An Epistle in Knowing Allah

Abstract

Ibnul-Odi is considered one of the scholars of Al-Hilla, who were famous in the time of the appearance, spreading and popularity of Al-Hilla Scientific Hawza(Seminary). He was contemporary to Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Hilli, but he was not as famous as his contemporary
scholars, let alone the paucity of his output and the disagreement
about his name and biography.
As regards his work (An Epistle in Knowing Allah), it is one of his epistles, which have not been verified yet. We embarked in checking it after we have got an important version in the Library of Imam Ridha in Iran. It is a doctrinal epistle in which its author tries to probate knowing Allah in addition to proving the Prophecy of the Messenger(May Allah bless him and his household and send peace upon them) and the Imamate of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali(Peace be upon him) and the impeccable imams(Peace be upon them). The Epistle is supplemented by an appendix entitled (A Theorem in Allah’s Volition), which is taken from the work of Sheikh Al-Mufeed (May Allah bless him).