ALLAMA SHEIKH
BAHAI
Name: Sheik Mohammed bin Hassan
al Harthi Jeehi Amili Bahai
Born : Thursday, 17 Moharram
953 H/1547 A.D. At: Jabal Amil, Lebanon
Died : 12 Shawwal
1031H 1625 Age: 78 Years In: Isfahan- Iran
Interred: Mashad Muqaddas, Iran
Titles : Sheik Bahai, Baha ud
Deen, Baha al Millat Shah Abbas gave
title of Sheik al Islam and Sheik al Millat
The great personage about whom we
are discussing now was commonly known as Sheik Bahai. He has been
recognized as one of the Mujaddadads, the revivalists of the
Faith, of the 10th Century Hijra by the
Shias. He was born in a small hamlet of Jabl Amil in the
house of Sheik Hassan. Not only Sheik Bahai was a cleric of very
high caliber, but he was an outstanding scholar in different disciplines
and has also left behind his writings.
SHEIK BAHAIS WORKS
Sheik Bahai had many books
that he has left behind as his heritage. Even to this day the scholars
are drawing benefit from those books. In the discipline of Fiqh
his monumental works are: Habl al Mateen, Urwat al Wusqa and
Jameh Abbasi in which he has lucidly presented the nuances of
Shia Fiqh. He had delved in the Ilm al Hadit very
dexterously. In addition to these he wrote Khulasat al Hisab on
mathematics. He also penned book on the subject of astronomy.He was a
poet of high caliber and written two Mathnavis- Mathnavi Naan Halwai
and Mathnawi Sher wa Shabar. He has written plenty of books and
enumerating them is beyond the scope of this short profile. We have just
made a passing reference about his literary works.
Sheik Bahais father,
Sheik Hassan, was a well known scholar of his time. The early
education of Sheik Mohammed was under his tutelage. Sheik
Bahai was a scion of the famous Sheik Harit Hamadani. Harit
Hamadani was one of the prominent companions of Hazrat Amir al
Mominneen (a.s). He is the companion who had narrated the following
tradition of Imam Ali (a.s):
Harit visited Hazrat Amir al
Momineen (a.s) on a dark night. Ihe Imam (a.s) asked him, O Harit! What
brings you away form the comfort of the bed at this time in the night?
He said, O Maula! Your love has attracted me towards your home! The
Imam (a.s) uttered these words, O Harit Hamadani! Remember that when a
person dies, he certainly sees me!
Min Mominin au munafiqin
Whether Momin or a hypocrite!
If the dying person is a Momin,
and he dies in my love, he will be delighted to see me. But if he is a
hypocrite, dying in my enmity, he will be repentant. But the repentance
will be too late in the day!
This tradition has been
transmitted to us through Sheik Harit Hamadani. He was the same
Harit to whom Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s) had given the
seeds of dates. Harit one day came across Imam Ali (a.s) eating
dates in the company of Hazrat Khizr (a.s) in the outskirts of
Koofa. Hazrat Khizr (a.s) was throwing the seeds after eating the
dates and Imam Ali (a.s) was gathering them. Harit went
forward and requested the Imam (a.s) to give him some. The
Imam (a.s) gave him some seeds of the dates. When Harit sowed
those seeds he got profuse yield from the trees. His dates were about
the best in the entire Arabia.
Sheik Bahai was the 9th
in descent from the progeny of Sheik Harit Hamadani.
The early education of Sheik
Bahai was under his own father. His father Sheik Hussain Bahai
took instruction from Mulla Abd Allah Yazdi. Mulla Yazdi has
written a book, Hashiye, on the subject of logic. All the
scholars, and students, from both the schools refer to this book during
their study of the nuances of logic. Mulla Yazdi was a
clairyvoyant. His clairvoyance indicated to him that he should spend his
last days in Isfahan. He reached there in the night. His
entire family and relations were with him. The luggage was unloaded.
Aroud midnight he asked his people to load back the luggage for travel
saying that he wouldnt live in that city.He was asked why he changed
his decision. He said that when he looked around, he found 12,000
locations in Isfahan where people were drinking spirits. By the
time the luggage was loaded back, it was almost morning. It was already
nearing the time for the morning prayers. The servants said that they
were ready for the journey. But he asked them to unload the baggage
again that he had decided to stay on in Isfahan. He was asked as
to the reason for his change of mind again.He said that when he looked
around at that time, he found 70,000 mats spread for the Namaz
e Shab in Isfahan. He said the place was right for him to
live! Sheik Bahais father, Sheik Hussain Bahai was his
disciple.
As mentioned earlier, Sheik
Bahai first received instructions from his father, Sheik Hussain.
Among the Shia scholars, none other than Khwaja Naseer ud
Deen Toosi had such learning in several disciplines like Sheik
Bahai. In certain disciplines he was certainly ahead of Naseer ud
Deen Toosi. It is said about Sheik Bahai that during recesses
like the summer holidays, holidays during Ramadan, or Moharrum,
he wouldnt teach the disciples who stayed back with him on the
subjects in the curriculum. But those days he engaged them in learning
other disciplines. The reason for this was that Sheik Bahai was a
very keen traveler during his early days. When he visited new lands he
always acquired new knowledge. He lived for four years in Makka
Mukarrama, for two yuears in Egypt and reached as far as
Sri Lanka during his sojourns. Most of these trips he had made along
with his father, Sheik Hussain.
ONE POPULAR INCIDENT FROM
THE LIFE OF SHEIK BAHAI
This incident pertans to the time
when Sheik Bahai was a scholar, still a student, and not yet a
Mujtahid. In Ceylon he acquired knowledge in several
disciplines. There is a very strange incident that happened to him
during his sojourn in Ceylon. He was once trekking in the hills
when he noticed a man emerge from a cave.He was surprised what this
person was doing, alone, in the wilderness. He hid himself behind a bush
and started observing the strange person. The man came out of the cave,
squatted, and loudly shouted, The sheet for the repast be spread!
Sheik Bahai saw a sheet emerge in the horizon and descended where
the strange person sat. On the sheet were arranged a service of many
victuals. The man looked at the sheet and surveyed the surroundings with
his eyes. He also said, The person who is observing me from behind the
bush should come out and join me on the meal! Sheik Bahai was
surprised to hear this and also thought that perhaps there was some
other person hiding in the area besides himself.He looked around and
when he was sure there wasnt any one else there besides him, he
emergred from behind the bush, went near the strange person and sat with
him for the meal. Sheik Bahai has recorded that he was so
surprised and scared that he couldnt speak properly with the strange
person. Both of them ate welll, but there was plent more on the spread.
