The prominent Iranian physician, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, poet and philosopher, Mulla Qotb Shirazi

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz

On 24th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 710 AH, the prominent Iranian physician, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, poet and philosopher, Qotb od-Din, Mahmoud bin Zia od-Din Masoud Kazerouni, popularly known as Mulla Qotb Shirazi, was born in the southern Iranian city of Kazeroun. He studied medicine under his father, who practiced and taught medicine at the Mozaffari hospital in Shiraz.
He also studied the al-Qanoun fi’t-Tibb or the Canon of Medicine of the Iranian-Islamic genius, Abu Ali ibn Sina, along with its commentaries. In particular he read the commentary of Fakhr od-Din Razi on this book and raised many issues of his own. This led to his decision to write his own commentary, where he resolved many of the issues of this book, especially in the company of the famous genius of his age, Khwaja Naseer od-Din Tusi, who established the observatory at Maragha in northwestern Iran. Ten years later, he quit his medical profession, came to Maragha to devote his time to further education under the guidance of Naseer od-Din Tusi, who taught him astronomy in addition to Ibn Sina’s masterpiece on remarks and admonitions titled “al-Isharaat wa'l-Tanbihaat”.
One of the important scientific projects was completion of the new astronomical table or Zij. Qotb od-Din Shirazi subsequently traveled to Khorasan in the company of Naseer od-Din Tousi where he stayed to study under Najm od-Din Katebi Qazvini in the town of Jovayn and become his assistant. Later he journeyed to Qazvin, Isfahan, Baghdad, and Qonya in Anatolia or modern day Turkey, where he studied the “Jam'e al-Osoul” of Ibn Atheer with Sadr od-Din Qonawi. The governor of Qonya, appointed him as the judge of the cities of Sivas and Malatya. It was during this time that he compiled the books the “Meftah al-Meftah” on Arabic grammar and rhetoric, and Ikhtiyaraat al-Mozaffariya on astronomy.
He was later sent as envoy by the Ilkhanid ruler of Iran and Iraq, Ahmad Takudar, to Sayf od-Din Qalawun, the Mamluk ruler of Egypt. During his stay in Egypt he collected various critiques and commentaries on Ibn Sina’s Qanoun and used them on his commentary on the “Kulliyaat”. The last part of Qotb ad-Din Shirazi's active career was teaching the Qanoun and the “Kitab ash-Shefa” the philosophical magnum opus of Ibn Sina in Syria. Later he left for Tabriz and died shortly after.
He wrote in both Arabic and Persian on a wide variety of topics including medicine, astronomy, geography, mathematics, philosophy and religion. Among his works is “Nihayat al-Idraak fi Dirayaat al-Aflaak” on the movement of planets, and he identified observations by Ibn Sina on the transits of Venus and Mercury, centuries before European scientists.

To the people of Kufa

The following is the letter sent by Imam Ali (A) through Imam Husayn (A) and Ammar Yasir to the people of Kufa before he proceeded to Basra for the Battle of Jamal.
This letter is from the servant and creature of Allah, Ali (A), Amir al-Mu'minin, to Kufiyites who are the leaders of Ansar and respectable persons.

"After praising Allah and invoking His Blessings on the Holy Prophet (S) I want to throw light on the event of the assassination of Uthman and to make the whole affair as clear as if you were present on the occasion and were witnessing the event yourself.
People were dissatisfied with him and were accusing and blaming him. Out of the Muhajirs I was the only man who wanted to appease and pacify the people and who did not want to indulge in the activities of those dissatisfied persons, while Talha and Zubayr were instigating the populace in such a way that the least they said was worse than the worst that could be asserted or alleged against Uthman. Their whispering campaign was deadlier than the loudest propaganda which could be carried on; Aisha also exhibited extreme annoyance and anger against him. Under such conditions some persons resolved to kill him and they murdered him. Then everybody (friends and foes alike) came to me and took the oath of allegiance to me.
This was done without any desire, instigation, inducement, persuasion or compulsion and force on my part. They came to me of their own free-will, without hesitation, and with pleasure, ecstasy and joy.
Let it be known to you that the people of the city towards which the Holy Prophet (S) had migrated (Madina), is being deserted by its inhabitants, they are leaving it, it is seething with discontentment and rebellion. A seditious campaign has started against the Amir. I want you to come to the help of your Amir to fight against his enemies."

After the conquest of Basra Imam Ali (a) wrote the following letter to the citizens of Kufa.

"O' Citizens of Kufa! May the Merciful Lord reward you on His behalf and on behalf of the Ahlul Bayt (Progeny of the Holy Prophet) (a) for obeying their orders and coming to their help. May He reward you more handsomely than He rewards those who obey His commands (because you followed the true path against very heavy odds and in spite of alluring enticements).
You have done your duty. You heard the call of your Amir, responded to it; he called you and you obeyed his orders with zeal and enthusiasm."

