Hadith

Ḥadīth (حديث‎ ḥadīth, pl. Aḥādīth, أحاديث, ʼaḥādīth, also "Traditions") in Islam are the record of the words, actions, and silent approval, traditionally attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Within Islam the authority of hadith as a source for religious law and moral guidance ranks second only to that of the Quran.

51207

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 6 years ago

Yes, there is a Hadeeth is Makarimul Akhlaaq (Page 119) from the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) that : Praying with turban is much more better than praying with out turban. 

Wassalam.

51965

I wish to add some more names and details to complement the respected Sayyid al-Musawi's clear response to this question.

Overall, a good book one can refer to for names of the nawasib - enemies of the Ahl al-bayt (a) - who appear in Sunni hadith is Hashim Ma`ruf al-Hasani's Dirasat fi’l hadith wa’l muhaddithin published in Beirut.

Here are some more examples of such ignoble people appearing in Sunni hadith sources.

1. `Umar b. Sa`d

`Umar b. Sa`d needs no introduction for those aware of the details of the tragedy of Karbala. This son of Sa`d b. Abi Waqqas, the companion of the Prophet (s), led the troops on the ground against Imam al-Husayn (a).

Al-Tabari quotes Ibn Sa`d, after the Imam (a) had been mercilessly killed: 

Then `Umar b. Sa’d called out among his followers, "Who will volunteer [to go] to al-Husayn and make his horse trample on al-Husayn’s body?" Ten volunteered. Among them was Ishaq b. Haywah al-Hadrami, who was the one who stole al-Husayn’s shirt and later got leprosy, and Ahbash b. Marthad b. ‘Alqamah b. Salamah al-Hadrami. They trampled on the body of al-Husayn with their horses until they had crushed his back and his chest. I learned that some time later an arrow from an unknown direction hit Ahbash b. Marthad as he was standing in a battle. It split his heart, and he died. (Al-Tabari, al-Ta’rikh, translated into English as ‘History of al-Tabari – The Caliphate of Yazid b. Mu’awiyah’, Howard, pp. 163) 

Some example of the Prophet’s (s) hadith quoted by Sunni scholars on the authority of `Umar b. Sa`d! 

  • Al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, kitab sifat al-janna `an rasulillah, volume 4, page 678 
  • Al-Nasa’i, al-Sunan al-mujtaba, kitab tahrim al-dam, volume 7, page 121 
  • Al-Nasa’i, al-Sunan al-kubra’, volume 6, page 263 
  • Al-Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-kubra, volume 3, page 375 
  • Ahmad b. Hanbal, al-Tabarani, and others. 

2. `Abd al-Rahman b. `Abza

`Abd al-Rahman b. `Abza (or `Abzi) al-Khuza`i was a companion of the Prophet (s). He was present with the troops of Ibn Ziyad who fought and killed Imam al-Husayn (a). (See al-Dinawari, al-Akhbar al-Tiwal, page 298).

See some of the narrations by him in: 

  • Al-Bukhari, Sahih, kitab al-tayammum, volume 1, page 129 
  • Muslim, Sahih, kitab al-hayd, volume 1, page 280 
  • Al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maja, and many others 

3. al-Harith b. Yazid al-Kufi

Al-Harith b. Yazid al-`Akali al-Taymi al-Kufi seems to the al-Harith b. Yazid b. Ruwaym on whose services Ibn Ziyad called upon by sending him from his own base in Kufa to join `Umar b. Sa`d’s army (See al-Dinawari, al-Akhbar al-Tiwal, page 254). No other ‘al-Harith b. Yazid’s in rijal lexicons seem to hail from Kufa.

See his narrations in: 

  • Al-Bukhari, Sahih, kitab al-`itq, volume 2, page 898 
  • Muslim, Sahih, kitab fada’il al-sahaba, volume 4, page 1957 
  • Al-Nasa’i, Ibn Maja, and others. 

4. Shabath b. Rib`i

Abu `Abd al-Quddus Shabath b. Rib`i al-Tamimi al-Yarbu`i was a man with a checkered background. A companion of the Prophet (s), he used to be once on the side of Imam ‘Ali (a), then joined the Khawarij and later was part of Ibn Ziyad’s troops in Karbala fighting Imam al-Husayn (a)!

