Mumin Al Taq

Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Nu'man al-Ahwal, who lodged at Taq al-Mahamil in Kufa. The common people called him "the devil of the vault" (Shaytan al-Taq), and his followers called him "the believer of the vault" (Mu'min al-Taq). Ibn al-Nadim counts him among the companions of Ja'far al-Sadiq, and relates that he met Zayd ibn Ali Zayn al-Abidin and disputed with him on the imamate. ²

Ibn al-Nadim relates that the title came from his witnessing and examining dinars: some people disputed with him over a dinar, and he judged it counterfeit, and he was right and gave them the proof. Ibn al-Nadim describes him as sound in belief, skilled in kalam, and quick in reply. He reports disputes between him and Abu Hanifa. ²

Among his books according to Ibn al-Nadim are: the Book of the Imamate, the Book of Knowledge, a Refutation of the Mu'tazila on the Imamate of the Less Excellent, and a book on the matter of Talha, al-Zubayr and A'isha. ³

The date of his death is not recorded in the museum's data. The data cite two different pages of Ibn al-Nadim, which needs review.