Riyad al-abrar fi manaqib al-a'immat al-athar (book)

Riyad al-abrar fi manaqib al-a'immat al-athar

Bibliographical Information
Author	Al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri
Original title	رياضُ الأبرار في مَناقِب الأئِمَّة الأطهار
Language	Arabic
Series	3 vol.
Subject	Virtues of Ahl al-Bayt (a)
Published	Beirut
Publisher	Mu'assisat al-Tarikh al-'Arabi

Rīyāḍ al-abrār fī manāqib al-a'immat al-aṭhār (Arabic:رياضُ الأبرار في مَناقِب الأئِمَّة الأطهار) is an Arabic book written by al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri (d. 1112/1701). The book has three volumes, the first of which is concerned with the Prophet (s) and Imam 'Ali (a), the second is concerned with Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a), Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a), Imam al-Sajjad (a), the fourth Imam, through Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a), the eleventh Imam, and the third is concerned with Imam al-Mahdi (a). The book is hadith-oriented and includes the author's comments as well. In the published version of the book, the part regarding the Holy Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) are absent.

Author

Main article: Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri

Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri was a Shiite scholar of the 11th and 12th centuries AH (17th century) and the head of the well-known scholarly and religious household of Jaza'iri Sadat whose lineage goes back to Imam al-Kazim (a). Sayyid Ni'mat Allah was a student of prominent scholars, such as al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Jamal al-Din Khwansari, Mulla Muhsin al-Fayd al-Kashani and al-Shaykh Hurr al-'Amili. He wrote many works such that he came to be known as a prolific author. His works include al-Anwar al-nu'maniyya, Qisas al-anbiya' (the stories of the prophets) and an anthological book, Zahr al-rabi'. He counts as a high-ranking Akhbari scholar.

Method of Writing and Contents

Given the hadith-oriented approach of the author, the book was written as a collection of hadiths. It cites many hadiths regarding the lives and virtues of the Shi'a Imams (a) from different sources. In some parts of the book, the author makes some comments or explains some hadiths.

In the published version of the book, the author gives an account of the life and virtues of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a), Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a) in the first volume, Imam al-Sajjad (a) through Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a) in the second volume, and Imam al-Mahdi (a) in the third volume.

Volume 1: Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a), Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a)

• Birth, names, miracles, and moral virtues of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a).

• Lady Fatima al-Zahra's (a) marriage with Imam 'Ali (a).

• Lady Fatima al-Zahra's (a) condition after the demise of her father, the Prophet (s), and the place of people who believe in her and adore her on Dooms Day.

• The birth of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a), and the stencils of their rings.

• The stories of Imam al-Hasan (a).

• The life and martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a).

• The stories of Imam al-Husayn (a), including his miracles, debates with Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan, the prophets prognosticating his martyrdom.

• The greatness of Sayyid al-Shuhada's (a) tragedy, and divine rewards for crying for him.

• Maqtal (murder) of Imam al-Husayn (a).

• Events after 'Ashura.

• Stories of al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi and his uprising.

Volume 2: Imam al-Sajjad (a) through Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)

• The stories of Imam al-Sajjad (a), his names and titles, his miracles, his supplications, his moral virtues, his wives and children, his grandson who launched uprisings against Banu Umayya and Banu 'Abbas.

• The stories of Imam al-Baqir (a), his names, his birth and martyrdom, virtues, his companions and some hadiths.

• The stories of Imam al-Sadiq (a) and his encounter with his opponents and their scholars.

• The stories of Imam al-Kazim (a), his companions, Hisham b. Hakam's debates, times in which he was imprisoned, and a refutation of the Waqifiyya sect that was formed after his martyrdom.

• The stories of Imam al-Rida (a), his succession of al-Ma'mam, and blessings given by God for his rawda.

• The stories of Imam al-Jawad (a), his marriage to Umm al-Fadl and how he was martyred.

• The stories of Imam al-Hadi (a), his time, and Ja'far al-Kadhdhab.

• The stories of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a).

Volume 3: Imam al-Mahdi (a)

• The stories of Imam al-Mahdi (a)

• Prophets and previous Imams (a) prognosticating his appearance

• Al-Shaykh al-Tusi's reasons for the Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a)

• The stories of his Four Deputies

• The reason for his occultation and the Signs of Reappearance

• Raj'a and how it happens

• The Four Deputies and the Imam's (a) successors.

Sources

Hadiths in this book are cited from old and recent Shiite sources, although most references in the footnotes added by the publisher of the book do not cite sources referred to in the text. The author mostly refers to Shiite sources, but he sometimes cites Sunni sources as well.

Publication

The book was first published in 1427/2006 in Beirut by Mu'assisat al-Tarikh al-'Arabi.