Al-Sharif al-Murtada: Difference between revisions

Al-Sayyid al-Murtada was close to [[Buyid]] and [[Abbasid]] kings. In some of his poems, he praised the caliph al-Qa'im and some other Abbasid caliphs. Since 406/1015, al-Sharif al-Murtada was appointed by the Buyid king and the Abbasid caliph as the [[naqib]] of [['Alawis]], [[amir al-hajj]] (commander of hajj rituals), and the head of "diwan al-mazalim" (supreme court). These positions used to be held by his father and his brother, [[al-Sharif al-Radi]].

In an essay, "Fi l-'amal ma' al-sultan" (on cooperation with the king), al-Sayyid al-Murtada has replied to a question about cooperation with the government. There is no question about the legitimacy of cooperation with a just ruler, that is, the [[Infallible Imam]]. The main question which concerned Shiite jurisprudents, including al-Sayyid al-Murtada, was whether it is legitimate to cooperate with, and undertake positions offered by, an unjust ruler in the period of [[occultation]]. According to al-Sayyid al-Murtada, it is legitimate to cooperate with an unjust ruler if it has rational and legitimate advantages, that is, in case one can establish justice via such a cooperation or execute divine rulings.

Some Shiite authors have accounted for al-Sayyid al-Murtada's own cooperation with Abbasid and Buyid governments in accordance with this jurisprudential approach. Thus, they consider his closeness to, and praise of, caliphs to be intended as a service to the Shiite community.