CHAPTER XII
HIS SCHOOL, HIS STUDENTS, AND
HIS COMPANIONS
The Islamic world in the time of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, suffered ideological stagnation and dangerous collapse in cultural, scientific life, for the Umayyad government officially waged war against knowledge and deadened awareness, that it might stay on the throne of authority for a longer time, plunder the wealth of the community, and control its fate.
It is certain that there was no trace of Islamic sciences and beliefs in the time of the Ima`m, peace be on him. Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, witnessed that inactive ideological life and that ignorant community, so he began establishing his great school which was joined by a large group of religious scholars and jurists about whose biographies we will talk.
Anyhow, the community in that time did not witness a profit greater than that of the Ima`m, peace be on him. This is when he established his science school in its homeland and enlighten it with thoughts, sciences, and knowledge. Before we speak about the Ima`m's school, students, and companions, we will mention some of his scientific affairs.
His Devotion to Proclaiming Knowledge
The great Ima`m thought that it was religiously incumbent on him to spread knowledge as well as he wanted with it to amuse himself which was full of worries and pain, hence he devoted himself
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to it. Shaykh Abu` Zahra said: "He, namely the Ima`m, devoted himself to knowledge, study, and research, for he found in it the diet of his heart, and an amusement for his soul. He turned his soul away from permanent worries and pain, hence he sought hadith (tradition) and devoted himself to it.
1"
The Ima`m dedicated himself to proclaiming knowledge among the people to the extent that it distracted him from everything.
2 His only concern was to enlighten the Muslims, train their natures, and to educate them with moral teachings of the tolerant Islamic message, that they might after him carry the torches of thought and light.
His Praising the Excellence of Knowledge
He, peace be on him, praised the excellence of knowledge and urged (the Muslims) to seek it when he said: "If men knew what was in seeking knowledge, they would seek it even through shedding blood and wading into the depth of the seas. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed to Da`nya`l: 'The most hateful servant with Me is the ignorant who disdains the scholars and leaves following them; the most lovable servant with Me is the pious who seeks plentiful reward, clings to the scholars, and follows the wise men.
3"
Have you seen how the Ima`m glorified knowledge and urged (the Muslims) to seek it? He, peace be on him, believed that the community would have no life except through spreading knowledge among its members.
His Encouraging Scientific Movements
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, played an important role in encouraging scientific movements. Though he had majesty and
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1 Al-Ima`m Zayd, p. 24.
2 Hulyat al-Awliya`', vol. 3, p. 135.
3 Usu`l al-Ka`fi, vol. 1, p. 35. Al-Mahjja al-Bayda`', vol. 1, p. 26.
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noble self, he attended the class of Zayd b. Aslam, hence Na`fi' b. Jubayr blamed him for this, saying: "May Allah pardon you. You are the master of the people, why do you come and sit with this slave (i.e. Zayd b. Aslam)?"
"Knowledge is sought everywhere," replied the Ima`m.
1
It is not an act of Islam that false differences withhold men from learning and making use of scholars everywhere.
His Honoring the Seekers of Knowledge
The Ima`m, peace be on him, honored the students of knowledge and raised their position. The historians said: "When a seeker of knowledge came to him, he received him warmly and said to him: 'Welcome to the one whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, has recommended .'" Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, said: "When my father looked at the youths who sought knowledge, he brought them near to him and said to them: 'You are welcome. knowledge is entrusted to you. You are the youths of the people, but you are about to be the elders of others.'
2"
Teachings for Learners
The Ima`m, peace be on him, appointed moral instructions for learners, an example of them is these words of him: "He who laughs one time loses a bit of knowledge.
3" Ibn Jama`'a produced this tradition as evidence of that it is impermissible for a learner to laugh
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1 Ta`rikh Dimashq, vol. 36, p. 146. Tadhib al-Kama`l: M7/Q2/ p. 335. Safwa`t al-Saffwa.
2 Al-Durr al-Nazïm, p. 173. Al-Anwa`r al-Bahiya, p. 103.
3 Siyar A'la`m al-Nubala`', vol. 4, p. 38. Tadhikirat al-Huffa`z, vol. 1, p. 71. Al-Hulya, vol. 3, p. 134.
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before his teacher.
