Ayatollah Mesbah, task-oriented scholar who opposed all heresies: ABWA Secretary General
“Allameh Mesbah was literally Allameh and Ayatollah and was one of the figures who mastered in Asghar and Akbar Fiqh (jurisprudence); he was also an expert and a stylist.” Stated the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
The commemoration ceremony of the moral and international personality of Mujahid faqih (jurist) and philosopher, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, was held on Thursday morning, January 16, 2021, at Quds Hall of Imam Khomeini Complex, by the initiation of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and with the cooperation of similar institutes.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly expressed his condolences on the demise of the late Allameh Mesbah Yazdi to Imam Mahdi, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, Islamic seminaries, students, and his family.
Regarding the characteristics of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani said, “He was literally one of the obvious examples of “Ahl al-Zikr” (those who possess the Message) in the verse of the Quran [“فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ” (Holy Quran, 16:43)] and literally one of the obvious examples of “Divine Scholar” in the words of Imam Ali (People are divided into three groups: The Divine Scholar, the one who seeks knowledge for salvation, and the helpless and wandering humble ones who respond to every invitation). Shahid Thani says that the scholar may refer to a mujtahid who has reached ijtihad in the sub-principles (of religion); Hakim (sage) is a person who has attained ijtihad in principles and Kabir refers to a person who has reached the status of ijtihad and inference in principles and sub-principles. Allameh Mesbah was literally Allameh and Ayatollah, and was one of the figures who was expert and stylist in Asghar (minor) and Akbar (major) Fiqh (jurisprudence).”
Pointing out that the scientific comprehensiveness of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi in Theoretical and Traditional knowledge is clear according to his works, he continued, “Ayatollah Mesbah was familiar with new sciences and topics, and to understand the different dimensions of his scientific personality, it is necessary to hold scientific meetings about his theories, especially in the field of critique of Western civilization and the Modernity.”
“Ayatollah Mesbah was a duty-oriented scholar who, wherever he felt obliged, entered without negligence and confronted all the heresies. Before and after the Revolution (of Iran), he was one of the intellectual leaders in the fight against deviance and eclecticism. Also, the explanation of the political philosophy of Islam clarified the scientific power of Ayatollah Mesbah in the political fields.” Ayatollah Ramazani added.
“His arguments, because of their scientific solidity, can be used in the face of Western schools. When I was in Hamburg, in order to present Islam’s point of view on human rights, I benefited greatly from his valuable, basic, and accurate books on the critique of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In discussions of Islamic management, the critique of humanism and secularism, respected scholars should use the books of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi.” He stated.
“His debates were wise, realistic, and comprehensive. In the field of criticism, scholars such as Allameh Mesbah Yazdi can be a model for academic and seminary centers in the field of theorizing.” Recalling Ayatollah Mesbah’s debates with the communists at the early days of the (Iran’s Islamic) Revolution, he said.
“There are several methods in the field of ethics. For example, the Aristotelian system of ethics has a wide influence in the field of ethics. Due to his logical and philosophical point of view, Ayatollah Mesbah had a style in this field. In the book “Ethics in the Quran”, the division of ethics into individual, social and divine was not one of the innovations of Allameh Mesbah Yazdi, but he has innovations and precise points in this field. Therefore, one can say with certainty that Allameh Mesbah Yazdi had a style in presenting ethical issues in the Quran.” He added, pointing out that ethical discussions and philosophy of ethics were among the concerns of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi.
“The book “Ethics in the Quran” by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi in three volumes, deals with the issues of divine, individual, and social ethics. His style of expression and writing in this book is innovative and one of the personal innovations of Allameh Mesbah Yazdi. So, we have to learn this method and take the initiative.” He added.
“Ayatollah Mesbah’s views were influential in European countries, and due to his innovations in scientific topics, philosophers devoted their time to understanding the concept presented by him.” He stated.
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi was adhered to divine etiquette and developed his soul. Imam Sadegh (a.s.) said, “God Almighty trained his Prophet and trained him well, and when he perfected his manners and training, he said, “Indeed, you have a high character.” Then, the task of religion and He left the ummah to him to train and manage his servants.” Added Ramazani, the Secretary General of ABWA.
In another part of his speech about one of the topics raised in the book “Ethics in the Quran” by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, he said “One of the important debates in the discussion of individual morality is the development of the “soul” and the differentiation between to the real “self” versus the “self-concept”. That is, the development of man with the approach of the AhlulBayt school, and that man knows his capacity. Relationship with oneself is one of the important issues in psychology, mysticism, and various sciences.”
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi quotes and criticizes three theories about man concerning himself. First, since man’s relation to himself is two-dimensional, and the relation of the incorporeal soul to the material body must be based on tact. He said that man's relationship with himself is beyond these discussions. Second, some say that there are two “selves”; One “I” with “The Other I”. Ayatollah Mesbah answers that in human existence there is just one existence and not two. The third is the relationship between the individual “I” and the social “I”. He also criticizes the view that this is a discussion of social ethics. The proposal of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, which can be examined and is one of the precise points; is that, in the insights, tendencies, and set of innate human needs, there are three elements of power, knowledge, and love, and in the relationship between man and himself, these three can be effective, and the power and the will can direct love.” He added.
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi discusses the “Hobb al-Nafs” (love of essence) and that human existence can reach the stage of love, and this the matter of Fitra (natural). Also, the love that exists in human beings must be developed. The late Allameh Mesbah Yazdi, in discussing the relationship between man and himself, deals with the precise point that, “It is necessary to study the soul and its affairs and the three-dimensional pyramid of power, knowledge, and love, and a link must be made between them; To orient love, one must seek help from knowledge and power, and man can fill his being with divine love.” He also stated.
