Regency of the Shi’i Ahadith and Ulama
By: Sayed Jamaluddin Hejazi
There is always a divinely “sent” guide on the earth for the Ummah. ‘Allamah al-Majlisi (d. 1111 H) documents: ‘Ilal al-Sharai’: my father – ‘Ali – his father – Yahya b. Abi ‘Imran al-Hamdani – Yunus – Ishaq b. ‘Ammar – Muhammad b. Muslim: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said: “Verily, Allah does not leave the earth to be without a scholar who knows the additions and omissions in the religion of Allah, the Almighty. So, when the believers add something, he returns them (to the original teaching); and when they omit, he completes it for them. If not for that, the Muslims would have become confused in their (religious) affairs.1
This hadith has a mu’tabar (reliable) chain, according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.2
There is no doubt that these guides “sent” by Allah are from the offspring of Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi. This is on account of Hadith al-Thaqalayn, which names the Ahl al-Bayt, ‘alaihim al-salam, as the supreme guides of this Ummah. The Sunni hadith scholar, Sayyid Hasan al-Saqqaf, declares: Al-Tirmidhi (5/663, # 3788) recorded it WITH A SAHIH CHAIN, with this wording: “I am leaving behind over you that which if you adhere to it YOU WILL NEVER GO ASTRAY after me. One of them is greater than the other: the Book of Allah - a rope stretching from the heaven to the earth - and MY OFFSPRING, my Ahl al-Bayt. Both shall never separate from each other until they meet me at the Lake-Fount. Therefore, watch carefully how you treat them after me.”3
The default tradition of the Imams is that they are physically available to the Ummah, in order to renew their religion for them. However, Shi’ism also recognizes the existence of extraordinary situations where the khalifah becomes inaccessible to his subjects. ‘Allamah al-Majlisi documents again: ‘Ilal al-Sharai’: my father – al-Himyari – al-Sindi b. Muhammad – al-‘Ala – Muhammad – Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: The earth never exists without an Imam, whether visible OR INVISIBLE.4
The chain of this hadith is mu’tabar (reliable), according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.5 Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya also says about it: Its chain is sahih.6
Al-Majlisi equally copies this report: Ikmal al-Din: my father – Muhammad al-‘Aṭṭar – Ibn Yazid – Ibn Abi ‘Umayr – Sa’d b. Abi Khalaf – Ya’qub b. Shu’ayb – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: There were five hundred years between ‘Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family. For two hundred and fifty years from that period, there was no prophet, and there was no visible scholar”. I asked, “So, what were they (i.e. the people of that period)?” He replied, “They followed the religion of ‘Isa, peace be upon him.” I asked, “So, what were they?” He said, “Believers.” Then, he, peace be upon him, said, “And the earth never exists except that there is a scholar on it.”7
The hadith has a mu’tabar (reliable) chain, according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.8 The word “scholar” here, of course, refers only to the Imam, in the light of other authentic ahadith on the matter. ‘Allamah al-Tabaṭabai (d. 1412 H) confirms this too, saying immediately after quoting the riwayah: I say: The one intended as the scholar is the Imam, the one who is the Hujjah.9
So, what happens when the Imam is not visible? What are the people supposed to do in order to attain guidance? Some Imams never appear – such as those during the fatrah (i.e. the 500 years between ‘Isa and Muhammad). However, our own Imam will eventually reappear to the world. Meanwhile, before he does that, what exactly are we supposed to be doing in order not to lose his way?
