Muhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Taqi ibn Maqsud ‘Ali al-Majlisi (1627-1699), also known as Majlisi II (the second) is considered one of the most important and influential scholars in the history of Shi’ism. He lived during the Safavid (vicious anti-Sunni empire) period in Iran.
Majlisi II was born in Isfahan in 1627 CE and claims to be a descendant of the famous Sunni Persian scholar Abu Nu’aym Al-Isfahani. Majlisi was born during the rule of Safavids and the last years of the rule of Shah ‘Abbas I. He was the son of Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi, known as Al-Majlisi I. Majlisi’s students included individuals such as Nematollah Al-Jaza’iri, who authored an entire boos supporting the belief that the Quran was corrupted by the Sahabah.
Majlisi is the author of the largest Shia encyclopedia of hadith. His magnum opus, “Bihar al-Anwar “Seas of Lights”),” has had a profound impact on Shi’ism and Shia theology to this day. It is considered one of the most important and comprehensive collections of Shia hadith, containing thousands of spurious narrations attributed to the Ahlulbayt. With over 110 volumes, the collection covers an extensive range of topics, comprising numerous narrations that discuss the Imams’ divinity, the apostasy of the Prophet’s companions, and the distortion of the Qur’an by the Sahabah.
Majlisi is revered by Shias for his contribution to Shia literature through his authorship of several significant Shia collections and works, including:
- Bihar al-Anwar: an encyclopedia of Shia hadiths spanning 110 volumes, which is considered a major reference for Shia scholars.
- Mir’at al-‘Uqul: a 26-volume commentary on Al-Kulayni’s Al-Kafi (which itself is filled with shirk and kufr in the form of numerous narrations that speak of the distortion of the Qur’an)
- Maladh al-Akhyar Fi Fahm Tahdhib al-Akhbar: a 16-volume commentary on Al-Tusi’s al-Tahdhib.
- Zad al-Ma’ad: a Persian treatise that outlines “Islamic rituals” and prayers for each month. However, notably, it incorporates the guideline of how to venerate the Zoroastrian-Persian holiday of Nowruz, as well as other superstitious and idolatrous practices.
Apart from championing Twelverism, Majlisi was also a vicious anti-Sunni. He devoted himself to the eradication of Sunnis and Sunnism in Iran, although he never really succeeded considering the vast amount of Sunnis that are still living in Iran.
Majlisi was appointed as a court/palace scholar of the Safavid state, which was founded by Persianised Turkic-Azeris who championed Shiism and Persian sentiments in order to oppose their Turkic Ottoman Sunni rivals and effectively create their own empire on the skulls of the Persian Sunni population. Majlisi himself repeatedly embellished the reputation of the Safavid Empire, whose kings were known as notorious alcoholics, blatant fornicators, and allies of the crusaders, by citing Shiite traditions which allegedly confirmed the Safavids’ genuine Imamism, and predicted their political feats and missionary zeal in spreading Shi’ism.
During the reign of Shah Sulayman Safavi in 1098/1686-87, Majlisi was appointed as the ‘Shaykh al-Islam’ at the age of 61. He continued to hold this position even after the death of Shah Sulayman Safavi and the ascension of Sultan Husayn to the throne. As ‘Shaykh al-Islam’, he was responsible for overseeing the collection of religious taxes, ensuring the implementation of religious rulings and judicial systems, managing schools, mosques, and shrines, appointing leaders for congregational prayers, and overseeing religious matters throughout the country during the Safavid era.
Khomeini (1902-1989), founder and first Supreme Leader of the ‘Islamic Republic of Iran’ held a deep reverence for Majlisi, to the extent that he urged the Shias to study his works to prevent falling into the traps of confusion and folly.
