Re: Following one Particular Imam in every Juristic Issue
Khanbabax, I think it is not a matter of choice. Scholars have done it purposefully. Most scholars of one madhab label followers of other madhabs as gomrah. Now it has become a matter of personal interest to defend their own madhabs.
Re: Following one Particular Imam in every Juristic Issue
Nope, you will never find a Hanafi or Shafi calling each other gumrah, infact they say follow either one of them. I think you are confusing madhabs with sects here.
Re: Following one Particular Imam in every Juristic Issue
SOME VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR AHLE SUNNAT BROTHERS FROM THEIR BOOKS
Quran and Ahlul-Bayt
Based on a parallel (Mutawatir) tradition upon whose authenticity all Muslims
agree, the Messenger of Allah (AS) informed his followers in several
occasions that he would leave them two precious/weighty things and that if
Muslims adhere to both of them, they will never go astray after him. They are
the Book of Allah (Quran) and the Members of the House of the Prophet (Ahlul-
Bayt), peace be upon them all.
It is narrated in Sahih Muslim as well as many other sources that:
Someday (after his last pilgrimage) the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF)
stood to give us a speech beside a pond which is known as Khum (Ghadir
Khum) which is located between Mecca and Medina. Then he praised Allah
and reminded Him, and then said: "O' people! Behold! It seems the time
approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer
that call. Behold! I am leaving for you two precious things. First of
them is the book of Allah in which there is light and guidance...
The other one is my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah
about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-
Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. (three
times)."
Sunni Reference:
- Sahih Muslim, Chapter of the virtues of the companions, section of the
virtues of Ali, 1980 Edition Pub. in Saudi Arabia, Arabic
version, v4, p1873, Tradition #36.
- And many others such as Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad (see below).
For the English version of Sahih Muslim, see Chapter CMXCVI, v4, p1286,
Tradition #5920
Here is the Arabic text of the above tradition in Sahih Muslim:
. | | | . |. . | | || | | :
_c ]_, _@ |_o_, |_,_,_D_7 |_,_,_9 |_o q_, 4_|_|| | q_w o |_o
(S : . . : : /: (| / / (
|| : ^ /. | || . : . || : / | .
||o o, )> q 4||| ]_o_7_9 4,, ]_o|| q 4_)o . _,, |o_7
(| ( / / : / (_): .
/ ^ ^ |. | | . | . |. || | | | || | |
(__)_w q, w, |, | |_o, |9 w |,|| |_8, | ||| ]_e, |o | q
/: / . (/ : . /
/ . / |: |. | | . | : | |
o_),_9 () |, |, | q .,,7|_9 _, | q_w _, |, . |
( : / / . : . (S. / (| / / (S : ()
. || || . | || |: / | | | | : ^ ||
... q_,||q ]_8|| 4_,9 4||| .,|,) |_o_8|q | . ,|o,||
/ / / (_S : . / ():
: | | . | || / / . | : | | | | : ^
,,, |_8 | _9 4||| o) ) > | _,,, |_8 | q | |_o o,
(S : . (| (S ( / (_S : . (| / (_| (
. | || / / . | : | | . | || / / . |
_9 4_|_|| o_) _) > | _,_,_, |_8 | _9 4_|_|| o_) _) > |
(S ( / (_S : . (| (_S ( /
: | |
_,_,_, |_8 |
(_S : . (_|
As we can see in the above tradition in Sahih Muslim, not only Ahlul-Bayt has
been put beside the Quran, but also it has been mentioned three times by the
Prophet (PBUH&HF).
Despite the fact that the author of Sahih Muslim and many other Sunni
traditionists have recorded the above tradition in their authentic books, it
is regrettable that the majority of Sunnis are unaware of its existence at
the best, or deny it at the worst. Their counter argument is that the most
reliable tradition in this regard is the one recorded by al-Hakim in his al-
Mustadrak, on the authority of Abu Huraira, attributing to the Messenger of
Allah saying: "I leave amongst you two things that if you follow or act upon,
you will not go astray after me: The Book of God and my Sunnah (traditions)."
There is no doubt that ALL Muslims are required to follow the Sunnah of the
Prophet (PBUH&HF). However, the question remains that which Sunnah is genuine
and which one is invented later and was falsely attributed to the Prophet.
