Muhammad
Ibn-e Ibrāhīm Nu’māni
Birth:
Abū Abdullāh, Muhammad son of Ibrāhīm, son of Ja’far, Kātib-e Nu’māni, known as Ibn-e Zeinab, was one of the great Shi’a narrators at the beginning of the fourth Islāmic century.
Scientific position:
In addition to the fact that he was an author with good viewpoints and powerful reasoning, he had also a profound knowledge of history and tradition (hadith). He was one of the greatest students of Thiqat-ul-Islām Kuleinī, and gained most of his knowledge from him. He was also Kuleinī’s scribe, and for this reason he earned a great fame, honor, and credit among the Shi’a scholars and Fuqahā (Jurisprudents).
His trip to Shīrāz: Nu’māni usually traveled to different cities to hear narration from reliable narrators. In this respect on 313 H. he went to Shīrāz to hear narration from the great scholar, Abul-qāsim Mūsā Ibn-e Muhammad Ash’arī, the grandson of Sa’d Ibn-e Abdullāh Qummi.
His trip to Baghdād:
He went to baghdād in 327 H. to take advantage of the brilliant Shi’a narrators. Therein, he heard narration from Ahmad ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Sa’īd Ibn-e Uqdah kūfi, and Muhammad Ibn-e Humām Ibn-e Suheil.
His trip to Shām (Syria):
Nu’māni went to Jordan in 333 H. in order to hear narration from Muhammad ibn-e abdullāh ibn-e Muammar-e tabarāni, and Abul Hārith Abdullah ibn-e Abdul-malik ibn-e Sahl-e Tabarāni. Then he went to Damascus, to hear narration from Muhammad Ibn-e Uthmān Ibn-e Allān-e Duhni Baghdādi. After that he went to Halab. People and the scholars of the city welcomed him highly and asked him to remain in Halab, whereas people can take advantage from his knowledge, which was full of narrations from the spiritually purified Ahl-ul bait (A.S.). He accepted to stay in halab for the rest of his life.
The book ‘Ghibat’ (Occultation) is one the achievements of his stay in Halab. By compellation of this book he took a great Measure in introducing the 12th Imām (Imām Zamān AJ.F.) to the people of that area, especially in that time, which was the beginning of major Ocultation.
Najāshi one of the great Shi’a scholars cites about Nu’māni:
“Nu’māni known of Abn-e Zainab, is one of great Shi’a scholars; he enjoys a great status and position. He is a noble figure with a true belief, and a numerous narrations”.
Teachers:
Nu’māni took advantage of great scholars of tradition (Hadith), as:
1-Muhammad Ibn-e Yaqūb-e Kuleini
2-Muhammad Ibn-e Abdullāh Ibn-e Jafar Humeiri
3-Abū Ali, Muhammad ibn-e Humām Ibn-e Suheil Ibn-e Bīzān (scribe of Iskāfi)
4-Abul-qāsim Mūsā Ibn-e Muhammad Qummi
5-Muhammad Ibn-e Uthmān ibn-e Allān Duhni Baghdādi
6-Ahmad Ibn-e Muhammad Ibn-e Sa’īd Kūfi, Known as Ibn-e Aqīdah
His compellations: In addition to ‘Ghibat’ some books, as Alfarā’idh, Kitābu-radde Alā Ismāeeliyyah, Kitābut-tafsīr and Kitābut-tasallā are among his compellations.
Unfortunately, accept the book ‘Ghibah’ we have not received his other books; but Shaikh Hurr-e Āmeli cites “ I have seen some parts of his Exegisis of holy Qur’ān, in which there are some traditions of Nu’māni that are narrated from Imām Jafar-e Sādiq (A.S.). Obviously Shaikh Hurr-e Āmeli refers to the Muh’kam and Mutashābih written by Sayyid-d Murtadhā which Allāmah Majlesi also made it a reference for his great book Bihār-ul Anwār.