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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Special Deputies The first deputy - Hazrat ‘Uthman b. Sa’eed al-Amri (r.a.) Hazrat ‘Uthman b. Sa’eed (r.a.) was the first special deputy of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) in Minor Occultation (غيبتِ صغري). The renowned Shiite scholar, Shaikh Muhammad b. Hasan at-Tusi (r.a.) records in his illustrious book, ‘Ghaibat’ “Among the companions that the infallible Imams (a.s.) considered as virtuous and pious was Hazrat ‘Uthman b. Sa’eed al-Amri (r.a.).

Imam Ali Naqi al-Hadi (a.s.) and Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) have spoken highly of him and he was their most trusted companion.’[^1] His Name And Title ‘Uthman was his name and his father Sa’eed. His name in Rijaal al-Kashi is recorded as ‘Hafs b. Amr’, but other scholars of Ilm al-Rijaal (science of narrators of traditions) have considered this erroneous. His name is widely recorded as ‘Uthman b. Sa’eed. He has been attributed with 2 agnomens (Kuniyyat) - Abu Amr and Abu Muhammad.

He was called Abu Amr since his grandfather’s name was Amr. He was called Abu Muhammad because of his son Muhammad. In books of Rijaal and traditions he is referred to as Abu Amr. However, in Safinatul Behar and Bihar al-Anwar, he is referred to as Abu Muhammad. Among Shias Hazrat ‘Uthman b. Sa’eed (r.a.) is known by four titles. 1. Saman / Zayyat (Oil Vendor) Hazrat ‘Uthman b.

Sa’eed (r.a.) took up the profession of oil-vending to camouflage his more critical duties and responsibilities of deputyship from the masses in general and the tyrant kings of Bani Abbas in particular. In this way, he protected his own life and the lives of Shias from the persecution of the Bani Abbas. He had a very ingenious way of operating. He would collect all the money and trusts from the Shias for Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.).

Out of fear of the Bani Abbas caliphs, he would conceal all money and trusts in his oil barrels so as to escape the scrutiny of the common masses. In this way, he could safely courier everything to Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.).[^2] To keep his position of deputyship secret, he used to supply oil and other goods to the army.[^3] 2. Asadi He was a member of the Bani Asad clan and was therefore also famous as ‘Asadi’. 3.

al-Askari He used to reside in Samarra, in a place called ‘Askar’ which implies a military cantonement. 4. Amri Scholars are unanimous that ‘Amri’ was one of his titles. However, scholars of Ilme-Rijaal have given differing reasons for this title. The illustrious scholar Muhammad b.