Exact date of birth of Sayyid Sharafuddin Alī, Hussainī Astar-Ābādī is not known. However, on the basis of research it can be said that he was one of the Ulamā of 10th century Hegira. Sayyid Sharafuddin, as one of the Ulamā of 10th century Hegira, was a student of Sheikh Nūruddin Alī son of Abdul-Ālī, widely known as Muhaqqiq-e Karaki.
Unfortunately, in many biography books, not much is written about Sayyid Sharafuddin. Many such books include repetitions of information from other books. With regard to his family background, his teachers and students, and exact dates of his birth and death, further research on a comprehensive basis is necessary. Nonetheless, the most important aspects of biographical interest concerning individual personalities are one's spiritual and social status as well as his intellectuality, knowledge ability, and personal piety. Fortunately these aspects of Sayyid Sharafuddin's character are - to a sufficient extent - identifiable from the available information.
The only works ofSayyid Sharafuddin which have remained safe despite all historical horrible events are two much esteemed writings that survived and are now available to us; these are
Ta'weel-ul-Āyāt Aż-Żāhirah: The subject matter has much to do with the merits and virtues of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (the infallible household of the Holy Prophet of Islam A.S.). The author first mentions verses from the Holy Qur'ān and then points out the relevant narrations from the infallible Imams (A.S.). The narrations are actually
(esoteric interpretations) of the said Qur'ānic verses. Some of the narrations eulogize the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.) and their followers; there are also other narrations that indicate reproaches on the enemies and foes of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS).
Sayyid Sharafuddin's book is regarded as offering the best reference material in the aforementioned subjects. Many of the recent scholars who intended to write in this regard have made much use of Sayyid Sharafuddin's book.
Sayyid Sharafuddin himself draws out many narrations from the exegesis on the holy Qur'ān written by Ali Ibne Mahaboundyār, a contemporary of Thiqat-ul-Islām Sheikh-e Kulaynī.
Sayyid Sharafuddin's book has received much attention of Shiite Ulamā; and translations, summarizations and commentaries on it abound.
(2) Al-Fawāyed-ul-Gharawiyah fi Sharh-il-Ja'fariyah
This book contains a commentary on the book Al-Ja'fariyah written by Muhaqqiq-e Karaki, the teacher of Sayyid Sharafuddin, in 917 H.
Its subject matter is Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), which includes a discussion on Prayer (Salāt), its preliminary requirements (known as Muqaddamāt), the relevant obligations (Wājibāt), and others of recommendatory nature (Mustahabbāt). Sayyid Sharafuddin in 933 H. wrote the commentary on Al-Ja'farieh, when his aforementioned teacher (Muhaqqiq-e Karaki) was alive.
In this book, all the contents or the quotations are attributed to Muhaqqiq-e Karaki with the phrase ". قال سلمه ا." (i.e. "said by him, may Allah protect him"). Then, the quoted texts are followed by the explicator's explanations, which begin with an attribution to himself as: " أقول" (i.e. "I say ").
As stated earlier, this book is on the subject of Fiqh, and such a book is vivid evidence that depicts the professional competence of Sayyid Sharafuddin in the field of Fiqh.
Unfortunately, other works of Sayyid Sharafuddin are not available to us, nor are they believed to be available elsewhere. However, the two highly valuable books mentioned above are considered sufficient for the purpose of identifying the personality and status of Sayyid Sharafuddin.
May the Almighty associate him with his saint ancestors, and grant all of us the favor to continue following their path!
Some are of view that the year of his death is 940 H., which can be regarded as an approximate possibility.