Muhammad ibn ʿIzz al-Din al-Ḥusayn known as Shaykh Bahai and Bahaʾ al-Din al-Amili was the well-known Islamic scholar of the eleventh century Hijrah. He was a scholar in fiqh, hadith, mysticism, mathematics and many other disciplines. He is considered among the most distinguished Twelver Shi’a narrators of hadith, and many chains of permissions in recent centuries reached him and through him reached his father and then to al-Shahid al-Thani. He wrote over 100 treatises and books on different topics in Arabic and Persian. Similarly, many architectural and engineering designs are attributed to him. Shaykh al-Bahai has been recognized as one of the revivalists of the Faith, of the 11th Hijri Century by the Shias.
His Birth and Lineage
Shaykh Bahai was born on 17th Dhu al-Hijjah, 953 (corresponding to February 8, 1547) in a village near Baal’bak in the Jabal Amel area of Lebanon[1]. His father, ‘Izz al-Din Husayn ibn ‘Abd al-Samad al-Harithi was one of the prominent scholars of the Jabal al-Amel region of Lebanon, a student and friend of al-Shahid al-Thani. The genealogy of Shaykh Bahai traces back to Harith al-Hamdani, the famous companion of Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s) and thus Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili was also famous as al-Harithi al-Hamdani.
His Childhood and Youth
According to the reports, the family of Shaykh Bahai relocated to Jabal ‘Amel when he was one year old. However, after the martyrdom of al-Shahid al-Thani in 965/1557 and the lack of security in Jabal ‘Amel, his family moved to Isfahan, Iran. Thus, his family was among the first Shi’a scholars of Jabal ‘Amel who immigrated to Iran after the Shi’a Safavid government was established[2]. According to a manuscript written by Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili in Qazvin in 969/1561-2, he was 13 years old when he moved to Iran.
After three years of living in Isfahan, his father, ‘Izz al-Din Husayn was invited to the city of Qazvin and was appointed as Shaykh al-Islam of that city. At that moment, Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili was in Qazvin with his father, where he studied different sciences. Later, his father became the Shaykh al-Islam of Harat for a while, but Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili remained in Qazvin[3].
His Education
The early education of Sheik Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili was under his own father. His first and most important teacher was his father from whom he learned Tafsir (exegesis), hadith, Arabic literature and some rational sciences and received permission for the transmission of hadith. Apart from Islamic sciences, Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili actively studied mathematics, architecture, engineering, geography and astronomy.
Besides, Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili studied different sciences under several teachers while in Qazvin and also during his numerous journeys to different parts of the world.. Thus, among his other teachers were: Mulla ‘Abd Allah Yazdi; Mulla ‘Ali Mudhahhab; Mulla ‘Ali Qa’ini; Mulla Muhammad Baqir; Shaykh Ahmad Gacha’i; Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Ali al-Karaki (993/1585) son of al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki; Mahmud Dehdar (d. 1016/1607-8)[4] and Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi l-Latif al-Muqaddasi al-Shafi’i[5].
It is mentioned that among the Shia scholars, none other than Khwaja Nasīr ud Dīn Tūsi had such learning in several disciplines like Shaykh Bahai. The reason for this was that Shaykh Bahai was a very keen traveller during his early days and whenever he visited new lands, he always acquired new knowledge.
His Appointment as Shaykh al-Islam
His father passed away in Bahrain on 8 Rabi al Awwal, 984 H, when Shaykh Bahai was 30 years old. After the death of his father, Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili went to Harat and was appointed as Shaykh al-Islam or the Chief Theologian, which was the highest religious position. This was his first official position. In the same year, he became the Shaykh al-Islam of Isfahan after the death of Shaykh ‘Ali Minshar (his father-in-law) by the order of either Shah Isma’il II (ruled 984 – 985 AH) or Shah Muhammad Khudabanda (ruled 985 – 995 AH).
His Journeys
However, Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili resigned from the position of Shaykh al-Islam when he decided to make a long journey to Hajj. On this long journey, he visited Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Sarandib (Old Persian word for Sri Lanka), Hijaz and Jerusalem and met with many scholars and top-rank Sufis. It is mentioned that Shaykh Bahai lived for four years in the Holy city of Mecca, two years in Egypt and reached as far as Sri Lanka during his sojourns.
On his way back from hajj, Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili went to Tabriz and stayed there for one year. He also had a journey to Karak Nouh and met with Shaykh Hasan ibn Zayn al-Din known as “Sahib Ma’alim” (the author of Ma’alim) (d. 1011/1602-3).
His Social Position
When Shah Abbas Azam ascended the throne of Iran, he felt the need to have erudite scholars of Islam by his side. He had already heard of the erudition of Shaykh Bahai and therefore invited him to go over to Isfahan and take over the position of Shaykh al-Islam, which was the highest religious position. He came back to Isfahan in 1025 AH and since then, he stayed with Shah ‘Abbas I until the end of his life.
