Story of Fakhr-ul-Islam

Part 2

Debate

The most important cultural, religious and scientific activities of Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq Fakhr-ul-Islam after performing the congregation prayer were teaching Islamic sciences, preaching and giving lectures in the cities, Orumiyeh, and Tehran and debating with Christian scholars and priests in different cities especially Tehran during the last decades of his life.

He took every opportunity to make use of his gifted speaking skills, and his complete knowledge over basics and fundamentals of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism and their related sects. Also he had logical discussions with the prominent Christians and Jews in different occasions.

Seyyed Abdul-Rahim Khalkhali writes in the introduction to the great book of Anis-ul-A’lam, written by Mohammad-Sadeq Fakhr-ul-Islam, about his commitment and ability in debating with the followers of other religions:

He was a defending scholar who had devoted most of his time to discussions about Islam and defending its sacred boundaries. The late Fakhr-ul-Islam with the personality and scientific status that he had, was so humble that he would sit on the stairways of Tehran Supreme Court and discuss matters with Christians. [19]

He was an eloquent speaker who was above all orators of his time. Whatever he said penetrated the hearts of the listeners as the famous Persian proverb states, “that which comes out of the heart, will sit on hearts. (Seyyed Abdul-Rahim Khalkhali) [20].

Not only was Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq not frightful of encountering false skepticisms and misguiding issues, but he also welcomed them; as, in his book Borhan-ul-Moslemin (The Proofs of Muslims), which is about debating with Christians, he openly announces to people of the world that:

Because this humble sees himself owing to the Just Divine God, to unveil and disclose the Truth, (just) as He unveiled and Disclosed it for me, therefore with all due respect, I announce to all priests and Christians of the world that if they are seeking salvation or if they are in doubt (about the issues written in this book which are the debates between the Muslims and Christians), I am willing to prove it , and whoever not able to reach me directly, can write and they will be answered. And my will is to demolish all religious disputes between Islam and Christianity, so the truth may be uncovered and manifested. (Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq) [21]

Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq did not accept to debate with Christian scholars and priests unless they accepted his conditions. In one of his debates with one of them in Tehran during the month of Ramadan 1312 A.H, he stated his conditions as follows,

First condition: all questions and answers of both sides should be written down.

Second condition: the pronouns referring to the Prophet of Islam and his Successors should be used in a plural form (a sign of respect), and their names should not be stated in a degrading and contemptuous manner, and should at least be referred to as “your Prophet”.

Third condition: when a subject is an issue of debate, another issue should not be brought about unless the previous is finished (in other words, no escaping from the debating issue.)

Fourth condition: Escaping from an issue means that the escaper’s religion is void. [22]

At this point the content of a short sample of one of the debates of Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq Fakhr-ul-Islam with one of the Christian priests named “Vared Nicky” is mentioned which took place during the year 1312 A.H in Tehran:

Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq: In some of your books you describe God in a way that is nothing but blasphemy. For instance when you say, God is a tiger, is a lion, is a bear, is fire. For example in the book of psalms, chapter 13, statement 7, it is written, ‘therefore (I the God) will be like a lion for them and will lurk upon them like a tiger’, are these words and attributions worthy of the Holy Essence of God?

Christian priest: You have similar descriptions in your Qur’an. For example, in a verse there is the word Yaddollah, (meaning, “the Hand of Allah”), this proves a hand for Allah. So according to your Qur’an, God has hands.

Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq: firstly, yad (hand) in this verse means the power, dominance, and encompassment of God, and secondly the descriptions that Qur’an uses for God are different from those used in your books. The holy Qur’an introduces God, as Unique, possessor of all excellences and perfections, faultless, and not being in need, and considers him clear from any imperfections such as sleep, fatigue, hunger, etc.. Which description is better? This or that?

The Christian priest remained quiet. [23] [v]

In the Fort of Authorship

After settling in the city of Tehran in the year 1305 A.H, Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq Fakhr-ul-Islam started to write various works, with different methods in the fields of theology and defending the barriers of Islam. This was due to the scientific and religious needs of the Islamic society and the existence of deviated opinions and the instill of false skepticisms from the Christians, who had attacked the pillars of Islam. He left behind many works, which some are considered as research sources and references in scientific and religious centers and assemblies.

