It is narrated in many Sunni books that the Holy Prophet (SAW) on the 18th of Dhul-Hajjah, after completing his last pilgrimage, he left Mecca toward Medina, where he and the crowd of people reached to a place called Ghadir Khum. It was a place where people from different provinces should say Good bye to each other and take different routes for their home. In this place, the following verse was revealed:
“O Apostle! Deliver what has been sent down to you from your Lord; and if you don’t do it, you have not delivered His message (at all); and Allah will protect you from the people …” (Quran 5:67).
Sunni references:
- Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, under commentary of verse 5:67,
v12, pp 49-50, narrated on the authorities of Ibn Abbas, al-Bara Ibn
Azib, and Muhammad Ibn Ali.
(2) Asbab al-Nuzool, by al-Wahidi, p50, narrated on the authorities of
Atiyyah and Abu Sa’id al Khudri.
(3) Nuzul al-Quran, by al-Hafiz Abu Nu’aym narrated on the authorities
Abu Sa’id Khudri and Abu Rafi.
(4) al-Fusool al Muhimmah, by Ibn Sabbagh al-Maliki al-Makki, p24
(5) Durr al-Manthur, by al-Hafiz al-Suyuti, under commentary of verse 5:67
The last sentence in the above verse indicates that the Prophet (PBUH&HF)was mindful of the reaction of his people in delivering that message but Allah informs him not to worry, for He will protect His Messenger from people.
Upon receiving the verse, the Prophet (PBUH&HF) stopped on that place; and he recited nearly one hundred verses from The Glorious Quran, and for seventy three times reminded and warned people of their deeds and future. Then he gave them a
long speech. The following is a part of his speech which has been widely narrated by the Sunni traditionists:
The Messenger of Allah declared: “It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call. I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere both of them,you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah and my progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise).”
Then the Messenger of Allah continued: “Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?” People cried and answered: “Yes, O’ Messenger of God.” Then Prophet (PBUH) held up the hand of Ali and said: “Whoever I am his leader (Mawla), Ali is his leader (Mawla). O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”
Some of the Sunni references:
(1) Sahih Tirmidhi, v2, p298, v5, p63
(2) Sunan Ibn Maja, v1, pp 12,43
(3) Khasa’is, by al-Nisa’i, pp 4,21
(4) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v2, p129, v3, pp 109-110,116,371
(5) Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 84,118,119,152,330, v4, pp 281,368,370,
372,378, v5, pp 35,347,358,361,366,419 (from 40 chains of narrators)
(6) Fada’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, pp 563,572
(7) Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, p103 (from several transmitters)
(8) Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, v12, pp 49-50
(9) Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, by al-Hafiz Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, v3, p19
(10) Tarikh al-Khulafa, by al-Suyuti, pp 169,173
Immediately after the Prophet (PBUH&HF) finished his speech, the following verse of Holy Quran was revealed:
“Today I have perfected your religion and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion.” (Quran 5:3)
Some Sunni references which mentioned the revelation of the aboveverse of Quran in Ghadir Khum after the speech of the Prophet:
(1) al-Durr al-Manthur, by al-Hafiz Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, v3, p19
(2) Tarikh, by Khatib al-Baghdadi, v8, pp 290,596 from Abu Hurayra
(3) Manaqaib, by Ibn Maghazali, p19(4) History of Damascus, Ibn Asakir, v2, p75
(5) al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v1, p13(6) Manaqib, by Khawarazmi al-Hanfi, p80
(7) al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah, by Ibn Kathir, v3, p213
(8) Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah, by al-Qudoozi al-Hanafi, p115
The above verse clearly indicates that Islam without clearing up matter of leadership after Prophet was not complete, and completion of religion was due to announcement of Prophet’s immediate successor.
After his speech, the Messenger of Allah asked every body to give the oath of allegiance to Ali (AS) and congratulate him. Among those who gave him the oath were Umar, Abu Bakr, and Uthman. It is narrated that Umar and Abu Bakr said:
“Well done Ibn Abi Talib! Today you became the leader (Mawla) of all believing men and women.”