Salawaat

1. The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “The meanest person is he who does not invoke SALAWAAT upon me when my name is mentioned in his presence”.
(Kanzul Ummal Vol 1 p 489)
2. Abu Amamah reports that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “ Invoke more SALAWAAT upon me on every Friday, the SALAWAAT from my ummah is presented to me on every Friday. Whoever had invoked more SALAWAAT upon me will be closest to me”. (Kanzul Ummal Vol 1 p 488)
3. Anas reported that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “O people, the most secured among you on the Day of Judgment against its horrors and menacing situations will be those who invoked SALAWAAT most upon me in this world. In fact, it was sufficient from Allah and his Angles, as He said: “Allah and his Angles send blessings on the prophet” (33:56), but He also commanded the believers to do so, so that they may be rewarded. (Kanzul Ummal Vol 1 p 504)
4. Ibn Asakri has transmitted from al-Hasan bin Ali that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Invoke more SALAWAAT upon me, for your invocation is conducive to your sins being forgiven. And pray for me a high status and intercession, for surely my intercession will plead in your favour before Allah”.
(Kanzul Ummal Vol 1 p 489)
5. The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Say: “O Allah, send Your grace upon Muhammed and upon Muhammed’s progeny, the same way as You sent Your grace to Ibrahim, and bless Muhammed and Muhammed’s progeny the same way as You blessed Ibrahim among the nations. You are indeed worthy of all praise. Full of all glory ! And greet (me) as you have been taught.
(Kanzul Ummal Vol 1 p 496)
6. Abu Saeed says he said to the Prophet (S.A.W.) : “O Messenger of Allah, this greeting is (to say) peace be upon you, but how do we invoke SALAWAAT upon you? “ He said: “Say O Allah, send your grace to Muhammed, your slave and your messenger the same way as you sent your grace to Ibrahim, and bless Muhammed and Muhammed’s progeny as you blessed Ibrahim and Ibrahim’s progeny.
(Transmitted by al Bukhari) (al – Taj Vol 5 p 144)
7. Reported by Abdul Rehman bin Abu Layle who said that Ka’b bin Ujaira once met me and said: “May I bestow a gift upon you?”
The Prophet (S.A.W.) came to us and we said: “O Messenger of Allah! We know how to greet you, but how do we invoke SALAWAAT upon you?”
He said: “ Say O Allah! Send your grace to Muhammed and Muhammed’s progeny just as you sent Your grace to the progeny of Ibrahim. Surely You are worthy of all praise, full of glory”. (al - Taj Vol 5 p 144)
8. Ali bin Ibrahim reported from his fathers who reported from Ibn Abu Umayr who reported from Abdulla bin Sinan who reported from Imam adiq (A.S.) that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “ Invoking SALALWAAT upon me and my Ahlul Bayt carries away hypocrisy”. (Al – Kafi Vol 4 p 250)
9. A number of our colleagues have reported from Sahl bin Ziyad who reported from Jaffer bin Muhammed al Ash’ari, who reported from Ibn at – Qaddah who reported from Abu Abdillah (al Sadiq) A.S. that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Do not treat me like a rider’s bowl of water; the rider fills it and then drink’s from it when he pleases. Keep me at the opening of you supplication, and at the end of it, and (also) at the middle”. (Al – Kafi Vol 4 p 248)
10. Ibn Abu Umair reports from Abdulla bin Sinan who reports from Abu Abdillah (al Sadiq) A.S. that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Raise your voices when you invoke SALAWAAT upon me, for it surely carries away hypocrisy”. (Al – Kafi Vol 4 p 251)
11. The Prophet said: “Do not invoke incomplete SALAWAAT upon me”.
They said: “What is incomplete SALAWAAT?
He said: “When you say: O Allah! Send Your grace to Muhammed and then stop at that. Rather say: O Allah! Send Your grace to Muhammed and Muhammed’s progeny”. (Al–Sawaiq al–Muhriqah chap II p 164)

Time: One of Allah's great blessings

Fath Ali Khan Tipu Sultan

On May 4 in 1799 AD, the British imposed Battle of Seringapatam ended with the martyrdom in battle of the Muslim ruler of Mysore in southern India, Fath Ali Khan Tipu Sultan. The British colonialists had started this 4th Mysore in violation of an earlier treaty for peace, since they feared Tipu Sultan's growing ties with Napoleon Bonaparte of France, as well as his correspondence with the Ottoman Empire and Karim Khan Zand the ruler of Iran.
Karim Khan Zand the ruler of Iran dispatched a force of 6,000 Iranians to assist Tipu, but because of the sea journey these contingent arrived after the fall of Seringapatnam. Tipu was enlightened ruler and patronized Arabic and Persian literature. He also experimented the manufacture of artillery rockets, which greatly alarmed the British. Among the reliable history books of the Muslim Dynasty of Mysore founded by Tipu's father, Hyder Ali Khan, is “Tarikh-e Saltanat-e Khudadad”, written by a migrant Iranian scholar to his court, Hussain Ali Khan Kirmani.

