Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi

Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi or Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi (born 1941) is an Iranian librarian, Bibliographer and manuscript expert. He is the director of Mar'ashi Najafi Library, which he says is one of the largest libraries in Iran and the world.

Life and education

Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi, the eldest son of Shahab ud-Din Mar'ashi Najafi and the grandson of Seyyed Shamsuddin Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi, was born in 1941 in Qom, Iran. After elementary and high school in Qom, he started learning Islamic seminary sciences, studied the basics and first levels with prominent professors such as Fazel Lankarani, Seyyed Mahdi Lajevardi, Abutaleb Tajlil Tabrizi, Mohammad Sadegh Nasiri Sarabi, Mohammad Taghi Sotoudeh and Seyyed Ahmad Varamini. He then learned the highest level of seminary lessons from his father, who was a distinguished professor, and until the last days of his father's life, he was his disciple. In addition to studying religious sciences, Mar'ashi studied books and treatises of the ancients and the late in these fields due to his great interest in the sciences of rijal, genealogy, bibliography and codicology. In this way, he used his father's instructions and experiences a lot and gradually became an expert. He has received many permissions from many professors and elders. He then entered the academic sciences in the field of sociology. Mar'ashi continued his studies in sociology, first at the University of Tehran and then at the University of London, and in 1985 received a doctorate in sociology from the University of London.

Bibliography

Books

Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi 's independent works are mainly in the field of cataloging of manuscripts, bibliography and biography of a number of Iranian Muslim thinkers. From 1962 to 2003, in a period of forty-one years, he has authored twelve books. In addition, he has corrected 9 works and 64 books have been published under his supervision. Among his independent works, the following can be mentioned (all in Persian language):

