Imam Ali-un-Naqi al-Hadi(A.S.) Companions and the Narrators of His traditions

By: Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi
The vast culture and knowledge of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) in all sciences such as tafsir (commentary of the Qur'an), jurisprudence, Islamic arts, ethics, and other fields made him the end that scholars and seekers of knowledge set off towards.
The companions of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) represented the true mission of Islam. They saved the mission of Islam from lose. They associated with the infallible Imams of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who were the flowing spring of the essence of Islam. They narrated and recorded their (the Imams') traditions in their four hundred records (usuls) that were collected later on in the four books to which the Shia jurisprudents referred and are still referring to in deriving legal verdicts.
These companions had done the Islamic world a great favor by writing down the knowledge and literature of the infallible Imams (a.s.); otherwise, that great heritage would be lost and consequently the human culture and intellect would lose much.
The thing that makes one pride on the jihad of those narrators is that they associated with the infallible Imams (a.s.) and recorded their traditions in a time that was most critical and full of offense and oppression. The Umayyad and Abbasid governments went too far in oppressing the Alawids and their followers and in preventing the public from associating with them (the Alawids). Those governments, with no mercy or leniency, chased everyone who tried to spread or talk about the virtues of the Alawids or narrate their traditions and arrested him to be killed or to remain in the darkness of prisons forever. Therefore, narrators refrained from mentioning the names of the infallible Imams from whom they narrated traditions. They referred to them by surnames one time and by titles other time. They did not declare their real names.
Anyhow, we mention here the companions of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and the narrators of his traditions with brief accounts on them because this, as we think, shall complete the study on the Imam that it discovers some important sides of his personality.

1. Ibrahim bin Isaaq
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions and said that he was reliable.[405][280]

2. Ibrahim bin Abu Bakr ar-Razi
Al-Barqi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[406][281]

3. Ibrahim bin Idris
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[407][282] So did al-Barqi.[408][283]

4. Ibrahim bin Dawud al-Ya'qubi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[409][284] Al-Barqi said he was from Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Jawad's companions.[410][285] Al-Kashshi mentioned him as one of the narrators who narrated from Imam Abul Hasan (a.s.).[411][286]

5. Ibrahim bin Shayba
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[412][287] Once, he wrote a letter to Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) complaining to him against the deviants from religion who distorted the Islamic intellect. We shall discuss this matter when we talk about the age of the Imam later on.

6. Ibrahim bin Abdah an-Naysaburi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Askari's companions.[413][288] Al-Kashshi said that Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) sent a letter to Isaaq bin Isma'il in which he greeted Ibrahim bin Abdah and appointed him as his agent to receive the legal dues.[414][289] Once, Imam al-Askari (a.s.) deputed him to Abdullah bin Hamdwayh al-Bayhaqi and sent a letter with him saying in it, "I have sent Ibrahim bin Abdah so that the (other) districts and the people of your district pay my dues on you to him and made him my trust and agent before my followers there. Let them fear Allah and pay the dues and they have no excuse in not doing that or delaying it. May Allah not distress them for disobeying His guardians and may He have mercy on them and on you through my mercifulness to them, and Allah is Ample-giving, Generous."[415][290]

7. Ibrahim bin Uqbah
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[416][291] and so did al-Barqi.[417][292] He narrated traditions from Imam Abu Ja'far al-Jawad (a.s.) and Imam Abul Hasan al-Hadi (a.s.). Sahl bin Ziyad and other narrators narrated from him.[418][293]

8. Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Faris an-Naysaburi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Hasan al-Askari's companions.[419][294]

9. Ibrahim bin Muhammad al-Hamadani
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam ar-Ridha, Imam al-Jawad, and Imam al-Hadi's companions. Al-Kashshi said he was the agent of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.). He performed the hajj forty times.[420][295] He was the agent of Imam al-Jawad (a.s.) who wrote to him, "Your account has been received. May Allah accept from you and be pleased with them and make them with us in this life and in the afterlife. So-and-so dinars and so-and-so clothes were sent to you. May Allah bless them for you and bless every gift He has given to you. I have written to an-Nadhr ordering him to refrain from troubling and objecting to you and informing him of your position to me. And I have written to Ayyub ordering him of the same too. I have written a book to my followers in Hamadan ordering them to obey you and follow your orders and that I have no agent (there) except you."[421][296]
This letter shows that Ibrahim bin Muhammad was so trusted and of a high position near the Imam (a.s.).