Salawaat ( Sending Blessings on the Holy Prophet & his family)

اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	O Allah: (please do) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
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إنّ اللّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ يُصَلّونَ عَلَى النّبِيّ	inna allaha wa mala’ikatahu yusalluna `alaalnnabiyyi	Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet,
يَا أَيّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوَا صَلّوَا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّمُوَا تَسْلِيماً،	ya ayyuha alladhena amanu sallu `alayhi wa sallmu tasleman	O you who believe: Call for Divine blessings on him and salute him with a becoming salutation  quran 33:56
لَبّيْكَ يَارَبّ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَسُبْحَانَكَ.	labbayka ya rabbi wa sa`dayka wa subhanaka	Here I am at Your service, my Lord! Doing that which pleases You, and glory be to You.
اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	O Allah: (please do) bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّدٍ	wa barik `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin	And send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
كَمَا صَلّيْتَ وَبَارَكْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ	kama sallayta wa barakta `ala ibrahema wa ali ibrahema	In the same way as You have blessed and conferred benedictions upon (Prophet) Abraham and the Household of Abraham,
إنّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.	innaka hamedun majedun	You are verily worthy of all praise and full of all glory.

Muslim Relation with Non-Muslim Parents: Mother's Rights in Islam

It was for some time that Zakariyya, son of Ibrahim, felt attracted towards Islam although his father, mother and all the family members were Christians and he too was the believer of Christianity. Both his conscience and heart were inviting him towards Islam. At last, against the liking of his father, mother and family-members, he accepted Islam and surrendered himself to the commandments of Islam.
The Hajj pilgrimage season commenced. Young Zakariyya left Kufa, Iraq with the objective of performing Hajj pilgrimage and had the honour of meeting Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) in Madina. Zakariyya narrated to Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) the incident of his acceptance of Islam. Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) enquired:
"What virtue of Islam attracted your attention?" Zakariyya replied: "I can only say that it was Allah's words in Noble Qur'an which impressed me and holds true in my case. Allah says to his Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny in Noble Qur'an: "O Prophet! Earlier you didn't know what the Book is and didn't know what the faith is, but We revealed to you this Qur'an and made it a light by which We guide whomsoever We wish."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "I confirm Allah has guided you."
Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said thrice:
"O Allah! You Yourself be a guide to him."
Afterwards Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"My son, now whatever questions you have, asks me".
The Youngman said: "My father, mother and family-members, are all Christians. My mother is blind. I am associated to them and I am compelled to eat with them. What am I supposed to do in such circumstances?"
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as): "Do they eat pork?"
Zakariyya: "No, O son of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny! They don't even touch pork."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as): "Then, there is nothing wrong in your association with them."
Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Be careful about your mother's health. Be kind to her till she is alive. When she dies, don't give her body to anyone else. You personally take charge of her corpse." Here, don't tell anyone that you have met me. I will also come to Makkah. Insha Allah (Allah willing), we will meet in Mina.
In Mina, the Young Zakariyya went in search of Imam Jafar Sadiq (as). There was a huge crowd around Imam Jafar Sadiq (as).
The people, like the children surrounding their teacher and asking questions one after the other without giving any time, were asking questions one after the other from Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) and were listening to his replies.
The Hajj pilgrimage season came to an end and the Young Zakariyya returned to Kufa, Iraq. He had kept in mind Imam Jafar Sadiq's (as) advice. With firm determination, he started serving his mother and never failed to be kind and loving to his blind mother. Zakariyya served food to her with his own hands. He even used to check her clothes and head to see that no lice might be present. This change in the behavior of the son, mainly after his return from Makkah, was surprising for his mother. One day she asked her son:
"Dear Son! Earlier, when you followed our religion Christianity, you were not so kind to me. Now what has happened to you that though I and you are not the same in respect of religion, you are more kind to me than before?"
Zakariyya: "Dear mother! A person from the descendants of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny has told me to do so."
Mother: "Is he himself a Prophet?"
Zakariyya: "No, he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny."
Mother: "My son! I think he himself is a Prophet as this type of advices and preaching's not given by anyone except the Prophets."
Zakariyya: "No mother! Be sure that he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. Basically, no Prophet is supposed to come to earth after our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny."
Mother: "My son! Your religion Islam is very good. It is better than all the other religions. Teach me your religion Islam to me."
The Young Zakariyya told his mother the 'Shahaadatayn' (meaning: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is his Messenger").
Thus, the mother became a Muslim. Then the Young Zakariyya taught his blind mother the process of reciting salat (prayer). The mother grasped it and recited the Zuhr (noon) and the Asr (afternoon) salats. It became night. She succeeded in reciting both the Maghrib (evening) and the Isha (night) salats. Suddenly, late in the night, the mother's condition (of health) changed; she fell sick and got bed-laid. She called her son and said:
"My son, once more teach all the things you had taught me."
Once again, the son taught his mother the Shahaadatayn and all the principles of Islam, that is, belief in Allah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), angels, the Divine Books and the Ma'ad (Day of Resurrection). The mother repeated all these as a symbol of her belief and acceptance and offered her life to the Creator.
In the morning, the Muslims gathered for giving her Ghusl-e-Mayyat (obligatory bath to the dead) and her burial. The person, who recited Salatul Maiyyat (prayer for the dead) and buried her, was none but her young son, Zakariyya.