• Sharhe Haal va Afkar va Asaar va Aqayed va Nazariate Ibn Sina (', Biography, thoughts, works, ideas and theories of Avicenna), 1962
• Sharhe Haal va Asaar va Araae va Aqayed va Nazariate Abu Hamed Ghazali (', Biography, works, opinions, ideas and theories of Al-Ghazali), 1962
• Sharhe Haal va Asaar va Araae Abu Nasr Farabi (', Biography, works and opinions of Al-Farabi)
• Al-Mosalsalaat fi al-Ejaazaat (', The series of permissions), Arabic, 1995
• Ganjineh: Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khattie Farsie Samarkand va Bukhara va Khwarazm (', Thesaurus (List of part of Persian manuscripts of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khwarazm)), 1998
• Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', List of manuscripts of the Grand Library of Grand Ayatollah Marashi Najafi), 2000-2001
• Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Seyyed Roknuddin Haidar Hosseini Amoli dar Ketabkhaneye Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', List of manuscripts of the works of Allama Seyyed Roknuddin Haidar Hosseini Amoli in the library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2002
• Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Qazi Noorollah Mar'ashi Shustari dar Ketabkhaneye Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', List of manuscripts of the works of Qazi Nurullah Shustari in the library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2002
• Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Nezamuddin Abdul Ali Birjandi (', List of manuscripts of the works of Al-Birjandi), 2002
• Noskhehaye Khatti Kohan va Nafise Nahj al-Balagha va Shoroohe Bargozideh va Tarjomehaye Aan dar Ketabkhaneye Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Ancient and exquisite manuscripts of Nahj al-Balagha and selected commentaries and translations of it in the library of Grand Ayatollah Marashi Najafi), 2002
• Navader al-Makhtootaat al-Arabiah men Qarn al-Saaless ela al-Saadess al-Hijri (', Rare Arabic manuscripts from the third century to the seventh century AH), Arabic, 2002
• Ketab Shenasi Tosifie Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Descriptive bibliography of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2003
• Safarnameye Chin (', Travelogue of China)
• Oday ibn al-Raqqa, Shaere Qarne Avval (', Oday ibn al-Raqqa, poet of the first century AH)
• Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khatti Mansoub beh Alemane Samarkand (', List of part of the manuscripts attributed to the scholars of Samarkand)
• Moroori bar Zendegie Seyyed Abdul Hadi Delijani (', An overview of the life of Seyyed Abdul Hadi Delijani)
• Nokhostin Ketabhaye Chappi Arabi va Farsi keh dar Jahan Montasher Shodeh (', The first Arabic and Persian printed books published in the world)
• Noskhehaye Khatti Kohan Nahj al-Balagha (', Ancient manuscripts of Nahj al-Balagha)
• Jahane Ketabkhaneha: Gozideh Maqaalaat Darbareye Ketabkhanehaye Iran va Jahan (', World of the Libraries: A selection of articles about Iranian and world libraries), 2012
• Mirase Mandegar (', Lasting heritage), 2003
• Marja e Miras Baan (', Inheritance keeper Marja'), 2011
• Fehreste Dast Neveshtehaye Asaare Khajeh Nasiruddin Mohammad ibn Mohammad Tusi dar Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', List of Manuscripts of the Works of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi in the Great Library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2005
• Ketab Shenasie Asaare Dat Nevise Allame Kamaluddin Meysam ibn Ali Bahrani (', Bibliography of the manuscripts of Allamah Maitham Al Bahrani), 2006
• Shenakht Nameye Seyed Abdolhadi Hosseini Delijani (', Cognition treatise about Seyed Abdolhadi Hosseini Delijani), 2007
• Ejaazaat va Namehaye Ayatollah al-Ozma Seyyed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani to Ayatollah al-Ozma Seyyed Shahabuddin Mar'ashi Najafi (', Permits and letters of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani to Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Shahabuddin Mar'ashi Najafi), Arabic, 2008
• Marja' e Farhang Baan (', Culture keeper Marja'), 2009
• Mowsoo'ah al-Imamah fi Nosoos Ahle al-Sonnah (', The encyclopedia of the Imam in the texts of the Sunnis), 2009
• Makatib al-Mahfooz (', Reserved letters), 2009
• Noskheh Shenasi (', Codicology: Studies on manuscripts of Iran and of the world), 2007
• Namehaye Namvaran (', Letters of the prominents), 2010
• Shasto Seh Noskheh Khatti Nafis az Sadehaye Cheharom va Panjom va Sheshom Hejri (', Sixty-three exquisite manuscripts from the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries AH), 1994
• Yeksado Seh Noskheye Khatti az Sadeye Haftom Hejri (', One hundred and three manuscripts from the seventh century AH), 1994
• Devisto Hashtad Noskheye Khatti Nafis az Qarne Hashtom (', Two hundred and eighty exquisite manuscripts from the eighth century AH), 1994
• Ketab Khaneye Omoomi Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi dar Yek Negah (', Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi Public Library at a glance), 1992
• Ganjineh Shahab: Majmooeh Resaleha va Maqalehaye Elmi dar Pasdaasht Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Treasures of Shahab: A Collection of Scientific Treatises and Articles in Honor of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2001
• Ranj va Ganj (', Suffering and treasure), 2007
• Fehrestvareye Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Elmie Fayz Kashani dar Ganjineh Jahani Makhtootaat Eslami Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Catalog of Manuscripts of Fayz Kashani's Scientific Works in the World Treasure of Islamic Manuscripts of the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 2008
• Noskhehaye Noyafteh (', Newly found manuscripts: A report on a selection of manuscripts purchased by the Mar'ashi Najafi Library (World Treasure of Islamic Manuscripts)), 2008
• Faqihe Farzaneh: Zendegi Nameye Ayatollah Seyyed Morteza Faqih Mobarqa (', The Wise Faqih: Biography of Ayatollah Seyyed Morteza Faqih Mobarqa), 2009
• Tariq Sheikh Ansari ela al-Ma'soom (', The path of Murtadha al-Ansari to the Infallible), Arabic, 1995
• Ganjineh: Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khattie Farsi va Arabie Samarkand va Bukhara va Khwarazm (', Thesaurus: List of part of Persian and Arabic manuscripts of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khwarazm), 1998
• Fehreste Namgooye Nosakhe Khattie Makhzane Hamid Soleiman Anstitoo Shaq Shenasi Abu Reyhan Birooni (Ozbakestan) (', List of manuscripts of Hamid Soleiman Repository of Abu Rihan Biruni, Institute of Oriental Studies (Uzbekistan)), 1998

