Chapter Ten

The Status of the Transmitters of the Rawafid

 

Herein there will be three sections:

Section One: The Rafidi narrators impugned in their credible transmitter dictionaries.

Section Two: A detailed analyses regarding some Rafidi transmitters from their credible books.

Section Three: The unknown narrators in the books of the Rawafid

 

Section One

The Rafidi Narrators who have been Impugned in their Reliable Books

 

The statements of al Hurr al ‘Amili and al Tusi have passed already regarding the gradings of their narrators:

Al Hurr al ‘Amili says:

 

ودعوى بعض المتأخرين أن الثقة بمعنى العدل الضابط ممنوعة وهو مطالب بدليلها.وكيف وهم مصرحون بخلافها حيث يوثقون من يعتقدون فسقه وكفره وفساد مذهبه

And the claim of some later scholars that Thiqah (reliable) means an upright retainer is unacceptable, and he will be required to furnish evidence for that. For how can that be the case when the scholars have stated contrary to that, for they approbate even an individual whom they believe to be a sinner and an adherent of a false dogma.[1]

 

And he also says:

 

وأصحاب الاصطلاح الجديد قد اشترطوا في الراوي العدالة فيلزم من ذلك ضعف جميع أحاديثنا لعدم العلم بعدالة أحد منهم إلا نادرا

The scholars of the new nomenclature have placed integrity as a requisite in a narrator. This results in all our narrations being weak, due to not knowing of the integrity of their narrators but very rarely.[2]

 

And he says:

 

ومن المعلوم قطعا أن الكتاب التي أمروا عليهم السلام بها كان كثير من رواتها ضعفاء ومجاهيل وكثير منها مراسيل

And it is also a categorical fact that the books which the Imams ordered us (to adhere to), many of their narrators are weak and unknown people, and many of their narrations are Marasil (consisting of inconsistent chains).[3]

 

And he also says:

 

ومثله يأتي في رواية الثقات الاجلاء كأصحاب الاجماع ونحوهم عن الضعفاء والكذابين والمجاهيل حيث يعلمون حالهم ويروون عنهم ويعملون بحديثهم ويشهدون بصحته

This also appears to be true in the narrations of prominent reliable narrators, like the people of consensus and others, from weak narrators, liars, and unknown people. For they knew their conditions, but still narrated from them, practiced upon their narrations, and attested to their authenticity.[4]

 

And their scholar al Tusi says:

 

إن كثيرا من مصنفي أصحابنا وأصحاب الأصول ينتحلون المذاهب الفاسدة وإن كانت كتبهم معتمدة

Many of the authors from our scholars and the authors of the principal sources subscribed to false dogmas, even though their books are reliable.[5]

 

These are some of the crucial statements that have passed already…

Now we present a brief biography of some of the transmitters of the Rawafid from their reliable transmitter dictionaries. These are the transmitters whom the Imamiyyah rely upon in their narrations; they were the people who sat [allegedly] with the Imams, heard their narrations, and thereafter transmitted them to the people. This means that they are the men whom the Imami Shia have entrusted with the trust of their Din, and it is them through whose transmission the Imami scholars collated their narrations and with whose narrations they authored books and compilations.

But the tragedy unfolds when it becomes clear that these people were the biggest liars and had the worst of character, and that they were the scum of the masses and the least of them in Din and dignity.

Furthermore, the Rawafid accepted the narrations of the Fathiyyah[6] like ‘Abdullah ibn Bukayr and others, and the narrations of the Waqifiyyah[7] like Sama’ah ibn Mihran and others, whereas the Waqifiyyah and the Fathiyyah are disbelievers according to them!

Likewise, they have practiced upon the narrations of the Nawusiyyah[8] and the Khattabiyyah,[9] in fact even the narrations of the accursed, the liars, and the sinners; for after being a Shia, affiliation to no creed or dogma is harmful. It is as though the situation of the Shia dictates the following:

 

قل الثقات فما أدري بمن أثق     لم يبق في الناس إلا الزور والملق

The reliable people are little and, thus, I do not know who to trust.

For there remains nothing in the people besides lies and flattery.

 

In presenting these biographies I have relied upon their reliable books like: Rijal al Kashshi, Rijal al Najashi, Rijal Ibn Dawood, Rijal al Hilli, Rijal al Ghada’iri, Rijal al Khu’i, and Rijal al Tusi, amongst many other books.

