The Specialized Library of Imam al-Ridha (AS) – Volume 1

About The Specialized Library of Imam al-Ridha (AS) – Volume 1

Noor (Light) from Light to Light, until it reached the Eighth of the Lights of Guidance;

Of His greatness it is said: He shall reach the pinnacle of exalted glory;

Not only do humans come, but even the angels hasten to bow before His feet;

Where are you drifting, O heart full of sorrow? Turn your path toward the heart — for it is ever heart and beloved, and shall deliver you from every distress.

Know that whoever follows that great man, his path is this: to support him through love, to become enriched through knowledge of him, to serve him through obedience, and to befriend him through submission.

The Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences, as part of its ongoing efforts to present religious heritage in the form of digital libraries, presents this time the second edition of the software titled: **"The Specialized Library of Imam al-Ridha (AS) – Version 2"**, as an expression of devotion to the Eighth Imam of Ahl al-Bayt (AS) and in service to his followers and admirers. We hope this work may be accepted at his noble threshold. Below, the **content** and **features** of this valuable library are explained to facilitate optimal use.

A. Program Content

This software includes 116 book titles in 480 volumes, in Persian and Arabic, covering the following topics: The Fourteen Infallibles (AS), The Twelve Imams (AS), the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam al-Kadhim (AS), Imam al-Ridha (AS), Imam al-Jawad (AS), Ahl al-Bayt (AS), Abbasid History, General History, and Urban Geography.

Some of the key books included in this library are:

1. Ahmadi’s Works: Biography of the Islamic Prophet (PBUH) and the Infallible Imams (AS)
2. An Analytical Study of the Life of Imam al-Ridha (AS)
3. Shi’a Jihad in the Early Abbasid Era
4. The Life of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (AS)
5. Historical Geography of Imam al-Ridha’s (AS) Journey from Medina to Marv
6. The Life of the Fourteen Infallibles (AS)
7. Famous Figures Buried in the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Ridha (AS) (5 vols)
8. Biographies of the Infallibles (6 vols)
9. A Journey through the Lives of the Infallible Imams (28 vols)
10. Al-Ihtijaj (2 vols)
11. Al-Irshad fi Ma'rifat Hujaj Allah 'ala al-'Ibad (2 vols)
12. 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha (AS) (2 vols)
13. Sharh al-Akhbar fi Fada'il al-A'imma al-Athar (AS) (3 vols)
14. Al-Manaqib (4 vols)
15. Al-Kafi (8 vols)
16. Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Muluk (11 vols)
17. A'yan al-Shi'a (12 vols)
18. Al-Dhari'a ila Tasanif al-Shi'a (26 vols)
19. Ihqaq al-Haqq wa Izhāq al-Batil (34 vols)
20. Tarikh al-Islam wa Wafayat al-Mashahir wa al-A'lam (52 vols)
21. Bihar al-Anwar: The Oceans of Lights, Compiling the Pearls of Narrations from the Infallible Imams (AS) (110 vols)
22. History of the Abbasid State
23. The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (AS)
24. History of Ahl al-Bayt (AS)
25. Kamil al-Ziyarat

B. Program Features

• Text Display

• Access to full texts and indexes of all books in the program
• Select tree-based or curated indexes linked to the text, with bidirectional text-index synchronization
• Select book title, volume, and page, with options to expand text and index views
• Simultaneous comparison of two texts from one or two books
• Limit text and index scope to desired items
• Save selected texts or indexes independently for quick future access

• Search

• Simple and advanced search in texts and indexes of the program’s books
• Save individual search queries independently
• Restrict search scope to specific texts with advanced options
• Generate dynamic and diverse keyword indexes using general tags

• Dictionary

• Full text of multiple dictionary editions with access to word roots and derivatives
• Linking of words in the texts to the program’s dictionaries for easy understanding

• Active Research

• Integration of book texts and indexes with other sections: Display, Search, Quran, Dictionary, or Bibliography
• Copy selected text to clipboard or export to Microsoft Word

• Bibliography (Book Catalog)

• Access to useful information about the edition and manuscript details of each book

• Note-taking

• Transfer desired text or index to the program’s note section
• Save and edit transferred content in the note page
• Export notes to Microsoft Word

• Printing

• Print any desired text or index with multiple formatting options

• Help / Guide

• Access to helpful explanations about different sections of the program

• Research Tools

• Indexing, footnote creation, text highlighting with colors, and tagging for faster retrieval and recording of additional information
• Full user control and management of research features

• Additional Features

• Access to multiple common keyboard layouts and display fonts for easier software use
• Set custom save paths for research outputs with various options
• Show or hide Arabic diacritics (i‘rab) and page headers in program texts

About the International Cultural and Artistic Foundation of Imam al-Ridha (AS):

The Islamic Republic of Iran, the capital of Shi’ism, has for over a thousand years been honored as the resting place of the luminous presence of Sultan Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (AS), and through the blessing of his heavenly presence, has worn the crown of glory and dignity.

Yet it must be said: despite the vast number of luminous, scholarly, and wise words from this radiant star of the Imamate and Mission, and despite all modern media, very few people in today’s noisy, multi-billion world truly know the exalted personality of this great Imam (AS) or grasp the depth of his profound words. Thus, even if all scientific and cultural institutions in the country unite in a comprehensive effort to introduce the thoughts and guidance of the Eighth Imam of the Prophet’s Household (AS) to humanity, they would still be at the beginning of the path.

Three decades after the glorious Islamic Revolution in Iran, and now in the new decade of "Justice and Progress," as the country advances toward civilizational development, the International Cultural and Artistic Foundation of Imam al-Ridha (AS) is honored to present a new achievement in collaboration with the "Computer Research Center of Islamic Sciences" — titled **"The Specialized Library of Imam al-Ridha (AS)"** — for researchers and scholars.

This software has been designed to collect and present all books written about the Eighth Imam, Imam al-Ridha (AS), from the 2nd century AH to the present. In the first version, all data available at the Center were compiled and presented. In this second version, additional sources and updated information have been added. Clearly, the more esteemed publishers and authors assist in completing and updating this valuable collection, the more accessible works related to this great Imam will become for researchers and enthusiasts, and scholars in seminaries and universities will benefit even more from this flowing spring — the "Speaking Quran."

Here, we extend our sincere gratitude to the "Institute of Cultural, Artistic, and Communication Studies" (affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance), which first proposed the idea of producing this distinguished work and supported it throughout all stages without reservation.

At the threshold of the sublime presence of the Eighth Imam (AS)

International Cultural and Artistic Foundation of Imam al-Ridha (AS)