Muhammad Muhammadi-Ray Shahri:
A Survey of Imam cAli’s Method of Government.
The article is the text of speech delievered by Ayatollah Muhammad Muhammadi-Ray Shahri, the Dean of the College of Hadith Sciences. It was delievered at the ninth meeting on hadith scholarship, held at Qum on 19 Aban 1379 Sh./9 November 2000.
He introduced three themes, which getting familiarity with them, would make us more acquainted with Imam cAli’s method of government, bringing about further academic and social achievements for our society. The three themes are as follows: (1)tolerance in Imam cAli’s method of government (together with some hints on his pratice of reformation), (2)people’s rights in Imam Ali’s government, and (3)the place of the right for criticism in the government of Imam cAli. Drawing upon some instances of Imam cAli’s words and deeds, all taken from Shiite and Sunnite sources, he answered some of the questions posed by the audience.

Hadi Qubaysi-cAmili:
The Virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt in the al-Tabarani’s Three Mucjams.
The collection of hadiths, related through Sunnite transmitters, on the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt has since been looked up to by both Sunnite and Shiite ulema and hadith reporters. The late contemporary scholar and bibliographer Sayyid cAbd al-cAziz Tabatabaie attempted to collect all the sources necessary for such scholarship, but he did not live long enough to see the extracts and results of such hadiths.
The writer of the present paper has stepped forward in this way to collect the Prophetic hadiths on the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt, and those on the rejection of their opponents and foes from three major Sunnite hadith sources: viz. Al-Mucjam al-Kabir, Al-Mucjam al-Awsat, and Al-Mucjam al-Saghir, all by Sulayman b. Ahmad al-Tabarani (d. 360/970). They are classified thematically.
 

Since the relevant hadiths are scattered here and there in these books, this paper serves as a guide for those who refer to al-Tabarani’s three Mucjams.

Majid Fallah-pour:
A Comparative Study of Al-Li’ali of al-Suyuti and Al-Mawducat of Ibn al-Jawzi on a Critique of the Hadiths on the Virtues of Imam cAli.
There are some books, written by great hadith transmitters, on recognition of forged hadiths current among the Sunnite ulema. Two of such works are Al-Mawducat of Ibn al-Jawzi and Al-Li’ali al-Masnuca fi’l-Ahadith al-Mawduca of al-Suyuti.
The writer first defines the forged hadith, points out to the necessity of recognizing such hadiths, and then gives a list of the most famous books of Al-Mawducat.
The writer’s main point of comparison centres around al-Suyuti’s and Ibn al-Jawzi’s introdution to their chapters on the forged hadiths on the virtues of Imam cAli. They both critically studied a number of hadiths concerning (1) Imam Ali’s admission of Islam prior to all other people. (2)

cAli-Rida Hazar:
The Virtues of Imam cAli and the Ahl al-Bayt in Firdaws al-Akhbar.
Very little information is available on the life of Abu Shujac Shiruya b. Shahrdar Daylami Hamadani (445-509/1053-115). Only some of his teachers and students are mentioned in the sources, and three books are ascribed to him, i.e. Tarikh-i Hamadan [A History of Hamadan], Riyad al-Uns and the famous book Firdaws al-Akhbar. Accordirg to him, there are 10,000 hadiths of the Prophet in Firdaws al-Akhbar, covering traditions and practices, rituals, sermons, parables, and virtues, all mentioned in brief and without documents and references. This work was written on the basis of Shahab al-Akhbar of Qudaci Shafici.
The present aricle is devoted to extract the hadiths on the virtues of Imam cAli and the Ahl al-Bayt, as mentioned in Firdaws al-Bakhbar. In it, the writer first gives the (successive) hadith number in the book, together with the name of the hadith transmitter and the very text of the hadith. He then Locates the hadith in Firdaws al-Akhbar as well as in the other sources which contain it, all mentioned in footnotes.
 

Muhammad-Rida Bandarchi:
Mulla Salih Rowghani-Qazvini: A Great Exegete of the Nahj al-Balagha.
Muhammad-Salih Qazvini, better known as Rowghani, (d.1116/1704), was a Safavid era scholar and one of the disciples of Mir Damad. Born at Qazvin, he lived in Isfahan for some time, and then went to Mashad and lived there for good and all. Proficient in letters, theosophy, mysticism, and history, he was also a skillful translator.
Among his works, the following can be mentioned: an exegesis of the Nahj al-Balagha, Barakat al-Mashhad al-Muqaddas, translations of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, Imam Ali’s Epistle to Malik b. Harith al-Ashtar, Al-Muhadarat of Raghib Isfahani, Tawhid al-Mufaddal, and Kunuz al- cIrfan wa Rumuz Ashab al- ’Iqan, a work devoted to explicate Book Four of the Mathnawi of Mawlawi. Also the writer did extensive research on some of Mulla Salih’s works, e.g. the last one mentioned.
The most notable work of Mulla Salih is his exegesis on the Nahj al-Balagha; a work which Allamah Tehrani regards it as the most useful exegesis on the Nahj al-Balagha. This Persian exegesis includes a translation of the text, indication of the citations, parables, poems, historical points, and ethical rules.