During the ghaybah of the Qaim, we have an obligation to stick strictly with the pure teachings of all the eleven Imams before him, and those of his, that have been authentically transmitted. Shaykh al-Saduq (d. 381 H) records: My father, may Allah be pleased with him – ‘Abd Allah b. Ja’far al-Himyari – Ayub b. Nuh – Muhammad b. Abi ‘Umayr – Jamil b. Darraj – Zurarah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said: “A time will come upon mankind when their Imam will become invisible to them.” So, I asked, “What should mankind do during that time?” He replied, “They must adhere to the matter upon which they are until it becomes clear to them.”10
Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya declares about it: Its chain is sahih.11
Al-Saduq further reports: My father and Muhammad b. al-Hasan b. Ahmad b. al-Walid – Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Saffar – al-‘Abbas b. Ma’ruf – ‘Ali b. Mahziyar – al-Hasan b. al-Mahbub – Hammad b. ‘Isa – Ishaq b. Jarir – ‘Abd Allah b. Sinan: I and my father went to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him. Then, he asked, “How will you be if you fall into a situation in which you cannot see an Imam of guidance, and you cannot see any guide, and none will be saved in it except those who supplicate with Du’a al-Ghariq?” So, my father said to him, “If that happens overnight, what should we do?” He replied, “As for you personally, you will not meet it (i.e. such a situation). But, when it occurs, you people must adhere to what is in your hands until the matter becomes clear to you.”12
Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya declares about it: Its chain is sahih.13
Shaykh al-Kulayni (d. 329 H) then caps it all: Muhammad b. Yahya – Ahmad b. Muhammad b. ‘Isa – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Fadhdhal – Ibn Bukayr – ‘Ubayd b. Zurarah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Preserve your books, for you will soon need them.”14
Al-Majlisi comments: Muwaththaq ka al-Sahih15
Shaykh Hadi al-Najafi also states: The report has a reliable chain.16
So, apparently, the Shi’ah are under a command to strictly follow the authentic ahadith documented in the Shi’i books, throughout the longer disappearance of their Imam. It is these books that take his place until his reappearance to establish the final Kingdom of Allah on the earth. Luckily, there are about 11,500 (eleven thousand and five hundred) ahadith with strictly reliable chains in the Shi’i books, as Ayatullah al-Muhsini has revealed in his Mu’jam al-Ahadith al-Mu’tabarah (Dictionary of Reliable Ahadith), published in Qum in 2013 by Nashr Adyan. That is surely far more than enough for anyone who truly seeks the correct guidance of the Prophet and his pure Ahl al-Bayt, ‘alaihim al-salam.
However, there is, sadly, a general lack of interest among the Shi’i laymen in the reliable ahadith of the purified offspring. Many, as far as we can tell, have abandoned the duties of reading, memorizing and studying the authentic ahadith to the ‘ulama and those in the Shi’i seminaries only. Yet, this obligation has been imposed upon all Shi’is indiscriminately by Allah and His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi. Al-Kulayni says: Muhammad b. Ya’qub – ‘Ali b. Ibrahim b. Hashim – his father – al-Hasan b. Abi al-Husayn al-Farisi – ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Zayd – his father – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Seeking knowledge is OBLIGATORY upon EVERY Muslim. Take note: verily, Allah loves the seekers of knowledge.”17
Ayatullah al-Muhsini mentions that this hadith has several dha’if chains in the Shi’i books, and that according to ‘Allamah al-Suyuṭi, it has thirty dha’if chains in the Sunni books. Then, he concludes: And concerning everything that has several chains with us (i.e. Shi’is) and with them (i.e. Sunnis), it becomes necessary to believe that it genuinely came from our master, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his family.18
Therefore, it is sahih on account of its numerous chains in Shi’i and Sunni books, even though all of them are dha’if.
‘Allamah Hurr al-‘Amili (d. 1104 H) also declares that the hadith has reached the level of tawattur: And it has been reported in the mutawatir text from them, peace be upon them: “Verily, seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim. Take note: and verily, Allah loves the seekers of knowledge.”19
What is meant by “knowledge” within the proper Islamic context is that which was revealed by Allah to Muhammad, His Messenger, as the Qur’an testifies: Say: “Verily, the Guidance of Allah is the only guidance”. And if you (O Muhammad) were to follow their desire after what has come to you of knowledge, then you would have against Allah neither any wali nor any helper.20
Apparently, “knowledge” is the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The Sunnah, of course, is only that which is authentically transmitted – directly or indirectly - from the Prophet through the Twelve Imams.
Al-Kulayni also transmits: ‘Ali b. Ibrahim – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Yunus – Jamil – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: “Humanity are upon three categories: a scholar, a student and scum. So, we are the scholars. Our Shi’ah are the students; and the rest of mankind are scum”.21
Al-Majlisi comments: Sahih upon the most apparent.22
Shaykh Hadi al-Najafi also says: The report has a sahih chain.23
This is explicit. Anyone who is not actively studying the authentic ahadith of the Ahl al-Bayt is part of the scum of mankind, and is not a genuine Shi’i – no matter what they call themselves. This is indeed a grave warning to all of us.