See: 

  • al-Dinawari, al-Akhbar al-Tiwal, page 254; 
  • al-`Asqalani, al-‘Isaba, volume 3, page 376 
  • al-`Asqalani, Tahdhib al-tahdhib, volume 4, page 266. 

From al-Tabari, from the scene of the battle of Karbala: 

He (i.e.`Umar b. Sa`d) put `Azrah b. Qays al-Ahmasi in command of the cavalry and Shabath b. Rib`i al-Yarbu`i in command of the footsoldiers. (Al-Tabari, al-Ta’rikh, translated into English as ‘History of al-Tabari – The Caliphate of Yazid b. Mu’awiyah’, Howard, pp. 121) 

Some narrations from Shabath in: 

  • Abu Dawud, Sunan, kitab al-‘adab, volume 4, page 315. 
  • Al-Nasa’i, al-Sunan al-kubra’, volume 6, page 204. 

5. Qadi Shurayh

Abu Umayyah Shurayh b. al-Harith b. Qays al-Kindi was a judge in Kufa. He connived with the Umayyad authorities in Kufa in suppressing the Shi’a and supporters of Imam al-Husayn (a) from rallying to the call of Muslim b. `Aqil and Hani’ b. `Urwa shortly before the onset of the battle of Karbala. He had a share in the responsibility for the murder of Hani’ by Ibn Ziyad (See al-Dinawari, al-Akhbar al-Tiwal, page 238).

Shurayh narrates traditions in: 

  • Al-Nasa’i, Sunan, kitab al-`umra, volume 6, page 277 
  • Ahmad b. Hanbal’s al-Musnad, and other books. 

There are many other narrators who cursed and hated Imam ‘Ali (a), as confirmed by Sunni books of rijal, and are yet present in major Sunni books narrating Prophetic hadith.

Here is a list that has been gathered from several sources, particularly al-Hasani’s work mentioned above. The list is in no particular order and there are quite likely to be more such narrators that could not be identified and included.

  1. Hurayz (or Hariz) b. ‘Uthman
  2. Busr b. Artat 
  3. `Urwah b. al-Zubayr
  4. Abu Bardah b. Abu Musa al-Ash`ari
  5. Ishaq b. Suwayd b. Hubayrah
  6. Husayn b. Numayr al-Wasiti
  7. Dawud b. al-Husayn al-Madani
  8. Muhammad b. Ziyad al-Alhani, Abu Sufyan al-Himsi
  9. al-Mughirah b. Muqsim, Abu Hisham
  10. `Abdullah b. Salim al-Ash`ari al-Himsi
  11. Qays b. Abi Hazim al-Bajali
  12. Thawr b. Zayd al-Daylami
  13. al-Walid b. Kathir bar Yahya al-Madani
  14. Walid b. `Uqba
  15. `Abdullah b. Abi Sarh
  16. Ash’ath b. Qays
  17. Marwan b. al-Hakam
  18. Abu Bakra Nafee` al-Thaqafi
  19. Ahmad b. Abdah Musa Janabi
  20. Ishaq b. Suwayd b. Hubayrah al-`Adwi al-Taymi
  21. Isma`il b. Samee` al-Hanafi
  22. Thawr b. Yazid Kala’i al-Himsi, Abu Khalid
  23. Jarir b. `Abdullah al-Bajali
  24. Habib b. Maslama
  25. Khalid b. Salamah al-Kufi
  26. Khalid b. Abdullah al-Qasri
  27. Rashid b. Sa`d Maqrahi
  28. Rafi` b. Khadeej
  29. Ziyad b. `Alaqah
  30. Sa`id b. al-`As al-Umawi
  31. Sa`id b. al-Musayyab
  32. Samurah b. Jundab
  33. Shaqeeq b. Salamah al-Asadi
  34. `Abd al-Rahman b. Habib (Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Aslami)
  35. `Abdullah b. al-Zubayr
  36. `Abdullah b. Zayd Abu Qalaba
  37. `Abdullah b. Salim
  38. `Abd al-`Aziz b. Marwan
  39. `Abd al-Malik b. Marwan al-‘Umawi
  40. `Uthman b. `Asim
  41. `Umar b. Thabit al-Ansari al-Khazraji
  42. `Imran b. Husayn
  43. `Amr b. `Abdullah, Abu Ishaq al-Sabi’I
  44. Masruq b. Ajdah
  45. Nafi` b. ‘Amr, Abu Sa`ud al-Ansari
  46. Hisham b. Isma`il
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 6 years ago

The books of Bukhari and Muslim narrated from many persons who were open enemies of Imam Ali (AS) like Imran Ibn Hattaan عمران بن حطان who was a Kharijite who praised Ibn Muljim the murderer of Imam Ali (AS). Huraiz Ibn Uthman Al-Himsi is also one of the narrators in Bukhari. He was also a well known enemy who was cursing Imam Ali (AS) from the pulpit. Tahtheb Al-Tahtheeb By Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani 1:159.

