Hujjat al-Islam (Arabic: حجة الإسلام, romanized: ḥujjat-u l-Islām, Persian: حجةالاسلام or حجتالاسلام, romanized: hojjat-o l-Eslām) is an Islamic honorific title meaning "authority on Islam" or "proof of Islam".[1]
Sunni Islam edit
Its first recorded use was in a Sunni context, as a title for the 11th-century theologian al-Ghazali, due to his refutations of Hellenistic-influenced philosophers and Isma'ilis.[1] It was later used as a term of respect for judges.[1]
In the contemporary era, Egyptian Muhaddith Qadi Ahmad Shakir would confer the title "Hujjat al-Islam" to his master Muhammad Rashid Rida, upon his death.[2] Deobandis granted this title to their leader Hanafi Maturidi theologian Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi for his debates with scholars of other religions and establishing Darul Uloom Deoband.
Shia Islam edit
In the Twelver Shia the title is awarded to scholars. It was originally applied as an honorific to leading scholars, but now the use indicates a status in the hierarchy of the learned below ayatollah.[1]
Its earliest attested use for a Shia personage was during the Qajar period for Muhammad Baqir Shafti (d. 1843).[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Algar, Hamid (23 March 2012). "Ḥojjat-al-Eslām". Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. XII. p. 426. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
- ^ ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Hammad al-Aql, Abdurrahman (2005). "Al-Ustadhun Al-Imam Hujjat al-Islam As-Sayyid Muhammad Rashid Rida" [Our Master, Imam Hujjat Al-Islam Sayyid Muhammad Rashid Rida]. Jamharat Maqalat Allamah As-Shaykh Ahmad Muhammad Shakir. Dar al-Riyadh. pp. 653–665.
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- ^ "Biography of Hujjat al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen Sayyid Mohammad Taqi Hakim". Al Islam.org.
- ^ "When and why were the terms Ayatollah and Hujjat ul-islam began to be used to refer to our scholars? I would like to explore about their origin, meaning and distinctions". پایگاه اطلاع رسانی استاد حسین انصاریان - https://erfan.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ "A Conclusive Argument in Favour of Islam". Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Hujjat al-Islam Imam Ghazali: The Sun of the Fifth Century – The Pen Magazine". 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ Ansary, Abdul Latif. "Imam Gazzali: A Great Philosopher of Islam". IJFMR - International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. 5 (1). doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i01.1400. ISSN 2582-2160.