For the avoidance of doubt, what must be studied by the Shi’ah is what came directly from the Ahl al-Bayt themselves. Al-Kulayni reports again: ‘Ali b. Ibrahim b. Hashim – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Yunus – Ibn Muskan – Muhammad b. Muslim: I heard Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, saying, “There is none among mankind who has any truth, or any correct submission, and there is none among all mankind who judges with any judgment of truth except what comes from us, the Ahl al-Bayt. When the affairs bifurcate through them, the error is from them, and the correct position is from ‘Ali, peace be upon him.”24
Al-Majlisi declares: Sahih25
Al-Kulayni further documents: A number of our companions – Ahmad b. Muhammad – al-Washa – Tha’labah b. Maymun – Abu Maryam: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said to Salamah b. Kuhayl and al-Hakam b. ‘Utaybah: “Go to the East and go to the West. You will not find any authentic knowledge except what comes from us, Ahl al-Bayt.”26
Al-Majlisi again says: Sahih27
Al-Kulayni has more: Muhammad b. Yahya – Ahmad b. Muhammad – al-Husayn b. Sa’id – al-Nadhr b. Suwayd – Yahya al-Halabi – Mu’alla b. ‘Uthman – Abu Basir: He (Abu Ja’far) said to me, “Verily, al-Hakam b. ‘Utaybah is one of those about whom Allah says {And of mankind are those who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day’ while they are not believers} [2:8]. So, let al-Hakam go to the East, and let him go to the West. I swear by Allah, he will not find knowledge except from the people of the house to whom Jibril descended.”28
Al-Majlisi states: Sahih29
However, there do occur circumstances when one is unable to study the ahadith on his own. For instance, almost none of our primary hadith books has been translated into English; and there are thousands – perhaps millions - of English-speaking Shi’is who do not speak Arabic at all. Many who know Arabic are also not proficient in the Shi’i hadith sciences. So, they are unable to distinguish the reliable ahadith from the unreliable ones. What then are they to do? In such cases, the Imams have directed that the trustworthy scholars of hadith must be contacted. We go to them to ask the authentic ahadith of the Ahl al-Bayt on specific situations. ‘Allamah al-Subhani submits: Al-Kishi narrated with a sahih chain from ‘Ali b. al-Musayyab, who said: I said to al-Ridha, peace be upon him, “My house is far, and I do not have access to you all the time. Therefore, from whom should I take the teachings of my religion?” He said, “From Zakariya b. Adam al-Qummi, the one who is trustworthy over the world and the religion.”30
‘Allamah al-Khui (d. 1411 H) has this further submission: What Muhammad b. Ya’qub has narrated with a sahih chain, from Abu ‘Ali Ahmad b. Ishaq, from Abu al-Hasan, peace be upon him: I (Abu ‘Ali) asked him (i.e. Abu al-Hasan), saying, “Whom should I follow or from whom should I take?” And whose statement should I accept?” He (Abu al-Hasan) said to him, “Al-‘Umari is someone I consider thiqah (trustworthy). Therefore, whatsoever he conveys to you from me, is from me, and whatsoever he says to you from me, he is quoting me. As such, listen to him and obey, because he is thiqah (trustworthy), reliable.”
Abu ‘Ali also asked Abu Muhammad, peace be upon him, a similar thing, and he said to him, “Al-‘Umari and his son are thiqah (trustworthy). Therefore, whatsoever they convey to you from me, they are (truly) conveying from me; and whatsoever they say to you, they both are quoting me. As such, listen to them both and obey them, because they both are thiqah (trustworthy), reliable.”31
This hadith supports the rijali methodology in toto. It also emphasizes that we must consult the more knowledgeable Shi’is only so that they could transmit to us – directly or indirectly - the authentic ahadith of our Imams on specific situations.
Shaykh al-Kashi (d. 370 H) records as well: Muhammad b. Mas’ud – Muhammad b. Nasir – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. al-Muhtadi al-Qummi: Muhammad b. Nasir – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Yaqṭin: I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha, peace be upon him, “May I be sacrificed for you. I barely have access to you in order to ask you everything I want concerning the teachings of my religion. Is Yunus b. ‘Abd al-Rahman thiqah (trustworthy), so that I could take from him whatever I need from the teachings of my religion?” He said, “Yes.”32
Commenting on this narration, ‘Allamah al-Khui says: I say: This report is sahih.33
This is like the last in its imports and implications.