I have also stated the number of narrations each narrator narrates that appear in their four early canonical works. This is because they enjoy a high ranking according to the Rawafid, as has passed already. And I have presented these biographies in a table so that it is easy to read and study them. I have distributed them into the following categories:

• The narrators who are accursed in the books of the Shia.
• The narrators who are liars in the books of the Shia.
• The Waqifi narrators in the books of the Shia.
• The Fathi narrators in the books of the Shia.
• The Khattabi narrators in the books of the Shia.
• The Nawusi narrators in the books of the Shia.
• The narrators who consumed intoxicants in the books of the Shia.
• The unreliable narrators in the books of the Shia.
• The most reliable narrators of the Shia. They are eighteen narrators who are known as the narrators of consensus.

Hereunder, we present examples of each of these categories:

 

1. The Accursed Narrators in the Books of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	No. of narrations in the 4 books
1	Zurarah ibn A’yan	Accursed	Rijal al Kashshi 1/365	1626
2	Burayd	Accursed	Rijal al Khu’i, 4/198, 8/248.	74
3	Al Mughirah ibn Sa’id	Accursed	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 279; Rijal al Hilli, p. 411.	1
4	Al Hassan ibn ‘Ali	Accursed, from the ‘Alya’iyyah who would disparage Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 238; Rijal al Hilli, p. 333	1
5	Al Hassan ibn al Sari	Accursed and a liar	Rijal al Khu’i, 4/205, 206.	14
6	Faris ibn Hatim al Qazwini	Accursed	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/260	3
7	Al Hussain ibn Mansur al Hallaj	Accursed, and claimed Babiyyah	Rijal al Khu’i, 7/103.	1
8	Kathir al Nawa Salim ibn Abi Hafsah Ziyad ibn al Mundhir, Abu al Jarud	Abu ‘Abdullah said about them: “Liars, beliers, disbelievers, upon them be the curse of Allah.”	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/334.	1-2   2-3   3-91
9	‘Urwah ibn Yahya al Baghdadi al Dihqan	Accursed, extremist, and a liar Abu Muhammad cursed him and ordered his Shia to curse him.	Rijal al Khu’i, 12/153 Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 303.	12
10	Muhammad ibn Musa al Sharifi	Accursed and a liar Accursed and an extremist	Rijal al Khu’i, 18/301, 20/87 Rijal al Hilli, p. 396.	44
11	‘Ali ibn Hamzah al Bata’ini	A liar, a Waqifi Accursed and a liar.	Rijal al Hilli, p. 363. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/827, no. 1042.	499
12	Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman al Qummi	Accursed	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/785, no. 940.	134
13	Muhammad ibn Sinan	Accursed and a liar	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/793, no. 964.	662
14	Safwan ibn Yahya	Accursed	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/793, entry no. 964, 2/796, no. 978.	993
15	Al Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar al Ju’fi	Al Sadiq cursed him	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/615, no. 587; 2/612, no. 581.	59
16	Muhammad ibn al Furat	Accursed	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/829, no. 1048.	3
17	Faris ibn Hatim ibn Mahawayh	Accursed and extremist	Rijal al Hilli, p. 387.	3
18	Ahmed ibn Hilal al Karkhi	Accursed	Rijal al Hilli, p. 433.	54
19	Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Bilal	Accursed	Rijal al Hilli, p. 433	400

The total number of narrations from the accursed transmitters is: 4679.

 

2. The Liars in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

 

