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Kitab al-Ghayba (al-Tusi): Difference between revisions
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== About the Author == | == About the Author == | ||
{{main|Al-Shaykh al-Tusi}} | {{main|Al-Shaykh al-Tusi}} | ||
Muhammad b. Hasan b. Ali b. Hasan ([[385]]/995 – [[460]]/1066) known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifa (meaning "chief of the tribe/Shi'a) and al-Shaykh al-Tusi is the author of two of the [[Four Books]] of | Muhammad b. Hasan b. Ali b. Hasan ([[385]]/995 – [[460]]/1066) known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifa (meaning "chief of the tribe/Shi'a) and al-Shaykh al-Tusi is the author of two of the [[Four Books]] of Shi'a and was among the greatest theologians, narrators of hadiths, exegetes and Shi'a scholars in [[jurisprudence]]. After the demise of [[al-Sayyid al-Murtada]], he took the leadership of [[Twelver Shi'a]] and educated many students. He had many works. Among the fruits of al-Shaykh al-Tusi's scientific activities has been Shi'a [[ijtihad]]'s achievement of independence from other Islamic sects including [[Sunni]] sects. | ||
== Title of the Book == | == Title of the Book == | ||
Kitab al-Ghayba is one of tens of books written having this title. It is not known what book has been the oldest book titled as al-Ghayba, but references of bibliography have listed books titled as such after the | Kitab al-Ghayba is one of tens of books written having this title. It is not known what book has been the oldest book titled as al-Ghayba, but references of bibliography have listed books titled as such after the 2nd/8th century. Among the most important books written on this topic and this title written before the book of al-Shaykh al-Tusi, ''[[Al-Ghayba (Nu'mani)|al-Ghayba]]'' of [[al-Nu'mani]] (d. [[360]]/971), ''Ghayba'' of [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] (d. [[413]]/1032) and ''Ghayba'' of al-Sayyid al-Murtada (d. [[436]]/1044) can be mentioned. | ||
About the name of the book, the author has not chosen a title, but [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]] called it al-Ghayba. About this book, he said, "al-Shaykh al-Tusi's al-Ghayba contains the strongest rational and traditional proofs for the existence of [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]], the reason for his [[occultation]] and signs of his advent toward the end of the time." | About the name of the book, the author has not chosen a title, but [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]] called it al-Ghayba. About this book, he said, "al-Shaykh al-Tusi's al-Ghayba contains the strongest rational and traditional proofs for the existence of [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]], the reason for his [[occultation]] and signs of his advent toward the end of the time." | ||
== Date of Writing == | == Date of Writing == | ||
Al-Shaykh al-Tusi wrote this book around 447/1055, | Al-Shaykh al-Tusi wrote this book around 447/1055, thirteen years before his death. | ||
== Structure of the Book == | == Structure of the Book == | ||
This book has been arranged in | This book has been arranged in eight chapters: | ||
* Al-Kalam fi l-ghayba: in this chapter, the author generally proves the [[imamate]] of an absent imam who is necessarily the [[twelfth Imam (a)]]. To prove this issue, the author first proves prerequisites such as the necessity of existence of Imam (a) at any time, necessity of the [[infallibility]] of Imam (a) and presence of Imam (a) among people. He continues and rejects beliefs of [[Kaysaniyya]], Nawusiyya, [[Waqifids]], Muhammadiyya, [[Fathiyya]] and such sects about imamate. Then, he answers questions posed regarding the belief in occultation and at the end, he mentions the arguments for the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a) and that he (a) is the Twelfth Imam (a) from the children of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and rejects the arguments of deniers. | * Al-Kalam fi l-ghayba: in this chapter, the author generally proves the [[imamate]] of an absent imam who is necessarily the [[twelfth Imam (a)]]. To prove this issue, the author first proves prerequisites such as the necessity of existence of Imam (a) at any time, necessity of the [[infallibility]] of Imam (a) and presence of Imam (a) among people. He continues and rejects beliefs of [[Kaysaniyya]], Nawusiyya, [[Waqifids]], Muhammadiyya, [[Fathiyya]] and such sects about imamate. Then, he answers questions posed regarding the belief in occultation and at the end, he mentions the arguments for the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a) and that he (a) is the Twelfth Imam (a) from the children of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and rejects the arguments of deniers. | ||
* The birth of Imam Hujja b. [[al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]] and proves his birth with reasons and reports. | * The birth of Imam Hujja b. [[al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]] and proves his birth with reasons and reports. | ||