1 This means that the learner should show politeness and respect toward his teacher.
Rights of Teacher
The Ima`m, peace be on him, legislated rights the like of which no organization of education and teaching has ever done. He, peace be on him, said: "The right of the one who trains you (sa`'is) through knowledge is magnifying him, respecting his sessions, listening well to him, and attending to him with devotion. You should not rise your voice before him. You should never answer anyone who asks him about something, in order that he may be the one who answers. You should not speak to anyone in his session nor speak ill of anyone with him. If anyone ever speaks ill of him in your presence, you should defend him. You should conceal his faults and manifest his virtues. You should not sit with him in enmity or show hostility toward him in friendship. If you do all of this, Allah's angels will give witness for you that you went straight to him and learned his knowledge for Allah's sake, not for the sake of the people."
The Ima`m, peace be on him, established excellent programs for teacher's rights against his students. Students should show sincerity and gratitude toward these rights of teacher who spares no effort to bring them out of the shadows of ignorance into the fields of knowledge and civilization, in order to develop their intellects, and to enlighten their thoughts, hence they should show all kinds of thankfulness and gratitude toward him.
The Reward of Learner
The Ima`m, peace be on him, talked about the plentiful reward which Allah, the Exalted, would give to those who seek knowledge, saying: "When one leaves his house to seek knowledge, the seven earths will glorify him.
2"
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1 Tadhkirat al-Sa`mi', vol. 98.
2 Haya`t al-Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, p. 23.
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Free Education
The Ima`m, peace be on him, thought that it was necessary for scholars to spread and proclaim knowledge among people freely, and that it was permissible for them to take fee for it. In this connection, he, peace be on him, said: "He who conceals knowledge and takes fee for it, then his knowledge will never profit him.
1"
Islam is distinguished from other religions and social schools by that it absolutely believes in knowledge, makes it incumbent on Muslims (men and women(to seek it, and prevents them from taking fee for it, and especially as it concerns teaching the Qur'a`n. Isha`q b. 'Amma`r reported: "I told Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, that I had a neighbor who would teach the children to read and write, and he said to me: 'When the child is sent to him, let him say to his family: 'I teach the child to write and count and trade in teaching the Qur'a`n
2, that my daily bread may be good.'
3"
It is incumbent on the state to give salary to the teacher; it should spend on him in order to free him from need for people.
The Humbleness of Teacher
The Ima`m, peace be on him, urged teachers to cling to humbleness, self-negation, and not to show haughtiness toward men, he said to a teacher:
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1 Al-Hulya, vol. 3, p. 140. In Jammharat al-Awliya`', vol. 2, p. 73, it has been mentioned: “He who conceals his knowledge and takes fee for it by force, his knowledge is useless.”
2 In this manner it has been mentioned in the source. Perhaps the correct is that I do not trade in teaching the Qur'a`n. If the source is established, trading, in this case, is with Allah.
3 Al-Istibsa`r, vol. 3, p. 66.
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"If you teach men well and show no haughtiness toward them, Allah will increase you of His bounty. If you deprive them of your knowledge and show haughtiness toward them when they seek knowledge from you, it is incumbent on Allah to deprive you of knowledge and its splendor and remove your position from hearts.
1"
The Center of his School
The Ima`m, peace be on him, took the Mosque of the Prophet as a center for his school and an institute for him; in its hall he delivered his lectures and researches.. It is worth mentioning that his lectures included jurisprudence, the interpretation (of the Qur'a`n), the hadith, philosophy, theology, rules of conduct, and morals. We mentioned some of them in the previous researches. The historians said: "He delivered every Friday a general sermon in which he preached to people, induced them to renounce the world, and make them beseech the next world. The people would memorize and write his words.
2" It is worth mentioning that his assembly was full of profits, hence 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan b. al-Hasan said: "My mother Fa`tima, daughter of al-Husayn, ordered me to join the assembly of my maternal uncle, 'Ali b. al-Husayn. When I joined it, I gained profits of it, such as fear of Allah or knowledge.
3"
The Scholars surrounded Him
The scholars, the jurists, and the reciters (of the Qur'a`n) surrounded him; they accompanied him weather he was present or on journey. When he wanted to travel to the Sacred House of Allah, about a thousand scholars and reciters of (the Qur'a`n) accompanied him.
4 They recorded his religious opinions and what he delivered before them, such as knowledge, excellent wise sayings, and morals.