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	Jabir ibn Yazid al Ju’fi	He was deranged in himself, very seldomly can anything be cited from him in Halal and Haram.	Rijal al Najashi, p. 128; Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 235.	288
2	Yunus ibn Zubyan	An extremist and a forger	Rijal al Khu’i, 21/207.	32
3	Mufaddal ibn Salih Abu Jamilah	A liar and a forger He would forge narrations	Dirasat al Hadith wa al Muhaddithin, p. 197; Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 280.	12
4	‘Amr ibn Shimar, Abu ‘Abdullah al Ju’fi	He added narrations to the books of Jabir al Ju’fi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 264.	162
5	Sahl ibn Ziyad al Adami al Razi	An extremist and a liar	Rijal al Najashi, p. 185	1758
6	Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al Sayrafi, Abu Saminah	Notorious for lying and extremism	Rijal al Kashshi, 1/823: no. 1023.	415.
7	Salih ibn ‘Uqbah ibn Qais ibn Sam’an	From the extremist and the liars	Dirasat al Hadith wa al Muhaddithin, p. 196	98
8	Sulaiman ibn ‘Abdullah al Daylami	An extremist and a liar	Rijal al Najashi, p. 182; Rijal al Hilli, p. 350	1
9	‘Abdullah ibn al Qasim al Hadrami	An extremist and a liar Extremist and insignificant. No attention should be paid to him	Rijal al Najashi, p. 182; Rijal al Hilli, p. 350.	1
10	Salih ibn Suhayl al Hamdani	An extremist and a liar. He believed lordship for al Sadiq, and when he visited him, the latter took an oath that he is not a lord.	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 250	9
11	Ishaq ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmed ibn Aban ibn Mirar	Corrupt in dogma, liar, and forger of hadith	Rijal al Hilli, p. 318; Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 231.	12
12	Sulaiman ibn ‘Amr ibn Dawood al Nakha’i	Liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 302	3
13	Jafar ibn Sulaiman al Maqarri	An extremist and a liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 235.	1
14	Salih ibn ‘Uqbah ibn Sam’an	A liar, an extremist, and one with many reprehensible narrations	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 250.	99
15	Tahir ibn Hatim ibn Mahawayh al Qazwini	An extremist and a liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 251; Rijal al Tusi, p. 379.	1
16	‘Abdur Rahman ibn Kathir	A forger	Dirasat al Hadith wa al Muhaddithin, p. 194	30
17	‘Ali ibn Ahmed Abu al Qasim al Kufi	An extremist and a liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 259.	75
18	‘Ali ibn Hassan ibn Kathir al Hashimi	A liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 261	81
19	Furat ibn al Ahnaf	An extremist and liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 266.	6
20	Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Mihran al Karkhi	An extremist, a liar, weak, corrupt in dogma and hadith. A weak narrator who should discarded	Rijal al Hilli, p. 395; Rijal al Kashshi, 2/732: no. 831; Rijal al Tusi, p. 391.	8
21	Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Musa Abu Jafar al Qurashi, his title is Abu Saminah	Known for lying, a liar.	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 274: no. 469	3
22	Muhammad ibn al Qasim, and its is said: Ibn Abi al Qasim al Astarabadi, the exegete	A liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 275:  no. 478.	2
23	Abu Harun al Makfuf	A liar	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/488: no. 398.	9
24	Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Malik	A liar who forgers hadith	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 235: no. 93.	6
25	‘Abdullah ibn al Qasim al Hadrami, known as Batal (hero)	A liar who has narrated from the extremists. There is no goodness in him, his narration is not worth consideration, and he is nothing.	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 255: no. 285.	2
26	‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abdur Rahman al Asam al Misma’i	A weak and extremist narrator, and from the liars of Basrah	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 254: no. 281; Rijal al Ghada’iri, p. 76, 77.	47
27	Wahb ibn Wahb ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Zam’ah, Abu al Bakhtari	A liar	Rijal al Najashi, p. 430.	15
28	Asad ibn Abi al ‘Ala’	He narrates reprehensible narrations	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 231: no. 88.	1
29	Jafar ibn Ismail al Maqarri	An extremist and a liar	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 235:  no. 88.	1
30	Al Mankhal ibn Jamil al Kufi	From the known extremists, corrupt in narration, he is nothing, and is accused of extremism	Dirasat al Hadith wa al Muhaddithin, p. 198; Rijal al Kashshi, 2/663:  no. 685.	4
31	Abu al ‘Abbas al Tarabani	A famous liar and he has been accused of extremism	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 313: no. 18	130
32	Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al Zuhri	Reprehensible in hadith	Rijal Ibn Dawood, 274: no. 18	2
33	Muhammad ibn Musa ibn ‘Isa Abu Jafar al Hamdani al Samman	An extremist who forged hadith	Rijal Ibn Dawood, 276: no. 487	44
34	Yunus ibn Bahman	An extremist Kufi, who forged hadith	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 285: no. 561.	2
35	Salih ibn ‘Uqbah ibn Qais ibn Sam’an ibn Abi Ranihah	An extremist liar to who no attention should be paid.	Rijal al Khu’i, 10/85	99
36	‘Abdullah ibn al Qasim al Batal al Harithi al Basri	A liar, an extremist, weak, discarded, and one who mention is ignored	Rijal al Khu’i, 11/302.	3

 Total number of narrations of liars: 3466

 

