`Abd al-Husayn Rejects the Hadith: “A Woman/Man was Forgiven for Giving Water to a Dog”
December 3, 2015The Narrations of Abu Hurayrah Reported by the Shi`ah
December 3, 2015BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
‘Abdul Hussain Rejects the Hadith: “A Woman Entered Hell Due to a Cat”
On page 171, ‘Abdul Hussain, under the chapter, “a fourth imaginary narration aimed at establishing the evil outcome of oppression”. Al Bukhari and Muslim report with their chain from Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who narrates from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
دخلت امرأة النار في هرة ربطتها فلا هي تطعمها ولم تدعها تأكل من خشاش الأرض حتى ماتت هزلا
A woman was sent to hell for allowing a cat to die of hunger. She kept it tied up without feeding it or leaving it free to eat insects.[1]
He starts raising doubts:
وهذا من رواياته الخيالية يرمي فيه إلى سوء عواقب الظلم والعدوان
This is from his imaginary narrations, in which he tries to establish the evil outcome of oppression and enmity.
Our comment: Other Sahabah, such as Ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu have also narrated this[2]. Furthermore, this narration has been transmitted from the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt as well. Hafs ibn al Bakhtari reports from Imam Jafar rahimahu Llah:
إن امرأة عذبت في هرة ربطتها حتى ماتت عطشاً
A woman was punished for tying up a cat until it died out of thirst.[3]
Al Majlisi quotes from Nawadir al Rawandi that Musa ibn Jafar al Kazim narrates from his forefathers that the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
رأيت في النار صاحب العباء التي قد غلها ، ورأيت في النار صاحب المحجن الذي كان يسرق الحاج بمحجنه ، ورأيت في النار صاحبة الهرة نتهشها مقبلة ومدبرة كانت أوثقها لم تكن تطعمها ولم ترسلها تأكل من حشائش الأرض
I saw in the fire the one who unrightfully took the cloth, the one who would steal from the pilgrims using his staff and the women (who was punished due to the) cat. It bit the front as well as the back of her body. She tied it up and then neither fed it nor did she allow it to eat insects.[4]
Is this narration of Imam Musa ibn Jafar rahimahu Llah among his imaginary narrations in which he tries to establish the evil outcome of oppression? We ask Allah to protect our intelligence and to keep us away from submitting to desires and deviation.
NEXT⇒ ‘Abdul Hussain Rejects the Hadith: “A Woman/Man was Forgiven for Giving Water to a Dog”
[1] Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al Khalq, Sahih Muslim.
[2] Sahih al Bukhari; al Darimi.
[3] Wasa’il al Shia, 8/397; Bihar al Anwar, 65/64, # 23; Thawab al A’mal wa ‘Iqabuha, pg. 557; Tafsir al Kanz, 1/157.
[4] Bihar al Anwar, 8/316-317, Kitab al ‘Adl wa l-Ma’ad Bab al Nar; al Jawahir, 31/395.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
‘Abdul Hussain Rejects the Hadith: “A Woman Entered Hell Due to a Cat”
On page 171, ‘Abdul Hussain, under the chapter, “a fourth imaginary narration aimed at establishing the evil outcome of oppression”. Al Bukhari and Muslim report with their chain from Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who narrates from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
دخلت امرأة النار في هرة ربطتها فلا هي تطعمها ولم تدعها تأكل من خشاش الأرض حتى ماتت هزلا
A woman was sent to hell for allowing a cat to die of hunger. She kept it tied up without feeding it or leaving it free to eat insects.[1]
He starts raising doubts:
وهذا من رواياته الخيالية يرمي فيه إلى سوء عواقب الظلم والعدوان
This is from his imaginary narrations, in which he tries to establish the evil outcome of oppression and enmity.
Our comment: Other Sahabah, such as Ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu have also narrated this[2]. Furthermore, this narration has been transmitted from the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt as well. Hafs ibn al Bakhtari reports from Imam Jafar rahimahu Llah:
إن امرأة عذبت في هرة ربطتها حتى ماتت عطشاً
A woman was punished for tying up a cat until it died out of thirst.[3]
Al Majlisi quotes from Nawadir al Rawandi that Musa ibn Jafar al Kazim narrates from his forefathers that the Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
رأيت في النار صاحب العباء التي قد غلها ، ورأيت في النار صاحب المحجن الذي كان يسرق الحاج بمحجنه ، ورأيت في النار صاحبة الهرة نتهشها مقبلة ومدبرة كانت أوثقها لم تكن تطعمها ولم ترسلها تأكل من حشائش الأرض
I saw in the fire the one who unrightfully took the cloth, the one who would steal from the pilgrims using his staff and the women (who was punished due to the) cat. It bit the front as well as the back of her body. She tied it up and then neither fed it nor did she allow it to eat insects.[4]
Is this narration of Imam Musa ibn Jafar rahimahu Llah among his imaginary narrations in which he tries to establish the evil outcome of oppression? We ask Allah to protect our intelligence and to keep us away from submitting to desires and deviation.
NEXT⇒ ‘Abdul Hussain Rejects the Hadith: “A Woman/Man was Forgiven for Giving Water to a Dog”
[1] Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al Khalq, Sahih Muslim.
[2] Sahih al Bukhari; al Darimi.
[3] Wasa’il al Shia, 8/397; Bihar al Anwar, 65/64, # 23; Thawab al A’mal wa ‘Iqabuha, pg. 557; Tafsir al Kanz, 1/157.
[4] Bihar al Anwar, 8/316-317, Kitab al ‘Adl wa l-Ma’ad Bab al Nar; al Jawahir, 31/395.