I am a graduate student and manuscript cataloger based at Columbia University, and my research interest concerns Twelver Shi’ism, which thus requires frequent research trips to the Middle East, specifically to Iraq and Iran. With this background, I would like to contribute my experiences working in the relevant libraries of both these countries.
Due to the turbulent last 50 years, the repositories of the two Shi’i dominated nations have in ways remained enigmatic for the typical western researcher. Enigmatic not because they are hiding anything, but because constant conflict has made them relatively inaccessible. Consequently, Shi’i studies, within Islamic studies, has been warped towards focussing on contemporary geo-political issues, whereas the rich Shi’i literary legacy ranging from jurisprudence to philosophy and so on has been veiled, seemingly only for certain experts to see. While it is true that travel to these regions is not at all easy, the historical libraries therein are indeed waiting for foreign researchers to come, and I have found that the staff are earnest in finding ways to assist in this proliferation of knowledge.
When it comes to Iraq and Shi’i studies, there are numerous libraries and manuscript collections where one can partake in research. From the National Archives in Baghdad and private libraries of Kazimiyah, to the collections of the ‘atabat (shrine) complex in Karbala, there is no single location that deserves to be the primal point of initiating research work, other than the seminary city of Najaf, and its al-Imam al-Hakim Public Library. This al-Hakim Library services the tens of thousands of students and scholars of the Najaf seminary, and thus can be considered the chief reservoir of Shi’ism as a school of thought. Therefore, visiting the al-Hakim Library is of vital importance for the Shi’i studies researcher, and hence the topic of this piece.
Being a hustling and bustling city of religious pilgrimage, the educational institutions of Najaf (Iraq) tend to get lost amongst the plethora of hotels and guesthouses serving the throngs of visitors that come from all parts of the world. However, as it is very much the historic center of Shi’i scholarship there are numerous libraries, schools, and study places hidden in the alleyways of the ancient city. On the western side of al-Rasul St., right outside the gates of Bab al-Qibla of the mausoleum of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib in Najaf, is located one such institution, the al-Imam al-Hakim Public Library.
Even though it is the closest major establishment outside of the mausoleum, for the non-local it would be terribly hard to find for the building is camouflaged behind a bazaar of juice stalls, clothing shops, and religious souvenir stands. Therefore, in order to find the al-Hakim Public Library one would need to ask where Masjid al-Hindi is and adjacent to this mosque, up the alley-stairs to its right is the entrance to the library.
History
Ayatullah Muhsin al-Hakim (1889 – 1970), the eminent Shi’i marja’ of the mid-twentieth century, seeing the need to modernize the Hawzah (seminary) of Najaf as well as to centralize and preserve the rare books and manuscripts scattered amongst the many private collections of the city, decided to establish the library in 1957. As the main study hall for the seminarians of the city, Masjid al-Hindi originally housed the library, but as space proved to be limited, land adjacent to the mosque was bought upon which the current five-story structure was built. The construction concluded in 1967 and the building has stayed relatively the same since then.
(Photo Credit: Shabbir Agha Abbas)
Collections
On the ground floor is the main reading room, which is open to the public and equipped with tables for researchers. The internet is sufficiently fast, and during the scorching Iraqi summer the air conditioning delivers. Directly above the reading room are the stacks, accessible only by stairs, which house the library’s books, numbering 40-50,000. These books are primarily in Arabic and Islamic in nature, and books from all Islamic denominations and philosophies are found, and that too in every genre (fiqh, ‘aqidah, etc). This collection of books was built primarily from the personal collection of Ayatullah Muhsin al-Hakim, but also private collections of other 20th century mujtahids and scholars of Najaf, donated upon their passing. There is a smaller female-only reading room located on the second floor. I believe the ground floor reading room is open to women as well and have not seen any signage to indicate otherwise, but at the same time I have never come across women there.
