Al-Muhaqqiq Journal

This study examines the concept of knowledge as understood by Allama al-Hilli (d. 726 AH), who was both a philosopher and a theologian deeply engaged with the principal issues of philosophy: existence, knowledge, and values. The choice of Allama al-Hilli as the focus of this study stems from his prominent status in his era and his considerable philosophical and theological contributions, which dominate much of his scholarly work.
The research is divided into five sections and a conclusion. The first section presents the theory of knowledge and its significance in philosophical studies. The second explores the relationship between knowledge and science in al-Hilli’s thought. The third addresses the faculties of the soul as defined by al-Hilli, considering them as an entry point into the study of sensory knowledge, which he regards as the primary and essential source of knowledge—discussed in the fourth section. The fifth section investigates rational knowledge and its foundational principles according to al-Hilli.

The topic of ethics has long attracted the attention of scholars, leading to numerous works that often serve as reference points in sermons and moral discourses. Among these scholars is Sayyid Ibn Tawus (d. 664 AH), whose writings—such as Kashf al-Maḥajja li-Thamara al-Muhajja and Muḥasabat al-Nafs—stand out in this regard. This study, through examining his ethical writings and advice, seeks to answer the question: What is the nature of individual and social ethics in Ibn Tawus\'s thought?
The analysis reveals that in the realm of individual ethics, his advice focuses on issues such as the importance of reaching the age of legal responsibility (bulugh), the intention behind actions, mindfulness and etiquette in the divine presence, and self-accountability. In the realm of social ethics, his counsel includes moral principles concerning interpersonal relationships, charity and almsgiving, and political engagement.
The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach: it begins with presenting his ethical instructions and then proceeds to analyze their implications. The findings demonstrate that just as Ibn Tawus held notable views in jurisprudence, history, theology, and supplication literature, he also had foundational and distinctive contributions in the field of ethics.

Shaykh Ibn Idris (d. 598 AH) is considered one of the prominent figures of the Hilla school. Although jurisprudential inquiry dominated his intellectual legacy, he also engaged in other fields, including theology (Kalam). His theological views appear across various sections of his works. This study sheds light on a selection of those views, aiming to highlight an often-overlooked aspect of his scholarly persona—his theological dimension.
It is notable that Ibn Idris was affiliated with the intellectual current influenced by the theological school of al-Sharif al-Murtada. This school left a profound impact on many subsequent Imami scholars, and Ibn Idris was among those shaped by its approach.

A written creed is considered a formal statement of mental convictions embraced and accepted by an individual—whether religious, political, social, or economic in nature. Among these, creeds articulated through the methodology of Kalam (Islamic theology) have received the most attention and development, leading to the emergence of various models among theologians.
In this study, we first highlight the most significant written creeds within the Islamic schools of thought, identifying their main characteristics. We then present and examine the text of two specific creeds discovered within manuscripts of theological works attributed to Allama al-Ḥilli.

The mosque or shrine of Sahib al-Zaman in the city of Hilla is considered one of the most important sites associated with this revered Imam. This study explores the architectural components of this sacred location by identifying several artistic depictions specifically dedicated to the Maqam of Sahib al-Zaman in Hilla, aiming to reach a more precise and comprehensive understanding of the structure’s architecture.
The research presents six different images of artistic illustrations created by Nasuh Effendi al-Matrakchi, based on his direct observations. These artworks include realistic ornamentation that contributed to their design.

I had previously compiled the poetry of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Nafiʿ al-Hilli into a dedicated Diwan published by the Markaz al-Allama al-Hilli in 2017, after considerable effort and extensive research through various historical and literary sources to gather his dispersed verses.
As with any anthology based on compilation, I later came across fourteen additional pieces—ranging from short fragments to complete poems—in the book al-Tawdiḥ al-Anwar by al-Hablurudi, which were not included in the original printed edition of the Diwan. Therefore, I present this addendum in anticipation of publishing a revised and complete edition in the near future, God willing.

The Basran and Kufan grammarians differed regarding the cause of the inflection (iʿrab) of the present tense verb. The Basrans attributed its inflection to its similarity to the declined noun, viewing it as a derivative. In contrast, the Kufans considered the verb to be inherently inflected, due to the variety of meanings it conveys, thus treating it as original. Some later scholars also saw its inflection as derivative, but attributed the cause to the diversity of meanings it expresses. Among the scholars who devoted a treatise to this grammatical debate is Rukn al-Din Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jurjani, a prominent figure of the 8th century AH. He authored a dedicated work supporting the Kufan position, in which he presented unique views and conclusions that set him apart from other grammarians. A manuscript copy of this treatise exists in the Martyr Ali Library in Turkey. We undertook the task of editing and studying it using a descriptive-analytical methodology, combined with the standard approach to manuscript verification.

Shaykh Mahmoud ibn Darwish, known as Husam al-Din al-Hilli (d. ca. 1070 AH), was one of the prominent scholars of Hilla. He authored numerous works, including Hidayat al-Mustarshidin, a book on jurisprudential branches that covered all acts of worship. Seeking divine guidance, he resolved to write a reasoning-based book addressing each of the branches mentioned in Hidayat al-Mustarshidin. He titled it Adillat al-Ahkam and structured it into an introduction and several books.
He composed a separate treatise dedicated to the introduction, titled Risala fi Muqaddimat al-Usul (“A Treatise on the Introduction to Principles”), in which he concisely addressed a number of topics related to the principles of jurisprudence. The treatise is divided into two sections: the first includes eight thematic headings, while the second discusses the terminology and classification of Hadiths attributed to the infallible Imams, thus concluding the introduction.