Now that person started emptying the dishes one after the other.
Surprised at this, SheikBahai asked him, Why are you throwing
the good food ?The man said, There are many wild beasts in the jungle
and Allah has given me the responsibility to provide them
sustenance! When he threw down all the food, he called, Take away the
sheet! Sheik Bahai saw the sheet swim away in the horizon.
Sheik Bahai hasnt mentioned anything about what he discussed with
the strange man. But what happened to Sheik Bahai in his later
life, gives one an impression that he must certainly have acquired some
extraordinary skills from that strange man.
As mentioned, Sheik Bahai
received his early education from his father who, later on took him
along on his travels. They went to Makka Mukarrama, then to
Egypt and there came a time in their travels that his father said he
didnt have sufficient energy to undertake long journeys and that he
settled down in Makka Mukarrama so that he could die and get
buried in that Holy City. Therefore, from Makka, Sheik Bahai,
went alone on his journeys. As mentioned earlier, Sheik Bahai
traveled to Sri Lanka. Some historians write that he went from
Ceylon to Burma. On the other side his father was determined
that he must breathe his last in Makka. But it is said that
during his last days Sheik Hussain dreamed of the Doomsday
when he was ordered to go to Bahrain and cut the area from the
world and make it a part of the Heaven! Now Sheik Hussain
thought that Bahrain was such a holy place that it was destined
to become a part of the Heaven on the Doomsday. He
therefore decided to move to Bahrain. Bahrain was having several
erudite scholars. Perhaps this was the reason that it was to become a
part of the Heaven. He had several debates with the scholars in
Bahrain and they were all convinced of his erudition. Ultimately
Sheik Hussain demised while residing at Bahrain on 8 Rabi al
Awwal, 984 H, when the age of Sheik Bahai was 30 years.
At that time Sheik Bahai was in his journeys and wasnt with
his father at that critical juncture.
Sheik Bahai was destined
for a much higher responsibility. He consolidated the Shia Creed
in Iran. During his journeys Sheik Bahai acquired
knowledge in several disciplines. He was a Persian poet of very
high caliber.His book of poetry Kashkool contains his famous
Mathnavi (Narrative Poetry consisting of Couplets) Naan wa Halwa.This
is the poetic rendition of his journey to Makka Mukarrama for the
Haj. He also had learning in various other disciplines viz:
mathematics, astronomy etc.
During his journeys Sheik Bahai
had several strange experiences. He himself writes that when he was
in Egypt, he had a conversation with a cleric there that proved
their enmity for the Ahl al Bayt (a.s). Sheik Bahai stayed for
two years in Egypt when he was observing dissimulation. The
cleric developed acquaintance with him and they used to have long
conversations. To get an idea about their antipathy towards the
followers of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s), Sheik Bahai used to tell him
that in Makka he had the opportunities of interacting with
Rafizis. One day the Egyptian scholar told him that the faith of the
Rafizis was absolutely wrong and that they didnt have any proof
for the veracity of their beiliefs. He asked Sheik Bahai if he
was able to convert any of the Rafizis to Islam (Sic)! Sheik
Bahai said that he tried hard to convince them, but in the end they
would put a question to him that threw cold water on all his arguments.
The Egyptian asked in surprise that being such a learned scholar
why he wasnt able to suitably answer their question.
Now Sheik Bahai said, During our debates they said that in Sahih Bukhari there is an Hadit where the Prophet (s.a) had said: Fatima (a.s) Biz-at Minni Fatima is a part of me Man azahaa faqad azani One who troubled her, troubled me!
Sheik Bahai told to the
Egyptian that the persons in Makka told him that there were
certain personalities on whom there is Allahs curse that they
troubled Fatima Zehra (a.s) and she departed from the world
unhappy with those persons. He told to the Egyptian that this
Hadit was in the Sahih Bukhari five pages after the previous
Hadit. Sheik Bahai told the Egyptian that he wasnt able
to counter those persons in Makka. The Egyptian said,
They are liars! There is nothing like this in Sahih al Bukhari!
Tonight I shall read the book and remove your objection in the morning!
The next morning the Egyptian went to Sheik Bahai and
said, I was telling you that the Rafizis are blatant liers. They
said that the second tradition is after five pages of the first. No! It
is seven pages after the first tradition! Saying this he went away.
Sheik Bahai was able to gauge how deeply entrenched the enmity and
bias for the Ahl al Bayt (a.s) in their hearts.. Sheik Bahai
had several other debates with such people but the result was
always the same that despite all the arguments, they wouldnt budge from
their biased positions.
Sheik Bahai kept traveling in different countries
widening his horizons and acquiring knowledge in various disciplines.
When Shah Abbas Azam ascended the throne of Iran he was
conscious that ruling was the prerogative of the Imam (a.s) and
to run the administration according to the Shariah there must be
a Naib e Imam at the helm of affairs. He had already heard of the
erudition of Sheik Bahai and therefore invited him to go over to
Isfahan and take over the position. Shah Abbas realm was
one of the biggest of those times and, as recorded by the historians,
Isfahan was considered the best cty in the entire Asia and
Europe. When Sheik Bahai received the offer, he realized his
duty towards the Ahl al Bayt (a.s) and their followers. He kept
aside all his plans for travel and forthwith proceeded to Isfahan.
That was the time when there were several eminent Fuqha in
the world. Sheik Bahai was in Iran, Qazi Noor Allah Shustari
was in the Mogul court in India. Mir Baqir Damad,
another scholar of very high repute was also in Iran. He was a
great Mujtahid but in the field of Fiqh he didnt have a
big name. It is the greatness of Mir Baqir Damad that he himself
recommended the name of Sheik Bahai to the king to give the
important position to him. It is said that Mir Damad had read a
book written by Sheik Bahai and said, That Arab is a man
of erudition! Now two great Mujtahids were stationed at the same
place.but there never developed any jealousy or competition between the
two. Sheik Bahai told to the king that since there was a Naib
e Imam (a.s) in the capital, there must be arrangement for the
Juma Congregations in Isfahan. Therefore, it was the first
time that the Friday congregation was arranged at the Great Mosque in
Isfahan. But when the question of leading the congregation came up,
Sheik Bahai said that since Mir Baqir Damad was there, he
only should lead the prayer. He guided Mir Damad to the front and
stood behind him during the prayer! Once, for the Friday
Congregation, Mir Damad got delayed in coming to the mosque. The
rows were already formed and Sheik Bahai was about to lead the
congregation when Mir Damad came into the mosque. When Sheik
Bahai saw him he immediately went to the first row and vacated the
place for Mir Damad to lead the prayer.
