و كتاب العلل و إن لم يكن مؤلفه مذكورا في كتب الرجال لكن أخباره مضبوطة موافقة لما رواه والده و الصدوق و غيرهما و مؤلفه مذكور في أسانيد بعض الروايات و روى الكليني في باب من رأى القائم عليه السلام عن محمد و الحسن ابني علي بن إبراهيم بتوسط علي بن محمد و كذا في موضع آخر من الباب المذكور عنه فقط بتوسطه و هذا مما يؤيد الاعتماد و إن كان لا يخلو من غرابة لروايته عن علي بن إبراهيم كثيرا بلا واسطة بل الأظهر كما سنح لي أخيرا أنه محمد بن علي بن إبراهيم بن محمد الهمداني و كان وكيل الناحية كما أوضحته في تعليقاتي على الكافي.

As for the Book of al-'Ilal, although its author is not mentioned in the books of rijal, its reports are carefully set down and agree with what his father, al-Saduq and others transmitted; and its author is mentioned in the chains of certain narrations. Al-Kulayni transmitted, in the chapter on those who saw the Qa'im, peace be upon him, from Muhammad and al-Hasan, the two sons of 'Ali b. Ibrahim, through the intermediacy of 'Ali b. Muhammad; and likewise in another place in that chapter from him alone through the same intermediary. This is among what supports relying upon him, though it is not free of oddity, since he transmits a great deal from 'Ali b. Ibrahim without an intermediary. Indeed the more evident view, as has lately occurred to me, is that he is Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Hamadani, who was the agent of the Sacred Precinct, as I have explained in my notes on al-Kafi.

و كتاب تفسير العياشي روى عنه الطبرسي و غيره و رأينا منه نسختين قديمتين و عد في كتب الرجال من كتبه لكن بعض الناسخين حذف أسانيده للاختصار و ذكر في أوله عذرا هو أشنع من جرمه.

As for the commentary of al-'Ayyashi, al-Tabrisi and others transmitted from it, and we have seen two old copies of it. It is counted among his books in the works of rijal; but one of the copyists deleted its chains for the sake of brevity and offered at its beginning an excuse more objectionable than his offence.

و كتاب تفسير الإمام عليه السلام من الكتب المعروفة و اعتمد الصدوق عليه و أخذ منه و إن طعن فيه بعض المحدثين و لكن الصدوق رحمه اللّٰه أعرف و أقرب عهدا ممن طعن فيه و قد روى عنه أكثر العلماء من غير غمز فيه.

The commentary of the Imam, peace be upon him, is among the recognised books. Al-Saduq relied upon it and drew from it, even though some traditionists have impugned it; yet al-Saduq, God have mercy on him, was better informed and closer in time than those who impugned it, and most scholars have transmitted from it without casting doubt upon it.

و كتاب روضة الواعظين ذكرنا أنه داخل في إجازات العلماء الأعلام و نقل عنه الأفاضل الكرام و قد عرفت حاله و حال مؤلفه مما نقلنا عن سلفنا الفخام و كذا كتاب إعلام الورى و مؤلفه أشهر من أن يحتاج إلى البيان و هو عندي بخط مؤلفه رحمه اللّٰه.

As for the Book of Rawdat al-Wa'izin, we have already stated that it is included in the authorisations of the leading scholars and that eminent and noble men transmitted from it; and you have learned its condition and that of its author from what we quoted from our illustrious predecessors. So too the Book of I'lam al-Wara, whose author is too well known to need comment; my copy is in the hand of its author, God have mercy on him.

و رسالة الآداب أيضا معروفة أخذ عنها ولده في المكارم و أما تفسيراه الكبير و الصغير فلا يحتاجان إلى التشهير.

The Epistle on Etiquette is likewise recognised; his son drew upon it in al-Makarim. As for his two commentaries, the large and the small, they need no advertising.

و كتاب المكارم في الاشتهار كالشمس في رابعة النهار و مؤلفه قد أثنى عليه جماعة من الأخيار.

The Book of al-Makarim is, in its fame, like the sun at midday, and a number of excellent scholars have praised its author.

و كتاب مشكاة الأنوار كتاب ظريف مشتمل على أخبار غريبة.

The Book of Mishkat al-Anwar is a fine book containing rare reports.

و كتاب الإحتجاج و إن كانت أكثر أخباره مراسيل لكنها من الكتب المعروفة المتداولة و قد أثنى السيد ابن طاوس على الكتاب و على مؤلفه و قد أخذ عنه أكثر المتأخرين.

As for the Book of al-Ihtijaj, although most of its reports lack complete chains, it is among the recognised and widely circulated books. Al-Sayyid b. Tawus praised both the book and its author, and most of the later scholars have drawn upon it.