Baha' ad-Din al-`Amili
Encyclopedia
Bahāʾ al‐Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥusayn al‐ʿĀmilī (also known as Shaykh‐i Bahāʾī, ) (18 February 1547 - 1 September 1621) was a scholar, philosopher, architect
, mathematician, astronomer and a poet in 16th-century Iran
. He was born in Baalbek
, Lebanon
but immigrated in his childhood to Safavid Iran
with his father. He is considered one of the main co-founders of Isfahan School
of Islamic Philosophy
. In later years he became one of the teachers of Mulla Sadra
. He was one of the earliest astronomers in the Islamic world to suggest the possibility of the Earth's movement prior to the spread of the Copernican theory.
He wrote over 100 treatises and books in different topics, mostly in Persian
but also in Arabic
. A number or architectural and engineering designs are attributed to him, but none can be substantiated with sources. These may have included the Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, as well as designing the Manar Jonban
, also known as the two shaking minarets, situated on either side of the mausoleum of Amoo Abdollah Garladani in the west of Isfahan. He is buried in Imam Reza's shrine in Mashad in Iran.
, Lebanon
in 1532. He lived in Jabal Amel
in a village called Jaba'
.
Jabal Amel had always been one of the main Shiite centers of west Asia. Even today various Shiite groups live there. They have played an important role in establishing Shiism in Iran
, especially from 13th century onwards. The Baha'i (Bahaei) progeny was among those well-known Shiite families.
As a child, he came to Iran with his father and completed his studies in Isfahan. Having intended to travel to Mecca
in 1570, he visited many Islamic countries including Iraq
, Syria
and Egypt
and after spending four years there, he returned to Iran.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din died in 1610 in Isfahan. His body was buried in Mashhad
according to his will.
Date of birth:
Date of death:
The dates on the wall contain day, month and year, while the dates on the grave stone only contain month and year. The ceramics of the wall are made in 1945. It seems that at that time a research is performed about the exact dates, and, therefore, the information about the day is added to the dates.
, Shaykh Baha' al-Din adopted the pen name (takhallus) 'Baha' after being inspired by words of Shi'a Imam
Muhammad al-Baqir
(the fifth Imam) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq
(the sixth Imam), who had stated that the Greatest Name of God was included in either Du'ay-i-Sahar
or Du'ay-i-Umm-i-Davud. In the first verse of the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a dawn prayer for the Ramadan
, the name "Bahá" appears four times: "Allahumma inni as 'aluka min Bahá' ika bi Abháh va kulla Bahá' ika Bahí".
His descendants now live in all over Iran with a major concentration on Isfahan city. The family name of his new generation is "Jabalameli" or "Jabal Ameli" which attributes them to their origin land, which was Jabal Amel. They benefit from an elite reputation in theology, science and medicine.
He was the architect of Isfahan's Imam Square, Imam Mosque
and Hessar Najaf. He also made a sun clock to the west of the Imam Mosque. There is also no doubt about his mastery of topography. The best instance of this is the directing of the water of the Zayandeh River to different areas of Isfahan. He designed a canal called Zarrin Kamar in Isfahan which is one of Iran's greatest canals. He also determined the direction of Qiblah (prayer direction) from the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square.
He also designed and constructed a furnace for a public bathroom, which still exists in Isfahan, known as Sheikh Bahaei's bathroom. The furnace was warmed by a single candle, which was placed in an enclosure. The candle burned for a long time, warming the bath's water. According to his own instructions, the candle's fire would be put out if the enclosure was ever opened. This happened during the restoration and repair of the building and no one has been able to make the system work again. He also designed the Manar Jonban
(shaking minaret), which still exists in Isfahan.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din is also attributed with architectural planning of the city of Isfahan during the Safavid era. Shaykh had designed a public bath called "Garmabeh-e-shaykh" in Isphahan which for a long time it was running and providing hot water to public for years without any visible heating system of the day which usually needed tons of wood.
Recently in 1969-70 the bathroom heating system was excavated and few series of underground pipe lines made of sun dried clay were discovered even though there are many theories about the working of this heating system, it was concluded recently that he knew about biogas and the network was to guide toilet wells which were common to Iranian's houses and mosques.
