Kashf al-Yaqin

Kashf al-Yaqin or Kashf al-Yaqin fi Faḍā'il Amīr al-Mu'minīn (Arabic: کشف الیقین, lit. "Certainty Uncovered") is a medieval Islamic text written by the Shia Islam scholar, Allamah Al-Hilli. Written in Arabic, the book recounts the life of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Imam of Shia Islam and the fourth Caliph of Sunni Islam. It draws upon both Sunni and Shi'a sources to present a theological and historical perspective on Ali's role in early Islamic history.

Commissioned by the Ilkhanid ruler Öljaitü in the 14th century, Kashf al-Yaqin is a recognized work in Shi'a literature. The book has since been translated into several languages, including Persian and English, with translations by Dr. Ali Akbar Aghili Ashtiani and Sayyed Mojtaba Alavi Tarakamahei.

Allamah Al-Hilli was an Islamic scholar born in 1250 CE (648 AH) in Hillah, Iraq. He was born into a family of scholars and was taught by figures such as Muhaqqiq Al-Hilli and Khaje Nasir al-Din Tusi.

He studied and wrote in various fields, including Islamic law, theology, philosophy, and logic. He wrote many books, including Kashf al-Yaqin, which discusses the virtues of Imam Ali.^[1]

Al-Hilli wrote Kashf al-Yaqin at the request of the Mongol ruler Sultan Muhammad Khudabanda (Öljaitü), who converted to Shi'ite Islam. Al-Hilli died in 1325 CE (726 AH). His writings are studied by scholars today.

During the life of Allamah Al-Hilli, Sultan Khodabandeh converted to Shi'ism and had coins minted in the name of the twelve Imams, which were circulated in the country in AH 708. Al-Hilli wrote the book at the request of Sultan Khodabandeh.

The book is divided into one preface and four parts and includes chapters on the following topics:

• Ali's virtues before his death
• Ali's virtues in boyhood and maturity
• Ali's generosity and magnanimity
• Ali's courage in the Battle of Khandaq
• The unity of Ali and the Holy Prophet
• Virtues of Ali's spouse
• The Holy Prophet's prayer for Ali
• Ali and the Aide of the Holy Prophet and Fatimah
• Ali's posthumous miracles

In Kashf al-Yaqin, most of the sources referred to are Sunni sources such as Mosanad Ahmad, Manaqib Kharazmi, Khasaes of Tabari, Al Yavaqit, Asbab Al Nozul Al Vahedi, and Manaqib of Ibn Maqadili. Allameh Majlesi is also referred to and used in the book of Al Bihar.^[2]

This book has been translated from Arabic into several languages, including Persian and English. The English translation of Kashf al-Yaqin is by Dr. Ali Akabar Aghili Ashtiani.^[3] The book also has four Persian translations:

• Rashaf Al Moeen by Majd Al Udaba
• A translation by an unknown author
• A translation by Hamid Reza Azir^[4]
• The mirror of certainty by Sayyed Mojtaba Alavi Tarakamahei

^[1]