Semantic Analysis of the Phrase asnada ‘anhu and Evaluation of Its Denotation of Trustworthiness of the Transmitter

Contrary to the prevailing current in the science of rijāl, al-Shaykh al-Ṭūsī used the phrase asnada ‘anhu in the biography of over 300 companions of al-Imām al-Ṣādiq (A.S.) as well as a few companions of other Imāms without giving any explanation of what he meant by it while such phrase cannot be seen in any other Shiite book on rijāl―except for a few that followed Shaykh in this regard. Despite that, some hold that this phrase conveys trustworthiness and praiseworthiness of the transmitter. Since that phrase is used by Shaykh in several cases, it seems necessary to evaluate all opinions stated with regard to the meaning of it first, and find out whether it can convey trustworthiness of the transmitter secondly. Taking an analytical approach, this essay finds that, firstly, there is no incontrovertible evidence to determine any of those stated opinions with regard to the phrase asnada ‘anhu and Shaykh, himself, is the only one who knows what he has meant by it, and, secondly, that phrase can in no way convey authenticity―let alone praiseworthiness―of the transmitter.