Qazi Nurullah Shushtari
 Entrance gate of Shahid-e Salis Qazi Nurullah Shushtari in Agra | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sayyid Nurullah Husayni Mar'ashi Shushtari |
| Notability | Jurist • Theologian • Shi'a poet |
| Birth | 956 AH (1549 CE) • Shushtar (Khuzestan, Iran) |
| Demise | 1019 AH (1610 CE) (India) |
| Manner of Demise | Martyrdom |
| Burial Place | Agra • India |
| Notable Relatives | Sayyid Sharif al-Din (father) |
| Academic Information | |
| Teachers | Mawla Abd al-Wahid Tustari • Mawla Muhammad Adib Qari Tustari • Mulla Abd al-Rashid Shushtari |
| Students | Shaykh Muhammad Harawi Khorasani • Mawla Muhammad Ali Kashmiri • Sayyid Jamal al-Din Abdullah Mashhadi |
| Works | Chief Justice of India • Authorship of Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq |
| Education | Islamic transmitted and rational sciences |
| Religion | Shi'a Islam |
| cultural information | |
| Field of Activity | Jurisprudence • Kalam • Poetry |
Qazi Nurullah Shushtari (956–1019 AH / 1549–1610 CE), renowned as Shahid-e Salis (the Third Martyr), was an Imami jurist, hadith scholar, theologian, and expert in the jurisprudence of the four Sunni schools. After migrating from Iran to India, he made extensive efforts to propagate Shi'a Islam through debates and writings on Wilayah and Ghadir. Among his works written in this field are Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq, Majālis al-Mu'minīn, and Bahr al-Ghadir fi Ithbat Tawatur Hadith al-Ghadir.
After completing his studies in Iran, Qazi Nurullah migrated to India in 992 AH (1584 CE) and was appointed as the Chief Justice of Lahore. Following the death of Emperor Akbar in 1014 AH (1605 CE), his successor retained Qazi Nurullah in his judicial position. However, malevolent courtiers gradually conspired against him, and after obtaining permission from the Shah, they martyred him in 1019 AH (1610 CE). Some attribute the cause of his martyrdom to the authorship of Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq, and according to another account, to Majālis al-Mu'minīn.
Status
Qazi Nurullah Shushtari (956–1019 AH / 1549–1610 CE) was an Imami jurist, hadith scholar, theologian, and expert in the jurisprudence of the four Sunni schools, who, after migrating from Iran to India and demonstrating his excellence and perfections there, assumed the position of judge.
It is reported that, in addition to his judicial duties, he was a prolific and capable writer and a gifted poet who made significant efforts to spread Shi'a Islam in India. It is said that, considering Qazi Nurullah's important works, one can conclude that he made great efforts to prove the truthfulness of Shi'a Islam, propagate it, and refute the objections of opponents, ultimately achieving martyrdom in this path.[1]
The author of Riyad al-Ulama also considers Qazi Nurullah to be a virtuous, pious, jurist, hadith scholar, and literary figure who composed poetry in both Persian and Arabic, and whose poems in praise of the Imams (peace be upon them) were renowned.[2]
Research on Ghadir
Regarding Qazi Nurullah Shushtari's activities concerning Ghadir, some researchers have written the following: From the early 11th Hijri century (late 16th/early 17th CE), with the emergence of favorable scientific and cultural conditions, Islamic scholars undertook the compilation of numerous prominent works on Ghadir. These compilations included detailed studies on Ghadir's connection with the Quran, examination of the authentications of Hadith al-Ghadir, precise analysis of the hadith text, and the collection of poetry and literary works related to Ghadir, each of which was independently and specifically authored.
One of the most important and influential figures in this field was Qazi Nurullah Shushtari, who, through his scientific and theological works, particularly in defense of the Imamate and Wilayah of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), played a significant role in spreading Shi'a culture and establishing the foundations of Ghadir. Numerous works by him, including Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq, Majālis al-Mu'minīn, and Bahr al-Ghadir fi Ithbat Tawatur Hadith al-Ghadir, were published in the field of Shi'a Kalam and in proving the legitimacy of Wilayah, gaining high academic standing in India and other Shi'a regions.
These researches and compilations ensured that diverse perspectives and historical critiques concerning Ghadir were addressed scientifically and with documentation. Consequently, the topic of Ghadir became a robust and comprehensive religious, jurisprudential, historical, and literary subject. This academic trend continued thereafter, with numerous works still dedicated to examining its various aspects, such that every facet of the Ghadir issue was studied independently and precisely.
Scholarly and Missionary Life
According to some sources, Sayyid Nurullah Shushtari was born in 956 AH (1549 CE) in Shushtar, Khuzestan, Iran. His father, Sayyid Sharif al-Din, was one of the prominent scholars of that region, specializing in transmitted and rational sciences, and was considered a distinguished student of Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Sulayman al-Qatifi (d. 950 AH/1543 CE). His grandfather, Sayyid Nurullah, was also among the respected Shi'a dignitaries and scholars in Shushtar. His family belonged to the Mar'ashi Sayyids, whose lineage traced back to Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), and whose ancestors had migrated from Amol to Shushtar.[3]
Education and Teachers
According to some sources, Sayyid Nurullah Husayni Mar'ashi Shushtari began his education in Shushtar. He studied transmitted sciences, rational sciences, and medicine under prominent teachers such as his father and Hakim Mawlana Imad al-Din.
