Imam Al-Sadiq

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THE SHI'ITE FAMOUS RELIABLE NARRATORS OF AL-
SADIQ
The Muslim biographers have mentioned that the number of the reliable narrators is fourthousands
or over. So, it is not possible for us to mention them all here. In the meantime the
biographers have mentioned the most famous ones of them. Also it is not right to neglect
them, for to mention them fulfills our purpose. For this reason we have decided to mention
the most famous reliable narrators to show a side of the life of al- Sadiq, peace be on him, and
avoid boring wordiness. They are as follow:
Aban Bin Taghlub:
His Kunya was Abu Sa'd. His real name was Aban b. Taghlub al- Kabary al- Jariry. He
reported traditions on the authority of al- Sajjad, al- Baqir, and al- Sadiq, peace be on them.
He died during the lifetime of al-Sadiq, peace be on him, in the year 141 or in the year 140 (A.
H.).
When Abu Abd Allah (i.e. al- Sadiq), peace be on him, heard of his death, he said: "By Allah,
the death of Aban has pained my heart!" These words show you that Aban had a great
position with him. I wonder, what was the importance of the person whose death ached the
heart of al- Sadiq, peace be on him?
Aban had plentiful knowledge and strong evidence. The following words of al- Baqir, peace
be on him, affirm that: "Sit down in the Mosque of Medina and give people religious
opinions, for I like people to see persons like you among my Shi'a (followers)." Also the
following words of al-Sadiq, peace be on him, stress that: "Debate with the people of Medina,
for I like my narrators to be like you." If Aban had no plentiful knowledge and no strong
evidence, they (the Imams) would have not subjected him to those difficulties and dangers,
because his failure would have meant theirs.
Only on the authority of al- Sadiq, Aban reported thirty thousand traditions. Al- Sadiq himself
told (people) about that and ordered AbAn b. 'Uthman to report them (the traditions) from
him.
Aban was a specialist in tradition and theology. Besides he was versed in many great sciences
such as exegesis (of the Koran), literature, grammar, and reading. He heard (the literary