Introducing the book Ma’asim al-Huda and al-Isaba fi Tafdhil i Ali ‘ala al-Sahaba by Hamid al-Din Kermani

Hamid al-Din Kermani (5th century) is one of the great Ismaili ministers who had a significant impact on the Ismaili tradition. His works include various philosophical and religious topics, one of which is the treatise Ma’asim al-Huda and al-Isaba fi Tafdhil Ali ‘ala al-Sahabah. This book is basically a rebuttal to Al-Uthmaniyya by Abu Uthman Amr bin Bahr known as Jahidh (255 AH). Ma’asim alHuda’s major parts are lost and only a few portions of chapters three, four and five are left. The remaining part of the third chapter is on the specific virtues of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), the fourth chapter on the common virtues of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) and the first caliph, and the fifth chapter on the virtues of Abu Bakr. So far, no corrections have been made to this treatise and has remained in manuscript form. The main topic of this article is to introduce the content and the remaining versions of Ma’asim al-Huda.