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Al-Mawaaizh (The Sermons)

Al-Mawaaizh (The Sermons)

Author:
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum
English

www.alhassanain.org/english

SHEIKH AS-SADUQ:

AL-MAWAAIZH

(THE SERMONS)

Translated by: Badr Shahin

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

THE PUBLISHER’S WORD 5

THE REVISER’S WORD 6

THE REVISION 10

1- AL-MAWAAIZH 10

2. SIFAT USH-SHIA 10

3. FADHAA’IL USH-SHIA 11

BIOGRAPHY OF THE COMPILER 13

Name and Lineage 13

Birth and Early Life 13

Scholastic Journeys 15

Scholastic State and Scholars’ Opinions 16

Teachers and Students 17

His Works 18

His Death 18

INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPILER 20

THE PROPHET’S COMMANDMENTS FOR AMIR UL-MU’MININ 20

Commentary of the compiler: 21

Commentary of The compiler: 22

Brief Sermons of the Prophet 34

Imam Ali and A Syrian Old Man 35

The Commandment of Amir ul-Mu'minin for his Son Mohammed bin al-Hanafiyya 38

Maxims of the Prophet and the Imams 43

Notes 62

THE PUBLISHER’S WORD

In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful

All praise is due to AllahWhose mercy is not desponded and forgiveness is not despaired of. The best blessings and peace be upon the keeper of His revelation, the seal of His messengers, the foreteller of His mercy, and the warner against His punishment-the Prophet Mohammed. The blessings and peace be, too, upon his family and household through whom the right has regained its proper place and the wrong has been overthrown. Cursebe on their enemies among the people of disagreement and hypocrisy who have brought to themselves the sins and made themselves the subject of Hell.

The Imamite Shia are still known of their faithful loyalty to the Prophet’s household, peace be upon them all, since the glorious Prophet had unearthed his immortal mission to mankind. He, however, kept on giving credit to the lofty standings and the qualities by which the Shia should be characterized. In view of that, they were the matter of the glorious Prophet’s glad tidings that he (s) carried. He said:

The Shia of Ali will be the true winners.[1]

O Ali, Allah has forgiven you, your progeny, your sons, your household, your Shia –adherents-, and the adorers of your Shia.[2]

These three books -namely,al-Mawaaizh ,Sifat ush-Shia , andFadhaa’il ush-Shia - that are at the hands of the dear reader are indeed precious moral gems presented to the adherents of the Prophet’s household. They are the works of the master Sheikh as-Saduq, Allah have mercy upon him, who compiled them in different times.

The translator has depended, in his work, on the copy that is published by Al-Maarif Al-Islamiyya Foundation – Qum, and revised by Mr. Mahmoud Al-Badri who exerted remarkable efforts for advancing these precious compilations in such a noteworthy form.

In addition to the original texts of the books, most of the information, notes, and comments that the reviser has added are translated for the purpose of expanding the scope of information and making the contents more understandable and more accessible to all. Furthermore, a brief biography of the compiler Sheikh as-Saduq, Allah may have mercy upon him, is added so as to introduce this unique personality to the readers.

Ansariyan Publications , undertaking the mission of propagandizing for the sect of Ahl ul-Bayt (a) and publicizing the precious immortal works of the master scholars of Shiism, is pleased to advance these three precious works, all in one book, to the dear readers and the seekers of the truth.

We hope the dear reader would find this work convenient and guide to the human perfection and we implore to Allah, Exalted is He, to grant us success to keep on offering the dear readers with the valuable gems of the Islamic heritage.

Ansariyan Publications, 2001.

THE REVISER’S WORD

All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds. All blessings and peace be upon Mohammed and his family-the pure and immaculate. All mercy and content be upon all their adorers and adherents. The content of Allahbe upon the Prophet’s companionswho honestly followed him.

It is well known that Shiism, as a sect and belief, was not the fruit of the political circumstances that took place after the death of the glorious Prophet (s) when some people usurped the leadership from its legal master in the Saqifa of the Banu Saaida. It was also not the product of the political circumstances that came about during the reign of Imam Ali (a) when the Prophet’s widow (Aisha) mutinied, calling for the revenge on those who shed the blood of the killed caliph after she had provoked all people against that very killed caliph in his lifetime, and history has kept her famous call, ‘Kill Naathat[3] , for he has converted to atheism.’

Shiism, also, was not the product of the political circumstances that occurred when Muawiya mutinied, carrying the shirt of Othman[4] and calling for the revenge on his killers. That event, however, was the reason beyond the founding of the Khawarij[5] one of whose members killed Amirul- Mu'minin (a) while he was offering a prayer in his mihrab.

Shiism, too, is not the product of the political circumstances that the Muslims had to encounter after the savage massacre of Karbala, which was committed against the Prophet’s household (a) at the hands of the Umayyad ruling authorities.

It is quite true that Shiism was not the product of any of the previous circumstances, as some please to say. Shiism came to light and appeared on the theater of the political and religious life since the first sparks of the Islamic history. The embracers of Shiism raised the slogan of the love and loyalty to the Prophet’s household, peace be upon them all, adopted their goals, and believed purely that they are the most meritorious of taking the position of the Prophet (s). They also believed that Imam Ali bin Abi Talib -Amir ul-Mu'minin, the head of the religion, the leader of the white-forheaded honorables, the husband of the pure lady, the father of the two grandsons (of the Prophet) al-Hasan and al-Hussein- is the true successor of the Prophet (s) the door to the city of his knowledge, and the keeper of his wisdom. They also believed that the immaculate Imams are the true successors of the Prophet (s) the leaders of his community, and the conveyers of his divine mission.

The dawn of Shiism broke since the first days of the blessed prophetic mission. It was the Prophet (s) who planted this blessed seed, cultivated, and supervised it all over the stages of his noble lifetime. This can be proved through the many hadiths that attached the quality of Shiism to the followers of Imam Ali (a) praised them, and revealed to them the glad tidings of having the highest ranks in the Supreme Paradise.

The Prophet (s) said:

O Ali, you, as well as your Shia, will join me on the Divine Pool.[6]

O Ali, your Shia and you will come to Allah with content and pleasure. Your enemies will come with anger and will beunable to bend their heads to find their ways. [7]

On the Day of Resurrection, Ali and his Shia will be the winners.[8]

O Ali, Allah has forgiven you, your progeny, your sons, your household, your Shia, and the adorers of your Shia.[9]

The Shia of Ali will be the true winners.[10]

Moreover, the hadith that is called ‘Hadith ud-Dar’ is one of the strongest irrefutable evidences on our claim.

((At-Tabari, in his book of history, records that Ibn Abbas narrated that Ali bin Abi Talib (a) said:

After the revelation of the Verse, “And warn your nearest relations,” the Prophet (s) summoned me and said: “O Ali, Allah had ordered me to warn my near relatives, but I was unable to bear this order because I knew that they would show me detestable things if I would approach such a matter with them. I therefore kept it secret until the Archangel Gabriel came to me and said that my Lord would punish me if I would shun that order. Now, I want you to make some food with meat of a ewe and bring a jar of milk for us, then gather the sons of Abdul-Muttalib so that I will speak to them and convey the matter that I was ordered to convey.”

I did as he asked me and invited them. They were about forty men among whom there were his uncles-Abu Talib, Hamza, al-Abbas and Abu Lahab. When they all attended, he asked me to fetch that food and I did. When I put it before them, the Prophet (s) took a piece of the meat, tore it with his teeth, threw its pieces around the bowl,then said: “Here you are, by the Name of Allah.” Each one of them took his sufficiency completely and I could see only the places of their hands. I swear by Allah, each one of them ate the quantity that I served to all of them. The Prophet (s) then asked me to serve milk to them. I fetched that jar and they all drank from it. By Allah I swear, each one of them drank the quantity that I served to all of them.

When the Prophet (s) tried to speak, Abu Lahab overtook and prevented him from speaking. He said: “This man has bewitched you.” Hence, they left without letting the Prophet (s) speak to them.

On the next day, the Prophet said to me: “O Ali, that man overtook me and said the statement that you had heard. They left before I could speak to them. Make for us food like that which you did then gather them to me.”

I did and invited them all. He then asked me to serve them the food. I served it for them and he repeated the same thing that he had done the previous day. Each one of them had his sufficiency completely. He then asked me to serve them with the milk. I fetched the same jar and they all drank from it to their sufficiency. Then, the Prophet (s) spoke:

“O sons of Abdul-Muttalib, I do not know any young Arab man who has brought to his people a thing that is better than that which I have brought to you. I have brought to you the goodness of this world as well as the world to come. Allah, Exalted is He, has ordered me to call you to accept this matter. Which one of you will support me in this regard and he will be my brother, successor, and representative among you?”

They all kept silent except me. I said, while I was the youngest among them, “O the Prophet of Allah, I will be your supporter in this matter.” I repeated this statement three times.

The Prophet (s) then took me from the neck and said: “This is my brother, successor, and representative among you. You thus should listen to and obey him.”

They left him laughing and saying to Abu Talib: “He has ordered you to listen to and obey your son!”))[11]

A deep look in this holy hadith proves that the Prophet (s) asked his near relatives, according to the order of Allah, to confess of the oneness of Allah the Exalted and his divine mission, and then ordered them to listen to and obey his brother, successor, and representative Ali bin Abi Talib (a). In other words, the Prophet (s) ordered them to follow and comply with Ali-to be his Shia. The meaning of Shiism is to listen to, obey, and follow.

As a result, the seed of Shiism and the seed of Islam were planted on the same day in the same time at the same hand. All the Muslims who were with the Prophet (s) believed in his prophesy and mission, committed themselves to that which he ordered, listened to him, obeyed him, and listened to and obeyed the one whom he ordered to obey. That one was his cousin, brother, successor, and representative Ali bin Abi Talib (a).

They were considered as listeners and obedient to the Prophet (s) only when they carried out his order of listening to and obeying Ali (a). It was the same order that Allah gave. Consequently, their compliance with the order of the Prophet means their adherence, i.e. Shiism, to Ali, because Shiism means to listen to, obey, and follow.

The light of Shiism, then, glared along with the light of Islam in the Arab Peninsula. The grand companions who believed in the oneness of Allah and the divine message of the Prophet accepted, in the same time, the obligatory loyalty to Ali. Meanwhile, others, among those who turned on their backs just after the death of the Prophet, stood against him.

This work is in fact three books whose topics are connected to each other. One of them, namelySifat ush-Shia , focuses the lights on the qualities that the Shia should have within their moralities. Without such qualities, the Shia would not have won such abundant merits to which the second book, namelyFadhaa’il ush-Shia , refers. The third book, namelyal-Mawaaizh , compiles the maxims and words of wisdom that are said by the Prophet and the Imams, peace be upon them all, on various occasions. It is necessary for the Shiite, before others, to apply such maxims to himself, because they are surely great masterpieces and moral principals.

A deep look into these maxims and qualities proves the fact that the embracement of Shiism is not mere words that everyone can say or ordinary love for Amirul- Mu'minin, as some think. The true Shiite is only he who commits himself to those qualities and applies them to his conducts. The true Shiite is only that whom Imam al-Baqir (a) describes in the following words:

“O Jabir, do you think that it is sufficient for those who claim being Shia to say that they cherish us; the Prophet’s household?

By Allah I swear, our adherents –Shia- are only those who fear and obey Allah. Their signs are modesty, submission, fulfillment of the trusts, very much reference to Allah, fasting, offering prayers, piety to (their) parents, aiding the neighbors especially the poor, the destitute, the indebted, and the orphans, truth, reciting the Quran, and avoiding mentioning people except for praising. In addition, they are the most trustful of the people of their tribes.

Do not misunderstand the matter. It is enough for a man to claim that he loves and follows Ali (a). As a matter of fact, if he claims that he loves the Prophet (s) who is preferable to Ali (a) but he does not follow the Prophet’s traditions and does not act upon his instructions, such claim of love will be definitely useless. Hence, you should fear Allah and work for the cause of obtaining that which He has in possession. There is no relation between Allah and anybody. The most favorable and honorable servants of Allah are the most God-fearing and the most pious.

O Jabir, the only means through which a servant seeks to gain Allah’s favor is the obedience to Him. We –the Prophet’s household- do not carry a patent for saving from Hell. Likewise, none of you has a claim against Allah. He whoever obeys Allah is only our disciple and whoever disobeys Him is our enemy. The loyalty to us cannot be gained except by means of diligent work and piety.”

O Allah, make my life copy the lives of Mohammed and his family. WhenYou seize my soul, make me carry the same beliefs that Mohammed and his family carried. Make me a true adherent of Amirul- Mu'minin. I, also, implore toYou to record for me success, for the efforts that I have exerted in this regard, and reward on the Day of Judgment. I implore toYou to save us from the pursuance of passions and the making of errors and endow upon us with righteousness and appositeness.

All praise is due to Allah, Who guided us to this. Without his guidance, we would not have been right.

Mahmoud al-Badri, 2000.

THE REVISION

1- AL-MAWAAIZH

Al-Mawaaizh is the first book in this collection. In 1392 A.H., it was first printed, with its Persian translation of Azizullah Attaridi, in reliance on the only documentary copy that is found in the Library of An-Nassiriyya in Lakanhu, India. Mr. Attaridi mentioned that he had found that copy during his journey to India in 1386 A.H. He also added that the copier chose the titleSheikh As-Saduq’s Al-La’aali al-Ghawali –The Dear Pearls- for the copy that carried the same title in the indexes of that library.

It seems that the copier took this title from the introduction of the compiler who records in its beginning, “So then, these are dear pearls and bright jewels…”

This copy seems to be the only available one that was handwritten in 1235 A.H. by Feda Ali al-Musawi of Lakanhu. In the last of that copy, the following is written:

“On Saturday, the first of Rabi I, 1235 of the hegira, All peace and blessings be upon him who made the hegira and upon his immaculate and pure household, this holy copy titled ‘Al-La’aali al-Ghawali ’ that is compiled by the lofty Sheikh, the most pious, the decent, the master of the sect, the grand, the trustworthy of the Imams, the head of the narrators, the product of the praying of the Sinless, the superior knowledgeable, our master Mohammed bin Babawayh al-Qummi, Allah may have mercy upon him. I am the poor servant Feda Ali son of Sayyid Ali al-Musawi of Nisapur, Lakanhu, and Dahlu.”

In addition to the following evidences, we can prove through the previous statement that this book belongs to Sheikh as-Saduq.

Most of the biographists, who referred to Sheikh as-Saduq, Allah may have mercy upon him, stated that he compiled a book titledal-Mawaaizh –The Sermons-.[12] Besides, the contents of the book are almost sermons, advices, and maxims.

In the last of his book titledMen La Yahdhuruh ul-Faqih ; Chapter:An-Nawadir -The Extraordinary Reports-, Sheikh as-Saduq, Allah may have mercy upon him, records the text of this book.[13]

In the revision of this book, the previously mentioned copy of the book and the last chapter ofMen La Yahdhuruh al-Faqih , since it is the same as the book ofal-Mawaaizh , are relied upon.

2. SIFAT USH-SHIA

About this book, Sheikh at-Tehrani says:

“The book titledSifat ush-Shia is compiled by Sheikh as-Saduq Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh al-Qummi.Ad-Dam’at us-Sakiba , Al-Majlisi’sBihar ul-Anwar , Al-Hurr Al-Aamili’sWassail ush-Shia , andAl-Mustadrak -all these reference books quoted fromSifat ush-Shia . In Tehran, there is a copy of this book, which is handwritten with an old and big script, is found with the Doctor. Other copies are found with Mr. Al-Urdubadi in Najaf and the Library of At-Tehrani in Samarra that is written by our Sheikh an-Nuri and, now, kept by his grandson Mirza Ali Behzadi in Tehran. The book titledFadhaa’il ush-Shia is within this copy.

In the revision of this book, two copies are depended:

The first copy is documentary and stored in Fayziyya School within Group: 1764 No. 4. It is a clear copy, which is ended with the following paragraph:

“This is the end of the book titledSifat ush-Shia and compiled by Sheikh as-Saduq Mohammed bin Ali bin Babawayh al-Qummi; the resident in Ray. All praise is due to Allah primarily, finally, openly, and secretly. The poorservant Hussein bin Mohammed Taqi an-Nuri at-Tabirsi wrote it himself in Najaf… on the seventh of Shawal, 1271 A.H.”

The second is the copy that is found in the Library of At-Tehrani of Samarra to which it was referred in the book titleAth-Thareea . This copy was printed in Najaf by Allama Najmuddin ash-Sharif al-Askari in 1380 A.H. –1958 A.D.- and was attached to his book titledAli wash-Shia . In the end of this book, he writes down:

“This book was copied by ash-Sharif al-Askari Najmuddin, the son of the late scholar Sheikh Mirza Mohammed ash-Sharif al-Askari (of Tehran) in Samarra at the night of Saturday, the twenty-first of Thu’l-Qa’da. Allah may bless Mohammed and his immaculate family.”[14]

3. FADHAA’IL USH-SHIA

About this book, Sheikh at-Tehrani says:

“This book is also calledFadhl ush-Shia . Al-Majlisi quotes from this one as well as the previous. This means that he had them both. Al-Hurr Al-Aamili, also, quotes from them and had them in possession. In the fourth appendix ofWassail ash-Shia , he states the previous fact. The two books, now, are found in Isfahan and Mashhad at the hands of Sheikh Hussein (al-Muqqaddas al-Mashhadi). Mirza Mohammed at-Tehrani took these copies to put them in his library in Samarra.”[15]

For this revision, two copies of the book are depended:

The first one is the documentary copy that is found in the library of Ayatollah al-Mar’ashi an-Najafi (without bearing any number). It is a good copy.

The second is printed. It is the same copy ofSifat ush-Shia to which we have previously referred and found in the Library of At-Tehrani in Samarra.

In the end of this copy, the following is written:

“Thanks to Allah the Exalted, the book titledFadhaa’il ush-Shia and compiled by Sheikh as-Saduq, Allah may have mercy upon him, has come to its end on the hands of Najmuddin ash-Sharif al-Askari (of Tehran), the son of the late scholar Sheikh Mirza Mohammed al-Askari at-Tehrani on the eighth of Shaban, 1380 A.H.

Allah may bless Mohammed and his immaculate household.”

For the sake of providing the texts as accurate as possible, the reviser did not depend on a single definite copy of the book. He moved between all of the available copies, in addition to the other reliable reference books, including the compilations of Sheikh as-Saduq himself, such asAl-Amali, At-Tawhid, Me’aani al-Akhbar , and the other reference books such asBihar ul-Anwar, Wassail ush-Shia and many others.

The other tasks that the reviser did are as follows:

He compared the Quranic texts that are mentioned in these books with the holy Quran.

He referred to the same narrations that are mentioned in other reference books.

He added to the texts of series of relaters the statements that are found in other reliable reference books.

He referred to only some differences between the copies of the books intended and the other reference books.

He added some important comments that are considered necessary.

He used guide titles for each narration so as to enable the dear reader and the searcher to benefit by them.

In the end of each book, he attached a number of useful indexes.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE COMPILER

Name and Lineage

Mohammed bin Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh; Abu Ja’far As-Saduq* al-Qummi –i.e. of Qum-; the master Sheikh and the head of the narrators.

His father was the respectful Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh: the master Sheikh of Qum in his time. He was also the most precedent, the master jurisprudent, and the most trustful of the ulema of his time.[16]

Birth and Early Life

Sheikh As-Saduq was born in Qum. Although it was impossible to define the very year in which he was born, it is well known that he was born after the death of Mohammed bin Othman al-Omari (the second representative),[17] which was in the year 305 A.H. That was the opening year of the representation of Abu al-Qasim al-Hussein bin Rawh (the third representative), who died in 326 A.H.

As confirmation of this estimation, we provide the words of Sheikh As-Saduq himself in his book titledKamal ud-Dinwa Tamam un-Ni’ma :

Abu Ja'far Mohammed bin Ali al-Aswad related to us:

After the death of Mohammed bin Othman al-Omari, Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh (i.e. As-Saduq’s father) asked me to tell Abu al-Qasim Ar-Rawhi –i.e. bin Rawh- to ask our master Sahib uz-Zaman[18] to pray to Allah for giving him a male baby.

Abu al-Qasim informed that he asked the Imam, who rejected. Three days later, Abu al-Qasim informed that the Imam (a) had prayed to Allah for Ali bin al-Hussein and he would be given a blessed male baby who would be the means by which Allah, Exalted is He, would benefit (many people). Moreover, many boys would come after that baby.

(Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali al-Aswad said) After a period, Ali bin al-Hussein was given Mohammed (i.e. As-Saduq) followed by many other boys.[19]

(Another Narrative)

Sheikh At-Tusi said that some people narrated from Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh and Abu Abdullah al-Hussein bin Ali bin Musa bin Babawayh (his brother) that Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali al-Aswad related to us:

After the death of Mohammed bin Othman al-Omari, Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh (i.e. As-Saduq’s father) asked me to tell Abu al-Qasim Ar-Rawhi to ask our master Sahib uz-Zaman (a) to pray to Allah for giving him a male baby.

Abu al-Qasim informed that he asked the Imam, who rejected. Three days later, Abu al-Qasim informed that the Imam (a) had prayed to Allah for Ali bin al-Hussein and he would be given a blessed male baby who would be the means by which Allah, Exalted is He, would benefit (many people). Moreover, many boys would come after that baby.

(Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali al-Aswad said) I asked him to pray to Allah to give me a male baby, but he did not answer. He said: This is impossible.

After a period, Ali bin al-Hussein was given Mohammed (i.e. As-Saduq) followed by many other boys. For me, I was not given anything.

Abu Ja’far bin Babawayh commented: As he noticed me attending the classes of our master Mohammed bin al-Hussein bin al-Waleed frequently while I was interested in recording and retaining the items of knowledge, Abu Ja’far Mohammed bin Ali al-Aswad used to say to me, ‘It is not strange for you to have such an insistent desire for learning since you came to this world by the supplication of the Imam (a).[20]

Ar-Rawandi, in hisal-Kharaa’ij , related the like of the previous narrative, yet brief.[21] Besides, At-Tabirsi, in his book titledA’lam ul-Wara [22] , Sayyid Hashim al-Bahrani, in hisTabssirat ul-Wali [23] , and Sayyid Ali bin Abdul-Karim An-Najafi, in hisMuntakhab ul-Anwar il-Mudhee’a [24] , referred to the same narrative.

Imaduddin Mohammed bin Ali At-Tusi, in hisThaqib ul-Manaqib ,[25] referred to a part of that narrative.

In his reference to the biography of Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa; As-Saduq’s father, An-Nejashi said that the man was in Iraq when he met Abu al-Qasim al-Hussein bin Rawh, Allah may have mercy be upon him, and asked him many questions. After that, As-Saduq’s father corresponded with Abu al-Qasim at the hands of Ali bin Ja’far bin al-Aswad and asked him to deliver a paper to Imam al-Mahdi, Allah may hasten his return, in which he asked for a male baby.

The answer was, ‘We have prayed to Allah for you and you will be given two virtuous male babies.’

Hence, Abu Ja’far and Abu Abdullah[26] , whose mother was a bondwoman, were born.[27]

From the previous we can conclude that Sheikh As-Saduq, Allah may have mercy be upon him, had come to this world out of the prayer of Imam al-Hujja (a) after the death of Mohammed bin Othman al-Omari; after the year 305 A.H., when his father Sheikh Ali bin al-Hussein traveled to Iraq and met Abu al-Qasim al-Hussein bin Rawh and asked him some questions… etc. Hence, Sheikh As-Saduq was born in about 306 A.H.

Sheikh As-Saduq used to take pride in such a birth and say, ‘I was born due to the prayer of Imam al-Mahdi (a).’[28]

Sheikh As-Saduq grew up in the laps of virtue; his father used to feed him with the knowledge, shower him with the abundance of his knowledge and moralities, and circulate on him the lights of his purity, God-fearing, piety, and ascetics. All these contributed in the scholastic perfection and growth of Sheikh As-Saduq who lived under the wing of his father for more than twenty years during which he drank these knowledges and took from the great flow of his father’s information, moralities, and conducts. In addition, he grew up in the city of Qum which was swarming with the scholars and narrators, such as the master of the scholars of Qum Mohammed bin al-Hasan bin Ahmed bin al-Waleed and Hamza bin Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Ja’far bin Mohammed bin Zaid bin Ali as well as many others whose sessions and lectures were frequently attended by Sheikh As-Saduq.

After a short while, Sheikh As-Saduq became that great figure by whom people were benefiting. He also became such a distinctive sign of retaining and intelligence. He exceeded his companions in fields of virtue and knowledge and became such an unparalleled person.

Furthermore, the political circumstances of that period played a significant role in crystallizing the personality of Sheikh As-Saduq who lived in the reign of the Buyid in Iraq and Persia (321-447 A.H.), the Fatimids in Northern Africa (296-567 A.H.), and the Hamdanian State in Mousel –Northern Iraq- and Syria (333-394 A.H.)

It is well known that all these states were declaring their loyalty to the leadership of the Prophet’s household. In other words, they were Shia.

Scholastic Journeys

Not only was the intention of Sheikh As-Saduq to suffice with receiving knowledge from the master scholars of his town, but also it rose higher to encourage him to travel and emigrate far away from his hometown for seeking studies and knowledge. In the beginning, he traveled to the city of Ray to answer the summons of Rukn ad-Dawla al-Buwayhi (the Buyid), who died in 366 A.H. There, Sheikh As-Saduq met the scholars of that city, such like Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Ali bin Asad al-Asadi whose famous nickname is Abu Jurada al-Barda’i. That was in 347 A.H. He also met Ya’qoub bin Yousuf bin Ya’qoub, Ahmed bin Mohammed bin As-Saqr As-Sa’igh al-Adl (the decent), Abu Ali Ahmed bin al-Hasan al-Qattan and many others.

He then traveled to the city of Khurasan for the visitation of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ar-Ridha (a) in 352 A.H. After that, he returned to the city of Ray.

In 367 A.H., he made his second journey to the Holy Shrine of Imam Ar-Ridha (a). During his third journey which was made in 368 A.H., he passed by the cities of Istrabad[29] and Jurjan[30] where he attended the lectures of Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Mohammed bin al-Qasim Alistrabadi-the famous exegesist (of the Holy Quran) and orator. He also attended the classes of Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Qasim bin Mohammed Alistrabadi, Sheikh Abu Mohammed Abdous bin Ali bin al-Abbas al-Jurjani, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Alistrabadi.

In his journey back from the visitation of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ar-Ridha (a) Sheikh As-Saduq passed by the city of Nisapur and resided there for a period.

About this residence, he said:

“After I had satisfied my wishes for the visitation of Imam Ali bin Musa Ar-Ridha (a) I was back in Nisapur where I resided. I found that the majority of the Shia there, who were frequently referring to me, were perplexed by the Invisibility –Ghaybah- and doubted the matter of al-Qa’im (a). They therefore left the right course of the submission (to Allah) to join the path of personal opinions and analogy. Hence, I exerted all my efforts for guiding them to the right and taking them back to the path of correctitude by means of the relevant narratives of the Prophet and the Imams, peacebe upon them.”[31]

In Nisapur, Sheikh As-Saduq related the lessons of most of the scholars of that city, such like Sheikh Abu Ali al-Hussein bin Ahmed al-Bayhaqi, Sheikh Abdul-Wahid bin Mohammed bin Abdous An-Nisapuri, Sheikh Abu Mansour Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Bakr al-Khuzi, Sheikh Abu Saeed Mohammed bin al-Fadhl bin Mohammed bin Ishaq al-Muthekkir An-Nisapuri, Sheikh Abu at-Tayyib al-Hussein bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Ar-Razi and many others.

As he passed by the cities of Marwalruth and Sarakhs[32] , Sheikh As-Saduq attended the classes of Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali al-Marwalruthi, Sheikh Abu Yousuf bin Abdullah bin Abdul-Malik, and Sheikh Abu Nasr Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Tamim As-Sarakhsi.

In the years 352 and 355 A.H., Sheikh As-Saduq was in Baghdad where he learnt from Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Thabit Ad-Dawalibi, Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Hasan bin Mohammed bin Yahya al-Husseini al-Alawi; Ibn Tahir, and Sheikh Ibrahim bin Harun al-Hiti as well as many others.

In 354 A.H., Sheikh As-Saduq had the honor to pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah. In his way, he passed by Kufa and learnt from the master scholars there, such like Sheikh Mohammed bin Bakran An-Naqqash, Sheikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Harun al-Fami, Sheikh al-Hasan bin Mohammed bin Saeed al-Hashimi, Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Easa al-Mujawir, Sheikh Abu Tharr Yahya bin Zaid bin al-Abbas bin al-Waleed al-Bezzaz, Sheikh Abu al-Qasim al-Hasan bin Mohammed As-Sakuni al-Kufi and many others.

He also traveled to many cities such as Hamadan, Ilaq,Balkh, Samarqand, Faraghana[33] and others.

In such journeys, Sheikh as-Saduq attended the lessons of many scholars in the cities that he passed by.

Scholastic State and Scholars’ Opinions

Sheikh As-Saduq, Allah may promote his position, was one of the master scholars of Shiism, great intellectuals, and well-versed men of knowledge. He was such a grand mastermind, abundantknowledgeable, and well informed. In his time, he was one of the most distinguishable scholars to whom everyone referred in questions concerning the rulings of the Sharia and was the sign upon whom everyone acted in the religious problems.

Sheikh At-Tusi; the master scholar of the sect mentioned Sheikh As-Saduq with the following words:

Mohammed bin Ali bin al-Hussein bin Musa bin Babawayh al-Qummi is the lofty master. His surname is Abu Ja’far. He was so admirable, good narrator of hadith, skillful knowing of men, and bright criticizer of narrations. Besides, he was such distinct relater and encyclopedic that no one of the people of Qum could attain his rank. He had written about three hundred books.[34]

An-Nejashi referred to Sheikh As-Saduq with the following wording:

Abu Ja’far al-Qummi who resided in Ray was our Sheikh and master jurisprudent. He was the representative of the sect (of Shiism) in Khurasan.[35]

In hisMe’aalim ul-Ulemaa , Ibn Shahrashoub said the following about Sheikh As-Saduq:

He was the best of the scholars of Qum. He wrote about three hundred books.[36]

InAs-Saraa’ir , Ibn Idris referred to Sheikh As-Saduq with the following wording:

He was trustworthy, highly reverent, well versed in narrations, good criticizer of the reports, well knowing of men, and well memorizer. He was the master of our Sheikh al-Mufid Mohammed bin Mohammed bin An-Nu’man.[37]

Sheikh Hussein bin Abdus-Samad al-Harithi -father of Sheikh al-Bahaa’i- said about Sheikh As-Saduq:

He was highly reverent, high-ranking scholar among the upper class as well as the ordinary people, good narrator of hadith, well knowing of jurisprudence and men, good discerning of the mental and analytical sciences, and good criticizer of reports. He was also the master scholar, jurisprudent, and chief of the Saved Sect (Shia) in Khurasan and Iraq of the non-Arabs; (i.e. Persia).

In the fields of narration and abundance of knowledge, he was so distinct over all those who lived in his time.[38]

The previous models have been few wordings of praise and extolment that were said about Sheikh As-Saduq. To know more about this respectful personality, it is recommendable to refer to the numerous reference books that recorded the biography of him some of which we have just excerpted.

Teachers and Students

Because of the many journeys that Sheikh As-Saduq made to various countries for the purpose of seeking studies, he could read, listen, deliver lectures, and gain the license of many scholars and masters of the countries that he passed by in the various fields of knowledge.

A good look in his numerous books, such asal-Amali, Men La Yahdhuruh ul-Faqih, At-Tawhid, Thawab ul-A’maal and many others, proves that he rested upon many of the Shiite and Sunni master scholars in the field of narrations. He also depended upon such scholars in the fields of hadith regarding a great variety of sciences and fields. The famous names of the master scholars upon whom Sheikh As-Saduq depended in relation of the reports are innumerable.

For avoiding lengthiness, we ask the dear reader to refer to the numerous books of biography so as to have an idea about the teachers of Sheikh As-Saduq.

The students and the narrators on the authority of Sheikh As-Saduq are also too many to be mentioned in this book. Reference books of biography referred to some famous names such as the lofty Sheikh Mohammed bin Mohammed bin An-Nu’man At-Tal’akbari whose nickname is Sheikh al-Mufid, the trustworthy Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed bin al-Abbas (father of Sheikh An-Nejashi), Sheikh Abu al-Hasan Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Ali bin Shathan al-Qummi, Sayyid al-Murtedha Alam ul-Huda, and many others that we could not mention their names in details. To have more information about such names, it is recommendable to refer to the many books that discussed this topic and from which we excerpted this brief biography.

His Works

Sheikh As-Saduq dealt with a great variety of arts and sciences. He wrote many books; more than three hundred ones. Unfortunately, most of these books were lost. We, hereby, refer to some of them:

Ali’tiqadat

al-Amali

Thawab ul-A’maal

al-Khissal

Sifat ush-Shia

Iqab ul-A’maal

Ilal ush-Sharaayi

Uyounu Akhbar ir-Reza

Fadhaa’il ul-Ash’hur ith-Thalatha

Fadhaa’il ush-Shi’a

Kamal ud-Dinwa Tamam un-Ni’ma

Mussadaqat ul-Ikhwan[39]

Me’aani al-Akhbar

al-Muqannaa’ fi al-Fiqh

Men La Yahdhuruh al-Faqih[40]

al-Mawaaizh

al-Hidayatu fi al-Fiqh

Furthermore, there are tens of books most of which were lost, as we have previously mentioned. To have more information about such books, it is recommendable to refer to the books that mentioned the biography of Sheikh As-Saduq.

His Death

Sheikh As-Saduq died in 381 A.H. He was more than seventy years old. He was buried in the city of Ray near the tomb of Abdul-Azheem al-Hasani, Allah be pleased with him.

Today, his tomb is one of the famous shrines whom are frequently visited by people who seek blessings there.

In nearly 1238 A. H., Sultan Fat’h Ali Shah the Qajar reconstructed that holy shrine after the spread of the news of the good charismata that had been seen there.

Al-Khawansari, in hisAr-Rawdhat , al-Mamuqani, in hisTanqeeh ul-Maqaal , and other scholars mentioned a number of charismata of Sheikh As-Saduq (after his death) occurred in his blessed shrine. In the year 1238 A.H., a fissure occurred to the shrine due to the heavy rain. When some people entered inside the shrine for chasing the source of that fissure, they could reach the gutter in which Sheikh As-Saduq was buried. They found that his dead body was laid out while the genitals were covered. It was very sound and handsome. On the nails of the body, they could notice the signs of dye, while on thelimbs, there were old threads of the torn coffin.

As this event was rumored in the city of Tehran, Sultan Fat’h Ali… ordered to reform that fissure and reconstruct that shrine.

Seventh Reason: Justifications Of Most Of The Shi`ah

Most of the Shi`ite Muslims believe that the prohibition of the recordation and reporting of the Hadith was aimed at stopping the narrations regarding the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt, since the adopters of the decision were afraid of the spread of the Holy Prophet’s sayings about the merits1 and Imamate2 of Imam `Ali and his descendants.

The decision was applied more intensely during the reign of Mu`awiyah, the first Umayyad ruler, who used to order people to curse Imam `Ali during the ritual Friday Sermons from the Muslims’ minbars.3

This opinion has been also concluded from the reality of the ummah after the Holy Prophet as well as the political and social structure of the caliphate; the cultural act was not unfamiliar to the political act and the caliphs exerted all their efforts to keep the Ahl al-Bayt as far as possible from the new system of the Islamic State (namely, System of Caliphate) and, furthermore, they disrobed the Holy Prophet’s Family from any rest they would rely upon; consequently, it is not strange to say that `Umar ibn al-Khattab’s decision of the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith was issued for this very purpose, nothing else.

Some authors have recorded `Umar’s statements that were quoted from al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy in the following narration:

It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad on the authority of his father that `Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or Yemen) comprising Hadiths about the Ahl al-Bayt. We then visited `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and gave him that book. He asked his bondmaid to fetch him a washtub filled with water. We asked him to read that book since it contained great Hadiths, but he put the book in the water reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Qur’an. (Holy Qur’an: 12:3)’

He then said, ‘Hearts are like bowls. You should thus fill in them with the Qur’an, nothing else.’4

From the previous narration, the adopters of this opinion have concluded `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s deviation from the line of the Ahl al-Bayt, which is consequently regarded as deviation from the line of Imam `Ali,5 or that his indifference to the topic and tearing of the book were aimed at deluding the people that the Holy Qur’an is sufficing for anything else.6

As a result, such acts have been seen as attempts to eradicate the evidences on the Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt, which was the one and only purpose behind the issuance of the decision of prohibiting recording and reporting the Hadith.7

Objections To The Justification

(1) Reference books of Hadith have proven that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud encouraged the reporting and recordation of the Hadith; therefore, he was summoned to al-Madinah during the reign of `Umar ibn al-Khattab and was arrested there to the last of `Umar’s reign. Confirming this claim, we cite the following narrations:

It has been narrated that `Amr ibn Maymun said, “I have always been present before `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud on every Thursday night and he was always reporting the Hadith of the Holy Prophet.”8

It has been narrated that `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr said, I asked my father, “Why have I never heard you reporting the Hadith of the Holy Prophet as Ibn Mas`ud and others do?”9

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu-Qulabah that Ibn Mas`ud said, “Persist in knowledge before it is removed. Its removal stands for the departure of its bearers. You do not know at which time you will need knowledge. You will also find some peoples claiming that they are encouraging you to abide by the Book of Allah while they have, in fact, flung it behind their backs.”10

Ma`an also narrated that `Abd al-Rahman ibn Mas`ud took out a book (copy of the Holy Qur’an) and sworn that it had been handwritten by his father personally.11

In Sahih al-Bukhariy,12 the chapter regarding the recitations of the Holy Qur’an, there is an indication to the existence of a copy of the Holy Qur’an found with or handwritten by Ibn Mas`ud. His disciples were reported to have traveled for sake of seeking and recording knowledge.

In this regard, al-Shi`biy said, “As much as I know, none was more active in seeking knowledge than Masruq in all countries. The disciples of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who used to teach people knowledge in general and the Holy Qur’an in particular were `Alqamah, Masruq and… etc.”13

Ibn `Ayyash was reported to have said that he had heard al-Mughirah saying, “The only ones who used to report `Ali’s narrations as authentic as they were except the disciples of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.”14

`Alqamah, who was known of his love for Imam `Ali, was one of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s disciples.

According to al-Fasawiy’s book of history (al-Tarikh), one of the grandsons of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud showed Ma`an a copy of the Holy Qur’an that had been handwritten by his father, `Abd al-Rahman, comprising Hadiths and religious verdicts issued by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.15

On the authority of him, al-Tabaraniy narrated that `Āmir ibn `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had handwritten some Hadiths as well as the religious verdicts issued by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and sent them to Yahya ibn Abi-Kathir.16

In addition to the previous narrations, what has been said about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who was one of the foremost six Sahabah who hurried to accept Islam; about whom the Holy Prophet said, ‘You are certainly a skilled boy,’17 and ‘If you desire to listen to the Qur’an as fresh as it is, you should listen to him from the mouth of Ibn Ummi-`Abd (`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud)’18 and whom `Umar ibn al-Khattab sent to al-Kufah for teaching the people there the issues of the religion - all these matters, if considered deliberately, prove that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud enjoyed the clearest Islamic view and education. He insisted on teaching people the Holy Qur’an as accurately as he had heard from the Holy Prophet until `Uthman ibn `Affan broke one of his ribs.19

As a result, any reports narrating that an individual enjoying such characteristics supported the prohibition of recording the Hadith must be carefully and deliberately scrutinized.

(2) We could not put our hands on the other part of `Alqamah’s narration that has been quoted by al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy from Ibn Sallam’s Gharib al-Hadith where he mentioned that the Hadiths were about the Ahl al-Bayt.20 This narration also opposes other reports that narrate `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s being one of the twelve individuals who disapproved of Abu-Bakr’s having seized the position of leadership saying,

“O People of Quraysh: Your chiefs and you have known for sure that his Household (Ahl al-Bayt) are closer to the Holy Prophet than you are. If you claim that you are the most rightful in holding this position for your kinship to the Holy Prophet or claim your being the foremost, his Household are, of course, closer to him than you are and more advanced than you are. You should then avoid turning on your backs for then you will turn back losers.”21

In addition, he is narrated to have reported the merits of the Five Individuals of the Ahl al-Bayt22 in general and Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn in particular.23

According to al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah and other reference books of Hadith, Abu-Musa (al-Ash`ariy) said:

“When my brother and I came (to al-Madinah) from the Yemen, we though that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had been one of the family members of the Holy Prophet for we used to see his mother and him always visiting the Holy Prophet.”24

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud also quoted the Holy Prophet as saying,

“The leaders (caliphs) coming after me will be twelve in number, which is the number of the Israelite Chieftains.”25

Al-Khazzaz, in Kifayat al-Athar, has quoted `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as saying,

“I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: The Imams to come after me will be twelve in number. Nine of them are from the offspring of al-Husayn and the ninth of them is (their) al-Mahdi.”26

On the authority of Masruq, Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) narrated the following:

“We were accompanying `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in the Masjid when a person asked him, ‘Did your Prophet inform you about the number of his successors?’ ‘Yes,’ answered `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, ‘Their number is the same as the number of the Israelite Chieftains.’”27

The following narration is quoted from al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah:

“The Holy Prophet said: The number of the caliphs to come after me will be as same as the number of the Disciples of Prophet Moses.”28

Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy has recorded the following on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud:

“One time, we visited the Holy Prophet who received us with great pleasure due to which he answered all our questions and, moreover, had informed us of things before we asked him. This situation lasted until some Hashemite youngsters, among whom were al-Hasan and al-Husayn, passed by us.

Having seen them, the Holy Prophet kept silent as his eyes shed tears. ‘O Allah’s Messenger,’ said we, ‘Your face is showing a scene that we dislike.’ He answered, ‘Almighty Allah has chosen for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, the Hereafter to this world.