“Continue reading the Persian books written by the late Mulla Baqir Majlisi that were written for the Persian speaking people, so that you do not fall into mischief and foolishness” [Kashaful Asrar, p. 121 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini]
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Majlisi single-handedly propagated and perpetuated ghuluw (excessive veneration or over-exaggeration of the status and attributes of religious figures) as he served as a palace scholar for the Safavid dynasty. He also actively encouraged and supported the authorities to persecute Sunnis in Iran. Modern-day Shia Iran, the Shia clergy and Khomeinists are the ideological heirs and successors of the Safavid dynasty and the likes of Majlisi.
The Twelver Shia consider Majlisi to be one of the most authoritative sources of Islamic knowledge, and they continue to study his works and teachings.
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Majlisi is also revered as a saint in Iran, and his shrine is a popular destination for pilgrims seeking blessings and guidance.
“The narrations concerning the deletion and distortion [of the Qur’an] are mass transmitted through the path of the elite (Shia) and the generality (Sunnis). Logic dictates that if the Quran was scattered and spread among the people, and entrusted to fallible individuals for its compilation, then it is usually unlikely that the collection is complete and matches reality. However, there is no doubt that people are responsible for acting according to what is in the copies [of the Qur’an] and reciting them until the reappearance of Imam Mahdi. This is a well-known fact transmitted through the Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, and most reports in this regard indicate deficiency and alteration (i.e. of the Qur’an), and many of them will be mentioned in the relevant sections. (“Mir’at al-‘Uqul by Muhammad Baqir Majlisi, vol. 3, p. 31 also in vol. 2, p. 374)
Al-Majlisi: Logic dictates that the Qur’an has been distorted!
Book
Mir’aat Al-‘Uqool by Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi
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Translation
و الأخبار من طريق الخاصة و العامة في النقص و التغيير متواترة، و العقل يحكم بأنه إذ كان القرآن متفرقا منتشرا عند الناس، و تصدي غير المعصوم لجمعه يمتنع عادة أن يكون جمعه كاملا موافقا للواقع، لكن لا ريب في أن الناس مكلفون بالعمل بما في المصاحف و تلاوته حتى يظهر القائم عليه السلام، و هذا معلوم متواتر من طريق أهل البيت عليهم السلام و أكثر أخبار هذا الباب مما يدل على النقص و التغيير و سيأتي كثير منها في الأبواب
‘The narrations from the path of the elite (i.e. Shia) and the generality (i.e. Muslims, Sunnis) regarding deletion and distortion are mass transmitted. Logic dictates that if the Qur’an was spread in various locations with different people, then a group of non-infallible men were tasked with collecting it, it’s natural that it won’t be collected in its entirety or in accordance with how it was revealed. No doubt, the people are religiously obliged to adhere to what’s in the mushaf (today), they are to recite it (as it is) until Al-Qa’im (i.e. Shia Mahdi) appears. This is known and mass transmitted from the way of Ahl Al-Bayt (as) and most narrations in this topic are proofs for deletions and corruption and you will see much of it in the (following) chapters’ [Mir’aat Al-‘Uqool vol. 3, p. 31 also in vol. 2, p. 374]
Lessons to be learnt
- Notice how right at the beginning Al-Majlisi lies through his teeth, claiming that tahrif is a mass-narrated phenomenon amongst Shias (‘elite’) and Sunnis (the ‘generality’) alike. Fact is that there is a consensus amongst Sunnis that whoever holds the belief that the Qur’an has been corrupted is a kafir (hence not a single authority of Sunnism has ever championed the belief in the distortion of the Qur’an, rather all ‘Sunni’ narrations pointing to tahrif have been proven as unreliable and rejected narrations), a consensus that (for obvious reasons) never had nor ever will exist amongst Shias, considering that their top scholars believe in the distortion of the Qur’an.
- Majlisi argues based on logic, he is simply more consistent than most Shias, especially apologists of our time. If the Qur’an was compiled (as per Shia narrative) by a bunch of non-infallible enemies of the chosen people of Allah (12 Imams), then of course these usurpers will do a bad job. That’s Shiism without excuses for you.
