28 of Rabi al-Thani marks death anniversary of Allamah Amini

The 28th day of Rabi al-Thani marks the death anniversary of Allamah Abdul Hossein Amini, the author of the famous work, the 11-volume encyclopedia “Al-Ghadir”.

Al-Ghadir has investigated the issue of the Wilayah of Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, from various historical, jurisprudential, literary, theological aspects using Quranic exegesis and narrations. He proves the Wilayah of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali, peace be upon him, to the Sunnis in all mentioned categories.

Allamah Abdul Hossein Amini was born in Tabriz in the year 1320 AH. He completed his preliminary seminary education in Tabriz, then went to Najaf in his youth to advance his studies under the tutorship of famous Mara’je and prominent instructors, such as Ayatollah Seyyed Abul-Hassan Esfahani, Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Naini, Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Hossein Kompany and Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Hossein Kashif al-Ghata until he achieved the rank of Ijtihad.

He was an unparalleled master and expert in Islamic sciences such as Tafsir, Hadith, and the science of jurisprudence and historiography. This excellence can be understood after the publication of the book “Martyrs of the Way of Virtue”, because the contemporary revered Mara’je and scholars, such as Ayatullah Seyyed Abul-Hasan Esfahani, Haj Agha Hossein Tabatabai Qomi, Sheikh Agha Bozorg Tehrani, Sheikh Mohammad Hossein Kompani and Sheikh Mohammad Khalil al-Aamili praised him for the work.

But without a doubt, the lasting work that earned him great fame was the 11-volume al-Ghadir encyclopedia, which has been translated into Persian in 22 volumes.

Islamic scholars believe that Allamah Amini presented the greatest document of Muslim Unity by writing al-Ghadir, considering this unique book as their source and reference.

Allamah Amini in Al-Ghadir examined the concept of Wilayah in Shiism from various exegesis-and hadith-based narratives, historical, jurisprudential, literary, and theological aspects.

Another feature of this work that adds to its value is that the author traveled to the libraries in different countries including Iraq, India, Pakistan, Maghreb, Egypt, to complete his masterpiece.

Amini dedicated 6 hours every day over 40 years to complete Al-Ghadir. He has said about his sources for writing Al-Ghadir, “I have read 10,000 books from beginning to end to write Al-Ghadir and frequently referred to 10,000 books.”

Allamah Amini in “Al-Ghadir” has named 110 ‘Companions’ and 84 ‘Followers’ who narrated the Hadith of Ghadir as proof for the absolute Wilayah of the infallible Imams, peace be upon them. All these accounts prove the immediate succession of Amir al-Momineen, peace be upon him, and his right as the Divine Caliph, and disprove the caliphate and Wilayah of non-infallible individuals.

Among his other works, we can mention the research and commentary on Kamil al-Ziyarat, Adab al-Za’ir Leman Yamm al-Hayer, Siratuna Wa Sunnatuna Siratu Nabiyyena Wa Sunnatih, Tafsir al-Fatiha al-Katab. In fact, Amini’s writings show his accuracy as well as the breadth of his field of knowledge or scientific comprehensiveness.

In addition to creating unique works such as Al-Ghadir, this pious scholar established a large library in Najaf named after Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, which contains 500,000 book titles in different languages and about 70,000 manuscripts.

He spared no efforts in raising capable figures to defend religion, and always made sincere efforts to provide all the books needed for researchers in this field.

“Mohammed Bagher Mahmoudi”, a contemporary researcher and editor of the “Bihar al-Anwar” volume related to Mu’awiyah as well as the “Tarikh Ibn Asaker” volume related to Imam al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him), is one of the researchers who trained under his mentorship.

“Allamah Asad Haider”, a great Shia researcher in Najaf and the author of the valuable book “Al-Imam al-Sadiq wal-Mazahib al-Arba’a” is also considered among the researchers who benefited from the depth of his knowledge. Before starting his book, Asad Haider asked Amini to write an article about Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, as a contribution to his work.Allamah Amini believed that the topic of “Ziyarat” and “prayers” as discussed in the Shi’ite school has not been discussed in any other religion. Therefore, if someone frequently studies and contemplates over these Ziyarat and supplications while paying attention to their philosophy and wisdom, they do not grow to become an underinformed Shia.

Allamah Amini died at noon on Friday, 28th of Rabi al-Thani 1390 AH in Tehran at the age of sixty-eight, and his body was transferred to and buried in the library of Amirul Momineen, which he had founded.