes in Najaf were closed. They decided to boycott all Russian goods and send students of the Islamic seminaries and the tribes of Najaf to Iran in order to fight with Russia.

Many scholars from Najaf, Karbala, and Kazimayn had prepared themselves for the journey to Iran, and they were supposed to go from Najaf to Sahla Mosque for prayers and then go to Iran. But the death of Akhund Khurasani did not allow the journey to happen.

Social Heritage

Akhund Khurasani built three Islamic seminary schools in Najaf: the Great (built in 1321/1903-4), the Medium (built in 1326/1908-9), and the Small (built in 1328/1910-1).[19] He also helped to build some modern schools in Najaf, Karbala and Baghdad, most of whose students were Iranians and the Farsi language was one of their courses.[20]

In order to propagate religious teachings, Akhund Khurasani helped to establish and publish some journals in Najaf, including the journal of Al-'ilm in Arabic, which was founded by his pupil, Sayyid Hibat al-Din Shahristani, and the Persian journal of Najaf Ashraf founded by some of his pupils.[21]

Scholarly Works

Despite his engagement with Shiite authority and in particular, the movement of Constitutionalism late in his life, Akhund Khurasani left many valuable scholarly works.

His works might be classified in three categories: his own writings, his fatwas, and lecture reports (taqrirat) by his pupils.

His Writings

Kifaya al-'usul, the most important work by Akhund Khurasani

Most of his writings concern 'usul, fiqh and philosophy both as monographs and as commentaries on other works.

  • His most important work is Kifaya al-'usul that has been written in two years (after 1321/1903)[22] and has ever since been the most important text of 'usul in Islamic seminaries, on which many commentaries have been written. Akhund Khurasani has also been called the author of Kifaya (sahib kifaya), and his children adopted as their last names "Kifayi" after the name of this book.[23]
  • Commentaries on Fara'id al-'usul known as the Rasa'il (essays) of al-Shaykh al-Ansari.
  • Al-fawa'id or Risala al-fawa'id concerning 15 issues: two issues regarding fiqh, 11 ones regarding 'usul, and 2 ones regarding 'usul and kalam (Islamic theology).
  • Commentaries on Al-makasib by al-Shaykh al-Ansari (finished in the Muharram of 1319/May 1901).[24]
  • Takmila al-tabsira,[25] his most important essay of fatwas in accordance with Tabsira al-muta'alimin by al-'Allama al-Hilli.
  • Some essays in fiqh that are published in a volume under Al-rasa'il al-fiqhiyya.
  • An unfinished essay concerning the fiqhi issues of renting (ijara) under Risala fi mas'ala al-ijara.[26]
  • An extended exposition of Nahj al-balagha[27] (that has been lithographed with the handwriting of Shari'at Isfahani).

Essays of Fatwas

  • Takmila al-tabsira
  • Commentaries on Nijat al-'ibad by Muhammad Hasan Najafi (the author of Jawahir al-kalam ) under Ruh al-hayat fi talkhis nijat al-'ibad.
  • A commentary on al-Shaykh al-Ansari's essay on Hajj.
  • Dhakhira al-'ibad fi yawm al-ma'ad.

Lecture Reports

Moral Character

People close to Khurasani have found him virtuous, courageous, clever, affable, smiling and at the same time impressive.

During his education, Khurasani went through many hardships. And after his marja'iyya he was very generous even to his opponents, but he was financially strict with regard to his children; he never used shari'a funds for his own life.[30]

Children

Akhund Khurasani had six children: five sons and one daughter. All of his sons attended Islamic seminaries and became clergymen: Mirza Mahdi, Mirza Muhammad, Mirza Ahmad, Aqa Husayn, and Aqa Hasan. His only daughter married to Shaykh Isma'il Rashti.

Death

Muhammad Kazim Akhund Khurasani died in the early morning of Thursday, Dhu l-Hijja 20 1329/December 12, 1911 in his own house after he said his prayers.[31] He was 74 years old when he died. Some people believe that he died from poisoning.[32]

After his funeral, 'Abd Allah Mazandarani said prayers (salat al-mayyit) on his corpse, and he was buried in the mausoleum of Mirza Habib Allah Rashti in the courtyard of Holy Shrine of Imam 'Ali (a).[33]

Tributes

On Muharram 18, 1433/December 14, 2011 the International Conference of Akhund Khurasani was held in Qom by the Islamic Propagation Office (Daftar-i Tablighat-i Islami).