Once Shah Abbas went out of
Isfahan on a hunting expedition and he took along with him both
Sheik Bahai and Mir Baqir Damad. In front of the group was
Shah Abbas and the two clerics. Sheik Bahai and Mir Damad
were both of a weak constitution. They were mounted on steeds. Since
Sheik Bahai was lighter of weight his horse was cantering ahead.
Shah Abbas wanted to test the hearts of the clerics. He went closer
to Mir Damad and told him, Have you seen this foreigner,
Sheik Bahai, is so impertinent that he is speeding his horse ahead
of you! When Shah Abbas told this to Mir Damad, he looked
angrily at the king and said, It is not Sheik Bahai who is
speeding the horse. It is the horse itself that is running fast that
such a great cleric and scholar has mounted on it! Shah Abbas
apologized to Mir Damad. After a while he went near Sheik
Bahai and told him, How impertinent is Mir Damad that he is
casually riding behind you unmindful that you are the chief
administrator of the Realm and he is treating you in such a cavalier
manner! Sheik Bahai said angrily, It is the horse that is
lagging behind and not that Mir Damad is purposely falling
behind. The horse, in fact, is carrying so much weight of Mir Damads
knowledge that it isnt able to canter along fast! Shah Abbas
immediately dismounted from his horse and offered two genuflections of
prayer of thanksgiving that his realm has been endowed with such great
clerics who have no feeling of jealousy or envy between them. A similar
incident is also there from the History of Islam about two
eminent scholars of another school.Once the chief of the city invited
both of them. The guests sat down for a chat before the repast when one
of the worthies got the natures call and went out. The chief asked the
other scholar his opinion about the other.He said that the person was a
dunce and he didnt know anything. After a while the first scholar
returned and joined the group. After some time the second scholar went
out. The chief asked the first of his opinion about him. He said that
the person has habits like those of dogs. Now the food was served.and
special dishes were placed before each of the two scholars. When they
lifted the covers from the dishes they found that one was full of grass
and in the other were dried bones.Boh the scholars felt angry and turned
towards the host. They asked him if he was making a practical joke with
them. The host said I was only trying to serve you what each one of you
likes. He told that when he asked the second about the first, he said
that he was a donkey and therefore he must prefer to eat the grass. He
said that he asked the first person about the second and he said he was
a dog. Therefore I thought he would prefer to eat the bones!
Sheik Bahai came to Iran
and started implementing reforms according to the Holy Shariah.
Sheik Bahai knew that if the Faith has to prosper, the
Ulema must be there. Even if there are plenty of believers in a
place, without the services of an Alim they will not be properly
guided. He always used to exhort Shah Abbas to groom large number
of Ulema for the country. The king announced the scholarships and
other facilities for students. But after some time he noticed that the
seminaries didnt have proper attendance. He asked Sheik Bahai
why people werent willing to send their children?
Sheik Bahai made a
suggestion to the king. He said that he would go round the city
astride a steed and the king should walk holding the reins in his hand.
While returning from the seminary too the king should do the same. The
result of this was that the people were impressed with the kings piety
for encouraging the religious learning among his subjects and the
seminaries were all full of students in no time.Sheik Bahai told
to the king that if you give respect to the clerics, people will be
attracted to become clerics. Allama Khomaini has written that it
isnt right for clerics becoming courtiers with kings, but Naseer ud
Deen Toosi and Sheik Toosi were such eminent clerics who
served the Faith excellently with their positions in the courts of the
kings.
THE MIRACLE OF ILM E IRFAN---INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
There is one discipline of
knowledge that is called the Ilm e Irfan al Masoomeen (a.s) that
consists in supplications and talismans. Those that are published in
books may not be authentic and many persons claim that they have the
knowledge of the nuances of this discipline. This knowledge, in fact,
travels from father to son for generations. The person expert in this
field will select a disciple to communicate the knowledge to him after
judging his aptitude. Sheik Bahai had achieved a great height in
this field. It is said that he had written a talisman and gave to
Shah Abbas to bury it near the boundaries of his realm. During the
reign of Shah Abbas, no external forces attacked his realm.
EXPERTISE IN ENGINEERING &
MATHEMATICS
Sheik Bahai was an adept at
engineering and mathematics. There is a mosque in Iran by the
name of Chahel Sutoon-The Mosque of Forty Pillars. The mosque
is built on the banks of a river. When you look at it from the front, it
seems there are forty pillars in the structure. In fact it has only
twenty pillars! The mosque was designed and constructed by Sheik
Bahai. There are three bridges in the Isfahan City. All the
three were built under the supervision of Sheik Bahai. These
bridges are built with such skill that whether the river is in spate or
not, water flows through the 33 flood gates provided along
the span of the bridges. There is a minaret in Isfahan called
Minar e Tardida. This too was built by Sheik Bahai. There is a
structure in Isfahan.that is having two minarets of thirty feet
height .When one minaret is shaken, the other minaret shakes by itself!
This miracle of engineering too was constructed under Sheik Bahais
skilful supervision. There used to be a bath in Iran that was
called Hamam e Bahai. That hamam was destroyed by the
English. The special feature of the hamam was that the water in it
used to be lukewarm in all seasons although there was no apparent
heating arrangement there! When the English arrived there during
the period of Fath Ali Khan, they were very much surprised. They
wondered that the bath was providing warm water to the bathers, even
during the peak of winter seasons, for 250 years. Out of their
curiosity they demolished the water reservoir of the bath and found that
at the bottom of the structure only a small wax candle was burning.
Sheik Bahai also took active interest in the construction of the
mausoleum of Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s) in Najaf e Ashraf
during the reign of Shah Abbas. It was during the period when
Shah Abbas Safavi had extended his suzerainty over Baghdad,
Najaf and Karbala. The sepciality of the structure is that in all
seasons, the first ray of the sunlight falls into the sarcophagus. The
compound walls have been constructed with such skill that, in all
seasons, the shadow of the wall falls on the ground at the time of
Zuhr Prayer. The scheduled time of this prayer varies with the
seasons, but the shadow falls on the ground exactly at the scheduled
time in that season!
There is one miracle associated
with Sheik Bahais Taweez (Talisman). This hasnt been recorded
in any book of history but it is the word of mouth that has transmitted
the story along the centuries that have gone by! In Najaf e Ashraf
there are snakes aplenty. It is the experience that no one suffers
from snake bite in the area. Najaf stands on a desert terrain and
almost all houses there have cellars. The desert and the dungeon like
cellars are the best refuge for snakes. But no poisonous snake ever
bites anyone in Najaf. It is said that this is the miracle of the
talisman written by Sheik Bahai.that was kept in the mausoleum of
Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s). There are two disciplines,
astrology and sorcery, that are taboo in Islam if practiced
to harm any one. But sorcery can be countered with sorcery. For such
purpose these skills may be acquired and used! Sheik Bahai was an
adept at these!
