IBN BABAWAYH

born c. 923, , Khorasan province, Iran died 991, Rayy also spelled Ibn Babuya, in full Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn Husayn ibn Musa al-Qummi, also called as-Saduq Islamic theologian, author of one of the Four Books that are the basic authorities for the doctrine of Twelver (Ithna 'Ashari) Shi'ah. Little is known about Ibn Babawayh's life. According to legend he was born as the result of special prayers to the mahdi (the expected one). In 966 he left Khorasan for Baghdad, possibly attracted by the Shi'i inclination of the Buyid dynasty that ruled there. Within a short time he was recognized as the spokesman and leading intellectual figure of Twelver Shi'ah. More than 200 separate works have been attributed to Ibn Babawayh, although only a few are now extant. His Risalat al-i'tiqadat (Shi'ite Creed, 1942) is important for the study of the doctrinal development of Shi'ah. His works are still widely used wherever Twelver Shi'i are found.