Kashf-ul-Ghummah

Written by Alī son of Īsā Irbelī (Born in 692
Hegira)

Subject:

Biography and
virtuous qualities of
the Holy Prophet of Islām (S.A) and his infallible Household (Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S.)

Motivation of Writing:

Alī son of Īsā Irbelī,
the famous Islamic Jurisprudent and brilliant Shi'a scholar, acknowledged that
his incentive for writing this book has been resorting to the Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S.)
and showing sincerity to that great household.

Method of Compilation:

The book is categorized based on the
names of fourteen infallible saints, starting from the biography of Holy Prophet
(S.A), then that of the infallible Imāms in succession; as well as a glance at
the biography of Khadījah (the spouse of the Holy Prophet of Islam S.A.).

About the Holy Prophet
and each of infallible Imāms, first he has quoted their names and date of birth,
and then narrated their biographies in details. Then he has mentioned their
virtuous qualities, miracles and honors, along with their offspring and
descendants.

The book also contains wills and stories of martyrdom
of the Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S.).

In different parts of the book, compiler offers lots of reasoning
on Shī'a legitimacy, and nullifies all other various sects, and from this point
of view the book contains a deductive context.

Value of the Book:

Value of each book
depends on different factors, and we measure the value of this book accordingly:

1- One of the
important factors to evaluate a book is its author. The book Kashf-ul-Ghummah'
is compiled by a great Islamic scholar such as Alī son of Īsā Irbelī, who -
according to all Shī'a scholars - is unanimously known as an expert scholar, a
famous Islamic Jurisprudent, and a keen researcher.

2- The more important the subject of a book is, the more valuable
it will be.

Since there is no one as eminent as the infallible Imams (A.S)
throughout history, and this book addresses their qualities and virtues,
therefore it contains the most glorious subject.

3- The source of contents of a book also plays an important role
in its authenticity.

Sources of contents of this book are narrations attributed to the
infallible Imāms (A.S), and they are undoubtedly without any mistake and
inaccuracy. The only problem is reliability of the narrators of Hadīths
(Traditions), for which the author has done his best to narrate the most
reliable ones.

4- The next advantage is the era when the author lived, which is
only four centuries after the era of infallible Imāms in this case. This factor
has also added to the value of the book.

Translation:

The book Kashf-ul-Ghummah is highly
welcomed by scholars; therefore, several translations have been made of it. Some
of the translations are as follows:

1- A translation titled as Mihrāb-ul-Qulūb written by
Alī son of Feyz Irbelī.

2- A translation by Hassan son of Hussain Beihaqī.

3- A translation named Manāqib written by Alī son of
Hassan Zavārī (the author of Tarjumat-ul-Khawāss', an exegesis on the holy
Qur'ān). Kaf'amī - the author of Misbāh - has written some annotations to this
book.

Publication:

Mr. Sayyid Hāshim Rasūlī Mahallātī has
revised this book.

Also Ayatullāh Ja'far Subhānī has written an introduction to the
book in which biography and character of the author as well as some explanations
about the book are mentioned. This introduction offers useful topics to the
reader.