1158/1745)...

1158/1745); Jami،¥ al-ahƒukam (in 25 thick volumes)17 by as-Sayyid `Abdul-lah ibn Muhammad Ridƒua Shubbar (1188/1774 ،X 1242/1827); Mustadrak al-wasa'il wa mustanbat al-masa'i118 by al-Haj Mirza Husayn ibn Muhammad Taqi an-Nuri at-Tabarsi (1254/ 1838 ،X 1320/1902); Jami،¥ ahƒuadith ash-Shi،¥ah (in a number of volumes) by the Grand Shi،¥ite Mufti as-Sayyid Aqa Husayn ibn ،¥Ali ibn Ahƒumad at-Tabataba،¦i al-Burujirdi (1292/1875 ،X 1380/1961).

So far, out of this voluminous book, seven volumes have been already published in Iran, and the rest of the volumes are being gradually published.

The Shi،¥ite scholars and the narrators of the traditions from the progeny of the Holy Prophet (the twelve Imams) have consistently made efforts, one after the other, to pay great attention to the narra-tion of the traditions to the keeping of them intact, to their criticism and collection to their regulation, to the acquisition of the knowledge of this art,19 to the skill of its authentication and to the specialisation in the research regarding the dates and categories of the narrators.20 They used to issue detailed certificates (to their students) with liberty to quote them in relating the` traditions.

In this regard voluminous books have been written by some of the Shiite scholars, not to speak of the small collections which are countless and which are scattered.21 What significance does the tradition (hƒmad.th) have in the eyes of Sh.،¦ah, can be judged from this example of hƒmad.th. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p. b. u. h.) addressed Jabir (his companion) saying, "O Jabir!

by Allah, a tradition (hƒmad.th) emerging from an authentic source is infinitely better for you than any thing the sun shines over, till it sets down."22 Further, Imam Ja،¥far asƒw-Sƒladiq (p.b.u.h.) has observed (in this regard), "A tradition received from a truthful person regarding what is lawful and what is unlawful is far better than the whole world and whatever wealth like gold or silver it contains."23 An idea of the importance of the tradition for the Sh.،¦ah is also known from these traditions which indicate the close attention paid by the associates of the Imams in picking them up from the Imams,24 in remembering them by heart and also from their eagerness, high esteem and long journeys they 25 undertook to get them from the scholars and narrators of the traditions.

In addition, there are numerous traditions which urge people to acquire the knowledge (of traditions).