3. The Waqifi Narrators in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is Said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	Umayyah ibn ‘Amr	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 232: no. 70	5
2	Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Junah	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 234: no. 82	39
3	Al Qasim ibn Muhammad al Jawhari	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/748: no. 853	52
4	Ahmed ibn al Hussain al Mithami	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/768:  no. 890	64
5	‘Ali ibn Wahban	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/768: no. 891	1
6	Al Hassan ibn Sama’ah ibn Mihran	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/768: no. 894	30
7	Zur’ah ibn Muhammad al Hadrami	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/774: no. 903	292
8	Hannan ibn Sadir	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/830: no. 1049	161
9	Ibrahim ibn Salih al Anmati	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 226	5
10	Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdul Hamid	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 226	136
11	Ahmed ibn Abi Bashir al Siraj	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 209	3
12	‘Abdul Karim ibn ‘Amr	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/830: no. 1049.	46
13	Durust ibn Abi Mansur	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/830:  no. 1049	34
14	‘Abdullah ibn ‘Uthman al Hannat	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/830: no. 1049	12
15	‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa al Ru’asi al Kufi	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/860; no. 1151	715
16	Ziyad ibn Marwan al Qandi	One of the pillars of Waqf	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/873: no. 1151	6
17	Hamzah ibn Bazi’	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/872:  no. 1147	2
18	Ibrahim ibn Abi Bakr Muhammad ibn al Rabi’	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 226	9
19	Ahmed ibn Ziyad al Khazzaz	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 228	5
20	Ahmed ibn al Mufaddal al Khuza’i	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 229	8
21	‘Umar ibn Rabah al Qalla’	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 210	2
22	Ishaq ibn Jarir	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 231	21
23	Ismail ibn ‘Umar ibn Aban	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 231	3
24	Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Sama’ah al Hadrami	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 210	2
25	Jafar ibn al Muthanna al Khatib	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 235	5
26	Jundub ibn Ayub	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 236	2
27	Muhammad ibn al Hassan ibn Shamun	A corrupt Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/613: no. 584	132
28	Al Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama’ah al Kindi al Sayrafi	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 210	154
29	Al Hussain ibn al Mukhtar al Qalanisi	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 241	1
30	Al Hussain ibn Kaysan	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 241	2
31	Al Hussain ibn Musa	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 241	19
32	Al Hussain ibn Mihran ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al Sakuni	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 241	1
33	Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar al Taghlibi	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 165	15
34	Humaid ibn Ziyad ibn Hammad ibn Ziyad al Dihqan	Waqifi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p.210	115
35	Ahmed ibn al Fadl al Kunasi	Waqifi	Rijal al Khu’i, 2/200	8
36	Ishaq ibn Jarir	Waqifi	Rijal al Khu’i, 3/200	21
37	Al Hassan ibn ‘Abdullah	Waqifi	Rijal al Khu’i, 5/366	6
38	Al Qasim ibn Ismail al Qurashi	A Waqifi who’s a liar	Rijal al Khu’i, 15/13	3
39	Muhammad ibn Bashir	Waqifi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/774: no. 906.	5

 Total narrations of the Waqifis: 2142.

 

4. The Fathi Narrators in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrators	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	‘Abdullah Ibn Bukayr ibn A’yan	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/635: no. 639	297
2	Al Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Fadal	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/635: no. 639.	207
3	Ahmed ibn al Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Fadal	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 228.	200
4	‘Ali ibn al Hassan ibn ‘Ali Ibn Fadal	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/812: no. 1014	1
5	‘Ammar ibn Musa al Sabati	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/524: no. 471.	162
6	Yunus ibn Yaqub	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/635: no. 639	287
7	Muawiyah ibn Hakim al Duhni	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/835: no. 1061.	188
8	Muhammad ibn al Walid al Bajali al Khazzaz	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 1/160: no. 72.	94
9	Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/835:  no. 1062.	311
10	Muhammad ibn Salim ibn ‘Abdul Hamid	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/835: no. 1062	59
11	‘Ali ibn Hadid Ibn Hakim	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/840:  no. 1078	174
12	‘Amr ibn Sa’id al Mada’ini	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/869:  no. 1136	343
13	Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar ibn Hayyan	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 48	898
14	‘Ali ibn Asbat	Fathi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/835: no. 1061.	363
15	Yunus ibn ‘Abdullah	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 285	1
16	Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman Mawla ‘Ali ibn Yaqtin	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 285	133
17	‘Amr ibn Abi al Miqdam	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 312	44
18	Yusuf Ibn Yaqub	Fathi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 312	2
19	Iban ibn ‘Uthman	Fathi	Rijal al Khu’i, 1/146	621
20	‘Amr ibn Sa’id al Thaqafi	Fathi	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/112	320

 Total number of narrations of the Fathis: 4705.

 

5. The Khattabi Narrators in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	Al Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar al Ju’fi	Khattabi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/612.	63
2	Musa ibn Ashyam	Khattabi	Rijal al Khu’i, 20/21	1
3	Yunus ibn Bahman	Khattabi, and an Extremist who would forge narrations	Rijal al Khu’i, 21/200	3

Total number of narrations from the Khattabi narrators: 67.

