Al-Kāfī and Isḥāq b. Nakha ī's Narrations: An Attempt for Identifying Kulaynī's Source in Transmitting Isḥāq's Narrations

In his compilation of Al-Kāfī, Kulayn has employed various written hadith sources, whose study can be useful in more and more accurately identifying his method in compilation of his book. Interestingly enough, the authors of some of his sources are introduced as liars and even counterfeiters in rijālī books. Among them are Isḥāq b. Muhammad Aḥmar, about whom no independent research has yet been done as per the traditions narrated from him in Al-Kāfī and Kulaynī’s source. Najāshī has introduced the two volumes, Kitāb Akhbār al-Sayyid and Kitāb Majālis-i Hishām from among his works. From among Nuṣayrīs’ Heritage, five other books of his have been introduced: Kitāb al-Ṣirāṭ, Kitāb al-Tanbīh, Kitāb Bāṭin al-Tanbīh, and Kitāb al-Shawāhid. Taking a look at Isḥāq’s personality and the scholars’ viewpoints about him, this paper addresses Kulaynī’s narration from Isḥāq and tries to clarify Kulaynī’s sources in this regard. According to some evidences, it seems that Kitāb Akhbār al-Sayyid from among these written works of Isḥāq – which has been completed before his deviation – has been Kulaynī’s source in writing Al-Kāfī.