His Name

His full name is Abu(1) Abdullah Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Ja'far al-Katib al-Nu'mani al-Baghdadi. He is known as Ibn Abu Zaynab.(2)

His Offspring

An-Najashi said: “The vizier Abul Qassim al-Husayn bin Ali bin al-Husayn bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Yousuf al-Maghribi was the son of his (the author’s) daughter Fatima.”

Praising Him

An-Najashi said about him: “He is a sheikh (teacher) from among our companions. He is great in position, noble in rank, loyal in faith and he has narrated many traditions.”

Al-Mahoozi said: “He is praiseworthy, lofty and one of the sheikhs, who give permission (who evidence others’ knowledge or works).”

Kahhala said: “He is an interpreter, a good speaker and a good theologist.”

His Travels

He traveled to Shiraz in 313 AH. Then he traveled to Baghdad. After that he traveled to Sham(3) and taught in Tabariya in Jordan then he entered Damascus. At the end of his age he traveled to Halab (in Syria), in which he narrated his book al-Ghayba (the Sacred Disappearance).(4)

His Teachers (Sheikhs)

• Abul Abbas Ahmad bin Sa’eed bin Oqda al-Kufi, in Baghdad 327AH.

• Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Nasr bin Hawtha al-Bahili.

• Abu Ali Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ya’qoob bin Ammar al-Kufi,

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