10. Ibrahim bin Mahziyar
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Jawad and Imam al-Hadi's companions.[422][297] An-Najashi said he had written a book called al-Bisharat.[423][298] Al-Kashshi mentioned a tradition narrated by Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Mahziyar that he said, "When my father (Ibrahim) was about to die, he gave me some money and gave me a certain sign. No one knew about this sign except Allah the Almighty. He said to me, 'Whoever show you this sign, you have to give him this money.' I went to Baghdad and stopped at an inn. On the following day, someone came and knocked the door. I asked the servant to see who he was. The servant said, 'An old man at the door.' I said, 'Let him come in.' The old man came in, took a seat and said, 'I am al-Umari. Give me the money that is with you which is so-and-so.' He showed me the sign and I gave him the money.[424][299] This tradition shows that Ibrahim was the agent of the Imam in receiving the legal dues and definitely he was fair and reliable in order to be the Imam's agent.

11. Ibrahim ad-Dahqan
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[425][300]

12. Ahmad bin Isaaq bin Abdullah al-Ash'ari al-Qummi
He was the deputy of the people of Qum. He narrated traditions from Imam Abu Ja'far the second (al-Jawad) and Imam Abul Hasan al-Hadi (a.s.). He was from the close companions of Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.). He had written some books such as Ilal as-Sawm, Masa'il ar-Rijal of Imam al-Hadi, and Ilal as-Salat. He was one of those who saw Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) and there were many traditions narrated on praising him.

13. Ahmad bin Isaaq ar-Razi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[426][301] He narrated traditions from Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and Sahl bin Ziyad narrated from him.[427][302]

14. Ahmad bin Isma'il bin Yaqtin
Al-Barqi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[428][303]

15. Ahmad bin Abu Abdullah al-Barqi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[429][304] He narrated about forty traditions.[430][305]

16. Ahmad bin al-Hasan bin Isaaq bin Sa'd
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[431][306]

17. Ahmad bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Fadhdhal
He was eloquent and reliable in traditions. His brother Ali bin al-Hasan and other Kufi men narrated from him.[432][307] He had written some books such as the book of Salat (prayer) and the book of Wudu'. He died in 260AH.[433][308]

18. Ahmad bin Hamza bin al-Yasa' al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[434][309] He narrated from Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), Abban bin Uthman, al-Husayn bin al-Mukhtar, Zakariyya bin Adam, Muhsin bin Ahmad, and Muhammad bin Ali. Al-Husayn bin Sa'eed, Abdullah bin Ja'far, Ali bin Mahziyar and other men narrated from him.[435][310]

19. Ahmad bin al-Khadheeb
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[436][311] and so did al-Barqi.

20. Ahmad bin Zakariyya bin Baba al-Qummi
Al-Barqi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[437][312]

21. Ahmad bin al-Fadhl
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[438][313]

22. Ahmad bin Muhammad as-Siyadi al-Basri
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Hasan al-Askari's companions.[439][314]

23. Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eesa al-Ash'ari al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam ar-Ridha, Imam al-Jawad, and Imam al-Hadi's companions.[440][315] He was the chief and notable of the people of Qum and was the head who met the rulers. He had written some books such as at-Tawhid (monotheism), The Virtue of the Prophet, al-Mut'ah (temporary marriage), an-Nawadir (rarities), an-Nasikh wel Mansukh (abrogating and abrogated), the Virtues of the Arabs, and other books.[441][316]

24. Ahmad bin Hilal as-Sabrtani al-Baghdadi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions (or just a narrator of his traditions). He was accused of exaggeration.[442][317] Many traditions dispraised him and said that he was irreligious.