On tracing the source of this report of Abu Huraira which states "Quran and
Sunnah," we found out that it has NOT been recorded in any of the six
authentic Sunni collections of the traditions (Sihah Sittah). Not only that,
but also al-Bukhari, al-Nisa'i, and al-Dhahabi and many others rated this
report (Quran and Sunnah) as weak because of its weak Isnad. It should be
noted that although the book of al-Hakim is an important Sunni collection of
traditions, yet it is ranked inferior to the six major Sunni books. This is
while Sahih Muslim is in the second rank among the six Sunni collections of
traditions.
al-Tirmidhi reported that the "Quran and Ahlul-Bayt" version of the tradition
is traced to 30+ companions. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami reported that he knows of
20+ companions witnessed that also. This is while the "Quran and Sunnah"
version reported by al-Hakim has only one source! Thus we must conclude that
the "Quran and Ahlul-Bayt" version is much more reliable. Moreover al-Hakim
has also mentioned the "Quran and Ahlul-Bayt" version in his book (al-
Mustadrak) through several chain of authorities and confirmed that the "Quran
and Ahlul-Bayt" version of the tradition is authentic based on the criteria
of al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Moreover, the word "Sunnah" by itself does not serve the purpose of
knowledge. All Muslims irrespective to their persuasions claim that they
follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). The differences among Muslims
come from the transmitted Prophetic traditions through different avenues.
Such traditions serve as explanatory means of the Holy Quran upon whose
authenticity all Muslims agree. Thus divergence in the transmitted
traditions, which in turn has led to differing interpretation of Quran and
the prophetic Sunnah, has created numerous versions of Sunnah. All Muslims,
as a result, splintered into different schools, groups, offshoots, which is
believed to add up to seventy three groups. All of them are obeying their own
version of Sunnah which they claim to be the true one. Which of these groups
follow the true Sunnah of the Prophet? Which one (out of 73 groups) will be
the prosperous one, and will survive? Other than the tradition of Sahih
Muslim mentioned above, the following authentic traditions provide a unique
detailed answer for this question:
The messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said: "I am leaving for you two
precious and weighty Symbols that if you adhere to BOTH of them you
shall not go astray after me. They are, the Book of Allah, and my
progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt. The Merciful has informed me that These
two shall not separate from each other till they come to me by the
Pool (of Paradise)."
Sunni references:
(1) Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, pp 662-663,328, report of 30+ companions, with
reference to several chains of transmitters.
(2) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, Chapter of "Understanding (the virtues) of
Companions, v3, pp 109,110,148,533 who wrote this
tradition is authentic (Sahih) based on the criteria of
the two Shaikhs (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
(3) Sunan, by Daarami, v2, p432
(4) Musnad, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v3, pp 14,17,26,59, v4, pp 366,370-372,
v5, pp 182,189,350,366,419
(5) Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p585, Tradition #990
(6) al-Khasa'is, by al-Nisa'i, pp 21,30
(7) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p230
(8) al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, pp 62-63,137
(9) Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Chapter al-Iti'sam bi Habl
Allah, v1, p44.
(10) Tafsir Ibn Kathir (complete version), v4, p113, under commentary of
verse 42:23 of Quran (four traditions)
(11) al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, by Ibn Sa'd, v2, p194, Pub. by Dar Isadder,
Lebanon.
(12) al-Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti, v1, p353, and also in v2
(13) Majma' al-Zawa'id, al-Haythami, v9, p163
(14) al-Fateh al-Kabir, al-Binhani, v1, p451
(15) Usdul Ghabah fi Ma'rifat al-Sahaba, Ibn al-Athir, v2, p12
(16) Jami' al-Usul, Ibn al-Athir, v1, p187
(17) History of Ibn Asakir, v5, p436
(18) al-Taj al-Jami' Lil Usul, v3, p308
(19) al-Durr al-Manthoor, al-Hafidh al-Suyuti, v2, p60
(20) Yanabi al-Mawaddah, al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, pp 38,183
(21) Abaqat al-Anwar, v1, p16
... and many more ...
| : / : | | | : ^ || / . / |: . |
|o_8, o_,)_w_o, . | |o . _,|o,|| o),_9 () |, _, |
. ( () (_): ( : / (_S
: | | : : | || |: / | | . : |
,,, |_8 | _, _,_c q 4||| .,|,) : ]_e, | q_|,p, . |
(_S : . (| (S / / . (_S . / ()
w
| : : . | | . | . | . . || . | | || |
|o _,_9, . | |_o_8, | , |,, _,,7|| ._9,D||| . | q
/ : () (S . /: . : () /
. || w | | :
_p q_7_|| _|_c | > _, _,_7
(_/ / (_S /: (_S
Of course, any Muslim should follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and
as such, we, the Followers of Ahlul-Bayt, submit to the genuine (practice)
Sunnah of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HF) and consider it to be the only
path of salvation. But the above tradition gives evidence to the fact that
any so-called Sunnah (practice) which contradicts Ahlul-Bayt is NOT a genuine
Sunnah and has been innovated later on by some pay-rolled individuals in
support the tyrants. That's why the Prophet had emphasized so much on Ahlul-
Bayt in loving them and following them since they carry his genuine Sunnah.
