However...

However, Bahr al-‘Ulum considered it possible that Shaykh al-Kulayni lived during the life of Imam al-Hasan al-‘Askari [4] (PBUH). Ayatollah Khoei believed that his birth was after the martyrdom of Imam al-‘Askari [5] (PBUH). Shaykh al-Kulayni’s epithet is Abu Ja’far and his title is Thiqat al-Islam [6] . He was the first Islamic scholar who was called “Thiqat al-Islam” [7] .

Due to his God-wariness, knowledge, and merits, people referred to him for solving their religious questions and receiving rulings. Shaykh al-Kulayni was also called Silsili because he lived in Darb al-Silsila at Bab Kufa of Baghdad [8] . His Education The religious upbringing of Shaykh al-Kulayni likely provided him with a strong foundation in Islamic studies, enabling him to pursue a career as a respected scholar and hadith collector.

While specific details about Shaykh al-Kulayni’s education are not extensively documented, it’s believed that he received his early education in his hometown of Kulayn and thereafter went to Rey for further education. According to the Shia view, Shaykh al-Kulayni is among a special class of Hadith narrators known as Rihalah-ye hadith (which means those who travelled in order to collect a hadith and met the persons considered to be the authority on hadith) [9] .

Later, Shaykh al-Kulayni travelled to Qom, a major centre of Shia learning, where he pursued advanced studies under prominent scholars of his time. In Qom, he likely studied various Islamic sciences, including theology (‘Ilm al-kalam), jurisprudence (Fiqh), and hadith. He would have studied the works of renowned scholars and engaged in rigorous discussions and debates to deepen his understanding of Shia Islam.

Shaykh al-Kulayni’s dedication to learning and his thirst for knowledge likely led him to travel extensively in search of additional sources and teachings. His scholarly journey and diverse educational background contributed to his eventual compilation of “ Al-Kafi ,” which remains one of the most authoritative collections of Shia hadiths.

Shaykh al-Kulayni therefore travelled to Baghdad for this reason and lived there for twenty years, engaged in teaching and pursuing academic work, until he died in 329 AH/941 CE. According to historical evidence, Shaykh al-Kulayni went to Baghdad, which was among the great scientific centres after he finished writing al-Kafi in 327/938-9, two years before he passed away.