The Way of Criticizing the Traditions of History of Islam in Behar al- Anwar

Around 34 issues of Behar al- Anwar collection are related to the history of Islam and this history could be divided into three sections including: the history of prophet in the issues 15-22, the history of political changes from the development of craft up to the end of Amir al- Momenin caliph in the issues 28-34 and the history of Shiite Imams in the issues 35-53.
Majlesi has compiled the history of Islam on the basis of Shiite sources to complete his encyclopedia of traditions. His historiography and setting of the historical issues of Behar al- Anwar states that his historical view is affected by the theological principles of Shiism however he has selected a non- theological way towards the historical traditions and their evaluation. This writing, compiled with the purpose of investigating the way of criticizing the reports related to the history of Islam in Behar al- Anwar, has concluded that Majlesi stated his ideas towards the traditions subsequent to the complete criticism of narration and in many cases, he has noticed to the similarities among narrations of Sunnite and Shiite sources as well as the probable adaptation in diverse books.
The content-based criticism of Sunnite and Shiite narrations, settling the dispute among the historical traditions in Shiite sources, an indirect reference to Sunnite sources, noticing to the element of time in criticisms, removal of the ambiguity of proper names in some historical narrations are considered as the other common ways of explaining the tradition in Behar al- Anwar. Majlesi relies on corresponding narrations or personal deductions to elucidate the traditions.
Nevertheless, some of Majlesi’s criticism concerning the history of Islam is on the basis of the belief-based presumptions which are observed in some specific cases.