* About people who have met Imam al-Mahdi (a) | * About people who have met Imam al-Mahdi (a) | ||
* [[Miracle]]s of Imam (a) and some letters received from him | * [[Miracle]]s of Imam (a) and some [[letters of Imam al-Mahdi (a)|letters]] received from him | ||
* Obstacles of his coming | * Obstacles of his coming | ||
* Reports about Imam's (a) agents (including both praised and criticized ones), mentioning the names and condemning those who claimed to be agents of Imam (a). | * Reports about Imam's (a) agents (including both praised and criticized ones), mentioning the names and condemning those who claimed to be agents of Imam (a). | ||
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== Features and Importance of the Book == | == Features and Importance of the Book == | ||
* Being the reference on the issue of occultation: this book has an important position due to the importance of its author and its topic and if someone wants to write a book on [[Mahdism]] and occultation, he has to refer to this book. This has been the reason that since the past, scholars and researchers pay a special attention to this work. | * '''Being the reference on the issue of occultation:''' this book has an important position due to the importance of its author and its topic and if someone wants to write a book on [[Mahdism]] and occultation, he has to refer to this book. This has been the reason that since the past, scholars and researchers pay a special attention to this work. | ||
* Excluding [[Hudud]] to the time of Imam's (a) presence: the author believes that Hudud can only be performed only by the Infallible and they are not applicable now. | * '''Excluding [[Hudud]] to the time of Imam's (a) presence:''' the author believes that Hudud can only be performed only by the Infallible and they are not applicable now. | ||
* Those who claim | * '''Those who claim deputyship:''' in this book, names of some of those who claimed deputyship of Imam (a) have been mentioned and their arguments have been said. | ||
* First-hand references: al-Shaykh al-Tusi's access to first-hand references and his knowledge about hadiths has given a special value to this work. | * '''First-hand references:''' al-Shaykh al-Tusi's access to first-hand references and his knowledge about hadiths has given a special value to this work. | ||
== Sources and References of the Book == | == Sources and References of the Book == | ||
References al-Shaykh has benefited from can be divided in two groups: | References al-Shaykh has benefited from can be divided in two groups: | ||
* References which are now accessible to us such as ''[[al-Kafi]]'', Nu'mani's ''[[Al-Ghayba (Nu'mani)|al-Ghayba]]'', ''[[Kamal al-din wa tamam al-ni'ma]]'', al-Shaykh al-Mufid's ''[[Arba' risalat fi l-ghayba]]'', al-Sayyid al-Murtada's ''[[al-Dhakhira]]'', '' | * References which are now accessible to us such as ''[[al-Kafi]]'', Nu'mani's ''[[Al-Ghayba (Nu'mani)|al-Ghayba]]'', ''[[Kamal al-din wa tamam al-ni'ma]]'', al-Shaykh al-Mufid's ''[[Arba' risalat fi l-ghayba]]'', al-Sayyid al-Murtada's ''[[al-Dhakhira]]'', ''Masa'il Ali b. Ja'far (a)'', ''Kitab-i Sulaym b. Qays al-Hilali''. | ||
* References which are not available now such as [[Sa'd b. 'Abd Allah al-Ash'ari al-Qummi]]'s ''al-Diya' fi l-radd 'ala al-Muhammadiyya wa al-Ja'fariyya | * References which are not available now such as [[Sa'd b. 'Abd Allah al-Ash'ari al-Qummi]]'s ''al-Diya' fi l-radd 'ala al-Muhammadiyya wa al-Ja'fariyya'', [[Fadl b. Shadhan]]'s ''al-Qa'im'' and ''al-Raj'a'', [[Ibn Nuh al-Sirafi]]'s ''Akhbar al-wukala' al-arba'a'', [[Shalmaghani]]'s ''al-Ghayba'' and ''al-Awsiya''' and [[Ali b. Ahmad al-'Alawi]]'s ''Nusrat al-waqifa''. | ||
== Versions and Prints of the Book == | == Versions and Prints of the Book == | ||
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* In 1385/1965, it was published in Matba'at al-Nu'man in [[Najaf]] with a preface of Aqa Buzurg Tehrani in 292 pages and in the same year, it was offset by Maktabat Niniway al-hadithiyya. | * In 1385/1965, it was published in Matba'at al-Nu'man in [[Najaf]] with a preface of Aqa Buzurg Tehrani in 292 pages and in the same year, it was offset by Maktabat Niniway al-hadithiyya. | ||
* In 1409/1989, it was printed by Maktabat Basirati in 308 pages. | * In 1409/1989, it was printed by Maktabat Basirati in 308 pages. | ||
* In 1411/1990, it was published with a preface of 'Abd Allah Sarshar Tehrani and Ali Ahmad Nasih in 570 pages by Mu'assisat al-ma'raf al-Islamiyya of Qom. This version has a list of Qur'anic verses, names of prophets, angels and | * In 1411/1990, it was published with a preface of 'Abd Allah Sarshar Tehrani and Ali Ahmad Nasih in 570 pages by Mu'assisat al-ma'raf al-Islamiyya of Qom. This version has a list of Qur'anic verses, names of prophets, angels and fourteen infallibles, narrators, ambiguous points, clans and sects, places and times, references for the research and thematic index. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||