Thursday 8 August 2013

A List of the names of 228 books of Alahazrat

A List of the names of 228 books of Alahazrat

It is an established fact that AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) gained proficiency in more that fifty branches of knowledge. With this, AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) wrote many books on various aspects of Islam. AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) was a genius writer. He wrote numerous books and treatises in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu on diversified topics.

To date, it has not been fully ascertained as to exactly how many books he wrote, for in doing so, requires research and many personnel. There has risen, over the past years, many Islamic Scholars in the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent and in other parts of the world, who are making serious attempts in studying or translating the works of this great Mujaddid of Islam.

In 1887, at the age of 30 years, he had completed 75 books and treatises. In 1909, at the age of 43 years, this number increased up to 500. However, It has been estimated that the number of books written by AlaHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Alaihir raHmah exceed 1000 on more than 50 branches of Knowledge. Apart from these contributions, he had written annotations and commentaries on more than 150 books pertaining to various branches of learning.
 

Professor Dr Muhammad Hassan, Shaikh-ul-Adab, Islamia University, Bhawalpur, said:
 

"Mawlana was a prolific writer. He wrote a large number of treatises. It is due to the fact that his head and heart had surging waves of knowledge which were hard to restrain."
 
From the many books that were written by him, a table of 549 have been classified. The table is as follows:
 

Tafseer of the Quran -- 11
Aqaa'id (Belief) -- 54
Hadith and Principles of Ahadith -- 53
Fiqh, Principles of Fiqh, Dictionary of Fiqh, Faraa'idh and Tajweed -- 214
Tassawwuf, Wazifas, Morals -- 19
Reviews of Books -- 40
Language, Arabic Grammar, Dictionaries, History, Poetry and Special Benefits, Traveling -- 55
Inspired Knowledge (Jafar) -- 11
Logarithms -- 8
Astronomy, Astrology -- 22
Mathematics, Geometry -- 31
Philosophy, Sciences, Logistics -- 7
Algebra -- 4

TOTAL AMOUNT OF BOOKS RECOVERED = 549
 
Professor Abdul Shakoor Shad, Kabul University, Afghanistan, said:
 

"The research works of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan are worth presenting. There is due need that Historical and Cultural Societies of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran together with other such institutions keep all his writings duly cataloged in their libraries."
 
His Divinely bestowed intelligence was such, that when AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) completed a quarter of any given book at the feet of a teacher, he used to study and memorize the remainder of the book by himself. It is recorded that he completed an Arabic commentary on the book, "Hidaayatun Nahw", on Arabic Syntax, when he was only 8 years old!
The names of a 228 books written by AlaHadrat (Alaihir RaHma) have been listed below and few of these books are available for download at www.alahazrat.net (alHamduLILLAH)
 