There are many of such narrators you can find them in the books of Ilm Al-Rijaal. 

The scholars of Ilm Al-Rijaal go through the books of history and Hadeeth and Rijaal and determine such narrators to avoid their narrations.

Bukhari who lived during the time of many Imams from Alul Bayt (AS) did not narrate any Hadeeth from Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) knowing hat he was the most prominent teacher of leading scholars of that time. On the other hand Bukhari narrated around one thousand Hadeeths from Ibn Shihab Al-Zohri who was a servant of Bani Umayyah.

Bukhari did not narrate from Fatimah , The daughter of the Prophet (SAWA) but just one Hadeeth, while he narrated from Abu Huraira more than six hundred Hadeeths.

Wassalam

51719

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 6 years ago

This narration is not authentic at all, not only among our Shia Ulama but even among many Sunni Ulama like Maalik Bin Anas and other leading Sunni Ulama , who denied the existence any such Hadeeth. 

Wassalam

51345

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 6 years ago

'Ilm Al-Rijaal is the knowledge about the authenticity of narrators which leads us to evaluate their narrations to decide whether we can believe them or not.

In Quran Allah (SAWA) says: ( قل آلله أذن لكم أم على الله تفترون )Did Allah permit you or you falsely claim on Him?(Sura Younus;59)

Which is very clear that we can not claim any thing in religion of Allah with out authentic evidence. Narrations can be authentic and can be not. That is why we must study the narrators very carefully before taking their narrations as the matters of religion are a big responsibility on us. 

We also read in Quran that before believing any narrator we must be sure about his authenticity. (Al-Hujoraat ; 6)

We also have plenty of Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and Infallible Imams in this important matter. In fact, we can not take any narration in any important matter in life before we trust the authenticity of the narrator, so what about matters of religion?

That is why, 'Ilm al-Rijaal is necessary to evaluate narrations through evaluating the narrators.

Wassalam

Wassalam

49092

I understand where you are coming from with this question. Investigating and researching the topics around the Shi'a Sunni division can be mind boggling when there are claims and counter claims from both sides and the quality of evidence put forward by each side also gets challenged by the other.

Here is a suggestion to help you get started that is designed with your preference in mind of avoiding sectarian bias in your research.

Step 1

Start with the Nahj al-Balagha which is a collection of sermons and sayings by Imam 'Ali b. Abi Talib.  Although it was compiled by a Shi'a scholar named Sharif al-Radi but it attracted attention from many Sunni scholars who wrote commentaries on it. 

For instance see the list of commentators on this page, many of them are Sunni names - https://www.al-islam.org/articles/commentaries-nahjul-balaghah-syed-waheed-akhtar

The reason for the wider Sunni interest was that the sermons included by Sharif al-Radi could be traced to other sources acceptable to both the Shi'a and Sunni communities.  And, perhaps more importantly, a large part of the value of the book was in the eloquence of words and thoughts expressed by 'Ali who was a master at it, being the close disciple and confidante of the Prophet Muhammad (s). In fact, for many, the eloquence of the words also testifies to its authentic origins.

You can find the Nahj al-Balagha here - https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons

When you go through this book, and I do suggest you go cover to cover, you will gain an insight into what 'Ali was saying to the people of Kufa during his time as the fourth caliph. You will get a sense of his views on the disputes, the civil wars, the various famous Companions and mothers of the believers who often get mentioned in Shi'a Sunni debates.

Step 2

Once you are through that, it is time to understand the entire history of the debate on the succession to the Prophet Muhammad (s). Contrary to what many people realise, a good understanding of the period of the civil wars during Imam 'Ali's rule is essential to understanding and evaluating the reports on the earlier period of Islamic history.

In order to avoid any intentional or unintentional sectarian bias by a Shi'a or Sunni author, I suggest you instead go through a book called Succession to Muhammad - A Study of the early Caliphate by a famous non-Muslim academic called Wilferd Madelung.

