Introduction
Manuscripts and handwritten documents from past generations hold significant scientific, artistic, and cultural heritage value. These works play a crucial role in transmitting the scientific achievements and experiences of previous civilizations. Therefore, identifying, introducing, and preserving manuscripts is an essential and unavoidable task. The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, established in 1992, aims to compile a list of archives and libraries that are at risk of damage or destruction. Given this context, conducting case studies on manuscripts from various perspectives, particularly in terms of preserving civilizational heritage, is necessary. This article, emphasizing the importance of such studies, examines the content of the manuscript ‘The Seeker’s Guide to the Rulings of Religion’.
The manuscript ‘The Seeker’s Guide to the Rulings of Religion’, authored by Abu Taleb Qayeni (1230 AH – 1293 AH), belongs to the category of Ajwibah (collections of legal questions and answers). These Ajwibah consist of a compilation of religious queries and responses, systematically organized under the titles of Questions and Answers or Ajwibat al-Masā’il. Abu Taleb Qayeni was a prominent 13th-century AH jurist with numerous works in the field of Islamic jurisprudence and other religious sciences such as Dirāyah (narration analysis) and Rijāl (biographical evaluation of narrators). Due to his extensive knowledge of Islamic and legal sciences, he employed rational arguments and scriptural evidence from the Qur'an and the sayings of Shi'a Imams to address religious inquiries.
From a content perspective, ‘The Seeker’s Guide to the Rulings of Religion’ falls within the category of Ajwibah manuscripts. Historically, after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Shi’a Imams were entrusted with the responsibility of answering religious inquiries and resolving ambiguities. Following the Imams, this duty was carried out by the deputies of the Hidden Imam (Mahdi). After the passing of the last deputy, Shi’a scholars and jurists assumed this critical role. Over time, the questions and answers posed to scholars in different periods were compiled into treatises, forming the tradition of Ajwibah-writing, which has continued throughout Iranian history.
The primary objective of this research is to analyze the structural and content-related aspects of ‘The Seeker’s Guide to the Rulings of Religion’ and to elucidate its role within Islamic culture and civilization.
 
Research Methodology
This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach.
 
Findings
The treatise ‘The Seeker’s Guide to the Rulings of Religion’ shares structural and formal similarities with other Ajwibah compilations authored by scholars, containing numerous religious and social inquiries. The most prominent topics covered in this manuscript include Islamic legal rulings, economic issues, endowments, legal matters, and social affairs. The manuscript provides valuable insights into the religious beliefs, way of life, and socio-economic characteristics of the Qā’ināt region.
The functional significance of this Ajwibah can be summarized as follows:

Understanding the local history and socio-cultural characteristics of Qaenat and the lifestyle of its inhabitants.
Recognizing the scholarly position of Abu Taleb Qayeni.
Preserving and promoting the written heritage of Shi'ism.

Studies on Ajwibah in general, and this particular Ajwibah specifically, reveal that these works served as a means to address topics not extensively covered in the juristic treatises of Mujtahids. Consequently, Ajwibah have contributed to the dynamism of Islamic legal discussions.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
In terms of objectives and findings, this article aligns with the work of Alizadeh Birjandi and colleagues, titled The Function of Shi’a Scholars’ Ajwibah in the Social History Studies of Iran, which highlights the importance of Ajwibah and their various roles in historical and civilizational studies. However, Alizadeh Birjandi and colleagues specifically emphasize the significance of Ajwibah in social history studies, particularly in local historical research.