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.
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.
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'.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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