Verily after me, my Household shall have to encounter expulsion and displacement until black standards will be raised from the East, and their bearers will demand with the right but they will be denied. Again, they will demand with it but they will also be denied and then they will be fought and victory will be given to them…”29

Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy, also, has quoted `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as saying,

“The Messenger of Allah said: Fatimah has verily guarded her chastity; therefore, Almighty Allah has forbidden Hellfire to consume her progeny.30

The Messenger of Allah also said,

To look at `Ali’s face is an act of worship.”31

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud was the narrator of the Holy Prophet’s famous saying about Imam `Ali when proceeded to fight `Amr ibn `Abd-Wudd (during the Battle of Khandaq):

“The whole faith is now facing the whole polytheism.”32

He also narrated the Holy Prophet’s saying,

“Anyone who declares that he believes in me and in that which I have brought but he, meanwhile, dislikes `Ali is actually liar, not believer.”33

In addition, he reported that the Holy Prophet handed the standard of the Muhajirun34 to Imam `Ali during the Battle of Uhud.35 He also reported that when the Holy Prophet was asked about `Ali’s position to him, he said,

“`Ali’s position to me is as same as my position to Almighty Allah.”36

Moreover, he reported many Hadiths praising `Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. He was quoted to have said,

“In the age of the Holy Prophet, the only means through which we used to recognize the hypocrites was their having hated `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.”37

“Wisdom has been divided into ten parts; nine parts are given to `Ali while the people’s share is one part only. Yet, `Ali is more knowledgeable than they are on the subject of this part.”38

“The Holy Qur'an was revealed in seven characters of knowledge each of which has a definite explicit and implicit signification. `Ali ibn Abi-Talib has for sure known all the explicit and the implicit indications of each of these characters.”39

“I have learned seventy Surahs of the Holy Qur'an at the hands of the Messenger of Allah and learnt the rest at the hands of the best people - `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.”40

Al-A`mash has narrated on the authority of Abu-`Amr al-Shaybaniy that Abu-Musa al-Ash`ariy said,

“Whenever I saw `Abdullah (ibn Mas`ud), I thought of him as the slave of the family of Muhammad.”41

It is also well known that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud issued the verdict that seeking Allah’s blessings for Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad42 during the Tashahhud is obligatory.43 It has been recorded in Qadi (Judge) `Ayyad’s al-Shifa that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud reported the Holy Prophet as saying,

“A prayer in which seeking Allah’s blessings for my family (the Ahl al-Bayt) and me is not mentioned will not be admitted.”44

In order to avoid lengthiness, the aforementioned citations are sufficient if they are considered properly. What is more is that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud is well-known to have disagreed with `Uthman ibn `Affan on more than one situation and about more than one issue.

In spite of the pressure that he had to encounter because of the policies of the ruling authorities, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud used to declare whatever he had heard from the Messenger of Allah. So long as these reports are authentic, the words of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy quoted from `Alqamah must be seen as suspicious.

Nevertheless, if al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy’s words are accepted as true, we will face the problem of the authentic narrations that reported `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as having been one of the few men who were permitted to participate in the funeral ceremonies of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’ and offer the Deceased Prayer (Salat al-Mayyit) for her.

We all know for certain that the permission of attending the burial of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’ was given exclusively to the choicest of the Shi`ite Muslims and the superior disciples of Imam `Ali. If we give credence to the aforementioned narrations that report `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having been loyal to the Ahl al-Bayt, we must not believe the claims that he erased the Hadiths revealing their merits. In al-Khisal and al-Amaliy, Shaykh al-Saduq has recorded that Imam `Ali said,

“The earth was created for seven individuals in favor of whom (the other) peoples are given their sustenance, bestowed with rain, and given victory (over their enemies). They were permitted to offer the Deceased Prayer for Lady Fatimah - peace be upon her. One of them was `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.”45

Moreover, he was one of those who offered the Deceased Prayer for Abu-Dharr and witnessed the ceremonies of bathing, coffining, and burying his body. On the grounds of the authenticated narration that quotes the Holy Prophet as saying, “Abu-Dharr’s funeral will be witnessed by a faithful group of people,”46 or “a virtuous men of the ummah,”47 as quoted by al-Kishiy, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud must be one of such virtuous and faithful people.

All the previous statements demonstrate the grandeur and standing of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud about whom Sharif al-Murtada, in his book entitled al-Shafi, says,

“Consensually, the ummah has confirmed the purity, virtuousness, and faithfulness of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud whom was praised and honored by the Messenger of Allah and who persisted on his praised characteristics until he died.”48

Supposing al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy’s narration was true, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud probably warned against some myths that were included in such Hadiths. As evidence, the narrator added that Ibn Mas`ud erased such narrations with his hand while he recited (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives. (Holy Qur’an 13:3)’49

Supporting this probability, it has been narrated that a Syrian man carrying a paper on which several statements and myths of Abu’l-Darda’ were written brought it to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and asked him to evaluate the texts therein. He took the paper and read it. He then came to his house and asked his bondmaid to bring him a vessel full on water. When she did, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud rubbed the inscriptions out while reciting Almighty Allah’s saying,

“Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand. We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless. (Holy Qur’an: 13:1-3)”

He then added twice, Do you expect to find accounts better than those of Almighty Allah?”50

The previous report can have two probabilities:

a) Ibn Mas`ud might have erased that paper for it comprised Hadiths indicating the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt. This opinion is carried by the scholars under the seventh reason.

b) Ibn Mas`ud mighty have erased that paper for it comprised some fables since he knew that Abu’l-Darda' and Ka`b al-Ahbar had not cared to narrate the fables of the ancient nations that are related to the Islamic beliefs. Besides, he justified his action by reciting the holy verse,

‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives. (Holy Qur’an: 13:3)’

Experts have regarded such fables and sermons as one of the twelve or sixteen reasons beyond forging lies against the Hadiths.51

It is thus probable that Ibn Mas`ud, having noticed such fables fabricated against the Ahl al-Bayt, erased them because he would not accept such lies to be forged against the Ahl al-Bayt. On this account, to decide the first justification as the true and the main reason beyond Ibn Mas`ud’s erasing these papers is unambiguously beyond limits.

Inasmuch as `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud is intended, it seems necessary to mention that some people criticized him for he, like some of the Sahabah, had issued personal opinions. This is in fact not untrue; since Ibn Mas`ud was a religious authority, he must have issued some verdicts depending upon certain narrations that, in his conception, were the truest or acting upon his conclusions or inference.

This situation can be noticed with the Tabi`un or their followers, such as Abu-Hanifah, Sufyan al-Thawriy, al-Hasan al-Basriy, and other scholars who issued personal verdicts. Yet, the situations of these scholars did not mean that they intended to keep pace with the ruling authorities, since not all of their opinions agreed with the regulations of the ruling regime.52

Nevertheless, unlike al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, `Ammar ibn Yasir, and Abu-Dharr, as well as other Sahabah and Tabi’un who believed in the religious opinions and course of Imam `Ali as being a true copy of the Holy Prophet’s Sunnah, the aforementioned scholars had their own principles and bases that have created such variety of opinions.

This is on the assumption of compromise. Yet, the reality is that if we consider the jurisprudential aspect of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud objectively, it becomes unfeasible to throw him in the side of the Opinionists who depended upon their personal views.

For instance, when some people referred to him in a religious question more than once, he used to answer them each time that he had not been acquaintanted with the answer. Had it not that the obligation of issuing religious verdicts was individual for him (because of the absence of any other individuals authorized enough for issuing religious verdicts), he would not have issued such a verdict.

In this connection, Ahmad ibn Hanbal has narrated that the following question was put before `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud: A man died before he consummated his wife for whom he had not nominated a dowry. After they had referred to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in this question for about a whole month, they finally forced him to issue any verdict.

He thus said, “I decided that this woman’s dowry should be as much as the dowry of ordinary women without addition or reduction and that she is worthy of her share of inheritance and she must observe the ritual waiting period of widows. If this judgment is true, it is then due to the guidance of Almighty Allah; and if it is incorrect, it is then due to my own fault as well as Satan’s seduction.

Yet, Almighty Allah and His Messengers are released from such a flaw.” A group of people, from the tribe of Ashja`, among whom were al-Jarrah and Abu-Sinan stood up and said, “We do witness that the Messenger of Allah issued this very judgment as regards the case of one of our women named Buru` bint Washiq.” On hearing this, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud became terribly delighted as he noticed that his judgment had agreed with the Holy Prophet’s.53

On the contrary of the claims of Ibn Shadhan, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not follow, support, incline to, or repeat the same words of the party who violated the Holy Prophet’s instruction regarding the divinely commissioned leadership of Imam `Ali.54 According to reliable books of Hadith, Imam `Ali, having been asked about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, said,

“He learnt the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah and stopped. This is in fact the utmost knowledge.”55

“He has studied the Holy Qur'an and thus followed its instructions and refrained from doing what is deemed unlawful therein. He is expert in the religion and authority in the Sunnah.”56

If truth be told, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s virtues that have been recorded in the books of the other sects are more than these mentioned in the Shi`ite books. Yet, everybody testifies his great personality and high reputation.

As a result, the words of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy and the facts adopted by some of the Shi`ite scholars so as to prove that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had torn and erased some papers that comprised Hadiths about the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt cannot be taken as irrefutable evidences because

(1) the statement ‘Hadiths regarding the Ahl al-Bayt’ does not necessarily refer to words of praising them; therefore, it is probable that Ibn Mas`ud erased such papers because they contained words of exaggeration about or condemnation against the Ahl al-Bayt, and the latter probability agrees with our aforementioned statements about the life account of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who used to report the Holy Prophet’s words of praise about the Ahl al-Bayt, and

(2) the claim that the prohibition of recording the Hadith was intended to eradicate the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt and the evidences on their Imamate - such a claim does not agree with Abu-Bakr and `Umar’s general prohibition of recording the Hadith since the evidence is more specific than the claim. In other words, Abu-Bakr and `Umar ibn Al-Khattab issued a general decision of preventing from recording any Hadith.

The earlier prohibited reporting the Hadith and called for referring to the Qur'an exclusively after he had set to fire his five hundred recorded Hadiths. The latter ordered everyone who had kept such papers of Hadith to bring them to him so that ‘he would take up the most appropriate.’

Had their one and only purpose beyond the decision of the prohibition been to erase the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt and the evidences on their Imamate, Abu-Bakr could have erased, among the five hundred Hadiths that he had kept, the ones that he had not liked and kept the others.

Similarly, `Umar would have erased such narrations only and kept up the others in a definite book and then ordered people to conclude the religious precepts from that book. He would also have forwarded the Hadiths of the exegesis of the Holy Qur'an, morals, virtues, sermons, instructions, and the like to definite preachers whom he trusted so that he would conceal his main purpose beyond the prohibition of recording the Hadith from the Muslims by creating a confusion between what is right and what is wrong!

In addition, the justification that `Umar prohibited the recordation of the Hadith in order to eradicate the Hadiths regarding the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt denotes that `Umar was not brave enough to prevent spreading the Hadiths indicating the virtues of Imam `Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt and he therefore had to declare a general prohibition of recording the Hadith so as to achieve his aim and avoid the consequences of a decision preventing the spread of the Hadiths indicating the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Nevertheless, everybody knows that `Umar was so severe and harsh-hearted that he feared nobody at all. History has proven that he attacked those who protected themselves in Lady Fatimah al-Zahra'’s house because they had not accepted the leadership of Abu-Bakr.

Among those persons were Imam `Ali, al-`Abbas, al-Fadl ibn al-`Abbas, al-Zubayr, Khalid ibn Sa`id, al-Miqdad, Salman, Abu-Dharr, `Ammar, al-Barra’ ibn `Āzib, Ubayy ibn Ka`b,57 Sa`d ibn Abi-Waqqas and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah.

All the same, `Umar carried a torch of fire to set it to the house while they were therein. Lady Fatimah faced him and said surprisingly, “Son of Al-Khattab! Have you come to set our house on fire?” “I will do it unless you follow what people have followed,” answered `Umar.58

According to Kanz al-`Ummal, `Umar said to Lady Fatimah, “Although I know for sure that you were the most beloved to your father and the most beloved to us after your father, this will not stop me from setting the door of your house on fire while you are in as long as those people are gathering therein.”59

According to al-Imamah wa’l-Siyasah, after the group who gathered in Imam `Ali’s house refused to respond to `Umar and come out, he ordered his followers to bring him firewood saying, “I swear to Him Who prevails on my soul that if you do not come out right now, I will certainly set this house and its inhabitants on fire.” Some of the attendants warned him that Fatimah was there in the house, but he answered, “So what!”60

According to Ansab al-Ashraf, when `Ali refused to swear allegiance to Abu-Bakr after he had invited him to it, `Umar, carrying a torch of fire, came to his house. Facing him, Lady Fatimah said, “Son of al-Khattab: Do you intend to set the door of my house on fire?” “Yes, I do,” answered `Umar, “This will be stronger in what your father has carried.”61

The previous narrations and their likes that confirm `Umar’s coarseness and impudence in presenting his opinions make it unlikely to believe that he prohibited the compilation of Hadiths for nothing other than erasing the texts that manifest the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits and prove their divinely commissioned leadership.

Had `Umar wanted this, he would not have feared anything or anybody, he would not have anticipated the Sahabah’s misgiving, and he would not have stopped for fear of the consequences; rather he would have shown the red lines of this decision in the very same way as he had done when he openly and bravely declared,

“Two issues were allowed during the age of Allah’s Messenger, but now I deem them forbidden and will punish anyone who violates this prohibition. These are the temporary marriage and the allowable period during the Hajj (mut`at al-Hajj).”62

Thus, the questions of the seizure of Imam `Ali’s divine position of leadership, the usurpation of Fadak, the transgression against Lady Fatimah al-Zahra', forcing Imam `Ali to swear allegiance to Abu-Bakr, and many other behaviors - all these questions are different from the purpose beyond the question of prohibiting recording and compiling the Hadith.

It has been proven that Abu-Bakr and `Umar narrated numerous Hadiths concerning the virtues of Imam `Ali in specific and the Ahl al-Bayt in general. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy, for instance, has dedicated a chapter of his book to the narrations that Abu-Bakr reported from the Holy Prophet about the merits of Imam `Ali, such as the Hadiths:

‘Looking at `Ali’s face is a sort of worship.’

‘The palms of both the Holy Prophet and Imam `Ali were even.’

‘The Holy Prophet once gathered `Ali’s sons under the same tent under which he was sitting.’

‘Imam `Ali’s position to the Holy Prophet is as same as the Holy Prophet’s position to his Lord.’

‘On the Resurrection Day, nobody will be permitted to pass the Path (Sirat) before he obtains a license written by Imam `Ali.’

‘The Holy Prophet declared that Imam `Ali was the closest to him.’

As well as his reference to Imam `Ali when he was asked about the features of the Holy Prophet.63

In al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn (The Narrations Subjoined to al-Bukhariy and Sahih Muslim), we read that `Umar ibn al-Khattab said,

“`Ali ibn Abi-Talib has been given three characteristics which I would prefer to the best kind of camels if I was given only one of them… (1) he married Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah, (2) he was the only one to be permitted to live in the Masjid with the Holy Prophet and (3) he was given the standard (i.e. the commandment of the army) in the war of Khaybar.”64

Through authentic reports, it has been proven that `Umar ibn al-Khattab, during his reign, used to ask and adopt the rulings issued by Imam `Ali. Al-Khawarzmiy, in al-Manaqib, has recorded the following:

When two men asked him about the rulings of the divorcement of bondmaids, `Umar turned to a bald man to his side and asked the same question. As he received the answer from the man, `Umar said it to the two men verbally. Wondering at `Umar, the two men asked, “We asked you because you are the caliph! But you referred to a man to take the answer from him!” “Woe to you,” said `Umar,

“Do you know who the man to whom I referred the question is? He is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib! I have heard the Messenger of Allah saying: If the heavens and the earth are put in one scale of a balance and the faith of `Ali is put in the other, the faith of `Ali will certainly exceed in weight.”65

In addition, `Umar is quoted to have said,

“`Ali is the most experienced of us in the field of judicature,”66

“Without `Ali, `Umar would have perished”67

“May Allah take my soul before I face a problem while Abu’l-Hasan (Imam `Ali) is not present.”68

Tarikh Dimashq reads that `Umar narrated the Holy Prophet’s saying,

“`Ali’s position to me is same as (Prophet) Aaron’s position to (Prophet) Moses; yet, no Prophet is to come after me.”69

“`Ali: You are the first to embrace Islam and the first to believe (in my Mission).”70

Al-Bukhariy has recorded that `Umar ibn al-Khattab said,

“When the Holy Prophet departed life, he was pleased with `Ali.”71

Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy has also dedicated a chapter to the Hadiths that `Umar narrated concerning the merits of Imam `Ali, such as, ‘the commandment of the Muslim army was given to `Ali during the war of Khaybar,’ ‘`Ali has had three characteristics I wish I had only one of them,’ ‘`Ali’s position to the Holy Prophet is as same as Aaron’s to Moses,’ ‘`Ali’s faith is overweighing the heavens and the earth,’ ‘the Holy Prophet said that `Ali must be the leader of him whoever had taken the Holy Prophet as his leader,’ ‘the Holy Prophet said that he would send `Ali for definite honorable acts and `Umar expressed his wish to have leadership at that situation,’ `Umar said to `Ali: You have become my master and the master of every male and female Muslim,’ ‘

`Ali is the master of everyone who has regarded the Holy Prophet as his master,’ ‘`Umar declared `Ali as his master,’ ‘referring the religious questions to `Ali more than once,’ ‘`Ali’s being the most experienced in the Islamic judicature’ and ‘depending upon `Ali’s opinions in many questions.’72

It has been also proven that the Sahabah used to narrate the merits of Imam `Ali during the reigns of Abu-Bakr and `Umar. On the authority of `Uqab ibn Tha`labah, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy has recorded that during the reign of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abu-Ayyub al-Ansariy narrated that the Holy Prophet ordered `Ali ibn Abi-Talib to fight against the breachers (those who breached their swearing of allegiance to Imam `Ali’s leadership), the violators (those who rebelled and waged war against the army of Imam `Ali) and the apostates (the Khawarij who invented their own beliefs and apostatized from the Islamic beliefs).73

Had it been true that Abu-Bakr and `Umar prohibited reporting and recording the Hadith only for purpose of eradicating the merits of and the evidences on the divinely commissioned leadership of the Ahl al-Bayt since such Hadiths formed a source of challenge against the ruling authorities and their policies - had this been the only reason beyond the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith, the numerous Hadiths mentioned in the Sahih books (Sunnite reference books of Hadith) concerning the divinely commissioned leadership of the Holy Imams would not have reached us.

Examples on such Hadiths are the Holy Prophet’s sayings ‘`Ali is with the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Qur'an is with `Ali,’74 ‘I am leaving amongst you the two weighty (precious) things - the Holy Qur'an and my Household; Ahl al-Bayt,’75 ‘the example of Ahl al-Bayt is Noah’s Ark; anyone who embarks on it will be certainly saved while those who abstain will certainly fall and drown’76 and ‘`Ali must be the master of him whoever has regarded me (i.e. the Holy Prophet) as his master’77 in addition to many similar narrations.

To be reasonable, we have to say that although Abu-Bakr and `Umar reported Hadiths concerning the merits of and the evidences on the Ahl-Bayt’s divinely commissioned leadership (Imamate), they were extremely cautious of the explanations and discussions about the matter of choosing Imam `Ali for the leadership of the Islamic community or the existence of a number of Sahabah supporting the necessity of the pure commitment to the divine commandments and violating the personal opinions and inferences regarding the religious issues.

Abu-Bakr and `Umar, though they did not take strict procedures in the field of reporting the merits alone, did not like the spread of the Hadiths that injured their caliphate. In this regard, Abu-Bakr attempted to take the publics away from discussing the affairs of the leadership and from reporting the Holy Prophet’s sayings about the merits of Imam `Ali ibn Abi-Talib and his most worthiness of holding this position.

This is because to explain, display, and divulge the dimensions of the Hadiths indicating the leadership and Imamate of Imam `Ali would be the main factor that terrifies the ruling authorities, not mere reporting from the Holy Prophet. From this cause, Abu-Bakr warned against such sort of display and divulgence.

Shaykh `Abd al-Rahman ibn Yahya al-Mu`allimiy al-Yamaniy says,

“As regards the origin of the incompletely transmitted narration of Ibn Abi-Mulaykah, it derives its significance from the fact that it followed the decease of the Holy Prophet and was related to the affair of the caliphate.

It shows that the people, after having paid homage to Abu-Bakr as the successor of the Holy Prophet, disputed among them; some of them claimed that Abu-Bakr was worthy of the position because the Holy Prophet said to him so-and-so, while others claimed another ones’ having been the worthiest for the Holy Prophet had said about them so-and-so... etc. To avoid such, Abu-Bakr, willingly, decided to take them away from such disputes.”78

`Umar criticized and threatened `Abdullah ibn `Abbas for he used to defend earnestly the divinely commissioned leadership of Imam `Ali. Having heard Ibn `Abbas’s opinion on the caliphate and the worthiness of Imam `Ali in the position of leadership, `Umar said, “Ibn `Abbas: I have been informed that you have been spreading among people some words about which I do not like telling you so that you will keep the same position that you have with me.”

“What are these words?” asked Ibn `Abbas.