Then, at the age of 23, he traveled to Mashhad and pursued religious studies, including jurisprudence (fiqh), principles of jurisprudence (usul), theology (kalam), hadith, and exegesis (tafsir), under Allamah Abd al-Wahid Tustari. He also benefited from the lessons of teachers such as Mir Safi al-Din Muhammad and Mir Jalal al-Din Muhammad Sadr. In addition to religious sciences, he learned Arabic literature and the Holy Quran from Muhammad Adib Qari Tustari and received ijaza (permission to transmit) from prominent scholars.[4]
Migration to India and Scholarly Activities
According to some sources, Qadi Nurullah Shushtari was forced to leave Mashhad in 992–993 AH (1584–1585 CE) due to rebellions and insecurity in Khorasan and Mashhad, and especially after the death of his brother, and he migrated to India. At that time, India was under the rule of Akbar Shah (r. 963–1014 AH/1556–1605 CE), the third and greatest Timurid ruler of India, enjoying its most peaceful historical conditions. During this period, Qadi Nurullah, as a Shi'a jurist, was the first to openly propagate the Shi'a faith in India and authored numerous works on jurisprudence (fiqh), principles of jurisprudence (usul), theology (kalam), hadith, and imamate.[5]
Position as Qadi
It is said that Qadi Nurullah, after residing for some time in Fatehpur Sikri, went to Lahore and became a qadi (judge) by order of Akbar Shah. Before accepting the position of qadi, he promised Akbar Shah that he would act independently in religious rulings, without strictly following any of the four Sunni schools of thought, and at the same time, he would not deviate from traditional jurisprudence, so that he could issue rulings close to the Shi'a faith and beneficial to the people. Akbar Shah agreed to this condition, and the title 'Qadi' was added to his name.[6]
Martyrdom
After the death of Akbar Shah in 1014 AH (1605 CE), his successor Jahangir Shah (r. 1014–1037 AH/1605–1628 CE) retained Qadi Nurullah in his judicial position. However, malevolent individuals in the court gradually conspired against him, and after obtaining permission from the Shah, they martyred him through severe flogging.[7] The reason for his martyrdom was the authorship of the book Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq, and according to another account, Majalis al-Mu'minin, which is why he became known as the 'Third Martyr' in India.[8] Qadi Nurullah Shushtari was martyred in 1019 AH (1610 CE), and his body was buried in Akbarabad, India (Agra). Since then, his tomb has become one of the pilgrimage sites for Shi'as.[9]
Works
Sayyid Shihab al-Din Mar'ashi Najafi (d. 1369 SH/1990 CE), in the introduction to the book Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq, mentioned 140 works by Qadi Nurullah Shushtari, including:[10]
- Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq wa Izhāq al-Bāṭil
- Majalis al-Mu'minin
- al-Sawarim al-Muhriqa fi Naqd al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa
- Ajwibat Masa'il al-Sayyid Hasan al-Ghaznawi
- Ilzam al-Nawasib fi al-Radd 'ala Mirza Makhdum al-Sharifi
- Ilqam al-Hajar fi Radd Ibn Hajar
- Bahr al-Ghazir fi Taqdir Ma' al-Kathir
- Bahr al-Ghadir fi Ithbat Tawatur Hadith al-Ghadir
Footnotes
- ↑ "A Study of the Life and Works of Qazi Nurullah Shushtari", p. 163.
- ↑ Riyad al-Ulama, vol. 5, p. 265.
- ↑ Iḥqāq al-Ḥaqq, introduction by the editor (Muḥaqqiq), vol. 1, pp. 82–84.
- ↑ Iḥqāq al-Ḥaqq, introduction by the editor (Muḥaqqiq), vol. 1, p. 88; Shi'a dar Hind, vol. 1, p. 540.
- ↑ Riyāż al-ʿUlamāʾ, vol. 5, p. 265; Shi'a dar Hind, vol. 1, p. 540.
- ↑ Shi'a dar Hind, vol. 1, p. 542.
- ↑ Rawḍāt al-Jannāt, vol. 8, pp. 161–162.
- ↑ Fawāʾid al-Riḍawiyya, vol. 2, p. 1062; Fayż al-Ilāh, p. 32.
- ↑ Fayż al-Ilāh, p. 16.
- ↑ Iḥqāq al-Ḥaqq, introduction by the editor (Muḥaqqiq), vol. 1, pp. 89–97.
References
- Ihqāq al-Ḥaqq wa Izhāq al-Bāṭil; Nurullah ibn Sharif al-Din Husayni Mar'ashi Shushtari, edited and annotated by Sayyid Shihab al-Din Mar'ashi Najafi, Qom: Public Library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi, 1409 AH (1988 CE).
- «A Quest into the Life and Works of Qadi Nurullah Shushtari»; Mohammad Hossein Kazemi and Hadi Estahri, in *Tarikh-e Now Journal*, No. 10, Spring 1394 SH (2015 CE).
- Rawdat al-Jannat fi Ahwal al-Ulama wa al-Sadat; Muhammad Baqir ibn Zayn al-Abidin Musawi Khwansari, Qom: Isma'iliyan Publications, 1390 AH (1970 CE).
- Riyad al-Ulama wa Hiyad al-Fudala; Abdullah ibn Isa Beg Afandi, edited by Sayyid Ahmad Husayni Ashkuri, Qom: Public Library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi, 1401 AH (1981 CE).
- Shi'a dar Hind; Sayyid Abbas Athar Rizvi, Qom: Publications Center of the Islamic Propagation Office of Qom Seminary, 1376 SH (1997 CE).
- al-Fawa'id al-Radawiyya fi Ahwal Ulama al-Madhhab al-Ja'fariyya; Abbas ibn Muhammad Reza Qummi (Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi), edited by Nasir Baqiri Bidhendi, Qom: Bustan-e Kitab Institute, 1385 SH (2006 CE).
- Fayd al-Ilah fi Tarjamat al-Qadi Nurullah; Jalal al-Din Husayni, n.p.: Book Printing Joint Stock Company Press, 1327 SH (1948 CE).