wikishia:Featured articles/2025/14
Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi or Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (d. 1314/1897) was a supporter of the proximity of schools of thought who made enormous efforts for the unity of Muslims. He traveled to different Islamic countries. There are countless disagreements on homeland, life and attitudes of Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi. Mirza Rida al-Kirmani, who murdered Nasir al-Din Shah, was a student of Al-Asad Abadi.
Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi was born in Asad Abad in 1254/1838. His father, Sayyid Safdar, and his mother, Sukayna Beygum, were descendants of Imam al-Sajjad (a). Some believed he was Afghan, and some believed he was Iranian. It is claimed that Sayyid Jamal al-Din himself stated that he was an Afghan.
Some reports mentioned that his relatives were living in Hamadan, and historical sources and documents show that he had an Iranian identification card, thus, it is concluded he was Iranian.
On the other hand, some reports mentioned that Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi did not consider himself an Iranian and Shi'a, to work on unity of Islam and he could be able to interact with other Islamic sects including Sunnis. In an interview, Sayyid Jamal al-Din stated: "I am an Afghan, the purest race of Iranian."
However, some believe Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi was born in Asad Abad or As'ad Abad in Afghanistan. He studied in Kabul and migrated to India afterwards. Sayyid Jamal al-Din al-Asad Abadi stated that English called him a Russian, Sunni called him a Rafidi, and Shi'a called him a Nasibi....
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