Sayyid Abd al-Aziz Tabataba'i: Difference between revisions

'''Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Ṭabāṭabā’ī Yazdī''' (Arabic: سید عبدالعزیز طباطبائی یزدی) (1308-1373 S.H./ 1929-1995) known as '''Muḥaqqiq Ṭabāṭabā’ī''' and '''Āqā ‘Azīz Kitābshinās''' (Persian: آقا عزیز کتابشناس, Mr. Aziz, the Bibliographer), was a codicologist, and a scholar of history, [[‘ilm al-rijal]] and biography. He is a grandson of [[Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Tabataba’i Yazdi]], the author of [[al-‘Urwa al-wuthqa]], from both material and paternal sides. He was so skillful in his areas of specialization that was known by acdemic and scholarly communities as “Muhaqqiq” (scholar). Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Aziz had some students. He identified many manuscripts in world libraries.  

Abu Jawad, Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. Jawad b. Isma’il Tabataba’i Yazdi was born in [[Najaf]] on Aban 4, 1308 S.H. ([[Jamadi al-Thani]] 21, 1348 A.H./ October 27, 1959). He was the grandson of Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Tabataba’i Yazdi (d. 1337 A.H./ 1918), the author of al-‘Urwa al-wuthqa.

After studying the preliminaries of Islamic sciences, Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Aziz went to [[Iran]] with his father. When his father passed away, he went to [[Qom]] and studied with [[Sayyid Rida Sadr]]. One year later he went back to Najaf, and studied with [[Sayyid Abu l-Qasim Khu’i]], [[Sayyid ‘Abd al-Hadi Shirazi]], [[‘Abd al-A’la Sabzawari]], [[Sayyid Hashim Husayni Tihrani]], Mirza [[Muhammad ‘Ali Urdubadi]]. He received permissions to narrate [[hadiths]] from Ayatollah Khu’i, Sayyid ‘Abd al-Hadi Shirazi, and [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]].

Muhaqqiq Tabataba’i died on [[Ramadan 7, 1415 A.H. (Bahman 18, 1373 S.H./ February 7, 1995). He was buried in the Chamber 14 of the courtyard of the Holy Shrine of [[Fatima al-Ma’suma (a)]].

Since he was interested in bibliography and codicology and the revival of Shiite old heritage, Tabataba’i was influenced in Najaf by two prominent figures: Aqa Buzurg Tihrani and [[‘Allama Amini]]. When ‘Allama Amini founded the Library of Amir al-Mu’minin (a) in Najaf, Muhaqqiq Tabataba’i started to make a catalogue for the library. And in order to identify manuscripts and learn about bibliography and other related fields, he frequently consulted Aqa Buzurg Tihrani.

In 1349 S.H. (Dhu l-Hajja 1389 A.H./ February 1970), Tabataba’i was invited by Mashhad Univeristy to go to Iran and attend the Conference of the Millenium of al-Shaykh al-Tusi. At the request of the Libeary of [[Astan Quds Razavi]], he wrote manuscripts of [[fiqh]] and [[usul al-fiqh]], and then returned to Najaf. In 1356 S.H. (1978), he was deported by the Iraqi regime; he returned to Iran and stayed in Qom. He was affiliated with centers such as Mu’assisa Al al-Bayt (a), Al-Ghadir Center, the Foundation of Islamic Researches of Astan Quds Razavi, the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia, the Foundation of Bi’that, and the Publications of Jami’a Mudarrisin. Many books were published by his cooperations or under his supervision. He also attended many academic and scscholarly conferences inside and outside Iran. 94 books were written by his supervision and his notes. He made a large catalogue of manuscripts available inside and outside Iran.

People familiar with Muhaqqiq Tabatab’i admired his purity and his love of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and his expertise in Shiite bibliography. He generouly helped researchers and students.

Tabataba’i wrote a lot of works some of which were supplementary to those of his teachers, Aqa Buzurg and ‘Allama Amini.

Tabataba’i made catalogues of manuscripts, such as:

* The catalogue of the Library of Amir al-Mu’minin (a) in Najaf.

* Ahl al-Bayt (a) fi l-maktaba al-‘arabiyya ([[Ahl al-Bayt (a) in the Arabic school)

* Nahj al-balagha ‘ibr al-qurun ([[Nahj al-balagha]] during centuries)

* Makhtutat al-lugha al-‘arabiyya (Manuscripts of the Arabic language)

* Fihrist tasanif Karajaki (A catalogue of Karajaki’s works)

* Shakhsiyat-i ‘ilmi wa mashayikh-i Shaykh Tusi ([[Shaykh Tusi]]’s scholarly character and his teachers)

Muhaqqiq Tabataba’i attended many conferences, such as the Conference of Shaykh Tusi in [[Mashhad]] in 1389 S.H. (2010), a conference by the Institute of Muhammadi Trust in 1404 A.H. (1983), the Conference of Imam ‘Ali (a) in 1410 A.H. (1989) in London, and the Conference of the Millenium of [[Sharif Radi]] in 1406 A.H. (1985) in the Foundation of Nahj al-Balagha in Tehran, and the Conference of Book and Book Reading in the Islamic Civilization in Mashhad.