Examining the Reliability of Ahmad bin Hilal Al-'Abarta'i

One of the important and influential topics in the science of jurisprudence is examining the reliability of hadith narrators. Ahmad bin Hilal Al-Abarta'i is one of the narrators from whom numerous jurisprudential and non-jurispruden0tial narrations remain. The reliability or unreliability of this narrator has long been a subject of disagreement and dispute among jurists. This article examines the doctrine and reliability of this narrator. Six reports regarding the belief and doctrine of this narrator have been mentioned, and the summary of these historical accounts indicates the corruption of doctrine and deviation of Ahmad bin Hilal in his later life. Several arguments have been mentioned regarding the weakness of this narrator: Najashi's weakening in the book of Fihrist, corruption of doctrine, reported weakening from Ibn Ghada'iri, and the exclusion of this narrator from the narrations of the book Nawadir al-Hikmah by Ibn Walid. Additionally, his occurrence in the book Kamil al-Ziyarat and the interpretation of Ali bin Ibrahim, Najashi's description, the abundance of narrations from eminent figures, Sheikh Tusi's statement, the practice of companions, the seniority of permission, and occurrence in Sheikh Saduq's Mashyakhah are evidence of this narrator's reliability. Among all the evidence of weakness and reliability, only Najashi's description and the abundance of narrations from eminent figures are acceptable, and this narrator is reliable.