Sharif al-Murtaza الشريف المرتضى | |
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| Title | ʿAlam al-Hudā |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Abū al-Qāsim ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā 355 AH/965 CE Baghdad, Iraq |
| Died | 436 AH/1044 CE[1] |
| Resting place | Sharif al-Murtada Shrine in Baghdad, Iraq |
| Nationality | Abbasid |
| Parent(s) | Abu Ahmad al-Husayn ibn Musa (father), Fatima (mother) |
| Era | Islamic Golden Age |
| Main interest(s) | Theology,Jurisprudence,Hadith |
| Known for | Prominent Shia scholar, theologian, and jurist |
| Occupation | Scholar, Theologian, Jurist |
| Relatives | Al-Sharif al-Radi (brother) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Shia |
| Jurisprudence | Ja'fari |
| Creed | Twelver |
| Muslim leader | |
Influenced by | |
Influenced | |
Abū al-Qāsim ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā (Arabic:أبو القاسم علي بن الحسين الشريف المرتضى; 965–1044 CE) commonly known asSharīf Murtaḍā orSayyid Murtaḍā (Murtazā instead of Murtaḍā in non-Arabic languages) and also popular asʿAlam al-Hudā (Arabic:علم الهدى), was aShia Muslim scholar,jurist andtheologian fromIraq, who was widely considered one of the foremost Shia scholars of his time.[3] He was one of the students ofShaykh al-Mufīd, who taught inBaghdad and later inNajaf. His younger brother isal-Sharif al-Radi, the compiler ofNahj al-Balagha.
Al-Sharif al-Murtada lived during the era of the ShiaBuyid dynasty ofDaylamite origin, which came to rule overIraq and parts ofIran in 934–1062, which also coincided with the golden age ofArabic literature, and great poetsal-Ma'arri were among his contemporaries. His prominence as a Shiite authority is also evident in the outreach of his letters, which addressed inquiries of Shiite communities (masā'il) inTiberias,Tripoli,Sidon,Mosul andAleppo.[4]
His full name was "Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Musa ibn Muhammad ibn Musa ibnIbrahim ibnMusa al-Kazim" (Arabic: علي بن الحسين بن موسی بن محمد بن موسی بن ابراهيم بن موسى الكاظم).
He was born inBaghdad inRajab 355AH (June/July 966 CE). He was born in a prominentSayyid household, descended from the seventhTwelver ShiaImamMusa al-Kazim (745–799). He was son ofAbu Ahmad al-Husayn ibn Musa. His father called him Ali and his nickname was Murtada. His honorific title was Alam al-Huda. He called as Alam al-Huda according to a popular narration said by Shahid Awwal in The book of Arba'in as follow: the Vizier of Abbasid dynasty namely Muhammad ibn al-Husayn became sick. he saw in his dreams Imam Ali while address him: tell Alam al-Huda till demand Health for you. When Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ask on the person with such a nickname he told : he is Ali ibn al-Husayn or Sharif Murtada.[5]
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The name of Sharif al-Murtada's mother was Fatima. She was a pious and noble lady, who was held in high esteem by scholars and other notables. At her request, the great scholarShaykh al-Mufīd compiled the book"Ahkām al-Nisā'", which contains thefiqhi rules for women. Her family had carved outan independent principality inTabaristan, on the southern coasts of theCaspian Sea. She died in Baghdad, in the year 995, (385 AH).
Since he was the pupil of both Qadi Abd al-Jabbar the Mu'tazilite andal-Shaykh al-Mufid, he was influenced by both of them. He even criticised them.
According to Sharif al-Murtada, the first part of religious duty is the obligation to reason to the knowledge of God. The other duties are dependent on this first duty. Al-Murtada along with the Mu'tazilite starting-point is the claim that man's first duty is to use his reason to arrive at the knowledge of God. Also in Kalam there is proof of the existence of God, he defended the atomist' stance versus that of the Aristotelian notion of substantial change.[6]
He believed that we must not limit our-selves to applying those names mentioned inQuran.
Sayyid Murtaḍā acquired the epithet of:"ʿAlam al-Hudā" ("The banner of guidance"), and died at the age of 81 years in 1044 (436 AH).
He was a multi-dimensional personality. All Shi'ite scholars acknowledge that Sayyid Murtaḍā was the greatest scholar of his era, and groomed many outstandingulama (scholars), including the famousShaykh al-Tūsī, the founder of the celebrated theological Center ofNajaf.[7] He served as"Naqīb al-Nuqabā'" after the death of his brother.
Sayyid Murtaḍā was deeply interested infiqh, unlikeSayyid Raḍī, who was more inclined towards politics and literature,. He was considered a master ofkalam,fiqh,usul al-fiqh, literature, grammar, poetry and other fields of knowledge. His divan or poetry collection has more than 20,000 verses.
Books authored by Sayyid Murtaḍā include:
