Husein Ibn-e Sa’īd Ahwāzī

Abū Muhammad, Husein son of Sa’īd son of Hamād son of Mehrān Ahwāzī, a great Shi’a scholar, was born in Kūfah – the city of great narrators of Shi’a – in the 3^rd century (Hegira). Originally he was Iranian. He grew up in a family whose all members had sincere affection toward the Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S. (the infallible household of the Holy Prophet of Islam S.A.) and were ranged among the companions of the 4^th Imam, i.e. Imam Sajjad Zain-ul-Ābedīn (A.S.).

He was a disciple of Imam Ridhā, Imam Jawād, and Imam Hādī (A.S.), and is known as a great narrator of Hadīth (Traditions) and an honorable luminary in the field of narrations. His narrations enjoy a well-known reputation and authenticity amongst Fuqahā of Shi’a (Islamic Jurisprudents), and have been quoted as dependable evidence in many outstanding collections of Riwāyāt (narrations) such as Usūl-e Kāfī, Man-lā-Yahdharahul-Faqīh, Tahdhīb, Istibsār, Mahāsin, Wasā’il-ush-Shi’a and Bihār-ul-Anwār.

The Household of Ibn-e Sa’īd Ahwāzī

The members of family of Ibn-e Sa’īd were well known for their pure, profound faith in Allah the Most High, and their cordial love for the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.). They had brilliant background of Jihad (struggle for the sake of Islam) in this way. Accordingly, they started their cultural and practical struggles against Abbasid caliphs - who were accounted as the enemies of the progeny of Imam Ali (A.S.) - by practicing pious deeds and practical defense for the rights of Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.), and presented praiseworthy services in this way.  

Personality

Husein was accounted as an outstanding learned scholar in his era.

Ibn-e Nadīm says: “Husein Ibn-e Sa’īd Ahwāzī, an inhabitant of Kūfah, was the most erudite character in his age. He enjoyed an extensive knowledge about Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Riwāyāt (narrations), Hadīths (Traditions), as well as virtues and intrinsic worth of the infallible household of the Holy Prophet of Islam S.A.; he held a great deal of Shi’a prescripts and knowledge in his mind.

Trip to Ahwāz

Accompanied by his brother Hasan, he traveled to Ahwāz in order to promulgate the teachings of Islam and precepts of Āl-e Rasūl (i.e. the Ahl-ul-Bayt A.S.). He preached about the prominence of the Ahl-ul-Bayt  (A.S.) either by his words or his writings. He did not refrain from any endeavor in this respect, and made his utmost efforts to the extent that many people were fascinated by the merits of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.) and his Ahl-ul-Bayt (A.S.), and were converted to their genuine lovers. 

A number of dignitaries such as Ishāq son of Ibrāhīm Hudhainī, Alī son of Rassān, Alī son of Mahziār, and Abdullāh son of Muhammad Hudhainī were taken by him to the presence of His holiness Imam Ridhā (A.S.), and were fascinated by Imam and converted to his sincere & honest followers.

Trip to Qum

His great brother Hasan passed away, and Husein Ibn-e Sa’īd lost his most important supporter. Afterward he headed for Qum, in order to associate with other brilliant savants of Shi’a and take advantage of their knowledge, and on the other hand, to safeguard his works from negligence. In Qum, He took up residence in the house of Hasan son of Abān. Many celebrities of Qum welcomed him and benefited from his narrations.

 Eventually, Husein Ibn-e Sa’īd passed away in Qum, and his soul ascended to meet his Lord. 

His Teachers

In addition to the holy Imams (Imam Ridhā, Imam Jawād, and Imam Hādī A.S.), Husein Ibn-e Sa’īd took advantage of outstanding narrators and scholars such as: Muhammad son of Umayr, Ahmad son of Muhammad son of Abī Nasr-e Bazantī, Jamīl son of Darrāj, Hamād son of Īsā, Safwān son of Yahyā, Zarīf son of Nāsih, Muhammad son of Sanān, Yūnus son of Abdurrahmān, and other brilliant Muhaddīths (scholars in Hadīth).

His Pupils

A large number of scholars have taken advantage of his presence, such as Ibrāhīm son of Hāshim, Ahmad son of Abī Abdillāh Barqī, Ahmad son of Muhammad son of Īsā, Hasan son of Mahbūb, Sa’d son of Abdullāh, Sahl son of Ziād, Alī son of Mahziār Ahwāzī.

Compilations

He has more than 30 compilations all of which have been written with the assistance of his brother Hasan. Some of them are listed below:

 1-     Ar-Radd-u Alal-Ghulāt (A Refutation to the Extremists)

2-     Al-Manāghib (Eulogistic Biographies)

3-     Al-Mathālib (Critical Biographies)

4-     Az-Zuhd (Piety)

5-     Al-Mu’min (The Faithful Believers)

6-     Kitāb-ul-Wudhū’ (A Book on Ablution)

7-     Kitāb-us-Salāt (A Book on Ritual Payers)

8-     Kitāb-uz-Zakāt (A Book on Zakāt, or Alms Tax)

9-     Kitāb-us-Sawm (A Book on Fasting)

10-   Kitāb-ul-Hajj (A Book on Hajj, or  Pilgrimage to Mecca)

11-   Kitāb-un-Nikāh (A Book on Matrimony)

12-   Kitāb-ut-Talāq (A Book on Divorce)

13-   Kitāb-ul-‘Itq (A Book on Manumission)

14-   Kitāb-ul-Imān (A Book on Faith, or Belief in Allāh)

15-   Kitāb-ut-Tijārāt (A Book on Trade)

16-   Kitāb-ul-Khums (A Book on Khums, or One-fifth Levy)

17-   Kitāb-ush-Shahādāt (A Book on Evidence, or Attestations)

18-   Kitāb-us-Sayd (A Book on Hunting)

19-   Kitāb-ul-Makāsib (A Book on Earnings and Professions)

20-   Kitāb-ul-Ashrabah (A Book on Drinkables)

21-   Kitāb-uz-Ziārāt (A Book on Pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines)

22-   Kitāb-ut-Taqīyyah (A Book on Precautionary Dissimulation)