____________
1 Maka`rim al-Akhla`q, vol. 143.
2 Roudat al-Ka`fi.
3 'Aya`n al-Shï'a, vol. 1, p. 340.
4 Al-Biha`r.
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His Students and his Companions
A large group of scholars and jurists, who spread knowledge throughout the Muslim world, graduated from the Ima`m's school. We will mention their biographies as well as those of the Ima`m's companions. I (the author) think that mentioning them will complete the research on the Ima`m's character. They are as follows:
1. Aba`n Ibn 'Ayya`sh
Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him among Ima`m al-Sajja`d's companions. Ibn al-Ghada`iri said: "He (Aba`n Ibn 'Ayya`sh) belonged to the next generation. He narrated (traditions) on the authority of Anas b. Ma`lik and 'Ali b. al-Husayn. He is a weak traditionalist, and no one pays attention to him. Our companions have ascribed to him the fabrication of the book 'Salim Ibn Qays'.
1" Ahmed b. Hanbal said: "His traditions are abandoned; the people abandoned his traditions a time ago.
2"
2. Aba`n Ibn Taghlub
b. Raba`h, Abu` Sa'id al-Bakri al-Jarriri. He was among the great scholars and one of the eminent Muslim thinkers. He defended the Ima`ms of the members of the House, peace be on them, memorized their knowledge and inheritance, hence he was the honest guard of their jurisprudence. We will mention some of his affairs:
His Birth and Childhood
He was born in Ku`fa, but the sources have not mentioned the year of his birth. He grew up in Ku`fa, which was the capital of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, and whose
____________
1 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadïth, vol. 1, p. 20.
2 Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 1, p. 98.
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assemblies was full of their remembrance, their laudable deeds, and their outstanding merits. Hence Aba`n loved and followed them to the extent that he became among the chosen Shi'ites and one of their eminent scholars. He studied at the Greatest Mosque (al-Ja`mi' al-A'zam), which was one of the most important religious institutes and schools in that time.
His Scientific Position
Aba`n was among the most prominent and mindful Muslim scholars in that time. The biographers said: "He was advanced in the sciences of the Qur'a`n and the hadith, literature, language, and grammar.
1"
When he went to Medina, he was charged with the scientific seminars, the sitting place of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household, was voided for him, the jurists and scholars surrounded him in order to make us of his scientific wealth. This indicates his high scientific position.
His Narrations from the Ima`ms
Aba`n was one of those who safeguarded the knowledge of the pure Ima`ms, peace be on them, hence he reported on the authority of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him.
2" He narrated thirty thousand traditions on the authority of al-Sa`diq, who, peace be on him, said to Aba`n b. 'Uthman: "Aba`n b. Taghlub reported thirty thousand traditions on my authority, so narrate them on his authority.
3" Salim b. Abi Hayya said: "I was with Abi 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him. When I wanted to leave him, I saw him off
____________
1 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadïth, vol. 1, p. 22.
2 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
3 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadïth, vol. 1, p. 22.
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and said to him: 'I want you to supply me (with traditions).' So he said: 'Go to Aba`n b. Taghlub, for he has heard many of my traditions. When he narrates them to you, you narrate them on my authority.'
1"
The Ima`ms honored Him
The Ima`ms honored and magnified Aba`n b. Taghlub, for he had scientific wealth as was as he was endowed with fear of Allah, piety, and cling to the religion. When Aba`n visited Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, he (Ima`m al-Sa`diq) received him, shook hands with, embraced him, welcomed him, and ordered a cushion to be brought to him.
2" Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir said to him: "Sit in the Mosque of Medina and give the people religious opinions, for I like your sitting among my followers (Shi'a).
3" This hadith shows that Aba`n had the ability to give religious opinions to the people. Ima`m Abu` 'Abd Allah al-Sa`diq said to him: "Sit with the people of Medina, for I like your sitting among our followers ((Shi'a).
4"
The Ima`ms, peace be on them, honored and magnified this great scholar, who delivered their knowledge, walked on their path, and followed their behavior.
His Reliability
The biographers agreed that Aba`n was reliable, honest, and truthful in narrating the hadith. None criticized him in this respect, but some people criticized him for his love for the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, an example of them is al-Jawzja`ni, who said: "He (Aba`n) was straying with a dispraised doctrine.
