Hájí Siyyid Ja‘far Kashfi
Hájí Siyyid Ja‘far Kashfi |
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Hájí Siyyid Ja‘far Kashfi (1775 - 1851) was a Persian scholar who met with the Báb. His son Vahíd became a prominent figure in the Bábí Faith.
Biography[edit]
Ja‘far was born in 1775. He was descended from the Prophet Muhammad through the seventh Imam, Musa ibn Ja‘far. He began formally studying Islam in his youth living in Fars and Najaf to study under prominent scholars. He mostly followed the model of Mulla Sadra Shirazi in his academic studies and he became a highly respected religious scholar, particularly in Iraq, and earned the title Kashfi for his unorthodox interpretations and explanations.[1]
Ja‘far achieved mainstream prominence and recognition as he began writing extensively in support of the Qajar dynasty, which assumed the throne in Persia in 1794, defending their right to rule Iran despite not being descended from the Prophet Muhammad,[1] and he became the leading political theorist for the Qajars.[2] Although his political theory gained popular support his religious theory and interpretation of the hadith became more mystical and unorthodox over time. He lived for long periods in Yazd, Najaf, Tehran, and Istahbanat before finally settling in Burujird.[1]
In 1844 Ja‘far became aware of the Báb's claim to be the Promised Qaim and he traveled to Shiráz to meet with Him however he arrived some time after September that year when the Báb had departed the city to go on pilgrimage. He traveled to Mecca from Shiráz and was able to meet with the Báb in the city in December 1844 however he did not become a Bábí and returned to his home in Burujird.[1]
In late July 1846 Ja‘far's son Vahíd, who had become a Bábí the previous year, visited him in Burujird having been instructed by the Báb to teach Ja‘far about the Bábí Faith.[3] He did not reject the Báb's claims however he also did not declare his belief in them with Vahíd concluding that he did not want to associate with the Bábí community.[4]
Ja‘far passed away in Burujird in 1851. He was buried in Qum and a shrine was erected over his grave.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ahang Rabbani, The Family of Vahid Darabi, 2004
- ↑ Ahang Rabbani, The Babis of Nayriz: History and Documents, self-published, 1999, p 20
- ↑ Ahang Rabbani, The Babis of Nayriz: History and Documents, self-published, 1999, p 50
- ↑ Ahang Rabbani, The Babis of Nayriz: History and Documents, self-published, 1999, p 53
