Sayyid Muhammad Ali Hosseini Shahrestani known as Hibatuddin Shahrestani, was an Iraqi Shiite cleric and an Islamic scholar and Mujtahid, Quran exegete.
Birth and lineage Hibatuddin Shahrestani was born in Samarra on the morning of 20 May 1884 (24th of Rajab 1301 AH). His father was Sayyid Hossein Haeri Kazemi, was a scholar and spent most of his time researching religious and spiritual issues. Sayyid Hossein Haeri Kazemi authored four books of "Al-Futuhat Al-Ghaybiyyah Fi Al-Khutum" (), "Al-Ahraaz" (), "Al-Adiyyah" () and "Damu'ah Al-Sham'ah Fi Adiyyah Laylat Al-Jum'ah" (). Hibatuddin Shahrestani 's mother was Maryam from Sayyidahs of Isfahan and the children of Mirza Muhammad Mahdi Shahrestani. Hibatuddin Shahrestani 's lineage goes back to Zayd ibn Ali, the son of Ali ibn Husayn, through thirty intermediaries.
Educations and careers Shahrestani spent his childhood in Karbala. From the age of ten, he studied the basics and elementary Islamic courses. In addition to the common Arabic literary sciences (such as morphology, syntax, logic, meanings, expression, novelty), he learned the sciences of Arabic prosody, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, history, Biographical evaluation, Fiqh, Hadith studies and Hadith terminology and graduated in them during 9 years. During this period, he also studied nations sects and creeds and philosophical and theological issues, and with the ability to write at this age, he wrote books in these sciences in prose. His father, Sayyid Hossein Haeri Kazemi, died in February 1902 (Dhu al-Qadah of 1319 AH) at the age of seventy. At the age of nineteen, shortly after the death of his father, he left Karbala for Najaf on 23 November 1902 (21 Sha'ban of 1320 AH). In Najaf, he benefited from the school of masters such as Muhammad Kadhim Khorasani, Mohammed Kazem Yazdi and Fethullah Qa'ravi Isfahani. In 1905 (1323 AH), he began to learn under Mohammad Bagher Estahbanati and benefited from his lessons. In the same period, he authored the book "Adaae al-Farz fi Sokoun al-Arz" (). Shortly afterwards, he became acquainted with new astronomical knowledge. He pursued this knowledge and decided to write the book "Naqz al-Farz fi Isbaat Harakah al-Arz" (). After a while in 1906, he began to write the book "Al-Hey'ah va al-Islam" () and introduced his new theories of astronomy according to Islamic sciences in it. It was a philosophical-political treatise that dealt with the harmonization of Islamic law with some aspects of Western civilization and culture, namely scientific discoveries, especially the science of the astronomy and new philosophies. Of course, he relied mainly on Islamic law and heritage. It probably took until 1912 to write it. Shahrestani continued his religious studies in the Najaf seminary and finally he became one of the Shiite mujtahids.
In addition to conventional Islamic sciences, he also studied new sciences. From his youth, Shahrestani was associated with reformist ideas and engaged with contemporary debates in Islamic thought. From the early stages of his career, he corresponded with Sunni scholars and thinkers, including Egyptian Mufti Muhammad Abduh, Rashid Rida editor-in-chief of Al-Manār magazine, and with the publishers and writers of Al-Muqtataf and Al-Hilal magazines. Through this correspondence, he maintained scholarly exchanges between Shiite institutions and cultural centers in Egypt and Syria, and as a result, his articles, poems and reports were published in the magazines of the Arab world.
He put the teaching of philosophy and abandoned intellectual knowledge in Islamic seminaries on the agenda and in his various lectures and writings, he called on students and the people to learn new sciences.
Socio-political activities Establishment of "Islah" Islamic School in Bahrain Establishment of "Islam" School in Bahrain Establishment of an "Invitation House of Islam" in Bahrain, this center was established in contrast to the invitations of Christian missionaries in Bahrain
Shahrestani, went to Bahrain in August 1912 (Ramadan of 1330 AH) and researched Christian missionaries claims and organization, and then established two new Islamic schools called "Islah" and "Islam" for the education of children and adolescents. In addition, he gave speeches and formed various Islamic associations, and sought to counter Christian missionary activities through the establishment of Islamic schools and associations.
Support of Muslims in India for their independence
He left Bahrain for India because, in his view, Muslims in India were under significant political and cultural pressure from British colonial authorities, Hindu nationalist movements, and conservative religious scholars. In that country, he gave lectures and published articles in various magazines and founded several Islamic associations and decided to travel to Japan, but with the beginning of World War I in July 1914 (Ramadan of 1332 AH), he gave up that work and went to Yemen and from there to Hejaz and then returned to Najaf. He wanted to unite all Islamic organizations and associations by establishing a central association in Najaf and establish an active link between them, but these efforts failed as World War I continued.
Active participation in the establishment of "Al-Murshid" Magazine
In 1906 (1324 AH), during the Iranian constitutional movement, in addition to publishing articles and giving speeches in support of it, he participated in overt and covert meetings of constitutionalists.
The publication of "Al-Ilm" magazine
Shahrestani began publishing "Al-Ilm" magazine in 1910 (1328 AH) in Najaf, which lasted for almost two years. It is said that the corrective approach of this magazine was unprecedented in Najaf seminary until that time, and for this reason, there were written conflicts between him and Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi.