- Al-Majlisi explains that Shias don’t have another Qur’an, this is a strawman Shias accuse their opponents accusing them of. The Shias only possess the Muslim Qur’an, for no disbelieving sect, not even the Shia one, dares to make up a new one. What Shias believe is still kufr, as they believe that the Muslim Qur’an is naaqis (incomplete and corrupted), yet (as Shias have no choice), they ‘are obliged to work with what is included in the copies of the Qu’ran and to read it until Al-Qa’im (Shia Mahdi) appears’ …
- Al-Majlsi boldly claims that mass-narrated Shia narrations from the Ahl Al-Bayt all prove that the present day Qur’an is an incomplete and corrupted one, and he will provide more evidences in the following chapters of his book.
Al-Majlisi: Present day Qur’an is corrupted and uncomplete!
Translation
ما ادعى أحد أي غير الأئمة عليهم السلام و المراد بالقرآن كله ألفاظه و حروفه جميعا، و المراد بكما أنزل، ترتيبه و إعرابه و حركاته و سكناته و حدود الآي و السور، و هذا رد على قوم زعموا أن القرآن ما في المصاحف المشهورة، و كما قرأه القراء السبعة و أضرابهم و اختلف أصحابنا في ذلك، فذهب الصدوق ابن بابويه و جماعة إلى أن القرآن لم يتغير عما أنزل و لم ينقص منه شيء، و ذهب الكليني و الشيخ المفيد قدس الله روحهما و جماعة إلى أن جميع القرآن عند الأئمة عليهم السلام، و ما في المصاحف بعضه و جمع أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه كما أنزل بعد الرسول صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم و أخرج إلى الصحابة المنافقين فلم يقبلوا منه، و هم قصدوا لجمعه في زمن عمر و عثمان كما سيأتي تفصيله في كتاب القرآن
‘Nobody claimed … i.e. other than the Imams, peace be upon him, and what is meant by Qur’an’ means in its entirety, with all its words and letters. And what is meant by “as it was revealed” means the order of verses, the grammatical marks and stops, the limits of verses and chapters. This (narration) refutes those folks who claim that the Qur’an is what is now found within the widespread Masahif (copies) or what the seven reciters and their likes have recited. Our companions differed in this, Al-Saduq ibn Babuwayh and a group held the opinion that the Qur’an was not changed from how it was revealed nor is anything missing. Whereas, Al-Kulayni, Shaykh Al-Mufid and a group, may Allah sanctify their souls, believed that the entire Qur’an is with the Imams, peace be upon them, and what we have with us in our mushaf (copy) today is only a part of it. The chief of believers (i.e. ‘Ali) collected it as it was revealed after the Messenger of Allah. peace be upon him, and he brought it out to the hypocrite Sahabah (companions) who refused it. They sought to collect it in ‘Omar and ‘Othman’s reigns as you will see in detail in Kitab Al-Quran.’ [Baqir Majlisi in his Mir’aat Al-‘Uqool, vol-3/30-31]
Lessons to be learnt
- Al-Majlisi based on sahih Shia narrations (in Al-Kafi) refutes those who claim that the present day Qur’an is free from corruption!
- The Imam Al-Bukhari of Shiism, Al-Kulayni, author of Al-Kafi, believed in the distortion of the Qur’an (like Majlisi himself). These are the top hadithists Shias take their religion from!
- The ‘hypocrite Sahabah’ rejected the one and only uncorrupted Qur’an that was compiled by one man only (‘Ali).
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Who is Al-Majlisi?
Name:
His most famous disciple:
Nematollah Al-Jaza’iri ( known for his beliefs regarding the distortion (tahrif) of the Quran).
Legacy:
- His status
Mulla Baqir Al-Majlisi is the very person about whom Khomeini said in one of his most famous books:
Book
Kashf Al-Asrar by ‘Ayatollah’ Ruhollah Khomeini
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Translation
“Continue reading the Persian books written by the late Mulla Baqir Majlisi that were written for the Persian speaking people, so that you do not fall into mischief and foolishness” [Kashaful Asrar, p. 121 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini]
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