After he accepted the offer, he realized his duty towards the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) and their followers. He kept aside all his travel plans and forthwith proceeded to Isfahan. That was the time when there were several eminent jurists in the world. Sheik Bahai was in Iran, Qazi Nurullah Shustari was in the Mogul court in India and Mir Baqir Damad was also in Iran.
Apart from the position of Shaykh al-Islam, Shaykh Bahai had a special position before the Safavid kings. Shah ‘Abbas I fully trusted Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili in his knowledge, piety, competence and capabilities and was always being consulted by him. Shah ‘Abbas I asked Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili to accept the leadership of religious scholars in Iran, which Baha’ al-Din al-‘Amili did not accept[6].
His Scholarly Works
Shaykh Bahai wrote over 100 treatises and books on a wide variety of topics such as exegesis of the holy Qur’an, hadith, grammar, jurisprudence, mathematics, astronomy, and poetry. His famous works include Habl al Mateen, Urwat al Wusqa Jameh Abbasi (jurisprudence), Miftah al-Falah (supplications), Kitab al-Arba’een (hadith), Kashkul (literature), Khulasat al-Hisab (mathematics), Kitab al-Jabr wa al- Muqabala (algebra), Tashreeh al-Aflak (astronomy) and discourse on astrolabe and geometry.
In addition, several architectural and engineering designs in Isfahan stand as proof of the genius of Shaykh Bahai, including the Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the Grand Shah Abbas Mosque known as the Imam Mosque today. He also designed and constructed a furnace for a public bathroom, which still exists in Isfahan. The furnace was warmed by a single candle, which was placed in an enclosure. The candle burned for a long time, warming the bath’s water.
His Demise
Shaykh Baha’i passed away at the age of 77 in the Safavid capital, Isfahan in 1031 A.H. His body according to his will was carried to the holy city of Mashhad where it was laid to rest in the premises of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s), the eighth infallible successor of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his household). This courtyard of his grave, which is located on the southeastern side of the holy shrine and opposite Dar al-Ibadah became famous as Shaykh Baha’i Courtyard. The grave of Shaykh Bahai is located in the middle of the porch. On the epitaph of the grave, the details of his birth and demise are inscribed.
It can be guessed that Shaykh Bahai Amili had no children since he spent much of his life travelling alone. Most sources have mentioned no children for him and even some have regarded him infertile[7].
Conclusion
Shaykh Bahai Amili, also known as Sheikh Bahai, was a prominent Persian scholar, architect, mathematician, and poet who lived during the Safavid era in the 16th century. He made significant contributions to various fields of Islamic Sciences such as jurisprudence (Fiqh), Qur’anic exegesis (Tafsir), hadith, Arabic grammar and other fields such as mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, and architecture. His legacy continues to be celebrated in Iran and beyond for his intellectual and architectural achievements. He is perhaps best known for his architectural work on the construction of the Grand Shah Abbas Mosque in Isfahan, Iran, which is renowned for its intricate design and architectural beauty.
Shaykh Bahai Amili died at the age of 77 in Isfahan but he was buried in the vicinity of the eighth Shia Imam, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (a.s), one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.
References
[1] . Muhājir, Jaʿfar. Al-Hijrat al-ʿĀmilīya ilā Iran fī al-aṣr al-Ṣafawī, p. 145.
[2] . Muhājir, Jaʿfar, Al-Hijrat al-ʿĀmilīya ilā Iran fī al-aṣr al-Ṣafawī, p. 95, 146; Afandī Iṣfahānī, ʿAbd Allāh. Riyāḍ al-ʿulamāʾ wa ḥiyāḍ al-fuḍalāʾ, vol. 2, p. 119.
[3] . Shaykh Bahāʾī, Muḥammad, Kashkūl, vol. 1, p. 28-29, 46; Madanī, Salāfat al-ʿaṣr, p. 259, 296.
[4] . Mīrjahānī Ṭabāṭabāʾī, Muḥammad Ḥasan, Rawāyiḥ al-nasamāt fī sharḥ duʿā simāt, p. 100.
[5] . Muḥibbī, Khulāṣat al-athar, vol.3, p. 440; Āqā Buzurg Tihrānī, al-Rawḍa al-naḍra, p. 75; Āqā Buzurg Tihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 15, p. 378;
[6] . Ṭūqān, Turāth al-ʿarab al-ʿilmi fī al-riyāḍiyāt wa al-falak, p. 474.
[7] . Amīn, Sayyid Muḥsin, al-Aʿyān al-Shīʿa, vol. 9, p. 242.
