Desire of the Aspirant: On the Etiquette of the Teacher and the Student by al-Shahīd al-Thāni (review)

'Knowledge is not obtained by learning a lot; rather it is a light that is cast upon the heart of he whom God wishes to guide. If you desire knowledge, then first seek in yourself to realize the reality of servanthood (ʿubūdiyyah). Seek knowledge by using it and ask God to grant you understanding.'

– Imam Jaʿ far al-Ṣādiq in a narration from ʿUnwān al-Baṣrī (p. 62)

Desire of the Aspirant: On the Etiquette of the Teacher and the Student is an English translation of the sixteenth century Munyat al-Murīd fī Ādāb al-Mufīd wa al-Mustafīd by Zayn al-Dīn al-ʿĀmilī al-Jubaʿī, better known as al-Shahīd al-Thānī ('the second martyr'). Alexander Khaleeli translated the work from Arabic to English using a 1989 version of the text collated and annotated by Rida al-Mukhtari. Al-Mukhtari himself compared eleven versions of the text, including a manuscript from al-Shahīd's student, and provided all the sources for al-Shahīd's quotations, narrations, and anecdotes as well as explanatory footnotes; Al-Mukhtari's contribution to the present version should therefore not be overlooked. The translation also includes an introduction written by Mohammad Mehdi Baghi, who also edited the translation along with Mohammed Ali Ismail. This is a review of the various contributions by the aforementioned individuals that make Desire of the Aspirant the work that it is.

The back cover claims that Munyat al-Murīd is 'now available in English for the first time.' However, this is not the case: in 2013, Ansariyan Publications published a translation of the work by Gail (Mahjubah) Babst entitled Science, Teaching, and Learning in Islam. Given this elusive, 'translated' title¹, it is not surprising that the translator, editors, and publisher of Desire of the Aspirant missed this recent translation. In reviewing Desire of the Aspirant, it will be useful to examine what this new translation provides above and beyond Babst's previous translation. Importantly, the new translation appears to be a more accurate translation and the text as a whole is more presentably published and more suitable for use in academic courses.

Al-Shahīd's text begins with a brief preface, an introduction highlighting the importance of knowledge, four main chapters, a short addendum to the main text, and a brief afterword. Half of the book (161 pages) is contained in its first chapter, 'Concerning the Manners of the Teacher and the Student.' The remaining chapters cover more specific topics such as how to write books and the art of debating. In the preface – after praising God and sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions – al-Shahīd explains his objective in writing this text:

'However, not all knowledge demands such praise, nor does its mere acquisition in whatever way one pleases earn God's pleasure. Rather, there are conditions of acquiring it, proper ways for organizing it, manners and duties for one who involves himself in it, and principles and techniques for seeking it. Whosoever wishes to obtain so much as a morsel of knowledge must understand these protocols and abide by them, otherwise his efforts will be futile and his dedication will dwindle.'

(p. 1)

This description sets the stage for the rest of the book. However, one thing that is not clearly mentioned here is the audience of the book. Whereas the last line of the quotation makes it seem as though the book is written with everyone in mind, one will soon come to realize the book actually addresses a much more restricted audience: lifelong students of the Islamic seminary (which includes teachers, as they are naturally lifelong students). That is not to say that the book will only benefit seminary students, but...