Al-Mu¨alla b. Khunays: The Man and His Role in Early Shi¨ite History (original) (raw)

2005, peeters online journal

The purpose of the present study is to survey the life and deeds of an important Shi¨ite personality, al-Mu¨alla b. Khunays, a companion of the Sixth Imam (in Twelver Shi¨ism), Ja¨far al-∑adiq, one who has not, as far as we are aware, had any scholarly work devoted to him until now. In this study we analyze the role of Al-Mu¨alla in the propagation of early Shi¨ite thought through an examination of his life, his close relations with Ja¨far al-∑adiq, and the enrichment of Shi¨ite philosophy and jurisprudence in a number of domains as a result of these relations.* A biographical sketch of Al-Mu¨alla bin Khunays Al-Mu¨alla b. Khunays (agnomen Abu ¨Abd Allah) was born in the vicinity of the Iraqi city of Al-Kufa 1 (and is thus referred to by the attribute Al-Kufi). His precise year of birth is not known. According to available literary sources about his years in Al-Kufa he began his life as a client of the Banu ˆAsad 2 and worked as a draper. Al-Mu¨alla was an enthusiastic supporter of the cause of the descendants of the Imam ¨Ali (Ahl al-bayt). He devoted most of his life to propagating ANES 42 (2005) 334-351

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