“Rumors have it that you always claim that this position (of leadership) was seized from you out of envy and wrong,” said `Umar.

Showing no flattery, Ibn `Abbas insisted on his opinion; therefore, `Umar said to him when he was about to leave, “In spite of your opinion, I still respect your position.”79

On another, yet similar, situation, Ibn `Abbas narrated that `Umar did not like his argument and he thus flamed up with rage; but Ibn `Abbas could amend the situation.80

On a third situation, after Ibn `Abbas had overwhelmed in argument, `Umar ordered him to keep the matter secret, for if he would hear it from a third person, he (either `Umar or Ibn `Abbas) would not spend another night in the city.81

The previous situations prove that `Umar feared that the same words of Ibn `Abbas would be repeated by people whom would have rallied against his government whose legal bases would thus be collapsed.

The previous constraint on displaying the proofs on the Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt and, for the meantime, the reporting of the Hadiths proving such divinely commissioned position make us understand that Abu-Bakr and `Umar intended smartly to conceal the features of their policy by reporting and listening to the Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits.

From the other side, they stopped strictly against anyone who would exceed the defined limits of reporting the Hadith. Accordingly, the blackout practiced on the Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits and divinely commissioned leadership was not the one and only reason for the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith.

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that this issue played a role in the decision of the prohibition, especially the prohibition from explained matters that dealt with the origin of the caliphate, but this role was partial as it had come under a more comprehensive frame that surrounded a wider, more general, and more wide-ranging purport.

To sum it up, the claims of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy (died in AH 463) mentioned in his book entitled ‘Taqyid al-`Ilm’ cannot stand for a perfect proof on the aforementioned opinion for the phrase ‘Ahl al-Bayt’ has not been mentioned in the narration of al-Qasim ibn Sallam (died in AH 224), in addition to the criticisms that were addressed to him. As a result, the prohibition of recording the Hadith was not purposed for this reason, which cannot be regarded as the one and only cause of the decision.

Reports Of `Abdullah Ibn Mas`ud’s Prohibiting The Recordation Of The Hadith

In addition to the aforementioned report about `Alqamah’s book of Hadith that was erased by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, there are other seven reports relating similar events. Let us now display these reports:

1) Ibn Fudayl has narrated that Husayn ibn `Abd al-Rahman ibn Murrah said: We were visiting `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud when Ibn Qurrah came carrying a book: “I found this book in Syria and it was astonishing; therefore, I have brought it to you.”

2) As `Abdullah looked in the book, he commented, “The past nations perished only because they followed such books and left their (divinely revealed) Book.” He then asked for a washtub in which he put that book and erased it.82

3) `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad has narrated that his father said: `Alqamah and I found a book and took it directly to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud. It was about midday when we sat at his door waiting for permission.

When he woke up, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud sent his bondmaid to see who was at the door. When she informed him, he permitted us to enter. As we were in, he asked us, “You have been waiting for a long time, have you not?”

4) “Yes, we have,” answered we.

5) “Why did you not ask for permission to get in?” asked `Abdullah. “We expected that you were asleep?” answered we.

6) “You should not have thought so, because this is an hour that is as valuable as the hours of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl),” said `Abdullah.

7) We then showed him the book saying, “This is a paper containing an astonishing narratives.”

8) Surprisingly, he took the book, asked his bondmaid to bring his a washtub full of water, and erased that book with his hand reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying) ‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives.’”

9) We asked him to look in the book for it contained good Hadiths, but he kept on erasing it saying, “These hearts are containers; therefore, you must full it with the Qur’an and nothing else.”83

10) It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad on the authority of his father that `Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or the Yemen) comprising Hadiths about the Ahl al-Bayt - the Holy Prophet’s Household. We then visited `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and gave him that book. He asked his bondmaid to fetch him a washtub filled with water. We asked him to read that book since it contained great Hadiths, but he put the book in the water and erased it reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Qur’an. (Holy Qur’an: 12:3)’

He then said, ‘Hearts are like bowls. You should thus fill in them with the Qur’an, nothing else.’84

11) It has been narrated on the authority of Sulaym ibn al-Aswad that he said: `Abdullah ibn Mirdas and I found a book comprising some narratives and Qur'anic verses with a man from the (tribe of) al-Nakha`. We arranged to see him in the mosque after `Abdullah ibn Mirdas had decided to buy that book with one dirham85 .

While we were still in the mosque, a man came and told us that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud wanted us. I passed through the circle of the people until I reached `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and found him catching with that book. He then said, “Verily, the best guidance is that of Muhammad and the best narrative is the Book of Almighty Allah.

Similarly, the worst matters are the innovated. You are conveying narratives and listening to others’ narratives. If you happen to find an innovated matter, you must adhere to the foremost guidance.

Nothing except this book and its likes had caused perdition to the past nations. They inherited it through generations until they neglected the Book of Almighty Allah as if they had never known it. I hereby adjure you by Almighty Allah to bring me any similar book you may find. I swear by Almighty Allah that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will go there to bring it.”86

12) It has been narrated on the authority of Ash`ath ibn Sulaym that his father said: I used to sit with some people in the mosque and one day, I found them reciting a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah. I then asked the owner to give them to me so that I would take a copy, but he apologized that another man had asked for them.

One day, I entered the mosque and listened to a boy summoning people to be present in `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s house. I therefore went there and found him carrying the same book that I had intended to copy.

He then said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy. The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they followed such books and neglected the Book of Allah. I hereby ask anyone who knows where such books are found to lead me to them. I swear by Him Who prevails my soul that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will bring them even if I will have to go there on foot.” He then asked for water and erased that book.”87

13) …`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud made all efforts for obtaining the book found with some people until he obliged them to bring him that book. When he obtained it, he erased its contents saying, “The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they entered upon the books of their scholars and bishops and neglected their Lord’s Book. (according to another narration, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “They neglected the Torah and Gospel until they, as well as the religious rulings therein, were obliterated.”)88

14) It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad that his father said: A Syrian man carrying a book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives came to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud saying, “Abu-’Abd al-Rahman: may you have a look in this book that comprises words of Abu’l-Darda, your brother?” `Abdullah took the book and read it until he reached his house.

Upon reaching there, he asked his bondmaid to bring him a washtub filled with water. He then erased the contents of the book reciting Almighty Allah’s saying, “Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic that ye may understand. We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” He then added twice, “Do you intend to find narratives better than those of Almighty Allah?”89

A comprehensive look in the previous narrations altogether brings forth conclusions that are contrary to those presumed by the adopters of the aforementioned opinion. Let us now refer to these conclusions in the following points:

1) The narrations of reporting and recording the knowledge prove that all or most of the books mentioned in the previous narrations comprised astonishing materials of which the Muslims had not heard before because they did not agree with the nature of the Islamic legislation. From this cause, such contents were objects of surprise and astonishment. Had such contents been harmonious to what the Muslims had received and comprehended, they would not have surprised the Muslims.

The previous narrations comprised statements like “I found this book in Syria and it was astonishing,” “This is a paper containing an astonishing narratives” and “I found them reciting a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah” all of which prove clearly that the contents of these books did not comprise texts of the Holy Qur'an or the Hadith; otherwise they would not have been astonishing.

2) Except the book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives, all these books did not comprise the words of a definite Sahabiy or narrator of Hadith since the previous narrations had not referred to any definite name being the narrator of such stories and words. Accordingly, the authors of such books are unknown and their contents are not reported from any individual. In other words, they are completely unidentified.

Besides, some of the narrations have proven that the owners of these books were unknown. This is clear in some statements like “I found this book in Syria,” “Alqamah once brought a book,” “A Syrian man carrying a book,” “I found a book comprising some narratives” and other similar statements all of which prove that the source of such books was unknown and thus they cannot be reliable. Correspondingly, Abu’l-Darda’s book contained his own words and stories that he derived from unreliable sources.

3) Some of these books were brought from Syria and others from Makkah or the Yemen. Yet, the source of the others is unknown. Thus, these books were not written by the Sahabah nor were they brought from the center of the Divine Revelation, the seat of the Prophethood, or the home of the Sahabah. Some of these narrations carried statements like “I found this book in Syria,”

“`Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or Yemen)” which prove that such difference in identifying the source of these books was because of the uncertainty of the matter, not the narrator. In other words, the carrier of these books did not know the source of these books whose narratives were influenced by the social and geographical factors because Syria was the neighbor of the full-Christian Rome and the center of the Christian momentousness. In view of that, these books might have been ‘missionary’ papers through which the Christians attempted to penetrate the Islamic ideology.

Because of the inconsideration of such books whose sources, writer, and reporters are unknown, the Ahl al-Bayt used to confirm that the books that they have are of famous source, writer, and narrator. In this regard, Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq, answering those who accused him of having derived his information from the books of the past nations, says, “This is true. Abu-Hanifah has said the truth. I have read the (Divine) books of Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses as well as my forefather’s books.”90

Describing the Book of Imam `Ali, the Holy Imams say, “It has been written by Imam `Ali as exactly as received from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah.” As a result, the Holy Imams have declared that the books that they kept and copied were inherited from the most trustworthy ones of each generation up to the Messenger of Allah and that they comprised the laws of Allah beginning with Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses up to Prophet Muhammad. `Abdullah ibn `Adiy al-Jurjaniy, in al-Kamil, writes down that “Ja`far ibn Muhammad (Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq) have narrated very much on the authority of Jabir (ibn `Abdullah al-Ansariy - one of the most trustworthy Sahabah) and on the authority of his father who narrated from his fathers. He also kept many copies (books) that belonged to the Holy Prophet’s Household.”91

4) Most, if not all, of these books comprised neither religious rulings and laws nor exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. Apparently, they comprised narratives, accounts, and invocations whose source was something other than Almighty Allah. Usually, such narratives, accounts, and invocations were invented by storytellers and taletellers who used to overstate some facts and belittle others according to certain conditions, tendencies, and tribal fanaticism as well as similar circumstances that change one’s inclinations.

The aforementioned narratives included statements like “A Syrian man carrying a book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives,” “I found a book comprising some narratives and Qur'anic verses” and “a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah” that prove that these books comprised astonishing stories and tales similar to those currently found in some books of Tafsir (Exegesis of the Holy Qur'an) regarding the details of the Holy Prophets’ stories, such as the falsehood that Prophet Joseph was seduced by the chief’s wife to such a degree that he took the same position that a husband takes with his wife;92 and the falsehood that Prophet David sent one of the commanders of his army to the battlefield so that he would be killed and the Prophet would marry his widow thereafter;93 and the falsehood mentioned in the distorted Torah that after the Flood that Almighty Allah sent to destroy the world, all the people perished; therefore, the two daughters of Prophet Lot got their father to drink wine and then lay with him!94

Hence, they became pregnant and, thus, the line of humanity was survived from extinction;95 and the falsehood that Khadijah bint -daughter of- Khuwaylid96 conspired against her father who would not accept Prophet Muhammad as her husband, got her father to drink and then asked the Prophet to come and propose her; therefore, her father accepted unconsciously.

When he regained his consciousness, he had to accept the matter.97 Such lies and their likes cannot be produced by anyone except Abu’l-Darda, Ka`b al-Ahbar, and their likes who were influenced by the Christian and Jewish cultures.

This fact is supported by the statement that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, having looked in these books, recited Almighty Allah’s saying, “We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” He then commented, “Do you intend to find narratives better than those of Almighty Allah? Do you expect to find accounts better than those of Almighty Allah?” He also said, “Verily, the best guidance is that of Muhammad and the best narrative is the Book of Allah. Similarly, the worst matters are the innovated.” All these quotations and words hint at the contents of these books.

The word of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, “Verily, the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad... etc” confirms that the materials that he erased with water had not been within the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad; rather they had been within the invented innovative material that he would not accept.

By saying such, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud wanted to inform those who were admired by such materials that they had not belonged to the Holy Sunnah, the guidance of the Holy Prophet, or to the Holy Qur'an, because the Holy Prophet had reproached `Umar ibn al-Khattab for he had shown admiration for taking from the papers (i.e. books) of the Christians and Jews and neglected the Hadith of the Holy Prophet.

In this respect, al-Suyutiy has recorded that `Umar ibn al-Khattab, once, said to the Holy Prophet, “O Allah’s Messenger: the Ahl al-Kitab98 are reporting us narrations that grasped our hearts and we were about to write them down.” Reproachfully, the Holy Prophet said,

“Son of al-Khattab! Will you frivolously engage yourselves in perplexity in the same way as the Jews and Christians have engaged themselves in perplexity? I swear by Him Who grasps my soul that I have brought it to you purely white and I have been given the comprehensive wording.”99

Ponder carefully over `Umar’s saying, “...that grasped our hearts...” and compare it to the words said about the papers that were brought to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, such as “People are keeping materials that have admired them...” “This paper comprised an admiring narration...” “They have a paper that admired them...” “I found it and it admired me...”

Again, ponder over the Holy Prophet’s reply to `Umar, “I have brought it to you purely white...” and compare it to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s reply to those whose hearts were grasped by such papers, “Verily, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad...” Thus, the result will divulge the secret beyond that admiration and the similarity between the reply of the Holy Prophet and that of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud. In addition, it is impossible to find any narration showing such admiration and presenting the Holy Prophet’s threat except those reported on the authority of `Umar ibn al-Khattab through which he showed his admiration for the Jews’ recordations. A deeper ponderation over `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having erased these papers with water demonstrates that his justification meets the legal trend, especially when we notice that he, instead of burning, erased these papers with water confirming that the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad and the best of narratives is the Holy Book of Almighty Allah and that the most evil of affairs are the innovatives.

More obviously, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud stated, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy. The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they entered upon the books of their scholars and bishops and neglected their Lord’s Book. They neglected the Torah and Gospel until they, as well as the religious rulings therein, were obliterated.”

From the previous, we conclude that the books that were brought to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not comprise religious rulings and laws; they in fact comprised stories, tales, and some invocations related to these fables. It is thus probable that these books comprised the stories of Tamim al-Dariy - the monk who obtained `Umar’s permission to tell tales that might have been similar to those found in these books.100

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud also said, “I hereby adjure you by Allah to bring me any similar book you may find. I swear by Allah that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will go there to bring it.” “I hereby ask anyone who knows where such books are found to lead me to them. I swear by Him Who prevails my soul that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will bring them even if I will have to go there on foot.” A narrator said that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “I swear by Allah that if these books were in Dayr al-Hind,101 (i.e. a place very far from al-Kufah) I will bring them even I will have to go there on foot.”102

On the face of it, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s insistence on erasing such books was because they comprised narratives derived from Christian and Jewish sources. He understood that they had been made by monasteries so as to confuse the feeble-minded Muslims as well as those who were ideologically attached to the Christians and Jews. As if the matter was deliberately studied by the Christians, the monasteries intended to draw the feeble-minded Muslims towards the styles of narrating myths and legends.

Having been aware of this objective, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud used to erase these books as soon as he had a primary look at them because he had already known their contents. On this account, he stood firmly against such attempts.

In the meantime, `Umar ibn al-Khattab led a campaign against reporting and recording the Hadith; therefore, some people mixed the two campaigns while, if truth be told and if the matter is seen prudently, there was a great difference between the two.

On the grounds of this conclusions obtained from our comprehensive look in the narrations that reported `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having prevented recording the Hadith, it has been quite true to allege that al-Darimiy’s narration saying that these books erased by `Abdullah comprised statements of praise and glorification of Almighty Allah cannot be sufficiently taken as evidence.

This is because these books did not comprise only such statements; rather there were other things similar to the previously discussed statements, such as those about which `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy.” It is absolutely irrational to claim that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, or any other ordinary Muslim, could ever say these words about statements of praise and glorification of Almighty Allah that he, as well as every Muslim, uttered each day more than once.

Some have claimed that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud warned against the process of recordation, considering it as delusive, apart from what would be written. Yet, the actual statement of `Abdullah does not indicate such, since he said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy” and this statement obviously means that the intended was the very contents of that book, not the process of recordation; otherwise, he would have said, “The recordation is sedition, delusion, and heresy!”

The same previous discussion is applicable to the single narration that claimed the existence of Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits in the book that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud erased. Supposing the narration is authentic, a number of evidences prove that the book might have comprised fabricated or exaggerated information about the Ahl al-Bayt and their merits.

All the same, it is impossible to believe that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud intended to erase or eradicate the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt after it has been proven that he was one of the grand narrators who reported and spread the merits and remarkable situations of them.

Unlike Abu-Bakr and `Umar, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not exercise massive eradication of the records of the Hadith nor did he set fire to them; rather he used the method of erasing with water, which is the legal method of eradicating the books comprising delusive materials and, in the meanwhile, they contain the Holy Names of Almighty Allah, the Prophets, the Prophets’ Successors, and the Imams. As a religious law, it is forbidden to set fire to the Sacred Names; rather they must be erased with water or buried.

Supporting our conclusions, Abu-`Ubayd, a famous scholar, says,

“Since he believed that such books were taken from the Christians, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud disliked looking into them at all.”

Murrah, a famous scholar, says,

“Had these books contained texts from the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud would not have erased them. Actually, these books belonged to the Christians and Jews.”103

There is another probability; `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have done so because he understood an advantage (maslahah) that would not have been practiced by another means, or because he practiced Taqiyyah (pious dissimulation) or because he feared the famous rod of `Umar who, in addition to instructing people not to report the Hadith commonly, ordered all the records of the Hadith to be burnt and used that rod against some of the Sahabah who did not carry on that order and, for the same reason, imprisoned others among whom was `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud himself.

As a consequence, it is not unlikely that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have done so in order to comply with the general situation of the state and in order not to challenge the orders of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, the caliph, for the aforementioned reasons. In this regard, it has been narrated that al-Harith ibn Suwayd heard `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud saying,

“I will certainly utter the words which any authority orders me to say in case these words will save me from one or two lashes.”

Commenting on these words, Ibn Hazm says that none of the Sahabah violated this rule!104

It has been also narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, out of Taqiyyah, followed al-Walid ibn `Aqabah ibn Abi-Mu`it, the governor of al-Kufah during `Uthman ibn `Affan’s reign, in a congregational prayer when al-Walid, having been drunk, performed the Fajr Prayer in four Rak`ahs (units of prayer)105 then turned his face towards his followers and said, ‘Do you want more?’ `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud answered, ‘We have had it.’106

It is thus not inaccurate to claim that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have warned against recording the Hadith because he feared the rod of `Umar and intended to act upon the protection of the Islamic entity. In this regard, it has been authentically narrated that `Abdullah offered a four-Rak`ah prayer with `Uthman ibn `Affan at Mina although he had already declared that such prayer must be shortened into two Rak`ahs (qasr) because he intended to avoid sedition and evil. When he was asked about that while he had reported that the Holy Prophet and Abu-Bakr used to offer a two-Rak`ah’s prayer on such a situation, he answered,

“It is true that the Holy Prophet and Abu-Bakr used to offer a two-Rak`ah prayer on such a situation; but since `Uthman is now the leader, I must not challenge him, for discrepancy is evil.”107

It has been narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said to Ibn `Awf - who wondered about his objection against `Uthman ibn `Affan in the ruling that the Prayer at Mina must be shortened and, in the meantime, he offered that prayer with him in its shortened form - “Discrepancy is evil. When I was informed that `Uthman offered that prayer in its perfect form, I followed him.” Ibn `Awf then decided to imitate `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in this regard.108

From the previous narrations, we conclude that the Sahabah, the first generation of Islam, used to do anything for the sake of protecting the Islamic entity even if that would cause them to hide their own beliefs and opinions. This fact does not stand against the statement that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud was a Sahabiy (singular form of Sahabah) who encouraged the reporting and recordation of the Hadith and spread the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Generally, it happens that one may conceal his beliefs and opinions for the sake of a greater aim or for avoiding a danger. This is applicable to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who, according to narrations, spread the merits of Imam `Ali, Fatimah al-Zahra', al-Hasan, and al-Husayn; and was one of the seven persons who witnessed the burial ceremonies of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' and one of the twelve persons who objected Abu-Bakr’s having seized illegally the leadership of the Islamic community, which had been divinely commissioned for Imam `Ali.

Moreover, his verdicts concerning the religious laws were similar to those issued by the Ahl al-Bayt. All these facts deny the Shi`ite writers’ claim that `Umar ibn al-Khattab prohibited the reporting and recordation of the Hadith for one and only reason - preventing the spread of the Hadiths revealing the merits and the divinely commissioned leadership of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Besides, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud has been regarded as “the slave of the Ahl al-Bayt” for his frequent visits to them; and he believed that to add the Ahl al-Bayt to the Holy Prophet in the ritual blessings of the prayers and other religious rites is obligatory. Accordingly, it is logical to believe that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud warned against recording the Hadith on account of his concern for the general Islamic entity or similar reasons.

Although we do not deny the aforementioned ‘seven’ reasons as a whole and, meanwhile, do not accept it as the major reasons beyond the prohibition of recording the Hadith, it may be, by the consideration of our previous discussions, accurate to some extent and a part of the question.

