Shurayh the Judge; Biography and Record

Shurayh ibn al-Harith al-kindi, known as Shurayh-e Ghadhi(the Judge), was a social, juristic, and partly political character of early Islam. According to some historians and genealogists, Shurayh's whole life is full of ambiguities and contradictions, and this has caused a number of scholars to assume that he might have merely been an invented figure in early Islamic history.In this article, while rejecting this notion, and proving the authenticity of his being,it is tried to shed light on other corners of his life such as: his Iranian origin, whether he was a Companion or a second generatian follower of the Prophet; reasons for his long hold on his judicial office; the accusation of his involvement in drafting the indictment against Hujr ibn-e àdi; and the most important of all, the examination of the question whether he did really issue a fatwa against Imam Husayn or not.