Ammar b. Mu`awiya

From the little that has survived of Jabir's account, it is difficult to assess his work; but what remains does call into question the account of his contemporary, Ammar b. Mu`awiya al‑Duhni[16].

This narrative is reported by al‑Tabari, and `Ammar claims to be reporting on the authority of the Imam al‑Baqir.

The report begins with a vivid introduction in which Ammar says that he asked the Imam al‑Baqir to tell him about the death of al‑Husayn so that it might be as if he was there himself. What follows is an account which agrees in its basic outline with the version of Ibn al‑Kalbi, while being much shorter and briefer.

This version seemingly adds nothing to Ibn al‑Kalbis narrative. It differs only in giving a different house for the one which Muslim b. `Aqil stayed in when he came to Kufa; it does omit some of the things which Ibn al‑Kalbi has reported, but nothing of real substance. What, then, is the purpose of this narrative? It is clearly put forward as the authoritative Shi’i account. Ammar was a well known traditionalist who, while being regarded as trustworthy by the general run of traditionalists, was also known for his Shi’i inclinations, and as an adherent of the Imam al‑Baqir. He died in 133[17] and is claimed to have a book of traditions on the authority of the Imam al‑Baqir.

This account might well be regarded as the official account of the Imam al‑Baqir and therefore the one which should be accepted.

Notes:

[16] Seen. 3.

[17] Ibn Hajar, Tadhib al‑ Tahdhib.