Notes

  1. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 78.
  2. ↑ ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid, p. 25.
  3. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 35-38.
  4. ↑ Ḥirz al-Dīn, Maʿārif al-rijāl, vol. 2, p. 324.
  5. ↑ Kifāyī, "Sharḥ wa bayānī mukhtaṣar", p. 15, 30.
  6. ↑ Najafī Qūchānī, Bargī az tārīkh, p. 11.
  7. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, Ṭabaqāt Aʿlām al-Shīʿa, vol. 5, p. 65.
  8. ↑ Kifāyī, "Sharḥ wa bayānī Mukhtaṣar", p. 72-73.
  9. ↑ Shahristānī, "Fājiʿat Ayatullāh al-Khurāsānī", 341.
  10. ↑ Kifāyī, "Sharḥ wa bayānī mukhtaṣar", p. 29.
  11. ↑ Kifāyī, "Sharḥ wa bayānī mukhtaṣar", p. 19.
  12. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 103-104.
  13. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 104.
  14. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 14, p. 33; vol. 2, p. 111.
  15. ↑ ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid, p. 35-36.
  16. ↑ Ḥāʾirī, Tashayyuʿ wa mashrūṭīyyat, p. 123.
  17. ↑ Kifāyī, "Sharḥ wa bayānī mukhtaṣar", p. 41-45.
  18. ↑ Kasrawī, "Tārīkh-i mashrūta", vol. 1, p. 32-33.
  19. ↑ ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid, p. 135-139.
  20. ↑ ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid, p. 139-143.
  21. ↑ ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid, p. 143-145.
  22. ↑ Mukhtārī, "Naqd-i taṣhīh Fawāʾid al-uṣūl", p. 153.
  23. ↑ Bāmdād, Sharḥ-i ḥāl-i Rijāl-i Irān, vol. 4, p. 1.
  24. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 6, p. 220.
  25. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 4, p. 412.
  26. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 4, p. 412.
  27. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 7, p. 199; vol. 13, p. 217; vol. 14, p. 144.
  28. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 17, p. 142-143.
  29. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 4, p. 367.
  30. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 376-401.
  31. ↑ ʿĀqilī, Rūzshumār-i tārīkh-i Irān, vol. 1, p. 60.
  32. ↑ Kifāyī, Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī, p. 278-281.
  33. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, Ṭabaqāt Aʿlām al-Shīʿa, vol. 5, p. 66.

References

  • ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, Muḥammad ʿAlī. Al-Muṣliḥ al-mujāhid al-shaykh Muḥammad Kāẓim al-Khurāsānī. Najaf, Maṭbaʿat al-Nuʿmān, 1392 AH.
  • Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, Muḥammad Muḥsīn. Al-Dharīʿa ilā taṣānīf al-Shīʿa. Beirut: Dār al-Aḍwāʾ, 1403 AH.
  • Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, Muḥammad Muḥsīn. Ṭabaqāt Aʿlām al-Shīʿa. Mashhad: Āstan-i Quds-i Raḍawī, 1388 Sh.
  • ʿĀqilī, Bāqir. Rūzshumār-i tārīkh-i Irān az mashrūta tā Inqilāb-i Islāmī. Tehran: Nāmak, 1370 Sh.
  • Bāmdād, Mahdī. Sharḥ-i ḥāl-i Rijāl-i Irān. Tehran: Zuwwār, 1357 Sh.
  • Ḥāʾirī, ʿAbd al-Hādī. Tashayyuʿ wa mashrūṭīyyat dar Iran. Tehran: Amīr Kabīr, 1364 Sh.
  • Ḥirz al-Dīn, Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-. Maʿārif al-rijāl fī tarājim al-ʿulamāʾ wa al-udabāʾ. Qom: Maktabat Āyatollāh Marʿashī al-Najafī, 1405 AH.
  • Kasrawī, Aḥmad. Tārīkh-i mashrūta-yi Iran. Tehran: Amīr Kabīr, 1363 Sh.
  • Kifāyī, ʿAbd al-Riḍā. 1376 Sh. "Sharḥ wa bayānī mukhtaṣar az ḥayāt wa shakhṣīyyat-i Muḥammad Kāẓim-i Khurāsānī". Majala-yi Muṭāliʿāt-i Islāmī 35, 36:11-44.
  • Kifāyī, ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn. Margī dar nūr-i zindigānī-yi Ākhūnd Khurāsānī. Tehran: Zuwwār, 1359 Sh.
  • Mukhtārī, Riḍā. 1367 Sh. "Naqd-i taṣhīh Fawāʾid al-uṣūl". Ḥawza 1.
  • Najafī Qūchānī, Muḥammad Ḥasan. Bargī az tārīkh-i muʿāṣir. Edited by Ramiḍān ʿAlī Shākirī. Tehran: Nashr-i Haft, 1378 Sh.
  • Shahristānī, Hibat al-Dīn. 1330 AH. "Fajʿat Ayatullāh al-Khurāsānī". Al-ʿIlm 7.
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