Some of the characteristics of his valuable works can be listed as followed:

• Consideration of the scientific and religious need of the Islamic society

• Mastery and profound thinking in presenting arguments

• Full study about the aspects of the brought up topic

• Complete research regarding the all aspects of the presented issues

• Sufficient and thorough clarification of false skepticisms and their answers

• Avoiding improper prejudice

• Documented and accepted issues and subjects

• Fluency and smoothness of the works and …

Works

1. Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam

The subject of this book, which has been printed many times, is proving Islam’s rightfulness [25] and Christianity’s and Judaism’s invalidity. It consists of an introduction, eight books, and an ending. The introduction itself includes certain guidelines. Some of the mentioned issues are, pureness of the prophets from any sin or polytheism, accord of all prophets, introduction to Christian sects for example: Catholic, Protestant, Nestorian, Armenian, Jacobite, and …

This book has always been and is a matter of interest of scholars, researchers, and educators due to its rich and profound contents. Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Esfahani in the Da’vat-al-Islam Magazine, number 15 writes,

Among the writings of Fakhr-ul-Islam, is the book Anis-ul-A’lam which has been printed in Iran in Farsi language for several years now. This book is in two volumes and its purpose is proving the truthfulness of Islam and refuting Christians and atheists. The proofs he has mentioned in this book in regards to the rightfulness of Islam in refuting Christians, are all from Christian sources. The world has not seen such a (wonderful) work. And he has written it in such a smooth manner that although the book contains contents of high level, it is however comprehensible to any common person. (Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Esfahani) [26]

Hajj Karim Arbab in the introduction of the edition printed in Esfahan, quotes from Molla Mohammad Kashani (died 1333 A.H), that after studying the book Anis-ul-A’lam Molla Mohammad Kashani said about the late Fakhr-ul-Islam that, “this man is a Hojjat-ul-Islam (a religious rank of Islamic scholars).” [27]

Fakhr-ul-Islam himself wrote about the motive of writing this book as follows,

During this time some books and treatise of the protestant sects were handed to me, which in their false illusion were written against Islam. For example, “Mizan-ul-Haq, Tahqiq-ad-Din-ul-Haq, Dafe’-al-Bohtan, Dalael Ethbate Resalate Masih, Dalayel Alnobova, Rad-ul Laghv, Tariq-ul-Hayat, Hal-ul-Eshkal, Meftah-ul-Asrar, and their other books. After studying them deeply, and thinking profoundly about them, I realized that they had gone too far in being unfair, and unjust, and they had written down the false skepticisms as reasons and had transgressed their limits and had spread the false skepticisms in different manners. [28] That was the reason I wrote this book. (Fakhr-ul-Islam)

2. Borhan-ul-Moslemin [29]

The subject of this book is the debate which took place with the Christian scholars and priests in the city of Tehran on the 16^th of the blessed month of Ramadan (1312 A.H), in the presence of Muslim and Christian intellectuals. The names of the renowned Muslims has been mentioned in this book, for example: Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Larijani, Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq Ali-Akbar Khorasani, Mirza ‘Abd-ul-Hossein Tehrani, Mirza Masih Tonekaboni … [30]

3. Ta’jiz-ul-Masiheen [31]

This book was printed in two volumes and after the print of Borhan-ul-Moslemin, and in the approval of its contents. [32]

4. Kholasat-ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-el-Islam [33]

This book’s subject is about the distinctions and provisions that Islam has over other religions and it was written by the request of distinguished intellectuals and the people, especially the people of Esfahan, in the year 1322 A.H. According to the author himself it was written on the 28^th of the month of Jamadi-ul-Aval of that year in the Sarqanat area near the shrine of Imamzadeh Hasan in Tehran. [34]

In approval of this book by the infallibles (PBUT), Fakhr-ul-Islam has mentioned a dream which one of his relatives had, in his book, and its summary is as follows,

One of his relatives sees in his dream that the door of the house is being knocked on. He goes to the door and sees two people standing by it, one wearing the clothes of Seyyeds, the other the clothes of warriors. He asks them, who they are. The one dressed as a warrior asks if the master is home. He asks them what they want. They say that they have brought a cane for Fakhr-ul-Islam from Seyyed Ash-Shuhada (Imam Hossein) (PBUH).

He tells them to give it to him so he could deliver it to him. But they say that they have to give him the cane themselves. And so they enter the house and give the cane to Fakhr-ul-Islam and say that the cane is a blessing and gift from Hazrat Seyyed Ash-Shuhada for him, because of the treatise he has written about the principles of religion at Sarqanat. Fakhr-ul-Islam asks him who he is and he answers that he is Abbass [Imam Hussein’s brother]. [35]

This vision is an indication of the value of the above work and the acceptance of his demanding hardships, by the Ahl-ul-Bayt in regards to spreading the knowledge of religion.

