Allameh Tabatabaei
Encyclopedia
Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei (1892—November 15, 1981) was one of the most prominent thinker
s of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam. He is famous for Tafsir al-Mizan
, the Qur'anic exegesis
.
, Azarbaijan, in northwestern Iran
, he studied at Najaf
, under masters such as Mirza 'Ali Qadi (in gnosis), Mirza Muhammad Husain Na'ini, Shaykh Muhammad Husain Isfahani (in Fiqh and Jurisprudence), Sayyid Abu'l-Qasim Khwansari (in Mathematics
), as well as studying the standard texts of Avicenna
's Shifa, the Asfar of Sadr al-Din Shirazi, and the Tamhid al-qawa'id of Ibn Turkah. Along with Sayyid Husayn Badkuba'i, he was a student of two of the most famous masters of the time, Sayyid Abu'l-Hasan Jilwah and Aqa 'Ali Mudarris Zunuzi.
In his later years he would often hold study sessions with Henry Corbin
and Seyyed Hossein Nasr
, in which not only the classical texts of divine wisdom and gnosis
were discussed, but also a whole cycle of what Nasr calls comparative gnosis, in which in each session the sacred texts of one of the major religions, containing mystical and gnostic teachings, such as the Tao Te Ching
, the Upanishads and the Gospel of John
, were discussed and compared with Sufism
and Islamic gnostic doctrines in general.
Tabatabaei, was a philosopher, a prolific writer, and an inspiring teacher to his students who devoted much of his life to Islamic studies. Many of his students were among the ideological founders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely Murtaza Motahhari, Dr. Beheshti, and Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh. Others like Nasr and Hasanzadeh Amuli remained and continued their studies in the intellectual non-political sphere.
. If Ayatollah Haeri is considered the reviver of Qom's hawza
in an organizational sense, Tabatabaei's contributions to the field of tafsir
, philosophy and mysticism represent the intellectual revitalization of the hawza
with lasting implications for the curriculum.
His other major philosophical work is a voluminous commentary of Asfār al-'arba'eh, the magnum opus of Mulla Sadra
who was the last of the great Persian (Iranian) Muslim thinkers of the medieval age. Apart from these he also wrote extensively on philosophical topics. His humanist approach is underlined by his three books on: the nature of man - before the world, in this world, and after this world. His philosophy is focused upon the sociological treatment of human problems. His two other works, Bidāyat al-hikmah and Nihāyat al-hikmah, are considered among works of high order in Islamic philosophy.
Several treatises on the doctrines and history of the Shi'a remain from him as well. One of these comprises his clarifications and expositions about Shi'a faith in reply to the questions posed by the famous French orientalist Henry Corbin
. Another of his books on this topic Shi'ah dar Islam was translated into English by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
under the title Shi'a Islam
, with the help of William Chittick
as a project of Colgate University
. These books are claimed to serve as an excellent conduit by which popular misconceptions about the Shi'a faith may be removed further paving the way for a better ecumenical understanding amongst the various Muslim schools of thought.
His written books number forty-four titles overall; three of which are collections of his articles on various aspects of Islam and the Qur'an.
, but occasionally in Arabic
as well. He was also the author of numerous articles and essays.
کیش مهر
همي گويم و گفته ام بارها .... بود کيش من مهر دلدارها
پرستش به مستي است در کيش مهر .... برونند زين جرگه هشيارها
به شادي و آسايش و خواب و خور .... ندارند کاري دل افگارها
به جز اشک چشم و به جز داغ دل .... نباشد به دست گرفتارها
کشيدند در کوي دلدادگان .... ميان دل و کام، ديوارها
چه فرهادها مرده در کوهها .... چه حلاجها رفته بر دارها
چه دارد جهان جز دل و مهر يار .... مگر توده هايي ز پندارها
ولي رادمردان و وارستگان .... نبازند هرگز به مردارها
مهين مهر ورزان که آزاده اند .... بريزند از دام جان تارها
به خون خود آغشته و رفته اند .... چه گلهاي رنگين به جوبارها
بهاران که شاباش ريزد سپهر .... به دامان گلشن ز رگبارها
کشد رخت،سبزه به هامون و دشت .... زند بارگه ،گل به گلزارها
نگارش دهد گلبن جويبار .... در آيينه ي آب، رخسارها
رود شاخ گل در بر نيلفر .... برقصد به صد ناز گلنارها
درد پرده ي غنچه را باد بام .... هزار آورد نغز گفتارها
به آواي ناي و به آهنگ چنگ .... خروشد ز سرو و سمن، تارها
به ياد خم ابروي گل رخان .... بکش جام در بزم مي خوارها
گره را ز راز جهان باز کن .... که آسان کند باده، دشوارها
جز افسون و افسانه نبود جهان .... که بستند چشم خشايارها
به اندوه آينده خود را مباز .... که آينده خوابي است چون پارها
فريب جهان مخور زينهار .... که در پاي اين گل بود خارها
پياپي بکش جام و سرگرم باش .... بهل گر بگيرند بيکارها
Thinker
Thinker may refer to:*Intellectual, one who tries to use his or her intellect to work, study, reflect, speculate on, or ask and answer questions with regard to a variety of different ideas...