This genius of architect was a true testimony to Persianate Safavid Turks or Islam.
The High Council of Cultural Revolution in Iran designated April 23 as the National Architect Day, marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Bahaei.
of the seventeenth century. His erudition won of him the admiration of Shah Abbas
, and he was appointed the Sheikh ul-Islam
of Isfahan after the death of the previous incumbent
. He composed works on tafsir
, hadith
, grammar
and fiqh
(jurisprudence).
. He had a distinct Sufi leaning for which he was criticized by Mohammad Baqer Majlesi. During his travels he dressed like a Dervish
and frequented Sufi circles. He also appears in the chain of both the Nurbakhshi and Ni'matullāhī Sufi orders. In the work called "Resāla fi’l-waḥda al-wojūdīya" (Exposition of the concept of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existences), he states that the Sufis are the true believers, calls for an unbiased assessment of their utterances, and refers to his own mystical experiences. His Persian poetry is also replete with mystical allusions and symbols. At the same time, Shaykh Baha' al-Din calls for strict adherence to the Sharia
as a prerequisite for embarking on the Tariqah
and did not hold a high view of antinomian mysticism.
A poem of his is cited below:
Plead For Unison Translation: Maryam Dilmaghani
. His outstanding works in the Iranian language are Jame’ Abbasi and two masnavis
(rhymed couplets) by the names of "Milk and Sugar" and "Bread and Halva".
His other important work is the Kashkool, which includes stories, news, scientific topics, Persian
and Arabic
proverb
s.
His also wrote Khulāṣat al‐ḥisāb (lit. "Essentials of arithmetic"), an Arabic textbook that became popular throughout the Islamic lands from Egypt to India until the 19th century. It was translated into German in Berlin by G. H. F. Nesselmann and published in 1843. A French translation appeared later 1854.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, mathematician, astronomer and a poet in 16th-century 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 was born in Baalbek
Baalbek
Baalbek is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude , situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, then known as Heliopolis, was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
but immigrated in his childhood to Safavid 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...
with his father. He is considered one of the main co-founders of Isfahan School
Isfahan School
The Isfahan School is a well known discipline in Islamic philosophy and is usually called a Renaissance in Islamic Philosophy. It was found by many famous Persian philosophers, most notably Mir Damad, Sheykh Bahaee and Mir Fendereski....
of Islamic Philosophy
Islamic philosophy
Islamic 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...
. In later years he became one of the teachers of Mulla Sadra
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...
. He was one of the earliest astronomers in the Islamic world to suggest the possibility of the Earth's movement prior to the spread of the Copernican theory.
He wrote over 100 treatises and books in different topics, mostly in Persian
Persian 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 also 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...
. A number or architectural and engineering designs are attributed to him, but none can be substantiated with sources. These may have included the Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, as well as designing the Manar Jonban
Manar Jonban
Manar Jonban is a mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran, entitled to Amu Abdoullah Ebne Mohammad Ebne Mahmmoud, a mystic who died in 1316 AD....
, also known as the two shaking minarets, situated on either side of the mausoleum of Amoo Abdollah Garladani in the west of Isfahan. He is buried in Imam Reza's shrine in Mashad in Iran.
Biography
Shaykh Baha' al-Din (also spelled Baha'uddin) Muhammad ibn Husayn al-'Amili was born in BaalbekBaalbek
Baalbek is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude , situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, then known as Heliopolis, was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1532. He lived in Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel or Amil is a mountainous region of Southern Lebanon.The region is named after the Banu 'Amilah, a Yemenite tribe who, along with the kindred tribes of Hamadan, Lakhm, and Judham, settled in Syria, Palestine, parts of Jordan, and Lebanon. The area was known in ancient times as Jabal...
in a village called Jaba'
Jaba'
Jaba' was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Haifa. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War on July 24, 1948 as part of Operation Shoter. It was located 18.5 km south of Haifa....
.
Jabal Amel had always been one of the main Shiite centers of west Asia. Even today various Shiite groups live there. They have played an important role in establishing Shiism in 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...
, especially from 13th century onwards. The Baha'i (Bahaei) progeny was among those well-known Shiite families.
As a child, he came to Iran with his father and completed his studies in Isfahan. Having intended to travel to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
in 1570, he visited many Islamic countries including Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and after spending four years there, he returned to Iran.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din died in 1610 in Isfahan. His body was buried in Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
according to his will.
Exact dates of birth and death
The exact dates of his birth and death are different on his grave stone and on the ceramic of the walls of the room where he is buried in.Date of birth:
- On the ceramics of the wall: 27 February 1547
- On the grave stone: March 1546
Date of death:
- On the ceramics of the wall: 30 August 1621
- On the grave stone: August 1622
The dates on the wall contain day, month and year, while the dates on the grave stone only contain month and year. The ceramics of the wall are made in 1945. It seems that at that time a research is performed about the exact dates, and, therefore, the information about the day is added to the dates.
Pen name
According to Bahá'í scholar ‘Abdu’l-Hamíd Ishráq-Khávari‘Abdu’l-Hamíd Ishráq-Khávari
Abdu'l-Hamíd Ishráq-Khávari was a prominent Iranian Bahá'í scholar. He was a Muslim clergy from Mashad and became a Bahá'í in 1927. He was a teacher in one of the Bahá'í schools in Iran, until the schools were closed in 1934. He prepared many compilations of Bahá'í writings, commentaries,...
, Shaykh Baha' al-Din adopted the pen name (takhallus) 'Baha' after being inspired by words of Shi'a Imam
Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)
Imāmah is the Shia doctrine of religious, spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. The Shīa believe that the A'immah are the true Caliphs or rightful successors of Muḥammad, and further that Imams are possessed of divine knowledge and authority as well as being part of the Ahl al-Bayt,...
Muhammad al-Baqir
Muhammad al-Baqir
Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Bāqir was the Fifth Imām to the Twelver Shi‘a and Fourth Imām to the Ismā‘īlī Shī‘a. His father was the previous Imām, ‘Alī ibn Ḥusayn, and his mother was Fatimah bint al-Hasan...
(the fifth Imam) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq was a descendant of Muhammad and a prominent Muslim jurist. He is revered as an Imam by the adherents of Shi'a Islam and as a renowned Islamic scholar and personality by Sunni Muslims. The Shi'a Muslims consider him to be the sixth Imam or leader and spiritual...
(the sixth Imam), who had stated that the Greatest Name of God was included in either Du'ay-i-Sahar
Du'ay-i-Sahar
Du'ay-i-Sahar is a Ramadan dawn prayer written by Muhammad al-Baqir, the fifth Imam of Twelver Shi'ah Islam.-External links:* Stephen N. Lambden. *...
or Du'ay-i-Umm-i-Davud. In the first verse of the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a dawn prayer for the Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, the name "Bahá" appears four times: "Allahumma inni as 'aluka min Bahá' ika bi Abháh va kulla Bahá' ika Bahí".
His descendants now live in all over Iran with a major concentration on Isfahan city. The family name of his new generation is "Jabalameli" or "Jabal Ameli" which attributes them to their origin land, which was Jabal Amel. They benefit from an elite reputation in theology, science and medicine.
Astronomy and mathematics
His interest in the sciences is also apparent by some of his works and treaties, although many of his astronomical treatises are yet to be studied. He probably have written 17 tracts and books on astronomy and related subjects. The following are some his works in astronomy:- Risālah dar ḥall‐i ishkāl‐i ʿuṭārid wa qamar (Treatise on the problems of the Moon and Mercury), on attempting to solve inconsistencies of the Ptolemaic system within the context of Islamic astronomyIslamic astronomyIslamic astronomy or Arabic astronomy comprises the astronomical developments made in the Islamic world, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age , and mostly written in the Arabic language. These developments mostly took place in the Middle East, Central Asia, Al-Andalus, and North Africa, and...
.