25. Isaaq bin Isma'il bin Noubakht
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[443][318] and so did al-Barqi.

26. Isaaq bin Muhammad al-Basri
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions and said he was accused of exaggeration.[444][319] The author of al-Khulasah said he was from the companions of Imam al-Jawad (a.s.) but he was accused of exaggeration.

27. Ayyub bin Noah bin Duraj
He was trustworthy and reliable. An-Najashi said, 'He was an agent of Abul Hasan (al-Hadi) and Abu Muhammad (al-Askari) (peace be upon them). He had a high position near them. He was trustworthy, very pious, and a devoted worshipper. He was reliable in his traditions. His father Noah bin Duraj was a judge in Kufa and was a true faithful. Jameel bin Duraj was his brother.'[445][320] Sheikh at-Tusi said, 'Ayyub bin Noah was reliable. He had a book and traditions from Abul Hasan the Third (Imam al-Hadi).' Al-Kashshi said, 'He was pious. He left just one hundred and fifty dinars after his death, though people thought him wealthy. He narrated from Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and many narrators narrated from him.'

28. Bishr bin Bashshar an-Naysaburi
He was the uncle of Abu Abdullah ash-Shathani. He was from Imam al-Hadi's companions as Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned in his Rijal. He narrated from Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), and Sahl narrated from him.[446][321]

29. Ja'far bin Ahmad
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[447][322] and so did al-Barqi. He narrated from Muhammad bin Ali, and Ali bin Ibrahim al-Qummi narrated from him in his Tafsir.[448][323]

30. Ja'far bin Ibrahim bin Noah
Al-Barqi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[449][324] and so did Sheikh at-Tusi.

31. Ja'far bin Abdullah bin al-Husayn bin Jami' al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions. He communicated through letters with Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.).[450][325]

32. Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Isma'il bin al-Khattab
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[451][326] and so did al-Barqi. Sheikh at-Tusi said that once, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) wrote him a letter.[452][327]

33. Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Younus al-Ahwal as-Sayrafi
He narrated from Imam Abu Ja'far the second (al-Jawad). He had written a book.[453][328] Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[454][329]

34. Hatim bin al-Faraj
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[455][330]

35. Al-Hasan bin Ja'far
He was known as Abu Talib al-Fafani. He was from Baghdad. Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions, and also he mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hasan al-Askari's companions.[456][331]

36. Al-Hasan bin al-Hasan al-Alawi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[457][332]

37. Al-Hasan bin al-Husayn al-Alawi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[458][333]

38. Al-Hasan bin Kharzath
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[459][334] An-Najashi said, 'He narrated too many traditions. He had written a book called "the names of the messenger of Allah" and a book called "al-Mut'ah-temporary marriage". It was said that he was excessive at the end of his life.'[460][335]

