Al-Sharif al-Murtada: Difference between revisions

Like his teacher, [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]], al-Sayyid al-Murtada had rationalistic tendencies and was interested in [[kalam]] (theology). Indeed, his most significant contributions are theological. He also had a rationalistic tendency in [[fiqh]] (jurisprudence). He wrote a book concerning [[usul al-fiqh]] which is considered as the first comprehensive, independent Shi'a work in this field. His best-known student is [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]. Al-Sayyid al-Murtada was a distinguished man of literature as well. He also wrote books concerning the [[exegesis]] of the [[Qur'an]].

He and his brother, [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]], learned Arabic lexicon and primary studies before the poet [[Ibn Nubata al-Sa'di]]. They learned [[fiqh]] and the [[usul al-fiqh]] before [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]]. Al-Sayyid al-Murtada was also a student of [[Abu 'Ubayd Allah al-Marzbani]] and he frequently quotes from him in his ''[[Al-Amali (by al-Sharif al-Murtada)|Amali]]''.

Al-Sayyid al-Murtada was very well-known during his life. His lectures were said to be very crowded. Some well-known figures of his students are: [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]], [[Sallar al-Daylami]]; [[Abu l-Salah al-Halabi]], and others. According to some reports, he had a big house which he had turned into a seminary and in which students of fiqh, [[kalam]], [[exegesis]], Arabic philosophy, poem, and other sciences such as astronomy and calculus were studying. This house did not only host [[Shia]] students but also students from any sect and nationalities such as Abu l-'Ala' al-Ma'arri.

Al-Sayyid al-Murtada is considered among the greatest scholars of Twelver Shia and from his many works, it can be understood that he was knowledgeable in many disciplines of his time including Islamic [[theology]], [[fiqh]], [[usul]], [[tafsir]], divine philosophy, astronomy, different branches of Arabic literature ranging from lexicon, syntax, semantics, composition, poetry and as such. He focused his attention on fiqh, Islamic theology, and Arabic literature and served Twelver Shia and strengthened their principles and secondary issues through them.

Al-Sayyid al-Murtada had a rationalistic approach to the jurisprudence as well. He believed in the reliability of the reason in discovering divine rulings in the absence of transmitted evidence. He was also a pioneer in the [[ijtihad]] method in Shiite jurisprudence. He employed verbal and rational principles in deducing sharia laws. He would not agree with the methods of [[muhaddith]] and later [[Akhbaris]] scholars. He did not require appeals to transmitted evidence with regard to some jurisprudential issues which he considered to be discoverable by rational principles. However, he permitted the use of transmitted evidence with respect to the [[furu' al-din|ancillaries of the religion]] and believed that some rulings and even some beliefs can only be proved by transmitted evidence. For instance, he believed that [[al-amr bi-l-ma'ruf wa l-nahy 'an al-munkar]] (enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong) is obliged by the sharia rather than the reason.

Al-Sayyid al-Murtada also wrote some work concerning [[usul al-fiqh]], the most important of which is ''al-Dhari'a ila usul al-shari'a''. It is the first comprehensive work by a Shiite scholar concerning usul al-fiqh. In this book, al-Sayyid al-Murtada cited the views of Sunni scholars and then developed his own views. Thus, the Shiite usul al-fiqh can be said to be formed out of this book. In fact, it was with this book that an independent Shiite usul al-fiqh began to take shape.

He had several works in different fields of Islamic studies including fiqh, hadith, theology, and etc. The most important ones are:

It is a book on [[fiqh]], including the rulings definitely or supposedly specific to [[Twelver Shia]]. This book contains 319 fiqhi issues and is important historically and scientifically, since it is the oldest Shia reference in fiqh which includes comparative issues and has mentioned different opinions.