1. Ajallā al-Iýlām anna’l Fatwā Muţlaqan álā Qawl al-Imām
 
2. At-Ţirs al-Muáddal fī Ĥaddi Mā al-Mustaámal
 
3. Jumān at-Tāj fī Bayāni’s Şalāti Qabl al-Miýrāj
 
4. Nahju’s Salāmah fi Ĥukmi Taqbīli’l Ibhāmayni fi’l Iqāmah
 
5. Īdhānu’l Ajr fī ِِِAdhāni’l Qabr
 
6. Ijtināb al-Úmmāl án Fatāwā al-Juhhāl
 
7. Awfa’l Lumáh fī Ādhāni Yawm al-Jumuáh
 
8. Surūru’l Ýīd as-Saýīd fī Ĥilli’d Duáa Baáda Şalāti’l Ýīd
 
9. Wishāĥu’l Jīd fī Taĥlīl Muáānaqati’l Ýīd
 
10. Al-Ĥarfu’l Ĥasan fi’l Kitābati ála’l Kafan
 
11. Al-Minnatu’l Mumtāzah fī Dáwāti’l Janāzah
 
12. Badhlu’l Jawāyiz ála’d Duáāyi Baáda Şalāti’l Janāyiz
 
13. An-Nahy al-Ĥājiz án Takrāri Şalāti’l Janāyiz
 
14. Ihlāku’l Wahabiyyīn álā Tawhīni Qubūri’l Muslimīn
 
15. Barīqu’l Manār bi Shumūýi’l Mazār
 
16. Jumal an-Nūr fī Nahyi’n Nisā’a án Ziyārati’l Qubūr
 
17. Ityān al-Arwāĥ li Diyārihim baád ar-Rawāĥ
 
18. Jalī as-Şawt li Nahyi’d Dáwati Amām al-Mawt
 
19. Ţuruq e Isbāt e Hilāl
 
20. Dar’a al-Qubĥ án Darki Waqti’s Şub’ĥ
 
21. Al-Árūs al-Miýtār fi Zamani Dáwati’l Iftār
 
22. Şayqalu’r Rayn án Aĥkāmi Mujāwarati’l Ĥaramayn
 
23. Anwāru’l Bishārah fī Masāyil al-Ĥajji wa’z Ziyārah
 
24. An-Nayyiratu’l Wađiyyah Sharĥ al-Jawharatu’l Muđiyyah
 
25. Izālatu’l Áār bi Ĥijri’l Karāyim án Kilābi’n Nār
 
26. Iýlām al-Aálām bi anna Hindustān Dār al-Islām
 
27. Dawāmu’l Áysh min al-Ayimmah mina’l Quraysh
 
28. Radd ar-Rafađah
 
29. Al Mubīnu Khatam an-Nabiyyīn
 
30. Al-Jabal at-Thānawi álā Kulliyati’t Tahānawi
 
31. Sub’ĥān as-Subbūĥ án Kadhibi Áybin Maqbūĥ
 
32. Damān e Sub’ĥān as-Subbūĥ
 
33. Qahru’d Dayyān álā Murtadd bi-Qādiyān
 
34. Al-Jurāz ad-Dayyānī ála’l Murtadd al-Qādiyānī
 
35. Al-Kawkabatu’sh Shihābiyyah fī Kufriyyāti Abi’l Wahābiyyah
 
36. Sall as-Suyūf al-Hindiyyah álā Kufriyyāti Bābā an-Najdiyyah
 
37. Kifl al-Faqīh al-Fāhim fī Aĥkāmi Qirţās ad-Darāhim
 
38. Ad-Dhayl al-Manūţ li Risālatu’n Nūţ
 
39. Kāsiru’s Safīh al-Wāhim fī Ibdāli Qirţāsi’d Darāhim
 
40. Subul al-Aşfiyā’a fī Ĥukmi’dh Dhabĥ li’l Awliyā’a
 
41. As-Şāfiyah al-Mūĥiyah li-Ĥukmi Julūdi’l Uđĥiyyah
 
42. Jalī an-Naşş fī Amākin ar-Rukhaş
 
43. Barakātu’l Imdād li Ahli’l Istimdād
 
44. Fiqh e Shahinshāh wa anna Al-Qulūb bi Yadi’l Maĥbūb bi Áţā’yillāh
 
45. Badru’l Anwār fī Ādāb al-Āthār
 
46. Shifā al-Wālih fi Şuwar al-Ĥabīb wa Mazārihi wa Niáālih
 