Articles

Dr. Mar'ashi has published the results of his studies in the fields of librarianship, archiving and manuscript research, his experiences and his visits of the cultural centers of different countries in more than 60 articles, conversations and reports in the following publications:

• Mirase Shahab (', The Shahab's Heritage), journal, since 1995
• Miras (', The Heritage), journal
• Mirase Eslami (', The Islamic Heritage), journal

• Noskhehaye Khattie Noyafteh (', Newly found manuscripts), 2011
• Danesh Nameye Kootahe Farsi (', Concise Persian encyclopedia), 2010
• Olamaye Shiiee va Masaleye Ejazeh dar Qarne Noozdahom (', Shiite scholars and the issue of the permission in the nineteenth century AH), translator, 2010
• Kabikaj dar Noskhehaye Khatti (', Ranunculus lanuginosus in the manuscripts), 2010
• Ketabcheye Porseh va Pasokh ya Estentaq az Mirza Reza Kermani (', Question and Answer Booklet or Interrogation of Mirza Reza Kermani), 2009
• Joqrafiaye Khuzestan (', Geography of Khuzestan), 2009
• Ketab Shenasie Kamaluddin Meysam Bahrani (', Bibliography of Maitham Al Bahrani), 2006
• Resaleye Montakhab (', The selected treatise), 2006
• Eslam, Iran, Chin (', Islam, Iran, China), 2004
• Safarnameye Eshqabad, Samaqand va Bokhara (', Travelogue of Ashgabat, Samarkand and Bukhara), 2004
• Gozareshe Safare Faranse (', Travel report to France), 2004
• Maraseme Eftetahe Ketabkhaneh Eskandarieh (', Opening Ceremony of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Library), 2002
• Do Nemooneh az Qoranhaye Koofie Kohan; Az Ganjineye Noskhehaye Khattie Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Two versions of ancient Kufi Qurans; From the treasure trove of manuscripts of the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 2001
• Noskhehaye Kharidari Shodeh (', Purchased manuscripts), 2001
• Noskhehaye Khattie Ketabkhaneye Aref Hekmat (', Manuscripts of Aref Hekmat Library), 2000
• Moallefe Rabi al-Shi'ah (', The author of the Rabi 'al-Shi'ah), 2000
• Noskhehaye Jadide Ketabkhaneh (Gozide ee az Noskhehaye Khattie Kohan va Nafise Tazeh Kharidari Shodeh) (', New manuscripts of the library (Excerpts from Old and Exquisite Manuscripts Newly Purchased)), 2000
• Konferanse Beinol Melalie Noskhehaye Khatti (', The International Conference of the Manuscripts), 2000
• Do Ketabkhaneye Nafise Shakhsi (', Two exquisite personal libraries), 2000
• Ketab va Ketabkhaneh; Atlalat ala Maktabata Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi (', Books and libraries; Informations about the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 1999
• Rahtoosheye Ozbakestan (', Route luggage of Uzbekistan), 1998
• Ketabkhaneye Shakhsie Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani (', Personal Library of Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani), 1998
• Jahan Ketabkhaneh; Ketabkhaneye Shakhsie Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani (', World Library; Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani Personal Library), 1998
• Mirase Khattie Ketabkhaneh; Noskhehaye Khattie Zakhireye Khwarazm Shahi (', Library manuscript heritage; Khwarazmian dynasty Saved Manuscripts), 1998
• Ravian va Shoyookhe Shiee Bokhari (', Bukhari Shiite narrators and sheikhs), 1998
• Gozareshe Safar beh Ozbakestan (', Travel report to Uzbekistan), 1997
• Noskhehaye Nehayah Sheikh Tusi (', The manuscripts of the book Al-Nihayah by Shaykh Tusi), 1997
• Tafsire Balabel al-Qalaqel (', Interpretation of the Balabel al-Qalaqel), 1994
• Gozideye Ketab Shansie Tosifie Foraqe Eslami (', Excerpts from the descriptive bibliography of Islamic sects), 1990
• Sharhi Noyafteh bar Tahdhib al-Ahkam Sheikh al-Taefeh Mohammad ibn Hassan Tusi (', A newly found commentary on the Tahdhib al-Ahkam of Shaykh Tusi), 2019
