What is Rijal al-Kashi? Compiled by Muhammad ibn Umar al-Kashi (fl. late 9th–10th century CE) and later abridged by Shaykh al-Tusi, Rijal al-Kashi is one of the earliest and most important works of ‘ilm al-rijal (biographical evaluation) in Twelver Shi’ism. Unlike later rijāl works that focus on grading narrators (thiqāt vs. ḍu‘afā’), al-Kashi organizes his book by sectarian categories – highlighting the views, factions, and loyalties within the early Imami community.
(Note: The exact subject of report 176 varies slightly by manuscript. In the authoritative Muʿjam Rijāl al-Ḥadīth referencing system, it frequently addresses a transmitter named ʿAlī ibn Abī Ḥamzah or Abū Baṣīr—but verify against your edition.) rijal+al+kashi+report+176+free
Report 176 specifically concerns the status of a narrator named ‘Amr ibn Shimr (عمرو بن شمر). He is a controversial figure in Shi’a hadith sciences. While some later scholars considered him da‘if (weak) or even ghali (exaggerator/extremist), Report 176 preserves a tradition where Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (AS) allegedly praises him. 📜 Report 176 of Rijal al-Kashi: A Critical
Background
WikiShia (wikishia.net): This free encyclopedia contains detailed articles on “Zurarah ibn A‘yan” and “Rijal al-Kashi,” often quoting Report 176 with references to volume and page numbers (e.g., Rijal al-Kashi, vol. 1, p. 348, hadith 176). A chain of transmission ( isnad ) tracing
(written by Muhammad ibn Umar al-Kashi) with the mathematical theorems of the scientist Al-Kashi. Guide to Accessing Rijal al-Kashi (The Biographical Text) If you are looking for the actual religious text Rijal al-Kashi (properly titled Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal ), here is how to navigate it: Free Online Access:
Final Recommendation: Download the public-domain Arabic scan of Ikhtiyar Ma‘rifat al-Rijal from the DLI (Digital Library of the Islamic Republic of Iran). Open to page 214 (Volume 1, Report 176). Read the text. Trace the rijal. And join the centuries-old debate on whether an Imam’s praise can ever be overruled by a later critic’s instinct.