5"
____________
1 Ibid.
2 Ibid.
3 Mu'jam al-Ada`b, vol. 1, p. 108.
4 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadïth, vol. 1, p. 21.
5 Ibid.
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Another example of them is al-Dhahabi, who said: "He (Aba`n) was a firm Shi'ite, but he was truthful, so his truthfulness is for us, and his innovation is against him." He added: "How is it possible to regard an innovator as trustworthy while the bound of trustworthiness is justice and mastery? How is an innovator just?
"The answer to this question is this: Innovation is of two kinds: A small innovation, such as the immoderate Shi'ism or Shi'ism without immoderation and deviation, so this (innovation was wide-spread) among the next generation and those who followed it, and was accompanied by religion, piety, and truthfulness. If the hadith narrated by these (people) is refused, a group of the Prophet's traditions would be missing, and this would be manifest corruption. Then there is the great innovation, such as the total immoderate abandon (radfd), degrading Abu` Bakr and 'Umar, and summoning (men) to do that, hence such a kind (of people) is not regarded as proof.
1" This opinion is not objective, for the scientific research decides accepting the words of the trustworthy, reliable one who refrains from telling lies. As for the ideological inclinations in is respect, they are not important.
His Friendship to Ahl al-Bayt
Allah was kind to Aba`n through making him recognize the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, and show friendship toward them. Hence he safeguarded their knowledge and their morals, exerted himself in their jurisprudence, gave the people religious opinions according to it, solved the problems of the people in its light, talked about their outstanding merits in the assemblies of Ku`fa, debated with their opponents and enemies. That was in the time when it was dangerous for anyone to mention them with good, for the Umayyads spared no effort to punish severely those who showed love for the Ahl al-Bayt or displayed friendship to them, but Aba`n accustomed himself to their severe punishment, for his love for them was not emotional; rather it was based on intellect and proof, for the
____________
1 Miza`n al-I'tida`l, vol. 1, pp. 5-6.
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Qur'a`n and the Sunna made it incumbent on all Muslims to love the Ahl al-Bayt and in order to show friendship to them; moreover they made love for them as inseparable part of Islam.
Anyhow, Aba`n showed strong friendship to the Ahl al-Bayt. He thought that the Companions (of the Prophet) had been excellent if they had showed friendship to the pure Household (of the Prophet). 'Abd al-Rahma`n b. al-Hajja`j narrated: "While I was sitting with Aba`n b. Taghlub, a young man came and ask him: 'O Aba` Sa'id, how many Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household, were with 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib (at the Battle of the Camel)?'
"Aba`n understood the young man's purpose, so he asked him: 'It seems that you want to know Ali's excellence through the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household, who followed him?'
"Yes," replied the young man.
Aba`n answered him with the answer of those who understood Ima`m Ali's excellencies: "By Allah, we did not know their (the Companions') excellencies except through their following him.
1" Surely, Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the faithful, was the pioneer of wisdom and justice in Islam. He was the measure with which the values of men are known, so those who were sincere to him were of great excellence, and those who showed enmity toward him deviated from the truth.
Another aspect of Aba`n's friendship to the pure Ima`ms from among the family of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, is that he passed by some people who criticized him for his narrating from Ima`m Abi Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, so he asked them: "Why do blame me for my narrating from a man who (when I ask
____________
1 Haya`t al-Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, vol. 1, p. 192.
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him) he says: 'Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his Household, said.'
1"
Aba`n narrated on the authority of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his Household, hence his narration is the most trustworthy of all narrations and the most authentic of them in the chain of authorities.
His Books
Aba`n wrote a group of books showing his abundant knowledge and sciences, the following are some of them:
1. Tafsir Gharib al-Qur'a`n, in which he mentioned examples of poetry. Afterwards, 'Abd al-Rahma`n b. Mohammed al-Azdi al-Ku`fi gathered in one book the books of Aba`n, Mohammed b. al-Sa`yib al-Kalbi, and Ibn Rawa`q b. 'Atiya.
2. Al-Fada`'il2, in which, perhaps, he mentioned the outstanding merits of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them.
3. Al-Usu`l fi al-Ruwa`iya 'ala` Madhhab al-Shi'a.3
His Death
This great scholar (Aba`n) died in the year 141 A. H., hence his death was a great loss in Islam. Ima`m al-Sa`diq grieved over him when he said with sorrow and grief: "By Allah, the death of Aba`n has made my heart ache!
