The method of compilation of Kitāb al-Mazārin the Four Books: a comparative study

This article chronically deals with the evaluation of the compilation method of any of the [three] compilers of the Four Book in the “kitāb al-mazār” (chapter of the ziyarat of the Infallibles) contained in these books. In a comparative study on the compilation method of any of the compilers of the Four Books in their kitāb al-mazār we find both similarities and distinctions. These similarities are easily found in the general structure of certain sections of them, however, concerning the proportion of the sections, the titles given to them, the order of hadiths, propounding the cases briefly or elaborately, the jurisprudential glosses on the traditions, discussions on hadith comprehension (fiqh al-ḥadīth) concerning the hadiths, and certain other aspects, they seem fully distinct from one another. The finding of this study is that in the course of time the kitāb al-mazār chapter of any of the Four Books compared with the earlier one is more comprehensive from the aspect of subject, and has more reasonable arrangement from the aspect of type of compilation  so that the kitāb al-mazār by Shaykh al-Ṭūsī compared with the two kitāb al-mazārs compiled by his predecessors is more comprehensive and more methodological; the sections are more organized from the aspect of arrangement and order, and the hadiths are longer and the scope of topics is broader. The same is true for the kitāb al-mazār by Shaykh al-Ṣadūq in comparison with the kitāb al-mazār compiled by Shaykh al-Kulaynī.