This term is used to refer to those who had the privilege of...

This term is used to refer to those who had the privilege of meeting the Holy Prophet of Islam (P) during his lifetime, believed in him and died with Faith. It is said that the Prophet of Islam (P) had 114000 companions when he passed away. [^83] In the Shi'a terminology the companions of the Imams (a.s) who had the privilege of meeting them and dying with Faith are also called the companions of Imam Sadiq (a.s), Imam Baqir (a.s) etc.

Taabe'i: It means the one who did not meet the Prophet (P) but met the companions of the Prophet (P) even if he lived at the time of the Prophet (P). Thus, Oways al-Qarani is regarded a Taabei not a companion. The Konyah (agnomens) of Ma'soomin: 1/6: Abul-Qasim: is the Konyah of the Prophet (P) as well as Imam Mahdi (a.f). nontheless, usually it is referred to the Prophet (P) with the Godly given title of 'the Messenger of Allah'.

2/6: Abul-Hasan or Abul-Hasanayn: it is the title of Imam Ali (a.s(. 3/6: Abu-Muhammad: it is a common title for Imam Hasan, Imam Sajjad and Imam al-Askari (a.s). in most of the narrations it is meant for Imam al-Askari (a.s). 4/6: Abu-Abdullah: It is a common title between Imam Husain and Imam Sadiq (a.s). The narrators almost always use it to refer to Imam Sadiq (a.s). 5/6: AbuJa'far: it is the title of Imam Baqir (a.s).

Sometimes it is referred to Imam Baqir (a.s) with 'Abu-Ja'far al-Awwal', and to Imam Jawaad (a.s) with 'Abu-Ja'far al-Thani. 6/6: Abu-Ibrahim: It is a title for Imam Kadhem (a.s). 7/6: Abul-Hasan: It is a common title for Imam Ali, Imam Sajjad, Imam Kadhem, Imam Redha and Imam Hadi (a.s). It is, however, mostly-but not always- used for Imam Kadhem (a.s).

Similarly, Imam Kadhem (a.s) is sometimes referred to with 'Abul-Hasan al-Awwal', Imam Redha (a.s) with 'ABul-Hasan al-Thani, and Imam Hadi (a.s) with Abul-Hasan al-Thaleth. Abul-Hasan is also used without any suffix to refer to Imam Kadhem, or Imam Redha, or Imam Hadi (a.s). In such situations we can identify the Imam by considering the narrator or other contexts. 8/6: al-Aalem, al-Sheikh, al-Faqih, al-Abdul-Saleh: These are the title by which Imam Kadhem (a.s) is also referred to.

The expression of these titles reflect on the then sever insecurity of the Shi'a community. 9/6: Ahadohoma (one of the two): It is a title for either of Imam Baqir or Imam Sadiq (a.s). 10/6: al-Askariyyan (the two Askari): It is a title for Imam Hadi and Imam al-Askari (a.s). 11/6: Abu-Saleh is the respectful title of Imam Mahdi (a.f).