Abu Khalid al-Kabuli (Arabic: أبو خالد الكابلي) was a Shia Muslim and companion of Zayn al-ʿAbidīn (c. 680–713) and Muhammad al-Baqir (c. 713–733).^[1] He was known by the nicknames of Vardan and Kankar, which was commonly used by Zayn al-Abidin to address him, this nickname remained and his hadiths became famous with this nickname.^[2] He was one of the most notable followers of Zain al-Abidin,^[3] and was eminent in the 1st/7th century.^[4][5]

He was born in Kabul in present-day Afghanistan, though the date of his birth is not known. Initially, he was one of the companions of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, whose followers were known as Kaysanites, but like many Kaysanites later became a follower and companion of Ali al-Sajjad.^[6] The Ismailis believe that Ibn Hanafiyah was appointed by Husayn as a "temporary imam" as a cover to protect the real imam, Zayn al-Abidin.^[7] While accompanying and serving Muhammad ibn Hanafiyya, he met Zayn al-Abidin due to the guidance and insistence of Yahya ibn Umm Dawal, whose references he made about the high status of Zayn al-Abidin and the great respect that Muhammad ibn al-Hanifiyya had for him. According to tradition, when Zain al-Abidin called him by his childhood name, Kankar, he became sure of his Imamate.^[8] His mother gave him the nickname Kankar, but was not known by this nickname among the people of that time.^[9]

According to the prominent 10th century Shia theologian Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, during the lifetime of Zayn al-Abidin, few people knew his Imamate and followed him, except for five: Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Said ibn al-Musayyib, Muhammad ibn Jubayr ibn Muṭʽim, Yahya ibn Umm al-Tawil and Abu Khaled al-Kabuli.^[10] Abu Khaled Kabuli spent most of his life in Medina from 61 to 114.^[11]

• Abu Khalid Al-Kabuli: Study in His Life and Narrations In Al-Hadith Sources of Imami Shiites (2022)