Devoted to the Truth: Allāmah Amīnī

Devoted to the Truth is a carefully researched biographical study of Allāmah ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn Amīnī (d. 1970), a preeminent Shiʿa scholar whose intellectual legacy has left an enduring mark on modern Islamic thought. Best known as the author of the encyclopaedic Al-Ghadīr fī al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah wa al-Adab, Allāmah Amīnī’s life and scholarship are given due attention in this volume, which presents both the man and the monumental contributions he made to Shiʿi theology and historiography.

The centrepiece of Amīnī’s scholarly career, Al-Ghadīr, spans 11 volumes and represents decades of meticulous research. Drawing on primary sources from both Sunni and Shiʿa traditions, the work examines the event of Ghadīr Khumm—where the Prophet Muḥammad (ṣ) is reported to have declared Imam ʿAlī (ʿa) as his successor. What distinguishes Al-Ghadīr is not only its encyclopaedic range but its methodological precision: Amīnī’s reliance on authoritative Sunni sources, critical analysis of historical transmission, and inclusion of Arabic poetry and literature all contribute to a comprehensive theological defence of the concept of wilāyah.

The book under review gives special focus to the intellectual and spiritual context in which Al-Ghadīr was produced. It portrays Allāmah Amīnī as a man of deep piety, scholarly rigour, and unwavering commitment to truth. His frequent travels to access rare manuscripts, long hours in study, and ascetic personal lifestyle underscore a devotion that was as spiritual as it was academic.

Devoted to the Truth is essential reading for students of Islamic intellectual history. It offers not only a portrait of a distinguished scholar but also a window into the enduring importance of Al-Ghadīr as a landmark in Shiʿi scholarly tradition.