Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi
Encyclopedia
Hibatullah ibn Musa Abu Nasr al-Mu'ayyad fi d-Din ash-Shirazi (1000–1078 CE
) was an 11th century Isma'ili scholar, philosopher-poet, preacher and theologian of Persian origin. He served the Fatimid
Caliph
-Imam
Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah as a da‘i in varying capacities, eventually attaining the highest rank of Bab al-Abwab "The Gate of gates" and Da‘i ad–Du‘at "Chief Missionary" in the Fatimid Da‘wah
. In his theological and philosophical writings he brought the Isma'ili spiritual heritage to its pinnacle.
, capital of the Fars Province (then Persia, now in modern day Iran
), in the year 1000 CE
. His father, Musa ibn Dawud, served under the Fatimid Caliph-Imam al-Hakim bi Amr Allah as the Chief Missionary of the province of Fars, where the Isma'ili mission was active.
During the reign of the Fatimid Caliph-Imam Ali az-Zahir
, Hibatullah ibn Musa was permitted to take over the da'wah office from his father. His title, Al-Mu'ayyad fi d-Din "The one aided in religion", was probably accorded to him around this time.
Hibatullah gradually worked his way up the hierarchy of the da‘wa
and was eventually appointed Chief Missionary under the Caliph-Imam al-Mustansir Billah. In this position, he worked at the Dar al-'Ilm "House of Knowledge" teaching missionaries from both inside and outside the Fatimid Empire and composing his theological works until the end of his life in 1078 CE
.
The primary source for details of al-Mu'ayyad's life are his own memoirs, the Sirat al-Mu'ayyad fi d-Din, which was written in three stages between the years 1051 and 1063 CE
. He is also mentioned in the works of Nasir Khusraw
, another prominent Isma'ili scholar of the time, who had learned under al-Mu'ayyad.
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
) was an 11th century Isma'ili scholar, philosopher-poet, preacher and theologian of Persian origin. He served the Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
-Imam
Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine)
The Ismaili view on the Imamah differs from the Twelver Shi'a view, in particular because the Imam in Ismailism is the Noor of God . Ismailis believe that the Noor of God is present in the Imam, and that there is only a Ẓāhirī difference between each one...
Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah as a da‘i in varying capacities, eventually attaining the highest rank of Bab al-Abwab "The Gate of gates" and Da‘i ad–Du‘at "Chief Missionary" in the Fatimid Da‘wah
Dawah
Da‘wah or Dawah usually denotes the preaching of Islam. Da‘wah literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation", being the active participle of a verb meaning variously "to summon" or "to invite"...
. In his theological and philosophical writings he brought the Isma'ili spiritual heritage to its pinnacle.
Life
Hibatullah ibn Musa was born in the town of ShirazShiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
, capital of the Fars Province (then Persia, now in modern day 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...
), in the year 1000 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
. His father, Musa ibn Dawud, served under the Fatimid Caliph-Imam al-Hakim bi Amr Allah as the Chief Missionary of the province of Fars, where the Isma'ili mission was active.
During the reign of the Fatimid Caliph-Imam Ali az-Zahir
Ali az-Zahir
ʻAlī az-Zāhir was the Seventh Caliph of the Fātimids . Az-Zāhir assumed the Caliphate after the disappearance of his father Tāriqu l-Ḥakīm bi Amr al-Lāh...
, Hibatullah ibn Musa was permitted to take over the da'wah office from his father. His title, Al-Mu'ayyad fi d-Din "The one aided in religion", was probably accorded to him around this time.
Hibatullah gradually worked his way up the hierarchy of the da‘wa
Dawah
Da‘wah or Dawah usually denotes the preaching of Islam. Da‘wah literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation", being the active participle of a verb meaning variously "to summon" or "to invite"...
and was eventually appointed Chief Missionary under the Caliph-Imam al-Mustansir Billah. In this position, he worked at the Dar al-'Ilm "House of Knowledge" teaching missionaries from both inside and outside the Fatimid Empire and composing his theological works until the end of his life in 1078 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
.
The primary source for details of al-Mu'ayyad's life are his own memoirs, the Sirat al-Mu'ayyad fi d-Din, which was written in three stages between the years 1051 and 1063 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
. He is also mentioned in the works of Nasir Khusraw
Nasir Khusraw
Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn Khusraw al-Qubadiani or Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī [also spelled as Nasir Khusrow and Naser Khosrow] Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn Khusraw al-Qubadiani or Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī [also spelled as Nasir Khusrow and Naser Khosrow] Abu Mo’in Hamid ad-Din Nasir ibn...
, another prominent Isma'ili scholar of the time, who had learned under al-Mu'ayyad.
Works
- Majalis ul-Muayyadiyah
- Diwan ul-Muayyad, a collection of poems in praise of the Ismai'ili Imams and the doctrines of their faith
- Sirat al-Muayyad fid-Din, his autobiography
- Sarah ul-Maad, a treatise on the Day of ResurrectionQiyamahIn Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah or Yawm ad-Din is believed to be God's final assessment of humanity as it exists. The sequence of events is the annihilation of all creatures allowable, resurrection of the body, and the judgment of all sentient creatures.The exact time when these events are to occur...
- Al-Eazah watabeer fi Fazle Yoomal Ghadir, a treatise on the Ghadir KhummGhadir KhummWadi Rabigh is a wadi situated inland of the town of Rabigh, extending along the border of the Al Madinah and Makkah provinces of Saudi Arabia....
incident - Al-Ibteda wal-Inteha (lit. the Beginning and the End)
- Taweel ul-Arwah, a treatise on souls
- Mahajul-Ibadah, the method of devotion
- Al-Maselet-wal-Jawab (lit. Questions and Answers)
External links
- MOʾAYYAD FI’L-DIN ŠIRĀZI in Encyclopaedia Iranica
- http://www.ismaili.net/histoire/history05/history573.html Bab al-Abwab
- The Institute of Ismaili Studies - Memoirs of a Mission: The Ismaili Scholar, Statesman and Poet, al-Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi
- A Short sketch of the Life of Syedna Al-Muayyad-Fid-Din Al-Shirazi, Head Missionary of the Ismaili Sect
- Al Muayyad fid din al Shirazi Article at Amaana.org
- Life and Lectures of Al Muayyad fid-din al Shirazi Majalis-ul Muayyadiya - by Al Muayyad fid-din Shirazi
- Ismaili Web Poetry Page 1 - Al Muayyad fid-din Shirazi
- Al Muayyad's protege Nasir Khusraw