 

6. The Nawusi Narrators in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	‘Anbasah ibn Mus’ab	Nawusi	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/659: no. 676.	42
2	Aban ibn ‘Uthman al Ahmar	Nawusi	Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 226; Rijal al Hilli, p. 74.	621
3	‘Abdullah ibn Abi Zaid Ahmed ibn Yaqub al Anbari	Nawusi	Rijal al Hilli, p. 194.	1

Total number of narrations from the Nawusi narrators: 664.

 

7. Shia Narrators who Consumed Intoxicants in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	Abu Hamzah al Thumali, Thabit ibn Dinar	‘Ali ibn al Hassan ibn Fadal says, “Abu Hamzah would consume Nabidh[10] and was accused of it.”	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/455: no. 353.	326
2	‘Abdullah ibn Abi Ya’fur	When pains would befall him and be intense, he would drink a gulp of Nabidh.	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/516: no. 459.	63
3	Al Sayed ibn Muhammad al Himyari	He would Drink the Nabidh of Rustaq. He said, you mean wine?” I said “Yes.	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/570: no. 505	2
4	Muhammad ibn Furat	He would drink wine.	Rijal al Kashshi, 2/829: no. 1046	3

Total number of narrations from those who consumed intoxicants: 394.

 

8. Narrators who have not Been Approbated in the Transmitter Dictionaries of the Shia

No.	Narrator	What is said about him	Shia Sources	Narrations in the 4 Books
1	Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Mihziyar	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 1/280	1
2	‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Qutaybah	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 2/17	5
3	Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 4/228	50
4	Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 4/102	2
5	Al Qasim ibn Muhammad	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 7/160	360
6	Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 7/278	50
7	Al Hussain ibn ‘Alwan	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 7/279	82
8	Khalaf ibn Hammad	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/242	61
9	‘Ali ibn Muhammad al Hussain ibn Qutaybah	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/251	3
10	Abu Basir Layth ibn al Bakhtari al Muradi	Criticized	Rijal al Hilli, p. 235	2110
11	‘Ali ibn ‘Umar al Mu’ammar	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/365	1
12	Jafar ibn Muhammad al Hussaini	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/365	1
13	Dawood al Raqqi	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 8/365	58
14	Ahmed Ibn Mihran	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 9/55	3
15	Al Hassan ibn Ahmed ibn Idris	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 9/55	2
16	Muhammad ibn Bahr ibn Sahl al Shaybani	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 9/82	2
17	Ayub ibn A’yan	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 9/118	3
18	Hamzah ibn Muhammad	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 10/38	7
19	Al Hussain ibn Ibrahim	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 10/272	2
20	‘Abdul Hamid ibn Abi al Daylam	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 11/22	4
21	Jafar ibn Ma’roof	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 20/314	2
22	Al Hassan ibn Musa al Hannat	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 12/18	18
23	‘Ali ibn al Hassan ibn ‘Abdul Malik	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 12/18	2
24	‘Ata’ ibn al Sa’ib	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 12/159	3
25	‘Ali ibn Ribat	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 12/354	11
26	Muhammad ibn Hassan	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 13/80	48
27	Yazid ibn Khalifah	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/32	27
28	Muaz al Jawhari	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/91	3
29	Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/103	1
30	Muhammad ibn al Hassan ibn Khalid	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/213	6
31	Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn al Hassan	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/253	29
32	‘Abdullah ibn Rashid	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 14/325	4
33	Asbat ibn Salim	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 15/150	15
34	‘Abdur Rahman ibn Hammad	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 20/63	47
35	Badr ibn al Walid al Khath’ami	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 21/55	3
36	Al Hussain ibn al Hassan ibn Bundar al Qummi	Not approbated	Rijal al Khu’i, 23/55	14

Total number of narrations from un-approbated narrations: 3040.

This makes the total number of narrations from those impugned in the books of the Shia: 19157.

These are just some very brief examples of the statuses of some of their transmitters, had it not been for the fear of prolonging the discussion I would have illustrated more. And it is only Allah from Who we seek help.

 

9. The Most Reliable Narrators of the Shia/The Narrators of Consensus[11]

Al Kashshi says:

 

أجمعت العصابة على تصديق هؤلاء الأولين من أصحاب أبي جعفر وأصحاب أبي عبد الله وانقادوا لهم بالفقه فقالوا أفقه الأوّلين ستة زرارة معروف بن خربوذ وبريد وأبو بصير الأسدي والفضيل بن يسار ومحمد بن مسلم الطائفي وقالوا وأفقه الستة زرارة وقال بعضهم مكان أبو بصير الأسدي أبو بصير المرادي وهو ليث بن البختري

