Hafs Bin Ghayyath al- Qady

His name was Hafs b. Ghayyath al- Qady. Harun al- Rashid appointed him as judge in -the Eastern Baghdad. Then he appointed him in Kufa. Al- Najashy has mentioned that Hafs died in the year 194 (A.H.). Also he has mentioned that Hafs reported a hundred and seventy traditions on the authority of Ja'far b. Mohammed, peace be on them.

According to the most famous idea, he was Sunni in the doctrine, and reliable in the report. The sect (i.e. the Shi'a) has agreed to act according to the report of the non- Shi'te group. Hafs was among them. To accept the report, the narrator should be reliable regardless of his doctrine.

Some people may conclude from his reports that he was an Imami Shi'te. However, the most famous idea was that he was Sunni. When Hafs reported traditions on the authority of al- Sadiq, peace be on him, he said: "The best of the Ja'faris, Ja'far b. Mohammed, has told me...." It is clear that these words show us that Hafs was not a Shi'te unless he wanted to hide his Shiaism.

Adapted from: "Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.)"