47. Maqāl al-Úrafā bi Iýzāzi Shar’ýin wa Úlamā
 
48. Al-Yāqūtatu’l Wāsiţah fī Qalbi Íqd ar-Rābiţah
 
49. Murūju’n Najā li Khurūji’n Nisā’a
 
50. Şafāyiĥ al-Lujayn fi Kawni’t Taşāfuĥ bi Kaffay al-Yadayn
 
51. Az-Zubdatu’z Zakiyyah li Taĥrīmi Sujūd at-Taĥiyyah
 
52. Lamátu’d Đuĥā fī Iýfā’yi’l Liĥā
 
53. Radd al-Qahţ wa’l Wabā’a bi Dáwati’l Jīrāni wa Muwāsāti’l Fuqarā’a
 
54. Irā’atu’l Adab Li Fāđili’n Nasab
 
55. Hādiyi’n Nās fī Rusūmi’l A’árās
 
56. Al-Adillatu’t Ţāýinah fī Adhāni’l Malāyinah
 
57. Ĥakku’l Áyb fi Ĥurmati Taswīdi’sh Shayb
 
58. Khayru’l Āmāl fī Ĥukmi’l Kasabi wa’s Su’āl
 
59. Masayil e Samāá
 
60. Al-Ĥaqq al-Mujtalā fi Ĥukmi’l Mubtalā
 
61. Taysīri’l Māúūn fī Ĥukmi’t Tāúūn
 
62. Al-Ĥuqūq li Ţarĥi’l Úqūq
 
63. Mashálatu’l Irshād fi Ĥuqūqi’l Awlād
 
64. Aájabu’l Imdād fi Mukaffarāti Huqūqi’l Íbād
 
65. A’áālī al-Ifādah fī Táziyati’l Hindi wa Bayāni’sh Shahādah
 
66. Al-Áţāyā al-Qadīr fī Hukmi’t Taşwīr
 
67. An-Nūr wa’d Điyā’a fī Aĥkāmi Báađ al-Asmā’a
 
68. Ĥaqqatu’l Marjān li Muhimmi Hukmi’d Dukhān
 
69. Ash-Sharīátu’l Bahiyyah fī Taĥdīdi’l Waşiyyah
 
70. As-Şamşām álā Mushakkiki fī Āyāti Úlūmi’l Arĥām
 
71. Al-Fađl al-Mawhibī fī Mána idhā şaĥĥa’l ĥadīthu fa huwa madh’habī
 
72. Nuzūl e Āyāt e Furqān ba Sukūn e Zamīn O Āsmān
 
73. Muýin e Mubīn Bahr e Daur e Shams o Sukūn e ZamīN
 
74. Fauz e Mubīn dar Radd e Ĥarkat e Zamīn
 
75. An-Nayyiratu’sh Shihābī álā Tadlīsi’l Wahābī
 
76. As-Sahmu’sh Shihābī álā Khadāýi’l Wahābī
 
77. Daf’áy e Zaygh e Zāgh
 
78. Al-Ĥujjatu’l Fāyiĥah li Ţībi’t Ta-áyyuni wa’l Fātiĥah
 
79. Aţāyibu’t Tahānī fi’n Nikāĥi’t Thānī
 
80. Izākhatu’l Áyb bi Sayfi’l Ghayb
 
81. At-Taĥbīr bi Bābi’t Tadbīr
 
82. Thalju’s Şadr bi Īmāni’l Qadr
 
83. Tajallī al-Yaqīn bi anna Nabiyyanā Sayyida’l Mursalīn
 
84. Shumūl al-Islām li Usūli’r Rasūli’l Kirām
 
85. Tamhīd e Īmān ba Āyāt e Qur’ān
 
86. Al-Amn wa’l Úlā li Nāáti’l Muşţafā bi Dāfiýi’l Balā’a
 
87. Nafyu’l Fayy Ámman Istanāra bi Nūrihi Kulla Shayy
 
88. Al-Hidāyatu’l Mubārakah fī Khalqi’l Malāyikah
 
89. Ismā’a al-Arbaýīn fī Shafāáti Sayyidi’l Maĥbūbīn
 
90. Al-Qawl al-Masúūd al-Maĥmūd fī Mas’alati Waĥdati’l Wujūd
 
91. Ad-Dawlatu’l Makkiyah bi’l Māddati’l Ghaybiyyah
 
92. Al-Wa�īfatu’l Karīmah
 
93. Al-Mīlād an-Nabawiyyah fi’l Alfā� ar-Riđawiyyah
 
94. Ĥaqīqat e Bay’át
 
