Valuable information concerning the opinion of the of the...

Valuable information concerning the opinion of the of the Prophet (S) regarding ‘Ali and the influence of Shi‘ism among the different tribes can be acquired from the different parts of the book. The book, Al-Gharat , written by Ibrahim Thaqafi al-Kufi (283 AH), is one of the other references written about this subject.

This book is related to the events that occurred during the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful ( ‘a ), and examines the plunders and pillages committed by Mu‘awiyah’s agents in the realm of ‘Ali’s ( ‘a ) government. The conditions and situations of the Commander of the Faithful’s ( ‘a ) Shi‘ah can be extracted from various sections of the book.

Al-Jamal or Nusrah al-Jamal of Shaykh al-Mufid, which examines the event of the Battle of Jamal (Camel) is yet another valuable references in this regard. As it is about the Commander of the Faithful’s ( ‘a ) first battle during his caliphate, this book illustrates ‘Ali’s ( ‘a ) station among the people of Iraq prior to his arrival there. Books on Rijal and Classes ‘Ilm ar-Rijal is one of the sciences mentioned in relation to the science of hadith .

Its utility is in the study of the chain of transmission of hadith through which it deals with the life account and background of the hadith narrators and on the rectification of the of the Prophet (S). In the Shi‘ah rijal , apart from the of the Prophet (S), the companions of the infallible Imams ( ‘a ) have also been discussed. The science of rijal started in the 2nd century hijri and continues to exist to the present, having acquired perfection with the passage of time.

Some of the most famous and reputable writings of the Ahl as-Sunnah in this context are Al-Isti‘ab fi Ma‘rifah al-Ashab , written by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr al-Qurtubi (463 AH); Asad al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifah as-Sahabah , authored by Ibn Athir al-Juzri (630 AH); Tarikh Baghdad , penned by Khatib al-Baghdadi (392-463 AH); and Al-Isabah fi Ma‘rifah as-Sahabah , written by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani.

Similarly, the most important Shi‘ah rijali books are Ikhtibar Ma‘rifah ar-Rijal , written by Shaykh at-Tusi (385-460 AH); Rijal an-Najasi (Fihrist Asma’ Musannif ash-Shi‘ah) better known as Rijal , Kitab ar-Rijal , and Kitab al-Fihrist of Shaykh at-Tusi (385-460 AH); Rijal al-Burqa , authored by Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Burqa (280 AH); Al-Mashaykhah of Shaykh as-Saduq (381 AH).