Saturday, September 19, 2015

AYATULLAH SAYYID ABDUL HUSAYN SHARFUDDIN AL-MUSAWI (R.A.)

Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Sharfuddin was born in the sacred city of Kazimayn in Iraq in the year 1290 A.H. His parents were related to each other. His father was Sayyid Yousuf ibne Jawad Sharfuddin and his mother’s name was Zahra binte Sayyid Hadi. He grew up in a scholarly family of repute, and was educated under the guidance of his father. When he reached the age of adolescence, he became fully acquainted with the causes of goodness and virtues.  At the age of 16, he left for Iraq for further spiritual studies.  Upon completing his scholarly life, he was distinguished by notable accomplishments and achievements. His teachers included many a genius among the pillars of knowledge in Najaf al-Ashraf and Samarra such as Tabataba’I, Khurasani, Fatahallah al-Asphahani, Shaykh Hasan al-Karbala’i.
After completing his religious education at the age of 32, he returned to Amila, South Lebanon. He travelled extensively around the Muslim world encouraging Muslim unity and opposition to colonial powers. A new life started in Amila aiming at strict implementation of religion, improvement of manners, the strengthening of right with might, kindness to the weak, the enjoining of the right and the forbidding of wrong, comfort with the masters of religion and humbleness towards the men of knowledge. He possessed such eloquence of speech which made him the envy of Arabia’s orators. Religion, scholarship, and ethics are all proud of him!
About 4 years after his return to Lebanon, the World War I broke out and at the end of the war, French took control of Lebanon. They tried to secularize the Lebanese society. He called a conference of major scholars, and they declared war against the occupation forces. A death warrant was issued for him immediately, and he had to leave his house for Egypt. The vengeful French torn down his house, burned down his library which contained thousands of valuable books and manuscripts .Eventually, Sayyid Muhammad as-Sadr, a first cousin of Sayyid Sharfuddin, managed to get the death warrant annulled and Sayyid Sharfuddin returned home.
He had authored many books out of which 18 books were burned by the French authorities. There are 8 other books still available which include the famous book Al-Muraja’at. These books were: Al Fusul-ul-Muhimma (Important chapters in Unifying the Nation), Al Jawabat al Masa’il fi Musa Jarallah (Answers to the question of Musa Jarallah), Al Kalima al-Gharra fi Tafdil al-Zahra (The Convincing statement in preferring al-Zahra), Al Majalis Al Fakhira fi Ma’atim Al Tahira (The Magnificent Commemorative Speeches in Honor of the Purified Progeny), Abu Huraira, Bughyat al Raghibin (Quest of the Willing), Thabt al Athbat fi Silsilat Al Ruwat (The Ultimate Proof in the Chain of Narrators)
It was his life-time desire to bring together Sunni and Shia Muslims. He travelled to Cairo, Egypt and met with the Rector of Al-Azhar University, Shaykh Salim Al Bishri al-Maliki. After a long discussion it was decided to talk on all the points of disagreement between the Shias and Sunnis in a free and polite manner without getting excited. These discussions were in the form of letters. In all 112 letters representing questions and answers were exchanged. At the end, it was agreed to publish these discussions for the benefit of general public. Al-Muraja’at is considered perhaps the greatest defense of Shia beliefs in the 20th century. The book has since been translated into many languages including English. Based on the discussions contained in the book, Al-Azhar University eventually issued an edict declaring Shias to be within the folds of Islam and the Jafari legal thoughts to be a valid branch of Islamic Jurisprudence.  
He was very patient, dignified, gentle, brave, and highly respected. He did not compromise on justice. He was a model of piety, clarity of conscience, speaker of truth, wise and far-sighted.
In the year 1377 A.H. he fell ill and shortly after passed away. His body was flown to Baghdad, Kazimayn, Karbala, and later was buried within the precincts of the Mausoleum of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.)

Sources used:
                Al-Muraja’at, a Shia Sunni Dialogue by Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Sharfuddin

                Islamic Sights Sayyid Sharfuddin Al-Musawi

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