Al-Muhaqqiq

The Role of ʿUrf in the Jurisprudence of Ibn Idrīs

2026-08-27T10:49:19+00:00

Ibn Idrīs’s recognition of the merits and particularities of his era, together with his awareness of the circumstances of the society in which he lived and his efforts to address the problems confronting it, led him to seek to overcome the atmosphere of stagnation and intellectual inertia that dominated jurisprudence during his time. By characterizing his age as one marked by the sterility of intellect and intellectual backwardness, and by challenging the opinions of earlier jurists, he opened the way for consideration of the role of time and place in the transformation and development of Islamic jurisprudence, thereby laying the necessary foundations for a renewed approach to jurisprudential thought.
Ibn Idrīs defines ʿurf as a practice or verbal expression that is commonly and consistently prevalent among people. He further maintains that, since ʿurf has two distinct origins or modes of emergence, it may perform two different functions. The first is an independent function, through which ʿurf contributes to the discovery and determination of the legal ruling. The second is an instrumental function, through which it serves to identify the subjects and concrete instances to which legal rulings apply, as well as to clarify the meanings of terms and expressions.

Posited Concepts in the Thought of Allama al-Hilli

2026-08-27T11:07:20+00:00

The historical development of concepts pertaining to theology and philosophy has caused considerable confusion within the intellectual sphere. The ambiguity associated with such concepts makes the understanding and interpretation of texts more difficult for the reader. Among these concepts is “posited concepts,” which stands in contrast to realities. The term was widely used in the texts of the medieval period and in subsequent periods.
The renowned Shiʿi scholar Allama al-Hilli (d. 726 AH) referred to concepts such as existence, causality, and unity as posited concepts. This study seeks to clarify the ambiguity surrounding this concept and to shed light on some of its ramifications by examining the writings of this prominent Shiʿi scholar.

The Pivotal Role of the Hilla School in Shaping Imami Gnostic Thought (7th–9th Centuries AH)

2026-08-27T11:21:26+00:00

This study examines the pivotal role played by the Hilla School in reshaping and restructuring Imami gnostic thought during the seventh to ninth centuries AH. It highlights the pioneering role of its leading figures, including Sayyid Haydar al-Amuli, Ibn Fahd al-Hilli, Ibn Tawus, and Shaykh Nasir al-Din al-Kashani al-Hilli, in bridging the gap between Islamic jurisprudence and inner spiritual experience, and in transforming gnostic thought from individual spiritual inclinations into a comprehensive and systematic intellectual approach governed by the principles of Islamic law.
The study analyzes how this school contributed to assimilating the Sufi intellectual heritage, particularly the school of Ibn Arabi, and reformulating it within the doctrinal framework of Imami Shiʿism. This process ultimately gave rise to a form of Sharia-compliant Gnosticism, which came to shape the intellectual and spiritual identity of Imami scholars in subsequent centuries.

Amir Abd Allah al-Faris al-Hasani: His Life and Tomb in the Flourishing City of Hilla

2026-08-27T11:28:11+00:00

This study traces the lineage of Sayyid Abd Allah al-Faris al-Hasani through his ancestors back to Imam Hasan, and provides a brief account of their lives. It also examines aspects of the biographies of his brothers, some of whom assumed the Sharafah of Mecca after their father.
Sayyid Abd Allah was distinguished by his courage and physical strength, earning him the epithet al-Faris (the Knight). The genealogist Ibn ʿInabah praised him in his work ʿUmdat al-Talib and provided an account of aspects of his life. He was also mentioned by the historian Ibn al-Fuwati in Muʿjam al-Adab, as well as by the genealogist and historian Ibn al-Tiqtaqa al-Tabatabaʾi in his work al-Asili.
Sayyid al-Faris lived in Hilla in considerable prosperity, enjoying a generous status and considerable social standing. The Mongol Sultan Mahmud Ghazan granted him a number of agricultural land grants (iqtaʿs) from which he could derive his livelihood. He was known for his generosity toward those who came to seek his assistance, giving freely from what he possessed. However, the historian Ibn al-Tiqtaqa criticized him for some of his positions and actions. This study addresses these alleged criticisms by examining and responding to them in light of the documented information available concerning Sayyid Abd Allah.

The Dimensions and Area of the Shrine of Sahib al-Zaman in Hilla: A Review through Social History

2026-08-27T11:42:47+00:00

The Shrine of Sahib al-Zaman is regarded as the most important Shiʿi pilgrimage site in the city of Hilla. Today, it consists of a small chamber measuring approximately 35 square meters, located in an area predominantly inhabited by Sunnis.
However, a review of Ibn Battuta’s accounts of his two journeys to the city of Hilla, together with other historical evidence—such as the illustrated manuscript of Bayan Manazil Safar al-ʿIraqayn by Nasuh Matrakçi, as well as other surviving manuscripts—suggests that the shrine was considerably larger in previous centuries and was situated within one of the major Shiʿi scholarly and cultural centers of Hilla.

A Valuable Manuscript of Qawaʿid al-Ahkam: A Descriptive and Analytical Study

2026-08-27T12:23:40+00:00

This study examines a valuable manuscript copy of Qawaʿid al-Ahkam by Allama al-Hilli, a work that has attracted the attention of jurists and scholars since the time of its composition due to its significance in Shiʿi jurisprudence. This scholarly interest resulted in the production and circulation of numerous manuscript copies of the work.
The significance of the manuscript examined in this study derives from several factors, most notably its early date of transcription. The first volume was copied by Sayyid Sultan ibn al-Hasan al-Shajari al-Qummi in 822 AH, while the second volume was copied in the following year, in the vicinity of the Shrine of Imam Ali.
The manuscript's importance is further enhanced by the presence of valuable marginal annotations and glosses, including a gloss on the commentary Kanz al-Fawa'id, written by the same copyist. The manuscript is also documented through multiple records of ijazahs (scholarly licenses) and reading certificates granted by prominent scholars who studied and authenticated the text.
Over the centuries, the manuscript passed into the possession of several distinguished figures, including al-Fayd al-Kashani in Isfahan and later Ishaq ibn Muhammad ʿAlam al-Huda in Kashan. It remained in the possession and under the supervision of scholars and teachers for more than 625 years.

The Poetry of Yahya ibn al-Batriq al-Hilli: Collection and Critical Edition

2026-08-27T13:03:03+00:00

Yahya ibn al-Batriq al-Hilli (d. 600 AH) belonged to a prominent scholarly family in Hilla. He was renowned as a distinguished jurist and scholar of considerable standing and was particularly well known for his work al-ʿUmdah, in addition to several other important scholarly compilations.
This study examines another dimension of his scholarly legacy, namely his poetry. It seeks to collect and authenticate his poetic works on the basis of reliable and authoritative sources.
After extensive research, the study identified 49 poetic texts attributed to him. These texts have been presented in accordance with established scholarly methods for the critical editing, verification, and publication of classical texts.

The Pourer of Tears By Qawam al-Din al-Qazwini (d. 1150 AH) (d. 676 AH)

2026-08-27T12:50:02+00:00

This poem is a masterpiece of elegies for Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and his family, composed by Qawam al-Din al-Qazwini. It describes what happened to Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), his family، and his companions in the Karbala incident، and the grief it left in the hearts of his followers and loved ones. It also highlights the role played by Imam Hussein, who began by advising them and reminding them of the Hereafter. However, this proved to be of no avail. Satan overpowered them, causing them to forget the remembrance of God Almighty, and they forgot the status this great Imam enjoyed with his grandfather, the Messenger of God (peace be upon him).