cAbdullah Baqiri-Bidhandi:
Arbaciniyyat on the Virtues of Imam cAli.
Compiling books or treaties of forty hadiths, or translating and explaining fourty hadiths, has been one of the most long standing activities among Muslim ulema (for further information, see cUlum-i Hadith [Hadith Seiences], no. 14,p.139). A large portion of such writings are concerned with the hadiths on the virtues of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt [Viz. the infalliable members of the Prophet’s house].
Among the Shiite and Sunnite arbaciniyyat [i.e.forty-hadith collections], a Considerable portion is concerned with the virtues of Imam cAli. These hadiths are mostly prophetic, but sometimes in the Shiite ones, some talk of the superiorities, honours, and records of Imam cAli in his mouth or the Imams after him. The article contains a bibliography of seventy-Seven books, manuscript and printed, on the virtues of Imam cAli.
 

Juya Jahan-Bakhsh:
Turaf of Ibn Tawus: A Mirror of Vicegerency and Caliphate.
The article is made up of a series of points, most of which are based on the works of Radi al-Din cAbd al-Karim, Ibn Tawus (d.665/ ), especially his work Turafun min al-’Anba’ Wa’l-Managib.
1. Turaf is in fact a supplement to al-Tara’if of Ibn Tawus, which is made up of a prologue, thirty-three turfahs, points, and an epilogue.
2. As in al-Tara’if, Ibn Tawus did not mention his name in Turaf, due mainly to political considerations of that time, hence he uesd a pen name; however, he later mentiond them in his list of works.
3. Most of the Turfahs in Turaf are adopted from al-wasiyya of cIsa b.Mustafad al-Bajali, a companion of Imam Musa al-Kazim.
4. Despite the hadith contents of Turaf, it has a Kalam ‘theological’ structure.
5. The theme, common to most of Turfahs, is that the heir and vicegerent of the Prophet is Imam Ali, not anyone else. Such materials of Turaf was politically and ideologically highly significant at that time.
6. In some Turfahs the Prophet’s hadiths on Islamic beliefs and conduct, e.g. wudu’ are mentioned.
7. Turaf is rich with historical pieces of information, hence useful for historians.
8. Ancient people’s outlook of their world was indeed different from that of present-day researchers. The texts of hadiths have a Sacred face where they have not been affected by mistakes, oblivion, and so on.
The last point remarked is concerned with the contemplative and reflective thoughts of Ibn Tawus; these sufistic views in the world of Islam were later augmented and followed by such figures as Muhy al-Din b.cArabi.

cAli Raha:
A Report on Amir al-Mu’minin Specialized library.
Amir al-Mu’minin Specialized Library was opened up in Mashad in the summer 1379 Sh/1999. The article is a report on its faseilities which houses over 4,000 books. Its books. Its books are classified as follows:
1. Major subjects: These include books on the history of Imam cAli, written on
 

 his virtues, treated the case of Ghadir, and imamate.
There are also Some books on Shiite studies as well as books on the translations and exegeses of the Nahj al-Balaghah, and Ghurar al-Hikam.
2. Minor subjects: these include such topies and titles as Imam Ali in the Mirror of the press, and Foreign Books on Imam Ali.
In the excerpts section, everything written on the Ahl al-Bayt are selected. The other sections are concerned with facsimile, computer, and audio-visual facilities. The library has also held several exhibitions and fairs in a number of cities. Its addresses are: Po Box 91375-3975, and: asl@emamreza.net

cAli Sadrayi-Khuyi;
In Quest of Al-Muctamad fi’l-Imama of al-Karajaki.
The focal point of this article is a treatise, called Al-Muctamad fi’l-Imama, ascribed to al-Karajaki.
The writer first gives an introductory account of the life of Abu al-Fath Muhammad b.cAli al-Karajaki (d. 449/1057) who was one of leading Shiite figures in the 5th/11th century. He then comes up with a list of his works, introducing those writings in which he proved the imamate of ImamcAli.
One of the treatises ascribd to al-Karajaki is Al-Muctamad fi’l-Imama, which - according to the writer - is attributed to him, based on an 11th c./17th c. manuscript, copied out from a manuscript transcribed by al-Shahid al-Thani; later on the late Muhaddith Urmavi edited and published it under the title of Al-Tafdil.
Now, the treastise, whose title is included in the list of works authored by al-Karajaki, and is the same copy mentioned above, is Al-Risala al-cAlawiyya. It is, on the basis of some hints, the same work as Al-Tafdil.
It is only in the beginning of one of the manuscripts of Al-Risala al-cAlawiyya of al-Karajaki that it is entitled as Al-Muctamad. In later references, another work with the same latter title is attributed to him, which is not true. Although there was a treatise entitled Al-Muctamad, based on some existent copies, it is yet uncertain whether or not it is al-Karajaki’s work.