Let us now keep on investigating the actual reason beyond the decision of prohibiting reporting and recording the Hadith issued by Abu-Bakr and `Umar who forced people to abide by the Holy Qur'an and neglect the Holy Sunnah as proved by the narrations of Ibn Abi-Mulaykah according to which Abu-Bakr said, “Only does the Holy Qur'an stand between you and us,”109 and `Umar and `Ā’ishah said, “The Book of Allah must be sufficient for us,”110 “Nothing must be considered after the Book of Allah” and many similar statements.

Previously, we have mentioned seven justifications for the decision of the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith that was issued by Abu-Bakr and `Umar. These justifications have been presented by Abu-Bakr and `Umar themselves in addition to some past and modern authors among whom were Orientalists, Sunnites and the Shi`ites. Let us now cite the last reason that will hit the mark.

Notes

1. Hashim Ma’ruf al-Husayniy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithin 22 and Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Ja’fariy 134.

2. Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 415, 421, 470, 534 and 557, Dr. Ala’ al-Qazwiniy: Al-Shi’ah al-Imamiyyah wa Nash’at al-`Ulum 123-4 and Dr. Hasan `Abbas Hasan: al-Siyaghah al-Mantiqiyyah 233.

3. Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: Ma`alim al-Madrasatayn 2:57 and Ja`far Murtada: al-Sahih fi Sirat al-Nabiy 1:177. For more details, see the narrations in this connection in Ibn Abi’l-Hadid’s Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 20:17 and Ibn al-Dimashqiy’s Jawahir al-Matalib 1401.

4. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

5. Hashim Ma’ruf al-Husayniy: Dirasatun fi’l-Kafi wa’l-Sahih 19 and Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithin 22.

6. Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 413.

7. For instance, see Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 421, 470.

8. Sunan al-Darimiy 1:95 H. 270; Sunan Ibn Majah 1:10 H. 23; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:452 H. 4321; Muslim al-Qushayriy: al-Tamyiz 174.

9. Sunan Ibn Majah 1:14 H. 36; Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 5:295 H. 26242; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:165 H. 413; Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:52 H. 107.

10. Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:15; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 1:126; Mu`ammar ibn Rashid: al-Jami` 11:252 H. 20465; I`tiqad Ahl al-Sunnah 1:87 H. 108.

11. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:72; Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 5:313 H. 26429.

12. As quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 127.

13. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:94 and Jamal al-Din al-Muzziy: Tahdhib al-Kamal 27:454; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 4:65.

14. Sahih Muslim 1:14, Section 4, Hadith No. 7; al-Madkhal Ila’l-Sunan al-Kubra 1:132 H. 82..

15. Al-Fasawiy: Tarikh, 3:215 as quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 154.

16. Al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu’jam al-Kabir 5:97 H. 9942 as quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 154.

17. Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah 4:234 H. 4957; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:252; Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:988 H. 1659; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:125; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:465, Ibn al-Athir: Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma`rifat al-Sahabah 3:255 and al-Muntadham 5:30.

18. Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:99 H. 1695, 2:319.

19. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 3:43 as reported from al-Waqidiy.

20. Ibn Sallam: Gharib al-Hadith 2:189 (In this reference book, it is written that `Abdullah brought a paper comprising a Hadith. He then asked for water and began to erase it with his hand.) `Abd al-Ghaniy `Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 396.

21. Shaykh al-Saduq: al-Khisal 2:464.

22. The Five Individuals of the Ahl al-Bayt are the Holy Prophet, Imam `Ali, Fatimah al-Zahra’, al-Hasan and al-Husayn.

23. Musnad Abi-Ya`liy 9:25 H. 5368; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 9:179; Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Qawlawayh: Kamil al-Ziyarat 14:51 Hadith No. 4-8.

24. Sahih al-Bukhariy 3:1373 H. 3552, 4:1593 H. 4123; Sahih Muslim 4:1911 H. 2460; Sunan al-Tirmidhiy 5:672 H. 3806; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah 2:369, al-Nawawiy: Sharh Sahih Muslim 15-16: 247-22 Hadith No. 2460, al-Bukhariy: al-Tarikh al-Kabir.

25. Shaykh al-Saduq: al-Khisal 468 H. 6-11; al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215.

26. Al-Khazzaz: Kifayat al-Athar 23.

27. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:406 H. 3859; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 13:212.

28. Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 6:248.

29. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 4:511 H. 843; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 6:30 H. 5966; al-Rihlah fi Talab al-hadith1:146 H. 55-56.

30. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:165 H. 4726; Musnad al-Bazzar (4-9) 5:223 H. 1829; al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Tarikh Baghdad 3:266 H. 1313.

31. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:152 H. 4682; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Kabir 10:76 H. 10006; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 4:294 H. 6765; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya' 5:58; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq.

32. Al-Qunduziy: Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah 1:281 H. 23; Ta’wil al-Āyat 2:451.

33. Al-Khawarzmiy: al-Manaqib 35; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:280.

34. Muhajirun (singular: muhajir, migrant) is a title exclusively said to the people of Mecca who followed the Holy Prophet and had to migrate to Yathrib (later al-Madinah) because of the persecution they had suffered at the hands of the polytheists of Mecca.

35. Ibn al-Athir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 4:20; Ibn Habban: al-Thuqat 1:224; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 6:114; Shaykh al-Mufid: Kitab al-Irshad 1:80, Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:66.

36. Al-Dhahbiy: Mizan al-I’tidal 3:540 No. 7501.

37. Jalal al-Din al-Suyutiy: al-Durr al-Manthur 7:504; Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 11:290; Ruh al-Ma`ani 26:78.

38. Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:65; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 3:27 H. 4666; Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:360; Fayd al-Qadir 3:46; Fath al-Malik al-`Aliy 69; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:384.

39. Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:65; al-Itqan 2:493; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:400; Al-Qunduziy: Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah 448, Section 65; al-Wafi al-Mahdiy: al-Ijtihad fi’l-Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah 135.

40. Al-Tabariy: al-Mustarshid 278; Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Qadatuna Kayfa Na’rifuhum 3:5; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Kabir 9:76 H. 8446; al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 5:101 H. 4792; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:401; Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 541-542.

41. Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:65; al-Itqan 2:493 H. 6370; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq.

42. Saying: Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammadin wa Āli Muhammad.

43. Tashahhud is a pillar part of the ritual prayers practiced in the second unit (Rak`ah) with definite statements.

44. Mahmud Abu-Rayyah: Adwa’un `Ala’l-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah as quoted from Qadi ‘Ayyad’s al-Shifa.

45. Shaykh al-Mufid: al-Khisal 2:361; al-Fattal al-Nisapuriy: Rawdat al-Wa`idhin 280; al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215; al-Arbaliy: Kashf al-Ghummah. It is worth mentioning that I have made a study about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud through which it has been proven that his jurisprudential inferences have been very close to the Ahl al-Bayt’s school of law. This fact, too, stands against the aforementioned narration of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy.

46. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-Ummal 11:668, H. 33233; al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:388 H. 5470; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 9:331 (al-Haythamiy adds: This Hadith’s series of narrators is authentic.) Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 1:254; Ibn Sa`d: al-Tabaqat al-Kubra 4:233, 234.

47. Shaykh al-Tusiy: Ikhtiyar Ma`rifat al-Rijal 65 H. 117; al-Darajat al-Rafi`ah 252.

48. Al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215; Shaykh `Abbas al-Qummiy: al-Kuna wa’l-Alqab as quoted from Sharif al-Murtada: al-Shafi.

49. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

50. Muhammad `Ajjaj al-Khatib: al-Sunnah qabl al-Tadwin 210; Muhammad Abu-Zahw: al-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithun 265.

51. Ibn Qutaybah: Ta’wil Mukhtalaf al-Hadith 357 and Mahmud Abu-Rayyah: Adwa’un `Ala’l-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah.

52. For more details about this issue, the gentle reader may kindly refer to my book entitled Wudu' al-Nabiy (The Ablution of the Prophet).

53. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:447 H. 4276; Sunan al-Bayhaqiy al-Kubra 7:246 H. 14195; Sunan al-Nassa'iy 6:121 H. 3354; al-Sunan al-Kubra 3:316 H. 5515.

54. Sayyid al-Khu'iy: Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith 11:344-345 H. 7172.

55. Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:385 H. 32238; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:129, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak ‘ala’ssahihayn 3:318 and al-Zarqaniy: Manahil al-’Irfan 1:483; Ibn Sa`d: al-Tabaqat al-Kubra 2:346; Al-Maqdisiy al-Hanbaliy: Al-Ahadith al-Mukhtarah 2:123 H. 494; Abu’l-Faraj: Safwat al-Safwah 1:401; Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 1:492.

56. Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:492, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak ‘ala’ssahihayn 3:357 H. 5380; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:299 and Al-Murtada al-Zaydiy: Sharh al-Adhar 1:26; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 1:492; al-Suyutiy: Miftah al-Jannah 1:70.

57. Al-Ya’qubiy: Tarikh 2:103.

58. Ibn `Abd-Rabbuh: al-’Aqd al-Farid 5:13, Abu’l-Fida: Tarikh 1:156, al-Buladhiriy: Ansab al-Ashraf 1:278 (or 586 according to another edition) and Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 2:45.

59. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-’Ummal 3: 140 as quoted from Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: `Abdullah ibn Saba’ 1:133; Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 2:45.

60. Ibn Qutaybah: al-Imamah wa’l-Siyasah 1:19.

61. Al-Buladhiriy: Ansab al-Ashraf 1: 586 as quoted from Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: `Abdullah ibn Saba’ 1:133.

62. It was `Umar ibn al-Khattab who declared this decision. See al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:366.

63. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3:232.

64. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:125 (on the authority of Abu-Hurayrah). Commenting of this report, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy describes it as authentically narrated report; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:369 H. 32099 (on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Umar).

65. Al-Khawarzmiy: al-Manaqib 13:77, Ibn al-Maghaziliy: Manaqib `Ali 289 No. 330; Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 42:167; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Dimashq 42:34; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 3:363 H. 7294; al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-`Ummal 11:616 H. 32992.

66. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:345, Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti‘ab 3:38, Ibn ‘Asakir: Tarikh; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 5:113 H. 21123; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:138; Ibn Taymiyah: Majmu` al-Fatawa 16:482.

67. Al-Aminiy: al-Ghadir 6:101, 105-6 as quoted from al-Kinjiy: al-Kifayah 96; Fayd al-Qadir 4:357; Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:1103; Fath al-Malik al-`Aliy 71; Ta’wil Mukhtalaf al-Hadith 1:126.

68. Al-Aminiy: al-Ghadir 6:106 as quoted from al-Shabalnajiy: Nur al-Absar 79 with a little difference from the text mentioned in al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy’s al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 1:628 H. 1683; Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3-4:166; Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 1:18; Subul al-Salam 2:206.

69. Ibn ‘Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 1:321, No. 400, 401; al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Tarikh Baghdad 7:463 H. 4023.

70. Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Qadatuna Kayfa Na’rifuhum 2:412-3 as quoted from Zayni Dahlan: Asna’l-Mahalib 6:29 No. 21; al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-`Ummal 13:124.

71. Sahih al-Bukhariy 3:1357; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 7:72.

72. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3:295.

73. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:150.

74. Al-Suyutiy: al-Jami‘ al-Saghir 2:177 No. 5594; Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:134 H. 4628; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Saghir 2:28 H. 720; Fayd al-Qadir 4:356.

75. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:160; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 3:17 H. 11147; al-Haythamiy: Majma` al-Zawa'id 9:163; Sunan al-Darimiy 2:524 H. 3316; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 4:33 H. 3542.

76. Al-Suyutiy: al-Jami` al-Saghir 2:533 No. 8126; Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 2:373 H. 3312, 3:163 H. 4720; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 4:10 H. 3478, 5:355 H. 5563; Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Fada'il al-Sahabah 2:785 H. 1401.

77. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:118, 119, 126, 143, 419, 613; Sunan al-Tirmidhiy 5:633 H. 3712; al-Haythamiy: Majma` al-Zawa'id 9:103-109; al-Haythamiy: al-Sunan al-Kubra 5:131 H. 8468-8472; Sunan Ibn Majah 1:45 H. 121. For comparison, refer to Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Nubawiyyyah 413-8.

78. Al-Anwar al-Kashifah 54.

79. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 12: 52-5; Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:577-578.

80. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 12:46.

81. Al-Hamawiyniy: Fara'id al-Simtayn 1:153.

82. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-‘Ilm 53. A similar narration is recorded in Sunan al-Darimiy 1:134 H. 477.

83. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-‘Ilm 53-4. A similar narration is recorded in Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami‘u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:66.

84. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

85. A currency.

86. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 55.

87. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 55-56. A similar narration is recorded in Sunan al-Darimiy on the authority of al-Ash`ath and also in Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:65.

88. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 56.

89. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54-5.

90. Shaykh al-Saduq: `Ilal al-Shara'i` 1:89; al-Khansariy: Rawdat al-Jannat 8:169, Qamus al-Rijal; Muhammad ibn `Abdullah ibn al-Hasan 8: 243; al-Shiraziy: Riyad al-Salikin 1:100.

91. `Abdullah ibn `Adiy al-Jurjaniy: al-Kamil 2:558, al-Tahdhib: 2:104 and Muhammad `Ajjaj al-Khatib: al-Sunnah Qabla’l-Tadwin 358.

92. Ibn Hazm: al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam 5:154, 33.

93. Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 6:343 H. 31894; Tafsir al-Qurtubiy 15:168, 15:180-181.

94. Qasas al-Qur'an.

95. The Book of Genesis 19:30-38

96. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first and most pious wife of the Holy Prophet and the mother of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' whose wealth was one of the two factors that caused Islam to survive and triumph.

97. Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 2:166 as quoted from Sirat al-Zuhriy. See also al-Rawd al-Anif 1:325.

98. The Ahl al-Kitab are the non-Muslims who hold a divinely revelealed Book; mainly the Jews and Christians.

99. Al-Suyutiy: al-Durr al-Manthur 5:148; Irwa’ al-Ghalil 6:38. (Commenting on the narration, al-Albaniy says, ‘To the least extent, the Hadith is sound.’) See also Musannaf `Abd al-Razzaq 6:114; al-Mannawiy: Fayd al-Qadir 2:720.

100. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-‘Ummal 10:280 H. 29445-29446; Ibn Abi-`Āsim: al-Mudhakkar wa’l-Tadhkir wa’l-Dhakar 63.

101. Dayr al-Hind is the name of one of the villages of Syria. There are also Dayr Hind al-Sughra and Dayr al-Hind al-Kubra; two villages in al-Hirah (Northern al-Kufah) that were built by Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man ibn al-Mundhir (the Arab king). (See Yaqut al-Hamawiy: Mu‘jam al-Buldan 2:542-3) At any rate, It seems that `Abdullah ibn Mas’ud referred to Dayr al-Hind found in Syria because there is a relationship between the topic discussed and this city.

102. Sunan al-Darimiy 1:130 H. 479; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 5:315 H. 26447.

103. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i); Sunan al-Darimiy 1:134 H. 477 as is recorded in Tadwin al-Sunnah 341.

104. Ibn Hazm: al-Muhalla 8:336 Q. 1409.

105. Ritually, the Fajr Prayer consists of two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer).

106. Al-Qadi al-Dimashqiy: Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah 2:532 as is recorded in Waqi` al-Taqiyyah `Inda al-Madhahib wa’l-Firaq al-Islamiyyah 106.

107. Al-Bayhaqiy: al-Sunan al-Kubra 3:144; Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:218.

108. Ibn al-Athir: al-Kamil 3:104: Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:228; Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:606 (Events of the year AH 29).

109. Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:32 and `Abd al-Ghaniy `Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 394.

110. This statement of `Umar ibn al-Khattab is too famous to be denied. He first said it while the Holy Prophet was bedridden taking his final breathes. For more details, see Sahih al-Bukhariy Chapter: Recording of Knowledge (Kitabat al-‘Ilm), Chapter: Jihad (Hal Yustashfa‘ Ila Ahl al-Dhimmah), Chapter: the Campaigns, (Marad al-Nabiy) Chapter: the Ailed (Qawl al-Marid Qumu `Anni), Chapter: Adherence (Karahiyyat al-Khilaf). See also Ibn Hajar: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:185, Al-Qastalaniy: Irshad al-Sari li-Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:169, Al-`Ayniy: `Umdat al-Qari ila Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:575, Sharh al-Nawawiy ‘ala Sahih Muslim 2:43, `Abd al-Razzaq: al-Musannaf 5:438-9, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:90, 22, 29, 32, 336, 3:346, 6:106, 116 and 476, Al-Bayhaqiy: Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 7:181 and 283. The statement of `Ā`ishah is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhariy (Kitab al-Jana’iz) 2:77.

Seventh Reason: Justifications Of Most Of The Shi`ah

Most of the Shi`ite Muslims believe that the prohibition of the recordation and reporting of the Hadith was aimed at stopping the narrations regarding the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt, since the adopters of the decision were afraid of the spread of the Holy Prophet’s sayings about the merits1 and Imamate2 of Imam `Ali and his descendants.

The decision was applied more intensely during the reign of Mu`awiyah, the first Umayyad ruler, who used to order people to curse Imam `Ali during the ritual Friday Sermons from the Muslims’ minbars.3

This opinion has been also concluded from the reality of the ummah after the Holy Prophet as well as the political and social structure of the caliphate; the cultural act was not unfamiliar to the political act and the caliphs exerted all their efforts to keep the Ahl al-Bayt as far as possible from the new system of the Islamic State (namely, System of Caliphate) and, furthermore, they disrobed the Holy Prophet’s Family from any rest they would rely upon; consequently, it is not strange to say that `Umar ibn al-Khattab’s decision of the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith was issued for this very purpose, nothing else.

Some authors have recorded `Umar’s statements that were quoted from al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy in the following narration:

It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad on the authority of his father that `Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or Yemen) comprising Hadiths about the Ahl al-Bayt. We then visited `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and gave him that book. He asked his bondmaid to fetch him a washtub filled with water. We asked him to read that book since it contained great Hadiths, but he put the book in the water reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Qur’an. (Holy Qur’an: 12:3)’

He then said, ‘Hearts are like bowls. You should thus fill in them with the Qur’an, nothing else.’4

From the previous narration, the adopters of this opinion have concluded `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s deviation from the line of the Ahl al-Bayt, which is consequently regarded as deviation from the line of Imam `Ali,5 or that his indifference to the topic and tearing of the book were aimed at deluding the people that the Holy Qur’an is sufficing for anything else.6

As a result, such acts have been seen as attempts to eradicate the evidences on the Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt, which was the one and only purpose behind the issuance of the decision of prohibiting recording and reporting the Hadith.7

Objections To The Justification

(1) Reference books of Hadith have proven that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud encouraged the reporting and recordation of the Hadith; therefore, he was summoned to al-Madinah during the reign of `Umar ibn al-Khattab and was arrested there to the last of `Umar’s reign. Confirming this claim, we cite the following narrations:

It has been narrated that `Amr ibn Maymun said, “I have always been present before `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud on every Thursday night and he was always reporting the Hadith of the Holy Prophet.”8

It has been narrated that `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr said, I asked my father, “Why have I never heard you reporting the Hadith of the Holy Prophet as Ibn Mas`ud and others do?”9

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu-Qulabah that Ibn Mas`ud said, “Persist in knowledge before it is removed. Its removal stands for the departure of its bearers. You do not know at which time you will need knowledge. You will also find some peoples claiming that they are encouraging you to abide by the Book of Allah while they have, in fact, flung it behind their backs.”10

Ma`an also narrated that `Abd al-Rahman ibn Mas`ud took out a book (copy of the Holy Qur’an) and sworn that it had been handwritten by his father personally.11

In Sahih al-Bukhariy,12 the chapter regarding the recitations of the Holy Qur’an, there is an indication to the existence of a copy of the Holy Qur’an found with or handwritten by Ibn Mas`ud. His disciples were reported to have traveled for sake of seeking and recording knowledge.

In this regard, al-Shi`biy said, “As much as I know, none was more active in seeking knowledge than Masruq in all countries. The disciples of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who used to teach people knowledge in general and the Holy Qur’an in particular were `Alqamah, Masruq and… etc.”13

Ibn `Ayyash was reported to have said that he had heard al-Mughirah saying, “The only ones who used to report `Ali’s narrations as authentic as they were except the disciples of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.”14

`Alqamah, who was known of his love for Imam `Ali, was one of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s disciples.

According to al-Fasawiy’s book of history (al-Tarikh), one of the grandsons of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud showed Ma`an a copy of the Holy Qur’an that had been handwritten by his father, `Abd al-Rahman, comprising Hadiths and religious verdicts issued by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.15

On the authority of him, al-Tabaraniy narrated that `Āmir ibn `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had handwritten some Hadiths as well as the religious verdicts issued by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and sent them to Yahya ibn Abi-Kathir.16

In addition to the previous narrations, what has been said about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who was one of the foremost six Sahabah who hurried to accept Islam; about whom the Holy Prophet said, ‘You are certainly a skilled boy,’17 and ‘If you desire to listen to the Qur’an as fresh as it is, you should listen to him from the mouth of Ibn Ummi-`Abd (`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud)’18 and whom `Umar ibn al-Khattab sent to al-Kufah for teaching the people there the issues of the religion - all these matters, if considered deliberately, prove that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud enjoyed the clearest Islamic view and education. He insisted on teaching people the Holy Qur’an as accurately as he had heard from the Holy Prophet until `Uthman ibn `Affan broke one of his ribs.19

As a result, any reports narrating that an individual enjoying such characteristics supported the prohibition of recording the Hadith must be carefully and deliberately scrutinized.

