Mohammad Ibrahim al-Karbasi


Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Ibrahim al-Karbasi known as Sahib al-Isharat was a Shia jurist, mujtahid, fundamentalist, Quran commentator, theologian, scholar of biographical evaluation and marja', and considered the reviver of the Isfahan Seminary in the 19th century.

Early life and education

Al-Karbasi was born on 24 September 1766 in Isfahan, Iran, to Sheikh Muhammad-Hasan al-Karbasi. The Karbasi family claim descent from Malik al-Ashtar, the noble companion of the first Shia Imam, Ali. His father died when he was ten years old.
He went on to study under Agha Muhammad Bidabadi. He then travelled across a number of cities to acquire knowledge, and this included, Karbala, Najaf, Kadhimiya, Qom, and Kashan. In these cities, he studied under greats like Sheikh Muhammad-Baqir Behbehani, Sayyid Muhammad-Mehdi Bahr al-Uloom, Sheikh Jafar Kashif al-Ghita, and Sheikh Muhammad-Mehdi al-Naraqi.
Al-Karbasi excelled in his studies, and managed to make an exceptional connection between Islamic mysticism, which was taught by his teacher, Binabadi, as well as Usulism, which was founded by his teacher, Behbehani.
Also, his most famous masters in Isfahan are:
  1. Mulla Ali Noori Mazandarani
  2. Mulla Mehrab Gilani
  3. Mirza Mohammad Ali MirzaMozaffar
  4. Mir Mohammad Hossein Khatoonabadi
  5. Sheikh Mohammad Ali Harandi
  6. Sheikh Mohammad ibn Sheikh Zeynoddin

Religious career

al-Karbasi became an expert in several fields of Islamic sciences. He taught Fiqh and Principles of Islamic jurisprudence in the Hakim Mosque of Isfahan, and in this field, raised many students who among them are:
  1. Sheikh Hadi Sabzavari
  2. Mirza Shirazi
  3. Mohammad ibn Soleiman Tonekaboni
  4. Sayyid Hassan Modarres Isfahani
  5. Sheikh Mahdi Qomsheh'ee
  6. Sayyid Mohammad Shahshahani
  7. Sheikh Hamzeh Qaeni
  8. Sayyid Muhammad-Hassan Mojtahed Isfahani

Works

Ayatollah Mohammad Ibrahim Kalbasi, along with his educational, training and propaganda efforts, was engaged in writing and researching and has written works in the field of Fiqh, Principles of Islamic jurisprudence and other Islamic teachings, which include:
  1. Esharat al-Osul
  2. Ershad al-Mostarshedin fi Marefateh men Ahkam al-Din
  3. Al-Nokhbeh
  4. Menhaj al-Hedayah ela Ahkam al-Sharia va Forooe al-Fiqh
  5. Al-Soal va al-Javab fi al-Fiqh va al-Ahkam
  6. Shawarie al-Hidayah fi Sharh al-Kefayah al-Muqtasid
  7. Taqlid al-Meyyet
  8. Al-Iqaazaat
  9. Resaleh ee dar Sahih va Aam; Dar Elme Osule Feqh
  10. Naqd al-Usul
  11. Manaseke Hajj
  12. Resaleh ee dar Mofattar Boodane Qelyan ya Tootoon
At the insistence of the people and the insistence of the jurists and authorities of the time, such as Mirza-ye Qomi, he published a treatise of "Nokhbeh", which is the first collections of juridical edicts or clarifications of questions in Persian.

Social actions

He was one of the opponents of the Sufi orders in Isfahan. It is also said that he warned Fath-Ali Shah Qajar and some rulers of the time for neglecting the masses and monitoring the prices of goods.

Death

Al-Karbasi died on the night of Thursday, 15 May 1845, at the age of 78, and according to his will, he was buried in a place in front of the Hakim Mosque, in the family's crypt.