Some Sunni references:
(1) Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v4, p281
(2) Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, v12, pp 49-50
(3) Mishkat al-Masabih, by al-Khatib al-Tabrizi, p557
(4) Habib al-Siyar, by Mir Khand, v1, part3, p144
(5) Kitabul Wilayah, by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari(6) al-Musannaf, by Ibn Abi Shaybah
(7) al-Musnad, by Abu Ya’ala
(8) Hadith al-Wilayah, by Ahmad Ibn `Uqdah
So how would be the case the Prophetic traditions (sunnah)?
When this be the truth about the Book and Sunnah, it would be improper for the Messenger (S) to leave behind for his Ummah two silent and dumb weighty assets, in a way that those in whose hearts is doubt would feel no compunction in explaining them allegorically for (hidden) purpose.
Can anyone claim after this that Hadith al-Thaqalayn “The Book of Allah and my Itrah”: being unknown by the Sunnis and appertaining to the Shia alone?? May Allah curse fanaticism, thought inaction and Jahiliyyah forever.
Hence Hadith al-Thaqalayn in which the Messenger (S) recommended to hold fast to the Book of Allah and his Pure kindred ('itrah), is a correct hadith in the perspective of Ahl al-Sunnah as mentioned before, and it is regarded by the Shiah more authentic and having stronger chains going back to the Pure Imams.
So why do we raise doubts this hadith, trying their best to supstitute it with the “Book of Allah and my Sunnah?” And though the author of Miftah Kunuz al-Sunnah repors from al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah in page No.478 under the heading; “His recommendation with the Book of Allah and his Messenger’s Sunnah.” But when going into these four books we can never see any hint or reference to this hadith
True, you may find within Sahih al-Bukhari the chapter titled “Kitab al- i tisam bi al-Kitab wa al Sunnah,” but you never find such a hadith at all!
So no reference is there to a hadith uttered by the Messenger of Allah, saying in it: “I am leaving behind among you two precious thing: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
The Holy Prophet has also said," The position Ali has to me is the same that I have to my Lord."
Sunni references:
(1) Ibn Hajar in al-Sawaiq al-muhriqah, p.106
(2) Dhakhair al-uqba p.64, al-Riyad al-nadirah, Vol. 2 p.215
(3) Ihqaq al-haqq, Vol. Vll p.217
The Messenger of Allah has said:
To love Ali is faith and hating him is hypocrisy."
Sunni reference: Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1 p.61
And:“Ali is from me and I am from him.”
Sunni reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol.3, p.168
"For every prophet there is an executor (wasi), and my executor is 'Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Sunni reference:Tarikh ibn Asakir al-Shafii,v3,p.5
The Messenger of Allah said:
“I am the seal of the prophets and 'Ali is the seal of the executors.”
Sunni reference: Yanabi al-mawaddah, vol 2, p.3, on the authority of al-Daylami,Manaqib al-Khwarazmi and Dhakha ir al-uqba.
Where did the twelve Imams come from?
Why should the number of Imams be twelve and twelve only?
ANSWER:
IN FACT, the answer is right inside the Sihah ahadith books (like al-Bukhari, Muslim, Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, … etc.). There are numerous Sunni collections of traditions which all recorded the following authentic traditions from the Holy Prophet Mohammad (s).
“There will be twelve commanders (Amir)” … “All of them will be from Quraish.” Sunni reference:[1]Sahih al-Bukhari 9:329 (Arabic-English version)
“The matter (life) will not end, until it is passed by twelve Caliphs” … “All of them will be from Quraish.” Sunni reference:[2] Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Imaarah, 1980 Edition Pub. in Saudi Arabia, v3, p1452, Tradition #5 Sahih Muslim, English version, Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the Quraish and the Caliphate is the Right of the Quraish), v3, p1009, Tradition #4477.
“The affairs of people will continue to be conducted (well) as long as they are governed by the twelve men.” Sunni reference:[3] Ibid p1010, Tradition #4478
“Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been twelve Caliphs.”
Sunni reference:[4] Ibid p1010, Tradition #4480
For more information check out Muhammed al-Tijani’s books:
Then I was Guided