the most knowledgeable person of his time, that requires evidence. Al-Zuhrī was one of his peers and, in people’s estimation, was more knowledgeable than he. The report that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—named him al-Bāqir has no basis among the scholars; rather, it is among the fabricated hadiths (1).
Likewise, the report that Jābir conveyed the Prophet’s greeting to him is deemed fabricated by hadith scholars. He did, however, narrate several hadiths from Jābir [ibn Abd Allah] (2), including the hadiths concerning ritual bathing and Hajj, as well as other authentic hadiths from him (3). He also visited Jābir with his father, Alī ibn al-Husayn, after Jābir had gone blind (4). Jābir was among those who explained matters to them—may Allah be pleased with them. He acquired knowledge from Jābir and Anas [ibn Mālik] (5), and [also] (6) narrated from Ibn Abbās, Abū Saīd, Abū Hurayra, and other Companions; and from Saīd ibn al-Musayyib, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, and Ubayd Allāh ibn Abī Rāfi, Alī’s scribe (7). Abū Ishāq al-Haddānī and Amr ibn Dīnār narrated from him,
(1) A and B read: “Rather, it is among the fabricated hadiths.” All other manuscripts read: “Rather, it is among the lies.”
(2) “Ibn Abd Allāh” is omitted from N and M.
(3) Abū Jafar Muhammad ibn Alī ibn al-Husayn ibn Alī ibn Abī Tālib, known as al-Bāqir, is regarded by the Rāfidites as the fifth Imam. Al-Nasā'ī included him among the Medinan jurists of the generation of the Followers. He was born in 57 AH and died in 114 AH. See his biography in *Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb*, 9/350–352; *Tadhkirat al-Huffāz*, 1/124–125; *Tabaqāt Ibn Sad*, 5/320–324; *Wafayāt al-Ayān*, 3/314; and *al-Alām*, 7/153.
(4) N reads: “commanded”; A: “informed”; and B: “grew old.”
(5) “Ibn Mālik” is omitted from N and M.
(6) “Also” is omitted from N and M.
(7) M, R, and W read: “and Abd Allāh . . . etc.” *Tabaqāt Ibn Sad*, 5/282, states: “Ubayd Allāh ibn Abī Rāfi, a client of the Prophet—peace be upon him—narrated from Alī ibn Abī Tālib and served as his scribe. He was trustworthy and narrated many hadiths.” See his biography in *Khulāsat Tahdhīb al-Kamāl*, p. 212; *al-Jarh wa-al-Tadīl*, vol. 2, part 2, p. 307; and *Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb*, 7/10–11.