Dr. Shahīdī and the Historiography of Imam  Alī b. al-Ḥusayn (A.S.)

The works of Dr. Shahīdī (1297-1386 sh/1918-2007) indicate that he had been much interested in research concerning the Imams (A.S.). Among others, his special interest was for Imam ‘Alī b. al-Ḥusayn (A.S.) to the extent that he used to address him both in his youth and old age. His methodology in researching the History of Islam and the life of the Imams (A.S.) is critical-analytical and both the chains of transmission (isnād) and the texts of the sanad were of interest to him. This article studies Dr. Shahīdī’s critiques and analyses concerning the fourth Imam. To this end, the article first touches upon his works on Imam al-Sajjād (A.S.) and then addresses his critiques and analyses and finally deals with Dr. Shahīdī’s research methodology. It seems Dr. Shahīdī has reviewed and analyzed the early parts of the life of Imam ‘Alī b. al-Ḥusayn (A.S.) [up to the Āshūrā uprising] more accurately and extensively than the later parts of his life. The life and sīra of the Imam after Āshūra by Dr. Shahīdī’s method seems to require further examination.