On the necessity of studying the late Ayatollah Mesbah’s views, Ayatollah Ramazani concluded, “Ayatollah Mesbah’s innovative plans and views and innovations in the field of ethics and the Quran must be carefully studied.”
The commemoration ceremony of the moral and international personality of Mujahid faqih (jurist) and philosopher, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, was held on Thursday morning, January 16, 2021, at Quds Hall of Imam Khomeini Complex, by the initiation of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and with the cooperation of similar institutes.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly expressed his condolences on the demise of the late Allameh Mesbah Yazdi to Imam Mahdi, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, Islamic seminaries, students, and his family.
Regarding the characteristics of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani said, “He was literally one of the obvious examples of “Ahl al-Zikr” (those who possess the Message) in the verse of the Quran [“فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ” (Holy Quran, 16:43)] and literally one of the obvious examples of “Divine Scholar” in the words of Imam Ali (People are divided into three groups: The Divine Scholar, the one who seeks knowledge for salvation, and the helpless and wandering humble ones who respond to every invitation). Shahid Thani says that the scholar may refer to a mujtahid who has reached ijtihad in the sub-principles (of religion); Hakim (sage) is a person who has attained ijtihad in principles and Kabir refers to a person who has reached the status of ijtihad and inference in principles and sub-principles. Allameh Mesbah was literally Allameh and Ayatollah, and was one of the figures who was expert and stylist in Asghar (minor) and Akbar (major) Fiqh (jurisprudence).”
Pointing out that the scientific comprehensiveness of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi in Theoretical and Traditional knowledge is clear according to his works, he continued, “Ayatollah Mesbah was familiar with new sciences and topics, and to understand the different dimensions of his scientific personality, it is necessary to hold scientific meetings about his theories, especially in the field of critique of Western civilization and the Modernity.”
“Ayatollah Mesbah was a duty-oriented scholar who, wherever he felt obliged, entered without negligence and confronted all the heresies. Before and after the Revolution (of Iran), he was one of the intellectual leaders in the fight against deviance and eclecticism. Also, the explanation of the political philosophy of Islam clarified the scientific power of Ayatollah Mesbah in the political fields.” Ayatollah Ramazani added.
“His arguments, because of their scientific solidity, can be used in the face of Western schools. When I was in Hamburg, in order to present Islam’s point of view on human rights, I benefited greatly from his valuable, basic, and accurate books on the critique of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In discussions of Islamic management, the critique of humanism and secularism, respected scholars should use the books of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi.” He stated.
“His debates were wise, realistic, and comprehensive. In the field of criticism, scholars such as Allameh Mesbah Yazdi can be a model for academic and seminary centers in the field of theorizing.” Recalling Ayatollah Mesbah’s debates with the communists at the early days of the (Iran’s Islamic) Revolution, he said.
“There are several methods in the field of ethics. For example, the Aristotelian system of ethics has a wide influence in the field of ethics. Due to his logical and philosophical point of view, Ayatollah Mesbah had a style in this field. In the book “Ethics in the Quran”, the division of ethics into individual, social and divine was not one of the innovations of Allameh Mesbah Yazdi, but he has innovations and precise points in this field. Therefore, one can say with certainty that Allameh Mesbah Yazdi had a style in presenting ethical issues in the Quran.” He added, pointing out that ethical discussions and philosophy of ethics were among the concerns of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi.
“The book “Ethics in the Quran” by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi in three volumes, deals with the issues of divine, individual, and social ethics. His style of expression and writing in this book is innovative and one of the personal innovations of Allameh Mesbah Yazdi. So, we have to learn this method and take the initiative.” He added.
“Ayatollah Mesbah’s views were influential in European countries, and due to his innovations in scientific topics, philosophers devoted their time to understanding the concept presented by him.” He stated.
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi was adhered to divine etiquette and developed his soul. Imam Sadegh (a.s.) said, “God Almighty trained his Prophet and trained him well, and when he perfected his manners and training, he said, “Indeed, you have a high character.” Then, the task of religion and He left the ummah to him to train and manage his servants.” Added Ramazani, the Secretary General of ABWA.
In another part of his speech about one of the topics raised in the book “Ethics in the Quran” by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, he said “One of the important debates in the discussion of individual morality is the development of the “soul” and the differentiation between to the real “self” versus the “self-concept”. That is, the development of man with the approach of the AhlulBayt school, and that man knows his capacity. Relationship with oneself is one of the important issues in psychology, mysticism, and various sciences.”
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi quotes and criticizes three theories about man concerning himself. First, since man’s relation to himself is two-dimensional, and the relation of the incorporeal soul to the material body must be based on tact. He said that man's relationship with himself is beyond these discussions. Second, some say that there are two “selves”; One “I” with “The Other I”. Ayatollah Mesbah answers that in human existence there is just one existence and not two. The third is the relationship between the individual “I” and the social “I”. He also criticizes the view that this is a discussion of social ethics. The proposal of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, which can be examined and is one of the precise points; is that, in the insights, tendencies, and set of innate human needs, there are three elements of power, knowledge, and love, and in the relationship between man and himself, these three can be effective, and the power and the will can direct love.” He added.
“Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi discusses the “Hobb al-Nafs” (love of essence) and that human existence can reach the stage of love, and this the matter of Fitra (natural). Also, the love that exists in human beings must be developed. The late Allameh Mesbah Yazdi, in discussing the relationship between man and himself, deals with the precise point that, “It is necessary to study the soul and its affairs and the three-dimensional pyramid of power, knowledge, and love, and a link must be made between them; To orient love, one must seek help from knowledge and power, and man can fill his being with divine love.” He also stated.
On the necessity of studying the late Ayatollah Mesbah’s views, Ayatollah Ramazani concluded, “Ayatollah Mesbah’s innovative plans and views and innovations in the field of ethics and the Quran must be carefully studied.”