Muhammad Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Ash’ath

Birth

Abū Alī, Muhammad son of Muhammad son of Ash’ath Kūfī is one of the Shi’a narrators in the fourth century Hegira.

Muhammad was born in Kūfah city, where was famous for being the residence of Shi’a great narrators and affectionate followers of Imam Alī (A.S.).

Since childhood he was grown up with cordial love toward Imam Alī and his infallible descendants (A.S.) and Ahl-ul-Bayt (the household of the Holy Prophet of Islam S.A). Soon he himself became a narrator of Hadiths (Traditions from the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (S.A.) and his descendents). 

Trip to Egypt

Muhammad went to Egypt and resided in “Thaqīfe Jawād” district. At that time Egypt was undergoing great revolutionary changes. ‘Fātīmīyyīn’ –descendants of Hazrate Fātīma (A.S.), esteemed daughter of the Holy prophet of Islam, and his Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S.) - had sovereignty over the country, and people could easily demonstrate their cordial affection towards them.

Muhammad resided there and participated in   classes held by Mūsā, son of Ismael, son of Imām Mūsā Al-Kāzim (A.S.), and took advantage of that great dignitary.

Narration

In Egypt, he decided to narrate the book ‘Al-Ja’farīyat’.  Most of narrations of this book were narrated through Mūsā son of Ismael from his infallible ancestors.

Later, this book was considered as one of the reliable 400 narration reference books of Shi’a, and its narrations were highly welcomed by Shi'a Ulamā and jurisprudents.

Sayings of the great men

Allāmah Hellī in his book ‘Kholāsah’, and ‘Najāshī’ in his ‘Rijāl’ have stated: “Muhammad son of Muhammad son of Ash’ath is a Shi’a from Kūfah and a reliable dignitary. He went to Egypt to live there.”

The author of ‘Rīyādh-ul-Ulamā’ has remarked: “Abū Alī, Muhammad son of Ash’ath Kandī Kūfī is one of the ancient Shi’a narrators. He has compiled the book of narrations titled ‘Riwāyat-ul-Abnā An-il-Ābā’ Min Āl-ir-Rasūl (S.A.)’ (that means: Narrations cited by sons from their fathers, from the noble family of Holy Prophet of Islam S.A.).” It seems that this book was later titled as ‘Al-Ja’farīyāt’.

Sayings of Sunni Scholars

Ibn-e Uday said about him: “In Egypt I used to write down his narrations. His belief in Shiism was so strong that made him to show us a book, which included 1000 Hadiths; he claimed that he narrated them from Mūsā, son of Ismael, son of Imām Mūsā Al-Kāzim (A.S.), and that they had narrated from their fathers.”    

His teachers

In addition to Mūsā son of Ismael son of Imām Mūsā Al-Kāzim (A.S.), he enjoyed taking advantage of other teachers as:

-  Mu’ammal Ibn-e Wahhāb

-  Alī Ibn-e Zeid Farāyezī

-  Hārūn Ibn-e Sa’īd Īlī

-  Abū Yahyā Muhammad Ibn-e Barīd Muqarī

-  Muhammad Ibn-e Khalaf Ibn-e Umar

-  Muhammad Ibn-e Awīr Īlī

-  Ismael Ibn-e Ishāq Ibn-e Sahl-e Umawī

- Mūsā Ibn-e Ibrāhīm Ibn-e Imām Mūsā (A.S.).

His pupils

A large number of scholars took advantage of his teachings, as:

- Abū Muhammad Sahl Ibn-e Ahmad Ibn-e Abdullāh Ibn-e Sahl Dībājī

- Abulfadhl Sheybānī

- Abul-Hasan Alī Ibn-e Ja’far Ibn-e Himād

- Abdullāh Ibn-e Mufadhal Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Hilāl

- Ibrāhīm Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Abdullāh Qurashī

- Abū Muhammad Abdullāh Ibn-e Mohammad Ibn-e Abdullāh Ibn-e Uthmān known as Ibn-ul-Saqqā’

- Abul-Hasan Muhammad Ibn-e Dawūd Ibn-e Suleimān Kātib

His compilations

Besides “Al Ja’farīyāt”, as “Najāshī´ indicates, Muhammad has written a book about ‘Hajj pilgrimage rites’ – but this book is not available now. His only present compilation is “Al Ja’farīyāt” which will be introduced later.