What is "al-nawbakhti"

Al-Nawbakhti is a surname of several people in the context of Islam and Islamic civilization, especially Shia Islam. The surname is sometimes rendered Ibn Nawbakht. The clan of Nawbakht (also referred to as Banu Nawbakht) made decisive contributions to the development of the Twelver Shia faith at a time of confusion following the Minor Occultation of the 12th Imam. The clan's theological accomplishments include the formal integration of Mutazila rationalist doctrine into Twelver Shi'ism, explaining the Occultation and defending it against Shia doubters, developing the Imamate doctrine (with emphasis upon such qualities as infallibility) and to lay the groundwork for the authority of the Twelver scholars over their communities.