Name: Abu
Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Babawaih al-Qummi
Born: End of 305 A.H. 923
A.D./306 A.H 924A.D. (There is no positive evidence as to his year of birth)
Martydom: 381 A.H. 991 A.D. (Buried at Ebn-e Babooyeh, Ray, Iran)
Kunniyat: Abu Jafar
Title: Sudooq (earned
on account of His great learning and reputation for truthfulness)
Teachers: Ali ibne
Hussain Qummi (Father), Ibrahim Burki, Mohammed ibne Hussain ibne Walid and
other 150 scholars (listed by historians).
Disciple: Shaikh Mufeed
a.r, Najashi a.r, Shaikh Qudoos a.r and Ibne Zaheri a.r.
Books: There are 300
books authored by Shaikh Sadooq but 220 books are available in the libraries of
the world. Popular are “Mun laa yahdar al faqeeh”, “Madinat al Ilm”, “Ilal al
Sharaeh”. The other smaller books authored by him are “Sawab al Aamaal”, Iqaab
al Aamaal”, “Sifaat al Shia”, “Muaani al Akhbaar”etc
Introduction
Shaikh Sadooq was the leading
traditionist of his time (4th Century A.H.). Whatever he heard once, never
escaped his memory. The people of Qum used to be surprised at this faculty of
his at childhood. His mentors used to be surprised at his prowess. Shaikh
Sadooq was known to the people as Sadooq because of his implicit truthfulness.
His truthfulness was complemented by his strong memory that he remembered every
event verbatim and was able to recount it word for word! Thus he is rightly
remembered with the title of Sadooq!! The Shaikh and his father together are
remembered as Sadooqain---or the two truthful ones! If you find a mention in
any book quoting Sadooq, it would mean that the reference is only to him. But
if in another place the mention is of Sadooqain, the reference is both to the
son and the father.
The book Kamaluddin Wa Tamaamun Ne’ma
Shayk Sadooq (ar) himself writes : That which motivated me
to write this book was that when I was honored
by the visit (Ziarat) of Imam Ali Ibne Musa ar-Reza (a.s.) I returned to Nishapur and stayed there. I realized that
most of the Shia people who visited me were
confused in the matter of occultation of the Twelfth Imam (a.s.) and doubts haunted them about His Eminence, the Qaim
(a.s.). They had deviated from accepting
the correct views and standards. So I began my endeavor to guide to truth and the right path with the help of
traditional reports of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
and the Holy Imams (a.s.) till the time a learned and virtuous scholar from Bukhara
came to visit us in Qom .
I had always wanted to meet him due to his
honesty, firm views and correctness of behavior. He was Shaykh Najmuddin Abu Saeed Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad
bin Ahmad bin Ali bin Salt Qummi, may
Allah continue his Taufeeq (good sense). My father and I used to narrate traditions on the authority of his
grandfather, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ali
bin Salt (q.s.) and spoke well of his knowledge and actions, piety, excellence and worship. Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa with
all his excellence and greatness used to
narrate traditions from Abu Talib Abdullah Ibne Salt Qummi (r.a.) and Abdullah bib Salt remained here till he met
Muhammad bin al-Hasan Saffar and related
traditions from him. When the Almighty Allah enabled me to meet a gentleman of such an excellent family I thanked
him for according me such a cordial
reception and sincere audience. One day he told me about his meeting with a great philosopher and logician of
Bukhara and he also related to me one of his
statements about His Eminence, the Qaim (a.s.) which had put him in confusion, perplexity and doubts with regard
to the Holy Imam (a.s.) due to the prolongation
of his occultation and due to cutting off of news regarding him. Therefore, I explained to him some facts about
His Eminence and quoted some traditions of
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Holy Imams (a.s.) in connection with the Imam (a.s.). As a result of which
that person got assurance and the doubts
and misgivings that had inflicted his mind were removed. He listened with full attention to all the authentic traditions
that I related to him and accepted them from
the depth of his heart. He petitioned me to write a book for him on this subject. I agreed to do so and promised him
that when the Almighty Allah would facilitate
my return to my hometown, Rayy, I will compile the relevant traditional reports on this topic.
One night, when I drifted into sleep after thinking about my
family, friends and the bounties that the
Almighty Allah had bestowed on me, I dreamt that I was performing the circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba in Mecca and in the seventh round I was near the Black Stone (Hajar
Aswad), and upon reaching it I was kissing
it. I was saying that I had repaid my trust and fulfilled my covenant so that it might be a witness of this. At that
moment I had the honor of seeing my master,
the Master of the Age (a.s.) standing at the door of the Kaaba. My heart began to beat fast with excitement and he came
to know my inner feelings which were
reflected in the worried expression on my face. I saluted him and he replied to my salutation and then asked me: Why don’t
you write a book regarding the occultation,
so that your sadness and worries are removed? I said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, I have compiled a number of
books about occultation. He said: Not in
this style. I order you to compile a book on occultation and therein mention about the occultation of the prophets
(peace be on them). After that, the Imam
(a.s.) departed from there. When I woke up, I began to weep, supplicate and express my humility till dawn break. In
the morning, in compliance with the commands
of the Proof of Allah, I began the compilation of this book. While I pray for the help of Allah and I rely on Him
and seek forgiveness for my shortcomings.
My Taufeeq is only from the Almighty Allah, I rely on Him and I turn to Him.”
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