An Appeal from the Author
Section One
October 1, 2015
Hadith al-Thaqalayn
October 2, 2015BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
An Appeal from the Author
In the ensuing pages, a lengthy discussion has been penned down regarding the Hadith al Thaqalayn. As an introduction, a few necessary points have been mentioned in the beginning of the first section. A few important points have also been highlighted at the end of the first section. Similarly, the second section also begins with a few important factors which require attention. Undoubtedly, this is a deep academic discussion, which deserves the attention of the scholars, but the general masses will also be able to derive benefit from it.
A humble appeal is made to the readers not to arrive at any conclusions regarding the book after reading one or two sections of it. Rather the entire book should be read and kept in sight when arriving at a conclusion. At different junctures of the book, certain things were mentioned which are worthy of looking at in order to repel certain doubts. Therefore, one should not be quick in arriving at a conclusion. This is the demand of intelligence and sound understanding.
The author admits that on account of lack of knowledge and expertise, he was not able to reproduce every single chain of Hadith al Thaqalayn (which refers to them as the Book of Allah and the Sunnah) as he would have loved to. However, a great number of reliable asanid have been reproduced which will be included at the end of the second part, Allah willing.
Al Thaqalayn
الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلوة و السلام على سيدنا و مولانا محمد و على اله و اصحابه و ازواجه و اهل بيته و اتباعه باحسان الى يوم الدين
Those who, on one hand harbour hatred against the noble Companions of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and on the other hand claim great love for his Household and progeny, have overstepped the boundaries of their claimed love. According to them, just as it is incumbent to obey the commands of the Book of Allah—the Qur’an—under all conditions, similarly it is incumbent to obey the Ahlul Bayt and family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam under all conditions. According to them, just as the one who does not believe in the commands of the Qur’an is taken as a rejecter of the Qur’an, similarly the one who does not accept the sayings and actions of the Ahlul Bayt of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as divine guidance is also regarded as a disbeliever. The resultant implication of this is that there is no difference between the Qur’an and the Ahlul Bayt of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, such that they hold the exact same rank as far as adherence and obedience is concerned.
This belief is so widely accepted amongst them that there remains no need to quote from any of their sources. However, for further satisfaction, one may refer to the Tafsir of Abu ‘Ali al Tabarsi, Majma’ al Bayan[1] under the verse:
وَاُوْلِى الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ
The people of authority from amongst you.
We, the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah, who make up the majority of Muslims, firmly believe that the command of total obedience and compliance is restricted to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Unconditional obedience to Allah, the Most Exalted, and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is absolutely essential. Any third person’s obedience is subject to them being given that position by the Qur’an and Sunnah. No individual independently holds that position.
A Muslim’s obedience to any individual—be it the governor, his parents, the seniors and scholars of the ummah or even the prominent personalities of the Ahlul Bayt—depends upon their compliance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Their obedience remains confined to those matters which are accepted. If their obedience, at some point demands opposition of the Qur’an and Sunnah, then aside from it not being necessary, it will not even be permissible.
The two parties—the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia—have always differed on this primary and fundamental point. Based on this difference, each party thereafter took it upon themselves to prove their fundamental belief and consequently authored a number of books in this regard. With the help of Allah, we also wish to present the belief of these two groups along with the proofs of each group. This will serve as a guide as to which of the two groups are closer to the truth.
This discussion will be divided into two sections. The first section will deal with the principle formed by those who claim extraordinary love for the Ahlul Bayt, as well as their proofs, Allah willing. The second part will explain the principle of the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah in full detail along with its proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah. And Allah is the One Who grants ability.
[1] Majma’ al Bayan pg. 269
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
An Appeal from the Author
In the ensuing pages, a lengthy discussion has been penned down regarding the Hadith al Thaqalayn. As an introduction, a few necessary points have been mentioned in the beginning of the first section. A few important points have also been highlighted at the end of the first section. Similarly, the second section also begins with a few important factors which require attention. Undoubtedly, this is a deep academic discussion, which deserves the attention of the scholars, but the general masses will also be able to derive benefit from it.
A humble appeal is made to the readers not to arrive at any conclusions regarding the book after reading one or two sections of it. Rather the entire book should be read and kept in sight when arriving at a conclusion. At different junctures of the book, certain things were mentioned which are worthy of looking at in order to repel certain doubts. Therefore, one should not be quick in arriving at a conclusion. This is the demand of intelligence and sound understanding.
The author admits that on account of lack of knowledge and expertise, he was not able to reproduce every single chain of Hadith al Thaqalayn (which refers to them as the Book of Allah and the Sunnah) as he would have loved to. However, a great number of reliable asanid have been reproduced which will be included at the end of the second part, Allah willing.
Al Thaqalayn
الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلوة و السلام على سيدنا و مولانا محمد و على اله و اصحابه و ازواجه و اهل بيته و اتباعه باحسان الى يوم الدين
Those who, on one hand harbour hatred against the noble Companions of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and on the other hand claim great love for his Household and progeny, have overstepped the boundaries of their claimed love. According to them, just as it is incumbent to obey the commands of the Book of Allah—the Qur’an—under all conditions, similarly it is incumbent to obey the Ahlul Bayt and family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam under all conditions. According to them, just as the one who does not believe in the commands of the Qur’an is taken as a rejecter of the Qur’an, similarly the one who does not accept the sayings and actions of the Ahlul Bayt of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as divine guidance is also regarded as a disbeliever. The resultant implication of this is that there is no difference between the Qur’an and the Ahlul Bayt of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, such that they hold the exact same rank as far as adherence and obedience is concerned.
This belief is so widely accepted amongst them that there remains no need to quote from any of their sources. However, for further satisfaction, one may refer to the Tafsir of Abu ‘Ali al Tabarsi, Majma’ al Bayan[1] under the verse:
وَاُوْلِى الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ
The people of authority from amongst you.
We, the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah, who make up the majority of Muslims, firmly believe that the command of total obedience and compliance is restricted to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Unconditional obedience to Allah, the Most Exalted, and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is absolutely essential. Any third person’s obedience is subject to them being given that position by the Qur’an and Sunnah. No individual independently holds that position.
A Muslim’s obedience to any individual—be it the governor, his parents, the seniors and scholars of the ummah or even the prominent personalities of the Ahlul Bayt—depends upon their compliance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Their obedience remains confined to those matters which are accepted. If their obedience, at some point demands opposition of the Qur’an and Sunnah, then aside from it not being necessary, it will not even be permissible.
The two parties—the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia—have always differed on this primary and fundamental point. Based on this difference, each party thereafter took it upon themselves to prove their fundamental belief and consequently authored a number of books in this regard. With the help of Allah, we also wish to present the belief of these two groups along with the proofs of each group. This will serve as a guide as to which of the two groups are closer to the truth.
This discussion will be divided into two sections. The first section will deal with the principle formed by those who claim extraordinary love for the Ahlul Bayt, as well as their proofs, Allah willing. The second part will explain the principle of the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama’ah in full detail along with its proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah. And Allah is the One Who grants ability.
[1] Majma’ al Bayan pg. 269