The Writings of Hilla Scholars on al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi Up to the Ninth Century AH

Abstract

This study focuses on the body of literature produced on al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi from the second century AH up to the end of the ninth century AH, marking the decline of the Hilla scholarly school. Throughout this period, we can trace the emergence of thirteen works of varying orientations authored by twelve Imami scholars. The central question addressed here is: How far did the scholarly writing on al-Mukhtar progress across Shi‘i history up to the decline of the Hilla school?
It appears that early Shi‘i interest in this subject—particularly in Kufa during the second century AH—was predominantly historical, which motivated early Shi‘i historians to document his life and movement. However, beginning with the intellectual schools of Qom and Baghdad (4th–5th centuries AH) and continuing especially in the Hilla school (7th–8th centuries AH), scholars increasingly approached the topic from a theological perspective, combining both transmitted and rational methods.
Through an examination of biographical dictionaries and bibliographical sources, we conclude that the study of al-Mukhtar eventually assumed a doctrinal character within Shi‘i thought. This shift necessitated defending al-Mukhtar and clarifying the doubts and accusations raised against him.