Written by Alī son of Īsā Irbelī (Born in 692 Hegira)
Biography and virtuous qualities of the Holy Prophet of Islām (S.A) and his infallible Household (Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S.)
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.
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 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.
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.
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.