THE PRACTICE OF SORCERY
IN SHEIK BAHAIS TIME
In those days none could compete
with Sheik Bahai in two disciplines--- sorcery and astrology!
Sorcery was common in his times. It is said that one person in Iran,
during those days, claimed that he was a prophet. He also
demonstrated unbelievable phenomena through sorcery. People started
believing in him and were impressed with these things. When Shah
Abbas heard about this, he was worried. He called Sheik Bahai
and asked him about the punishment in the Shariah for such an
imposter. He told him that the person must be executed. But he also said
that the person had a growing following and his execution might cause
unrest in the kingdom. The Sheik also told the king to stop
worrying about the matter that there were other ways of controlling the
sorcerer. He asked the king to summon the person and all his followers
to to the court. The person came to the court along with his followers.
Sheik Bahai started addressing him as prophet. Shah Abbas
was surprised at this. Then he requested Shah Abbas to take the
person to the terrace of the palace and show him the view of the city
from there. Shah Abbas did as he was told. The idea of Sheik
Bahai was to undo the mischief and also keep the followers of the
imposter in check. Sheik Bahai followed behind the king and the
imposter himself doing an act of sorcery. The man was asked to look at
the city. When he looked around, he saw only water all around him and no
sign of the city of Isfahan. He said, You have brought me from
the palace to show me the city, where have you brought me? Sheik
Bahai told him, You are a prophet of God! You should know where we
have brought you. We have a city across this sea where the people await
your arrival to join your following! You are a prophet and certainly you
know how to reach there. The man said, I am certainly a prophet, but
neednt show my miracle at every step! Sheik Bahai said, If
such is the case, we shall arrange a boat for you to travel!The
Sheik did some sorcery and a leaf fell down from the horizon and
took the shape of a boat. The man requested Shah Abbas to go
along with him to visit the city. Sheik Bahai said, You are a
prophet and we cannot precede you in going on the boat! The man put his
feet into the boat which was nothing more than the mirage of Sheik
Bahais sorcery. The result was that the person fell to the ground
from the terrace of the palace and succumbed to the fall! This awakened
his blind followers that they were unnecessarily attracted to the
imbecile.
Once while traveling Sheik
Bahai had the urge to make water. He looked around and noticed a
bush nearby. He sat facing the bush and started urinating. Behind him
was a house where lived an old woman who was a sorceress. She looked out
from a window and found Sheik Bahai sitting near the bush. She
thought that Sheik Bahai thought very highly of his skill at
sorcery and that it was a good opportunity to test him. She brought him
under her spell that over half an hour passed but Sheik Bahai
continued to urinate. Sheik Bahai was worried why he was getting
so much of urine.He looked around in concern and found a woman peeing
from a window in the house. Now he brought the woman under the spell of
his sorcery. The woman felt that a big tree had appeared on her
head.like a big horn. She worried how she would withdraw her head inside
with the horn blocking the window. She understood that Sheik Bahai
had brought her under his spell. She shouted, O Sheik!
Please bring me out of your spell and I shall relieve you from mine!
The Sheik withdrew his spell and the woman saw that the tree that
was on her head was infact the tree in the ground in front of her house.
The horn like effect was just a hallucination created by the Sheik
through his sorcery. Now the Sheik felt that he was carrying
a leather water container and the water was trickling from it. Under the
spell of the sorceress he felt that the dripping water was his urine!
One day Sheik Bahai was
sitting with his friend Mir Abul Qasim in Isfahan. Abul Qasim
had a very miraculous quality. If any metal was touched to his body
that would turn to gold. When he died many persons wanted to take away
his body and make lot of gold by touching it with metallic objects.
Shah Abbas constructed a very strong mausoleum for Mir Abul Qasim
to prevent people from making tunnels and reaching his body!
Sheik Bahai was once having a discussion with Mir Abul Qasim
at the palace in Isfahan when a tiger entered there. Sheik
Bahai recited some supplication and the tiger meekly went away.
Shah Abbas got a painting of the event made and put on the wall of
the palace.
Sheik Bahai not only had
extraordinary skills in engineering, mathematics, astrology, sorcery but
he was an adept in the field of medicine as well. He had the entire work
of Bu Ali Sina in his mind. In the Islamic Fiqh the pigs
and the dogs are absolutely unclean creatures. The question is whether
their teeth, nails, hairs and bones are unclean or not? The Fiqh
says that when a man dies, his body is unclean prior to giving the bath
prior to burial and that the parts of the body viz: the teeth, nails,
hair that dont have life in them are treated as clean even prior to the
bath of the dead body. The edict of Sheik Bahai was that these
parts too are unclean before the bath. The opinions of Agha e Qooee,
Qumaini and Burujardi too were the same. But Sayed Murtada
had said that the teeth are clean. Shah Abbas ordered the
carcass of a wild pig brought to the court and asked Sheik Bahai
that he had hunted the animal in the forest. When the mouth of the
animal was inspected they found the word Allah on its teeth.
Sheik Bahai agreed with the Fatwa of Sayed Murtada
that teeth arent having life in them and therefore are clean. The
leading physician of the court got up and said that Bu Ali Sina
had written in his treatise that teeth too had life in them. Shek
Bahai said that he had nothing to do with the opinion of Bu Ali
Sina and he was concerned only with the saying of the Imam s(a.s)
that the teeth are lifeless. The physician sat down but joked with
his colleagues saying that they are rejecting the expert opinion of
Bu Ali Sina. Sheik Bahai was now angered and he said, Open
so-and-so page of Bu Ali Sinas book and see that he had written
there that the teeth are lifeless. Then he said open the last,
eighteenth volume, of the book on so-and-so page and see that he had
written that the teeth too have life in them! In the first volume he
says teeth dont have life in them and the last volume says they do have
life! Do you want us to believe in the word of a man who contradicts his
own statement or the word of the Imam (a.s) who never gives any
contradictory statement? The physician was surprised and asked Sheik
Bahai if he had perused the works of Bu Ali Sina? Sheik Bahai
said that the entire contents of Bu Ali Sinas works were in his
mind. The books were then brought to the court and the veracity of the
Sheiks statement was proved!