95. At-Tabşīr al-Munjid bi anna Şaĥna’l Masjid Masjid
 
96. Mirqātu’l Jumān fi’l Hubūţi án Minbari li Mad’ĥi’s Şulţān
 
97. Riáāyatu’l Madh’habayn fi’d Duáāyi bayna’l Khuţbatayn
 
98. Al-Hādi al-Ĥājib án Janāzati’l Ghāyib
 
99. Ĥāyatu’l Mawāt fī Bayāni Samā’áyi'l Amwāt
 
100. Al-Wifāqu’l Matīn bayna Samāáyi’d Dafīn wa Jawābi’l Mubīn
 
101. Tajallī al-Mishkāh li Ināri As’yilati’z Zakāh
 
102. A-ázz al-Iktināh fī Raddi Şadaqatin Māniý az-Zakāh
 
103. Rādiýu’t Ta-ássuf áni’l Imām Abī Yūsuf
 
104. Afşaĥu’l Bayān fī Mazāriý Hindustān
 
105. Az-Zahr al-Bāsim fī Ĥurmati’z Zakāti álā Banī Hāshim
 
106. Azkā al-Ihlāl bi Ibţāli mā Aĥdatha’n Nāsa bi Amri’l Hilāl
 
107. Al-Budūr al-Ajillah fī Umūr al-Ahillah
 
108. Al-Iýlām bi Ĥāli’l Bukhūri fi’s Şiyām
 
109. Tafāsīru’l Aĥkām bi Fidyati’s Şālāti wa’s Şiyām
 
110. Hidāyatu’l Jinān bi Aĥkāmi Ramađān
 
111. Úbāb al-Anwār an Lā Nikāĥa bi Mujarradi’l Iqrār
 
112. Māĥī ad-Đalālah fī Ankiĥati’l Hindi wa’l Bangālah
 
113. Hibatu’n Nisā’a fī Taĥqīqi’l Muşāharati bi’z Zinā
 
114. Al-Jalī al-Ĥasan fī Ĥurmati Waladi Akhi’l Laban
 
115. Tajwīz ar-Radd án Tazwīj al-Ab’ád
 
116. Al-Basţ al-Musajjal fī Imtināýī’z Zawjati Baád al-Waţyi li’l Muájjal
 
117. Raĥīq al-Iĥqāq fī Kalimāti’t Ţalāq
 
118. Ākidu’t Taĥqīq bi Bābi’t Tálīq
 
119. Al-Jawhar ath-Thamīn fī Ílali Nāzilati’l Yamīn
 
120. Nābighu’n Nūr álā Su’ālāti Jabalfūr
 
121. Al-Maĥajjah al-Mu’taminah fī Āyāti’l Mumtaĥinah
 
122. Anfasu’l Fikar fī Qurbāni’l Baqar
 
123. Abĥās e Akhīrah
 
124. Ad-Dalāyil al-Qāhirah ála Al-Kafarah an-Nayāshirah
 
125. Tadbīr e Falāĥ o Najāt o Işlāĥ
 
126. Al-Qamú’l Mubīn li Āmāli’l Mukadh’dhibīn
 
127. Bāb al-Áqāyid wa’l Kalām
 
128. As-Sū’u wa’l Íqāb álā Al-Masīĥ al-Kadh’dhāb
 
129. Ĥajb al-Úwār án Makhdūmi Bihār
 
130. Jazā’a Allāh Áduwwah bi Ibānati Khatmi’n Nubuwwah
 
131. Jawwāl al-Úluww li Tabyīn al-Khuluww
 
132. At-Taĥrīr al-Jayyid fi Ĥaqqi’l Masjid
 
133. Ibānatu’l Mutawārī fi Muşālaĥati Ábd al-Bārī
 
134. Anşaĥu’l Ĥukūmah fī Faşli’l Khuşūmah
 
135. Al-Hibatu’l Aĥmadiyyah fi’l Wilāyati’s Sharýiyyah wa’l Úrfiyyah
 
136. Fat’ĥ al-Malīk fī Ĥukmi’t Tamlīk
 
137. Ajwadu’l Qirā Li Ţālibi’s Şiĥĥati fī Ijārati’l Qurā
 
138. Kitābu’l Munā wa’d Durar liman Ámada Money Order
 
139. Hādī al-Uđĥiyyah bi’sh Shāt al-Hindiyyah
 
