Nawadir al-mu'jizat fi manaqib al-a'imat al-hudat (book)
Author | Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saghir |
---|---|
Language | Arabic |
Subject | Miracles and vertues of Imams (a) |
Genre | Hadith |
Published | Qom |
Publisher | Dalil-i ma |
Pages | 464 |
Nawādir al-muʿjizāt fī manāqib al-aʿimma al-hudāt (Arabic: نَوادِر المُعجِزات فی مَناقِب الائِمَّة الهُداة), written by Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saghir a Twelver Shi'a scholar, is an Arabic book reporting the miracles and virtues of Infallible Imams (a) and the proofs they have provided of the authority and validity of their sayings and deeds. The author has devoted the second, out of thirteen chapters of the book, to Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a).
About the Author
In current edits of Nawadir al-mu'jizat, this book is attributed to Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saqir (5/11th century), the author of Dala'il al-imama. The attribution of this book to al-Tabari traces back to Mirza Husayn Nuri and Aqa Buzurg Tihrani.
However, some scholars, by referring to evidence from the text of the book, claim that this book is written after Dala'il al-imama and these two books are written by different authors. For example, the author of Nawadir al-mu'jizat quotes from Ibn Najjar al-Baghdadi (d. 643/1245-6), the author of Dhayl tarikh al-Baghdad, and definitely this quote does not match with the period of the life of al-Tabari al-Saqir (5/11 century)
Motivation
The author has stated: 'since I observed that after the holy Prophet (s), people have picked some leaders through whom they could gain their worldly purposes, and wanted to replace them with the Infallible Imams (a) and to deny their miracles, and desired to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, I resolved then to cover all I had heard or read of the divine miracles and proofs and arguments they had provided, in a book titled as the arguments and miracles of the Infallible Imams (a), so that those wonderful hadiths would be better preserved and delivered to people.'[1]
Hadith Based
The author has narrated nothing as rational arguments and so on but hadiths. He has also tried to completely mention the chain of narrators for each hadith if possible.
Structure
The author has first discussed the spiritual state of the Imams (a) and their virtues in a short introduction, and then has covered their miracles which were reported by Shi'a in thirteen chapters, each devoted to an Imam and one for the Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a).
The chapters of the book are as:
- The first chapter; is about the Imam 'Ali (a) and is divided into two parts: His miracles reported by various people, His miracles reported by the holy Prophet (s).
- The second chapter; is about the Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a), and mostly covers her names, and why she was called those names, and her marriage and her bridal gift and consummation, and her state in heaven, rather than her miracles. The author has also discussed why the Prophet (s) would kiss her, and mentioned her labor by her mother, Lady Khadija al-Kubra (a).
- The third chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a).
- The fourth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a).
- The fifth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Sajjad (a).
- The sixth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Baqir (a).
- The seventh chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Sadiq (a).
- The eighth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Kazim (a).
- The ninth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Rida (a).
- The tenth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Jawad (a).
- The eleventh chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-Hadi (a).
- The twelfth chapter; is about the miracles of Imam al-'Askari (a).
- The thirteenth chapter; is about Imam al-Mahdi (a), in which some hadiths are narrated regarding his existence and his characteristics. Also, it mentions a hadith narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a), interpreting the verse 18 of Quran 42 which describes the government of Imam al-Mahdi (a) and its blessings by the time of his reappearance.
At the end of the book, there are 11 lists as; the verses, the hadiths, works, index, tribes and sects, cities and places, dates and events, poems, books, references, and finally the list of contents.
Print and Publication
Nawadir al-mu'jizat is issued by various publishers. Dar al-Mahajja al-Bayda' has published the book in 1426/2005-6, in Lebanon.[2] Dalil-i Ma has also published the book in 1427/2006-7, annotated by Basim Muhammad al-Asadi.
In the copy issued by Dalil-i Ma Press, the annotator has stated a comprehensive introduction covering various issues such as; the definition and terms of miracle, and the difference between a miracle and conjuring tricks or magic. Moreover, having drawn a distinction between miracle and miraculous deeds of the saints, he mentioning that manifestation is a sign of miracle, as well as concealment, is of other miraculous deeds, and also that there is no assertion in miraculous deeds of the saints while a miracle always accompanies a claim for prophethood.
A part of the introduction describes a complete biography of the author, and goes on parting him from those named same as him, and mentioning his masters and works.
Furthermore, some pictures of different manuscripts of the book, kept in al-'Allama al-Majlisi Library, are added to this copy.
Notes
- ↑ Al-Tabari al-'Imami, Nawadir al-mu'jizat, p.23
- ↑ www.imamalislib.org
References
- The material for this article is mainly taken from نوادر المعجزات فی مناقب الائمة الهداة (کتاب)|نوادر المعجزات فی مناقب الائمة الهداة in Farsi Wikishia.
- Tabari al-'Imami, Muhammad b. Jarir al-. n.d. Nawadir al-mu'jizat fi manaqib al-a'ima al-hudat. Qom: Dalil-i ma