This book, although it does not reach the level of Al-Fisal in bad mouthing,
it definitely is full of falsehoods and contradictory views. Therefore, the reader
has no option, but to reject it.
Shahristani, due to intensity of malice towards the Shia, has written
numerous books against them. The only thing, which impelled him to do this is
his lack of awareness about issues he discusses.
He is so ill-informed that he says: “The grave of Imam Hadi (a.s.) is in
Qom,”1 whereas his holy tomb is besides the tomb of his son, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) in Samarrah. And from the time of his burial, the tomb is shining
like stars and is alive in the books of history and collections, but Shahristani is
ignorant of all this.
Among his falsehood is that he writes: “Among the distinguishing qualities
of the Shia is that they believe in transmigration of soul.”2
Refutation
هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَى مَنْ تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيْطِينَ تَنَزَّلُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَفَاكٍ أَثِيمٍ يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَاكْثَرُهُمْ كَذِبُونَ
“Shall I inform you (of him) upon whom the Shaitans descend?
They descend upon every lying, sinful one, They incline their
ears, and most of them are liars.”3
Know that you will not find any Shia, who believes in transmigration of
souls and then realize the value of Shahristani’s book and the extent of his
honesty.
Abu Muhammad Khwarizmi, contemporary of Shahristani, in the book of
Mojamul Buldan,4 has mentioned a statement which inform us about the veracity
of Shahristani. He says:
“If his deviating excesses in his beliefs and inclinations had not been
towards denial, he would have definitely been an imam of Ahle Sunnat. How
often we ask ourselves that how it happened with a man of intelligence and
perfection? A person, who had attached his heart to something without basis and
adopted something, which has no logical and textual proof. And we seek God’s
refuge from degradation and deprivation! The basic cause of his deviation was
his desertion of the effulgence of Shariat and following philosophy. I was often
present in his lectures and not once did I hear him say: God said this or the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said that, and not once did I see him reply to queries about
questions on Shariah.
أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍۢ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةًۭ فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ( ٢٣)
“Have you then considered him who takes his low desire for his
god, and Allah has made him err having knowledge and has set
a seal upon his ear and his heart and put a covering upon his
eye. Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not then be mindful?”5