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Bihar al-anwar (book): Difference between revisions
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In the introduction of Bihar al-anwar, al-Majlisi explained his goal of writing the book as, | In the introduction of Bihar al-anwar, al-Majlisi explained his goal of writing the book as, | ||
::"The cause of writing of this book is that I was greedy in learning different types of knowledge and after spending a part of my life on learning different sciences and thinking about the fruits and goals of these sciences I found that knowledge is achieved only through the origin of [[revelation]] and the hadiths of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and in the [[hereafter]], only this type of knowledge is helpful. Therefore, I studied the [[narrations]] and hadiths of the [[Infallibles (a)]]."<ref> | ::"The cause of writing of this book is that I was greedy in learning different types of knowledge and after spending a part of my life on learning different sciences and thinking about the fruits and goals of these sciences I found that knowledge is achieved only through the origin of [[revelation]] and the hadiths of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and in the [[hereafter]], only this type of knowledge is helpful. Therefore, I studied the [[narrations]] and hadiths of the [[Infallibles (a)]]."<ref>Bihar al-anwar, vol.1, p.2</ref> | ||
He also tried to collect those references which were about to be lost and thus referred to those books which were abandoned due to excessive attention to [[the Four Books]], the corrupt intentions, lack of attention of the ignorant and the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a).<ref> | He also tried to collect those references which were about to be lost and thus referred to those books which were abandoned due to excessive attention to [[the Four Books]], the corrupt intentions, lack of attention of the ignorant and the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a).<ref>Bihar al-anwar, vol.1, pp.3-4</ref> | ||
He also said that, "No book like this has ever been written and no one has superseded me in this and I hope this book will be the reference of scholars and seekers of knowledge for all those who seek the knowledge of Imams (a) until the rise of [[the Upriser (aj)]] of the Ahl al-Bayt (a)."<ref> | He also said that, "No book like this has ever been written and no one has superseded me in this and I hope this book will be the reference of scholars and seekers of knowledge for all those who seek the knowledge of Imams (a) until the rise of [[the Upriser (aj)]] of the Ahl al-Bayt (a)."<ref>Bihar al-anwar, vol.1, p.6</ref> | ||
== Manner of Writing == | == Manner of Writing == | ||
The author decided to write this book after 1070/1659, after he wrote ''Fihris musannafat al-ashab'' and the first date mentioned in Bihar al-anwar is 1072 AH.<ref>See | The author decided to write this book after 1070/1659, after he wrote ''Fihris musannafat al-ashab'' and the first date mentioned in Bihar al-anwar is 1072 AH.<ref>See pp.103-255</ref> He finished its draft in 1104/1692 or 1106/1694; however, the clean draft was still being worked on by his students after al-Majlisi passed away.<ref>A'yan al-Shi'a, vol.3, p.183</ref> | ||
To write this book, al-Majlisi sent many of his students to different cities and countries to find available hadith books and manuscripts.<ref>Al-Kuna wa l-alqab, vol3, p.147 (Arabic)</ref> For example, he reported that even to acquire [[Ibn Babawayh]]'s ''[[Madinat al-'ilm]]'' which people thought existed in [[Yemen]], he sent a group with many gifts to the ruler of Yemen to get that book. | To write this book, al-Majlisi sent many of his students to different cities and countries to find available hadith books and manuscripts.<ref>Al-Kuna wa l-alqab, vol3, p.147 (Arabic)</ref> For example, he reported that even to acquire [[Ibn Babawayh]]'s ''[[Madinat al-'ilm]]'' which people thought existed in [[Yemen]], he sent a group with many gifts to the ruler of Yemen to get that book.<ref>A'yan al-Shi'a, vol.9, p.183</ref> | ||
During the writing of Bihar al-anwar, some students of al-Majlisi including Mirza [['Abd Allah al-Afandi]], [[Mir Muhammad Salih al-Khatunabadi]], Mulla [['Abd Allah b. Nur al-din al-Bahrayni]], [[al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri]] and [[Amina Khatun]], sister of al-'Allamah al-Majlisi helped him.<ref>Zindigi Nami-yi 'allami Majlisi, vol.2, p.226 (Farsi)</ref> | During the writing of Bihar al-anwar, some students of al-Majlisi including Mirza [['Abd Allah al-Afandi]], [[Mir Muhammad Salih al-Khatunabadi]], Mulla [['Abd Allah b. Nur al-din al-Bahrayni]], [[al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri]] and [[Amina Khatun]], sister of al-'Allamah al-Majlisi helped him.<ref>Zindigi Nami-yi 'allami Majlisi, vol.2, p.226 (Farsi)</ref> | ||
