A Shi'ite Creed

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Shaykh Saduq ibn Babawayhi is universally regarded among the Ithna 'Ashari Shi'a as one of their foremost doctors and traditionists.

Professor E.G. Browne, in discussing the founders of the Shi'a theology, says “The most important of these earlier divines are 'the three Muhammads', al-Kulayni (Muhammad bin Ya'qub, died 329/941), Ibn Babawayhi (Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Musa, died 381/991-2) and the already mentioned Tusi (Muhammad bin Hasan, died 460/1067).

Of these, the first composed the Kafi, the second Man la Yahduruhu'l-faqih (a title which approximates in sense to our familiar 'Every man his own Lawyer'), and the third, the Istibsar and the Tahdhibu'1-Ahkam, which are known collectively amongst the Shi'a as 'The Four Books' (al-Kutubu'1-arba 'a) and of which the full particulars will be found in the above-mentioned Kashfu'1-Hujub”.(1)

Considering the high repute in which he is held, the early times in which he lived, the great influence he had on later theologians and traditionists, and the numerous works which are attributed to him, it is very unfortunate that the earliest works which give an account of his life are extremely brief and give us no indication whatever of his character, his studies, his travels and his life.

Thus, at the end of our enquiry, we are faced with the problem of writing

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