Evaluation and Criticism of Weakening of Muhammad ibn Sanan and Its Effect on Imamieh Jurisprudence

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ph.D

Abstract

Muhammad ibn Sanan Zaheri (d. 220 AH), a narrator with the numerous narratives and influential in Imamiehjurisprudence and hadith, has been weakened by Rejalion (Narrators of Hadiths) and of course Shiite jurisprudents based on evidences mostly derived from "Rejal of Kashshi". Valid citations of authentic Shiite scholars, like Ayyub ibn Nuh and Fazl ibn Shazan, accusation of overstatement and also disapproval of him by Imam Javad (AS) are some of evidences and documentations which show us the weakness of this narrator. On this paper we have evaluated these propositions on the basis of integral research in narrative collections and paying attention to different evidences, and finally we have concluded that Muhammad ibn Sanan would be one of the trustworthy Imamieh followers and all the reasons presented to weaken him, although they are from valid documents, but in the critical rethinking in the context, they would be altered on implication and there is no precision on blaming detrimental to narrator's reliability. Therefore, the viewpoint of the jurisprudents who confirmed him is approved.

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