39. Abu Ali al-Hasan bin Rashid
He was a reliable man from Baghdad. Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[461][336] Sheikh al-Mufid said he was one of the famous jurisprudents and chiefs from whom people took the verdicts of halal and haram and who were uncriticized and unblameable.[462][337]Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) appointed him as his agent and sent him many letters. Here are some of them:
1. Al-Kashshi mentioned that Muhammad bin Eesa al-Yaqtini said, "Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) wrote a letter to Ali bin Bilal in 232AH saying in it, 'I praise Allah and thank Him for his might and mercy and pray Him to have blessing and mercy on Muhammad the Prophet and on his progeny. I have appointed Abu Ali in the position of al-Husayn bin Abd Rabbih and entrusted him with that for the knowledge he has that no one is preferred to him. I know you are the chief of your district and so I wanted to honor you by writing this book on that to you.
You have to obey him and deliver to him all the dues that are with you. You have to inform my manumitted slaves and recommend them of that, for this will support and suffice him and save us efforts and please us. Doing this, you will have the reward of Allah and Allah gives whoever He likes. He is the Giver, Who rewards with His mercy and you are in the trust of Allah. I have written this letter with my handwriting and I praise Allah too much."[463][338]
This letter shows the reliability, trustworthiness, and virtue of al-Hasan bin Rashid where Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) ordered his followers to obey, follow, and pay the legal dues to him.
2. Al-Kashshi mentioned that Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eesa said, 'I copied the book that was with ibn Rashid to the mawali who lived in Baghdad, Mada'in, and the villages around. This is the text of the letter: 'I praise Allah for the health and soundness I am in, and pray Him to have blessing, all mercy, and kindness on His Prophet and his progeny. I have appointed Abu Ali bin Rashid in place of Ali bin al-Husayn bin Abd Rabbih who was my agent before, and now he (Abu Ali bin Rashid) has the position of his predecessor. I have entrusted him with what I had entrusted my previous agents with to receive my rights from you. I have accepted him to you and preferred him to the others in that, and he is well-qualified for this job. May Allah have mercy on you, pay the dues to him and to me and do not make an excuse on yourselves. Hurry to obey Allah, make your monies lawful, spare your bloods, help one another in goodness and piety, and fear Allah that you may find mercy, and hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and do not die unless you are Muslims. Obeying him is as obeying me, and disobeying him is as disobeying me.
Keep to the right path that Allah may reward you and give you more from His favor, for Allah is Ample-giving, Generous, and He is Gracious and Merciful to His people. May we and you be in the trust and preservation of Allah. I have written it with my handwriting, and too much praise be to Allah.'[464][339]
3. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) sent a letter to Ayyub bin Noah saying,
"O Ayyub, I order you to stop disputation between you and Abu Ali, and that each of you should keep to what he has been entrusted with and ordered to manage the affairs of his district. If you follow all that which I have ordered you of, you will no longer need to refer to me. O Abu Ali, I order you of the same as I have ordered Ayyub. Do not accept anything from anyone from the people of Baghdad and the other villages. Order anyone coming to you from other than your district to carry the dues to the very agent of his own district. O Abu Ali, I order you as I have ordered Ayyub. Let each of you do as I have ordered him!'[465][340]
Definitely, Abu Ali bin Rashid had a respectable position near Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), and certainly he did not obtained that position except through his piety and religiousness. When bin Rashid died, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) prayed Allah to have mercy on him, to forgive, and be pleased with him.

40. Al-Hasan bin Dharif
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[466][341] An-Najashi said, 'Al-Hasan bin Dharif bin Nasif was a reliable man from Kufa. He and his father lived in Baghdad. It is said that he has a book on rarities. Many narrators narrated from him.'[467][342]

41. Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Umar bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abu Talib
He was called an-Nasir lil-Haqq. He was from Imam al-Hadi's companions.[468][343] The author of Sharh al-Masa'il an-Nasiriyyat says, 'Abu Muhammad an-Nasir al-Hasan bin Ali was virtuous for his vast knowledge and asceticism. His jurisprudence was brighter than the bright sun. It was he who spread Islam in ad-Daylam and made its people be guided by him after deviation. His splendid biography is more than to be accounted, and more obvious than to be hidden.'[469][344]

42. Al-Hasan bin Ali al-Washsha'
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[470][345] An-Najashi said, 'He was the son of the daughter of Elyas as-Sayrafi al-Khazzaz. Al-Hasan narrated from his grandfather Elyas that he said when he was about to die, 'Witness on me, and this moment is not of lying, that I heard Abu Abdullah (as-Sadiq) (peace be upon him) saying: By Allah, Fire will not touch one, who loves Allah and His messenger and believes in the Imams, after his death."
Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eesa said, 'Once, I went to Kufa seeking Hadith. I met there al-Hasan bin Ali al-Washsha' and asked him to show me the books of al-Ala' bin Razin al-Qalla and Abban bin Uthman al-Ahmar. He gave me the two books and I asked him to permit me to copy them. He said to me, 'O man, why are you in a hurry? Go and copy them.' I said, 'I fear accidents.' He said, 'If I knew that this tradition would be requested so much, I would write much more. I met in this mosque (the mosque of Kufa) nine hundred sheikhs that each of them said: Ja'far bin Muhammad (Imam as-Sadiq) said to me.This man was a notable scholar of the sect (the Shia) and had written some books such as "the Reward of the Hajj", "al-Manasik", and a book of rarities.'[471][346]

43. Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Uthman as-Sajjadah
He was excessive. Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[472][347] From his excessiveness was that Nasr bin as-Sabah said, 'One day, al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Uthman as-Sajjadah said to me, 'What do you say about Muhammad bin Abu Zaynab and Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib (the Prophet) (peace be upon him and upon his progeny)? Which of them is better?' I said to him, 'You say!' He said, 'Muhammad bin Abu Zaynab (is better).
Do you not see that Allah the Almighty has blamed Muhammad bin Abdullah (the Prophet) (peace be upon him and upon his progeny) on some occasions in the Qur'an, but He has not blamed Muhammad bin Abu Zaynab? Allah has said to Muhammad bin Abdullah, (And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclined unto them a little),[473][348] and (If thou ascribe a partner to Allah, thy work will fail and thou indeed wilt be among the losers),[474][349]
and in other verses, and He has not blamed Muhammad bin Abu Zaynab for anything of that.' Abu Amr said, 'On as-Sajjadah be the curse of Allah, of cursors, of the angels, and of people altogether. He was from the Aliya'ites who criticized the messenger of Allah (SwT) and who had no share in Islam.'[475][350] This tradition shows the bad beliefs of this man.

44. Al-Hasan bin Muhammad al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[476][351] Al-Kashshi said, 'Abu Muhammad al-Fadhl bin Shathan mentioned in one of his books: "From the famous liars is ibn Baba al-Qummi. Sa'd said that al-Ubaydi said to him, 'Once, (Imam) al-Askari wrote to me saying: I am free before Allah from al-Fihri and al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Baba al-Qummi, and you also be free from them. I warn you and all my followers from them. I curse them.
The curse of Allah be on them. They extort the monies of people in the name of us. They are mischievous and harmful. May Allah harm them and plunge them into mischief. Ibn Baba pretends that I have sent him as a prophet and that he is a "bab".[477][352] The curse of Allah be on him. Satan has mocked at him and deceived him. Allah curses whoever accepts that from him. O Muhammad, if you are able to split his head with a rock, you do. He has harmed me. May Allah harm him in this life and in the afterlife.'[478][353] Ibn Baba was deviant from the truth and from religion and he harmed the Imam with the heresies he originated.

45. Al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Hayy
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[479][354] He seemed to be a Twelver Shia, but he was unknown.

46. Al-Hasan bin Muhammad al-Mada'ini
He was from the companions of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.).[480][355]

47. Al-Husayn bin Asad an-Nahdi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[481][356] and so did al-Barqi.

48. Al-Husayn bin Asad al-Basri
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[482][357] Al-Barqi said he was from the companions of Imam al-Jawad (a.s.) and said he was reliable and truthful.[483][358]

49. Al-Husayn bin Ashkib
An-Najashi said, 'Al-Husayn bin Ashkib was a reliable, preferable sheikh from KhurHasan. Abu Amr mentioned him in his book "ar-Rijal" as one of the companions of Imam Abul Hasan al-Mahdi (a.s.). Al-Ayyashi narrated many traditions from him and considered his traditions as true and said he was trustworthy.[484][359] Al-Kashshi said, 'He was a theologian, scholars, and author of some books.'[485][360]

50. Al-Husayn bin Ubaydillah al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions and said he was accused of excessiveness.[486][361] Al-Kashshi said, 'He was exiled from Qum at the time when those, who were accused of excessiveness, were exiled.'[487][362]

51. Al-Husayn bin Malik al-Qummi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions and said he was reliable.[488][363]

52. Al-Husayn bin Muhammad al-Mada'ini
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions,[489][364] and so did al-Barqi.

53. Hafs al-Marwazi
Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[490][365]

54. Hamdan bin Sulayman bin Umayrah an-Naysaburi
He was known as at-Tajir. Sheikh at-Tusi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi's companions.[491][366] An-Najashi said, 'Hamdan bin Sulayman Abu Sa'eed an-Nayshaburi was a reliable man from the notables of our companions.'[492][367]