The sect has concurred upon confirming the narrations of these early companions of Abu Jafar and the companions of Abu ‘Abdullah ‘alayh al Salam and they have acknowledged jurisprudential ability for them. Hence, they have said, “The greatest jurists of the early people are six: Zurarah, Ma’roof ibn Kharrabudh, Burayd, Abu Basir al Asadi, al Fudayl ibn Yasar, and Muhammad ibn Muslim al Ta’ifi.” And they say, “The greatest jurist of the six is Zurarah.” And some suggest Abu Basir al Asadi instead of Abu Basir al Muradi, and he was Layth ibn al Bakhtari.”[12]

 

And when naming the jurists from the companions of Abu ‘Abdullah ‘alayh al Salam he says:

 

أجمعت العصابة على تصحيح ما يصحّ من هؤلاء وتصديقهم لما يقولون وأقرّوا لهم بالفقه من دون أولئك الستة الذين عددناهم وسمّيناهم ستة نفر جميل بن دراج وعبد الله بن مسكان وعبد الله بن بكير وحماد بن عثمان وحماد بن عيسى وأبان بن عثمان قالوا وزعم أبو اسحاق الفقيه وهو ثعلبة بن ميمون إنّ أفقه هؤلاء جميل بن دراج وهم أحداث أصحاب أبي عبد الله

The sect has concurred upon authenticating what is established from these people and confirming what they have said, and they have acknowledged for them jurisprudential ability, and they are other than the six which have previously mentioned. They are: Jamil ibn Darraj, ‘Abdullah ibn Muskan, ‘Abdullah ibn Bukayr, Hammad ibn ‘Uthman, Hammad ibn ‘Isa, and Aban ibn ‘Uthman. They say, “And Abu Ishaq the jurist, whose name was Tha’labah ibn Maymun, claims that the greatest jurist of them was Jamil ibn Darraj. And these were the young companions of Abu ‘Abdullah ‘alayh al Salam.”[13]

 

And he says the following whilst enumerating the jurists from the companions of Abu Ibrahim and Abu al Hassan al Rida ‘alayh al Salam:

 

جمع أصحابنا على تصحيح ما يصح من هؤلاء وتصديقهم وأقرّوا لهم بالفقه والعلم وهم ستة نفر أُخر دون الستة نفر الذين ذكرناهم في أصحاب أبي عبد الله منهم يونس بن عبد الرحمن وصفوان بن يحيى بياع السابري ومحمد بن أبي عمير وعبد الله بن المغيرة والحسن بن محبوب وأحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر وقال بعضهم مكان الحسن بن محبوب الحسن بن علي بن فضال وفضالة بن أيوب وقال بعضهم مكان فضالة بن أيوب عثمان بن عيسى وأفقه هؤلاء يونس بن عبد الرحمان وصفوان بن يحيى

Our scholars have concurred upon authenticating what is established from these people and confirming what they have said; and they have acknowledged for them jurisprudential and academic ability, and they are other than the six which we have previously mentioned in the companions of Abu ‘Abdullah ‘alayh al Salam. They are: Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman, Safwan ibn Yahya Bayya’ al Sabiri, Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umair, ‘Abdullah ibn al Mughirah, al Hassan ibn Mahbub, and Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr. And some have suggested al Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Fadal and Fadalah ibn Ayub instead of al Hassan ibn Mahbub. And others have suggested ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa in place of Ibn Fadal. And the best jurist in them were Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman and Safwan n ibn Yahya.[14]

 

This is a brief exposition of their statuses from the reliable transmitter dictionaries of the Shia:

No.	Narrator	Approbation	Impugning
1	Zurarah ibn A’yan al Shaybani al Kufi	Many narrations regarding the approbation of Zurarah.[15]	Al Sadiq says, “Zurarah will not die but astray.” Rijal al Kashshi, 1/365: no. 240. And al Sadiq also says, “Zurarah is worse than the Jews and the Christians and those who say: ‘With Allah is the third of the three.” Rijal al Kashshi, 1/381: no. 267.
2	Ma’roof ibn Kharrabudh al Makki	Al Kashshi has cited a narrations which suggests his approbation. 2/471.	Al Hilli says, “al Kashshi has narrated about him praise and condemnation.” Rijal al Hilli, p. 278. Ibn Dawood said, “Praiseworthy, al Kashshi has cited praise and criticism about him, and his reliability is more correct.” Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 190
3	Burayd ibn Muawiyah Abu al Qasim al ‘Ijli	Approbated by al Hilli: p. 82, and by al Najashi as well, p. 112.	Accursed. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/509. And Ibn Dawood said, “The assumption of some of our companions is bad about him.” Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 233.
4	Al Fudayl ibn Yasar	The authors of the credible transmitter dictionaries have approbated him.	–
5	Muhammad ibn Muslim al Ta’ifi al Kufi	Al Najashi has approbated him: p. 324; and so has al Hilli: p. 251, and Ibn Dawood: p. 184	Accursed. Rijal al Kashshi, 1/394.
6	Abu Basir ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad al Asadi	Al Najashi has approbated him: p. 226	He would accuse the Imam after reaching the culmination of knowledge. Rijal al Kashshi, 1/409.
7	Abu Basir Layth ibn al Bakhtari al Muradi	Ibn Dawood has approbated him: p. 214.	The Imam would get irritated with him, and the companions of the Imams have differed about him. Rijal al Kashshi, 1/397. There is praise and criticism about him and the Imam would get agitated with him. Al Hilli has said about him, “According to him the criticism is directed to his Din and not to his hadith.” Rijal al Hilli, p. 235.
8	Jamil ibn Darraj al Nakha’i	Al Kashshi has approbated him: p. 2/471, and so have: al Najashi: p. 126, al Hilli: p. 92, and Ibn Dawood: p. 66.	Initially a Waqifi thereafter he retracted. Al Ghaybah of al Tusi, p. 71.
9	‘Abdullah ibn Muskan al ‘Anazi	Al Kashshi has approbated him: 2/680, and Ibn Dawood: 124.	It is said, “He narrated from Abu ‘Abdullah but is not a good retainer,” Rijal al Najashi, p. 214.
10	‘Abdullah ibn Bukayr ibn A’yan al Kufi	None of the scholars of the credible transmitter dictionaries have approbated him.	A Fathi. Rijal al Khu’i, 11/130, 132; Rijal al Kashshi, 2/635: no. 639.
11	Hammad ibn ‘Isa al Juhani	Only Ibn Dawood has approbated him: p. 84	He doubted the narrations of the Imam and discarded some of them. Rijal al Khu’i, 7/237. He doubted the narrations of the Imam, a Waqifi who later retracted. Al Ghaybah of al Tusi: p. 71. He doubted the narrations of Imam and discarded some of them: Rijal al Kashshi, 2/604; Rijal al Najashi, p. 142: no. 370.
12	Hammad ibn ‘Uthman al Nab	Approbated by al Hilli: p. 125; Ibn Dawood: p. 84.	–
13	Aban ibn ‘Uthman al Ahmar al Bajali	–	From the liars and the Nawusiyyah. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/640: no. 659, 60. He was from the Nawusiyyah, and better according to me is to accept his narration even though he is corrupt in dogma. Rijal al Hilli, p. 74. Some of our scholars have mentioned that he is from the Nawusiyyah. Rijal ibn Dawood, p. 30.
14	Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman Mawla ‘Ali ibn Yaqtin	Al Hilli has approbated him: p. 296, and so has Ibn Dawood: p. 207, and al Najashi, p. 446.	Praise and criticism both are said about him. Rijal al Najashi, 446. The Qummis have criticized him, but he is reliable according to me. Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 207.
15	Safwan ibn Yahya al Bajali Bayya’ al Sabiri	Al Najashi has approbated him: p. 197, and so has al Hilli: p. 170, and Ibn Dawood: p. 111.	The Imam has cursed him, but that was by was of Taqiyyah. Rijal al Khu’i, 17/163, 10/139.
16	Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umair al Azdi al Baghdadi	Al Najashi has approbated him: p. 326, and so has al Hilli: p. 239, and Ibn Dawood, p. 159.	–
17	‘Abdullah ibn al Mughirah Abu Muhammad al Bajali	Al Najashi has approbated him: p. 215.	He was a Waqifi and then repented. Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 124.
18	Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasir al Bazanti al Kufi	Al Khu’i has approbated him: 2/17.	He narrates the narrations of interpolation of the Qur’an. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/853. He narrates the interpolation of the Qur’an, and al Khu’i has not criticized the sanad of the narration. Rijal al Khu’i, 3/17.
19	Al Hassan ibn Mahbub al Sarrad al Kufi	Al Hilli has approbated him: p. 97, and so had Ibn Dawood: p. 77.	Al Kashshi says, “Our companions suspect him in his narrations from Abu Hamzah.” Rijal al Kashshi, 2/799.
20	Al Hassan ibn ‘Ali ibn Fadal	Al Tusi has deemed him reliable in al Fihrist: p. 98.	A Fathi but he retracted at the time of his death. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/837: no. 1067. Al Hassan his entire life was famous as a Fathi. Rijal al Najashi, p. 35. Fathi who retracted at the time of death. Rijal al Hilli, p. 98. He was a Fathi who retracted before his demise. Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 76.
21	Fadalah ibn Ayub al Azdi	Approbated by al Kashshi: p. 638: no. 653, and al Najashi: p. 310, and al Hilli: p. 230, and Ibn Dawood: p. 151: no. 1191.	–
22	‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa al Ru’asi al ‘Amiri	Not approbated	He was a Waqifi who took the wealth of Imam Musa whereafter al Rida became upset with him. Thereafter he repented and sent the wealth of his father to him. Rijal al Kashshi, 2/860: entry no. 1117. He was the Sheikh of Waqifah and its leader. And he was a representative who exclusively administered the wealth of Musa ibn Jafar ‘alayh al Salam. Rijal Ibn Dawood, p. 258.