140. Ar-Ramz al-Muraşşaf álā Suāli Mawlānā As-Sayyid Āşīf
 
141. Naqā’a as-Sulāfah fī Aĥkām al-Bayáti wa’l Khilāfah
 
142. An-Namīqatu’l Anqā fī Farqi’l Mulāqī wa’l Mulqā
 
143. Al-Hanī’i al-Namīr fi’l Mā’a al-Mustadīr
 
144. Ruĥb as-Sāĥah fī Miyahin lā Yastawī Wajhuhā wa Jawfuhā fi’l Misāĥah
 
145. Hibatu’l Ĥabīr fī Úmqi Mā’ayin Kathīr
 
146. An-Nūr wa’r Rawnaq li Isfāri’l Mā’a al-Muţlaq
 
147. Áţā’a an-Nabiyy li Ifāđati Aĥkāmi Mā’a as-Şabiyy
 
148. Ad-Diqqati wa’t Tibyān li Ílmi’r Riqqati wa’s Saylān
 
149. Ĥusn at-Támmum li Bayāni Ĥadd at-Tayammum
 
150. Samĥu’n Nudarā fīmā Yūrithu’l Ájza Mina’l Mā’a
 
151. A�-�afar li Qawli Zufar
 
152. Al-Maţar as-Saýīd álā Nabati Jins as-Şaýīd
 
153. Al-Jidd as-Sadīd fī Nafyi’l Istiýmāl áni’s Şaýīd
 
154. Qawānīn al-Úlamā’a fī Mutayammimin Álima índa Zaydin Mā’a
 
155. At-Ţalabatu’l Badīáh fī Qawli Şadru’sh Sharīáh
 
156. Mujalli’sh Shamáh li Jāmiýi Ĥadathin wa Lumáh
 
157. Salabu’th Thalb áni’l Qāyilīna bi Ţahārati’l Kalb
 
158. Al-Aĥlā mina’s Sukkar li Ţalabati’s Sukkari Rūsar
 
159. Ĥājizu’l Baĥrayn al-Wāqī án Jāmiýi’s Şalātayn
 
160. Munīr al-Áyn fī Ĥukmi Taqbīl al-Ibhāmayn
 
161. Al-Hādi’l Kāf fī Ĥukmi’đ Điáāf
 
162. Hidāyatu’l Mutáāl fi Ĥaddi’l Istiqbāl
 
163. Niýmu’z Zād li Rawmi’d Đād
 
164. Iljām as-Şādd án Sunani’d Đād
 
165. An-Nahyi’l Akīd áni’s Şalāti Warā’a Ádda’t Taqlīd
 
166. Al-Qilādatu’l Murassa-áh fī Naĥri’l Ajwibatu’l Arba-áh
 
167. Al-Quţūf ad-Dāniyah liman Aĥsana’l Jamāáh ath-Thāniyah
 
168. Tījān as-Şawāb fī Qiyāmi’l Imām fi’l Miĥrāb
 
169. Anhāru’l Anwār min Yammi Şalāti’l Asrār
 
170. Az’hāru’l Anwār min Şabā Şalāti’l Anwār
 
171. Waşşāfu’r Rajīĥ fī Basmalati’t Tarāwīĥ
 
172. Al-Jūd al-Ĥuluww fī Arkān al-Wuđū’u
 
173. Tanwīr al-Qindīl fī Awşāf al-Mindīl
 
174. Lumaá al-Aĥkām án lā Wuđū’u Mina’z Zukām
 
175. At-Ţirāzu’l Málam fīmā huwa Ĥadathun min Aĥwāli’d Dam
 
176. Nab’hu’l Qawm Anna’l Wuđū’u Min Ayyi Nawm
 
177. Khulāşah Tibyān al-Wuđū’u
 
178. Al-Aĥkām wa’l Ílal fī Ishkāl al-Iĥtilāmi wa’l Balal
 
179. Bāriqu’n Nūr fī Maqādīri Mā’a at-Ţuhūr
 
180. Barakātu’s Samā’a fī Ĥukmi Isrāfi’l Mā’a
 
181. Irtifāá al-Ĥujub án Wujūhi Qirā’ati’l Junub
 
182. At-Ţayyib al-Wajīz fi’l Amtiáti’l Waraqi wa’l Ibrīz
 
183. Abarr al-Maqāl fī Istiĥsāni Qiblati’l Ijlāl
 
184. Al-Kashfu Shāfiyā Ĥukmi Fūnūjrāfiya (phonograph)
 
