The
scholars of shias have played a prominent role in the propagation and
strengthening of beliefs of shias from time to time. This was much required
during the gaibat of Imam E Zaman (as). During such time one of the most
prominent scholar who was an outstanding Islamic Jurisprudent and a great narrator
of Hadith in shiaism was Shaikh
Hurr Ameli.
BIRTH
AND FAMILY BACKGROUND:
He was
Born on Rajab 8th, 1033 A.H in a village in the “Jabal Amel” region in
Lebanon. He is titled as "Sheikh of Islam" and "Leader
of Shiah". His full name is Muhammad son of Hasan son of Ali son of
Muhammad son of Hussein. Sheikh Horr Ameli is a descendant of "Horr son of
Yazid Riyahi", who joined the forces of Imam Hussein (a.s.) in the event
of Ashura. The family of Horr is a
family of noble origin, among whom there are numerous Islamic scholars and
Jurisprudents.
The father of Sheikh Horr was an upright,
trustworthy, and highly learned scholar on Jurisprudence as well as a literary
figure, well versed in Arabic language. Sheikh Horr Ameli's grandfather and
great grandfather were renowned scholars of their time. Hence Sheikh Horr Ameli
was brought up in such a distinguished family that produced Ulema and
Jurisprudents with distinctive originality of intellectual endeavors.
SHEIKH
HORR AMELI’S PERSONALITY:
He is considered to be one of the most
distinguished Ulema of the eleventh century A.H. who has left legacy of
valuable writings, and his exemplary personality is held in great esteem by the
Shiite Ulema. He enriched Shiite knowledge with authentic sayings and
narrations of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s.), and his works are commendable indeed.
In Shiah sect, he is taken into account
as one of the most credible links in the chain of narrators; that is,
narrations quoted by him mark the authenticity of a Hadith or Narration with
regard to its connection with the Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s.) or the Holy Prophet
(s.a.).
TRIBUTES
PAID BY SHIITE ULEMA:
Sayyed Ali Khan Madani, the writer of
commentary on Imam Sajjad's collection of supplications entitled "Sahifah
al-Sajjadiyah", has paid tributes to Sheikh Horr Ameli as follows: “Sheikh
Muhammad son of Hasan son of Ali son of Muhammad, Horr Ameli, was an eminent
servant of high intellectual standing, whose personality could hardly be
described through string of words. His valuable writings have become wide
spread and have brought forth vivifying showers on the parched lands all over
the world. His pearl-like ideas have brightened the sky of history, sparkling
as they are between lines of words …”
Allameh Amini in his valuable book
“al-Ghadir” eulogizes Sheikh Horr Ameli: “He was a pearl in the crown of his
time and a bright star on the forehead of excellence. Anytime one seeks to know
more about the Sheikh, he is likely to find him competent in every field of
knowledge.Words are not enough to praise him. Indeed, he is the very
personification of knowledge and literature, and the epitome of excellence and
perfect virtues. His writings, which have made him immortal, include the
subject matters for promotion of virtues in the society, collection of Islamic
decrees, wise sayings, eulogizing excellences, and sayings of the Ahl-ul-Bayt
(a.s.) on affirmation of Imamate…”
Other
Ulemas have also praised Sheikh Horr Ameli
HIS
PILGRIMAGES AND TRAVELS:
Sheikh Horr Ameli lived in his ancestral
“Jabal Amel” region in Lebanon until he was forty years old. During this
period, he performed Hajj twice. In the year 1073 A.H. he went on a pilgrimage
to Iraq to visit the holy shrines of the Infallible Imams (AS) there. Then he
decided to go on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mashhad to visit the holy
shrine of Imam Reza (AS), where he settled down for the rest of his life.
Before returning to Mashhad and residing there till the time of his death, he
visited Isfahan where he called on the local Ulema, especially Allameh Majlesi
(R.A.). Sheikh Horr Ameli himself received the Allameh Majlesi’s authorization
to quote Hadiths.
THE
SHEIKH’S RETURN TO MASHHAD:
On his return to Mashhad, the Shah of
Iran appointed him as the “Qazi al-Quzat” (Chief Justice) and he soon became
one of the distinguished Ulema there. He held teaching sessions in the holy
city of Mashhad and organized debates. Thus he taught and trained a large
number of industrious scholars, especially those who sincerely strived to learn
the sciences derived from the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS). He proved to be a benign
teacher. He also wrote valuable books while residing in Mashhad.
HIS
POETIC TALENT:
Sheikh Horr Ameli had a remarkable poetic
talent. One special feature of his poetry is the lengthiness of the poems. He
has composed many poems on the merits and praise of the Ahl-ul- Bayt (a.s.).
The total number of such eulogistic couplets in his complete poetical works is
around 20,000. He has eulogized the Holy Prophet (s.a.) in a poem comprising
more than one hundred couplets. He has also composed another poem on the
miraculous deeds and moral excellence of the holy Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt
(a.s.) consisting of four hundred verses.