• Dast Neveshtehayi Andar Baabe Ketab Namehaye Valede Bozorgvaram Marhoom Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi va Farzande Arshade Ayatollah Sheikh Agha Bozorg Tehrani (', Manuscripts on the book-letters of my great father, the late Grand Ayatollah Shahab ud-Din Mar'ashi Najafi, and the eldest son of Ayatollah Sheikh Agha Bozorg Tehrani), 2019
• Moqoofate Mandegar (4): Do Noskheye Nafis az Moqoofate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi beh Ketabkhaneye Astane Moqaddase Hazrate Fatemeh Masoumeh (', Lasting endowments (4): Two exquisite manuscripts of the endowments of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi to the library of the Fatima Masumeh Shrine), 2019
• Ketabkhaneh Melli Chin (', National Library of China), 2010
• Iranian az Didgahe Ahle Beit -Alayhem al-Salam- (', Iranians from the point of view of Ahl al-Bayt), corrector, 2009
• Kaqaz Sazi: Tarikh va San'at Pishe ee Kohan (', Paper making: the history and industry of an ancient profession), introducer, 2009
• Dar Siasat Emam ra Moqaddam Midanestand (', In politics, the Imam was considered a priority), interviewee, 2009
• Tarikhe Jazireh Qeshm (', History of Qeshm Island), 2008
• Qanoon Tazkareh dar Doreye Qajar (', Citizenship law in the Qajar period), 2008
• Shahab Fazl va Fazilat (', Shahab of grace and virtue), 2008
• Elme Nasab Shenasi (Ba Yadi az Saraamade Tabaar Shenasane Moaser Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi) (', Genealogy (in memory of the great contemporary genealogist Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi)), 2006
• Rooznegare Esteqbal az Hojjaj; Talife Seyed Mohammad Hossein Razavi Hamedani (', Journal of welcoming pilgrims; Compiled by Seyed Mohammad Hossein Razavi Hamedani), introducer, 2006
• Tajrobat al-Mosaferin; Talife Mirza Isa Khan Munshi (', Experience of travelers; Written by Mirza Isa Khan Munshi), introducer, 2006
• Gozareshe Safare Arabestan (', Saudi Arabia trip report), 2006
• Joqrafiaye Astan Quds Razavi; Mirza Ali Khan Sarhang (Nobar) (', Geography of Astan Quds Razavi; Mirza Ali Khan Sarhang (Nobar)), introducer, 2006
• Noskhehaye Jadid; Gozideh ee az Noskhehaye Nafis va Kohane Kharidari Shodeh ya Ehdayi (', New manuscripts; A selection of exquisite and ancient manuscripts purchased or donated), 2005
• Safarnameye Hend (', Travelogue of India), 2005
• Pedaram (', My father), 2004
• Safarnameye Abu Dhabi (', Abu Dhabi Travelogue), 2004
• Ganjinehaye Khatti (', Treasures of manuscript), interviewee, 2004
• Safarnameye Kuwait (', Travelogue of Kuwait), 2004
• Gozideh ee az Ketabhaye latiny Kharidari Shodeh (', Excerpts from purchased Latinate books), 2004
• Gozareshe Safar beh Keshvare Maghreb (', Travel report to Morocco), 2003
• Birjandi Nameh; Fehreste Noskhehaye Khattie Asaare Allameh Abdul Ali Birjandi dar Ketabkhanehaye Bozorge Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Birjandi treatise; List of manuscripts of the works of Allamah Abdul Ali Birjandi in the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 2003
• Ganjineh Ketabkhaneh; 450 Noskheye Nafis az Qarne Cheharom ta Hashtom (', Library treasure; 450 exquisite manuscripts from the fourth to the eighth century AH), 2000
• Fehreste Asaare Khattie Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi dar Ketabkhaneh (', List of manuscript works by Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi in the library), 1997
• Nezame Ketabdarie Eslami dar Sadehaye Sevvom ta Hashtom Hejri Qamari (', Islamic library system in the third to eighth centuries AH), 1995
• Gozareshe Safar beh Showravi (', Travel report of the Soviet Union), 1991
• Ashenayi ba Ketabkhaneye Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (', Get acquainted with the library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 1990