Kitāb al-irschād
The book of guidance ( Arabic كتاب الارشاد Kitāb al-irschād , DMG Kitāb al-iršād ) is abiographical handbook on the Twelve Imams of the Twelve Shiites, writtenby Shaikh al-Mufīd in the 10th century . The full title is al-Iršād fī maʿrifat ḥuǧaǧ Allāh ʿalā 'l-ʿibād .
content
The book defends the still emerging beliefs of the Imamites against the Sunnis and against rival Shiite currents, especially the Ismailis . What is characteristic, however, is above all the attempt to combine traditionalist and rationalist approaches and to open up Shiite teaching as a whole to the ideas of the theological currents of Muʿtazila . Thus al-Mufid works in traditions (hadith) through which he wants to substantiate his presentation, but also cites reasons of reason which, in his opinion, should justify the necessity of an imamate succession within the framework of an order willed by God.
Most of the work, about half, is the representation of the life of , Alī , who is considered to be the first imam by the Shiites. In addition, the section on the twelfth Imam is particularly significant , which serves on the one hand to confirm his concealment ( ġayba ) and on the other hand to establish the doctrine of his return ( raǧʿa ) as a Mahdi at the end of the world, which at that time was still very controversial among the Shiites.
Translations
- Hans Halm : The Shiites . Partial translation of the section on the hidden 12th Imam. Beck, Munich 2005, p. 38 f.