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"Tahzeeb ul-Maqal fi tanqih -e- Kitab ul-Rijal len-Najjashi" is the most important commentary, correction and research that has been compiled in ten volumes Ayatollah Seyyed Muhammad Ali Movahed Abtahi but only five volumes have been published.

Motivation
After mentioning the strengths and flaws or shortcomings of the rejali and hadith books written in Islam, he writes: "I wanted to make all of these into 1) a comprehensive book that includes the names of the narrators (both the names that are mentioned in the hadiths and the names that has been mentioned in the previous books from the Companions), 2) the collection of narrations from the Imams in praise of the narrators or in their condemnation, and 3) a book that has classified narrators from the Companions of the Prophet and the Companions of the Imams. So, when I saw that the book Al-Fihrest by Najashi (or Najashi`s Rijal book) is the most comprehensive and accurate book in its subject, I put my complete description and research on this book.

Methodology
He introduces his methodology in writing this book as follows: "I started with the divine power (with the above motives) to:

1) a complete investigation into the conditions of those who are mentioned in the Rijal book of Najashi -explicitly or those has been implicitly mentioned in the translation of others).

2) I have mentioned what has been reported about them from the narrations or from the text of the words of the great men of Rijal from non-Najashi.

3) I have collected the conflicting narrations or the statements of the great men of Rijal as much as I could. Or I have preferred one of these conflicting parties over the other, if they were not possible together. More, I have researched what Najashi has stated: about their conditions or their classes to the extent that it helped in this work. Also, I have relied on the details of what I have researched in these books.

4) I have collected between Najashi's narrative methods (in Usul and Mosannafat) and the narative methods of Sheikh Tusi (in his book Al-Fahrest, Tahzeeb ul-Ahkam and al-Istibasar) and Sheikh Saduq (in his book Man LaYahzoroh ul-Faqih) with A) profound research in their isanids, B)criticizing them, C) and presenting other narative methods that I found in books.

5) I kept the appearance of the text of Najashi's book (even though Najashi did not consider alphabetical order, neither in the first name nor in the second name), but instead, I made a detailed list in alphabetical order in the first and second names of narrators and in their father names. Also, I have listed the names of whom appeared in another narrator translation.

Writing duration
Its first and second volumes were published in 1969 (at Al-Haydriya Press in Najaf, Iraq) before the book "Mo`jam Rijal al-Hadith" by Ayatollah Seyyed Abul Qasim Khoei). The second and third volumes were printed in 1985 in Isfahan. The fourth and fifth volumes were printed in Qom, in 1985 and 1987, respecetively (during the author's lifetime). The other five volumes of this book have not yet been published. The second edition of the first and second volumes of this book were published in 1987 in Qom.

The content
The first volume contains 1) a detailed introduction by the researcher (139 pages), 2) bibliography of the book (14 pages), 3) a research on the introduction of Najashi (2 pages), 4) a criticism of Najashi that why he did not start with Imam Ali as the first book author in Islam (17 pages), 5) the translation of the narrators from Abu Rafie' until the Ismail bin Sa`d al-Ahaws al-Asha`ri. Al-Qami (297 pages), 6) al-Fahars or Tables of content (87 pages).

The second volume:

The third volume:

The fourth volume:

The fifth volume:

Volumes 6 to 10 are all manuscripts and have not been printed.

= About the book = This book is the result of years of research and teaching in fiqh, usul, rijal, hadith, and interpretation of the Qur'an.

Features of the book
Some of new researchers have described this book as follows: "The correction and explanation of the book (Najashi`s Rajal) by his expert researcher and capable rijali scholar Ayatollah al-uzma MovahedAbtahi is a very great and exemplary work. After the introduction, he has explained Najashi's book without any needless to explain the obvious or annoying prolongation in it. All pages of the book contain valuable Rajali research that no Rajali scholar will consider himself to be exempt from. Throughout this book, Sunni`s historical and hadith sources have been used well and widely and have added to its many benefits. The corrected text is at the top of the pages and the description of the annotations is below it. A 150-page introduction is dedicated to the discussion of these matters: 1. Najashi's biography. 2. The importance of Najashi`s Rijal book, Najashi`s chain of narrators to the authors of Usul (principles books), the meaning of a principle book, a book, and a written version, the chain of narrators from the jurists to Najashi`s Rijal book. 3. The reason for the validity of the Rijali scholars' words about the narrators, Najashi's method of correcting and adjustment, public endorsements, and many interesting and innovative discussions have been raised especially in this last part. 4. The method of book correction and the introduction of manuscripts trusted by the respected proofreader. It is hoped that the esteemed author and the publisher will be blessed by the Tawfig Elahi to complete and publish this work, and that they will release other volumes of this esteemed work in a short time.

Other Rijali books by the author

 * 1) "Jame` ul-Rowat" (A Comprehensive Collection of Narrators) contains all narrators whose names are mentioned in the traditions and books of the companions (quoted from the introduction to the first volume of Tahzeeb ul-Maqal).
 * 2) "Jame` ul-Akhbar" (A Comprehensive Collection of Narrations in Rijal) contains all narrations and hadiths narrated by imams in the praise of the narrators or in their condemnation (quoted from the introduction of the first volume of Tahdhib al-Maqal).
 * 3) "Al-Tabagat ul-Rowat" (The Layers of Narrators) contains the categories of narrators from the companions of the Prophet and imams (quoted from the introduction to the first volume of Tahzeeb al-Maqal).
 * 4) "Qawa`id ul-Rijal" (The Rules of Rijal) is the greatest Rijali work that he has frequently mentioned and refered and years ago, he educated them in Madrasa Sadr in Najaf.

Footnote
Tahzib ul-Maqal, vol. 1, p. 8

Tahzib ul-Maqal, vol. 1, pp. 8 and 9 MovahedAbtahi, MohammadAli. Tahzeeb ul-Maqal fi tanqih -e- Kitab ul-Rijal len-Najjashi (Refinement of Najashi`s Rijal book).

Abedi, Ahmad. et al. A brief introduction to Tahzeeb ul-Maqal.