- Tashrīḥ al‐aflāk (Anatomy of the celestial spheres), a summary of theoretical astronomy where he affirms the view that supports the positional rotation of the Earth. He was one of Islamic astronomers to advocate the feasibility of the Earth's rotation in the 16th century, independent of Western influences.
- Kholasat al-Hesab (The summa of arithmeticArithmeticArithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations. It involves the study of quantity, especially as the result of combining numbers...
) was translated into German by G. H. F. Nesselmann and was published as early as 1843.
Architecture
Shaykh Baha' al-Din's fame was due to his excellent command of mathematics, architecture and geometry. A number or architectural and engineering designs are attributed to him, but none can be substantiated with sources.He was the architect of Isfahan's Imam Square, Imam Mosque
Shah Mosque
Imam Mosque, is a mosque in Isfahan, Iran standing in south side of Naghsh-i Jahan Square.Built during the Safavid period, it is an excellent example of Islamic architecture of Iran, and regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian Architecture. The Shah Mosque of Esfahan is one of the...
and Hessar Najaf. He also made a sun clock to the west of the Imam Mosque. There is also no doubt about his mastery of topography. The best instance of this is the directing of the water of the Zayandeh River to different areas of Isfahan. He designed a canal called Zarrin Kamar in Isfahan which is one of Iran's greatest canals. He also determined the direction of Qiblah (prayer direction) from the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square.
He also designed and constructed a furnace for a public bathroom, which still exists in Isfahan, known as Sheikh Bahaei's bathroom. The furnace was warmed by a single candle, which was placed in an enclosure. The candle burned for a long time, warming the bath's water. According to his own instructions, the candle's fire would be put out if the enclosure was ever opened. This happened during the restoration and repair of the building and no one has been able to make the system work again. He also designed the Manar Jonban
Manar Jonban
Manar Jonban is a mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran, entitled to Amu Abdoullah Ebne Mohammad Ebne Mahmmoud, a mystic who died in 1316 AD....
(shaking minaret), which still exists in Isfahan.
Shaykh Baha' al-Din is also attributed with architectural planning of the city of Isfahan during the Safavid era. Shaykh had designed a public bath called "Garmabeh-e-shaykh" in Isphahan which for a long time it was running and providing hot water to public for years without any visible heating system of the day which usually needed tons of wood.
Recently in 1969-70 the bathroom heating system was excavated and few series of underground pipe lines made of sun dried clay were discovered even though there are many theories about the working of this heating system, it was concluded recently that he knew about biogas and the network was to guide toilet wells which were common to Iranian's houses and mosques.
This genius of architect was a true testimony to Persianate Safavid Turks or Islam.
The High Council of Cultural Revolution in Iran designated April 23 as the National Architect Day, marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Bahaei.
Imami Jurisprudence
In the Twelver tradition, Shaykh Bahai is regarded as a leading scholar of his age and a mujaddidMujaddid
A Mujaddid , according to the popular Muslim tradition, refers to a person who appears at the turn of every century of the Islamic calendar to revive Islam, remove from it any extraneous elements and restore it to its pristine purity...
of the seventeenth century. His erudition won of him the admiration of Shah Abbas
Abbas I of Persia
Shāh ‘Abbās the Great was Shah of Iran, and generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad....
, and he was appointed the Sheikh ul-Islam
Sheikh ul-Islam
Shaykh al-Islām is a title of superior authority in the issues of Islam....
of Isfahan after the death of the previous incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
. He composed works on 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 :...
, hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
, grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
and fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
(jurisprudence).
Mysticism
Shaykh Baha' al-Din was also an adept of mysticismMysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
. He had a distinct Sufi leaning for which he was criticized by Mohammad Baqer Majlesi. During his travels he dressed like a Dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
and frequented Sufi circles. He also appears in the chain of both the Nurbakhshi and Ni'matullāhī Sufi orders. In the work called "Resāla fi’l-waḥda al-wojūdīya" (Exposition of the concept of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Existences), he states that the Sufis are the true believers, calls for an unbiased assessment of their utterances, and refers to his own mystical experiences. His Persian poetry is also replete with mystical allusions and symbols. At the same time, Shaykh Baha' al-Din calls for strict adherence to the Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
as a prerequisite for embarking on the Tariqah
Tariqah
A tariqa is an Islamic religious order. In Sufism one starts with Islamic law, the exoteric or mundane practice of Islam and then is initiated onto the mystical path of a tariqa. Through spiritual practices and guidance of a tariqa the aspirant seeks ḥaqīqah - ultimate truth.-Meaning:A tariqa is a...
and did not hold a high view of antinomian mysticism.
