ভূমিকা

Contents About the two scholars Features Content First Part Second Part Value Translations and Researches Farsi translations Other Translations Researches To further examine all the doubts expressed by Sunni scholars, the book makes several arguments on the issue of imamate of Imam ‘Ali based on the holy Qur’an and Sunni accepted sources of hadiths in this regard.

More importantly, the reliability of its sources, references along with its inspiring style of writing are the reasons it has received wide acceptance. About the two scholars The book’s author, Sayyid ‘Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi al-‘Amili (b. 1290/1832 – d. 1377/1916) was a Lebanese Shiite Mujtahid and a supporter of the idea of the proximity of Islamic sects (especially Shiism and Sunnism)—he made remarkable efforts to unify both schools and resolve tensions between them.

He was a leader of the Lebanese Independence Movement. Al-Shaykh Salim al-Bishri al-Maliki, a Sunni scholar, was the head of al-Azhar in Egypt for two terms. During his travel to Egypt in 1329 A.H./ 1911, Sharaf al-Din visited al-Bishri. There was debate between them about Sunni and Shiite beliefs when they met—a debate that continued throughout the 112 letters between them. They decided to publish their exchanges, but Sharaf al-Din postponed it because of his political and social struggles.

In 1338 A.H./ 1919, French occupiers raided his house and his personal library, and burned some of his writings. Fortunately the letters, later called al-Muraja’at , were undamaged. Sharaf al-Din compiled the letters in the form of a book and published them. In the preface to the book, Sharaf al-Din says that he has included all exchanges between him and al-Bishri in the book. The book was first published in 1355 A.H./ 1936 in Sayda, Lebanon.

Features The written form of the debates in book, has the advantage that the two parties had the opportunity to provide the best possible replies they could give. The book is written without any disrespect and under mutual fairness.