4"
____________
1 Ibid, p. 193.
2 Ibn al-Nadïm, Fihrast. Al-Tu`si, Fihrast, p. 42.
3 Ibn al-Nadïm, Fihrast.
4 Mu'jam al-Udaba`', vol. 1, p. 108.
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Abu` al-Bila`d said:
"Woe unto the Shi'ites all over the land if they do not grieve over Aba`n's death!"
May Allah have mercy upon Aba`n, for he strove bravely in the way of the Truth and raising the Word of Allah; his death was the greatest calamity in the Islamic world then.
3. Ibra`him Ibn Abi Haffsa
He was the retainer of the children of 'Ijjl. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him.
1
4. Ibra`him Ibn Bashir
al-Ansa`ri, al-Medani. According to this nick-name, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d (Zayn al-'Abidin), peace be on him.
2
5. Ibra`him Ibn 'Abd Allah
b. Ma'bad b. al-'Abba`s b. 'Abd al-Mutalib b. 'Abd Mana`f. According to this title, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
3
6. Ibra`him Ibn Mohammed
b. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib b. al-Hanafiya al-Medani. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
4
____________
1 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
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7. Ibra`him Ibn Yazid
al-Nakha'i, al-Ku`fi. He was given the Kunya of Aba` 'Umra`n. He died in the year 906 A. H. He was a one-eyed retainer, as Shaykh al-Tu`si mentioned.
1 A group of people was indignant with him because he said that Abu` Hurayra was not a jurist.
2
8. Ahmed Ibn Hamawayh
According to this title, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him.
3
9. Isha`q Ibn 'Abd Allah
b. al-Harth b. Nawfal b. al-Harth b. 'Abd al-Mutalib al-Medani. According to this title, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
4
10. Isha`q Ibn 'Abd Allah
b. Abi Tallha al-Medani. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
5
11. Isha`q Ibn Yasa`r
al-Medani. He was the retainer of Qays b. Mukarrima and was the father of Mohammed b. Isha`q, the companion of al-Wa`qidi. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
6
____________
1 Ibid.
2 Miza`n al-I'tida`l, vol. 1, p. 75.
3 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
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12. Isma`'il Ibn Umayya
According to this title, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
1
13. Isma`'il Ibn Ra`fi'?
Al-Medani. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him.
2 Al-Dhahabi said: "He was a well-known (person) from Medina. He lived in Basrah and reported (traditions) on the authority of al-Maqabari and al-Qurrtubi. Wakki', Mekki, and a group (of traditionalists) narrated on his authority. Ahmed, Yahya`, and a group (of biographers) regarded him as a weak traditionalist." Al-Da`rquttni and others said: "His traditions have been abandoned." Ibn 'Adi said: "All his traditions need checking.
3"
14. Isma`'il Ibn 'Abd al-Kha`liq
Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him. He said: " He (Isma`'il) lived until the days of Abi 'Abd Allah al-Sa`diq, peace be on him.
4" Al-Naja`shi said: "He was one of our eminent companions and jurists. He was a Shi'ite traditionalist. His uncles were Shaha`b, 'Abd al-Rahim, and Wahab. His father was 'Abd al-Kha`liq. They all were trustworthy. He reported on the authority of Abi Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) and Abi 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on them." He (al-Naja`shi) added: "He had a book."
5
____________
1 Ibid.
2 Ibid.
3 Miza`n al-I'tida`l, vol. 1, p. 227.
4 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
5 Al-Naja`shi, Rija`l.
( 546 )
15. Isma`'il Ibn 'Abd al-Rahma`n
b. Abi Karim al-Saddi al-Ku`fi. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and he said: "He (Isma`'il) was given the kunya of Abu` Mohammed al-Mufassir, al-Ku`fi."
1
16. Isma`'il Ibn 'Abd Allah
b. Ja'far b. Abi Ta`lib. He belonged to the leading members of the next generation. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him, and of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
2
17. Aflah Ibn Hamid
al-Rawa`si, al-Kila`bi, al-Ku`fi. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him. He narrated on his authority, also al-Muba`rak reported on his authority.