In the month of Shawal 1031 H
Sheik Bahai visited a graveyard.He went near a grave, spread his
tunic on the ground, sat on that, put his hand on the grave and
conversed in a very strange tongue. He started getting response from the
grave to his talk. His disciples, who were accompanying him, have said
that the conversation went on for quite some time. Then he got up, put
on his tunic and quietly went home. For the next 8 days Sheik
Bahai didnt talk and passed away on 10th Shawal 1031
H.
EXPERTISE OF SHEIK BAHAI IN
SEVERAL DISCIPLINES
People used to be astonished at
Sheik Bahais expertise in several disciplines. But he never used
his skills for any personal gains. His one, and only, aim was to serve
the Faith. Sheik Bahai himself wrote that he had a very intimate
friend. He was a very pious person. When ever the Sheik was tired
of the worldly activities, he would go to his friend and spend some time
with him. The friend lived in a small house on the outskirts of
Isfahan in the neighborhood of a graveyard. According to his
practice, the Sheik once visited his friend. Sheik Bahai
felt that his friend was somewhat morose on that day, as if, he was
dealing with some problem in his mind. Sheik asked him why he
looked worried that day. The friend said that on the previous day he had
witnessed a very strange event and he wasnt able to understand anything
about it. He said that it was his habit to vist the graveyard once every
day and pray to Allah for the deliverance of the persons
incarcerated there. The previous day he went inside the graveyard, stood
near a grave and started praying when he got a foul smell in his nose
and instantaneously it was followed by a fragrant smell. He noticed a
handsome person clad in excellent garments enter the graveyard. He went
straight to a very recently constructed grave and stood near it. Now he
got a very nauseating smell in his nose. When he looked up he found a
ferocious dog entering the graveyard. That dog too went near that new
grave and stood there. When he saw the dog there, he didnt find that
handsome young man who was there a while ago! He was surprised where the
youth could have gone because there was only one door to the graveyard
and it was in his view all along. After passing a glance all over the
graveyard his eyes again riveted on the new grave. As the youth had
vanished, the dog too had vanished! He went near the grave and heard
either the shouts of a person or the sound of a wild animal attacking
its prey. After a while he saw the youth emerging from the grave and
slowly walking towards him. He also noticed that the garment of the
youth was torn near his feet, his limb was injured and blood was oozing
from it. It looked as if some wild animal had attacked and injured him.
When the youth came near him he asked,Tell me, how did you enter into
the grave and how you got injured? The youth replied, The person in
the grave has died today. I am his Good Deeds and the dog his Bad Deeds!
How I wish he had done more good deeds in his life that they dominated
his foul acts! Since I was the weaker of the two, the Bad Deeds attacked
me and pushed me out of the grave! Till the Doomsday that dog will
remain with the dead person! Sheik Bahai told to his friend,
Whatever you have seen is true! It is our firm Faith, and there are
several traditions in support, that our acts, good or bad, take the
shape of creatures and they are sent to our graves!
A CHRISTIAN EMBRACES THE FAITH
OF THE AHL AL BAYT (A.S)
Sheik Bahai has written
about a very interesting incident in his book Kashkool. The
realm of King Abbas had commenced and Sheik Bahai was
there to spread the word of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s). Whenever any
problem confronted the king, he would seek the advice of Sheik Bahai.
During the reign of Shah Abbas there was a strong monarch
ruling over Rome. This ruler belonged to the Christian Faith.
Iran those days had excellent relations both with India and
Rome. But with Rome there had been a spate of debates to
prove the veracity of their state religions! Shah Abbas used to
send his arguments in support of his Faith. This debate went on for
several years. An incident took place once when Shah Abbas felt
that his argument was somewhat weak! He was worried that the people of
weaker faith might recant from their Faith. The king of Rome
presented a practical proof of a miracle in support of his claim. A
person came with the ambassador of Rome to the court of Shah
Abbas with a letter from the king of Rome. The letter read
that Shah Abbas, as yet, hadnt accepted the Faith of Rome;
but he was deputing a person to him who had acquired such powers
through the Christian Faith that nothing could be kept hidden
from him! His claim was that the faculty was in him only because of his
Faith! He challenged Shah Abbas to prove the person wrong. All
the courtiers tested the person by hiding several things form the
persons view and he was able to identify them correctly. The faith of
the populace in the court started wavering. The Shah immediately
summoned Sheik Bahai to the court. The Sheik sent word
that he would be in the court at a particular hour on the following day.
The ambassador of Rome knew of the respect that Sheik Bahai
commanded in the court. He told to his man that if he defeated the
Sheik, their battle in Iran would be won! The Sheik
arrived at the court the next day. All the galleries of the court were
full to capacity with men. The Sheik said, O person! It will be
decided later which of the two faiths is true! But first I would like to
put you to test! All the gathering, including the Shah, worried.
They thought that if the biggest Mujtahid in the kingdom was
defeated, no argument would remain in their favor! The Roman
smiled and said that he was ready for the test. The Sheik put his
hand in the pocket of his tunic and withdrew his clenched palm. He asked
the man to tell what he held in his palm. The man wasnt able to reply
for a long while. Shah Abbas asked the man, Why your spell isnt
working now? Tell us what he is holding in his palm? He said, My
wisdom fails me now! I am wondering how such a thing could come in his
palm! Shah Abbas asked him, What could be the thing that you
feel cannot be in the palm of a mortal? The man said, My knowledge
tells me that there is the soil of the Heaven in his palm! How
this soil came in his possession? The entire court was dumb struck with
his statement. All eyes were riveted on the Sheik. They wondered
if he had the soil of the Heaven with him, why he didnt show it
to anyone in the past. Sheik Bahai smiled and opend his palm and
everyone saw that he had a rosary made with beads formed of the soil
from Karbala e MoAlla. The Sheik briefly explained about
the martyrdom at Karbala. The man spontaneously said:
Ashhadu un laa ilaha il Allah
Wa Ashhadu un Mohammed Rasool Allah I bear witness that There
is no god but Allah And Mohammed (s.a) is Allahs Prophet
The man thus embraced Islam!
HELPING RESOLVE THE TROUBLES OF
SHAH ABBAS
Sheik Bahai was not only
helping Shah Abbas in matters of the Faith, but he resolved his
other problems as well. The king used to have a royal spread of
sumptuous food. For some days he was noticing that quantities of food
material were disappearing automatically from the spread. He generally
had sufficient food for himself and his close courtiers who shared the
food with him. Observing this phenomenon for many days, the king got
worried. The king wrote a letter to Sheik Bahai explaining the
phenomenon. The Sheik immediately knew who could be behind this.
