Misbah al-Shari‘ah: A Commentary on “The Lantern of the Path” (Misbah al-Shari‘ah) Attributed to Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (‘a)

Occasion for presenting this book:

25 Shawwal:The Martyrdom of Imam Ja‘far al-Ṣādiq (148 AH)

Book Bibliographic Details:

Author: Allamah Hasan Mustafawi

Translator: Mansoor Limba

Publisher: ‎ Independently published

Length: 586 Pages

Language: English

ISBN: 979-8792157767

Publication Date: 29 Dec. 2021

About the Book:

As a classic text on the science of ethics (‘ilm al-akhlaq) and purification of the soul (tazkiyyat al-nafs), Misbah al-Shari‘ah covers a wide range of subjects that include:

• degrees of the heart’s secrets; intention (niyyah); remembrance (dhikr); gratitude (shukr); God-wariness (taqwa’); remembrance of death; reckoning; entrustment; certainty (yaqin); fear and hope; being pleasing and pleased (rida’); gnosis (ma‘rifah); love of God and love for His sake; yearning; wisdom; the essence of servanthood (‘ubudiyyah);
• garment; toothstick (miswak); using the lavatory; purification (taharah); leaving one’s home; entering the mosque; eating and drinking; walking and lowering the gaze; sleeping and rest; sociability; speech;
• different actions in the ritual prayer; fasting; pilgrimage; charity; physical wellbeing; seclusion; worship; reflection; silence; contentment; greed; abstinence; piety; heedfulness;
• generosity; brotherhood; consultation; forbearance; humility; following a model; pardon; exemplary character; knowledge; recognizing the prophets, guides (a’immah), and companions (sahabah); honoring the believers;
• goodness to parents; exhortation; admonition; truthfulness; trust in God (tawakkul); sincerity; acknowledgment of ignorance; repentance; struggle and self-discipline; tribulation; patience; sorrow; modesty;
• arrogance; hypocrisy; reason and desire; satanic insinuation (waswasah); self-admiration (‘ujb); praising and reproaching; disputation; backbiting; showing off; envy and covetousness; corruption; false claim; giving judgment; enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil; and blemish of scholars and Qur’an reciters.

About the Author & Translator:

Allamah Hasan Mustafawi was a formidable Iranian polymath, linguist, and mystic whose  life’s work was defined by a rare blend of analytical rigor and spiritual depth. Most renowned for his monumental 14-volume encyclopedic work on Quranic etymology, Al-Tahqiq fi Kalimat al-Quran al-Karim, Mustafawi was a scholar who didn’t just look at words, but sought the “root” of their spiritual reality. In his commentary on Misbah al-Shari‘ah, he brings this same meticulous precision to the esoteric traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt, acting as a bridge between the ancient wisdom of Imam al-Sadiq and the modern seeker. His writing is characterized by a “no-nonsense” approach to mysticism – he avoids mere abstraction, instead offering a clear, disciplined path toward self-purification and divine proximity, making him one of the most respected figures in contemporary Islamic philosophy for those who value both intellectual honesty and a grounded, heartfelt faith.

Dr. Mansoor Limba is a distinguished Filipino scholar and prolific translator who has dedicated his career to bridging the linguistic gap between profound Persian and Arabic spiritual texts and the English-speaking world. With an academic background in international relations and a deep mastery of Islamic philosophy, he ensures that the intricate mystical nuances of Allamah Mustafawi’s commentary are rendered with both intellectual precision and a soul-stirring clarity.

Where to find it:

You can find the book at one of the online bookstores below:

• Al-Buraq publications
• ShiaBooks
• Amazon