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The important point about writing of Bihar al-anwar is that the author's limited usage of [[the Four Books]] made it a less important [[jurisprudential]] reference and even though it has a great coverage of other fields in Shi'a culture, it is not used in jurisprudential discussions as a common reference. | The important point about writing of Bihar al-anwar is that the author's limited usage of [[the Four Books]] made it a less important [[jurisprudential]] reference and even though it has a great coverage of other fields in Shi'a culture, it is not used in jurisprudential discussions as a common reference. | ||
Also, the type of analyses al-'Allamah gives about hadiths have been made in moderate [[Akhbari]] atmosphere and even where he faces rational issues, he criticizes that with a [[theological]] approach based on the appearance, not with a rational and philosophical approach; therefore, some Shi'a scholars believe that al-'Allama al-Majlisi's explanations and comments are not accurate enough.<ref>[http://www.mullasadra.org/new_site/persian/Paper%20Bank/Falsafe%20Tatbighi/allame%20tabatabaee%20va%20majlesi.htm 'Allami Tabataba'i wa Majlisi wa hadith-i 'aql wa jahl], Sayyid Muhammad Khamene'i | Also, the type of analyses al-'Allamah gives about hadiths have been made in moderate [[Akhbari]] atmosphere and even where he faces rational issues, he criticizes that with a [[theological]] approach based on the appearance, not with a rational and philosophical approach; therefore, some Shi'a scholars believe that al-'Allama al-Majlisi's explanations and comments are not accurate enough.<ref>[http://www.mullasadra.org/new_site/persian/Paper%20Bank/Falsafe%20Tatbighi/allame%20tabatabaee%20va%20majlesi.htm 'Allami Tabataba'i wa Majlisi wa hadith-i 'aql wa jahl], Sayyid Muhammad Khamene'i.</ref> Thus, some commentaries and comments al-Allama al-Majlisi gives under some titles such as [[soul]], [[self]], [[intellect]], etc. have been criticized by scholars; for example, in his gloss about some parts of Bihar al-anwar, 'Allama Tabataba'i wrote, "…and the safe approach for someone who is not competent enough in deep rational discussions is that he follows the appearance of the Qur'an and hadiths and leave understanding the truth of them to [[God]] and avoids entering deep rational discussions either approving or disapproving anything."<ref>See vol.1, p.104, footnote</ref> Also in ''[[A'yan al-Shi'a]]'', [[al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin]] wrote, "Many of the statements, explanations and comments of al-'Allama al-Majlisi for hadiths, etc. have been written at rush and this has led to less beneficial and more erroneous discussions."<ref>[[A'yan al-shi'a|A'yan al-Shi'a]], vol.9, p.183</ref> | ||
== Sources of Bihal al-anwar == | == Sources of Bihal al-anwar == | ||
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== Translations == | == Translations == | ||
* Shahzadi Sultan Muhamamd Buland Akhtar Hindi's translation of the first volume<ref>[[Al-Dhari'a]], vol.4, p.82 | * Shahzadi Sultan Muhamamd Buland Akhtar Hindi's translation of the first volume<ref>[[Al-Dhari'a]], vol.4, p.82</ref> | ||
* Translation of the second volume titled as ''Jami' al-ma'arif'' | * Translation of the second volume titled as ''Jami' al-ma'arif'' | ||
* Haj Habibullah Muhsini Tihrani's Persian translation of the sixth volume | * Haj Habibullah Muhsini Tihrani's Persian translation of the sixth volume | ||
* Muhammad Nasir b. Mawla 'Abd Allah's ([[al-Majlisi]]'s nephew) translation of the eighth volume (kitab al-fitan) | * Muhammad Nasir b. Mawla 'Abd Allah's ([[al-Majlisi]]'s nephew) translation of the eighth volume (kitab al-fitan) | ||
* Muhammad Mahdi b. Muhammad Shaykh Astarabadi's translation of the eighth volume (kitab al-fitan) tilted as ''Majari l-anhar fi tarjamat thamin al-Bihar'' | * Muhammad Mahdi b. Muhammad Shaykh Astarabadi's translation of the eighth volume (kitab al-fitan) tilted as ''Majari l-anhar fi tarjamat thamin al-Bihar'' | ||
* Aqa Radi b. Muhammad Nasir b. Mawla 'Abd Allah Muhamamd Taqi Isfahani's translation of the ninth volume | * Aqa Radi b. Muhammad Nasir b. Mawla 'Abd Allah Muhamamd Taqi Isfahani's translation of the ninth volume | ||
* Mir Muhammad 'Abbas and Mirza Muhammad 'Ali Mazandarani's translation of the tenth volume | * Mir Muhammad 'Abbas and Mirza Muhammad 'Ali Mazandarani's translation of the tenth volume | ||
* Hasan Hashtrudi's translation | * Hasan Hashtrudi's translation | ||
* Mirza 'Ali Akbar Urumi and Hasan b. Muhammad Wali Urumi's translation of the thirteenth volume | * Mirza 'Ali Akbar Urumi and Hasan b. Muhammad Wali Urumi's translation of the thirteenth volume | ||
* Aqa Najafi Isfahani's translation of the fourteenth volume titled as ''Al-Sama' wa l-'alam'' | * Aqa Najafi Isfahani's translation of the fourteenth volume titled as ''Al-Sama' wa l-'alam'' | ||
* Aziz Allah 'Atarudi's translation of the fifteenth volume | * Aziz Allah 'Atarudi's translation of the fifteenth volume | ||
* Translation of the seventeenth volume titled as ''Haqa'iq al-asrar'' | * Translation of the seventeenth volume titled as ''Haqa'iq al-asrar'' | ||
== Summaries and Anthologies == | == Summaries and Anthologies == | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{reflist|25em}} | {{reflist|25em}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||