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Peshawar Nights
Sultanu'l-Wa'izin Shirazi, an eminent scholar of Iran, visited India in 1927 A.D (1345 A.H.) when he was 30 years old. He was given a rousing reception everywhere he went. People benefited from his knowledge of tradition, history, and commentary on theholy Qur'an. He was persuaded to enter into a religious debate on 23rd Rajab, 1345 A.H., with people of another belief in Peshawar, in what was then India and is today Pakistan. The discussion took place on ten successive nights. The two principal participants from the opposite side were renowned scholars of Kabul, Hafiz Muhammad Rashid and Sheikh Abdu's-Salam. Four reporters recorded the discussions in the presence of approximately 200 people (Shiaand Sunni Muslims). Local newspapers published these accounts each following morning. Sultanu'l-Wa'izin Shirazi compiled the newspaper accounts of the discussions in a book in Persian, published in Teheran as Shabhaye-Peshawar, or Peshawar Nights. The following is a translation of that book.
517 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 7, 2009
You cannot be indifferent to Shi'ism after reading this book !
August 14, 2016
This book is a fraud. A cheap and condensed Pakistani copy of Al-Muraja'at written by the Iraqi-Lebanese Shia scholar Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi who, supposedly, did bother to visit Al-Azhar in 1919 and held a debate with a Sunni authority there.
Pehsawar Nights is, in contrast, nothing but fiction presented as a real historical event and plain plagiarism. It is really shameful for mainstream Shias to spread this garbage.
If you are really into Shia-Sunni contrasts, do yourself a favor and read the longer and more academic Al-Muraja'at instead. Although that one might turn out to be a fraud as well, at least it was original in its idea of presenting an exhaustive list of similarities/discrepancies between both schools in the form of an academic debate, while accurately representing the many misunderstandings of Sunnis on Shiism and offering reasonable answers to them.
Pehsawar Nights is, in contrast, nothing but fiction presented as a real historical event and plain plagiarism. It is really shameful for mainstream Shias to spread this garbage.
If you are really into Shia-Sunni contrasts, do yourself a favor and read the longer and more academic Al-Muraja'at instead. Although that one might turn out to be a fraud as well, at least it was original in its idea of presenting an exhaustive list of similarities/discrepancies between both schools in the form of an academic debate, while accurately representing the many misunderstandings of Sunnis on Shiism and offering reasonable answers to them.
June 29, 2007
i m reading this book from last four months i don't hav much time to read this book but i confirm that if any sunni muslim read this book he can become a shia .Its a typical book and u must hav refrence books if u want to read this book due to lack of refrence books i feel quite difficulty in reading this book.But a great book based on a disscusion between a shia scholar came in late fourties here in PESHAWAR a city of PAKISTAN.
April 27, 2020
First book I read when I was learning about the Sunni Shia division. By God, this would put any one who doubts in a state of certainty. May Gods peace and blessings be upon the knowledgeable author. Highly recommend. God bless.
December 14, 2011
Lot of history and information in the differences of the tow sect! One must feel to manually get those books to learn even more!
May 2, 2019
A good book for the beginner to get acquainted with the main arguments for the Shia doctrine. Its comprehensive and introduces a multitude of controversial topics and does a good job for the most part of laying our views versus the Sunnis.
There are many references in the chapters and they are largely accurate but you have to be careful because some of them are clearly inaccurate or false.
This was the book that opened my eyes to the consequences of our beliefs. Made me really question a lot of the things that Sunnis believe that I didnt know before.
There are many references in the chapters and they are largely accurate but you have to be careful because some of them are clearly inaccurate or false.
This was the book that opened my eyes to the consequences of our beliefs. Made me really question a lot of the things that Sunnis believe that I didnt know before.
January 11, 2024
I can't believe a treasure like this had been sitting on my bookshelf and getting dusty for years and I never bothered to read it. Until I did.
It's about a Shiite preacher and scholar who enters a debate with a group of Sunni sheiks on the subject of proving the legitimacy of Shi'ism based on Sunni books and historical resources.
Shirazi was truly a genius for his time and the fact that Sunni sheiks had to get into a back and forth verbal battle with him was unfortunate for them, and at some points I really pitied them. But sometimes I wondered why they would challenge him on notions without presenting any established cornerstone, and insisting on them with such prejudice, that it seemed to me they either wanted to seriously find the truth by bringing up every presumed fact they were taught as Sunnites to dissemble Shia's arguments in order to then throw them away and tick them off as invalid, or just throw accusations right and left to create a hostile environment for the listeners and journalists present at the event to confuse everybody and spread false informations about Shia to distract the opponent and keep him busy answering false rumors instead of continuing to disprove Sunni beliefs and eventually neutralize the threat of suffering shame and disgrace, and hope that Shirazi run out of talking points and get exposed. Shirazi however, was annoyingly calm and preserved during the whole thing, and resolved their allegations and misgivings one by one, respectfully, with the help of an eloquent tongue and an exceptional memory.
I kind of understand why respected religious figures would fight tooth and nail to defend their beliefs with so much prejudice even when faced with concrete disproof, especially if it provides them with the material and moral advantages that usually come with being a clergyman, like money and station. So it's no wonder why most of them are so intolerant toward other belief systems to the extent of not even willing to hear what they have to say, because it may taint their image in the eyes of their followers and jeopardize their position. But there are those who would fight hard as well, but only to find the truth, and are willing to accept any argument that is backed by hard proof. They are flexible enough to accept the truth even if it's not in their interest, or at least harbor no grudge against people with beliefs contrary to their own, but instead they are willing to respectfully argue with the opponents based on reason and concrete evidence. And this side will always prevail and the memory of their victory would last for generations and continue to guide and enlighten anyone who seeks the truth.
It's about a Shiite preacher and scholar who enters a debate with a group of Sunni sheiks on the subject of proving the legitimacy of Shi'ism based on Sunni books and historical resources.
Shirazi was truly a genius for his time and the fact that Sunni sheiks had to get into a back and forth verbal battle with him was unfortunate for them, and at some points I really pitied them. But sometimes I wondered why they would challenge him on notions without presenting any established cornerstone, and insisting on them with such prejudice, that it seemed to me they either wanted to seriously find the truth by bringing up every presumed fact they were taught as Sunnites to dissemble Shia's arguments in order to then throw them away and tick them off as invalid, or just throw accusations right and left to create a hostile environment for the listeners and journalists present at the event to confuse everybody and spread false informations about Shia to distract the opponent and keep him busy answering false rumors instead of continuing to disprove Sunni beliefs and eventually neutralize the threat of suffering shame and disgrace, and hope that Shirazi run out of talking points and get exposed. Shirazi however, was annoyingly calm and preserved during the whole thing, and resolved their allegations and misgivings one by one, respectfully, with the help of an eloquent tongue and an exceptional memory.
I kind of understand why respected religious figures would fight tooth and nail to defend their beliefs with so much prejudice even when faced with concrete disproof, especially if it provides them with the material and moral advantages that usually come with being a clergyman, like money and station. So it's no wonder why most of them are so intolerant toward other belief systems to the extent of not even willing to hear what they have to say, because it may taint their image in the eyes of their followers and jeopardize their position. But there are those who would fight hard as well, but only to find the truth, and are willing to accept any argument that is backed by hard proof. They are flexible enough to accept the truth even if it's not in their interest, or at least harbor no grudge against people with beliefs contrary to their own, but instead they are willing to respectfully argue with the opponents based on reason and concrete evidence. And this side will always prevail and the memory of their victory would last for generations and continue to guide and enlighten anyone who seeks the truth.
December 10, 2013
Excellent
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews