Peshawar Nights: Shia Islam in Sunni Traditions

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.