Safa’i Naraqi

Safa’i Naraqi Kashani, Mulla Ahmad (1771-1828/1829), son of Mulla Mahdi, Muhammad Mahdi ibn Abi Dharr. A religious scholar, usuli jurisprudent, traditionist, expert on transmission authorities, astronomer, mathematician, teacher, litterateur, and poet with the nom de plume Safa’i. Born in Naraq, Kashan, he was well-versed in all intellectual and narrational sciences. Having received his preliminary education from his father, he accompanied his father to Iraq and studied under Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-‘Ulum and Shaykh Ja’far Kashif al-Ghita’ in Najaf and Mirza Mahdi Shahristani and Aqa Muhammad Baqir Bihbahani in Karbala’ until he became a religious authority and embarked upon his teaching career. Then, he returned to Naraq, Kashan, and served as a religious authority there. He narrated on the authority of his father, Sayyid Bahr al-‘Ulum, and Shaykh Ja’far and also from Mulla Muhammad Baqir Majlisi. Many notable scholars, including Shaykh Muratada Ansari and Sayyid Muhammad Shafi’ Japalaqi, had studied under him. He died of cholera in Naraq and was laid to rest at the Murtadawi Shrine in Najaf. His works include Manahij al-Wusul ila ‘Ilm al-Usul, also well-known as Manahij al-Ahkam; Mustanad al-Shi’a fi Ahkam al-Shari’a, on jurisprudence; Wasilat al-Najah; Miftah al-Usul wa Misbah al-Ahkam, on principles of jurisprudence; Tanqih al-Fusul, a commentary on his father’s Tajrid al-Usul; Asas al-Ahkam; Asrar al-Hajj; ‘Awa’id al-Ayyam on principles of jurisprudence and its sources in Persian; al-Khaza’in, composed on the model of Kashkul, as a supplement to his father’s Mushkilat al-‘Ulum, in Persian; Sayf al-Umma wa Burhan al-Milla, refutation of the Christian Padri, in Persian; Risala-yi Munjazat al-Mariz; Mathnavi Taqdis; Divan of poetry. 

Asarafarin (6/32)