Ê¿AlÄ« b. MahziyÄr al-AhwÄzÄ« al-DawraqÄ« was an early and prominent Shia religious judicial scholar, narrator and scholar. He was one of the close companions of ImÄm al-JawÄd (pbuh), ImÄm al-HÄdÄ« (pbuh), and was their agents in some regions. He was also a ḤÄdÄ«th scholar and among distinguished leaders of Shi’a in the early 3rd/ninth century.
He was known as al-AhwÄzÄ« and al-DawraqÄ«. He was at first, Christian but afterward, with his father accepted IslÄm and became famous in worshiping and knowledge and defended the school of Ahl al-Bayt (pbu th). He had communications with ImÄms (pbu th). There are different opinions about his burial place, and two tombs in JÄjarm and AhwÄz (both in Iran) are attributed to him. There is no precise information about the date of his demise, but the year of his demise is estimated at about 254/868
About his characteristics, it has been mentioned:
In the dawn, he would prostrate for God and did not raise his head until he prayed for a thousand ones of his religious brothers. Thus, his forehead had calluses like the ankle of a camel; due to many long prostrations and worshipping before God
In a letter, ImÄm al-JawÄd (pbuh), praises Ali b. MahziyÄr as following:
O, Alī! I tested you in following and performing orders, well-wishing, and advising (and you were successful in them.) Thus, if I say that I haven’t seen anyone like you, it is not a lie! May God reward you with paradise and those high positions you do not know! I did not overlook your position and your services in the cold and the hot times. I ask God that on the Day of Judgement, when He gathers everyone, makes His creatures love you, so much that you will be other peoples’ wish! Indeed, God hears all prayers…
About his written books, those which related to QurʾÄn are TafsÄ«r and Huruf al-Qur’an. Also, he wrote some books about the life of the Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh&h). However, most of his books are in the field of FÄ«qh. Beside his treatises regarding drinks, trade and craftsmanship, he wrote the books: al-Wudu’, al-SalÄt, al-ZakÄt, al- á¹£awm, al-Hajj, al TalÄq, al-Hudud, al-Diyyat, al-TafsÄ«r, al-Fada’il, al-‘Itq wa al-TadbÄ«r, al-Tijarat wa al-Ijarat and al-MakÄsib.
He did many services to IslÄm, especially to ShÄ«Ê¿a as: Introducing Imam al-HÄdÄ« (pbuh) to people after the martyrdom of ImÄm al-JawÄd (pbuh), promoting WilÄya of ImÄm al-JawÄd (pbuh) in Iran, being agent of that two blessed ImÄm (pbu th), and etc.