Al-Fazārī's Rijal-oriented character

Al-Fazārī, the traditionist of the third/ninth century in Baghdad, enjoys a position worthy of heeding in transmission of the Imāmī hadith heritage to other hadith schools of that era, in the field of Islamic scholastic theological discussions, particularly, in the issue of Mahdi'ism and Occultation. He has been accused of falsehood (kidhb) and extremism (ghuluww) by some of early Rijal experts. His exclusion from the isnads of Nawādir al-Ḥikmah along with other problems, has made the idea of his weakness well-known, while he enjoys general and specific authentications which are worthy of heeding. This very diversity of opinions about him as well as the importance of alFazārī's reports in theological discussions, make it necessary to understand his Rijal-oriented character more precisely. Imperfection of almost all evidences for his weakness, along with available proofs denoting the validity of his denomination, and the goodness of his behavior seriously questions the opinion of his weakness. Plethora of the prominent Imāmī scholars' narrations from him along with authentication of his representatives as well as the awareness of those who have authenticated him of the opinions about his weakness, altogether make it preferable to maintain he is reliable.