Kashf al-Yaqin

Kashf al-Yaqin

Language	Arabic
Genre	History of Islam, Hadith, theology
Publication date	1998
Media type	Print book

Kashf al-Yaqin or Kashf al-Yaqin fi Faḍā'il Amīr al-Mu'minīn (Arabic: کشف الیقین) (English: Certainty Uncovered) is a short book on the life of Imam Ali ('Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib'), the first Imam of the Shia Islam, which was written by the Shi'ite scholar Allamah Al-Hilli.

Author

The Sheikh Jamal al-Din Abu-Mansur Hasan is the son of Sadid al-Din Yusuf, the son of Zayn al-Din `Ali, the son of Muhammad, the son of Mutahhar, known as `Allamah Hilli and `Allamah `ala al-Itlaq.

Sheikh `Amili, in his book on Tadhkirat al-Mutabahhirin says, "Sheikh `Allamah Jamal al-Din Abu-Mansur, Hasan ibn Yusuf ibn `Ali ibn Mutahhar Hilli, is a pure learned scholar, most well-versed of all scholars, researcher, trustworthy, jurisprudent, traditionalist, theologian, and a dignified man unrivaled in the rational and transmitted science. His virtues cannot be counted."

He was taught theology and rational science by Muhaqqiq Hilli and Muhaqqiq Tusi. Muhaqqiq Tusi also learned jurisprudence (Fiqh) from him. Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Dawud, writing about him in his book, says, "He was a great Shi`ite scholar of his time, having numerous books and leading Imamiyyah in the rational and transmitted sciences in his time. His father was a respected jurisprudent and lecturer."

Motive of Writing

During the life of `Allamah Hilli, Sultan Khodabandeh chose Shi’ism as his sect, had coins minted in the name of the twelve Imams, and had it circulated in the country in AH 708. Allameh Hilli wrote the book at the request of Sultan Khodabandeh.

Content

The author divided the book into one preface and four parts. Some of the chapters of the book are as follows:

• Ali's virtues before his death
• Ali's virtues in boyhood and maturity
• Ali's generosity and magnanimity
• Ali's courage in the Battle of Khandaq
• The unity of Ali and the Holy Prophet
• Virtues of Ali's spouse
• The Holy Prophet's prayer for Ali
• Ali and the Aide of the Holy Prophet and Fatimah
• Ali's posthumous miracles

Characters

In Kashf al-Yaqin, most of the resources referred to are Sunni sources such as Mosanad Ahmad, Manaqib Kharazmi, Khasaes of Tabari, Al Yavaqit, Asbab Al Nozul Al Vahedi and Manaqib of Ibn Maqadili. Allameh Majlesi is also referred to and used in the book of Al Bihar.

Translation

This book is translated from its original Arabic into several languages, including Persian and English. The English translation of Kashf al-Yaqin is made by Dr. Ali Akabar Aghili Ashtiani. The book also has four Persian translations as follows:

• Rashaf Al Moeen by Majd Al Udaba
• A translation by an unknown author
• A translation by Hamid Reza Azir
• The mirror of certainty by Sayyed Mojtaba Alavi Tarakamahei