One of his disciples was very keen on learning sorcery. He persuaded the
Sheik to give to him the special collyrium that made a person
invisible to others when it was applied to his eyes. The author of
Qasas al Ulema too has referred to this collyrium while writing
about Sheik Bahai. The Sheik had given the material to his
disciple making him promise that he wouldnt use it for any wrong
purpose. When Sheik Bahai read the letter from the king, he
immediately connected this disciple of his with the strange phenomenon
on the spread of Shah Abbas! The Sheik told to the king
that he will forthwith stop the mysterious disappearance of food from
the royal spread but he made him promise that he would let the culprit
go free when he was caught and send the person to him! The king agreed
to this suggestion. The Sheik asked the king to go out of the
dining room making some excuse when the meal was in progress.Then ask
the servants to burn something all around the room that the smoke filled
the dining room. After some time when the room was opened they found the
persons rubbing their watering eyes and there was one stranger in the
group. The king got the person arrested, sent him to Sheik Bahai
and he personally went to him immediately thereafter out of his
curiosity for the strange happening. Sheik Bahai explained to the
king about the collyrium that would make a person invisible. But because
of the smoke tears washed away the collyrium from his eyes and the
person became visible to everyone. Sheik Bahai reprimanded the
disciple, took away the collyrium from him and banished him from
Iran.
Once Sheik Bahai gave such
an answer for a question that a senior Mujtahid was upset with
him. Someone asked him whether Zakaria ibn e Adam was of a higher
status or Sheik Sadooq. Zakaria ibn e Adam was a very close and
important companion of our Seventh Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s). In
fact, when the Imam (a.s) went for the Haj he asked the
people of Khorasan to contact Zakaria ibn e Adam for the
resolution of their problems in his absence.He said with full confidence
that whatever solutions that Zakaria would suggest to them would
be what the Imam (a.s) himself would advice. This was the status
of Zakaria and Sheik Sadooq too was equally great. The
only difference was that Sheiq Sadooq hadnt seen the Imam (a.s).
When someone asked Sheik Bahai to compare the two worthies,
he said that he considered Zakaria ibn e Adam superior than
Sheik Sadooq. After some days Sheik Sadooq came in his dream
and when Sheik Bahai greeted him, he just replied to his greeting
formally and turned away his face. Sheik Bahai very much wanted
to converse with the great scholar but Sheik Sadooq was sitting
with his face turned away from him. When Sheik Bahai persisted
Sheik Sadooq said in his dream as to why he said that Zakaria
ibne Adam was superior to him!
THE SHEIKHS ROLE IN SPREAD OF
SHIISM IN THE SUB-CONTINENT
Sheik Bahai was rendering
service to the Faith in another manner. Many of his capable disciples
whose services were not so much needed in Iran migrated to
India where the Shias were in the worst predicament. These
scholars went there and provided a strong nucleus for the guidance of
the followers of the Faith. Just prior to the times of Sheik Bahai
the great Shiite scholar, Qazi Noor Allah Shustari,
was mercilessly martyred by the Mogul King Jehangir because of
the machination of the clerics of the other schools. The Shia
community in India felt orphaned at that grave moment.
HOW SHIISM ARRIVED IN INDIA
Unimaginable miseries were
inflicted on the Sayeds in the Arab lands. It was
mandatory for them to save their lives and families. Iran too
wasnt safe before Allama Hilli arrived there. The best
alternative for them was to head for India. The Ulema are
on record saying that spending life with just infidels is better than
with cruel Muslims. Therefore a large group of Sayeds
migrated to India. They first entered the territory of Sind.
The first prominent place they settled in Sind was Thatt.
Then they slowly moved towards Multan. In the 3rd
and 4th Century H, which coincided with the period
of Sheik Mufeed, the Sayeds had become a force to reckon with in
the Sind Province. In Multan, Mohammed ibn e Jafar, the
grandson of Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s) had established his
suzerainity in Multan. Then came forward an enemy of the Ahl
al Bayt (a.s), Mahmood Ghaznawi, who plundered India 17
times.which were mostly in Sind and Multan.During these
attacks the followers of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s) were mercilessly
put to sword. Thus the Shias were again forced to migrate from
the Sind Province. Some of them went towards the Deccan
and some moved to Delhi. Slowly Delhi became the center of
the followers of the Al e Mohammed (s.a). They established their
own neighborhood and also constructed their mosque. It seemed as if they
were settling down to a quiet and peaceful life. At that juncture rose
one ruler from the Tughlaq Dynasty, Feroz Tughlaq, who himself
wrote in his auto-biography, Providence has made me perform a great
task! During my reign the numbers of the Rafizis had swelled.
Therefore I didnt leave even one of them. I massacred all of them! I
have destroyed their center. Now only those of them have been spared who
agreed to pay the Jiziya Tax! Thus, unfortunately, a time came
in India when the foloweres of Mohammed (s.a) and his
Progeny (a.s) were forced to pay the tax that is levied on the
Jews, the Christians and the Fire Worshippers! Thus the
central India too became a very difficult place for the Shias
to live in. Under these excrutiating circumstances some people moved
to Kashmir and started propagating the True Faith. Because
of this work, the followewrs of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s) flourish to
this day in Gilgit and Baltistan. Some people moved to
Mysore, Banaglore and Bijapur etc. The conditions in these
parts were not too congenial for them. In that period came up a great
scholar, Mulla Tahir, who helped the foundation of a Shia
realm in the country. When Multan was razed by Mahmood Ghazni,
there was a cleric, whose name was Mohammed Ali, who moved to
Gujarat and started propagating the Faith of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s)
there. The Shias who reached the South of India
started propagating the Faith and Allah blessed them with
an Alim of the caliber of Mulla Tahir. When he moved from
Delhi to Ahmed Nagar, the ruler there was Ismail Shah.
He was a king who was interested only in power and pelf. All the
Ulema who left Delhi, traveled in total dissimulation hiding
their true faith. Mulla Tahir reached Ahmed Nagar and
became the tutor of the children of the king, Ismail Shah. The
king died and his son, Burhan Shah Suceeded him. Burhan Shah
was much impressed with the erudition of Mulla Tahir and
asked him to conduct classes in the jama Masjid of the city.
BURHAN SHAH EMBRACES THE TRUE
FAITH
Burhan Shahs son, Abd
al Qadir, the heir apparent, fell seriously ill. Despite the best
efforts of all the top physicians in the relam, the condition of his
health deteriorated day by day. Prayers were arranged at all the
religious places in the kingdom and huge charities were distributed, but
to no avail. On the eve of Friday, when wishes are fulfilled by
Allah, Mulla Tahir came to the king and said that the prince
would, Insha Allah, recover if he agreed to two conditions. The
king asked him to mention the conditions. Mulla Tahir said that
the Sayeds in the realm must be given financial support and
during the Friday Sermons the names of the 14 Infallibles
must be mentioned. The king said that he understood the first condition
but he wanted to know who the Infallibles (a.s) are? Mulla
Tahir mentioned to him the names of the 12 Imams (a.s). The
king said that during his childhood his mother had told the names to him
and had asked him to remember them. Mulla Tahir asked him to make
a solemn Nazr (Oath) to Allah that if his son recovered
fully he would fulfil the conditions that he had resolved to implement.