And this is the basis of the Shia School of Thought (the School of Ahlul-
Bayt). The Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet who are raised in his house know more
than anybody else about the Sunnah of the Prophet and what it entails, for as
the proverb goes: "The people of Mecca know its paths better than anyone
else."
For the sake of argument, if we accept that the two versions of the tradition
("Quran and Ahlul-Bayt" vs. "Quran and Sunnah") are both authentic, then one
must submit to the interpretation that the word "my Sunnah" given by al-Hakim
means the Sunnah which is derived through Ahlul- Bayt and not any other
source, as it is evident from the Ahlul-Bayt version given by both Mustadrak
al-Hakim and Sahih Muslim. Now let us take a look at the following tradition:
Narrated Umm Salama:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Ali is with Quran, and Quran is with Ali.
They shall not separate from each other till they both return to me by
the Pool (of Paradise)."
Sunni references:
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p124 on the authority of Umm Salama
- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 9, section 2, pp 191,194
- al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani; also in al-Saghir
- Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p173
The above tradition gives evidence to the fact that Imam Ali and Quran are
non-separable. If we accept the "Quran and Sunnah" version to be authentic,
then one can conclude that the one who carries the Sunnah of Prophet is Imam
Ali since he is the one who has been put beside Quran.
Interesting to see, al-Hakim has many other traditions about necessity of
following Ahlul-Bayt, among which is the following tradition. This tradition
is also narrated by many other Sunni scholars and is known as the "Tradition
of the Ship" in which the Prophet (PBUH&HF) stated:
"Behold! My Ahlul-Bayt are like the Ark of Noah. Whoever embarked
in it was SAVED, and whoever turned away from it was PERISHED."
. : . . |^ / : | | |^ | . |
_7q_, 4_,_,_9_w |_,_o_) _,_,_, |_8 | |_,_o |_o_, |
(_ / : (_| (_S : . (_| (_|
/ | | . . | . : . | /
,__)_|_8 |_8_,_c __9_|_7_, . _o q _7_, |_8_,_) . _o
(_) / (_S. . / (_)
Sunni references:
(1) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v2, p343, v3, pp 150-151 on the authority of
Abu Dhar. al-Hakim said this tradition is authentic (Sahih).
(2) Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p786
(3) Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, under the commentary of verse 42:23,
Part 27, p167
(4) al-Bazzar, on the authority of Ibn Abbas and Ibn Zubair with the
wording "drowned" instead of "perished".
(5) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p234
under Verse 8:33. Also in section 2, p282. He said this Hadith has been
transmitted via numerous authorities.
(6) Tarikh al-Khulafaa and Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti
(7) al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, pp 37,38
(8) al-Saghir, by al-Tabarani, v2, p22
(9) Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v4, p306
(10) al-Kuna wal Asmaa, by al-Dulabi, v1, p76
(11) Yanabi al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, pp 30,370
(12) Is'af al-Raghibeen, by al-Saban
The above tradition gives evidence to the fact that those who adopt the
school of Ahlul-Bayt and follow them, shall be saved from the punishment of
Hell, while those who run away from them shall meet with the fate of the one
who tried to save his life by climbing up the mountain, with the only
difference that whereas he (Noah's renegade son) was drowned in water, but
these people will be drowned the fire of Hell. The following tradition also
confirms it:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said about Ahlul-Bayt:
"Do not be ahead of them for you will perish,
do not turn away from them for you will perish, and
do not try to teach them since they know more than you do!"
. | . | .: : | | | / | : . :: : | |
o_8_,_c |q_9_|_7_,_, |_| q |q_)_|_8_,_9 o_8 q_o ]_o_,_, |_|
( / / / ( /
/. | | . | . | : | | | / | : .
o_)_,_o o_|_c | o_8_, |_9 o_8 q_o_|_e_, |_| q |q_)_|_8_,_9
( ( ( ( / / /
Sunni references:
(1) al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Suyuti, v2, p60
(2) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1,
p230, quoted from al-Tabarani, also in section 2, p342
(3) Usdul Ghabah, by Ibn al-Athir, v3, p137
(4) Yanabi' al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, p41, and P335
(5) Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v1, p168
(6) Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p163
(7) Aqabat al-Anwar, v1, p184
(8) A'alam al-Wara, pp 132-133
(9) Tadhkirat al-Khawas al-Ummah, Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi al-Hanafi, pp 28-33
(10) al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, by Noor al-Din al-Halabi, v3, p273
Here is another one:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said: "My Ahlul-Bayt are like the Gate
of Repentance of the Children of Israel; whoever entered therein was
forgiven."
|^ / . : | | |^ | . |
|,_o o),_9 _,,, |_8 | |,o |_o, |
(| ( : (_S : . (| (_|
| . . | . | @ | | . . : | |
4_| 9_c 4|7 > . _o |,, | _w | _,, 9 4D_7 .,|,
/ () (|: / (_S . (_S . .
