Birth
Abū Alī, Muhammad,
son of Humām, son of Suhail, known as Iskāfī, is one of the
brilliant dignitaries and great scholars of Shi’a. He has been a disciple of
the specified vicegerents (Nuwwāb-e Khāss) of the Imām of the age
(occulted Imām) i.e. Imām Mahdī (A.J.)
Iskāfī was born in
258 Hegira in Iskāf. Iskāf is the name of a place between Basra and Kūfah
in Iraq.
At that time Kūfah was
known as the land of followers and lovers of the Ahl-ul-Bait (the infallible
household of the holy Prophet of Islam S.A.).
Muhammad was born in a family
that had newly accepted Islām from Shi’as (those interested in the
infallible progeny of the holy Prophet of Islām S.A.). He grew up with a
heart full of affection towards Ahl-ul-Bait (A.S.). He cites: “Before I was
born, my father had written a letter to Imām Hasan Askari (A.S.) and asked
his holiness to pray for him so that Allāh the Almighty may bestow him a
righteous and decent child. Holy Imām answered his letter: “ surly Allāh
has granted your will.” And thus Iskāfī was born.
Travel
to Baghdād
The
city of Baghdād was a scientific center at that time, and many of the Ulamā
and scholars tried to go to Baghdād to acquire knowledge and science.
Muhammad
also decided to go to Baghdād and take advantage of great Ulamā who
leaved there in. On the other hand, to have a closer relation with ‘Nāyib-e
Khāss’ (specified vicegerent) of the 12th Imām (Imām
Mahdī A.J.), in order to perform the orders and commandments of the holy Imām
(A.J.).
Personality
Iskāfī
was accounted as one of the great dignitaries of shi’a sect at that time, and
was one of the close companions of the ‘specified vicegerents’ of Imām
Mahdī (A.J.). Regularly he
visited them, and they conveyed the sayings and orders of the holy Imām (A.J.),
or Hadīths (traditions) from other infallible Imāms (A.S.) to him.
Some of Imām’s orders and Tawqī’āt (specific manuscripts)
have reached us via Iskāfī.
The
author of the book ‘Jāmi’ur-Ruwwāt’ cites: “Before the death
of ‘Muhammad Ibn-e Uthmān’ (one of the four specified vicegerents of Imām
Mahdī A.J.), some of chieftains and well-known figures of Shi’a – such
as Abū Alī Iskāfī – asked him to present his successor,
and Muhammad Ibn-e Uthmān introduced ‘Husain Ibn-e Rūh’ to them,
on behalf of Imām Mahdī (A.J.).
Sayings
of the great men
Sheikh-e
Tūsī cites: “Iskāfī is a dignified, venerable and
trustworthy figures, and had narrated lots of narrations”.
Najāshī
also says: “Iskāfī is the sheikh of our companions and one of the
great predecessors of Shi’a. He is one of the high- ranking figures and has a
lofty position. He has narrated lots of Hadīths.”
His
teachers
In
addition to ‘Nuwwāb-e Khāss’ of Imām Mahdī (A.J.), as
Uthmān Ibn-e Sa’īd, Muhammad Ibn-e Uthmān, and Husein
Ibn-e Rūh, Iskāfī has narrated many Hadīths and narrations
from many other Shi’a Ulamā. They are as follows: Humām Ibn-e Suhail
(his father), Ibrāhīm Ibn-e Hāshim, Ja’far Ibn-e Muhammad
Humairī, Abdullāh Ibn-e Ja’far Humairī, Muhammad Ibn-e Abdullāh
Humairī, Alī Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Rīāh, Alī Ibn-e
Muhammad Rāzī, and others.
His
Pupils
Many
great shi’a figures have narrated from Iskāfī. They are as follows:
Ahmad Ibn-e Muhammad Barqī, Ja’far Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Qūlawaih, Alī
Ibn-e Ibrāhīm, Hārūn Ibn-e Mūsā Tal-akbari, Ibrāhīm
Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Ma’rūf, Ahmad Ibn-e Ibrāhīm, and …
Compilations
1-
Kitābut-Tamhīs, which has been one of the resources of ‘Bihār-ul-Anwār’
2-
‘Al-Anwār Fī Tārīkh-il A’immah (A.S.)
3-
Also numerous narrations from him have been quoted in the books of
Narrations and Hadīths.
Death
After
a blessed life, finally this honorable sage of Shi’a passed away at the age of
80 in 336 Hegira, and his soul ascended to heavens; to his lord, Allāh the
Almighty.