Mu'alla b. Khunays
| Full Name | Mu'alla b. Khunays al-Bazzaz al-Kufi |
|---|---|
| Companion of | Imam al-Sadiq (a) |
| Teknonym | Abu 'Abd Allah |
| Religious Affiliation | Shi'a |
| Place(s) of Residence | Kufa |
| Demise | 131/748-9 |
Muʿallā b. Khunays al-Kūfī (Arabic: مُعَلّی بن خُنَیْس الکوفی, d. 131/748-9) was a transmitter of hadiths and a financial deputy of Imam al-Sadiq (a). Shi'a scholars of rijal disagree over his reliability. Mu'alla was killed at the command of Abbasid officials in 131/748. He transmitted hadiths concerning Nowruz.
Introduction
Abu 'Abd Allah Mu'alla b. Khunays al-Bazzaz al-Kufi was a transmitter of hadiths from, and a companion of Imam al-Sadiq (a). He was also a servant, a supervisor, and a deputy of the Imam (a).
The year of his birth is not mentioned in sources. He was a draper (seller of textiles).
Mu'alla was killed in 131/748-9 at the command of Dawud b. 'Ali, a commander of the Abbasid government. Upon his murder, Imam al-Sadiq (a) objected to Dawud b. 'Ali. Dawud blamed and executed the head of the police for the murder.
Reliability as a Transmitter of Hadiths
Al-Najjashi and Ibn al-Ghada'iri, prominent Shiite scholars of rijal, believed that Mu'alla was unreliable in the transmission of hadiths. He is said to be a primary supporter of Mughira b. Sa'id. Mughira was among people who called people to the imamate of Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan known as al-Nafs al-Zakiyya. According to some people, the reason for Mu'alla's murder was his support of Mughiriyya. It is said that his hadiths were appealed to by ghulat (those who exaggerate about Shiite Imams).
However, al-Shaykh al-Tusi believed that Mu'alla was a trusted companion of Imam al-Sadiq (a) and one of his agents. Moreover, al-Barqi introduces Mu'alla b. Khunays as a companion of Imam al-Sadiq (a) in his book of rijal. And according to a hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a), Mu'alla was his deputy and representative. Al-'Allama al-Hilli relied on al-Shaykh al-Tusi's account to support Mu'alla's reliability in the transmission of hadiths.
Ayatollah al-Khoei has examined hadiths concerning Mu'alla's approval or disapproval, finding that hadiths concerning his approval are more than the ones concerning his disapproval. Thus, he concludes that Mu'alla was a truthful person trusted by Imam al-Sadiq (a) and endorsed by him as an inhabitant of the Heaven. Moreover, al-Khoei believes that the attribution of ghuluw (exaggeration about Imams) to Mu'alla comes from Sunnis as a trick to undermine the reliability of Shiite transmitters of hadiths.
Work
Mu'alla b. Khunays transmitted up to 80 hadiths. He transmitted some hadiths about Nowruz.
References
- The material for this article is mainly taken from معلی بن خنیس in Farsi WikiShia.