5. Bayan-ul-Haq va sedq-ul-Motlaq [36]

It is a Farsi book in ten volumes, and was written in confirming the truthfulness of Qur’an and the person who has brought it, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP), and a refuting of the book Al-Hedaya, and those Christian books written against Islam.

Other works include:

6. Tohfat-ul-Areeb fi Rade Ahle Al-Saleeb

7. Ta’een al-Hodud ‘alal Nadari val Yahood

8. Hojjat-ul-Alheen fi Rad-ul- Tabi’een

9. Al-Siyasat-ul-Islamiyah

10. Resaleye Farqelita

11. Kashf-ul- Athar fi Ethbate Shaq-ul-Qamar

12. Vojub-ul-Hejab va Hormato Sharb-ul-Khamr

 

Advices

Fakhr-ul-Islam has many advices and instructions for the different groups of people in the Islamic society and even Christians. At one instance he advices the Islamic clerics and preachers, saying,

If justice does not exist among intellectuals and preachers, and if they commit unlawful acts, their preaching would be “floating dust” [iv]. The completion of soul in practical and educational fields has priority over other completions. Surely, how well Jesus has said, that if a blind tries to guide another blind they will both end up in a hole. It is obvious that one asleep can not wake another asleep. (Fakhr-ul-Islam) [37]

He addresses the Christians of the world as follows:

O brothers, fathers, friends, and acquaintances! I, too was a Christian and was born in Orumiyeh’s church, and was educated over there and at other places by Christian priests. I always believed in the trinity of god and fought with the followers of Mohammad. However with the mercy of God, the Truth was revealed to me in an undeniable manner. O Christian brothers! You too accept the way of Truth and rightness and avoid improper prejudices, and childish imitations from your fathers and ancestors. Clear your minds and souls from enmity and obstinacy and in this way study the Qur’an, and then compare it with the Christian books which include more than one-hundred and fifty thousand mistakes and errors. It is then that you may feel the heavenly light in your hearts. (Fakhr-ul-Islam) [38]

Death

The sun of Sheikh Mohammad-Sadeq’s life was set at about the year 1330 A.H [39] after years of efforts and endeavors in the way of defending the pillars and barriers of Islam and stabilizing its principles and fundamentals, and fighting against deviated opinions. He passed away in Tehran.

Children

From some of the writings of Fakhr-ul-Islam it is inferred that he married after he entered Tehran, and had several small children when he was writing the book Kholasat-ul-Kalam [40]; but there is no news at hand about whether he had any sons or if they had continued their father’s way. This, too, like many aspects of Fakhr-ul-Islam’s personal life is unknown.

Notes:

[1] His Christian name was not found from the related sources. This is his name after his conversion to Islam. [vi]

[2] His birth date was not mentioned in the rejali resources and translations. But as it will be mentioned he went on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mashhad, and before that he spent sixteen years in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala and after that spent a few years (less than ten years) studying and spreading Islam in Roomier. The time between his births up to the age of eighteen consists of his childhood and the time he spent studying Christian sciences in Roomier and Vatican.

Therefore his age before the year 1308A.H was about 45 years. And if we subtract it from the year he entered Mashhad, we have the year 1260 A.H which is the estimated year of his birth.

[3] Roomier is the capital of the province of western Azerbaijan in Iran. It is located in the south of Khoy, in the north of Mahabad, in the west of Orumiyeh Lake and the east of the countries Iraq and Turkey. This town has a distance of 920 km with Tehran, and with the city of Tabriz about 290 km. (A Look at Azerbaijan’s History, p 41)

[4] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p Islam (introduction); Reyhanat-al-Adab, vol. 4, p 301.

[5] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 6

[6] Masters and teachers such as, Rabbi Uhanna Bokir, Qessees Uhanna John, Rabbi 'Aaj, Rabbi Iaalo, Qessees Koorkaz, …

[7] It is the name of a city in the north-west of Rome, Italy, which is the center for pope’s ruling headquarters, the leader of the Catholics of the world. This city which has an area of only 44 acres, is considered as an independent religious government and has religious delegates in most countries of the world, which are considered as political delegates (Dehkhoda World Glossary, vol. 14, p 20355)

[8] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, pages 6&7

[9] This is the précis of the original text.

[10] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 8-20; Kholasat-ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-el-Islam, second introduction.

[11] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 20

[12] Noqaba-ul-Bashar, vol. 2, p 850; Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 13

[13] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 22

[14] Mosu’at-ul-Najaf-ul-Ashraf, vol. 11, p 93-115.

[15] Terath Karbala, p 286-291.