3
18 Ayyu`b Ibn al-Hasan
b. 'Ali b. Abi Ra`fi', the retainer of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. The name of Abi Ra`fi' is Aslam. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
4
19. Ayyu`b Ibn 'Aiyidh
al-Ta`'i al-Bakhtari. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him.
5
____________
1 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
2 Ibid.
3 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadith.
4 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
5 Ibid.
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20. Burd al-Iska`fi
Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m 'Ali b. al-Husayn, peace be on him.
1 Al-Naja`shi said: "He was a retainer . He had a book which was narrated by Ibn Abi 'Umayr.
2"
21. Bishr Ibn Gha`lib
Al-Asadi al-Ku`fi. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
3 Al-Barqi numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m ('Ali) the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, of al-Hasan, of al-Husayn, and of al-Sajja`d, peace be on them.
4
22. Bakr Ibn Aws
Abu` al-Manhal al-Ta`'i al-Basri. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
5
23. Bukayr Ibn 'Abd Allah
b. al-Ashajj. According to this title, Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
6
24. Tha`bit Ibn Aslam
al-Bana`ni al-Qarashi. He belonged to the leading members of the next generation. He heard Anas. Shaykh al-Tu`si numbered him as one of the companions of Ima`m al-Sajja`d, peace be on him.
7
____________
1 Ibid.
2 Al-Naja`shi, Rija`l.
3 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
4 Al-Barqi, Rija`l.
5 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
( 548 )
25. Tha`bit Ibn Abi Safiya
Abu` Hamza al-Thuma`li. He was an Allah-fearing, pious, and great scholar. He followed the noble moral traits of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, delivered their knowledge and science. We will mention some of his affairs.
His Childhood
Abu` Hamza grew up in Ku`fa, which was the center of the followers and friends of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them. He took his knowledge from the Ku`fan scholars (shaykhs), who held the knowledge and jurisprudence of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them, hence he became one of the most prominent ascetic scholars of Ku`fa.
1
His Reliability
The biographers agreed that he was trustworthy, just, his traditions were authentic, that he was like Salma`n al-Fa`risi in his time, as Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, said.
2Ibn Ma'in criticized him because he showed friendship to the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them,
3 whose love Allah has made incumbent on Muslims.
His Scientific Position
He was the most eminent religious scholar of his time in the hadith, jurisprudence, linguistics, and others. Ibn Ma`ja narrated (traditions) on his authority in Chapter on Purity.
4 The Shi'ites in Ku`fa referred to him because he had encompassed the jurisprudence of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them.
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1 Al-Kuna` wa al-Alqa`b, vol. 2, p. 132.
2 Al-Naja`shi.
3 Miza`n al-I'tida`l, vol. 1, p. 363. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 2, p. 7.
4 Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 2, p. 8.
( 549 )
His Books
He wrote a group of books on various sciences, which show his abundant knowledge. The following are some of them:
1. Kita`b al-Nawa`dir (the Book of Rare Things).
2. Kita`b al-Zuhd (the Book of Asceticism).1
3. Kita`b Tafsir al-Qur'a`n (the Book of Interpretation of the Qur'a`n).2
4. His narrating the Treatise on Rights by Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him.3
5. His narrating Du'a`' al-Sahr, better known as Du'a`' Abu` Hamza.4 He narrated it on the authority of the greatest Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him.
His Narrations from the Ima`ms
Tha`bit b. Abi Safiya, better known as Abu` Hamza al-Thuma`li, narrated a large group of traditions on the authority of the pure Ima`ms, peace be on them; he reported on the authority of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, and Ima`m Mu`sa` b. Ja'far.
5 Also he narrated on the authority of Abi Razin al-Asadi and Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri. Abu` Ayyu`b, Abu` Sa'id al-Mika`ri, Ibn Ra'a`b, Ibn Mahbu`b, Ibn Miska`n, Aba`n b. 'Uthma`n, and others narrated (traditions) on his authority.
6
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1 Al-Tu`si, Fihrast.
2 Ibid.
3 Tuhaf al-'Uqu`l.
4 Al-Kuna` wa al-Alqa`b.
5 Al-Kashi.
6 Mu'jam Rija`l al-Hadith
( 550 )
His Death
This great scholar died in the year 150 A.H.
1 When he died, the Muslims lost one of the great thinkers and strugglers.
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1 Al-Tu`si, Rija`l.
