Shah Tahir, also known as Tahir Shah, (Arabic: شاه طاهر الحسيني الدكني, romanized: Shāh Tāhir al-Husayni al-Dakkani; 1486 – 1549) and known in his lifetime by his followers as Hujjatullah was a Nizari Ismaili Imam from the Muhammad-Shahi (Mu'mini) line and an astronomer and philosopher who served as a minister of the Nizam Shahi dynasty in South India.
| Shah Tahir al-Husayni al-Dakkani | |
|---|---|
| 31st Imam of the Muhammad-Shahi (Mu'mini) Nizari Ismaili Shias | |
| Tenure | 1510-1549 |
| Predecessor | Radi al-Din II ibn Tahir |
| Successor | Haydar ibn Tahir |
| Born | 892 AH/1486 AD Khund, near Qasvin, Iran |
| Died | 956 AH/1549 AD Ahmednagar, Ahmadnagar Sultanate (modern-day Maharashtra, India) |
| Burial | |
Early life
editImam Shah Tahir was born in Khund, a village in Gilan near the border with Qazvin, that has since been abandoned. He was the son of Imam Shah Radi ad-Din II, a descendant of the Nizaris of Alamut who claimed descent from the Fatimids of Egypt and a Nizari Ismaili Imam. During his youth, he spent time studying and teaching in Kashan. After the establishment of Safavid dynasty and its surge against mysticism, he gave up Isma'ili mysticism and joined Shah Ismail's court in early 1520 AD, but he had to leave Iran after Shah Ismail grew suspicious, making his way to India.[1] He was a student of the great 16th century astronomer, Shams al-Din al-Khafri.[2]
Life and career
editImam Shah Tahir arrived in Goa in mid-1520, but was ignored by the Adil Shahi monarch. He left Bijapur and moved to Parenda, where he started teaching almagest, a treatise by Ptolemy on astronomy. In 1522 AD, on request of Sultan Burhan Nizam Shah, he joined the court of Ahmadnagar. He also acted as chief diplomat,[3] and would deliver lectures twice a week in the fort. Eventually, in 1538 AD, he persuaded the Sunni sultan to convert to Nizari Shi'ism, of which he was imam of the largest branch at that time. The sultan would also declare Nizarism the official state religion.[4][5][6]
He wrote many books, among them were:[7]
- A commentary on the Almagest
- A commentary on theology of Avicenna
- Sharh bāb hādi 'ashr on theology
- Sharh ja'fariyya on jurisprudence
- A commentary on tafsīr bayzawi
Death
editHe died in 1549 AD and his body was sent to Karbala to be buried near the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali.[8] He had four sons and three daughters, among whom Imam Shah Haydar succeeded him as Imam and a minister in the court.[7]
References
edit- ^ Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi, "A Socio-Intellectual History of Isna Ashari Shi'is in India", Vol. 1, p. 282, Ma’rifat Publishing House, Canberra, Australia (1986).
- ^ Reza Pourjavady, "Philosophy in Early Safavid Iran: Najm al-Din Mahmud Al-Nayrizi and His Writings", p. 39, BRILL, (2011).
- ^ Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi, "A Socio-Intellectual History of Isna Ashari Shi'is in India", Vol. 1, p. 283, Ma’rifat Publishing House, Canberra, Australia (1986).
- ^ Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi, "A Socio-Intellectual History of Isna Ashari Shi'is in India", Vol. 1, p. 286, Ma’rifat Publishing House, Canberra, Australia (1986).
- ^ John Norman Hollister, "The Shi'a of India", p. 117, Luzac and Co., London (1953).
- ^ W. Ivanow, A Forgotten Branch of the Ismailis. The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 1 (January 1938). [1]
- ^ a b Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi, "A Socio-Intellectual History of Isna Ashari Shi'is in India", Vol. 1, p. 290, Ma’rifat Publishing House, Canberra, Australia (1986).
- ^ Daftary, Farhad (2021). "Husayni, Shah Tahir b. Radi al-Din (d. 956 AH/ 1549 CE)". The Institute of Ismaili Studies.