Perhaps the first lesson that I learned in my journey into editing manuscripts is "to bring forth the text in the way the author intended."
Not as simple as it sounds.
In this thread, I'll be providing an example of how an editor ignores this rule due to his ideological bias.
Not as simple as it sounds.
In this thread, I'll be providing an example of how an editor ignores this rule due to his ideological bias.
Below is a screenshot from Mukhtaṣar Baṣā`ir Al-Darajāt p. 79.
The text says: When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did, Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate anywhere but within the progeny of Al-Ḥusayn (peace be onto him).
The text says: When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did, Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate anywhere but within the progeny of Al-Ḥusayn (peace be onto him).
The editor points out that this is based on one manuscript.
Two other manuscripts instead say:
When Al-Ḥassan (peace be upon him) did what he did with Mu`āwiyah (may Allah curse him), Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate... etc.
Two other manuscripts instead say:
When Al-Ḥassan (peace be upon him) did what he did with Mu`āwiyah (may Allah curse him), Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate... etc.
A third manuscript (dated 1263 AH), that the editor seems to not have had access to, also includes the same wording. (Left)
Al-Majlisi, too, quotes the same from Mukhtaṣar Baṣā`ir Al-Darajāt.
Al-Majlisi, too, quotes the same from Mukhtaṣar Baṣā`ir Al-Darajāt.
Regardless of the last two complementary examples, the editor had three reasons to hold the view that the correct text was:
"When Al-Ḥassan did what he did with Mu`āwiyah..." instead of, "When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did..."
"When Al-Ḥassan did what he did with Mu`āwiyah..." instead of, "When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did..."
1st reason:
Two of the three manuscripts that the editor had were in agreement.
All three were written in the 11th century and there is no correct justification for choosing a conflicting wording when two manuscripts agree against it.
Two of the three manuscripts that the editor had were in agreement.
All three were written in the 11th century and there is no correct justification for choosing a conflicting wording when two manuscripts agree against it.
2nd reason:
If we were to assume that this occurred due to some sort of copyist error, it would be far likelier for us to assume that the words "with Mu`āwiyah" were dropped accidentally, instead of assuming that "with Mu`āwiyah" was added... twice!
If we were to assume that this occurred due to some sort of copyist error, it would be far likelier for us to assume that the words "with Mu`āwiyah" were dropped accidentally, instead of assuming that "with Mu`āwiyah" was added... twice!
The inclusion of Mu'awiyah in the text is furthermore supported by `Alī ibn Bābawayh's rendition of this report, which can be found in his Al-Imāma wal Tabṣira p. 193.
No, this could not have been a mere slip of the pen.
No, this could not have been a mere slip of the pen.
3rd reason:
The text is awkwardly worded and a more appropriate wording would be:
When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did, Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate anywhere but within [HIS progeny] (peace be onto him).
The text is awkwardly worded and a more appropriate wording would be:
When Al-Ḥusayn did what he did, Allah the most majestic made upon himself to not place the wasiyyah and Imamate anywhere but within [HIS progeny] (peace be onto him).
So, what is the excuse of the editor?
He says: "It is not befitting of Allah the Almighty to choose a Ḥujjah upon His creation and a trust upon His world, then treat him in such a manner."
In other words, this is ideologically motivated.
He says: "It is not befitting of Allah the Almighty to choose a Ḥujjah upon His creation and a trust upon His world, then treat him in such a manner."
In other words, this is ideologically motivated.
While I do appreciate the editor's honest, the correct sentence should not have been in the footnotes, but it should have been in its rightful place within the text.
Naturally, when a commercial print is released, footnotes will be removed after all.
Naturally, when a commercial print is released, footnotes will be removed after all.
For more on this specific report and the evolution of the ideology of the infallibility of the Imams, I would suggest checking out my article below:
twelvershia.net/2020/01/12/pro…
twelvershia.net/2020/01/12/pro…
