Ayatollah Behbahāni wrote a book about the divine leadership (Imāmat), in his trip to Karbalā, during 1364 A.H. (1940), and named it "Mesbāhul Hedāya". He ordered the book, according to an Islamic practice, in 40 chapters. In every of those chapters, a Qur'anic verse which is related to the subject of "Imamat", and Divine leadership" is explained. Then Islamic traditions, from the infallible leaders, quoted by the scholars of both Shia and Sunni groups, have been added. The caracteristics of the book are as below:
1.It is a kind of subject-oriented book of commentary of Qur'an. The main subject in the discussed verses is Divine leadership or Imamat.
2.It is a kind of "40 traditions" book. Many of the Muslim scholars have written similar books, which contain 40 traditions relatd from the holy Prophet and or infallible leaders. "Mesbahul Hedaya" is a "40 traditions" book dedicated to the subject of Imāmat.
3.Detailed explanation about the topic tradition in every chapter, by using other traditions.
4.Application of the traditions narrated in the both Shia and Sunni sources and refrences.
5.Detailed explanations about every topic tradition by the application of the Islamic science, so that the imporatnt points and characteristics of them are revealed.
6.A comparative study and review of the views of different Muslim scholars and sects, by observing the principles of a scientific comparativestudy, i.e. accuracy, politeness, and reasoning in criticize.
7.Application of the other Qur'anic verses, in orther to explain the topic verse in every chapter, and to review the viewpoints of other Muslim writers.
8.A correct classification of the subjects, which indicates the familiarity of the writer to other fields of religious studies.
9.Showing the corelation of the coherent central 40 verses, so that the aware readers will clearly find out that every of those verses were related and clearly indicating about an aspect, or aspects, of the subject of Imamat.
10.Frequent application and usage of the graet book of "Ghāyatul Marām" written by the highly respected Shia writer, Seyed Hashem Bahrāni, who compiled his book in 460chapters, and had collected more than 4500 traditions in the field of Imamat, from both Shia and Sunni sources and refrences.
11.Preparation of scientific responces to those who had confirmed and certified the correctness of the traditions about the virtues of Amirul Momenin Ali (p.b.u.h.); but do not consider them indicative and enough about his appointment as "the divine leader" and "Imam".
12.Making refrences to the Arabic literature of the Islamic period, during the discussions.
13.Application of the ancient Shia and Sunni commentary books of Qur'an such as "Majma'ul Bayan" (written by Ali Tabarsi), Kabir (written by Fakhr-e-Rāzi), and Kash'shāf (by Zamakh'shari); and discussing their contents, which reveals the knowledge of the author-Ayatollah Behbahāni- over the Qur'anic subjects.
14.Providing different historical discussion by application of the work of the popular Sunni writer Ibn Qutaiba Dinwari, i.e. the book, "al-Imamat wal Siyasat" and evaluating its contents.
15.A correct and fluent text, which has regarded all the Arabic grammatical points, has resulted in attention and admiration of the Arab people.The above characteristics cuased to frequent prints and publications of this book in Tehran, Qum, Esfahān, and Cairo. (Qairo. Najah Publications, 1976). For the same reasons, the respected writer was very careful about this book, in comparison to his other works. Even once it was translated in to Persian language by Seyed M.R. Shafiei (in the name Meftāhul Enāya); again the author encouraged another student, Mr. Ali Dawani, to translate it in to Persian. This new translation (Mesbāhul Hedāya) is published several times. This book is also translated and published in to Urdo language. Atoghether, we can say that it might serve as a reference book in the fields of interpretation, traditions, theologey, history, etc for the Muslim students, and those who would like to learn more about the Islamic issues.
