The surviving abridged version of the work contains and references 515 companions of the Shiite Imams. It is organized into chapters often focusing on specific narrators or groups of narrators. The work's significance as one of the four main Shi‘i biographical works is widely recognized.
Chapter 10: His Companions and the Reporters of His Traditions Rijal Al Kashi Report 176
“Muawiyah wrote to Hasan ibn Ali, peace be upon them both, requesting: 'Advance, you, Husayn, and the companions of Ali.' Thus, Qays ibn Sa'd ibn Ubadah al-Ansari went forth alongside them and they arrived in Sham (Damascus). Muawiyah granted them audience and had prepared public speakers. He addressed the assembly, saying: 'O Hasan! Rise and pledge allegiance.' Hasan arose and pledged allegiance. Then he said to Husayn, peace be upon him: 'Rise and pledge allegiance.' He arose and pledged allegiance…” The surviving abridged version of the work contains
Imam Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir or al-Sadiq - context dependent) makes a stark observation about a narrator: Chapter 10: His Companions and the Reporters of
The giants of Shia Rijal did not ignore this contradiction. Their handling of reveals the sophisticated mechanics of Ilm al-Rijal .
In contemporary seminary ( Hawza ) circles and Western academic discourses, Report 176 is a subject of ongoing methodology debates: