Muḥammad Ibn Idrīs Ḥillī (Ibn Idrīs Ḥillī)

Born and Background
Muhammad, Son of Idrīs Hillī was born in 543 Hegira in Hillah city. He is one of the distinguished Shi’a scholars. Originally he was Arab, and Sheikh Tusī was his maternal grandfather. Son of Idrīs is well known for his freedom in thought. He broke his grandfather’s awe and reverence; he criticized Islamic jurisprudents and scholars to an insulting point.
His famous and wonderful book in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) is called ‘Sarāyer’ (secrets). He is said to be among the pupils of Sayyed Abul-Makārim son of Zohreh; however, reviewing what he has written in his book ‘Sarāyer’ implies that he had just been contemporary to Abul-Makārim son of Zohreh, they had met each other, and there had been some correspondence between them on some Islamic jurisprudential issues.Teachers
Some of his teachers are named as follows:
1- His maternal uncle Abī Alī Tūsī
2- Sheikh Imād, Muhammad son of Abil-Qāsim Tabarī
3- Arabī son of Musāfir Ibādī
4- Hasan son of Ratbah Sawārī

Students
1- Sheikh Najībuddīn son of Namā Hillī
2- Shamsuddīn Fakhār son of Ma’d Mūsawī
3- Sayyed Muhammad son of Abdullāh son of Zohreh Huseinī Halabī
4- Sheikh Tūmān son of Ahmad Āmelī

Words of Scholars about Him
Allāmah Nūrī in the third part of closing chapter of his book ‘Mustadrak’ has stated: “Abū Abdullāh Muhammad son of Ahmad son of Idrīs Hillī is a great and famous scholar whose extraordinary knowledge, precision, and perception has been confirmed and commended by great Islamic jurisprudents.”
Ibne Dāwūd – in his book of Rijāl – says: “Son of Idrīs Hillī is the prototype of Islamic jurisprudents in Hillah and competent in Islamic science. He has conducted lots of compilations.”
The great Islamic jurisprudent, Shaheed-e Awwal (i.e. ‘the first martyr’ – may Allāh bless his soul) has praised him – while authorizing him for narration – with phrases like “Sheikh, Imām, Allāmah, Sheikh of Ulamā and Leader of Religion.”
Sheikh Hurr-e Āmelī – in his book ‘Amal-ul-Āmel’ – writes: “Our recent scholars have praised son of Idrīs Hillī very much. They have trusted in his book ‘Sarāyer’ with all those ideas and books which is narrated from ancient scholars at the end of the book.”

About ‘Khabar-e Wāhed’ (A Sole Narration)
Among our Islamic jurisprudents, son of Idrīs Hillī is not the only one who rejected ‘Khabar-e Wāhed’ (a sole narration) as a proof on Islamic jurisprudential issues. Besides him there were some other opponents to ‘Kabar-e Wāhed’, nevertheless, son of Idrīs according to his hot temper was much more insistent to prove the incredibility of a sole narration. His idea in this regard has caused controversial discussions; some people have criticized him, and some others defended his opinion and raised objections against his opponents.

Demise
Son of Idrīs, the great scholar of Shi’a world, died in 598 Hegira. He was buried in Hillah city.

Works
A number of his compilations:
1- As-sarāyer-ul-Hāwī Le Tahrīr-ul-Fatawī
2- Kitab-ut-Ta’līqāt
3- Risālah Fi Ma’nī An-nāsib
4- An Abstract of Al-Istidlāl
5- Selections of Kitab-ut-Tibyān