Sayyida Nusrat Beygum Amin was one of the most outstanding female jurisprudents and theologians of the 20th century. After being given the permission of ijtihad by prominent scholars, thus entitled mujtahida, she, in turn, granted permission of narrating the hadith of ijtihad to future renowned female and male scholars.
This paper offers a brief account of Lady Amin’s academic and spiritual standing, along with her lineage, teachers, and works. Her ardent love for God led her to fervently study in a variety of Islamic disciplines, leading her to moral excellence and reaching the level of ijtihad.
Her Birth
Sayyida Nusrat Beygum Amin, commonly known as Banu Amin, Nusrat Amin, or Lady Amin, was born in 1274 SC (1895 CE) in Isfahan, Iran to a noble Sayyid family.
Her Family
Her father, Sayyid Muhammad Ali Husayni Isfahani, titled as Amin al-Tujjar, was a well-known, religious businessman in Isfahan. He was the grandson of ‘Allama Sayyid Ma’sum Husayni Khatunabadi.
Her mother –Zahra- was the daughter of Haj Sayyid Mahdi titled as Jinab, one of the members of Jinabi family in Isfahan.
Her Marriage
When Sayyida Nusrat was thirteen, she got married to her cousin, Haj Mirza Aqa known as Mu’in al-Tujjar, who was a well-known, religious businessman in Isfahan. They had eight children seven of whom passed away in their childhood, due to unknown diseases and outbreaks of epidemic diseases those days.
Her Education
Lady Amin began her education when she was 5 by going to Maktabkhane (elementary schools in the past.) At the age of 11, she started to learn Arabic. When she was 20, she started Islamic studies and Arabic morphology and syntax seriously.
Some mujtahids tutored her at her house. She studied preliminary studies under Abu l-Qasim Zifri’i and ‘Ali Asghar Sharif. At the age of 32, she learned fiqh, Usul al-fiqh and philosophy from Sayyid ‘Ali Najafabadi, from whom she received most of her education.
Ijtihad and Its Certifications
In 1354/1935 at the age of 42 and after 23 years of continuous and preserving study in intellectual and traditional sciences, she received her first permission for Ijtihad and permission for hadith narration from Muhammad Kazim Shirazi and ‘Abd al-Karim Ha’iri Yazdi.
That was the first formal permission for Ijtihad and for hadith narration which was given to a woman. At the same time, after numerous exams and questions, Ibrahim Husayni Shirazi Istahbanati gave her another permission for Ijtihad and for hadith transmission.
In Rabi’ I 1357 (May 1938) and after receiving initial certificates, Lady Amin received certification for hadith narration from Muhammad Rida Najafi Isfahani.
Works
The following works have been published by Lady Amin:
- Makhzan al-‘irfan. (Exegesis of the holy Qur’an in 15 volumes)
- Al-Araba’in al-Hashimiya fi sharh jumlat min al-ahadith al-warida fi l-‘ulum al-diniyya. (This book was written in Arabic and translated to Persian by Zinat al-Sadat Humayuni)
- Makhzan al-la’ali dar fazilat mula al-mawali Hadrat ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (a). (About the virtues of Imam Ali (a))
- Seyr wa suluk dar ravish-i awliya’-i tariq-i seyr-i su’ada’. (Mystical work about the journey toward God)
- Ma’ad ya akharin seyr-i bashar. (About resurrection on the Day of Judgment and the last journey of humankind)
- Ravish-i khushbakhti wa tawsiye bi khaharan-i imani. (The way of happiness and advice to [my] sisters in faith)
- Akhlaq wa rah-i sa’adat. (About morality and the way of happiness. This book is a translation, commentary and adaptation of the book “Taharat al-a’raq” by Ibn Miskawayh)
- Al-Nafahat al-rahmaniyya fi l-waridat al-qalbiyya. (This work has been written in Arabic and was translated into Persian by Mahdi Iftikhar under the title of “Nasimhay-i mihrabani” (Breezes of kindness) and published in 1429/2008)
- Jami’ al-shattat. (written in Arabic)
Scholarly Position
Many scholars and spiritual personalities admired her scholarly and spiritual position. Muhammad Taqi Ja’fari says: “According to the excellent spiritual achievements of this Iranian lady, we should account her among great scholars who did not only learn a science but also found a new life.”
He, also, said: “According to lady Amin’s works –that was accessible to me- we can certainly introduce her as one of the great Shi’a scholars.”
Sayyid Muhsin Amin quoted Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi that: “She was a unique person in her time and a perfect example for women of that time.” The martyr, Murtada Mutahhari says -reporting his meeting with lady Amin-: “I asked the Lady a question and when she started to answer, I realized that she had a high scholarly position.”
Being aware of her scholarly and spiritual position, personalities like ‘Allama Amini, Rahim Arbab, ‘Allama Tabataba’i, Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi, Sayyid Hashim Haddad, Muhammad Taqi Ja’fari and Murtada Mutahhari met her and had discussions with her in various fields of Islamic studies.
Spiritual Position
Her book Nafahat al-rahmaniyyah clearly shows her high spiritual and mystical position. In this book, she has come across the mystical revelations that she had since she was 30.
Religious personalities and, also, her students have talked about her mystical states and acts of wonder.
Social and Cultural Activities
In protest against the rule of banning Hijab at the time of Rida Shah Pahlavi, she did not participate in sessions held by the government, instead she openly showed her opposition by leaving Isfahan and staying for 14 months in Qom.
Moreover, by writing articles for newspapers and magazines, she showed an active presence in the field of social issues. She established an Islamic school called “Maktab-i Fatima” in 1344/1925 for women and “Amin” high school for girls before the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Demise
Sayyida Nusrat Amin passed away on the eve of Ramadan 1, 1403/June 12, 1983 in Isfahan and was buried in “Takht-i Fulad Cemetery”.
Source: https://en.wikishia.net/view/Sayyida_Nusrat_Amin
