Ibn Shahrashub

Zayn al-Dīn Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Shahrāshūb ibn Abī Naṣr ibn Abī al-Jaysh (Arabic: زین الدین أبوجعفر محمد بن علي بن شهرآشوب بن أبي نصر بن أبي الجيش), more commonly known simply as Ibn Shahrāshūb (إبن شهرآشوب), died 1192,^[1] was a prolific Shia commentator, traditionist and jurist. He was an early eminent scholar amongst the shia community in the investigation of hadith and also Quranic sciences.^[2]

Life

He was born in 1095. His complete name was Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Shahr Ashub.^[3] It seems that he originally was from Sari, Iran city of Mazandaran province.^[3] Due to lack of prominent sources, his birthplace remains uuncertain. It is well-documented that he memorized the whole Quran.

Scientific journey

Given that Ibn Shahr Ashoub was a traditionist, he traveled to many cities and countries, listening to and collecting Hadith. First he traveled to Baghdad during Al-Muqtafi as caliph of Abbasid dynasty, then to Mosul and after to Aleppo. He also traveled to Khorasan before going to Baghdad. Also, he was for a while in Neishabour, sabzevar and kharazm. Also it is said that he visited some cities such as Isfahan, Ray, Kashan and Hamadan. Apparently when he was in Aleppo, both Ibn Batriq and Ibn Idris had listened to him. Ibn Shahr Asoub migrated and also died in Aleppo.^[4]

Teachers

According to pakatchi, Ibn Shahr Asoub had many popular masters in hadith such as follow:

• Ahmad Ghazali
• Ja Allah zamakhshari
• Abu Ali Tabarsi
• Abul Hasan Beihaqi farid Khorasan
• Khatib-e- khawrazm
• Qotb Addin Ravandi

Works

He left many books but some of them have been published. He wrote Manaqib Of Ale Abi Talib in praise of the virtues of Imam Ali.^[5] Some sermon also narrated by him for the first time.^[6] The most important books by him could be listed as below:

• Manaqib Of Ale Abi Talib
• Ma'alim Al Quran
• Motashabih al Quran va Mokhtalifih

Theological beliefs

At the same time some other scholars believe that Ibn Shahr Ashoub not only believe in Imam's knowledge to Qhayb but he refers to it by reports from Imam Ali including possessing knowledge of Unseen and prophesy future events such as times of death of various people.^[7] On the other hand, some scholars think that he believed that both Imams and prophets couldn't have any knowledge of the Ghayb (absence) and that of past and future. Ibn Shahr Asoub denied these kinds of knowledge for imams and prophets. He believed, if this belief would be correct then we believe in parties for God. Instead he had believed that Imams and prophets just have knowledge of religion and law.^[8] he also referred to the point that Fatima has addressed by divine message.^[9]

Death

He died in 1192 when he had residence in Aleppo. He was buried near a place by the name of Jabal Al Joshan known as Mashahd al Hosein.

See also

• Fiqh Jaffaria
• Shia Islam
• Hadith studies
• Shaykh Tusi

References

1. Sometimes called Abū ʿAbd Allāh rather than Abū Jaʿfar, sometimes known as ʿIzz al-Dīn or Rashīd al-Dīn rather than Zayn al-Dīn; see Amir-Moezzi 1997–2011; Pierce 2018; Scarcia Amoretti 1960–2007.
2. "دائرة المعارف بزرگ اسلامی:ابن شهرآشوب".
3. Meisami, Julie Scott; Starkey, Paul (1998). Encyclopedia of Arabic Literature. ISBN 9780415185714.
4. Savant, Sarah Bowen (8 April 2014). Genealogy and Knowledge in Muslim Societies: Understanding the Past. ISBN 9780748644988.
5. Kohlberg, Etan (January 1992). A Medieval Muslim Scholar at Work. ISBN 9004095497.
6. Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (31 January 2011). The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam. ISBN 9781845117382.
7. Krämer, Gudrun; Schmidtke, Sabine (2006). Speaking for Islam. ISBN 9789004149496.
8. Bar-Asher, Meʼir Mikhaʼel (1999). Scripture and Exegesis in Early Imāmī-Shiism. ISBN 9004114955.
9. Morrow, John Andrew (11 November 2013). Islamic Images and Ideas. ISBN 9780786458486.

Further reading

• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (1997–2011). "Ebn Šahrāšūb, Abū Jaʿfar Zayn-al-Dīn Moḥammad". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica.
• Pierce, Matthew (2018). "Ibn Shahrāshūb". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_32238.
• Scarcia Amoretti, Biancamaria (1960–2007). "Ibn Shahrāshūb". In Bearman, P.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_3372.