''Baṣāʾir ad-Darajāt fī ʿUlūm ʾĀl Muḥammad wa-mā khaṣṣahum Allāh bihi'' (), alternatively known as ''Baṣāʾir ad-Darajāt al-Kubrā fī Faḍāʾil ʾĀl Muḥammad'' (), is a

Hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...

compilation considered to be one of the oldest books in Hadith among

Shias Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to ...

. The book's author is Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Farrūkh al-ʾAʿraj (), popularly known as Shaykh aṣ-Ṣaffār al-Qummī () (d. 290 AH / 902-903 CE)

Author

Abu Jaʿfar Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Farrukh al-Araj
popularly known as Sheikh as-Saffar al-Qummi (d. 290 AH / 902-903 CE), was a contemporary of the tenth and eleventh

Imams Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide relig ...

. He was probably the disciple of the eleventh, and an acquaintance of his son, Imam Mahdi. He was one of the earliest systematic compilers of Hadiths about Imamat Theology, constituting the basis of early Twelver metaphysics and mystical theology. His greatest work, which is also the only one that has survived, is ''Baṣāʾir ad-Darajāt fi ʿUlūm ʾĀle Muḥammad wa-mā khaṣṣahumu--Allāh.'' It was edited in Iran under the title ''Baṣaʾir ad-Darajāt al-Kubrā fī Faḍāʾil ʾĀle Muḥammad''. In addition to being a Hadith compiler, Sheikh as-Saffar al-Qummi is himself also known as a prominent narrator of Hadith.

Characteristics

The book includes 1881 Hadiths. The book is divided into ten original parts, with such each part having 10 or 24 subdivisions. Sheikh as-Saffar al-Qummi presents the narrations methodically by grouping details in independent chapters. Some scholars have stated that Basa'ir ad-Darajat is the oldest large-scale compilation of Shia Hadiths.

''Basa'ir ad-Darajat'' is a hadith collection with a theological approach whose Hadiths are about the

Imamate The term imamate or ''imamah'' (, ''imāmah'') means "leadership" and refers to the office of an ''imam'' or a Muslim theocratic state ruled by an ''imam''. Theology *Imamate in Shia doctrine, the doctrine of the leadership of the Muslim commu ...

, how to know an

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

(a) and the virtues of

Ahl al-Bayt () refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...

(Household of Prophet)). Shaikh as-Saffar al-Qummi begins his book with the famous Hadith "The search for science is a religious duty for every Muslim. Allah loves those who ardently search for knowledge".

His Teachers

Apart from Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a), al-Saffar quoted hadiths from prominent hadith transmitters, such as * Ibrahim b. Hashim al-Qummi (Father of the Author of ''Tafseer Qummi'': Ali b. Ibrahim) * Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Khalid al-Barqi (Author of ''Mahasin'') * Ahmad b. Muhammad b. 'Isa al-Ash'ari

Authenticity

Al-Hurr al-Amilii in preface of his book '' Wasailus Shia'' says: “''Basa'ir ad-Darajat'' is a well reliable book”. Allameh Majlisi in Preface of ''Bihar-ul-Anwar'' says: ”The book ''Basa'ir ad-Darajat'' is very authentic book from where scholars like Shaikh Kulayni and others have narrated”. Mohaddis-e- Noori at the end of
Mustadrakul Wasail
' says: “Saffar is a respected and reliable narrators of Ahadith and his book ''Basa'ir ad-Darajat'' is well authenticated”. However, some of the book's narrations have also been reported in authentic books, such as

Al-Kafi (, , literally 'The Sufficient') is a hadith collection of the Twelver tradition, compiled in the first half of the 10th century CE (early 4th century AH) by . It is one of the Four Books. It is divided into three sections: , ...

.(Al-Kafi, Muhammad Al-Kulayni, Vol. 1, Pg. 177, 229)

References

External links