Imam Sajjad's Sahifa in the Eyes of Christian Scholars

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is considered to be an important book for Imamis. The book is believed to have been written by Imam Zain-Ul-Abdeen after the battle of Karbala and it describes relation between man and God. Although the book is principally a collection of Islamic knowledge and thought in supplication form, it is said to have played an important part in propelling people to rise against the barbaric Umayyad regime. The main part of the book is ‘Mutawatir’ (conveyed by successive narration) but over the years , a number of scholars have written addenda to it. Since most of these scholars happen to be Imami by faith, the book that is considered to be in the highest form of eloquence is believed to be significant for Shias only. This perception is simply ironical, for the book has universal appeal and relevance for all communities.

This  can be gauged from the views of  prominent Christian scholars about the book. One of them was Philip Woolley, a professor and researcher from Germany. He asked for a copy of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya to be sent to him after his friend, a Roman Catholic,C. Cardinal, saw the book in his library, studied part of it, and impressed with its novelty insisted on taking it away with him. When the Vatican Library  in Rome received an English version of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, it said in its letter of acknowledgment: "This book contains great mystical themes, so we place it for researchers in the best position of the library." A leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party  wrote to a friend, Professor Singler, saying: "This book had a profound impact on me and changed my view about Islam. I invite my friend to study this book" while in Poland, Christian Scientist, Andre Kowski said about  the book: "I am deeply impressed by the ideas of Imam Sajjad, whose noble thoughts are manifested on the pages of the book al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. It is so attractive, to the extent that I feel this book has given me a complete sense of the mystical and divine”.(References available on request.Photo courtesy Google Images)