The Way of Nobility

The Way of Nobility: Knowledge of the Imam (Minhaj al-karama fi ma¿rifat al-imama) is one of the most celebrated works in favour of the Shi¿i belief in the Imama. Apparently authored for the Mongol ruler Öljeitü Khan, this work by al-¿Allama al-¿illi presents a concise but crucial summary of key arguments in favour of the Imamate of ¿Ali b. Abi ¿alib and his descendants. The work also contains detailed evidence from Sunni historical and ¿adith sources to establish the lack of qualifications for leadership of the Muslim community by those persons whom the majority of Muslims followed, namely, the first three so-called 'rightly guided caliphs' (al-khulafa¿ al-rashidun).