(2) We could not put our hands on the other part of `Alqamah’s narration that has been quoted by al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy from Ibn Sallam’s Gharib al-Hadith where he mentioned that the Hadiths were about the Ahl al-Bayt.20 This narration also opposes other reports that narrate `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s being one of the twelve individuals who disapproved of Abu-Bakr’s having seized the position of leadership saying,

“O People of Quraysh: Your chiefs and you have known for sure that his Household (Ahl al-Bayt) are closer to the Holy Prophet than you are. If you claim that you are the most rightful in holding this position for your kinship to the Holy Prophet or claim your being the foremost, his Household are, of course, closer to him than you are and more advanced than you are. You should then avoid turning on your backs for then you will turn back losers.”21

In addition, he is narrated to have reported the merits of the Five Individuals of the Ahl al-Bayt22 in general and Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn in particular.23

According to al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah and other reference books of Hadith, Abu-Musa (al-Ash`ariy) said:

“When my brother and I came (to al-Madinah) from the Yemen, we though that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had been one of the family members of the Holy Prophet for we used to see his mother and him always visiting the Holy Prophet.”24

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud also quoted the Holy Prophet as saying,

“The leaders (caliphs) coming after me will be twelve in number, which is the number of the Israelite Chieftains.”25

Al-Khazzaz, in Kifayat al-Athar, has quoted `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as saying,

“I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: The Imams to come after me will be twelve in number. Nine of them are from the offspring of al-Husayn and the ninth of them is (their) al-Mahdi.”26

On the authority of Masruq, Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) narrated the following:

“We were accompanying `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in the Masjid when a person asked him, ‘Did your Prophet inform you about the number of his successors?’ ‘Yes,’ answered `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, ‘Their number is the same as the number of the Israelite Chieftains.’”27

The following narration is quoted from al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah:

“The Holy Prophet said: The number of the caliphs to come after me will be as same as the number of the Disciples of Prophet Moses.”28

Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy has recorded the following on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud:

“One time, we visited the Holy Prophet who received us with great pleasure due to which he answered all our questions and, moreover, had informed us of things before we asked him. This situation lasted until some Hashemite youngsters, among whom were al-Hasan and al-Husayn, passed by us.

Having seen them, the Holy Prophet kept silent as his eyes shed tears. ‘O Allah’s Messenger,’ said we, ‘Your face is showing a scene that we dislike.’ He answered, ‘Almighty Allah has chosen for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, the Hereafter to this world.

Verily after me, my Household shall have to encounter expulsion and displacement until black standards will be raised from the East, and their bearers will demand with the right but they will be denied. Again, they will demand with it but they will also be denied and then they will be fought and victory will be given to them…”29

Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy, also, has quoted `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as saying,

“The Messenger of Allah said: Fatimah has verily guarded her chastity; therefore, Almighty Allah has forbidden Hellfire to consume her progeny.30

The Messenger of Allah also said,

To look at `Ali’s face is an act of worship.”31

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud was the narrator of the Holy Prophet’s famous saying about Imam `Ali when proceeded to fight `Amr ibn `Abd-Wudd (during the Battle of Khandaq):

“The whole faith is now facing the whole polytheism.”32

He also narrated the Holy Prophet’s saying,

“Anyone who declares that he believes in me and in that which I have brought but he, meanwhile, dislikes `Ali is actually liar, not believer.”33

In addition, he reported that the Holy Prophet handed the standard of the Muhajirun34 to Imam `Ali during the Battle of Uhud.35 He also reported that when the Holy Prophet was asked about `Ali’s position to him, he said,

“`Ali’s position to me is as same as my position to Almighty Allah.”36

Moreover, he reported many Hadiths praising `Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. He was quoted to have said,

“In the age of the Holy Prophet, the only means through which we used to recognize the hypocrites was their having hated `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.”37

“Wisdom has been divided into ten parts; nine parts are given to `Ali while the people’s share is one part only. Yet, `Ali is more knowledgeable than they are on the subject of this part.”38

“The Holy Qur'an was revealed in seven characters of knowledge each of which has a definite explicit and implicit signification. `Ali ibn Abi-Talib has for sure known all the explicit and the implicit indications of each of these characters.”39

“I have learned seventy Surahs of the Holy Qur'an at the hands of the Messenger of Allah and learnt the rest at the hands of the best people - `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.”40

Al-A`mash has narrated on the authority of Abu-`Amr al-Shaybaniy that Abu-Musa al-Ash`ariy said,

“Whenever I saw `Abdullah (ibn Mas`ud), I thought of him as the slave of the family of Muhammad.”41

It is also well known that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud issued the verdict that seeking Allah’s blessings for Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad42 during the Tashahhud is obligatory.43 It has been recorded in Qadi (Judge) `Ayyad’s al-Shifa that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud reported the Holy Prophet as saying,

“A prayer in which seeking Allah’s blessings for my family (the Ahl al-Bayt) and me is not mentioned will not be admitted.”44

In order to avoid lengthiness, the aforementioned citations are sufficient if they are considered properly. What is more is that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud is well-known to have disagreed with `Uthman ibn `Affan on more than one situation and about more than one issue.

In spite of the pressure that he had to encounter because of the policies of the ruling authorities, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud used to declare whatever he had heard from the Messenger of Allah. So long as these reports are authentic, the words of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy quoted from `Alqamah must be seen as suspicious.

Nevertheless, if al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy’s words are accepted as true, we will face the problem of the authentic narrations that reported `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as having been one of the few men who were permitted to participate in the funeral ceremonies of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’ and offer the Deceased Prayer (Salat al-Mayyit) for her.

We all know for certain that the permission of attending the burial of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’ was given exclusively to the choicest of the Shi`ite Muslims and the superior disciples of Imam `Ali. If we give credence to the aforementioned narrations that report `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having been loyal to the Ahl al-Bayt, we must not believe the claims that he erased the Hadiths revealing their merits. In al-Khisal and al-Amaliy, Shaykh al-Saduq has recorded that Imam `Ali said,

“The earth was created for seven individuals in favor of whom (the other) peoples are given their sustenance, bestowed with rain, and given victory (over their enemies). They were permitted to offer the Deceased Prayer for Lady Fatimah - peace be upon her. One of them was `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud.”45

Moreover, he was one of those who offered the Deceased Prayer for Abu-Dharr and witnessed the ceremonies of bathing, coffining, and burying his body. On the grounds of the authenticated narration that quotes the Holy Prophet as saying, “Abu-Dharr’s funeral will be witnessed by a faithful group of people,”46 or “a virtuous men of the ummah,”47 as quoted by al-Kishiy, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud must be one of such virtuous and faithful people.

All the previous statements demonstrate the grandeur and standing of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud about whom Sharif al-Murtada, in his book entitled al-Shafi, says,

“Consensually, the ummah has confirmed the purity, virtuousness, and faithfulness of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud whom was praised and honored by the Messenger of Allah and who persisted on his praised characteristics until he died.”48

Supposing al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy’s narration was true, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud probably warned against some myths that were included in such Hadiths. As evidence, the narrator added that Ibn Mas`ud erased such narrations with his hand while he recited (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives. (Holy Qur’an 13:3)’49

Supporting this probability, it has been narrated that a Syrian man carrying a paper on which several statements and myths of Abu’l-Darda’ were written brought it to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and asked him to evaluate the texts therein. He took the paper and read it. He then came to his house and asked his bondmaid to bring him a vessel full on water. When she did, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud rubbed the inscriptions out while reciting Almighty Allah’s saying,

“Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand. We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless. (Holy Qur’an: 13:1-3)”

He then added twice, Do you expect to find accounts better than those of Almighty Allah?”50

The previous report can have two probabilities:

a) Ibn Mas`ud might have erased that paper for it comprised Hadiths indicating the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt. This opinion is carried by the scholars under the seventh reason.

b) Ibn Mas`ud mighty have erased that paper for it comprised some fables since he knew that Abu’l-Darda' and Ka`b al-Ahbar had not cared to narrate the fables of the ancient nations that are related to the Islamic beliefs. Besides, he justified his action by reciting the holy verse,

‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives. (Holy Qur’an: 13:3)’

Experts have regarded such fables and sermons as one of the twelve or sixteen reasons beyond forging lies against the Hadiths.51

It is thus probable that Ibn Mas`ud, having noticed such fables fabricated against the Ahl al-Bayt, erased them because he would not accept such lies to be forged against the Ahl al-Bayt. On this account, to decide the first justification as the true and the main reason beyond Ibn Mas`ud’s erasing these papers is unambiguously beyond limits.

Inasmuch as `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud is intended, it seems necessary to mention that some people criticized him for he, like some of the Sahabah, had issued personal opinions. This is in fact not untrue; since Ibn Mas`ud was a religious authority, he must have issued some verdicts depending upon certain narrations that, in his conception, were the truest or acting upon his conclusions or inference.

This situation can be noticed with the Tabi`un or their followers, such as Abu-Hanifah, Sufyan al-Thawriy, al-Hasan al-Basriy, and other scholars who issued personal verdicts. Yet, the situations of these scholars did not mean that they intended to keep pace with the ruling authorities, since not all of their opinions agreed with the regulations of the ruling regime.52

Nevertheless, unlike al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, `Ammar ibn Yasir, and Abu-Dharr, as well as other Sahabah and Tabi’un who believed in the religious opinions and course of Imam `Ali as being a true copy of the Holy Prophet’s Sunnah, the aforementioned scholars had their own principles and bases that have created such variety of opinions.

This is on the assumption of compromise. Yet, the reality is that if we consider the jurisprudential aspect of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud objectively, it becomes unfeasible to throw him in the side of the Opinionists who depended upon their personal views.

For instance, when some people referred to him in a religious question more than once, he used to answer them each time that he had not been acquaintanted with the answer. Had it not that the obligation of issuing religious verdicts was individual for him (because of the absence of any other individuals authorized enough for issuing religious verdicts), he would not have issued such a verdict.

In this connection, Ahmad ibn Hanbal has narrated that the following question was put before `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud: A man died before he consummated his wife for whom he had not nominated a dowry. After they had referred to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in this question for about a whole month, they finally forced him to issue any verdict.

He thus said, “I decided that this woman’s dowry should be as much as the dowry of ordinary women without addition or reduction and that she is worthy of her share of inheritance and she must observe the ritual waiting period of widows. If this judgment is true, it is then due to the guidance of Almighty Allah; and if it is incorrect, it is then due to my own fault as well as Satan’s seduction.

Yet, Almighty Allah and His Messengers are released from such a flaw.” A group of people, from the tribe of Ashja`, among whom were al-Jarrah and Abu-Sinan stood up and said, “We do witness that the Messenger of Allah issued this very judgment as regards the case of one of our women named Buru` bint Washiq.” On hearing this, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud became terribly delighted as he noticed that his judgment had agreed with the Holy Prophet’s.53

On the contrary of the claims of Ibn Shadhan, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not follow, support, incline to, or repeat the same words of the party who violated the Holy Prophet’s instruction regarding the divinely commissioned leadership of Imam `Ali.54 According to reliable books of Hadith, Imam `Ali, having been asked about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, said,

“He learnt the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah and stopped. This is in fact the utmost knowledge.”55

“He has studied the Holy Qur'an and thus followed its instructions and refrained from doing what is deemed unlawful therein. He is expert in the religion and authority in the Sunnah.”56

If truth be told, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s virtues that have been recorded in the books of the other sects are more than these mentioned in the Shi`ite books. Yet, everybody testifies his great personality and high reputation.

As a result, the words of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy and the facts adopted by some of the Shi`ite scholars so as to prove that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud had torn and erased some papers that comprised Hadiths about the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt cannot be taken as irrefutable evidences because

(1) the statement ‘Hadiths regarding the Ahl al-Bayt’ does not necessarily refer to words of praising them; therefore, it is probable that Ibn Mas`ud erased such papers because they contained words of exaggeration about or condemnation against the Ahl al-Bayt, and the latter probability agrees with our aforementioned statements about the life account of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who used to report the Holy Prophet’s words of praise about the Ahl al-Bayt, and

(2) the claim that the prohibition of recording the Hadith was intended to eradicate the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt and the evidences on their Imamate - such a claim does not agree with Abu-Bakr and `Umar’s general prohibition of recording the Hadith since the evidence is more specific than the claim. In other words, Abu-Bakr and `Umar ibn Al-Khattab issued a general decision of preventing from recording any Hadith.

The earlier prohibited reporting the Hadith and called for referring to the Qur'an exclusively after he had set to fire his five hundred recorded Hadiths. The latter ordered everyone who had kept such papers of Hadith to bring them to him so that ‘he would take up the most appropriate.’

Had their one and only purpose beyond the decision of the prohibition been to erase the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt and the evidences on their Imamate, Abu-Bakr could have erased, among the five hundred Hadiths that he had kept, the ones that he had not liked and kept the others.

Similarly, `Umar would have erased such narrations only and kept up the others in a definite book and then ordered people to conclude the religious precepts from that book. He would also have forwarded the Hadiths of the exegesis of the Holy Qur'an, morals, virtues, sermons, instructions, and the like to definite preachers whom he trusted so that he would conceal his main purpose beyond the prohibition of recording the Hadith from the Muslims by creating a confusion between what is right and what is wrong!

In addition, the justification that `Umar prohibited the recordation of the Hadith in order to eradicate the Hadiths regarding the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt denotes that `Umar was not brave enough to prevent spreading the Hadiths indicating the virtues of Imam `Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt and he therefore had to declare a general prohibition of recording the Hadith so as to achieve his aim and avoid the consequences of a decision preventing the spread of the Hadiths indicating the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Nevertheless, everybody knows that `Umar was so severe and harsh-hearted that he feared nobody at all. History has proven that he attacked those who protected themselves in Lady Fatimah al-Zahra'’s house because they had not accepted the leadership of Abu-Bakr.

Among those persons were Imam `Ali, al-`Abbas, al-Fadl ibn al-`Abbas, al-Zubayr, Khalid ibn Sa`id, al-Miqdad, Salman, Abu-Dharr, `Ammar, al-Barra’ ibn `Āzib, Ubayy ibn Ka`b,57 Sa`d ibn Abi-Waqqas and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah.

All the same, `Umar carried a torch of fire to set it to the house while they were therein. Lady Fatimah faced him and said surprisingly, “Son of Al-Khattab! Have you come to set our house on fire?” “I will do it unless you follow what people have followed,” answered `Umar.58

According to Kanz al-`Ummal, `Umar said to Lady Fatimah, “Although I know for sure that you were the most beloved to your father and the most beloved to us after your father, this will not stop me from setting the door of your house on fire while you are in as long as those people are gathering therein.”59

According to al-Imamah wa’l-Siyasah, after the group who gathered in Imam `Ali’s house refused to respond to `Umar and come out, he ordered his followers to bring him firewood saying, “I swear to Him Who prevails on my soul that if you do not come out right now, I will certainly set this house and its inhabitants on fire.” Some of the attendants warned him that Fatimah was there in the house, but he answered, “So what!”60

According to Ansab al-Ashraf, when `Ali refused to swear allegiance to Abu-Bakr after he had invited him to it, `Umar, carrying a torch of fire, came to his house. Facing him, Lady Fatimah said, “Son of al-Khattab: Do you intend to set the door of my house on fire?” “Yes, I do,” answered `Umar, “This will be stronger in what your father has carried.”61

The previous narrations and their likes that confirm `Umar’s coarseness and impudence in presenting his opinions make it unlikely to believe that he prohibited the compilation of Hadiths for nothing other than erasing the texts that manifest the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits and prove their divinely commissioned leadership.

Had `Umar wanted this, he would not have feared anything or anybody, he would not have anticipated the Sahabah’s misgiving, and he would not have stopped for fear of the consequences; rather he would have shown the red lines of this decision in the very same way as he had done when he openly and bravely declared,

“Two issues were allowed during the age of Allah’s Messenger, but now I deem them forbidden and will punish anyone who violates this prohibition. These are the temporary marriage and the allowable period during the Hajj (mut`at al-Hajj).”62

Thus, the questions of the seizure of Imam `Ali’s divine position of leadership, the usurpation of Fadak, the transgression against Lady Fatimah al-Zahra', forcing Imam `Ali to swear allegiance to Abu-Bakr, and many other behaviors - all these questions are different from the purpose beyond the question of prohibiting recording and compiling the Hadith.

It has been proven that Abu-Bakr and `Umar narrated numerous Hadiths concerning the virtues of Imam `Ali in specific and the Ahl al-Bayt in general. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy, for instance, has dedicated a chapter of his book to the narrations that Abu-Bakr reported from the Holy Prophet about the merits of Imam `Ali, such as the Hadiths:

‘Looking at `Ali’s face is a sort of worship.’

‘The palms of both the Holy Prophet and Imam `Ali were even.’

‘The Holy Prophet once gathered `Ali’s sons under the same tent under which he was sitting.’

‘Imam `Ali’s position to the Holy Prophet is as same as the Holy Prophet’s position to his Lord.’

‘On the Resurrection Day, nobody will be permitted to pass the Path (Sirat) before he obtains a license written by Imam `Ali.’

‘The Holy Prophet declared that Imam `Ali was the closest to him.’

As well as his reference to Imam `Ali when he was asked about the features of the Holy Prophet.63

In al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn (The Narrations Subjoined to al-Bukhariy and Sahih Muslim), we read that `Umar ibn al-Khattab said,

“`Ali ibn Abi-Talib has been given three characteristics which I would prefer to the best kind of camels if I was given only one of them… (1) he married Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah, (2) he was the only one to be permitted to live in the Masjid with the Holy Prophet and (3) he was given the standard (i.e. the commandment of the army) in the war of Khaybar.”64

Through authentic reports, it has been proven that `Umar ibn al-Khattab, during his reign, used to ask and adopt the rulings issued by Imam `Ali. Al-Khawarzmiy, in al-Manaqib, has recorded the following:

When two men asked him about the rulings of the divorcement of bondmaids, `Umar turned to a bald man to his side and asked the same question. As he received the answer from the man, `Umar said it to the two men verbally. Wondering at `Umar, the two men asked, “We asked you because you are the caliph! But you referred to a man to take the answer from him!” “Woe to you,” said `Umar,

“Do you know who the man to whom I referred the question is? He is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib! I have heard the Messenger of Allah saying: If the heavens and the earth are put in one scale of a balance and the faith of `Ali is put in the other, the faith of `Ali will certainly exceed in weight.”65

In addition, `Umar is quoted to have said,

“`Ali is the most experienced of us in the field of judicature,”66

“Without `Ali, `Umar would have perished”67

“May Allah take my soul before I face a problem while Abu’l-Hasan (Imam `Ali) is not present.”68

Tarikh Dimashq reads that `Umar narrated the Holy Prophet’s saying,

“`Ali’s position to me is same as (Prophet) Aaron’s position to (Prophet) Moses; yet, no Prophet is to come after me.”69

“`Ali: You are the first to embrace Islam and the first to believe (in my Mission).”70

Al-Bukhariy has recorded that `Umar ibn al-Khattab said,

“When the Holy Prophet departed life, he was pleased with `Ali.”71

Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy has also dedicated a chapter to the Hadiths that `Umar narrated concerning the merits of Imam `Ali, such as, ‘the commandment of the Muslim army was given to `Ali during the war of Khaybar,’ ‘`Ali has had three characteristics I wish I had only one of them,’ ‘`Ali’s position to the Holy Prophet is as same as Aaron’s to Moses,’ ‘`Ali’s faith is overweighing the heavens and the earth,’ ‘the Holy Prophet said that `Ali must be the leader of him whoever had taken the Holy Prophet as his leader,’ ‘the Holy Prophet said that he would send `Ali for definite honorable acts and `Umar expressed his wish to have leadership at that situation,’ `Umar said to `Ali: You have become my master and the master of every male and female Muslim,’ ‘

`Ali is the master of everyone who has regarded the Holy Prophet as his master,’ ‘`Umar declared `Ali as his master,’ ‘referring the religious questions to `Ali more than once,’ ‘`Ali’s being the most experienced in the Islamic judicature’ and ‘depending upon `Ali’s opinions in many questions.’72

It has been also proven that the Sahabah used to narrate the merits of Imam `Ali during the reigns of Abu-Bakr and `Umar. On the authority of `Uqab ibn Tha`labah, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy has recorded that during the reign of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abu-Ayyub al-Ansariy narrated that the Holy Prophet ordered `Ali ibn Abi-Talib to fight against the breachers (those who breached their swearing of allegiance to Imam `Ali’s leadership), the violators (those who rebelled and waged war against the army of Imam `Ali) and the apostates (the Khawarij who invented their own beliefs and apostatized from the Islamic beliefs).73

Had it been true that Abu-Bakr and `Umar prohibited reporting and recording the Hadith only for purpose of eradicating the merits of and the evidences on the divinely commissioned leadership of the Ahl al-Bayt since such Hadiths formed a source of challenge against the ruling authorities and their policies - had this been the only reason beyond the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith, the numerous Hadiths mentioned in the Sahih books (Sunnite reference books of Hadith) concerning the divinely commissioned leadership of the Holy Imams would not have reached us.

