A historical study of Ben Abi Mansour Al-Wasiti was conducted

Abstract

This research presents a historical study of Durust ibn Abi Mansour Al-Wasiti, a venerable narrator and scholar who lived in the second Hijri century, influenced by and influencing the academic and political environment of his era. The study focuses on Al-Wasiti's standing as one of the trustworthy Hadith narrators who directly received knowledge from the esteemed Imams Abu Abdullah Ja'far Al-Sadiq and Abul Hasan Musa Al-Kadhim (peace be upon them). Al-Wasiti actively contributed to transmitting Shiite jurisprudence through numerous jurisprudential narrations that are considered an important reference in this field. The research begins by reviewing aspects of Al-Wasiti's life and upbringing in the city of Wasit, then moves to analyze his turbulent political era. It clarifies how the continuous political conflicts during Imam Al-Sadiq's imamate (peace be upon him) – specifically the ruling authority's preoccupation with suppressing revolts – provided a unique opportunity for the flourishing of academic circles and the dissemination of jurisprudence, sciences, and knowledge among the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt. Conversely, the research addresses the period of Imam Al-Kadhim's imamate (peace be upon him), which witnessed severe restrictions on the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, compelling them to adopt the principle of Taqiyya (dissimulation) as a means to preserve themselves and their knowledge. The research concludes that Durust ibn Abi Mansour Al-Wasiti is considered a trusted and relied-upon narrator from the companions of Imams Al-Sadiq and Al-Kadhim (peace be upon them). He had a prominent impact and pivotal role in transmitting Hadith and jurisprudence, thus preserving the scholarly heritage of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in the second Hijri century.