He has classified them according to the Ma'soomin commencing from the (P).

He has classified them according to the Ma'soomin commencing from the (P). Rejaal al-Najashi The author of this book is Abul-Abbas Ahmad Ibn Ali al-Najashi a contemporary of Sheikh Tousi and the offspring of Abdullah al-Najashi. [^119] a. Al-Najashi was indisputably one of the most celebrated experts in Rejaal. His book is as respected -in the science of Rejaal- as al-Kaafi is in Hadith.

Methods of Authentications The main concern of a Rejaali (an expert in Rejaal) is to find out how truthful a narrator is. There are two methods by which a narrator would be authenticated; specific authentications and general authentications.

Specific Authentications The following are the main specific authentications: 1/1: Authentication by one of the Ma'soomin (a.s): For instance Ali Ibn al-Mosayyeb said: "I said to Imam Redha (a.s): My residence is far away (from you) and I cannot reach out to you for every matter. From whom should I learn my religion?

The Imam replied: 'From Zakariya Ibn Adam al-Qomi who is trustworthy in the matter of this world and the religion.'" [^120] 2/1: Authentication by one of the ancient eminent scholars. For example Sheikh Tousi or Kashi or Najashi and the like attest that a particular narrator is trustworthy. 3/1: Authentication by claiming unanimity. If any of the experts in Rejaal claims that there is unanimity on the trustworthiness of a narrator, others regard him trustworthy.

For instance, the late Sayyed ibn Tawous claimed unanimity on the authenticity of Ibrahim Ibn Hashim; the father of Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Qomi. [^121] General Authentications 1/2: As-Hab Ejma' (the Unanimous Group) Obviously, the narrators and the companions of the Imams (a.s) were not all in the same educational and piety levels. Some were more learned and pious than others.

Amongst all the narrators there are 18 people [^122] who enjoyed the highest level of knowledge and trustworthiness and hence the scholars-by and large- accept their narrations without any verification. These eminent narrators are called ' As-Habul-Ejma' which means those on whose trustworthiness the scholars are unanimous. The Late Kashi was the first scholar who claimed this authentication. In three different chapters of his book (which was revised by Sheikh Tousi) he attested this unanimity.

According to Kashi they are: a. From the companions of Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (a.s): Zorarah, Ma'rouf Ibn Kharrbouz, Borayd, Abu-Baseer al-Asadi (or Moradi), Fodhayl Ibn Yasaar, and Muhammad Ibn Muslim.