 

NEXT⇒ Section Two – A Detailed Analyses Regarding some Rafidi Transmitters from their Credible Transmitter Dictionaries

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[1] Wasa’il al Shia, 30/260.

[2] Ibid., 30/260.

[3] Wasa’il al Shia, 30/244.

[4] Wasa’il al Shia, 30/206.

[5] Al Fihrist, p. 32.

[6] They believe in the Imamah of ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Muhammad. They have been given this name because it is said that he was broad headed, or as some say: broad legged. And some say that they are attributed to a prominent leader from Kufah whose name was ‘Abdullah ibn Fatih. Refer to: Firaq al Shia of al Nawbakhti, p. 78; Rijal al Kashshi, 2/524; Maqalat al Islamiyyin, p. 28; Minhaj al Sunnah, 2/482; Rijal al Khaqani, p. 132.

[7] Also known as the Kilab Mamturah, a sect of the Shia. They believe in Imamah until Jafar al Sadiq. They claim that Jafar had explicitly appointed his son Musa as the Imam and that Musa is alive and has not passed on. Hence, they terminate the line of Imamah at him and do not continue the line of Imamah thereafter till the remaining of the twelve. They say that he will not die till he rules upon the land. They are also known as the Kilab Mamturah. This is because Yunus ibn ‘Abdur Rahman debated with them and he said, “You are more insignificant to me than the Kilab Mamturah.” And Kilab Mamturah is a word used by the Persians to refer to a rejected and banished person. Despite that they approbated them and practiced upon their narrations, thereby ignoring the statement of their Imam as per their narrations. Hence, they narrate that al Rida was asked regarding the Waqifah and he said, “They live in confusion and they die as heretics.” Refer to Firaq al Shia of al Nawbakhti, p. 81; Rijal al Kashshi, 2/756; Fa’iq al Maqal, p. 95; Maqalat al Islamiyyin, p. 28; Minhaj al Sunnah, 3/483.

[8] They stop at Jafar ibn Muhammad al Sadiq and do not continue with the line of Imamah till the Twelfth Imam. They have dubbed with this name due to a person with the name Nawus. It is also averred that they are attributed to a village called Nawus. And they claim that al Sadiq is alive and that he will not die till he emerges and that he is the Mahdi, and not anyone else. Refer to: Firaq al Shia of al Nawbakhti, p. 68; Fa’iq al Maqal, p. 95; Rijal al Khaqani, p. 93; Maqalat al Islamiyyin, p. 25; al Milal wa al Nihal, 1/161.

[9] They are the followers of Abu al Khattab Muhammad ibn Abi Zainab al Asadi al Ajda’, the freed slave of the Banu Asad. He is the one who attributed himself to Abu ‘Abdullah Jafar ibn Muhammad al Sadiq. And when the latter came to learn of his extremism he disassociated from him, cursed him, and ordered his followers to disavow him. He very severely emphasized that and exaggerated in disavowing him and cursing him. Hence, when Abu al Khattab became isolated from him, he claimed Imamah for himself. He would believe that the Imams are first prophets and thereafter gods, and he believed that Jafar ibn Muhammad and his forefathers were deities, and that they were the sons of Allah and his beloveds. He believed that godship is a light of prophethood and that prophethood is a light. Refer to al Milal wa al Nihal, 1/172; Fa’iq al Maqal, 2/232.

[10] Intoxicant made of dates.

[11] Muhammad ‘Ali al Mu’allim mentions, ‘The people of consensus’ refer to a group of jurists from the companions of the Imams ‘alayh al Salam. Their number is between eighteen and twenty-two men. There is consensus about their credibility, their jurisprudential prowess, and their academic standing. Hence, there is no contention regarding their reliability and his jurisprudence in himself. See: Usul al Rijal bayn al Nazariyyah wa al Tatbiq, 2/100.

[12] Rijal al Kashshi, 2/507.

[13] Rijal al Kashshi, 2/673.

[14] Rijal al Kashshi, 2/830, 831.

[15] Refer for some of these narrations to the previous discussion, and also for narrations which condemn him.

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