Abu al-Tufayl Amir ibn Wathila al-Kinani (Arabic: أبو الطفيل عامر بن واثلة الكناني, romanized: Abū al-Ṭufayl ʿĀmir bin Wāthila al-Kinānī; c. 625–732) was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and of a number of Shia imams. He was also a poet.[1] Abu al-Tufayl went to Kufa during the reign of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman and then to Al-Mada'in. For many years, he was a companions of Ali. Abu al-Tufayl also studied scientific matters from Ali bin Abi Talib. After the death of Ali, he returned to Mecca and stayed there to the end of his life,[2] around 102/732.[3]
Abū Ṭufayl, ʿĀmir b. Wāthila b. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿUmayr (or ʿAmr) b. Jābir b. Ḥamīs (Jakhsh) b. Judayy (Jurayy) b. Saʿd b. Layth al-Kinānī[4] He was born in the year that coincided with the battle of Uhud, which is why he was present in the last eight years of Muhammad's life.[5]
He was a narrator of hadiths, a limited number from Muhammad and a large number from his important companions, including Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, Muadh ibn Jabal and Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud. Among the imams, he narrated hadiths from Ali, Hasan ibn Ali, and Zayn al-Abidin. It is stated in sufficient principles that he narrated hadith from Muhammad al-Baqir and also according to the causes of Shari'ah from Ja'far al-Sadiq. It is clear that the narrations of Abu l-Tufayl from Jafar Sadiq were before Jafar Sadiq reached the Imamate and during the life of Muhammad al-Baqir.[6]
When Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr asked for allegiance from Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, who refused, Ibn al-Zubayr imprisoned him along with some of his companions, including Abu al-Tufayl, in the branches of Bani Hashim. Abu al-Tufayl was in prison until the uprising of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi. He was the standard-bearer of the army in Mukhtar's uprising to avenge the blood of Hussein.[7][8]
In response to Mu'awiya's question regarding his presence in the murder of Uthman Abu al-Tufayl answered in the murder of Uthman Abu al-Tufayl answered in the assembly of Mu'awiya I that he was present at the scene of Uthman's murder but he did not participate in it.[9] He emphasized his strong friendship with Ali to Mu'awiya.[10]
He and his son, whose name was al-Tufayl, participated in the uprising that Ibn al-Ash'ath started against Hajjaj. In the war that took place in Muharram 82, his son al-Tufayl was killed, and Abu al-Tufayl wrote a poem in grief over his death.[11][12] The last of Muhammad's companions to die was Abu al-Tufayl, in 732.[13]
