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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shi'ah and Islamic Disciplines Chapter 4: Pioneering Role Of The Shi’ah In Theology Section One: The First to Write about Theology The tabi’i follower of the Imamiyah, Isa ibn Rawdah who wrote about the imamate is the first person to compile a work in this field. He lived till the days of Abu Jafar al–Mansur with whom he had special relation for he was a client of the Banu Hashim clan. Ibn Rawdah opened up and explored this branch of knowledge.

Ahmad ibn Abi Tahir who refers to Ibn Rawdah's book in Tarikh Baghdad declares that he himself had seen it, as recorded in the Fihrist of al–Najashi. Then comes Abu Hashim ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘a) who wrote a number of books on theology. He was one of the eminent figures of the Shi’ah and he consolidated the science of theology. When he was about to die he handed over his books to Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdillah ibn Abbas al–Hashimi, a tabi’i so that the Shi’ah turned to him.

This is stated in Al–Ma’arif of Ibn Qutaybah. These two preceded Abu Hadhayfah Wasil ibn Ata, the Mutazilite, whom al–Suyuti described as the pioneer in theology. Section Two: The First Followers of the Imams to Debate about Shi’ism Abu Uthman al–Jahidh says: “The first person to debate about Shi’ism was al–Kumayt ibn Zayd, the poet.

He established arguments for it, and, had it not been for his efforts they would not have known how to argue for it.” On this point I would contend that Abu Dharr al–Ghifari, the Companion (may Allah be pleased with him) had preceded al–Kumayt. Abu Dharr stayed in Damascus for some time propagating Ali's doctrines and Shi’i ideas. Some people accepted his ideas in Syria. He then left for the villages of Sarfand and Mis which are part of Jabal Amil and were under Syrian administration.

He invited their inhabitants to Shi’ism and they accepted it. In Amal al–Amil it is stated that when Abu Dharr was exiled to Syria after spending some days there a large number of people embraced Shi’ism. So Muawiyah banished him to the villages. He set foot on Jabal Amil where the people embraced Shi'sm on the first day.

Abu al–Faraj ibn al–Nadim says in Al–Fihrist that the first person to argue for the Imamiyyah school of thought is Ali ibn Ismail ibn Maytham al–Tammar, may Allah be pleased with him, and he was among Imam Ali’s most distinguished companions.