185. Al-Fiqhu’t Tasjīlī fī Ájīni’n Nārjīlī
 
186. Al-Maqşadu’n Nāfiý fī Úşūbati’s Sinf ar-Rābiý
 
187. Ţayyibu’l Imáān fī Táddudi’l Jihāti wa’l Abdān
 
188. Tajliyatu’s Silm fī Masāyilin min Nişfi’l Ílm
 
189. Nuţq al-Hilāl bi-Arkhi Wilād al-Ĥabīb wa’l Wişāl
 
190. Jam-úl Qur’ān wa bima Ázzūhu li Úthmān
 
191. Iqāmatu’l Qiyāmah ála Ţāyini’l Qiyāmi li Nabiyyi’t Tihāmah
 
192. Kashf e Ĥaqāyiq o Asrār e Daqāyiq
 
193. Maqāmiý al-Ĥadīd álā Khaddi’l Manţiq al-Jadīd
 
194. Al-Kalimatu’l Mulhamah fi’l Ĥikmati’l Muĥkamah li Wihā’yi’l Falsafati’l Mash’amah
 
195. Ĥusām al-Ĥaramayn álā Manĥari’l Kufri wa’l Mayn
 
196. Waşāyā Sharīf
 
197. Aĥkām e Sharīát
 
198. Írfān e Sharīát
 
199. Malfūzāt e Ālāĥazrat
 
200. Shamāyim al-Ánbar fi Adabi’n Nidā’a Amām al-Minbar
 
201. Fatāwā Karāmāt e Ghawsiyah
 
202. Az-Zulāl al-Anqā min Baĥri Sabqati’l Atqā
 
203. Ţard al-Afāýī án Ĥimā Hādi Rafá’r Rifāýī
 
204. Tanzīhu’l Makānatu’l Ĥaydariyyah án Wasmati Áhdi’l Jāhiliyyah
 
205. Ghāyatu’t Taĥqīq fī Imāmati’l Áliyy wa’s Şiddīq
 
206. Qawāriýu’l Qahhār ála’l Mujassamati’l Fujjār
 
207. Khālişu’l Iýtiqād
 
208. Inbā’a al-Muşţafā bi Ĥāli Sirrin wa Akhfā
 
209. Anwāru’l Intibāh fi Ĥilli Nidā’yi Yā RasūlAllāh
 
210. Sharĥ al-Maţālib fī Mabĥathi Abī Ţālib
 
211. Iýtiqād al-Aĥbāb fī Al-Jamīl wa’l Muşţafā wa’l Āli wa’l Aş’ĥāb
 
212. Umūr e Íshrīn [Dar Imtiyāz e Áqāyid e Sunniyyīn]
 
213. Rimāĥu’l Qahhār álā Kufri’l Kuffār
 
214. Munyatu’l Labīb Anna’t Tashrīý Bi Yadi’l Ĥabīb
 
215. Munabbih al-Munyah Bi Wuşūl al-Ĥabīb ila’l Árshi wa’r Ru’yah
 
216. Şallāt as-Şafā’a fī Nūri’l Muşţafā
 
217. Qamru’t Tamām fī Nafyi’z �illi án Sayyidi’l Anām
 
218. Hadyu’l Ĥayrān fī Nafyi’l Fayy án Sayyidi’l Akwān
 
219. Al-Ijāzātu’l Matīnah li Úlamāyi Bakkah wa’l Madīnah
 
220. Aţāyib as-Sayyib álā Arđ at-Ţayyib
 
221. Sayf al-Muşţafā álā al-Adyān al-Iftarā
 
222. An-Nuktah álā Mirāyi Kalkatta 
 
223. Charāgh e Uns
 
224. Qaşīdatān Rāyiyatān
 
225. Zikr-e-Aĥbāb O Duáā-e-Aĥbāb
 
226. I�hār al-Ĥaqq al-Jaliyy
 
227. Masāyil e Miýrāj
 
228. Fatāwā Āfrīqah
 
Some people object that these 228 books are already included in Fatawa ar-Ridawiyyah published in 30 volumes by the year 2007. Some others gripe that these are small 'booklets' which consists of only a few pages. here is the retort:

----
Ali al-qari in his sharH of fiqh al-akbar who noted that our elders were 'qaleel al-kalam katheer al-barakah' / spoke less, yet told more. and we are 'katheer al-kalam qaleel al-barakah' / we tell less even though we talk a lot more. he was alluding to the relatively small size of fiqh al-akbar which is no more than eight or ten pages. consider the following:
 

  • 37 of ibn abidin's 'books' which are rasayil are collected in two average sized volumes named rasayil ibn abidin.
  • A number of rasayil are collected in fatawa imam as-subki
  • More than 70 rasayil are collected in imam suyuTi's al-hawi li'l fatawi.
  • Recently some 60 different books of imam al-ghazali were printed in two large volumes named as 'rasayil al-ghazali'
  • Ditto with 'rasayil ibn arabi'
  • Fatawa al-fiqhiyyah of ibn Hajar al-haytami contains many of his epistles
  • There is a volume printed by dar kutub al-ilmiyyah which has 94+ 'books' on various topics titled: 'al majmu'u al-kamil li'l mutun': fiqh, usul al-fiqh, hadith, aqidah, poetry, naHw, prosody, etc. and many of these 'books' are no more than four or five pages. for example, 'Aqayid an-Nasafi' is a mere three pages.
  • Even novelists and poets have their own collections; check collected works of any major author: wells, twain, Iqbal's kulliyat and not to mention [the person/s writing as] Shakespeare. Almost all of Shakespeare's works are found - including his sonnets and poems - in one volume.
When a prolific author writes many books, it makes sense to put them in one volume as a collection. it is easy for readers and researchers to find all or most of them in one place. for a bibliophile/librarian, easy to store and retrieve. this does not mean that one volume is ONE book. only a fool would suggest that.

Yet, these rasayil have been referred by scholars as 'books' without vehement hair-splitting.

---
Coming back to the rant of some folk who cannot probably even pronounce the names of AlaHadrat's books who attempt to downplay them as 'small' booklets. I would challenge them in a confrontationist tone to try and read these small booklets if they can; because if they have, they wouldn't talk so naively. Only the ignorant shrugs away the diamond in comparison with a rock; just because it is big does not make it valuable - just as the diamond's small size does not make it insignificant.

---
AlaHadrat's fatawa - legal rulings are collected in one place. some legal rulings require lengthy explanations and in my humble opinion anything more than five-ten pages can be classified as a booklet as opposed to 'an essay' or an article.

Those unaquainted with fatawa ar-ridawiyyah might think that AlaHadrat started writing fatawa from Vol. 1 and ended with Vol. 30 [one can quibble that the original fatawa was only 12 volumes - and takhrij made it double the size]

In reality, AlaHadrat issued fatawa from a young age, many of which were never recovered. he also issued lengthy rulings/fatawa and published in the form of booklets giving them exquisite names instead of simply numbering them. in the later part of his life, his students and associates suggested that his fatawa being so insightful and valuable ought to be preserved; it was only then people began to collect the fatawa. when fatawa razwiyah was being edited by AlaHadrat himself, it was only fitting that lengthy fatawa issued as epistles be included under appropriate sections.

Even in today's world these epistles are self-contained and are convenient to be published as separate works. for example take the issue of moon-sighting. how many people will buy thirty volumes, each of about 800 pages each to read those two or three epistles? naturally, it makes sense to print them separately and more so for online reading, where flipping pages to browse is not possible.

---
Even the names of his books impart knowledge. Try reading them in the arabic script and if you don't understand the meaning, look it up in a dictionary. in the process, you will learn a lot of other words along with etymology and usage. I am sure there are not many - if there are any - who can understand all the words used in these names without a dictionary.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please Comment to Tell us About your Views

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...