The king made the oath and went inside the private quarters of the
palace and Mulla Tahir went home. The king found his son very
restless and was throwing away the comforter from his body. The king
felt that there was no hope now and asked the nanny to put the princes
comforter down. The queen too was sitting near the sick bed. It was late
night and because of spending the entire night without sleep, the king
fell asleep in the sitting position. H then dreamed that 13 Venerable
persons were coming towards the bed. A voice told him that in the
front of the group was the Prophet (s.a) and he was followed by
the 12 Imams (a.s). The voice repeated the names of the Imams
(a.s) in the same sequence as was mentioned by Mulla Tahir
some hours ago. The king advanced towards the Prophet (s.a) and
pleaded with him to pray to Allah for the recovery of his son.
The Prophet (s.a) told him that his son would be restored to
health but he must fulfil the conditions made by Mulla Tahir. At
this point the king awoke from his dream and found that the queen and
the nanny were in deep sleep and the comforter that was thrown away
earlier was now properly spread on the childs body. He went near the
prince and found clear signs of recovery on his face. It was almost time
for the morning prayers now and he rushed his men to summon Mulla
Tahir. Mulla Tahir supplicated the whole night praying to Allah
to help him as otherwise the followers of the Al e Mohammed (s.a)
will face great hardships from the ire of the king if the prince
expired. When there was a knock at his threshold so early in the
morning, he thought perhaps the prince had expired. He was told by the
messenger that the king had summoned him. He dressed immediately and
rushed to the palace. At the entrance to the palace the king was
impatiently waiting for him. The king told him that the prince had
recovered and was very comfortable. He said that the prince, although
very weak, was uttering words of thanksgiving to Allah! Burhan Shah
told the Mulla Tahir that he would declare his change of
faith on the very day that was Friday. Mulla Tahir adviced him
that doing it in a hurry will not be very discreet.He asked him to make
the declaration in stages. However the king wanted him to guide him, his
queen and their son on the Right Path immediately. Mulla Tahir
advised Shah Burhan to arrange a debate between the Ulema
of all the school barring that of the Shia School because
there was only one scholar of this creed in the kingdom, Sheik Abd al
Karim Najafi, who was residing far away. However a messenger was
sent to summon him.The debate started and when a cleric of one school
presented a point of view, a cleric of another school refuted it. Thus
they went on refuting one another for a long time. The king then
intervened and said the arguments presented by all of them were refuted
and that he had come to the conclusion that none of the four schools is
right. At that juncture Sheik Abd al Karim Najafi arrived.
Mulla Tahir himself was a far superior scholar than him. Although he
was in dissimulation, he joined the debate as an assistant to Sheik
Abd al Karim. Becoming the assistant to Sheik Abd al Karim
itself gave away his propensity of Faith! The king felt that the replies
the two were giving to the other group were silencing them. After
debating on several topics, they came to discuss the topic of the Garden
of Fadak, the Incident of Pen and Paper and a few more important
subjects. Now the king declared that the faith of Sheik Abd al Karim
Najafi was the True Faith and he declared that he was
adopting the Faith. Then he recounted to the assembly the incident about
the recovery of his son in full detail. In an instant 3,000
courtiers embraced the Shia Faith. The enemies of the Ahl al
Bayt (a.s) were deeply worried at this development. One bigoted
person, Peer Mohammed, made a center at his home to oppose the
king who, he said, had turned a Rafizi and a heretic. He told his
supporters to wage a Jihad against the king. He gathered his men
and advanced to attack the royal palace.
ATTACK ON THE KINGS PALACE &
MULLA TAHIRS STRATAGEM
The kings palace was besieged by
the supporters of Pir Mohammed. In the olden days the palaces had
very strong gates and the walls used to be very high. The residential
part of the people used to be at a distance from the palace. The king
consulted Mulla Tahir about the situation and suggested to
him to prolong the siege as much as possible when the people will be
tired of waiting there and would return to their homes. Mulla Tahir
studied the pros and cons through his knowledge of Jafr and
asked Shah Burhan to open the gates and step out of the palace.
He said that, Insha Allah, he would be victorious. Worried, the
king said that there was a huge crowd there against him. Anyway, the
gate was opened the next morning and Mulla Tahir was the first to
step out. The king went behind him. Mulla Tahir picked up a hand
full of soil from the ground, recited a verse from the Holy Quran
that said, And We shall scatter the group like the dust!.and
threw the handful of soil towards the crowd. Once the soil went out of
the hand of Mulla Tahir, the men switched sides in large numbers.
After some time only Pir Mohammed was left and others either
switched sides or fled from the scene. Pir Mohammed too fled from
there. He was however apprehended the next day and the king ordered his
execution. But Mulla Tahir appealed to the king to spare his
life. The king asked him to be put into the jail for life. But after 4
years Mulla Tahir got him released from the jail. After the
kings declaration of his Faith, the practice of mentioning the names of
the 12 Infallibles (a.s) in the sermons of the Friday Prayers
was commenced. This was the first kingdom in India where the
names of the 12 Imams (a.s) were included in the sermons recited
from the pulpits of the mosques! They also started a new practice.
Wherever the king sat a step was provided above that. On that step would
be seated a Sayed whose ancestry was proven. The king had a
feeling that it would be felicitous if he sat at the feet of a Sayed.
It was one person, Mulla Tahir, who brought about a change in
the attitude of a king in the Deccan. Later on in the Northern
India too, in Delhi, Agra and other parts of U.P. a
dramatic change came about in the attitude of the people and the enemies
of the Ahl al Bayt (a.s) had to soften their attitude towards the
Shias.
Thus commenced the progress of the
Shias in the vast country with the efforts of Mulla Tahir!
Source urdu book Moulana Sadiq Hassan lectures
Shaykh Baha' ad-Din al-`Amili, Shaykh
Bahai or Sheykh
Bahaee (Persian: ی
یی) (February 1547 - 30 August 1621) was a scholar, philosopher, architect, mathematician,astronomer and
poet in 16th-century Iran.
