Muhammad Rida al-Muzaffar: Difference between revisions

Muhammad Rida Muzaffar was born on Sha'ban 5, 1322 A.H. (October 15, 1904) in a district of Najaf called “Barraq”, 5 months after his father's death. His father, Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah al-Muzaffar was from the Al-i Muzaffar household and a scholar of [[fiqh]] in Najaf. His mother was the daughter of Shaykh 'Abd al-Husayn al-Turayhi (d. 1293 A.H./ 1876). He was brought up fist by his elder brother, Shaykh 'Abd al-Nabi (d. 1337 A.H./ 1919), and after his death, by another brother of his, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan al-Muzaffar (d. 1375 A.H./ 1956).

==The household==

“Al-i Muzaffar” was a well-known and well-reputed household in Najaf, many of its members being Islamic scholars. Since 12th century A.H. (18th century), many prominent scholars of Najaf came from this household.

Shaykh Muhammad Rida Muzaffar passed away on the night of [[Ramadan]] 16, 1383 A.H. (January 31, 1964), and was buried near the resting place of his brother, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan.

Muhammad Rida Muzaffar started his educations in Najaf. After learning to read and write, he began studying in the Islamic seminary at the age of 13. He studied the principles of Arabic literature and grammar with Shaykh Muhammad Taha Huwayzi. He then studied [[fiqh]] and [[usul al-fiqh]] with prominent scholars of the fields.

“Muntada al-Nashr” literally means to call one another to propagate (Islamic cultures and sciences). By founding this society, Muzaffar tried to realize his reformist goals. This scholarly and religious foundation received its permission from the Iraqi government in 1353 A.H. (1934). Its goals included the propagation of the Islamic culture and sciences, social reforms by publishing appropriate books, and educations.

==Muntada University==

In 1355 A.H. (1936), Muzaffar founded an Islamic seminary school in which fiqh, exegesis of the [[Quran]], usul al-fiqh, and philosophy were taught. The school was called Muntada University. Scholars such as [[Muhammad Jawad al-Balaghi]], [['Abd al-Husayn Dashti]] and [['Abd al-Husayn Hilli]] taught in this university.  

==Muntada schools==

Muzaffar's next step was the foundation of Muntada schools that was welcomed by scholars of Najaf and well-known households there, and this helped develop the schools. During decades in these schools, primary, secondary and pre-university levels were taught. The idea was to teach modern courses with a lean towards a religious culture.

In 1376 A.H. (1957), Muzaffar founded the College of Fiqh in Najaf. The college was recognized by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture in 1377 A.H. (1958). The courses of the college included: Imamiyya [[fiqh]], comparative fiqh, [[usul al-fiqh]], exegesis of the [[Quran]], [[hadith]], [[diraya al-hadith]], educational sciences, psychology, literature, history of literature, sociology, history of Islam, Islamic philosophy, modern philosophy, logic, modern history, principles of teaching, Arabic grammar, Arabic conjugation, and foreign languages.

Muhammad Rida Muzaffar taught philosophy in this college, and was writing his book on usul al-fiqh to be taught there. He also headed the college and supervised the books written for the college courses.

Muzaffar tried to provide textbooks of Islamic disciplines in an up-to-date and simple style. His written works are free of complexities usually observed in older works of fiqh and usul al-fiqh. They are easy to comprehend. His style of writing is said to be affected by his familiarity with literature and modern teaching.

The books, al-Mantiq (logic), Usul al-fiqh, and 'Aqa'id al-Imamiyya (Imamiyya beliefs), upgraded the way textbooks of Islamic seminaries were written. They are textbooks of Islamic seminaries today.

 

'''Usul al-fiqh:''' Muzaffar wrote this book as a textbook for the College of Fiqh in Najaf, and he intended it to fill the gap between two other textbooks in usul al-fiqh: [[Ma'alim al-din]] and [[Kifaya al-usul]]. In the structure of the book, he followed the lead of his teacher, [[Muhammad Husayn Gharawi Isfahani]]. Like his other written work, Usul al-fiqh was written in a simple style. He tried to cash out complex issues of usul al-fiqh in a very clear and comprehendible way.

 

''''Aqa'id al-Imamiyya:''' the book is a collection of Islamic beliefs in accordance with [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] in a summarized and eloquent style. Before writing the book, he had lectured the material in Muntada University in 1363 A.H. (1944), and then published it both as 'Aqa'id al-Imamiyya and 'Aqa'id al-Shi'a. His purpose of writing the book was to approximate Islamic sects.

 

'''Al-Mantiq:''' the book consisted of Muzaffar's lectures regarding logic since 1357 A.H. (1938) in Muntada al-Nashr College. The book is taught as a textbook in both the Islamic seminaries and universities.

Muzaffar composed poems since he was young. He was encouraged to compose poems by Shaykh Muhammad Taha Huwayzi. His collection of poems includes about 5000 verses.