Re: Sunni Perspective on Shia Traditions
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
[2:124] And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.
Prophethood ends with Rasool Allah saww without a doubt. However, Prophethood and Imamat are different things with varying functions. Prophet Ibrahim was already a Prophet when he was made an Imam and was promised this authority for his descendants (selected, “unjust” ones).
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ ۖ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
[4:59] O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.
We have Allah’s book (the Quran), the Messenger has died though his Sunna is still with us, so then, who are the Ulu 'l-Amr which we are commanded, even us now, to obey? For Shias, Prophets traditions are clear that it is the Imams (as). How can we refer to the Messenger if has died? Through his Sunna. But then, how do we know what is the real Sunna? By referring to the Ahl al-Bayt.
Regarding Allah’s book, how are we to understand it? Throughout the centuries, so many sects have come and gone, with so many different “interpretations” of what the Quran actually means. If one can read Arabic, one can read the Quran. However, understanding the Quran, in its full meaning is something that requires firm knowledge. We read:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
[3:7] He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.
Now, the Sunnis differ on this, some saying that the expression terminates with none knows its interpretation except Allah, however others say it continues with and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge. Our traditions confirm that it includes the rasikhun fii 'l-ilm, and the rasikhun fii 'l-ilm are the Imams (as). So, to know the interpretation of the book, one must refer to them.
Understanding the Quran, following the authentic Sunna, all of this requires a continuous living authority. Since that authority exists, even if everyone else went astray, Islam would still exist on earth, uncorrupted and complete, free of people’s later additions and subtractions, in the person of the Ma`sum.
Disciples of Imam Sadiq are in thousands and there is vast amount of traditions passed down from Imam Sadiq and his father, Imam baqir (as).