(Photo Credit: Shabbir Agha Abbas)
As one leaves the reading room towards the building’s entrance, there is a desk with an attendant stationed where visiting researchers need to register their name and information, ID is not needed. In order to access the manuscripts section of the library one then needs to ask this attendant for permission, which they typically oblige. They then point out the set of stairs that lead down to the basement where the manuscripts are kept. Arriving to the bottom of the stairs, one enters the office of Mr. Sayyid Jawwad al-Hakim, a genial yet inquisitive manager of the collection. He will ask which manuscripts from their catalog one would like to see, and in the process of him locating the manuscripts he would request one to sit and wait in the comfortable lounge within his office. After retrieving the manuscripts, researchers are allowed to examine them however long, but are restricted to only taking photographs of the introductory pages of the manuscript as well as its conclusion and colophon. The catalog for the manuscripts are found online (linked below), and of the nearly 6000 manuscripts listed, photographs of some 1400 have been uploaded to the site and this number is expected to increase as manuscripts are photographed.
(Photo Credit: Shabbir Agha Abbas)
In regards to the importance of the manuscript collection, outside of Iran it is considered one of the most important collections of Shi’i texts, housing the writings of al-‘Allama al-Hilli (d. 726/1325) and other towering scholars from the history of the tradition. The al-Hakim Library maintains an impressive repository of 6th century manuscripts, which is crucially important in the study of Shi’ism because it is in that time period that the Hawzah as an institution was solidified.
Research Experience
in the hands of Mr. Sayyid Jawwad al-Hakim
(Photo Credit: Shabbir Agha Abbas)
Unfortunately, due to the many wars that have plagued Iraq as well as the imprisonment of the al-Hakim family during the rule of Saddam Hussein, the library has been very slow to bring its physical facilities up to date. While a comfortable reading room with adequate wifi is available, alongside the amicable nature of the library staff, the building is far from accessible for the disabled. There are a lot of stairs, both within the building but also at the entrance, and as the building was built according to 1960s standards, railings and other safety measures for these stairs are not guaranteed. Likewise other amenities like access to photocopying and printing are not readily found, although listed on their website.
Nevertheless, it is a conducive environment for research as the staff make every effort in their ability to assist library patrons. Also, as the library is attached to Masjid al-Hindi, usually only seminarians and serious researchers are found within it. Unlike other public libraries, there is no competition for table space, even if the library itself is relatively small in size.
Access and Reproductions
The library is open to all, however there are set timings for access. The al-Hakim Library opens at 8:00 AM and remains open till 1:00 PM, and then closes for three hours reopening at 4:00 PM and closing for the night at 7:00 PM. Thursdays and Fridays the library is closed, and whenever major Shi’i holidays and days of commemoration occur one should expect the library to be closed. Upon request CDs of digitized manuscripts and select chapters of books can be prepared, though I have not made use of this service myself.
Transportation and Food
(Photo Credit: Shabbir Agha Abbas)
As the area proximal to the mausoleum of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib is under heightened security, there is no vehicular traffic. Therefore, one would have to get off at one of the various checkpoints and walk to the library, the closest one is at the intersection of al-Rasul St. and Banat al-Hasan St.
Regarding food, as the library is in the midst of a bazaar there are food options all around. On al-Rasul St. there are many Iraqi street food options, kababs and falafel, however if one wants more westernized food, they could take a left turn onto Imam al-Sadiq St. before the entrance of Bab al-Qibla, where one could find many 4-5 star hotels (e.g., Qasr al-Diyafah and Qasr al-Asad) with attached restaurants.
Contact Information:
Library Manager:
Mr. Sayyid Jawwad al-Hakim
Phone Number:
0119647801025081
Email:
Website:
Books and Publications Catalog:
http://alhakeemlib.org/WebPages/Printed.aspx
Manuscripts Catalog:
http://alhakeemlib.org/WebPages/Autograph.aspx
Photographed Manuscripts:
http://alhakeemlib.org/WebPages/Pictorial.aspx
Shabbir Agha Abbas is a graduate student and manuscript cataloger at Columbia University, his research focus is on the development of Twelver Shi’ism. He has previously completed a Masters from Rutgers University, and has studied in Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.