Leading luminaries [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

ALI IBN-E
ISĀ IRBELI

(Ali, The son of Isā Irbeli)

His full name is Abulhassan Ali, son
of Isā, son of Abulfath Irbeli, an Islamic scholar of 7th
century Hegira.

His Family:

He was born in an erudite family.
His father was the governor of the city of Irbel in northern Iraq.

His Children:

His descendants were also
intellectual people, thinkers, accomplished figures, literary men, and
poets. Some of his descendants are indicated below

Tājuddin Muhammad, famous for his
collection of poems

His grandson, Isā son of Tājuddin
Muhammad, who has been a literary figure like his father and grandfather

Another grandson, Sharafuddin Ahmad
son of Muhammad, who has been an accomplished literary man. He has
received an authorization from his grandfather to narrate his book
entitled Kashf-ul-Ghummah. The text of this authorization is now
available at the end of one of his manuscripts.

His Intellectual
Status

With regard to his intellectual
standing, it will be sufficient to point out the valuable heritage he left
behind for posterity, i.e. his book entitled Kashf-ul-Ghummah. The
book evidences his mastery on the branches of Islamic science such as
Hadith (Traditions), Seerah (the way of life of the holy
prophet of Islam and his infallible descendants A.S.), the history of
Islam, and Kalām (ideological basics of Islamic theology).

Many Shiite scholars have expressed
nothing but praise for him. Even a prejudiced Sunnite scholar like Fazl
ibne Rūzbehān, who has written a book on refutation of Allāmah Hillī, did
not hesitate to eulogize Ali ibne Isā's intellectuality in his saying: "Imāmiyyah
(Shiites) unanimously agree that Ali Ibne Isā Irbeli is one of their
greatest Ulamā (Islamic scholars) whose compilations and works will never
be considered obsolete or outdated. He is trustworthy and reliable in his
narrations."

Also Sheikh Jamāluddin Ahmad ibne
Tāwūs has composed a few couplets on Irbeli's famous book,
Kashf-ul-Ghummah

"Let the writer of this book be
complimented by saying: By Allah! How elegantly you have described the
subject matter, as it deserves! No doubt, by writing this book you have
made amply clear the excellent qualities of the Household of Allah's
Messenger, and pointed out the issues that unnerve the enemies of the holy
Prophet of Islam (S.A.)!"

His Teachers

Sayyid ibne Tāwūs, the author of
Iqbāl-ul-A'māl

Ali ibne Fakhkhār

Ibne Sā'ee Baghdadi

Abu Abdullah Ganji Shāfe'ī

Sheikh Rashiduddin Muhammad ibne
Qāsim, the author of Al-Mustaghīthīn Billāh

His Pupils:

Ali ibne Isā trained many students
whose names are recorded in the charters he gave them to be able to
narrate Hadith. His major pupils are listed as follows

Allāmah Hillī

Sheikh Raziuddin, brother of
Allāmah Hillī

Sheikh Tājuddin Muhammad, his son.

His Writings

The erudite and deeply committed
thinker, Ali ibne Isā Irbeli, has written books on many subjects, as
exemplified below

1) Kashf-ul-Ghummah Fi
Ma'rifatil-A'immah (A.S.): a rare book of its kind; it discusses the
religious principles with reference to Ismat [the infallibility of
prophets and Imams], Wilāyat [guardianship of the holy prophet of
Islam and rightful Imams after him], as well as proving the beliefs of
Shiite school of thought (as the rightful sect), together with the
relevant literary and historical discussions. The author completed this
book in the year 687 Hegira. Owing to its value and importance, the
successive Islamic scholars have translated this book under different
titles so that Persian-speaker Muslims could familiarize themselves with
the merits and lives of their religious leaders.

2) Al-Maqāmāt (spiritual
stages)

3) A collection of his poems,
many extracts of which appear in his other books, including
Kashf-ul-Ghummah in particular

Kitāb-ul-Tayf

- And numerous other monographs (Risālah)
on different topics.

His Demise:

Eventually, after a lifetime
intellectual exertion for upholding the banner of Shiism, Ali ibne Isā
Irbeli left this transient world in 693 Hegira to have a pleasing return
to Allah, the Almighty. His pure body was buried within his house in
Baghdad. His shrine became a place of pilgrimage for devotees and lovers
of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.). His sacred tomb was kept intact for many
centuries; however, in the 14th century Hegira it was
unfortunately destroyed due to constructional changes in Baghdad city.