"Collection of Shiite Hadiths on the Rulings of Sharia" Under the supervision of the researcher Agha Hussein Tabatabai Borujerdi

Abstract

The research deals with the study in book “Jāmi‘ Aḥādīth al-Shī‘a fī Aḥkām al-Sharī‘a” (Collection of Shia Hadiths on the Rulings of Sharia), as well as aspects of the life of Agha Hussein Tabatabai al-Boroujerdi, who called for the composition of the book and supervised its collection, correction, arrangement, and organization.

The research explores brief aspects of the life of Sayyid Hussein al-Boroujerdi, one of the great Shia scholars and a prominent marja‘ (authority in religious emulation). He became the leader of the Shia seminary after the death of Sayyid Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani in 1365 AH, and remained so until his own death in 1380 AH (may God sanctify his soul). He also supervised the composition of the book.

Al-Boroujerdi’s leadership of the seminary contributed significantly to its flourishing during his era. Hundreds of students attended his advanced studies, including Sayyid Khomeini, Abdul Jawad Isfahani, and other prominent figures.

He also worked to establish Dar al-Taqrib bayna al-Madhahib al-Islamiyya (The Center for Rapprochement Between Islamic Schools of Thought) and encouraged dialogue between scholars of different sects. Additionally, he sent envoys on his behalf to spread Islamic awareness in the West, America, and Africa, and to counter Christian missionary efforts aimed at distorting the teachings and image of Islam.

Al-Boroujerdi was distinguished by his scholarly innovations. Among them was his call to compile a comprehensive collection of Shia hadiths. In doing so, he relied mainly on Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, and the Four Major Shia Books, in addition to dozens of other Shia jurisprudential hadith sources.

The research adopts a descriptive approach to highlight aspects of Sayyid al-Boroujerdi’s life and to introduce the book Jāmi‘ Aḥādīth al-Shī‘a.

This hadith collection is preferred over all other Shia hadith compilations due to its excellent classification, organization, and structure — a view supported by prominent scholars such as Mirza al-Istarabadi, Ja‘far Subḥani, Muhammad Asif, and Muhammad Reza al-Musawi al-Golpaygani.

The book Jāmi‘ Aḥādīth al-Shī‘a is considered the jewel of Shia hadith collections for its organization and rich content. It is sufficient for jurists, making other jurisprudential hadith compilations largely unnecessary.