He thought that the outstanding merits and high positions of...

He thought that the outstanding merits and high positions of the (of the Prophet) were conditional on the obedience to the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al-Hajjaj reported. He said: “We were at the assembly of Aban b. Taghlub. Suddenly, a young man came and said to him: “O Abu Sa‘ïd, tell me. How many of the of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, followed ‘Ali b. Abï Talib?” Aban understood the young man’s purpose.

So, he asked him: “Do you want to know the outstanding merits of ‘Ali through the of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, who followed?” “Yes,” the young man replied. Aban answered him with the answer of the one who was aware of the right of Imam ‘Ali, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. He said: “By Allah we have not known their outstanding merits but through obedience to him.”[^4] Aban passed by some people.

The people blamed him, for he reported on the authority of Imam Ja‘far, peace be on him. So, he mocked at them, saying: “Why do you blame me for my reporting on the authority of the man whom I asked about every thing, and he said: ‘Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said.’?” His Reliability Aban was very pious. He devoted himself to the religion. Al-‘Ajali said: “Aban was reliable.”[^5] Ahmed b. Hanbal, b. Na‘ïm and Abu Hatam regarded him as reliable.

The proof for his reliability is that the Imams, peace be on them, praised him. Salïm b. Abu Habba reported. He said: “I was with Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be on him. Before I saw him off, I had said to him: I want you to supply me.” So, he said: “Go to Aban b. Taghlub. For he has heard many traditions from me. What he narrates to you, then narrate it on my authority.”[^6] Safwan b. Yahya reported on the authority of Aban b.

‘Uthman on the authority of Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be on him, who said: “Aban b. Taghlub received thirty thousand traditions on my authority, then report them on my authority.”[^7] Aban b. Mohammed b. Aban reported. He said: [I heard my father say] “My father and I came to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be on him. When Abu ‘Abd Allah saw my father, he ordered a cushion to be brought for him. The cushion was brought for him.

Then he shook hand with him and embraced him and greeted him.”[^8] When Aban came to Medina, the people gathered about him, and the praying-place of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, was emptied for him.[^9] Al-Dhahabi said: “Aban was a steadfast Shi‘ite.