HIS
TEACHERS:
Sheikh Horr Ameli in his native Jabal
Amel regional village named Meshgharah took much benefit from distinguished
teachers who taught him the sciences derived from the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS). His
education there was of basic importance for his personality development to the
extent of becoming a great scholar and “Mujtahid” (an authorized Islamic
Jurisprudent to issue religious decrees) of good repute. His teachers at
Meshgharah included the following:
1) His father, Hasan son of Ali
2) His paternal uncle, Sheikh Muhammad
son of Ali Horr
3) His maternal grandfather, Sheikh Abdul
Salam son of Muhammad Horr,
4) His father’s maternal uncle, Sheikh
Ali son of Mahmud Ameli;
5) Sheikh Zainuddin, Sahib Ma'alim (the
son of Shahid Thani), and
6) Sheikh Hussain Zuhayri;
There were other teachers also who had
contributed to his education.
HIS
WRITINGS:
Sheikh Horr Ameli has written or compiled
many valuable books. He dedicated his entire life to serving the holy religion
of Islam and the Ahlul-Bayt’s school of thought. Despite his official
engagements as the Sheikh of Islam and his other teaching/training jobs, he has
left many works for the posterity. One of the books of hadith he authored is
entitled “Wasa’el al-Shiah”; from the time of its completion up until
now it has always remained the focus of attention and consideration of Shiite
Grand Jurisprudents and Scholars. Among his other works the following are
notable:
1) “Al-Jawahir al-Saniyyah fil-Ahadith
al-Qudsiyyah” [The Brilliant Jewel of the Almighty Allah’s Statements]
2) “Al-Sahifah al-Thaniyah min Ad’iyyate
Ali ibne al-Hussein (a.s.)” [A Second Collection of Imam Sajjad’s
Supplications]
3) “Tafsil Wasa’el al-Shiah ila Tahsile
Masa’el al-Shari’a” [A More Detailed Version of Wasa’el al-Shiah for Learning
the Islamic Rules and Decrees]
4) “Hidayatul Ummah ila Ahkam al-A’immah
(A.S.)” [Leading the Muslim Community to the Teachings of the Holy Imams A.S.]
5) “Man la Yahzarahul-Imam” [For Those
Who Do Not Have Access to Imam]
6) “Al-Fawa’id al-Tussiyyah” (in one
volume): It gives a hundred useful excerpts of merit on various subjects;
7) “Al-Eiqaz min al-Hij’ah bil-Borhan Ala
al-Raj’ah” [Awakening of the People
Through Cogent Reasoning On the Concept of Raj’at or “Return to Life”]
8) “Risalah fi al-Radd alal Sufiyyah” [A
Monograph on Refutation of Sufism].
9) “Tawator al-Koran”;
10) “Bidayatul-Hidayah” [The Starting
Point of Guidance]
11) “Al-Fosul al-Muhimmah fi Usul
al-A’immah (AS)” [Significant Subject Matters as Prescribed by the Infallible
Imams A.S
12) “Al-Arabiyyatul-Alawiyyah wa
al-Lughatul-Marwiyyah”.
13) “Tahrir Wasa’el al-Shiah wa Tahbir
Masa’el al-Shari’a”, which includes a commentary on his “Wasa’el al-Shiah”
14) “Al-Akhlaque” [Ethics or Moral
Principles]:
15) “Maqtal al-Imam Hussein (AS)” [The
Detailed Story of Imam Hussein’s (a.s.) Martyrdom]
MEETING
WITH IMAM E ZAMAN (AS)
Sheikh
Hurr Ameli was only 9 years of age when illness afflicted him and all doctors
were helpless for treating him and it was as if all had lost hope and were
waiting for his death. Shaikh saw Holy Prophet (saw) and 12 Imams in his dream
and shook hands with Imam e Zaman (as) and expressed his desire for knowledge.
Imam gave him a glass of water and cured him.
DEATH
OF SHEIKH HORR AMELI:
On the twenty-first day of Ramadan, 1104
A.H., the death of a symbol of human excellence occurred, setting of a sun of
knowledge and wisdom and a bright moon of science, practice, and devoutness:
the Sheikh of Islam and Muslims, a worthy successor of Shiite Jurisprudents and
Narrators, a reliable spokesman to guide the Muslim community towards a
salutary life conforming to Islamic teachings, a man who truthfully recounted
the Islamic Traditions and depicted the divine miracles in his book entitled
“Wasa’el al-Shiah”, a preacher and a prayer–leader, a poet and a man of
letters, a real servant of the Almighty God. His soul has returned to the
Merciful Creator, in the vicinity of the Holy Shrine of the Eighth Imam, His
Holiness Ali son of Mussa al-Reza (A.S.). At the time of his death, his age was
seventy-two.
NOTE: The biography is taken from
Book : Prominent Ulema prior to 100
years
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