Examples on such Hadiths are the Holy Prophet’s sayings ‘`Ali is with the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Qur'an is with `Ali,’74 ‘I am leaving amongst you the two weighty (precious) things - the Holy Qur'an and my Household; Ahl al-Bayt,’75 ‘the example of Ahl al-Bayt is Noah’s Ark; anyone who embarks on it will be certainly saved while those who abstain will certainly fall and drown’76 and ‘`Ali must be the master of him whoever has regarded me (i.e. the Holy Prophet) as his master’77 in addition to many similar narrations.

To be reasonable, we have to say that although Abu-Bakr and `Umar reported Hadiths concerning the merits of and the evidences on the Ahl-Bayt’s divinely commissioned leadership (Imamate), they were extremely cautious of the explanations and discussions about the matter of choosing Imam `Ali for the leadership of the Islamic community or the existence of a number of Sahabah supporting the necessity of the pure commitment to the divine commandments and violating the personal opinions and inferences regarding the religious issues.

Abu-Bakr and `Umar, though they did not take strict procedures in the field of reporting the merits alone, did not like the spread of the Hadiths that injured their caliphate. In this regard, Abu-Bakr attempted to take the publics away from discussing the affairs of the leadership and from reporting the Holy Prophet’s sayings about the merits of Imam `Ali ibn Abi-Talib and his most worthiness of holding this position.

This is because to explain, display, and divulge the dimensions of the Hadiths indicating the leadership and Imamate of Imam `Ali would be the main factor that terrifies the ruling authorities, not mere reporting from the Holy Prophet. From this cause, Abu-Bakr warned against such sort of display and divulgence.

Shaykh `Abd al-Rahman ibn Yahya al-Mu`allimiy al-Yamaniy says,

“As regards the origin of the incompletely transmitted narration of Ibn Abi-Mulaykah, it derives its significance from the fact that it followed the decease of the Holy Prophet and was related to the affair of the caliphate.

It shows that the people, after having paid homage to Abu-Bakr as the successor of the Holy Prophet, disputed among them; some of them claimed that Abu-Bakr was worthy of the position because the Holy Prophet said to him so-and-so, while others claimed another ones’ having been the worthiest for the Holy Prophet had said about them so-and-so... etc. To avoid such, Abu-Bakr, willingly, decided to take them away from such disputes.”78

`Umar criticized and threatened `Abdullah ibn `Abbas for he used to defend earnestly the divinely commissioned leadership of Imam `Ali. Having heard Ibn `Abbas’s opinion on the caliphate and the worthiness of Imam `Ali in the position of leadership, `Umar said, “Ibn `Abbas: I have been informed that you have been spreading among people some words about which I do not like telling you so that you will keep the same position that you have with me.”

“What are these words?” asked Ibn `Abbas.

“Rumors have it that you always claim that this position (of leadership) was seized from you out of envy and wrong,” said `Umar.

Showing no flattery, Ibn `Abbas insisted on his opinion; therefore, `Umar said to him when he was about to leave, “In spite of your opinion, I still respect your position.”79

On another, yet similar, situation, Ibn `Abbas narrated that `Umar did not like his argument and he thus flamed up with rage; but Ibn `Abbas could amend the situation.80

On a third situation, after Ibn `Abbas had overwhelmed in argument, `Umar ordered him to keep the matter secret, for if he would hear it from a third person, he (either `Umar or Ibn `Abbas) would not spend another night in the city.81

The previous situations prove that `Umar feared that the same words of Ibn `Abbas would be repeated by people whom would have rallied against his government whose legal bases would thus be collapsed.

The previous constraint on displaying the proofs on the Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt and, for the meantime, the reporting of the Hadiths proving such divinely commissioned position make us understand that Abu-Bakr and `Umar intended smartly to conceal the features of their policy by reporting and listening to the Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits.

From the other side, they stopped strictly against anyone who would exceed the defined limits of reporting the Hadith. Accordingly, the blackout practiced on the Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits and divinely commissioned leadership was not the one and only reason for the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith.

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that this issue played a role in the decision of the prohibition, especially the prohibition from explained matters that dealt with the origin of the caliphate, but this role was partial as it had come under a more comprehensive frame that surrounded a wider, more general, and more wide-ranging purport.

To sum it up, the claims of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy (died in AH 463) mentioned in his book entitled ‘Taqyid al-`Ilm’ cannot stand for a perfect proof on the aforementioned opinion for the phrase ‘Ahl al-Bayt’ has not been mentioned in the narration of al-Qasim ibn Sallam (died in AH 224), in addition to the criticisms that were addressed to him. As a result, the prohibition of recording the Hadith was not purposed for this reason, which cannot be regarded as the one and only cause of the decision.

Reports Of `Abdullah Ibn Mas`ud’s Prohibiting The Recordation Of The Hadith

In addition to the aforementioned report about `Alqamah’s book of Hadith that was erased by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, there are other seven reports relating similar events. Let us now display these reports:

1) Ibn Fudayl has narrated that Husayn ibn `Abd al-Rahman ibn Murrah said: We were visiting `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud when Ibn Qurrah came carrying a book: “I found this book in Syria and it was astonishing; therefore, I have brought it to you.”

2) As `Abdullah looked in the book, he commented, “The past nations perished only because they followed such books and left their (divinely revealed) Book.” He then asked for a washtub in which he put that book and erased it.82

3) `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad has narrated that his father said: `Alqamah and I found a book and took it directly to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud. It was about midday when we sat at his door waiting for permission.

When he woke up, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud sent his bondmaid to see who was at the door. When she informed him, he permitted us to enter. As we were in, he asked us, “You have been waiting for a long time, have you not?”

4) “Yes, we have,” answered we.

5) “Why did you not ask for permission to get in?” asked `Abdullah. “We expected that you were asleep?” answered we.

6) “You should not have thought so, because this is an hour that is as valuable as the hours of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl),” said `Abdullah.

7) We then showed him the book saying, “This is a paper containing an astonishing narratives.”

8) Surprisingly, he took the book, asked his bondmaid to bring his a washtub full of water, and erased that book with his hand reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying) ‘We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives.’”

9) We asked him to look in the book for it contained good Hadiths, but he kept on erasing it saying, “These hearts are containers; therefore, you must full it with the Qur’an and nothing else.”83

10) It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad on the authority of his father that `Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or the Yemen) comprising Hadiths about the Ahl al-Bayt - the Holy Prophet’s Household. We then visited `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and gave him that book. He asked his bondmaid to fetch him a washtub filled with water. We asked him to read that book since it contained great Hadiths, but he put the book in the water and erased it reciting (Almighty Allah’s saying),

‘We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Qur’an. (Holy Qur’an: 12:3)’

He then said, ‘Hearts are like bowls. You should thus fill in them with the Qur’an, nothing else.’84

11) It has been narrated on the authority of Sulaym ibn al-Aswad that he said: `Abdullah ibn Mirdas and I found a book comprising some narratives and Qur'anic verses with a man from the (tribe of) al-Nakha`. We arranged to see him in the mosque after `Abdullah ibn Mirdas had decided to buy that book with one dirham85 .

While we were still in the mosque, a man came and told us that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud wanted us. I passed through the circle of the people until I reached `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud and found him catching with that book. He then said, “Verily, the best guidance is that of Muhammad and the best narrative is the Book of Almighty Allah.

Similarly, the worst matters are the innovated. You are conveying narratives and listening to others’ narratives. If you happen to find an innovated matter, you must adhere to the foremost guidance.

Nothing except this book and its likes had caused perdition to the past nations. They inherited it through generations until they neglected the Book of Almighty Allah as if they had never known it. I hereby adjure you by Almighty Allah to bring me any similar book you may find. I swear by Almighty Allah that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will go there to bring it.”86

12) It has been narrated on the authority of Ash`ath ibn Sulaym that his father said: I used to sit with some people in the mosque and one day, I found them reciting a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah. I then asked the owner to give them to me so that I would take a copy, but he apologized that another man had asked for them.

One day, I entered the mosque and listened to a boy summoning people to be present in `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s house. I therefore went there and found him carrying the same book that I had intended to copy.

He then said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy. The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they followed such books and neglected the Book of Allah. I hereby ask anyone who knows where such books are found to lead me to them. I swear by Him Who prevails my soul that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will bring them even if I will have to go there on foot.” He then asked for water and erased that book.”87

13) …`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud made all efforts for obtaining the book found with some people until he obliged them to bring him that book. When he obtained it, he erased its contents saying, “The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they entered upon the books of their scholars and bishops and neglected their Lord’s Book. (according to another narration, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “They neglected the Torah and Gospel until they, as well as the religious rulings therein, were obliterated.”)88

14) It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad that his father said: A Syrian man carrying a book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives came to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud saying, “Abu-’Abd al-Rahman: may you have a look in this book that comprises words of Abu’l-Darda, your brother?” `Abdullah took the book and read it until he reached his house.

Upon reaching there, he asked his bondmaid to bring him a washtub filled with water. He then erased the contents of the book reciting Almighty Allah’s saying, “Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain. Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic that ye may understand. We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” He then added twice, “Do you intend to find narratives better than those of Almighty Allah?”89

A comprehensive look in the previous narrations altogether brings forth conclusions that are contrary to those presumed by the adopters of the aforementioned opinion. Let us now refer to these conclusions in the following points:

1) The narrations of reporting and recording the knowledge prove that all or most of the books mentioned in the previous narrations comprised astonishing materials of which the Muslims had not heard before because they did not agree with the nature of the Islamic legislation. From this cause, such contents were objects of surprise and astonishment. Had such contents been harmonious to what the Muslims had received and comprehended, they would not have surprised the Muslims.

The previous narrations comprised statements like “I found this book in Syria and it was astonishing,” “This is a paper containing an astonishing narratives” and “I found them reciting a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah” all of which prove clearly that the contents of these books did not comprise texts of the Holy Qur'an or the Hadith; otherwise they would not have been astonishing.

2) Except the book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives, all these books did not comprise the words of a definite Sahabiy or narrator of Hadith since the previous narrations had not referred to any definite name being the narrator of such stories and words. Accordingly, the authors of such books are unknown and their contents are not reported from any individual. In other words, they are completely unidentified.

Besides, some of the narrations have proven that the owners of these books were unknown. This is clear in some statements like “I found this book in Syria,” “Alqamah once brought a book,” “A Syrian man carrying a book,” “I found a book comprising some narratives” and other similar statements all of which prove that the source of such books was unknown and thus they cannot be reliable. Correspondingly, Abu’l-Darda’s book contained his own words and stories that he derived from unreliable sources.

3) Some of these books were brought from Syria and others from Makkah or the Yemen. Yet, the source of the others is unknown. Thus, these books were not written by the Sahabah nor were they brought from the center of the Divine Revelation, the seat of the Prophethood, or the home of the Sahabah. Some of these narrations carried statements like “I found this book in Syria,”

“`Alqamah once brought a book from Makkah (or Yemen)” which prove that such difference in identifying the source of these books was because of the uncertainty of the matter, not the narrator. In other words, the carrier of these books did not know the source of these books whose narratives were influenced by the social and geographical factors because Syria was the neighbor of the full-Christian Rome and the center of the Christian momentousness. In view of that, these books might have been ‘missionary’ papers through which the Christians attempted to penetrate the Islamic ideology.

Because of the inconsideration of such books whose sources, writer, and reporters are unknown, the Ahl al-Bayt used to confirm that the books that they have are of famous source, writer, and narrator. In this regard, Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq, answering those who accused him of having derived his information from the books of the past nations, says, “This is true. Abu-Hanifah has said the truth. I have read the (Divine) books of Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses as well as my forefather’s books.”90

Describing the Book of Imam `Ali, the Holy Imams say, “It has been written by Imam `Ali as exactly as received from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah.” As a result, the Holy Imams have declared that the books that they kept and copied were inherited from the most trustworthy ones of each generation up to the Messenger of Allah and that they comprised the laws of Allah beginning with Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses up to Prophet Muhammad. `Abdullah ibn `Adiy al-Jurjaniy, in al-Kamil, writes down that “Ja`far ibn Muhammad (Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq) have narrated very much on the authority of Jabir (ibn `Abdullah al-Ansariy - one of the most trustworthy Sahabah) and on the authority of his father who narrated from his fathers. He also kept many copies (books) that belonged to the Holy Prophet’s Household.”91

4) Most, if not all, of these books comprised neither religious rulings and laws nor exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. Apparently, they comprised narratives, accounts, and invocations whose source was something other than Almighty Allah. Usually, such narratives, accounts, and invocations were invented by storytellers and taletellers who used to overstate some facts and belittle others according to certain conditions, tendencies, and tribal fanaticism as well as similar circumstances that change one’s inclinations.

The aforementioned narratives included statements like “A Syrian man carrying a book that comprised Abu’l-Darda’s words and narratives,” “I found a book comprising some narratives and Qur'anic verses” and “a book that contained astonishing statements of glorification and praise of Almighty Allah” that prove that these books comprised astonishing stories and tales similar to those currently found in some books of Tafsir (Exegesis of the Holy Qur'an) regarding the details of the Holy Prophets’ stories, such as the falsehood that Prophet Joseph was seduced by the chief’s wife to such a degree that he took the same position that a husband takes with his wife;92 and the falsehood that Prophet David sent one of the commanders of his army to the battlefield so that he would be killed and the Prophet would marry his widow thereafter;93 and the falsehood mentioned in the distorted Torah that after the Flood that Almighty Allah sent to destroy the world, all the people perished; therefore, the two daughters of Prophet Lot got their father to drink wine and then lay with him!94

Hence, they became pregnant and, thus, the line of humanity was survived from extinction;95 and the falsehood that Khadijah bint -daughter of- Khuwaylid96 conspired against her father who would not accept Prophet Muhammad as her husband, got her father to drink and then asked the Prophet to come and propose her; therefore, her father accepted unconsciously.

When he regained his consciousness, he had to accept the matter.97 Such lies and their likes cannot be produced by anyone except Abu’l-Darda, Ka`b al-Ahbar, and their likes who were influenced by the Christian and Jewish cultures.

This fact is supported by the statement that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, having looked in these books, recited Almighty Allah’s saying, “We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” He then commented, “Do you intend to find narratives better than those of Almighty Allah? Do you expect to find accounts better than those of Almighty Allah?” He also said, “Verily, the best guidance is that of Muhammad and the best narrative is the Book of Allah. Similarly, the worst matters are the innovated.” All these quotations and words hint at the contents of these books.

The word of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, “Verily, the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad... etc” confirms that the materials that he erased with water had not been within the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad; rather they had been within the invented innovative material that he would not accept.

By saying such, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud wanted to inform those who were admired by such materials that they had not belonged to the Holy Sunnah, the guidance of the Holy Prophet, or to the Holy Qur'an, because the Holy Prophet had reproached `Umar ibn al-Khattab for he had shown admiration for taking from the papers (i.e. books) of the Christians and Jews and neglected the Hadith of the Holy Prophet.

In this respect, al-Suyutiy has recorded that `Umar ibn al-Khattab, once, said to the Holy Prophet, “O Allah’s Messenger: the Ahl al-Kitab98 are reporting us narrations that grasped our hearts and we were about to write them down.” Reproachfully, the Holy Prophet said,

“Son of al-Khattab! Will you frivolously engage yourselves in perplexity in the same way as the Jews and Christians have engaged themselves in perplexity? I swear by Him Who grasps my soul that I have brought it to you purely white and I have been given the comprehensive wording.”99

Ponder carefully over `Umar’s saying, “...that grasped our hearts...” and compare it to the words said about the papers that were brought to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, such as “People are keeping materials that have admired them...” “This paper comprised an admiring narration...” “They have a paper that admired them...” “I found it and it admired me...”

Again, ponder over the Holy Prophet’s reply to `Umar, “I have brought it to you purely white...” and compare it to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s reply to those whose hearts were grasped by such papers, “Verily, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad...” Thus, the result will divulge the secret beyond that admiration and the similarity between the reply of the Holy Prophet and that of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud. In addition, it is impossible to find any narration showing such admiration and presenting the Holy Prophet’s threat except those reported on the authority of `Umar ibn al-Khattab through which he showed his admiration for the Jews’ recordations. A deeper ponderation over `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having erased these papers with water demonstrates that his justification meets the legal trend, especially when we notice that he, instead of burning, erased these papers with water confirming that the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad and the best of narratives is the Holy Book of Almighty Allah and that the most evil of affairs are the innovatives.

More obviously, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud stated, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy. The past nations who had Divine Books perished because they entered upon the books of their scholars and bishops and neglected their Lord’s Book. They neglected the Torah and Gospel until they, as well as the religious rulings therein, were obliterated.”

From the previous, we conclude that the books that were brought to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not comprise religious rulings and laws; they in fact comprised stories, tales, and some invocations related to these fables. It is thus probable that these books comprised the stories of Tamim al-Dariy - the monk who obtained `Umar’s permission to tell tales that might have been similar to those found in these books.100

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud also said, “I hereby adjure you by Allah to bring me any similar book you may find. I swear by Allah that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will go there to bring it.” “I hereby ask anyone who knows where such books are found to lead me to them. I swear by Him Who prevails my soul that if I know that such a book is found in Dayr al-Hind, I will bring them even if I will have to go there on foot.” A narrator said that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “I swear by Allah that if these books were in Dayr al-Hind,101 (i.e. a place very far from al-Kufah) I will bring them even I will have to go there on foot.”102

On the face of it, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s insistence on erasing such books was because they comprised narratives derived from Christian and Jewish sources. He understood that they had been made by monasteries so as to confuse the feeble-minded Muslims as well as those who were ideologically attached to the Christians and Jews. As if the matter was deliberately studied by the Christians, the monasteries intended to draw the feeble-minded Muslims towards the styles of narrating myths and legends.

Having been aware of this objective, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud used to erase these books as soon as he had a primary look at them because he had already known their contents. On this account, he stood firmly against such attempts.

In the meantime, `Umar ibn al-Khattab led a campaign against reporting and recording the Hadith; therefore, some people mixed the two campaigns while, if truth be told and if the matter is seen prudently, there was a great difference between the two.

On the grounds of this conclusions obtained from our comprehensive look in the narrations that reported `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud’s having prevented recording the Hadith, it has been quite true to allege that al-Darimiy’s narration saying that these books erased by `Abdullah comprised statements of praise and glorification of Almighty Allah cannot be sufficiently taken as evidence.

This is because these books did not comprise only such statements; rather there were other things similar to the previously discussed statements, such as those about which `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy.” It is absolutely irrational to claim that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, or any other ordinary Muslim, could ever say these words about statements of praise and glorification of Almighty Allah that he, as well as every Muslim, uttered each day more than once.

Some have claimed that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud warned against the process of recordation, considering it as delusive, apart from what would be written. Yet, the actual statement of `Abdullah does not indicate such, since he said, “Verily, this book contains sedition, delusion, and heresy” and this statement obviously means that the intended was the very contents of that book, not the process of recordation; otherwise, he would have said, “The recordation is sedition, delusion, and heresy!”

The same previous discussion is applicable to the single narration that claimed the existence of Hadiths revealing the Ahl al-Bayt’s merits in the book that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud erased. Supposing the narration is authentic, a number of evidences prove that the book might have comprised fabricated or exaggerated information about the Ahl al-Bayt and their merits.

All the same, it is impossible to believe that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud intended to erase or eradicate the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt after it has been proven that he was one of the grand narrators who reported and spread the merits and remarkable situations of them.

Unlike Abu-Bakr and `Umar, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud did not exercise massive eradication of the records of the Hadith nor did he set fire to them; rather he used the method of erasing with water, which is the legal method of eradicating the books comprising delusive materials and, in the meanwhile, they contain the Holy Names of Almighty Allah, the Prophets, the Prophets’ Successors, and the Imams. As a religious law, it is forbidden to set fire to the Sacred Names; rather they must be erased with water or buried.

Supporting our conclusions, Abu-`Ubayd, a famous scholar, says,

“Since he believed that such books were taken from the Christians, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud disliked looking into them at all.”

Murrah, a famous scholar, says,

“Had these books contained texts from the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud would not have erased them. Actually, these books belonged to the Christians and Jews.”103

There is another probability; `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have done so because he understood an advantage (maslahah) that would not have been practiced by another means, or because he practiced Taqiyyah (pious dissimulation) or because he feared the famous rod of `Umar who, in addition to instructing people not to report the Hadith commonly, ordered all the records of the Hadith to be burnt and used that rod against some of the Sahabah who did not carry on that order and, for the same reason, imprisoned others among whom was `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud himself.

As a consequence, it is not unlikely that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have done so in order to comply with the general situation of the state and in order not to challenge the orders of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, the caliph, for the aforementioned reasons. In this regard, it has been narrated that al-Harith ibn Suwayd heard `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud saying,

“I will certainly utter the words which any authority orders me to say in case these words will save me from one or two lashes.”