This book does a good job of looking at the often contradicting reports on early Islamic history and analyses the likelihood of bias of individual narrators and, therefore, reports. Although somewhat heavy reading, it will help you get a pretty good idea of what really happened back then in early Islam.

Good luck with your research.

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 6 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

In brief, each School of Thought has its own collection of hadith books, and also its own methodology of categorising the grading of hadiths. This means which hadith is authentic, which is accepted, weak, fabricated, and so on.

It is for this reason that there is no specific book both Shi'ah and Sunni scholars would agree on. Yes, there are certain hadiths, in fact many of them, that both Schools would agree on. But not an individual book as a whole.

As for an objective seeker of truth, it is imperitve that one adopts a correct unbiased approach to research into factual information, and read as much as they can from all angles, and ask the Almighty to inspire them, open their inner eye, and guide them to the truth.

And Allah knows best. 

50153

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 6 years ago

We are not in possession of the first hadith that were written. I have not come across a text specifying which statement of the Prophet (S) was first written down during the time of the Prophet (S) ; however, Imam 'Ali (A) used to write down the teachings of the Prophet (S) regularly and lengthily, and this became what was known as Kitab 'Ali (A). 

Most of the hadith that were written down in the early period of Islam were lost/destroyed; however, an early manuscript has been found (you can look into Sahifah Hammam ibn Munabbih). An early extant collection of hadith is the Shi'i collection Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays. 

As for determining which hadith are true or false, you can look into books on the hadith sciences, and as a general rule, correct hadith should agree with the Qur'an and what is generally known about history and the world. 

48857

47633

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 7 years ago

I have not come across any ayah or any hadith that says so, although there may be hadiths that do.

48691

These ten Companions of the Prophet (s) are called the ‘ashra mubashshara'. Although there are some minor variations in the Islamic sources, here is one narration that identifies those 10 individuals.

The Messenger of Allah said: "Abu Bakr is in Paradise, ‘Umar is in Paradise, ‘Uthman is in Paradise, ‘Ali is in Paradise, Talhah is in Paradise, al-Zubayr is in Paradise, ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf is in Paradise, Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas is in Paradise, Sa’id b. Zayd is in Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah b. al-Jarrah is in Paradise."

So here are some interesting facts about this narration:

  1. The first four people in the list became caliphs in exactly that order. Each of them became caliph in a different way. Abu Bakr in a heated exchange in the hall of Saqifa, ‘Umar as appointed by Abu Bakr on his deathbed, ‘Uthman as a result of the odd committee handpicked by ‘Umar with the express purpose of preventing ‘Ali from becoming the next caliph. And ‘Ali in a popular election after the violent riots against ‘Uthman caused his murder.
     
  2. None of the caliphs, or any of their supporters, ever quoted this narration to justify their eligibility for the caliphate.
     
  3. All of the people listed are Muhajir, none of them Ansar.
     
  4. According to a well-known hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s), was angry with Abu Bakr and stopped speaking to him, and continued assuming that attitude till she died. She is considered by consensus of all Muslims to be the leader of all Muslim women in paradise.
     
  5. ‘Umar got informed once that people were planning on giving the oath of allegiance to ‘Ali after his death. He addressed the people and said:

    (O people!) I have been informed that a speaker amongst you says, 'By Allah, if `Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person.' 

    One should not deceive oneself by saying that the pledge of allegiance given to Abu Bakr was given suddenly and it was successful. No doubt, it was like that, but Allah saved (the people) from its evil, and there is none among you who has the qualities of Abu Bakr. 

    Remember that whoever gives the pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting the other Muslims, neither that person, nor the person to whom the pledge of allegiance was given, are to be supported, lest they both should be killed

    And no doubt after the death of the Prophet (s) we were informed that the Ansar disagreed with us and gathered in the shed of Bani Sa’ida. ‘Ali and Zubayr and whoever was with them, opposed us, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr. 

    I said to Abu Bakr, 'Let's go to these Ansari brothers of ours.' So we set out seeking them, and when we approached them, two pious men of theirs met us and informed us of the final decision of the Ansar, and said, 'O group of Muhajirin (emigrants) ! Where are you going?' 

