1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

32 Questions

Which Shia narrators can be considered reliable and trustworthy in our collection of Hadiths such as Al-Kafi? Is there a book or source that provides a list of narrators classified as reliable or unreliable?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

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.
Did the Sahaba in general abandon religious belief or did the word 'Irtadu' have a different meaning in some narrations from Usul al-Kafi that talk about what transpired after the death of the Prophet (s)?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

We never believe that all the companions left Islam after the passing away of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). We believe in Quranic facts (Sura 3, verse 144) stating :(Muhammad is really a messenger before him messengers were sent, if he dies or is killed, you will then turn back on your heels).  Most of Muslims of that society remained as Muslims in faith but did not obey the orders of the Prophet (SAWA) who clearly ordered them to follow and obey Ali when he announced seventy days before his departure that ( Foe whom so ever I am the master, Ali is his master).

IRTADDU ارتدّوا does not mean that they left Islam, but did not fulfill their responsibility to obey the Prophetic orders in following the divine leadership which was been appointed by Allah and the Prophet.

Wassalam.
Do Shia women have to pray Namaz in a different way because of the narration in al-Kafi vol 3 chapter 29 hadith 2?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The obligatory acts of Salah of man and woman are same, except reciting in Fajr, Maghrib and Isha where man should recite with clear voice and woman should whisper. There are few recommended acts for woman and another few recommended acts for man which are mentioned in the narration.

'Wassalam.
How can someone effectively use books like Al-Kafi for reference? When asked to find a specific reference such as Al-Kafi 1:289, does it imply volume 1 hadith 289?
Amina Inloes

This likely refers to volume 1, page 289.

Frequently, the standard Arabic printing is cited, and so you can find it in that version. If the book was written in Farsi, they may be citing a version in Farsi or with Farsi in it. So you may need to dig to find the exact narration, if they have not given publication information.

Sometimes it is easiest to try to find it by back-translating it and searching online or on library software such as ablibrary.net until you find what you are looking for. This website can also help with seaching: https://hadith.academyofislam.com/

Best wishes!