The status of Ibn 'Uqdah in development of Imami Rijal science

A'zam Farjami¹

Aziz Ali Hasan-pur²

Ibn 'Uqdah's name has frequently occurred in many compilations of Imami Rijal science. How is the status of this Rijal expert - who is an adherent of Zaidi faith – in development of Imami Rijal science? What is the approach of the Imami Rijal experts concerning his Rijal-oriented opinions? From what factors does the diversity of the early and later Imami scholars' opinions concerning his cases of jarh and ta'dil originate?

The extent of advantage taken by Imami scholars in general and Shaykh Tusi, al-Najashi and Allamah al-Hilli, in particular from Ibn 'Uqdah indicates his special impression on the development of Imami Rijal science. However, change in the criteria of trustworthiness in the recent eras caused that Allamah al-Hilli – contrary to the early scholars – did not fully rely upon what was authenticated (tawthīqāt) by Ibn 'Uqdah. This article studies such issues as reaction of the Imami Rijal experts to Ibn 'Uqdah's Rijal-oriented opinions and analyzes the above-mentioned problems.

Keywords: Ibn 'Uqdah, what was authenticated (tawthīqāt) by Ibn 'Uqdah, Imami Rijal science.