A poem of his is cited below:
Plead For Unison Translation: Maryam Dilmaghani
- So long, in plead of unison with thee
- my eyelids are drowned in the deluge of tear.
- So long, in plead of unison with thee,
- Thou, the sole beloved!
- The arrow of thy sorrow pierced all lovers’ heart…
- For how long, how long shall we be kept apart?
- We are countless, all occupied by thy thought
- Helas! thou be'est concealed of our sight.
- Thou, the sole beloved!
- The bird found thy fine face in every turf
- The butterfly enlightened in core of the flame
- The mystic recognized thy essence
- In every scene and each face.
- It means that one can see thee at every glance,
- In every instance.
- It means that I am not mad that I knock every door,
- I knock every door.
- In every sea I dive, thou be'est the sole host.
- In every route I walk, thy shine is the lone light,
- In the tavern and mosque thou be'est the only Lord,
- Thou be'est the only Lord.
- Thou be'est the destination, thou be'est the pledge.
- The reason is thee when I wander drunk,
- The reason is thee when I meet with the monk,
- The reason is thee when I am praying in the mosque.
- They are all pleas and thou be'est the pledge.
- Thou be'est the sole pledge.
- The reason is thee when I wander drunk,
- The reason is thee when I meet with the monk,
- The reason is thee when I am praying in the mosque.
- They are all pleas and thou be'est the pledge.
- Thou be'est the sole pledge.
Works
Shaykh Baha' al-Din contributed numerous works in philosophy, logic, astronomy and mathematics. His works include over 100 articles, epistles and books. Shaykh Baha' al-Din also composed poems 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...
. His outstanding works in the Iranian language are Jame’ Abbasi and two masnavis
Masnavi (poetic form)
Masnavi, or mathnawī, is the name of a poem written in rhyming couplets, or more specifically, “a poem based on independent, internally rhyming lines”. Most mathnawī followed a meter of eleven, or occasionally ten, syllables, but had no limit in their length...
(rhymed couplets) by the names of "Milk and Sugar" and "Bread and Halva".
His other important work is the Kashkool, which includes stories, news, scientific topics, Persian
Persian 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...
and 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...
proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
s.
His also wrote Khulāṣat al‐ḥisāb (lit. "Essentials of arithmetic"), an Arabic textbook that became popular throughout the Islamic lands from Egypt to India until the 19th century. It was translated into German in Berlin by G. H. F. Nesselmann and published in 1843. A French translation appeared later 1854.
Other works
- Tashrih Al-Aflak in Arabic.
- Kashkoul (in Persian)
- Touti Nameh (in Persian)
- Naan o Paneer (in Persian)
- Sheer o Shekar (in Persian)
- Naan o Halva (in Persian)
- Jaame'e Abbasi (in Persian)
- Tashrih Al-Aflak in Arabic.
- Al-favayed as-Samadieh (in Arabic)
- Mashregh osh-Shamsain wa Eksir os-Sa'adatain (in Arabic)
- Al-Athna Ashariyah (in Arabic)
- Zobdat ol-Osul (in Arabic)
External links
- Biography
- Bibliography of Shaykh Baha'i, by Stephen Lambden (in progress)
- Menar-e-Jonban
- Hamid-Rezā Hosseini, Lovingly in the House of Sheykh Bahāee (in Esfahan) (Āsheghāneh dar Khāneh-ye Sheykh Bahāee - عاشقانه در خانه شيخ بهايى), in Persian, Jadid Online, 27 December 2008.
- A shorter version in English: Isfahan's Hidden House, Jadid Online, 26 February 2009.
- Audio Slideshow with English subtitles (5 min 18 sec).