Musakkin al-fu'ad (book)

Musakkin al-fu'ad

Bibliographical Information
Author	al-Shahid al-Thani
Original title	مُسَکّنُ الفُؤاد عِنْدَ فَقْدِ الْأحبّة وَ الْأولاد
Language	Arabic
Subject	ways to soothe and calm hearts
Genre	hadith
Published	1407/1986-7
Publisher	Al al-Bayt

Musakkin al-fuʾad ʿinda faqdi l-ahibbat wa l-awlad (Arabic: مُسَکّنُ الفُؤاد عِنْدَ فَقْدِ الْأحبّة وَ الْأولاد; literal translation: Soother of the heart upon the loss of loved ones and children) is a book in Arabic written by al-Shahid al-Thani (d.965/1557). The book is about ways to soothe and calm hearts of those who suffer from losses. Al-Shahid al-Thani wrote the book after the loss of his children to soothe his heart and those who grieved. Musakkin al-fu'ad includes an introduction, four chapters and an ending part. This book is regarded highly important among grand religious figures and it is translated a number of times.

Author

Main article: Al-Shahid al-Thani

Al-Shahid al-Thani was a descendant of al-'Allama al-Hilli. He was a notable religious scholar and Shi'ite jurist in the 10th/16th century. He was regarded among the most influential scholars in Islamic jurisprudence with numerous works. Al-Rawda al-bahiyya fi sharh al-lum'a al-dimashqiyya is the greatest work of him in jurisprudence. He was martyred in 965/1557.

Background

A number of Shi'ite scholars also have written books with similar subjects including:

Tasliyat al-ahzan, by Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Khwansari (d.1313/1895) is also written according to al-Shahid al-Thani's book.

Tasliyat al-hazin min faqdi l-aqarib wa l-banin, by al-Shaykh Salih al-Bahrani (d. 1281/1864-5).

Tasliyat al-hazin fi faqdi l-'afiyat wa l-ahbab min al-arqab wa al-banin, by al-Sayyid 'Abd Allah Shubbar; he was a Shi'a mufassir (d. 1242/1827).

Tasliyat al-fu'ad fi faqdi l-awlad, by al-Sayyid 'Abd Allah Shubbar.

Tasliyat al-malhufin wa taskin al-maghmumin, by Mirza Abu l-Qasim b. Mirza Kazim al-Musawi al-Zanjani (d. 1292/1875-6).

Purpose and Name

Al-Shahid al-Thani wrote Musakkin al-fu'ad in 954/1547-8 when he lost his children. All of his sons died in their early years of their lives. After the death of Muhammad, his son, he decided to write this book to calm and soothe himself and his close relatives.

Method

In every part, the author wrote explanations such as the meaning of the words, important points and narrations from Prophet Muhammad (s) on the subject of the book. He also explained the historical incidents around each hadith so that readers would understand sorrows and disasters happen naturally as a part of life. Then he described behavior and reaction of grand figures to encourage readers to have patience.

Content

Al-Shahid al-Thani's book includes an introduction, four chapters and an ending part. In introduction he wrote his reasons to accept divine predestinations.

Chapters

This book has four chapters:

1. The rewards you would receive from God after the death of a child,
2. Patience,
3. Contentment,
4. Weep.

In the last part he offered condolences to the relatives and mentioned the necessity of recalling suffers the Prophet (s) went through; as prophets faced the most horrible disasters ever.

Reliability

Regarding the author and valuable content of this book, Musakkin al-fu'ad is highly reliable among grand religious figures. It has such concise content with no overstatements that al-'Allama al-Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar, al-Shaykh al-Hurr al-'Amili in al-Jawahir al-saniyya and al-Muhaddith al-Nuri in Mustadrak al-wasa'il praised this book. Also a number of books were written based on the method and structure of Musakkin al-fu'ad. This books was translated many times.

Translation

Musakkin al-fu'ad's translations are:

Tasliyat al-'Ibad by Mirza Isma'il Khan Majd al-Udaba'.

Faraj al-Hazin bi l-makara wa fawt al-banin which is a translation of the book, also Muhammad Mahdi b. Haj 'Ali Asghar added some parts to the book.

Ruh wa Rayhan by al-Shaykh Jamal b. Muhammad Taqi 'Araqi; its text is a lot similar to Musakkin al-fu'ad but it is not the same.

Also some other books translated by Husayn Jannati, 'Abbas Mukhbir Dizfuli and Muhammad Baqer Hujjati.

Summary

Musakkin al-Fu'ad is summarized by the author himself, al-Shahid al-Thani, under the name of Mukhtasar Musakkin al-fu'ad in order to provide as easy read for the readers.

Publication

Musakkin al-fu'ad 'inda faqdi l-ahibbat wa l-awlad was published by different publications:

• Lithography in Tehran around 1310/1892-3;
• Basirati Publication in Qom;
• Lithography in Mumbai;
• Publication of Al al-Bayt li ihya' al-turath in Qom;
• Publication of Islamic Propagation Office of Seminary of Qom published this book under the name of al-Musannafat al-Arba'a.