Re: Hadith al-Thaqalayn: The Two Weighty Things
Since he claims to be speaking for Sunnis, I therefore find it important to cite the opinions of top Sunni Imams on this issue.
Mullah Ali al-Qari puts it nicely here:
Holding firmly onto the Ahl al-Bayt (as in Hadith Thaqalayn) means loving them, defening their rights, acting by their
narrations (of the Sunnah) and basing one’s religion upon their words.
Mirqat al-Mafatih, Vol. 9, p. 3974
We all know who Mullah Ali al-Qari is of course! He is one of the highest ranking Sunni Imams ever!
Shaykh al-Munawi states:
The Holy Prophet made the Holy Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt his successors and instructed his Ummah to be kind to them both, to place their rights above their own and to hold onto them both in the religion.
Fayd al-Qadeer, Vol. 3, p. 20
Shaykh Hasan al-Saqqaf writes:
Holding firmly onto the Ahl al-Bayt (as in hadith Thaqalayn) means loving them, defending their rights, copying their manners, following their guidance and conduct, acting by their narrations (of the Sunnah), basing one’s religion upon their opinions, statements and jurisprudence and to prefer them above all others.
Sahih Sharh al-Aqidat al-Tahawiyah, p. 653
Ibn al-Athir said:
The two (i.e. Qur’an and Ahl al-Bayt) have been called Thaqalayn (i.e. the Two Weighty Things) because holding firmly onto them and acting by their instructions is a heavy (responsibility), and it is said that everything that is weighty is precious. The two have been called Thaqalayn in recognition of their authority and importance.
Al-Nihayah fi Gharib al-Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 216
Al-Nawawi said:
The scholars said: The two have been called Thaqalayn to show their ealtedness and the greatness of their importance. It has also been said that the word is used to show the heaviness of the (responsibility to) act by their instructions.
Sharh Sahih al-Muslim, Vol. 15, p. 180
Al-Zamakhshari states:
Jinn and man have been called the Two Weighty Things (i.e. Thaqalaan, as in Qur’an 55:31) because both of them dwell on the earth, and are actually the two most important beings on it. The Qur’an and the itrah have been likened to them because the good health and survival of the religion is dependent upon them, just as the survival of the earth is dependent upon the existence of jinn and man on it.
Al-Faiq fi Gharib al-Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 150, Dar al-Kutub al-Alamiyah, Beirut
Of course, it is better that the Nasibi and his ilk abandon their dishonesty and accept the Truth themselves! It is not right to lie to others in order to prevent your creed from collapsing.