s of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam. He is famous for Tafsir al-Mizan
Tafsir al-Mizan
Al-Mizan fi tafsiri'l-Qur'an, popularly known as Tafsir al-Mizan ,is a Shi'a Muslim tafsir written by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Tabataba'i....
, the Qur'anic exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
.
Biography
Born in TabrizTabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, Azarbaijan, in northwestern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, he studied at Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
, under masters such as Mirza 'Ali Qadi (in gnosis), Mirza Muhammad Husain Na'ini, Shaykh Muhammad Husain Isfahani (in Fiqh and Jurisprudence), Sayyid Abu'l-Qasim Khwansari (in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
), as well as studying the standard texts of Avicenna
Avicenna
Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sīnā , commonly known as Ibn Sīnā or by his Latinized name Avicenna, was a Persian polymath, who wrote almost 450 treatises on a wide range of subjects, of which around 240 have survived...
's Shifa, the Asfar of Sadr al-Din Shirazi, and the Tamhid al-qawa'id of Ibn Turkah. Along with Sayyid Husayn Badkuba'i, he was a student of two of the most famous masters of the time, Sayyid Abu'l-Hasan Jilwah and Aqa 'Ali Mudarris Zunuzi.
In his later years he would often hold study sessions with Henry Corbin
Henry Corbin
Henry Corbin was a philosopher, theologian and professor of Islamic Studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.Corbin was born in Paris in April 1903. As a boy he revealed the profound sensitivity to music so evident in his work...
and Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is an Iranian University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, and a prominent Islamic philosopher...
, in which not only the classical texts of divine wisdom and gnosis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge . In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment.-Related...
were discussed, but also a whole cycle of what Nasr calls comparative gnosis, in which in each session the sacred texts of one of the major religions, containing mystical and gnostic teachings, such as the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching, Dao De Jing, or Daodejing , also simply referred to as the Laozi, whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is a Chinese classic text...
, the Upanishads and the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, were discussed and compared with Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
and Islamic gnostic doctrines in general.
Tabatabaei, was a philosopher, a prolific writer, and an inspiring teacher to his students who devoted much of his life to Islamic studies. Many of his students were among the ideological founders of the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely Murtaza Motahhari, Dr. Beheshti, and Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh. Others like Nasr and Hasanzadeh Amuli remained and continued their studies in the intellectual non-political sphere.
Published works
It was in Najaf where Tabatabaei developed his major contributions in the fields of Tafsir (interpretation), philosophy, and history of the Shi'a faith. In philosophy the most important of his works is Usul-i falsafeh va ravesh-e-realism (The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism), which has been published in five volumes with explanatory notes and the commentary of Morteza MotahhariMorteza Motahhari
Ayatollah Murtaza Motahhari was an Iranian scholar, cleric, lecturer, and politician.Motahhari is considered among the important influences on the ideologies of the Islamic Republic, and was a co-founder of Hosseiniye Ershad and the Combatant Clergy Association...
. If Ayatollah Haeri is considered the reviver of Qom's hawza
Hawza
Hawza or ḥawza ʻilmiyya is a seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning. It is a term used mostly by the Shi'a Muslims communities to refer to a traditional Shi'a centre where clerics are trained...
in an organizational sense, Tabatabaei's contributions to the field of tafsir
Tafsir
Tafseer is the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary, usually of the Qur'an. Ta'wīl is a subset of tafsir and refers to esoteric or mystical interpretation. An author of tafsir is a mufassir .- Etymology :...
, philosophy and mysticism represent the intellectual revitalization of the hawza
Hawza
Hawza or ḥawza ʻilmiyya is a seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning. It is a term used mostly by the Shi'a Muslims communities to refer to a traditional Shi'a centre where clerics are trained...
with lasting implications for the curriculum.