Sunni References:
- Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p168
- al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani, Tradition #18
- Arba'in, by al-Nabahani, p216
- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, pp
230,234
- Another fairly similar tradition was recorded by al-Darqunti as well as Ibn
Hajar in his al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, Ch. 9, section 2, p193 where the
Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Ali is the Gate of Repentance, whoever entered
therein was a believer and whoever went out was an unbeliever."
The above tradition was in connection with verses 2:58 and 7:161 of Quran
which describe the Gate of Repentance of Bani Israel. Those of companions of
Moses who did not enter the Gate of the Repentance were lost in the desert
for forty years, while those who did not enter the ark of Noah were drowned.
Ibn Hajar concludes that:
"The analogy of the Ark of Noah signifies that those who love and honor
the Ahlul-Bayt and derive from their guidance will be rescued from the
darkness of opposition, and those who will turn against them will be
drowned in the sea of ingratitude and will perish in the desert of
insubordination and rebellion."
Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, p91
Have we ever asked ourselves why the Prophet put so much emphasis on Ahlul-
Bayt? Was is just because they were members of his family, or was it because
they carried his true teachings (Sunnah) and they were the most knowledgeable
individuals among his community after him?
Different versions of the Tradition of Two Weighty Things (al-Thaqalain)
which prove conclusively that it is compulsory to follow the Quran and the
Ahlul-Bayt, are not ordinary traditions. They are repeated many times and are
related on the authority of more than thirty of the companions of the Holy
Prophet through various sources. The Holy Prophet repeated these words over
and over again (and not merely in one isolated instance but on several
occasions) publicly to show that it is compulsory to follow and obey the
Ahlul-Bayt. He made the announcement during the Farewell Pilgrimage, on the
day of Arafat, on the day of Ghadir Khum, on the return from Ta'if, also in
Medina from the pulpit, and in his deathbed when the room was packed with his
disciples, he said:
"O folk! I am soon going to depart from here, and although I have
already told you, I repeat once more that I am leaving with you two
things, namely, the Book of Allah and my descendants, that is, my Ahlul-
Bayt." Then he lifted Ali by the hand and said: "Behold! this Ali is
with the Quran and the Quran is with him. These two shall never
separate from each other until they come to me at the Pool of
Kawthar."
Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 9, section 2
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami wrote:
"The Traditions of Adherence has been handed down through a large number
of sources and more than twenty of the disciples have related it."
He further wrote:
"Here a doubt arises, and it is that while the Tradition has come down
through various sources, some say that the words were spoken during the
last pilgrimage, others that they were spoken at Medina when he lay on
his deathbed and the room was packed with his disciples, yet another
saying that he spoke these words at Ghadir Khum, or in another Hadith,
on the return from Ta'if. But there is NO inconsistency in these, since
having regards to the importance and greatness of the Quran and the pure
Ahlul-Bayt, and with a view of emphasizing the point before the people,
the Holy Prophet might have repeated these words on all these occasions
so that any one who had not heard them before might hear them now."
Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11,
section 1, p230
Concluding the above traditions, the Quran and Ahlul-Bayt are the only two
precious things that the Prophet left for Muslims, and stated that if Muslims
follow BOTH of them, they will not go astray after him, and they will be led
to Paradise, and that those who forsake Ahlul-Bayt will not survive. The
above traditions have been designed by Prophet (PBUH&HF) to answer which
"Sunnah" is genuine and which group caries the true "Sunnah" of the Prophet.
It is aimed at not leaving Muslims at loss as to which way to go after the
departure of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). On the other hand, if we use the word
"Sunnah" alone, it does not give us any specific answer for this question
since all the groups among the Muslim nation follow their own version of
Sunnah as well as their own interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah. Thus the
prophetic instructions were clear in urging Muslims to follow the
interpretation of Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet transmitted through the
channel of Ahlul-Bayt whose sinlessness, purity, and righteousness is
confirmed by the Holy Quran (the last sentence of verse 33:33).
Re: Following one Particular Imam in every Juristic Issue
^Off topic.