Commenting on these words, Ibn Hazm says that none of the Sahabah violated this rule!104

It has been also narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, out of Taqiyyah, followed al-Walid ibn `Aqabah ibn Abi-Mu`it, the governor of al-Kufah during `Uthman ibn `Affan’s reign, in a congregational prayer when al-Walid, having been drunk, performed the Fajr Prayer in four Rak`ahs (units of prayer)105 then turned his face towards his followers and said, ‘Do you want more?’ `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud answered, ‘We have had it.’106

It is thus not inaccurate to claim that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud might have warned against recording the Hadith because he feared the rod of `Umar and intended to act upon the protection of the Islamic entity. In this regard, it has been authentically narrated that `Abdullah offered a four-Rak`ah prayer with `Uthman ibn `Affan at Mina although he had already declared that such prayer must be shortened into two Rak`ahs (qasr) because he intended to avoid sedition and evil. When he was asked about that while he had reported that the Holy Prophet and Abu-Bakr used to offer a two-Rak`ah’s prayer on such a situation, he answered,

“It is true that the Holy Prophet and Abu-Bakr used to offer a two-Rak`ah prayer on such a situation; but since `Uthman is now the leader, I must not challenge him, for discrepancy is evil.”107

It has been narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said to Ibn `Awf - who wondered about his objection against `Uthman ibn `Affan in the ruling that the Prayer at Mina must be shortened and, in the meantime, he offered that prayer with him in its shortened form - “Discrepancy is evil. When I was informed that `Uthman offered that prayer in its perfect form, I followed him.” Ibn `Awf then decided to imitate `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud in this regard.108

From the previous narrations, we conclude that the Sahabah, the first generation of Islam, used to do anything for the sake of protecting the Islamic entity even if that would cause them to hide their own beliefs and opinions. This fact does not stand against the statement that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud was a Sahabiy (singular form of Sahabah) who encouraged the reporting and recordation of the Hadith and spread the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Generally, it happens that one may conceal his beliefs and opinions for the sake of a greater aim or for avoiding a danger. This is applicable to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud who, according to narrations, spread the merits of Imam `Ali, Fatimah al-Zahra', al-Hasan, and al-Husayn; and was one of the seven persons who witnessed the burial ceremonies of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' and one of the twelve persons who objected Abu-Bakr’s having seized illegally the leadership of the Islamic community, which had been divinely commissioned for Imam `Ali.

Moreover, his verdicts concerning the religious laws were similar to those issued by the Ahl al-Bayt. All these facts deny the Shi`ite writers’ claim that `Umar ibn al-Khattab prohibited the reporting and recordation of the Hadith for one and only reason - preventing the spread of the Hadiths revealing the merits and the divinely commissioned leadership of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Besides, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud has been regarded as “the slave of the Ahl al-Bayt” for his frequent visits to them; and he believed that to add the Ahl al-Bayt to the Holy Prophet in the ritual blessings of the prayers and other religious rites is obligatory. Accordingly, it is logical to believe that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud warned against recording the Hadith on account of his concern for the general Islamic entity or similar reasons.

Although we do not deny the aforementioned ‘seven’ reasons as a whole and, meanwhile, do not accept it as the major reasons beyond the prohibition of recording the Hadith, it may be, by the consideration of our previous discussions, accurate to some extent and a part of the question.

Let us now keep on investigating the actual reason beyond the decision of prohibiting reporting and recording the Hadith issued by Abu-Bakr and `Umar who forced people to abide by the Holy Qur'an and neglect the Holy Sunnah as proved by the narrations of Ibn Abi-Mulaykah according to which Abu-Bakr said, “Only does the Holy Qur'an stand between you and us,”109 and `Umar and `Ā’ishah said, “The Book of Allah must be sufficient for us,”110 “Nothing must be considered after the Book of Allah” and many similar statements.

Previously, we have mentioned seven justifications for the decision of the prohibition of reporting and recording the Hadith that was issued by Abu-Bakr and `Umar. These justifications have been presented by Abu-Bakr and `Umar themselves in addition to some past and modern authors among whom were Orientalists, Sunnites and the Shi`ites. Let us now cite the last reason that will hit the mark.

Notes

1. Hashim Ma’ruf al-Husayniy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithin 22 and Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Ja’fariy 134.

2. Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 415, 421, 470, 534 and 557, Dr. Ala’ al-Qazwiniy: Al-Shi’ah al-Imamiyyah wa Nash’at al-`Ulum 123-4 and Dr. Hasan `Abbas Hasan: al-Siyaghah al-Mantiqiyyah 233.

3. Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: Ma`alim al-Madrasatayn 2:57 and Ja`far Murtada: al-Sahih fi Sirat al-Nabiy 1:177. For more details, see the narrations in this connection in Ibn Abi’l-Hadid’s Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 20:17 and Ibn al-Dimashqiy’s Jawahir al-Matalib 1401.

4. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

5. Hashim Ma’ruf al-Husayniy: Dirasatun fi’l-Kafi wa’l-Sahih 19 and Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithin 22.

6. Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 413.

7. For instance, see Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Jalaliy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Sharifah 421, 470.

8. Sunan al-Darimiy 1:95 H. 270; Sunan Ibn Majah 1:10 H. 23; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:452 H. 4321; Muslim al-Qushayriy: al-Tamyiz 174.

9. Sunan Ibn Majah 1:14 H. 36; Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 5:295 H. 26242; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:165 H. 413; Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:52 H. 107.

10. Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:15; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 1:126; Mu`ammar ibn Rashid: al-Jami` 11:252 H. 20465; I`tiqad Ahl al-Sunnah 1:87 H. 108.

11. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:72; Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 5:313 H. 26429.

12. As quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 127.

13. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:94 and Jamal al-Din al-Muzziy: Tahdhib al-Kamal 27:454; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 4:65.

14. Sahih Muslim 1:14, Section 4, Hadith No. 7; al-Madkhal Ila’l-Sunan al-Kubra 1:132 H. 82..

15. Al-Fasawiy: Tarikh, 3:215 as quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 154.

16. Al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu’jam al-Kabir 5:97 H. 9942 as quoted from Dr. Mustafa al-A`dhamiy: Dirasatun fi’l-Hadith al-Nubawiyy, 154.

17. Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah 4:234 H. 4957; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:252; Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:988 H. 1659; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:125; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:465, Ibn al-Athir: Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma`rifat al-Sahabah 3:255 and al-Muntadham 5:30.

18. Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:99 H. 1695, 2:319.

19. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 3:43 as reported from al-Waqidiy.

20. Ibn Sallam: Gharib al-Hadith 2:189 (In this reference book, it is written that `Abdullah brought a paper comprising a Hadith. He then asked for water and began to erase it with his hand.) `Abd al-Ghaniy `Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 396.

21. Shaykh al-Saduq: al-Khisal 2:464.

22. The Five Individuals of the Ahl al-Bayt are the Holy Prophet, Imam `Ali, Fatimah al-Zahra’, al-Hasan and al-Husayn.

23. Musnad Abi-Ya`liy 9:25 H. 5368; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 9:179; Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Qawlawayh: Kamil al-Ziyarat 14:51 Hadith No. 4-8.

24. Sahih al-Bukhariy 3:1373 H. 3552, 4:1593 H. 4123; Sahih Muslim 4:1911 H. 2460; Sunan al-Tirmidhiy 5:672 H. 3806; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah 2:369, al-Nawawiy: Sharh Sahih Muslim 15-16: 247-22 Hadith No. 2460, al-Bukhariy: al-Tarikh al-Kabir.

25. Shaykh al-Saduq: al-Khisal 468 H. 6-11; al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215.

26. Al-Khazzaz: Kifayat al-Athar 23.

27. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:406 H. 3859; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 13:212.

28. Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 6:248.

29. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 4:511 H. 843; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 6:30 H. 5966; al-Rihlah fi Talab al-hadith1:146 H. 55-56.

30. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:165 H. 4726; Musnad al-Bazzar (4-9) 5:223 H. 1829; al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Tarikh Baghdad 3:266 H. 1313.

31. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:152 H. 4682; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Kabir 10:76 H. 10006; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 4:294 H. 6765; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya' 5:58; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq.

32. Al-Qunduziy: Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah 1:281 H. 23; Ta’wil al-Āyat 2:451.

33. Al-Khawarzmiy: al-Manaqib 35; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:280.

34. Muhajirun (singular: muhajir, migrant) is a title exclusively said to the people of Mecca who followed the Holy Prophet and had to migrate to Yathrib (later al-Madinah) because of the persecution they had suffered at the hands of the polytheists of Mecca.

35. Ibn al-Athir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 4:20; Ibn Habban: al-Thuqat 1:224; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 6:114; Shaykh al-Mufid: Kitab al-Irshad 1:80, Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:66.

36. Al-Dhahbiy: Mizan al-I’tidal 3:540 No. 7501.

37. Jalal al-Din al-Suyutiy: al-Durr al-Manthur 7:504; Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 11:290; Ruh al-Ma`ani 26:78.

38. Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:65; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 3:27 H. 4666; Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:360; Fayd al-Qadir 3:46; Fath al-Malik al-`Aliy 69; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:384.

39. Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:65; al-Itqan 2:493; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:400; Al-Qunduziy: Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah 448, Section 65; al-Wafi al-Mahdiy: al-Ijtihad fi’l-Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah 135.

40. Al-Tabariy: al-Mustarshid 278; Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Qadatuna Kayfa Na’rifuhum 3:5; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Kabir 9:76 H. 8446; al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 5:101 H. 4792; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 42:401; Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 541-542.

41. Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:65; al-Itqan 2:493 H. 6370; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq.

42. Saying: Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammadin wa Āli Muhammad.

43. Tashahhud is a pillar part of the ritual prayers practiced in the second unit (Rak`ah) with definite statements.

44. Mahmud Abu-Rayyah: Adwa’un `Ala’l-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah as quoted from Qadi ‘Ayyad’s al-Shifa.

45. Shaykh al-Mufid: al-Khisal 2:361; al-Fattal al-Nisapuriy: Rawdat al-Wa`idhin 280; al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215; al-Arbaliy: Kashf al-Ghummah. It is worth mentioning that I have made a study about `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud through which it has been proven that his jurisprudential inferences have been very close to the Ahl al-Bayt’s school of law. This fact, too, stands against the aforementioned narration of al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy.

46. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-Ummal 11:668, H. 33233; al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak `Ala’l-Sahihayn 3:388 H. 5470; al-Haythamiy: Majma’ al-Zawa’id 9:331 (al-Haythamiy adds: This Hadith’s series of narrators is authentic.) Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 1:254; Ibn Sa`d: al-Tabaqat al-Kubra 4:233, 234.

47. Shaykh al-Tusiy: Ikhtiyar Ma`rifat al-Rijal 65 H. 117; al-Darajat al-Rafi`ah 252.

48. Al-Mamuqaniy: Tanqih al-Maqal 2:215; Shaykh `Abbas al-Qummiy: al-Kuna wa’l-Alqab as quoted from Sharif al-Murtada: al-Shafi.

49. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

50. Muhammad `Ajjaj al-Khatib: al-Sunnah qabl al-Tadwin 210; Muhammad Abu-Zahw: al-Hadith wa’l-Muhaddithun 265.

51. Ibn Qutaybah: Ta’wil Mukhtalaf al-Hadith 357 and Mahmud Abu-Rayyah: Adwa’un `Ala’l-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah.

52. For more details about this issue, the gentle reader may kindly refer to my book entitled Wudu' al-Nabiy (The Ablution of the Prophet).

53. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:447 H. 4276; Sunan al-Bayhaqiy al-Kubra 7:246 H. 14195; Sunan al-Nassa'iy 6:121 H. 3354; al-Sunan al-Kubra 3:316 H. 5515.

54. Sayyid al-Khu'iy: Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith 11:344-345 H. 7172.

55. Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:385 H. 32238; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:129, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak ‘ala’ssahihayn 3:318 and al-Zarqaniy: Manahil al-’Irfan 1:483; Ibn Sa`d: al-Tabaqat al-Kubra 2:346; Al-Maqdisiy al-Hanbaliy: Al-Ahadith al-Mukhtarah 2:123 H. 494; Abu’l-Faraj: Safwat al-Safwah 1:401; Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 1:492.

56. Al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 1:492, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak ‘ala’ssahihayn 3:357 H. 5380; Abu-Na`im: Hilyat al-Awliya’ 1:299 and Al-Murtada al-Zaydiy: Sharh al-Adhar 1:26; al-Dhahbiy: Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' 1:492; al-Suyutiy: Miftah al-Jannah 1:70.

57. Al-Ya’qubiy: Tarikh 2:103.

58. Ibn `Abd-Rabbuh: al-’Aqd al-Farid 5:13, Abu’l-Fida: Tarikh 1:156, al-Buladhiriy: Ansab al-Ashraf 1:278 (or 586 according to another edition) and Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 2:45.

59. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-’Ummal 3: 140 as quoted from Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: `Abdullah ibn Saba’ 1:133; Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 2:45.

60. Ibn Qutaybah: al-Imamah wa’l-Siyasah 1:19.

61. Al-Buladhiriy: Ansab al-Ashraf 1: 586 as quoted from Sayyid Murtada al-`Askariy: `Abdullah ibn Saba’ 1:133.

62. It was `Umar ibn al-Khattab who declared this decision. See al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:366.

63. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3:232.

64. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:125 (on the authority of Abu-Hurayrah). Commenting of this report, al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy describes it as authentically narrated report; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:369 H. 32099 (on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Umar).

65. Al-Khawarzmiy: al-Manaqib 13:77, Ibn al-Maghaziliy: Manaqib `Ali 289 No. 330; Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 42:167; Ibn `Asakir: Tarikh Dimashq 42:34; al-Firdaws bi-Ma’thur al-Khitab 3:363 H. 7294; al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-`Ummal 11:616 H. 32992.

66. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:345, Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti‘ab 3:38, Ibn ‘Asakir: Tarikh; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 5:113 H. 21123; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 6:138; Ibn Taymiyah: Majmu` al-Fatawa 16:482.

67. Al-Aminiy: al-Ghadir 6:101, 105-6 as quoted from al-Kinjiy: al-Kifayah 96; Fayd al-Qadir 4:357; Ibn `Abd al-Barr: al-Isti`ab 3:1103; Fath al-Malik al-`Aliy 71; Ta’wil Mukhtalaf al-Hadith 1:126.

68. Al-Aminiy: al-Ghadir 6:106 as quoted from al-Shabalnajiy: Nur al-Absar 79 with a little difference from the text mentioned in al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy’s al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 1:628 H. 1683; Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3-4:166; Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 1:18; Subul al-Salam 2:206.

69. Ibn ‘Asakir: Tarikh Madinat Dimashq 1:321, No. 400, 401; al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Tarikh Baghdad 7:463 H. 4023.

70. Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Qadatuna Kayfa Na’rifuhum 2:412-3 as quoted from Zayni Dahlan: Asna’l-Mahalib 6:29 No. 21; al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-`Ummal 13:124.

71. Sahih al-Bukhariy 3:1357; Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalaniy: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 7:72.

72. Muhibb al-Din al-Tabariy: al-Riyad al-Nadirah 3:295.

73. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:150.

74. Al-Suyutiy: al-Jami‘ al-Saghir 2:177 No. 5594; Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:134 H. 4628; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Saghir 2:28 H. 720; Fayd al-Qadir 4:356.

75. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:160; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 3:17 H. 11147; al-Haythamiy: Majma` al-Zawa'id 9:163; Sunan al-Darimiy 2:524 H. 3316; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 4:33 H. 3542.

76. Al-Suyutiy: al-Jami` al-Saghir 2:533 No. 8126; Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 2:373 H. 3312, 3:163 H. 4720; al-Tabaraniy: al-Mu`jam al-Awsat 4:10 H. 3478, 5:355 H. 5563; Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Fada'il al-Sahabah 2:785 H. 1401.

77. Al-Hakim al-Nisapuriy: al-Mustadrak 'ala'l-Sahihayn 3:118, 119, 126, 143, 419, 613; Sunan al-Tirmidhiy 5:633 H. 3712; al-Haythamiy: Majma` al-Zawa'id 9:103-109; al-Haythamiy: al-Sunan al-Kubra 5:131 H. 8468-8472; Sunan Ibn Majah 1:45 H. 121. For comparison, refer to Sayyid `Ali al-Shahristaniy: Tadwin al-Sunnah al-Nubawiyyyah 413-8.

78. Al-Anwar al-Kashifah 54.

79. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 12: 52-5; Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:577-578.

80. Ibn Abi’l-Hadid: Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah 12:46.

81. Al-Hamawiyniy: Fara'id al-Simtayn 1:153.

82. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-‘Ilm 53. A similar narration is recorded in Sunan al-Darimiy 1:134 H. 477.

83. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-‘Ilm 53-4. A similar narration is recorded in Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami‘u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:66.

84. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54.

85. A currency.

86. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 55.

87. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 55-56. A similar narration is recorded in Sunan al-Darimiy on the authority of al-Ash`ath and also in Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i) 1:65.

88. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 56.

89. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy: Taqyid al-`Ilm 54-5.

90. Shaykh al-Saduq: `Ilal al-Shara'i` 1:89; al-Khansariy: Rawdat al-Jannat 8:169, Qamus al-Rijal; Muhammad ibn `Abdullah ibn al-Hasan 8: 243; al-Shiraziy: Riyad al-Salikin 1:100.

91. `Abdullah ibn `Adiy al-Jurjaniy: al-Kamil 2:558, al-Tahdhib: 2:104 and Muhammad `Ajjaj al-Khatib: al-Sunnah Qabla’l-Tadwin 358.

92. Ibn Hazm: al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam 5:154, 33.

93. Musannaf Ibn Abi-Shaybah 6:343 H. 31894; Tafsir al-Qurtubiy 15:168, 15:180-181.

94. Qasas al-Qur'an.

95. The Book of Genesis 19:30-38

96. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first and most pious wife of the Holy Prophet and the mother of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' whose wealth was one of the two factors that caused Islam to survive and triumph.

97. Subul al-Huda wa’l-Rashad 2:166 as quoted from Sirat al-Zuhriy. See also al-Rawd al-Anif 1:325.

98. The Ahl al-Kitab are the non-Muslims who hold a divinely revelealed Book; mainly the Jews and Christians.

99. Al-Suyutiy: al-Durr al-Manthur 5:148; Irwa’ al-Ghalil 6:38. (Commenting on the narration, al-Albaniy says, ‘To the least extent, the Hadith is sound.’) See also Musannaf `Abd al-Razzaq 6:114; al-Mannawiy: Fayd al-Qadir 2:720.

100. Al-Muttaqiy al-Hindiy: Kanz al-‘Ummal 10:280 H. 29445-29446; Ibn Abi-`Āsim: al-Mudhakkar wa’l-Tadhkir wa’l-Dhakar 63.

101. Dayr al-Hind is the name of one of the villages of Syria. There are also Dayr Hind al-Sughra and Dayr al-Hind al-Kubra; two villages in al-Hirah (Northern al-Kufah) that were built by Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man ibn al-Mundhir (the Arab king). (See Yaqut al-Hamawiy: Mu‘jam al-Buldan 2:542-3) At any rate, It seems that `Abdullah ibn Mas’ud referred to Dayr al-Hind found in Syria because there is a relationship between the topic discussed and this city.

102. Sunan al-Darimiy 1:130 H. 479; Ibn Abi-Shaybah: al-Musannaf 5:315 H. 26447.

103. Ibn `Abd al-Rabb al-Qurtubiy: Jami`u Bayan al-`Ilm wa-Fadlih(i); Sunan al-Darimiy 1:134 H. 477 as is recorded in Tadwin al-Sunnah 341.

104. Ibn Hazm: al-Muhalla 8:336 Q. 1409.

105. Ritually, the Fajr Prayer consists of two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer).

106. Al-Qadi al-Dimashqiy: Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah 2:532 as is recorded in Waqi` al-Taqiyyah `Inda al-Madhahib wa’l-Firaq al-Islamiyyah 106.

107. Al-Bayhaqiy: al-Sunan al-Kubra 3:144; Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:218.

108. Ibn al-Athir: al-Kamil 3:104: Ibn Kathir: al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah 7:228; Tarikh al-Tabariy 2:606 (Events of the year AH 29).

109. Al-Dhahbiy: Tadhkirat al-Huffadh 1:32 and `Abd al-Ghaniy `Abd al-Khaliq: Hijjiyyat al-Sunnah 394.

110. This statement of `Umar ibn al-Khattab is too famous to be denied. He first said it while the Holy Prophet was bedridden taking his final breathes. For more details, see Sahih al-Bukhariy Chapter: Recording of Knowledge (Kitabat al-‘Ilm), Chapter: Jihad (Hal Yustashfa‘ Ila Ahl al-Dhimmah), Chapter: the Campaigns, (Marad al-Nabiy) Chapter: the Ailed (Qawl al-Marid Qumu `Anni), Chapter: Adherence (Karahiyyat al-Khilaf). See also Ibn Hajar: Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:185, Al-Qastalaniy: Irshad al-Sari li-Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:169, Al-`Ayniy: `Umdat al-Qari ila Sharh Sahih al-Bukhariy 1:575, Sharh al-Nawawiy ‘ala Sahih Muslim 2:43, `Abd al-Razzaq: al-Musannaf 5:438-9, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 1:90, 22, 29, 32, 336, 3:346, 6:106, 116 and 476, Al-Bayhaqiy: Dala’il al-Nubuwwah 7:181 and 283. The statement of `Ā`ishah is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhariy (Kitab al-Jana’iz) 2:77.


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