Mulla Sadra
Ṣadr ad-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī also called Mulla Sadrā was a Persian Shia Islamic philosopher, theologian and ‘Ālim who led the Iranian cultural renaissance in the 17th century...
who was the last of the great Persian (Iranian) Muslim thinkers of the medieval age. Apart from these he also wrote extensively on philosophical topics. His humanist approach is underlined by his three books on: the nature of man - before the world, in this world, and after this world. His philosophy is focused upon the sociological treatment of human problems. His two other works, Bidāyat al-hikmah and Nihāyat al-hikmah, are considered among works of high order in Islamic philosophy.
Several treatises on the doctrines and history of the Shi'a remain from him as well. One of these comprises his clarifications and expositions about Shi'a faith in reply to the questions posed by the famous French orientalist Henry Corbin
Henry Corbin
Henry Corbin was a philosopher, theologian and professor of Islamic Studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.Corbin was born in Paris in April 1903. As a boy he revealed the profound sensitivity to music so evident in his work...
. Another of his books on this topic Shi'ah dar Islam was translated into English by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is an Iranian University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, and a prominent Islamic philosopher...
under the title Shi'a Islam
Shi'a Islam (book)
Shi'ite Islam is an important text on the history and thought of Shi'a Islam.Written by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i, with the translation, editing, and introduction by Dr...
, with the help of William Chittick
William Chittick
William C. Chittick is a leading translator and interpreter of classical Islamic philosophical and mystical texts. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on Rumi and Ibn 'Arabi, and has written extensively on the school of Ibn 'Arabi, Islamic philosophy, Shi'ism, and Islamic...
as a project of Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. These books are claimed to serve as an excellent conduit by which popular misconceptions about the Shi'a faith may be removed further paving the way for a better ecumenical understanding amongst the various Muslim schools of thought.
His written books number forty-four titles overall; three of which are collections of his articles on various aspects of Islam and the Qur'an.
List of publications
- Shi'a IslamShi'a Islam (book)Shi'ite Islam is an important text on the history and thought of Shi'a Islam.Written by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i, with the translation, editing, and introduction by Dr...
- The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism (Iranian: Usul-i-falsafeh va ravesh-i-ri'alism) in five volumes, with the commentary of Murtada Mutahhari.
- Glosses al-kifayah . Glosses upon the new edition of the Asfar of Sadr al-Din Shirizi Mulla SadraMulla SadraṢadr ad-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī also called Mulla Sadrā was a Persian Shia Islamic philosopher, theologian and ‘Ālim who led the Iranian cultural renaissance in the 17th century...
appearing under the direction of 'Allahma Tabataba'i of which seven volumes have appeared. - Dialogues with Professor Corbin (Iranian: Mushabat ba Ustad Kurban) Two volumes based on conversations carried out between 'Allahma Tabataba'i and Henry CorbinHenry CorbinHenry Corbin was a philosopher, theologian and professor of Islamic Studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.Corbin was born in Paris in April 1903. As a boy he revealed the profound sensitivity to music so evident in his work...
of which the first volume was printed as the yearbook of Maktab-i tashayyu’, 1339 (A.H. Solar) - Risalah dar hukumat-i islami, (Treatise on Islamic Government).
- Hashiyah-i kifayah (Glosses upon al-Kifayah).
- Risalah dar quwwah wafi'(Treatise on Potentiality and Actuality).
- Risalah dar ithbat-i dha~t (Treatise on the Proof of the Divine Essence).
- Risalah dar sifat (Treatise on the Divine Attributes).
- Risalah dar ata (Treatise on the Divine Acts).
- Risalah dar wasa'il (Treatise on Means).
- Risalah dar insan qabl al-dunya (Treatise on Man before the World)
- Risalah dar insan fi al-dunya (Treatise on Man in the World).
- Risalah dar insan ba'd al-dunya (Treatise on Man after the World).
- Risalah dar nubuwwat (Treatise on Prophecy).
- Risalah dar wilayat (Treatise on Initiation).
- Risalah dar mushtaqqat (Treatise on Derivatives).
- Risalah dar burhan (Treatise on Demonstration).
- Risalah dar mughalatah (Treatise on Sophism).
- Risalah dar tahlil (Treatise on Analysis).
- Risalah dar tarkib (Treatise on Synthesis).