Establishment of "Al-Jawadain" Public Library next to the Al-Kadhimayn Shrine in 1941 (1360 AH). Struggle against colonial governments during World War I Establishing an inseparable link and coordination between Shiite and Sunni cultural centers in Iraq, Egypt and Syria
Responsibilities Ministry of Education of Iraq
In 1921 (1339 AH), he was elected as Minister of Education of Iraq, but due to the measures he took to reform the education system, was not favored by the government of the time, so he resigned from this position in 1922 (1340 AH). The term of Shahrestani's ministry lasted about eleven months. However, he was engaged in research and writing. Some of the reforms he made during this time are:
President of the Supreme Court of Iraq called "Tamyeeze Jafari" for eleven years
In 1924 (1342 AH), by the order of the Iraqi government and the emphasis of the scholars of the time, he took over the presidency of the Supreme Court of Iraq, which became known later as the "Tamyeeze Jafari" parliament. Efforts to organize legal courts and link them to the Supreme Court, selecting competent judges, verdicts definition, and setting the necessary rules of trial procedure are part of the actions of Shahrestani in this position.
Representation of the National Assembly of Iraq
In 1933 (1352 AH), at the request of the people of Baghdad, Shahrestani was elected as one of the members of the National Assembly of Iraq until the dissolution of the Assembly.
Reforms and measures for Muslims unity Shahrestani went to India to propagate the Islam religion. He planned to go to Japan to propagate the Islam after meeting with India's scholars and forming a religious association, but his meeting with Jalaluddin Kashani changed his course. Jalaluddin Kashani who was the author of Habl al-Matin magazine, considered the trip to Japan ineffective. Hence, Shahrestani went to Yemen and from there traveled to Hejaz, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and then returned to Najaf. He planned to form a religious association in each land and link it with the central association of Najaf. So that in critical situations, these centers can take action and protect the boundaries of belief and religion.
Involvement in World War I and Iraqi revolt of 1920 In 1914 (1332 AH), during the First World War, Shahrestani together with clerics such as Fethullah Qa'ravi Isfahani, Muhammad Kadhim Khorasani and Seyyed Mostafa Kashani, raised the flag of Imam Ali Shrine and joined armed resistance against British forces. He also took an active part in the Iraqi Shiite struggle and participated in the Iraqi revolt of 1920, which opposed British rule in Iraq, for which he was imprisoned for a time in the city of Hillah.
Shahrestani took part in the Iraqi revolt of 1920. From the early of 1905 (1323 AH) to the end of February 1916 (Rabiʽ al-Thani 1334 AH), he traveled across the country for coordination against British colonial forces and associated groups in Iraq, during this time he traveled from the Euphrates shores to Basra and from the Tigris shores to Kut-al-Imara. And he always tried to attract the believing popular forces. In 1920 (1338 AH) he joined the Iraqi revolution and under the leadership of Ayatollah Mirza Taqi al-Shirazi he took part in uprisings against British and allied forces in Iraq. In the midst of this battle, Mirza Taqi al-Shirazi passed away and Shahrestani was arrested and taken prisoner with another group and was sentenced to death by a military court for his role in the uprising. Nine months had passed since his arrestment until in 1921 (1339 AH) when the British government issued a general amnesty order and he was released from prison.
Activities chronology Here are the chronology of his life and his most important activities:
May 20, 1884 (24 Rajab 1301 AH): His birth. 1893 (1311 AH): Start studying in Islamic schools in Karbala. February 1902 (Dhu al-Qadah 1319 AH): The death of his father. November 23, 1902 (21 Sha'ban 1320 AH): Emigration from Kadhimiya and Karbala to Najaf to continue his education. December 1902 (Ramadan 1320 AH): trip to Bahrain. December 1902 (Ramadan 1320 AH): Establishment of two schools of "Islah" and "Islam" in Bahrain. 1905 (1323 AH): Study under Mohammad Bagher Estahbanati. 1905 (1323 AH): Compilation of the book "Adaae al-Farz fi Sokoun al-Arz" () 1906 (1324 AH): Participate in the meetings of Iranian constitutionalists in Najaf and work for it. 1906 (1324 AH): Compilation of the book "Naqz al-Farz fi Isbaat Harakah al-Arz" () November 1906 (Ramadan 1324 AH): The beginning of writing the book "Al-Hey'ah va al-Islam" () 1910 (1328 AH): Publication of religious, philosophical and scientific monthly "Al-Ilm" magazine. September 1912 (Shawwal 1330 AH): The establishment of the "Society of the Staff of Islam" () in Baghdad. October 1912 (Dhu al-Qadah 1330 AH): The establishment of the "Islamic Society" (). December 1912 (Muharram 1331 AH): The establishment of the "Reform Society" () in Bahrain. 1912 (1331 AH): The establishment of the "Union of Scholars" () in Oman. February 1913 (Rabiʽ al-Awwal 1331 AH): Travel to India and warm welcome of people and officials. February 1913 (Rabiʽ al-Awwal 1331 AH): He gave lectures and wrote articles criticizing practices he considered un-Islamic and calling for religious reform. February 1913 (Rabiʽ al-Awwal 1331 AH): The establishment of the "Allah's Recruit Society" () in Kolkata, India. April 1913 (Jumada al-awwal 1331 AH): The establishment of "Ale-Muhammad Society" () in Al Bahah. May 1913 (Jumada al-Thani 1331 AH): The establishment of "Islamic Publication Society" () in Allahabad. July 1913 (Sha'ban 1331 AH): The establishment of "Reinforcement Society" () in Jabis. November 1913 (Dhu al-Hijjah 1331 AH): The establishment of "Society of the People of Truth" () in Yemen. November 1913 (Dhu al-Hijjah 1331 AH): Go to Hajj pilgrimage. November 1913 (Dhu al-Hijjah 1331 AH): Compilation of the book "Ad'iyat al-Quran" (). November 1913 (Dhu al-Hijjah 1331 AH): Travel to Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Basra. 1914 (1332 AH): Travel to Yemen.