He is Abul-Hasan al-Kufi, the renown tabi`i. Al-Thahbi has mentioned him in his Al-Mizan, quoting Salim al-Muradi saying that `Atiyyah adhered to Shi`ism. Imam Ibn Qutaybah has included him among traditionists in his Ma`arif following his grandson al-`Awfi, al-Husayn ibn `Atiyyah, the judge, adding, "`Atiyyah, a follower of Shi`ism, has been a jurist since the reign of al-Hajjaj." Ibn Qutaybah has mentioned a few renown Shi`as in his chapter on sects in his Ma`arif, listing `Atiyyah al-`Awfi among them. Ibn Sa`d mentions him on age 212, Vol. 6, of his Tabaqat indicating his firm belief in Shi`ism. His father, Sa`d ibn Janadah, was a companion of `Ali (as). Once he visited the Imam in Kufa and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! I have been blessed with a newly born son; would you mind choosing a name for him?" The Imam answered: "This is a gift (`atiyyah) from Allah; therefore, do name him `Atiyyah."
Ibn Sa`d has said: "`Atiyyah ibn al-Ash`ath went out in an army to fight al-Hajjaj. When al-Ash`ath's army fled, `Atiyyah fled to Persia. Al-Hajjaj wrote an edict to Muhammad ibn al-Qasim ordering him to call him to his presence and give him the option to either denounce `Ali or be whipped four hundred lashes, and his beard and head be shaven. So, he called him and read al-Hajjaj's letter to him, but `Atiyyah refused to succumb; therefore, he had him whipped four hundred lashes and his head and beard were shaven. When Qutaybah became governor of Khurasan, `Atiyyah rebelled against him and remained there till `Umer ibn Habirah became ruler of Iraq. It was then that he wrote to him asking permission to go there. Granted permission, he came to Kufa where he stayed till he died in 11 A.H." The author adds, "He was, indeed, a trusted authority, and he reported many authentic ahadith."
All his descendants were sincere followers of Muhammad's progeny (as). Among them were noblemen, highly distinguished personalities like al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan ibn `Atiyyah who was appointed governor of the district of Al-Sharqiyya succeeding Hafs ibn Ghiyath, as stated on page 58 of the same reference, then he was transferred to al-Mahdi's troops. He died in 201 A.H. Another is Sa`d ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn `Atiyyah, also a traditionist, who became governor of Baghdad.[15] He used to quote his father Sa`d from his uncle al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan ibn `Atiyyah.
Back to the story of `Atiyyah al-`Awfi. He is considered a reliable authority by Dawud and al-Tirmithi. Refer to his hadith in their sahih books from Ibn `Abbas, Abu Sa`id and Ibn `Umer. He has also learned hadith from `Abdullah ibn al-Hasan who quotes his father who quotes his grand-mother al-Zahra', Mistress of the women of Paradise. His son al-Hasan ibn `Atiyyah has learned hadith from him, and so have al-Hajjaj ibn Arta'ah, Mis`ar, al-Hasan ibn Adwan and others.