    We replied, 'We are going to these Ansari brothers of ours.' They said to us, 'You shouldn't go near them. Carry out whatever we have already decided.' I said, 'By Allah, we will go to them.' And so we proceeded until we reached them at the shed of Bani Sa’ida… Full narration from Sahih al-Bukhari linked here
     

  6. ‘Uthman was not open to good advice from ‘Ali suggesting he fix financial malpractices in his government filled with his Umayyad relatives.

    Narrated by Ibn Al-Hanafiya: If Ali had spoken anything bad about 'Uthman then he would have mentioned the day when some persons came to him and complained about the Zakat officials of 'Uthman. 

    'Ali then said to me, "Go to 'Uthman and say to him, 'This document contains the regulations of spending the Sadaqa of Allah's Apostle so order your Zakat officials to act accordingly." 

    I took the document to 'Uthman. 'Uthman said, "Take it away, for we are not in need of it."

    Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Number 343
     

  7. Abu ‘Ubaydah b. al-Jarrah was the one who went with Abu Bakr and ‘Umar to Saqifa, hours after the Prophet (s) died, to ensure the Ansar did not take over the caliphate. He was presented as a candidate for caliphate in that meeting by Abu Bakr.
     
  8. Talha came out in open warfare against ‘Ali in the Battle of Jamal. In that conflict he sent word to Talha b. ‘Ubaydullah to come and meet him. Talha came to him and ‘Ali said:

    “I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah say: "Of whomsoever I am master, `Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend the one who befriends him and be at enmity with one who is at enmity with him?"

    He said: "Yes." ‘Ali said: "Then why do you fight against me?"

    He said: "I do not remember." He (the narrator) said: Then Talha departed.

    Source: al-Hakim al-Naysaburi, al-Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, Haydarabad: Da'irat al-ma`arif al-nizamiyyah (4 vols), 1334-42 AH vol. 3, p. 371
     

  9. Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas did not participate in any battles alongside ‘Ali during his rule. He preferred to stay neutral.
     
  10. That leaves Sa'id b. Zayd. Other than the fact that he also did not participate in Jamal or Siffin alongside 'Ali, this brother-in-law of 'Umar b. al-Khattab also has one more remarkable attribute.

    He is the only one to narrate this hadith that includes himself in the list!

CONCLUSION

The narration of the 10 who were promised paradise is simply fake news! It is yet another example of fabricated narrations created during and after the civil wars to bolster a Sunni narrative that aimed to cover over the cracks left from that period of great fitna and division in the Muslim community.

48199

The term al-khilafa al-rashida (the rightly guided caliphate) was coined around or soon after the time of the civil wars that took place between Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib and his opponents.

It was designed to contrast the period of the first 3 caliphs, who were promoted as rightly guided, against the rule of 'Ali who was being denigrated by this comparison.

This will probably come as a surprise to our Sunni friends who clearly believe that ‘Ali is very much a part of the rashidun caliphs.

Yes it’s true today, but it wasn’t the case when this term was coined and the fictitious hadith was invented, amongst so many others, in order to give power to this anti-’Ali propaganda.

Here’s that work of fiction referred to in the question:

“Adhere to my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided successors after me. Hold on to it and cling on to it stubbornly.”

This narration is recorded by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

A study of the various chains of narration shows multiple weak and unreliable characters. But notice these ones in particular and see if you can find a pattern.

  • Khalid b. Ma’dan b. Abi Karib al-Kitabi - Belonged to Hims, a Syrian town under the rule of Mu’awiya that was notorious for its people's enmity towards ‘Ali, and he was the chief of police of Yazid b. Mu’awiyah!
  • Thawr b. Yazid - Belonged to Hims as mentioned by al-Dhahabi (Mizan al-I’tidal, vol. 1, p. 374). As mentioned by Ibn Hajar ‘al-’Asqalani (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 2, p. 34) he hated ‘Ali who had killed his father in a battle. ‘Abd Allah b. Mubarak refrained from narrating from him and considered him a heretic (fasid al­-madhhab).
  • Hajar b. Hajar al-Kila'i - Belonged to Hims and was considered of unknown standing as mentioned by Ibn Hajar al-’Asqalani in Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 3, p. 118.

So this fake hadith was put in circulation to undermine the legitimacy of ‘Ali. Later, after the fall of the Umayyads and the rise of the ‘Abbasid’s, Sunni theology and creed started to take shape. And the chapter of the hatred of ‘Ali was officially closed.

‘Ali was now considered the fourth of these rashidun caliphs.