- Risalah dar i’tibarat (Treatise on Contingents).
- Risalah dar nubuwwat wa manamat (Treatise on Prophecy and Dreams)
- Manza’mah dar rasm-i- khatt-i-nasta’liq (Poem on the Method of Writing the Nasta’liq Style of Calligraphy).
- Ali wa al-falsafat al-ilahiya (Ali and Metaphysics)
- Qur'an dar islam (The Qur'an in Islam).
Poetry
Allameh Tabatabaei was also an accomplished poet. He composed his poetry mainly in PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, but occasionally in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
as well. He was also the author of numerous articles and essays.
کیش مهر
همي گويم و گفته ام بارها .... بود کيش من مهر دلدارها
پرستش به مستي است در کيش مهر .... برونند زين جرگه هشيارها
به شادي و آسايش و خواب و خور .... ندارند کاري دل افگارها
به جز اشک چشم و به جز داغ دل .... نباشد به دست گرفتارها
کشيدند در کوي دلدادگان .... ميان دل و کام، ديوارها
چه فرهادها مرده در کوهها .... چه حلاجها رفته بر دارها
چه دارد جهان جز دل و مهر يار .... مگر توده هايي ز پندارها
ولي رادمردان و وارستگان .... نبازند هرگز به مردارها
مهين مهر ورزان که آزاده اند .... بريزند از دام جان تارها
به خون خود آغشته و رفته اند .... چه گلهاي رنگين به جوبارها
بهاران که شاباش ريزد سپهر .... به دامان گلشن ز رگبارها
کشد رخت،سبزه به هامون و دشت .... زند بارگه ،گل به گلزارها
نگارش دهد گلبن جويبار .... در آيينه ي آب، رخسارها
رود شاخ گل در بر نيلفر .... برقصد به صد ناز گلنارها
درد پرده ي غنچه را باد بام .... هزار آورد نغز گفتارها
به آواي ناي و به آهنگ چنگ .... خروشد ز سرو و سمن، تارها
به ياد خم ابروي گل رخان .... بکش جام در بزم مي خوارها
گره را ز راز جهان باز کن .... که آسان کند باده، دشوارها
جز افسون و افسانه نبود جهان .... که بستند چشم خشايارها
به اندوه آينده خود را مباز .... که آينده خوابي است چون پارها
فريب جهان مخور زينهار .... که در پاي اين گل بود خارها
پياپي بکش جام و سرگرم باش .... بهل گر بگيرند بيکارها
See also
- Iranian traditional humanism
- Islamic scholars
- Islamization of knowledgeIslamization of knowledgeIslamization of knowledge is a term which describes a variety of attempts and approaches to synthesize the ethics of Islam with various fields of modern thought. Its end product would be a new ijma among Muslims on an appropriate fiqh and a scientific method that did not violate Islamic ethical...
- Islamic philosophyIslamic philosophyIslamic philosophy is a branch of Islamic studies. It is the continuous search for Hekma in the light of Islamic view of life, universe, ethics, society, and so on...
- Ayatollah al-Shirazi
- Seyyed Zia'eddin TabatabaeeSeyyed Zia'eddin TabatabaeeSeyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee was an Iranian politician and the Prime Minister of Iran from February to May 1921 under Ahmad Shah, the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty....
- List of Marjas
- Allameh Majlesi
External links
- Allamah on facebook
- Ashams Al-Sate'ah (الشمس الساطعة - the Bright Sun) - in Memory of Allameh Tabatabaei by Allameh Tehrani
- Biography of Allameh Tabatabaei by Seyyed Hossein NasrSeyyed Hossein NasrSeyyed Hossein Nasr is an Iranian University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, and a prominent Islamic philosopher...
, preface of Shiite Islam - Biography of Allameh Tabatabaei Taken from: “Stories from the life of Allama Tabatabai(R) by Ahmad Luqmani, Allameh Tabatabai, Meezane Ma`refit”, translated by S.K. Yusufali, Qum, Iran, 2006.
- Biography of Allameh Tabatabaei by Mohammad Yazdi
Some of his works
- Some of the books of Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai in Bookfinder.com
- Islamic Teachings In Brief
- The Qur'an in Islam
- al-Mizan
- Muhammad [s] in the Mirror of Islam
- Shiite Islam
- Light Within Me
- A Shi'ite Anthology
- VICEGERENCY (Risalah al-Wilayah)
- Kernel of the Kernel A Shi'a approach to SufismSufismSufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...