He was born in Baalbek, Lebanon but
immigrated in his childhood to Safavid Iran with
his father. He wrote over 88 books in different topics mostly inPersian but
also in Arabic.
He is buried in Imam
Reza's shrine in Mashad in
Iran.
He is considered one of the main co-founders of Isfahan
School of Islamic
Philosophy. In later years he became one of the teachers of Sadr
al-Din al-Shirazi, also known as Mulla
Sadra.[1]
His works include Naqsh-e
Jahan Square in Isfahan,
as well as designing the construction of theManar
Jonban, also known as the two shaking minarets, situated on either
side of the mausoleum of Amoo Abdollah Garladani in the west of Isfahan.[citation
needed]
Shaykh Baha' al-Din (also spelled Baha'uddin) Muhammad ibn Husayn al-'Amili
was born in Baalbek, Lebanon in
1532. He lived in Jabal
Amelin a village called Jaba'.
Jabal Amel had always been one of the main Shiite centers
of west Asia. Even today various Shiite groups live there. They have
played an important role in establishing Shiism in Iran,
especially from 13th century onwards. The Baha'i (Bahaei) progeny was
among those well-known Shiite families.
As a child, he came to Iran with his father and completed his studies in Isfahan.
Having intended to travel to Mecca in
1570, he visited many Islamic countries including Iraq, Syria and Egypt and
after spending four years there, he returned to Iran.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din died in 1610 in Isfahan.
His body was buried in Mashhad according
to his will.
The exact dates of his birth and death are different on his grave stone
and on the ceramic of the walls of the room where he is buried in.[citation
needed]
Date of birth:
Date of death:
The dates on the wall contain day, month and year, while the dates on
the grave stone only contain month and year. The ceramics of the wall
are made in 1945. It seems that at that time a research is performed
about the exact dates, and, therefore, the information about the day is
added to the dates.[citation
needed]
According to Bahá'í scholar Abdul-Hamíd
Ishráq-Khávari, Shaykh Baha' al-Din adopted the pen name (takhallus)
'Baha' after being inspired by words of Shi'a
Imam Muhammad
al-Baqir (the fifth Imam)
and Imam Ja'far
al-Sadiq (the sixth
Imam), who had stated that the Greatest
Name of God was included
in either Du'ay-i-Sahar or Du'ay-i-Umm-i-Davud.[2] In
the first verse of the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a dawn prayer for theRamadan,
the name "Bahá" appears four times: "Allahumma inni as 'aluka min Bahá'
ika bi Abháh va kulla Bahá' ika Bahí".[3]
Shaykh Baha' al-Din contributed numerous works in philosophy, logic,
astronomy and mathematics. His works include 88 articles, epistles and
books. Shaykh Baha' al-Din also composed poems in Persian.
His outstanding works in the Iranian language are Jame Abbasi and twomasnavis (rhymed
couplets) by the names of "Milk and Sugar" and "Bread and Halva". His
other work Kashkool includes
stories, news, scientific topics, Persian and Arabic proverbs.
He wrote Khulasat Al-Hisab and Tashrih
Al-Aflak in Arabic.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din's fame was due to his excellent command of
mathematics, architecture and geometry. He was the architect of
Isfahan'sImam
Square, Imam
Mosque and Hessar
Najaf. He also made a sun clock to the west of the Imam Mosque.
There is also no doubt about his mastery of topography. The best
instance of this is the directing of the water of the Zayandeh
River to different areas
of Isfahan. He designed a canal called Zarrin
Kamar in Isfahan which is
one of Iran's greatest canals. He also determined the direction of Qiblah (prayer
direction) from the Imam mosque.
He also designed and constructed a furnace for a public bathroom, which
still exists in Isfahan, known as Sheikh
Bahaei's bathroom. The furnace was warmed by a single candle, which
was placed in an enclosure. The candle burned for a long time, warming
the bath's water. According to his own instructions, the candle's fire
would be put out if the enclosure was ever opened. This happened during
the restoration and repair of the building and no one has been able to
make the system work again. He also designed the Manar
Jonban (shaking minaret),
which still exists in Isfahan.
The High
Council of Cultural Revolution in
Iran designated April 23 as the National
Architect Day, marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Bahaei.
In the Twelver tradition,
Shaykh Bahai is regarded as a leading scholar of his age and a mujaddid of
the seventeenth century.[4] His
erudition won of him the admiration of Shah
Abbas, and he was appointed the Sheikh
ul-Islam of Isfahan after
the death of the previous incumbent.[4]He
composed works on tafsir, hadith, grammar and fiqh (jurisprudence).[4]
Shaykh Baha' al-Din is also attributed with architectural planning of
the city of Isfahan during the Safavid era. His interest in the sciences
is also apparent by some of his works and treaties. One of his works in astronomy is
the treatise Fi Tashir al-Aflak(Anatomy of the heavens).[4]His
book Kholasat al-Hesab the
summa of arithmetic was
translated into German by G. H. L. Nesselmann and was published as early
as 1843.[4] Shaykh
had designed a public bath called "Garmabeh-e-shaykh" in Isphahan which
for a long time it was running and providing hot water to public for
years without any visible heating system of the day which usually needed
tons of wood. Recently in 1969-70 the bathroom heating system was
excavated and few series of underground pipe lines made of sun dried
clay were discovered even though there are many theories about the
working of this heating system, it was concluded recently that he knew
about biogas and the network was to guide toilet wells which were common
to Iranian's houses and mosques. This genius of architect was a true
testimony to Persianate Safavid Turks or Islam.[5]
Shaykh Baha' al-Din was also an adept of mysticism.
He had a distinct Sufi leaning
for which he was criticized by Mohammad Baqer Majlesi.[4] During
his travels he dressed like a Dervish[4] and
frequented Sufi circles.[4] He
also appears in the chain of both the Nurbakhshi and Ni'matullāhī Sufi
orders.[4] In
the work called "Resāla fil-waḥda al-wojūdīya" (Exposition of the
concept of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existences), he states that the
Sufis are the true believers,[4] calls
for an unbiased assessment of their utterances,[4] and
refers to his own mystical experiences.[4] His
Persian poetry is also replete with mystical allusions and symbols.[4] At
the same time, Shaykh Baha' al-Din calls for strict adherence to the Sharia as
a prerequisite for embarking on the Tariqah[4] and
did not hold a high view of antimonianmysticism.[4]
A poem of his is cited below[citation
needed]:
Plead For Unison Translation:
Maryam Dilmaghani
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaBaha' ad-Din al-`Amili
[
Exact
dates of birth and death
Pen
name
Works
Books
Imami
Jurisprudence
Sciences
Mysticism
See
also
References
External
links
