Ibrahim Hamadani: Difference between revisions

Zahir al-Din or Rafi’ al-Din, Sayyid Ibrahim b. Qawam al-Din Husayn b. ‘Ata’ Allah Hasan Husayni Hamadani, known as Ibrahim Hamadani and Qazi Zadi, was a Shi’a philosopher, theosophist, jurist (faqih), narrator (Muhaddith) and theologian of the 10th and 11th century. He was the judge of Hamadan for a while during the reign of Shah ‘Abbas Safavi. He was a master of rational sciences to the point that he was titled as “Sultan al-‘Ulama’,” “‘Allama of the time,” “Plato” and “Avicenna of the time.” He authored several works and passed away in 1025 or 1026.

His full name was not mentioned in old sources close to his time. Afandi has mentioned him twice inattentively which caused misunderstanding of the following authors. Ibrahim Hamadani is a descendants of Imam al-Husayn (a) (from Sadat al-Husayni). Although he was counted as one of the descendants of Imam al-Hasan (a) in Jami’ al-ruwat, ‘Alam Ara and Rawzat al-Jannat, he has introduced himself as a descendant of Imam al-Husayn (a).  

During the reign of Shah Tahmasb Safavi, his father was the judge and in charge of Shar’i affairs in Hamadan. Therefore, Ibrahim was also known as Qadi Zadi (offspring of judge). Hazin Lahiji has mentioned one of his descendants by the same name “Ibrahim Hamadani,” the brother of Najaf Khan Sadr, and due to the similarity of his name to that of his grandfather, he was called “Ibrahim Hamadani the second.”

There is no information about his birth date. After his detailed biography, Iskandar Munshi reported the he passed away in 1026; in another place he has mentioned his name among those who passed away in 1025, though. Ibn Ma’sum and Shaykh Hurr al-‘Amili explicity mentioned 1026 as his demise date. However, Husayni and Ardabili mentioned 1025. Apparently, divergent reports in ‘Alam Ara has influenced the following sources.

For a while he studied rational sciences under Mir Fakhr al-Din Sammaki Astar Abadi in Qazvin. Sammaki wrote a certification (Ijaza) for him, in which he praised him. Then he studied under Mirza Makhdum Isfahani for a while. He learned Hadith from Shaykh Baha’i and Shaykh gave him a Certification of Narration (Ijazat al-Riwaya). Shaykh Muhammad b. Shahab al-Din Ahmad b. Ni’mat Allah b. Khatun al-‘Amili is another Shaykh al-Ijaza who gave Ibrahim a Certification of Narration in 1008 in Mecca.

After the death of Shah Tahmasb, Ibrahim Hamadani was appointed as the judge of Hamadan. However, Iskandar Munshi reported that he less frequently judged and most suits were judged by his deputies, as he spent most of his time for reading, discussing and teaching. After that Shah ‘Abbas the first was enthroned, Ibrahim became very close to Shah and according to his saying he went to Shah’s courts many times and he was honored and respected by Shah.

- ‘Abd al-Ghani Tafrishi

- Murad b. Ali Khan Tafrishi: the author of “al-Ta’liqat al-Sajjadiyya” a commentary on “Man la yahduruh al-faqih.”

- Mir Mustafa Tafrishi: the author of “Naqd al-rijal.” He mentioned Hamadani as “my teacher and the teacher of humankind.”

- Mulla ‘Abd al-Baqi Shukuhi Hamadani: the poet and calligrapher contemporaneous to Shah ‘Abbas.

Ibrahim Hamadani traveled to Gilan, Mecca and Georgia. In 999/1591 by the order of Shah ‘Abbas, he along with a delegation traveled to Gilan for participation in the wedding ceremony of Shahzade Muhammad Baqir to Khan Biygum, the daughter of Khan Ahmad Gilani. In 1007, he headed to Mecca for performing Hajj. It was in Mecca that he met Shaykh Muhammad b. Khatun al-‘Amili, the author of glosses on Alfiyya written by Shahid al-Awwal, and received a Certification of Narration from him.

Late in his life, he went to Georgia along with Shah ‘Abbas’s army. After a while in 1026, he got permission to return; so he headed to Hamadan. But he passed away on the way.

Hamadani was so expert in rational sciences that his views were regarded by his contemporaries as valid and reliable. He was praised by titles like: “‘Aql al-Hadi ‘Ashar” (the eleventh intellect), “Ustad al-Bashar” (the teacher of humankind), “Sultan al-‘Ulama’”, “Sayyid-i Hukama’ Mutakalim” (the master of theologian philosophers), “‘Allama-i Zaman” (polymath of the time), “Plato” and “Avicenna of the time.” Shaykh Muhammad b. Khatun says that he was a polymath. Mentioning his expertise in rational sciences, Afandi says, “Some of the surprising points that are attributed to him are that he did not know Fiqh or he has killed a group of Shah ‘Abbas’s elite commanders”. However, some other biographers praised him for his asceticism, piety, modesty and peace. In his letter to Ibrahim Hamadani, Shaykh Baha’i addressed him as “the knower of the secretes of mystical secretes.”

- Unmudhajat Ibrahimiyya: in Arabic, is glosses on Ilahiyyat section of al-Shifa’ and al-Najat both written by Avicenna. He authored this work in 1007 and a manuscript of it is available now.  

- Glosses on Sharh al-Tajrid: in Arabic. A manuscript of this work is kept in the library of Astan Quds Radavi. Afandi mentioned this work by the title “al-Hashiya ‘ala al-sharh al-jadid li al-Tajrid.”

- Risalat fi tawjih kalam al-Shaykh fi “Ann al-wahid la yasdur ‘anh illa al-wahid”: a treatise explaining and justifying the opinion of Avicenna in answer to Bahmanyar about the philosophical principle “One does not issue expect for one.” Manuscripts of this treatise are kept in various libraries.

- As Ibrahim Hamadani composed poems as well, some of his poems are found in anthology of Janabdhi. Also, some of his letters are available, including the one to and from Shaykh Baha’i that has been published in Armaghan Magazine.

- Glosses on “Ithbat al-Wajib” written by al-Dawani.

- Glosses on “al-Isharat” written by Aviccenna.

- Glosses on “al-Kashshaf” written by Zamakhshari.

- Rasa’il al-Kalamiyya.