Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma (book): Difference between revisions

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| title_orig = {{iarabic|(کشفُ الغُمَّة فی مَعرِفَةِ الأئمّة(ع}}

| published = 1403/1983

'''''Kashf al-ghumma fī maʿrifat al-aʾimma''''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|(کشفُ الغُمَّة فی مَعرِفَةِ الأئمّة(ع}}, lit. lifting the hardship in knowing the leaders) is an Arabic book by [['Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili|Baha' al-Din 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili]] (d.692/1293), one of [[Shi'a]] scholars in seventh/thirteen century. This book includes biographies, virtues and miracles of the [[Fourteen Infallibles (a)]] and is organized in two sections.

Abu l-Hasan 'Ali b. 'Isa Hakkari, famous as Baha' al-Din al-Irbili, is a well-known Shi'a [[Muhaddith]] (expert in narrative sciences) historian, literary expert and poet in seventh/thirteenth century. He was born and raised in [[Irbil]].<ref>Farrukh, ''Tarikh al-adab al-'arabi'', vol.3 p.661</ref> His father, Fakhr al-Din 'Isa, known as Ibn Jijni, was the governor of Irbil and its surrounding areas.

This book is about [[the Prophet (s)]], [[Lady Fatima (a)]], and [[Imams of Shi'a|the twelve Imams (a)]], their virtues and miracles. He also mentions the [[Lady Khadija (a)]].

I've been willing, since a long time ago, to make a collection of [[hadith|narration]]s about the virtues of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] … since [[Sunni]]s have not worked on the history and the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and even some Sunni scholars do not know the names of the Ahl al-Bayt (a). So I decided to work on the history and personality of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) so that their rightful position will be revealed for their enemies and those who possess hatred toward the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and also Ghalis (Shi'a extremists) will leave their practices.

Many people mock the visiting of the shrine of [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]], while most of the same people visit the tombs of [[Darwish]]s and [[Sufi]]s.<ref>Irbili, ''Kashf al-ghumma'', vol.1 p.4-5</ref>

Through the process of writhing, [['Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili|al-Irbili]] used early sources and took most of the book's content from them. He merely adds some explanations and assessments under certain narrations and finishes the biography of each Imam by a poem in praising the Imam.

Author makes use of his theological ideas and in the history of Shi'a Imams (a), he discusses the arguments and proofs of the their [[Imamate]] and narrates some of their virtues and miracles.

# Author's views are in accordance with mainstream Shi'a beliefs and he seems fair in presenting different discussions; however he mentions various arguments in favor of Shi'a and against other deviant sects.

# One significant merit of the book is its preservation of some narrations the original sources of which did not survive.

# The method of the author is that he brings all content of a certain source, like ''[[al-Irshad]]'' or ''[[I'lam al-wara]''], about each Imam. Among these sources are some that have survived within this book only.

# Al-Irbili's analyses and personal opinions as a prominent Shi'a scholar are presented in this book and are remarkable. Some of these opinions are very unique and uncommon; like that he does not regard [[al-Ma'mun]] responsible for the [[martyrdom]] of [[Imam al-Rida (a)]].

There are several (Persian) translations for this book

# ''Mihrab al-Qulub'' by: 'Ali b. Fayd Irbili

# A translation by: Hasan b. Husayn Bayhaqi

# A translation known as ''Manaqib'' by: 'Ali b. Husayn Zawware'i, a translator and Mufassir in tenth/sixteenth century.

# A translation by: Ni'mat Allah b. Quraysh Radawi Mashhadi.

# ''Siyar al-a'imma'' or ''Iksir al-Tawarikh'' by: Mirza Muhammad b. Muhammad Rafi' Shirazi Malik al-Kuttab.

# A translation by: Mulla 'Abd al-Latif Azarbayjani Mullabashi.

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/view/کشف_الغمة_فی_معرفة_الائمة_(کتاب) کشف الغمه فی معرفة الائمة] in Farsi Wikishia.