Amali of Shaykh al-Saduq in English

[Qa'im]

In His exalted name.
 

The Beneficent, the Merciful – the One God to whom all praise is due forever, the Lord of all the worlds. He is far beyond the Seat that encompasses heaven and Earth, the Throne that encompasses all intelligible knowledge, and the Will that delivers all sempiternal possibilities. Sight comprehends Him not, yet He comprehends all sight. Imagination comprehends Him not, yet He comprehends all imagination. He has given us names to call Him by, descriptions to recognize Him by, and signs of His truth in the horizons and in ourselves. He was there before there was a “there”, and He existed before there was a “when”. He is apparent in His power, yet He is hidden from comprehension. All things submit to Him, knowingly or unknowingly. He created us, sustains us, nurtures us, takes us to- and-fro, and brings us back to Himself. He is closer to us than our jugular vein, yet the near is not near to Him, and the far is not far from Him. He carries us on the sea and on land. He carries the Throne and those who carry it. Eyes do not recognize Him by way of sight, but hearts recognize Him by the realities of faith. Praise be to Allah.

May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon His Servant and His Messenger, Muhammad (s) – the one who found us on the edge of a pit of Fire and delivered us, by Allah’s permission. Allah created the Jinn and the humans so that we may know Him, and none knew Him better than the one for whose sake the cosmos was created. Allah is the Merciful (al-Rahman), so He sealed His message with His mercy to the worlds, the Beloved of Allah (s). He was heralded by the prophets, as his light was transferred from pure loins to pure wombs, generation by generation. He called to the way of his Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation. He patiently forbore persecution and fought in the cause of Allah until he prevailed. May Allah grant us his intercession and that of his Household.

May the peace of Allah be upon His Friend and His Comprehensive Argument, `Ali (عليه السلام) – the vicegerent, deputy, and brother of Muhammad (s). He was to Muhammad (عليه السلام) as Harun (عليه السلام) was to Musa (عليه السلام) and as Sham`un (عليه السلام) was to `Isa (عليه السلام). He was the one who was fought in the interpretation of the Quran just as the Prophet was fought in its revelation. He was the one who fought the oath-breakers, deviators, and traitors, just as the Prophet fought the idolaters. Muhammad (s) was the City of Knowledge, and `Ali (عليه السلام) was its Gate. Muhammad (s) was the House of Wisdom, and `Ali (عليه السلام) was its door. May we be divided into his camp on the Day that humanity will be split between his lovers and his haters.

May the peace and contentment of Allah be upon all the prophets, saints, martyrs, and righteous men and women.

This is a complete translation of the Dictations (Amali) of Abu Ja`far Muhammad b. `Ali b. Babuwayh al- Qummi (d. ~ 380 AH), commonly referred to as al-Shaykh al-Saduq – the Truthful Shaykh. The Amali consists of 97 assemblies (majalis), which were delivered between 367 and 368 AH. Born to another prominent scholar in the holy city of Qum, it is reported that Saduq’s birth was a result of a supplication made by the Mahdi (عليه السلام). Saduq authored some of Shiism’s most seminal works, including Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, Kamal al-Din, al-I`tiqadat al-Imamiyya, Kitab al-Tawhid, Ma`ani al-Akhbar, `Ilal al- Shara’i`, `Uyun al-Akhbar al-Rida, al-Khisal, Thawab al-A`mal, and others.

Very little academic attention has been paid to the four Amali books of the Buwayhi period. This particular book mostly contains a compilation of the narrations used by Saduq in these assemblies, rather than the commentary or the discussion that he presumably offered alongside them. Many of the reports in this book are corroborated by other compilations from this era, but many are unique. The Amali was probably penned by an unnamed disciple of Saduq. Most assemblies took place on Tuesdays and Fridays in various places, including Mashhad, Tus, Rayy, and Nishapur.

