|
An-Najashi, the most authentic Shi'ite Muslim scholars of Ilm ar-Rijaal
Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 27th of the Islamic month of Jamadi al-Awwal in 450 AH, Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad ibn Ali an-Najashi, passed away in Matirabad near the city of Samarra in Iraq at the age of 78. He is considered the earliest and among the most authentic Shi'ite Muslim scholars of Ilm ar-Rijaal, which literally means "Knowledge of Men", and refers to a discipline of Islamic religious science in which the narrators of hadith are evaluated.
His book “Rijaal an-Najashi” has been the most reliable source of information about early ulema and scholars of the School of the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt. Najashi belonged to a family of eminent scholars. His seventh ancestor, Abdullah an-Najashi who was governor of Ahvaz and Fars during the reign of Mansour Dawaniqi, the 2nd self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime, was a student of Imam Ja'far Sadeq (AS), the 6th Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
He compiled the Imam's answers to his queries under the title “Risalat-Abdullah an-Najashi”. His own father, Ali bin Ahmad, lived in Baghdad and when the celebrated Iranian scholar Shaikh Sadouq arrived there, he studied under him. He himself studied under famous scholars such as Shaikh Mufid, and because of his inquisitive mind embarked on a scrutiny of sources and narrators. The result was the valuable book “Rijaal an-Najashi”, which paved the way for later generations to further explore this vital field.
|
