Ilm al-Rijal

The most authentic books of Hadeeth are our four books ; Al-Kaafi, Al-Tahtheeb, Al-istibsaar and Manila Yahdharuhul Faqeeh. Yet we don't claim that every narration in these books is hundred percent authentic as every expert in Hadeeth has the freedom of research and freedom of opinion in the authenticity. We are not like some Muslims who claim that every narration in Bukhari is authentic, despite the fact that many narrations in Bukhari book is clearly against Quran and against the dignity of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) e.g. false claims that he attempted suicide many times, he used to urinate while standing on the road and land of others, and many other false claims. (Look at A Journey in the two Saheeh by Sadiq Najmi).

Our scholars of Hadeeth have the research procedure continuous , not like others who closed the research on the Hadeeth and kept following blindly previous scholars.

if you want to know the authenticity of any Hadeeth,b you need to refer to the specialized scholar of your time. In general, the book called Al-Kaafi has the maximum number of authentic Hadeeths and it has more authentic narrations than the all six books of Hadeeth with our Sunni brothers.

Wassalam.

This is a false allegation fabricated by the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (AS). These four persons were from the most authentic students of Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Wassalam.

Yes,our great scholars study every narration and go through the chain of narrators.and classify generation which is narrated by authentic narrator by another authentic narrator till the imam or the Prophet,as Saheeh,fully authentic we also have narrations which are less in its degree which is called Hassan[good].we also have narrations which are called Maqbool or Maqboola which mean’s accepted.we then have a narration which is classified as Mursala when the chain of narrators have a gap.we also have a narrations which are classified as weak when some of the narrators are not authentic or unknown.

wassalam.

Shia scholars in Rijaal have written great books like:

Al-Rijaal by Al-Najashi

Rijaal Al-Kashshi

Rijaal Al-Tousi

Fihrist Al-Tousi

Fihrist Muntajab Al-Deen Al-Qummi

Ma'aakim Al-Ulama by Ibn Shahr Aashoob

Rijaal ibn Abi Dawood.

Jaami' Al-Rowaah by Al-Ardabeeli.

Tanqeeh Al-Maqtal by Al-Maamaqaani.

Mu'jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth by Al-Sayyed Al-Khoei.

and many other books of Rijaal.

'Wassalam.

Hadeeth Kisa is one of the most  authentic Hadeeths in both Sunni and Shia books. It was narrated by more than twenty authentic narrators like Umm Salamah, Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, Ayisha, Jabir ibn Abdillah Al-Ansari and others. Sunni and Shia books narrated Hadeeth Kisa in its brief version stating that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) called Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain and put on them a cloak (Kisa') and said: O Allah, these are my Ahlul Bayt. He did not allow any of his wives to join them despite the request from Umm Salamah and Ayisha in two different occasions when the same happened in their presence.

Beside this narration, there is another long narration of Hadeeth e Kisaa' by Jaabir ibn Abdillah Al-Ansaari from Fatima (AS) which is been recited by the followers of Ahlul Bayt (AS) in their religious and social gatherings for getting the blessings. This narration of Hadeeth e Kisaa has been narrated  by many great scholars with full chain of authentic narrators. In 'Awaalim of Shaikh Abdullah Al-Bahrani from Sayyed Hashim Al-Bahrani, from Sayyed Maajid Al-Bahrani, from Shaikh Hasan ibn Zain Al Abidin (Al-Shaheed the Thani), from Al-Muqaddas Al-Ardabili, from ibn Abd Al-AALI Al-Karaki, from Ali ibn Hilal Al-Jazaeri, from Ahmad ibn Fahad Al-Hilli, from Ali ibn Al-Khaazin Al-Haeri, from Ali ibn Al-Shaheed Al-Awwal, from Al-Shaheed Al-Awwal, from Fakhr Al-Muhaqqiqeen, from his father  Hasan ibn Yousuf Al-Allama Hal-Hilli from Ibn Nama Al-Hilli, from Muhammad ibn Idrees Al-Hilli, from ibn Hamza Al-Toosi, from Muhammad ibn Shahr Aashoub, from Al-Tabrasi of al-Ehtijaj, from his Shaikh Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Toosi, from his father Al-Shaikh Al-Toosi from his shaikh Al-Mufeed, from his Shaikh ibn Qawlawayh, from his shaikh Al-Kulaini, from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr Al-- Bizanti, from Qasim ibn Yahya Al-Jallaa', from Abi Nassar, from Aban ibn Taghlib, from Jabir ibn Yazeed Al-Jo'fi, from Jabir ibn Abdillah Al-Ansari from Fatima (AS).

Many other great scholars have also narrated this Hadeeth like Fakhr Al-Deen Al-Turaihi in his book Al-Mubtakhab Al-Kabeer, Al-Dailami  of al-Irshad in his book Al-Ghurar WAL-Dorar. Al-Husain Al-. Al-Hanafi who is a Sunni Hanafi Aalim has also narrated this Hadeeth.

Wassalam.

Fadak was mentioned in many authentic narration in Shia and Sunni books. The narrations about Fadak in Shia books are so many that many scholars complied whole books on this matter.

Wassalam.

There is a full field of knowledge called E'lm Al-Rijaal which deals with every narrator and searching and assessing his authenticity. Deviat persons are known by our scholars of E'lm Al-Rijaal and their narrations are never accepted.

Famous  Shia books on E'lm Al-Rijaal are like Kitab Al-Rijaal  by Al-Najaashi (450 Hijri),

Rijaal Al-Kashshi (350 Hijri) ,

and  Al-Fahrist by Al-Shaikh Al-Tousi  (460 Hijri) , 

Ma'aalim Al-Ulama' by Ibn Sharashoob 588 hijri.

Khulasat Al Awwal by Al-Allama Al-Hilli  726 hujri.

Tanqeeh Al-Maqaal by Al-Mamaqani 1351 hujri.

and Mu'jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth by Al-Khoei 1413 hijri.

We only accept narrations from authentic narrators who were always in the right path.

Wassalam.

There are many books on the subject of unreliable narrators. Such books are within the science of Al-Jarh wal-Ta'deel. Famous books among Sunni sects are Kitab Al-Dhu'faa' Al- Kabeer by Al-Oqaili,

Al-Dhu'faa Al-Sagheer by al-Bukhari,

al-Kaamil fil Dhu'afaa by Ibn Oday Al-Jarjaani.

You can also refer to Shia books like Al-Ghadeer to read about famous narrators who used to lie and fabricate narrations to serve the purpose of the rulers who were enemies of Ahlul bayt (AS).

Wassalam.