Most of the narrations compiled in this book fall under one of three categories: (1) encouragements for certain meritorious practices (such as special fasts), (2) stories of prophets and saints, often with clear moral lessons, and (3) the virtues of `Ali (عليه السلام) in particular and the Ahl al-Bayt in general. Some reports are thematically organized, and some are topical to the annual occasions of the Shi`i calendar.

From the contents of this book, we can only surmise that these assemblies were intended for a public audience. It does not focus on fine legal or doctrinal areas of disagreement, but on exhortations (mawa`ith) and recommended deeds. In the 4th century AH, Iran was incredibly diverse, and most of its population was probably non-Twelver. Unlike most Twelver books of hadith, most of the reports in Saduq’s Amali go back to the Prophet Muhammad (s). This may be due to the universality of his authority; as well as a demonstration of Saduq’s ability to narrate the virtues of `Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt through prominent companions and tabi`in. The sihha and the hujjiyya of many reports seem secondary to who is actually narrating them. The book contains no disparaging remarks against the first two caliphs or the wives of the Holy Prophet. Interestingly, there are many positive reports about Zayd b. `Ali b. al- Husayn, as well as chains that return to Zaydi authorities. Saduq also offers a thorough introduction to Twelver Shiism in the 93rd assembly.

The Amali’s focus on character-building, stories, faith, stoicism, and the love of the Ahl al-Bayt makes it a powerful introduction to the core values of Twelver Shiism and universal Islamic principles.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to those, without whom, this work would not have been possible. I thank Hassan al-Qadri for his constant support and for commissioning me for this translation project. I thank Yahya Seymour for his graceful encouragement and inspiration. His mind demands the absolute best from his peers; and his teachings inspired the diligence needed to give this work the depth and breadth that it deserves. I thank Houda Salih, my superior in classical Arabic, for answering my sporadic translation questions and for assisting me with idioms that escape my imagination. I thank Sajad al-Saadi for elegantly assisting me with translating a sermon in the 90th assembly. I thank Zahraa Rizvi for her preliminary translations of the 27th, 28th, and 29th assemblies, which served as a base for my renditions. I thank William Chittick for his translation of the Treatise on Rights, which also served as a base for my translation of the same report. I thank Idris Samawi Hamid for filling my heart with the love of Ahl al-Bayt and the discipline needed to complete a work of this scale. Lastly, I thank my dear and beloved parents, who introduced me to Allah and His Messenger, the Quran and the `Itra, and to Arabic and English. Their teachings, their love, and their support continue to play a pivotal role in my slow progress on the pathway toward God.

https://thaqalayn.net/book/29?fbclid=IwAR1pDX7rjvi6AxykgW_x316oKcc1IqfBM-CMIGw17zmKeb1dHP_AOE8OfS8

[Abu_Zahra]

Alhamdulillah 

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward all those who have contributed to this excellent project. 

[Abu Nur]

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) reward you and all those who helped you for this great translation work. It will bring me so much happiness to read the narrations of Ahlulbayt (عليه السلام). 

[Hasani Samnani]

On 11/4/2022 at 10:42 AM, Qa'im said:

Lastly, I thank my dear and beloved parents, who introduced me to Allah and His Messenger, the Quran and the `Itra, and to Arabic and English. Their teachings, their love, and their support continue to play a pivotal role in my slow progress on the pathway toward God.

https://thaqalayn.net/book/29?fbclid=IwAR1pDX7rjvi6AxykgW_x316oKcc1IqfBM-CMIGw17zmKeb1dHP_AOE8OfS8

We must thank you sincerely for such an effort with your team.  May Allah bless you, it is really an amazing collection of ahadith, and now accessible for those of us whose Arabic Is still limited. 

May Allah continue blessing you  and your family for your sadaqah Jarriya to our community and world at large.

Mashallah and Mabrook on your most worthy accomplishment.

[The Alchemist]

This is wonderful. May Allah reward the team for translating this seminal work and making it accessible to all.

English translation of Majma Ahadith Mautbar by Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Asif Mohseni (rahmullah) is direly needed. It is humble request to the team to kindly consider translating this great work. It is need of the hour.