[16] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 27

[17] The reason this route was chosen to Mashhad is not clear. Perhaps it was because of the presence of Christians in those towns, which Mohammad-Sadeq had wanted to have discussion with.

[18] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 8

[19] Choosing this location was perhaps due to its closeness to the Tehran church at that time, and the residing place of the Christians, which he liberally and courageously, presented the Islamic beliefs to.

[20] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p iii, and iv.

[21] Borhan-ul-Moslemin, p 61

[22] Borhan-ul-Moslemin, p 6

[23] Borhan-ul-Moslemin, p 53

[24] Noqaba-ul-Bashar, vol. 2, p 851

[25] This book was translated several times, written by Mohammad-ibn-Mohammad-Taqi Esfahani, in the years 1313 and 1315 A.H in Tabriz and in the years 1315 and 1319 A.H in Tehran in two volumes. The first volume was printed for another time in Esfahan, in the year 1370 A.H holding 374 pages (Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 2, p 1). This book has been reprinted in five volumes with an introduction by Seyyed Abdul Karim Khalkhali by Mortazavi Publication.

[26] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p v.

[27] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 13

[28] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 11

[29] Reyhanat-al-Adab, vol. 4, p 302; A’yan-ul-Shi’a, vol. 6, p 367; Azzari’a, vol.1, p 101.

[30] Borhan-ul-Moslemin, p 60

[31] Azzari’a, vol.4, p 210; A’yan-ul-Shi’a, vol. 6, p 367; Reyhanat-al-Adab, vol. 4, p 302.

[32] Azzari’a, vol.4, p 210

[33] Azzari’a, vol.7, p 232; A’yan-ul-Shi’a, vol. 9, p 367; Noqaba-ul-Bashar, vol. 2, p 851, Reyhanat-al-Adab, vol. 4, p 302.

[34] Kholasat-ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-el-Islam, p 3

[35] Kholasat-ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-el-Islam, p 160

[36] A’yan-ul-Shi’a, vol. 9, p 367; Azzari’a, vol.3, p 180; Noqaba-ul-Bashar, vol. 2, p 851.

[37] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 14

[38] Anis-ul-A’lam fi Nosrat-el-Islam, vol. 1, p 26 (Mortazavi print)

[39] Noqaba-ul-Bashar, vol. 2, p 851; Reyhanat-al-Adab, vol. 4, p 302; Azzari’a, vol. 2, p 452, and …

[40] Kholasat-ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-el-Islam, p 3

Translator’s Notes:

[i] This is what Allah says in regard to those who know the truth and conceal it for a small price, such as the life in this transient world:

”Surely those who conceal any part of the Book that Allah has revealed and take for it a small price, they eat nothing but fire into their stomachs, and Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement“ (Qur’an, Surah Baqarah(2), Verse 174)

 

[ii] “And when Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) said, “O children of Israel! Surely I am the messenger of Allah to you, verifying that which is before me of the Tawrat (Torah) and giving the good news of a messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad. But when he came to them with clear arguments, they said this is clear magic.” (Qur’an, Surah Saf (61), Verse 6)

 

[iii] “Those (Jews, Christians …) whom we have given them the Book, recognize him (Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP)) as they recognize their sons, and a party of them most surely conceal the truth while they know (it).” (Qur’an, Surah Baqarah(2), Verse 146)

For more information in this regard, we cordially invite you to read all parts of the articles: "Mohammad, the Promise of Torah" and "Mohammad, the Promise of Enjil (Gospel)" in the site kindfather.com

 

[iv] Qur’an, Surah Furqan(25), Verse 23

 

[v] On the one hand, the contents of the current Bible are not the original sayings of the Prophets (PBUT), rather they have been written by different writers many years after the Prophets (PBUT), and on the other hand, sadly the distortions of the Bible have been an ongoing process throughout history; we invite you to read the article: "…Jesus…Mohammad…(PBUT)" and all parts of the debate: "What the Bible says about Muhammad?", with all the provided Shi'ah commentaries and recommended articles, in the site kindfather.com in this regard. In any case, statements containing such unworthy imputations still exist in the Bible:

Old Testament, book of Hosea 11:10, "They shall go after the Lord, he will roar like a lion …"

Hosea 13:4-9, "Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no Saviour beside Me.  I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their hearts were exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.  Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.  O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help."

 

[vi] In a very old copy of his book: Kholasat-Ul-Kalam fi Eftekhar-Ul-Islam, found in an old library, it seems that he himself had indicated that his Christian name was, Moosha son of Uhanna son of Varadate son of Shamoo'eel son of Paatris.

 

 

Translated to English, by: Maryam Akhoondali