Al-Istibsar (book): Difference between revisions

In the first two parts, [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] has recorded almost all hadiths with their references, but in the last part, the references are mentioned in a brief way and similar to the style of ''Tahdhib al-ahkam'' and more like the style of [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]] in ''[[Kitab man la yahduruh al-faqih (book)|Man la yahduruh al-faqih]]'' the references of hadiths to [[al-Usul al-arba'ami'a|hadiths Usul]] [original references] are mentioned at the end of the work.

Some scholars and students of al-Shaykh al-Tusi asked him to write a book in which he collects opposite hadiths, analyzes them and marks the correct and incorrect ones. In this book, al-Shaykh al-Tusi first brought authentic and correct hadiths and then has mentioned opposite ones and has tried not to miss one and after all has tried to reach a conclusion after discussing the two kinds of hadiths.

In this work, in addition to collecting all hadiths related to one issue at one place, al-Tusi has reviewed their references and meanings and in each chapter, has suggested his own opinion for removing apparent disagreements between hadiths or the priority of some of them over others. Methods for reach agreements and conclusions between hadiths and removing their disagreements have a special position in the al-Shaykh al-Tusi's fiqh, and has been reflected especially in his ''Al-Istibsar''.

Therefore, this book should not be regarded as a mere collection of hadiths and ignore its jurisprudential value. Similar to other books among [[the Four Books]], the order of the chapters of ''Al-Istibsar'' is based on the usual order in jurisprudential works.

Although in compiling ''Al-Istibsar'', al-Shaykh al-Tusi has so much relied on his previous work ''Tahdhib al-ahkam'' , but ''Al-Istibsar'' has its own characteristics regarding the general purpose of compilation as well as the chaptering and the order of hadiths in each chapter and is regarded as an independent work. This independence is clearly seen in a list of the author's works and in the words of his contemporary scholar, [[al-Najashi]].

This is the first book which has been published to make an agreement between opposite hadiths.

In addition to its great credit, ''Al-Istibsar'' has a very good coverage so that [[Ibn Tawus]] says, "If there is any disagreement about an issue, it must be mentioned in ''Al-Istibsar''."

''Al-Istibsar'' is one of the [[Four Books]] and at the same level with [[al-Shaykh al-Kulayni]]'s ''[[Al-Kafi (book)|Al-Kafi]]'' , [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]]'s ''[[Man la yahduruh al-faqih]]'' and al-Shaykh al-Tusi's another book, ''[[Tahdhib al-ahkam]]'' which was written previous to ''Al-Istibsar''.

Regarding the significance and value of ''Al-Istibsar'', its name has always been in the list of references and Shia scholars and faqihs gave permission of narrating its hadiths to each other.

About old copies of ''Al-Istibsar'', first the incomplete manuscript transcribed by [[Ja'far b. Ali Mashhadi]] must be mentioned that [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]] reports that was available in the library of [[Sayyid Hadi Kashif al-Ghita']] in [[Najaf]]. According to this report, the mentioned copy has been compared with the handwriting of al-Shaykh al-Tusi and the job has finished in 573/1177-1178.

Compiling works as commentary, gloss or marginal notes on ''Al-Istibsar'' can be seen particularly since late 10th/16th century, among the most important ones of which are the following:

* Marginal notes written by [[Muhammad b. Ali b. Husayn al-'Amili]], author of ''[[Madarik al-ahkam (book)|Madarik al-ahkam]]'' (d. [[1009]]/1600-1601) which is kept together with the text of ''Al-Istibsar'' in [[Rawdati]] copy.

* Marginal notes written by [[Muhammad b. Ali b. Ibrahim al-Istarabadi]], author of ''[[Minhaj al-maqal]]'' (d. [[1028]]/1618-1619), different copies of which have been seen in [[Najaf]] and [[Mashhad]].

* A commentary written by [[Mulla Muhammad Amin al-Istarabadi]] (d. [[1036]]/1626-1627)

* A gloss written by Mir Muhammad Baqir al-Istarabadi, known as [[Mirdamad]] (d. [[1040]] or 1041/1630-1631) which has been sometimes referred to as a commentary. There are several copies of it in Sepahsalar Library in [[Tehran]] and Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.

* ''Kashf al-asrar fi sharh al-istibsar'' which is a commentary on ''Al-Istibsar'' written by [[al-Sayyid Ni'mat Allah al-Jaza'iri]] (d. [[1112]]/1700) and several manuscripts of it have been mentioned by Aqa Buzurg Tihrani.