AL-IRSHĀD'

The writer of this book is
Sheikh-e
Mufīd, Abū Abdullāh Muhammad
son of Muhammad son of No'mān Akbarī Baghdādī, (336-413 Hegira). He is a
brilliant Islamic scholar and jurisprudent (Faqīh) in the 4th century
Hegira.

Subject of
the Book:

Al-Irshād includes the
biographies of the infallible Imāms of Shi'a, which Sheikh-e Mufīd has gathered
according to the obtainable narrations. In this book, Sheikh Mufīd has some
references to the virtues and merits of the infallible household of the holy
Prophet of Islām (Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S.) and their disciples.

Authenticity of the Book:

Al-Irshāđ is accounted as one of the most authentic
resources of Shi'a in the field of Riwāyāt' (narrations) on the lives of the
infallible Imāms (A.S.); it has been a trustworthy resource for many of the
reference books of Shi'a about the biographies of the Imāms (A.S.). It has also
been one of the reliable resources for the book
Bihār-ul-Anwār'.

Value of the Book:

Al-Irshād is the best book
for access to the original sources of Shi'a about the lives and virtues of the
infallible Imāms (A.S.). It is actually one of the firsthand sources of Shi'a in
this field.

Motive:

Sheikh-e Mufīd has written
this book upon the request of one of his companions. At the beginning of the
book, Sheikh acknowledges: "According to your
request I have listed the
holy names of the directors to the right path (A'imma-tul-Hudā A.S.), along with
their biographies, the location of their tombs and shrines. Also I have referred
to some narrations about the dignity and high position of those saint
Imāms(A.S.), with the intention that your religious belief would be based upon a
firm ground and knowledge".

Writing
style:

In Al-Irshād, similar to
the historical books, Sheikh-e Mufīd has directed his attention to the
historical events.

Besides that, Al-Irshād is
an ideological book, because it refers to many Ideals of Shi'a.

Meanwhile, like narration
books, Sheikh-e Mufīd has referred to every subject by mentioning its
documentations and original sources as well, and this has increased its value
and authenticity.

The other point is that
half of the book is allocated to the biography of Imām Alī (A.S.); this shows
the importance, which Sheikh-e Mufīd considered for that great Imām.

Date of compilation:

Sheikh-e Mufīd has written
Al-Irshād' in 411 H. (two years before his death), at the peak of his
scientific fame; this adds more value to the book.

Contents:

Many significant subjects of the
history of the holy Imāms (A.S.) are mentioned in this book, such
as:

1)
Forewarning of Imām Alī
(A.S.) of his martyrdom

2)
A series of narrations which
indicate the merits and virtues of Imām Alī (A.S.)

3)
Judgments of Imām Alī
(A.S.)

4)
Sayings of Imām Alī
(A.S.)

5)
Biography of Imām Hasan
(A.S.)

6)
Uprising of Imām Husain
(A.S.)

7)
The uprising of Zayd, the
Shahid (the Martyr)

8)
Imām Ridhā (A.S.), and the
story of his vicegerency (Wilāyat-e Ahd)

9)
Arrival of Imām Hādī (A.S.)
in Sāmirrā'

10) The Sīrah (the way of life) of Imām-e Asr
(AJ.F.)

and many other important subjects.

Saying of Āqā Bozurg-e Tehrānī:

Āqā
Bozurg-e Tehrānī, the compiler of the valuable book Al-Dharī'ah Ilā
Tasānīf-ish-Shi'a' cites about Al-Irshād': "This book is written about the
biographies of the twelve infallible Imāms (A.S.). Any writer who has written a
book on this subject after Sheikh-e Mufīd, has used Al-Irshād' as his authentic
source of documentation."

Manuscripts:

1-
A manuscript of this book
is available in the library of Ayatollah Najafī Mar'ashī in Qum. Its date of writing
goes back to 565 Hegira. This copy has been compared with the copy of
Fadhlullāh-e Rāwandī (dated 566 Hegira).

2-
A manuscript is available
in the library of Majlis Showrā-ye Islāmī' (Iranian Islamic Parliament), Its
date of manuscript goes back to 575 Hegira. This copy has been compared with the
copy of Mawlānā Imām Dhiāuddīn.

3-
There is also another
manuscript in the library of Sayyid Husain Shīrāzī'. Its date of manuscript
goes back to the 7th century of Hegira.

Printing:
Āl-ul-Bayt
institute has made a research on the existing printed copy, and has written an
introduction to the book.

At the
end of this copy, there are 12 various indexes as follows:

1-
Index of Qurānic verses
(Āyāt)

2-
Index of Traditions
(Hadīths)

3-
Index of Proper Nouns
(A'lām)

4-
Index of Sects and
Factions

5-
Index of
Poems

6-
Index of
Clothing

7-
Index of
Animals

8-
Index of
Weapons

9-
Index of Holy
Wars

10-Index
of Places

11-Index
of Subjects

12-Resources
of research