Meanwhile, these roles of hadith transmission also extends into judicial matters. Shaykh al-Kulayni documents: Al-Husayn b. Muhammad – Mu’alla b. Muhammad – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali – Abu Khadijah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said to me, “Beware of taking one another for judgment to the unjust people. Instead, look unto a man from amongst you who knows something of our judgments and place him between yourselves (to settle your cases), for I have appointed him a judge. Therefore, take your cases to him for judgment.”34
Ayatullah Sadiq al-Ruhani declares about this hadith: Sahih35
The required qualification of the judge shows that his job is strictly to apply the judgments of the Ahl al-Bayt in the cases before him. If he does not know the judgments of the Imams – which, incidentally, are found only in the reliable ahadith – then, he cannot legitimately adjudicate between Shi’is.
Al-Kulayni provides a shahid as well: Muhammad b. Yahya – Muhammad b. al-Husayn – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Safwan – Dawud b. al-Husayn – ‘Umar b. Hanzalah: I asked Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, about two men from our companions (i.e. from the Shi’is) who have a dispute between them concerning a debt or an inheritance, and they take their case to the (non-Shi’i) ruler or to the (non-Shi’i) judges. Is this permissible?” He replied, “Whosoever takes his cases to the idol, and he delivers a judgment in his favour, he has only obtained (it) illegally even if it were his established right, because he has taken the judgment of the idol while Allah has commanded him to disbelieve in it.”
I said, “What should they both do?” He replied, “Look towards whoever amongst you has narrated our ahadith, has researched our halal and our haram, and knows our rulings; and accede to his jurisdiction, for I have appointed him a judge over you. Whenever he passes a ruling with our rulings, and it is not accepted from him, then verily, it is only the Ruling of Allah that has been belittled, and we would have been rejected (in such a situation). Meanwhile, the rejecter of us is the rejecter of Allah, and it (i.e. the act of rejection) is equivalent to shirk (idolatry) with Allah.”36
Al-Majlisi says about it: Muwaththaq.37
Hadi al-Najafi also declares: The report has an acceptable chain38
And Ayatullah Sadiq al-Ruhani has some additional comments about the same riwayah: The weakening of the report, as done by some, has no basis. This is because there is none in the chain about whom caution is exercised except Dawud b. al-Husayn, and he has been declared thiqah (trustworthy) by al-Najashi. Even if what is stated from Shaykh, may Allah be pleased with him, concerning his Waqifism is proved, then the report would be muwaththaq. As for ‘Umar b. Hanzalah, he has been declared thiqah (trustworthy) by a group, among them al-Shahid al-Thani, may Allah be pleased with him. A number of reports praising him have also been documented, and a lot of the important narrators narrated from him. Plus, the narrator from him (in this hadith) is Safwan b. Yahya, and he was from among those whose reports are unanimously accepted by the group as sahih, if the chain up to them is sahih.39
1. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 26, Ch. 01, # 35
2. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405
3. Hasan b. ‘Ali al-Saqqaf al-Qurashi al-Hashimi al-Husayni, Sahih Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah (Amman: Dar Imam al-Nawawi; 1st edition, 1416 H), p. 654
4. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 23, Ch. 01, # 26
5. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405
6. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 26, # 17
7. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 33, Ch. 01, # 54
8. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405.
9. Muhammad Husayn al-Tabaṭabaai, al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an (Qum: Manshurat Jama’at al-Mudarisin fi al-Hawzah al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol. 19, p. 257
10. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn b. Babuyah al-Qummi, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami li Jama’at al-Mudarisin; 1405 H) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], p. 350, Ch. 33, # 44
11. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 16, # 4
12. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn b. Babuyah al-Qummi, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami li Jama’at al-Mudarisin; 1405 H) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], p. 348-349, Ch. 33, # 40
13. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 44, # 39
14. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 52, # 10
15. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 1, p. 180
16. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 3, p. 77, # 2582
17. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 30, # 1
18. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 43
19. Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Hurr al-‘Amili, Amal al-Amil (Baghdad: Maktabah al-Andalus)[annotator: Sayyid Ahmad al-Husayni], vol. 1, p. 4
20. Qur’an 2:120. See also 2:145, 3:19, 3:61, 10:93, 13:37, 18:65 and 27:15
21. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 34, # 4
22. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 1, p. 111
23. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 11, p. 209, # 13897
24. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 399, # 1
25. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 307
26. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 399, # 3
27. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 309
28. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, pp. 399-400, # 4
29. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 309
30. Ja’far al-Subhani, Kulliyat fi ‘Ilm al-Rijal (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami; 3rd edition, 1414 H), p. 151
31. Abu al-Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui, Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith wa Tafsil Tabaqat al-Ruwat (5th edition, 1413 H), vol. 12, pp. 123-124, # 7604
32. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Tusi, Ikhtiyar Ma’rifat al-Rijal (Muasassat Al al-Bayt) [annotator: Sayyid Mahdi al-Rajai], vol. 2, p. 784, # 935
33. Abu al-Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui, Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith wa Tafsil Tabaqat al-Ruwat (5th edition, 1413 H), vol. 21, p. 217, # 13863
34. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq, al-Furu min al-Kafi (Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 7, p. 412, # 4
35. Muhammad Sadiq al-Husayni al-Ruhani, Fiqh al-Sadiq (Qum: Muasassat Dar al-Kitab; 3rd edition, 1414 H), vol. 25, p. 18
36. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq, al-Furu min al-Kafi (Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 7, p. 412, # 5
37. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 24, p. 279
38. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 5, p. 323, # 6114
39. Muhammad Sadiq al-Husayni al-Ruhani, Fiqh al-Sadiq (Qum: Muasassat Dar al-Kitab; 3rd edition, 1414 H), vol. 25, pp. 25-26
There is always a divinely “sent” guide on the earth for the Ummah. ‘Allamah al-Majlisi (d. 1111 H) documents: ‘Ilal al-Sharai’: my father – ‘Ali – his father – Yahya b. Abi ‘Imran al-Hamdani – Yunus – Ishaq b. ‘Ammar – Muhammad b. Muslim: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said: “Verily, Allah does not leave the earth to be without a scholar who knows the additions and omissions in the religion of Allah, the Almighty. So, when the believers add something, he returns them (to the original teaching); and when they omit, he completes it for them. If not for that, the Muslims would have become confused in their (religious) affairs.1
This hadith has a mu’tabar (reliable) chain, according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.2
There is no doubt that these guides “sent” by Allah are from the offspring of Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi. This is on account of Hadith al-Thaqalayn, which names the Ahl al-Bayt, ‘alaihim al-salam, as the supreme guides of this Ummah. The Sunni hadith scholar, Sayyid Hasan al-Saqqaf, declares: Al-Tirmidhi (5/663, # 3788) recorded it WITH A SAHIH CHAIN, with this wording: “I am leaving behind over you that which if you adhere to it YOU WILL NEVER GO ASTRAY after me. One of them is greater than the other: the Book of Allah - a rope stretching from the heaven to the earth - and MY OFFSPRING, my Ahl al-Bayt. Both shall never separate from each other until they meet me at the Lake-Fount. Therefore, watch carefully how you treat them after me.”3
The default tradition of the Imams is that they are physically available to the Ummah, in order to renew their religion for them. However, Shi’ism also recognizes the existence of extraordinary situations where the khalifah becomes inaccessible to his subjects. ‘Allamah al-Majlisi documents again: ‘Ilal al-Sharai’: my father – al-Himyari – al-Sindi b. Muhammad – al-‘Ala – Muhammad – Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: The earth never exists without an Imam, whether visible OR INVISIBLE.4
The chain of this hadith is mu’tabar (reliable), according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.5 Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya also says about it: Its chain is sahih.6
Al-Majlisi equally copies this report: Ikmal al-Din: my father – Muhammad al-‘Aṭṭar – Ibn Yazid – Ibn Abi ‘Umayr – Sa’d b. Abi Khalaf – Ya’qub b. Shu’ayb – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: There were five hundred years between ‘Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family. For two hundred and fifty years from that period, there was no prophet, and there was no visible scholar”. I asked, “So, what were they (i.e. the people of that period)?” He replied, “They followed the religion of ‘Isa, peace be upon him.” I asked, “So, what were they?” He said, “Believers.” Then, he, peace be upon him, said, “And the earth never exists except that there is a scholar on it.”7
The hadith has a mu’tabar (reliable) chain, according to Ayatullah al-Muhsini.8 The word “scholar” here, of course, refers only to the Imam, in the light of other authentic ahadith on the matter. ‘Allamah al-Tabaṭabai (d. 1412 H) confirms this too, saying immediately after quoting the riwayah: I say: The one intended as the scholar is the Imam, the one who is the Hujjah.9
So, what happens when the Imam is not visible? What are the people supposed to do in order to attain guidance? Some Imams never appear – such as those during the fatrah (i.e. the 500 years between ‘Isa and Muhammad). However, our own Imam will eventually reappear to the world. Meanwhile, before he does that, what exactly are we supposed to be doing in order not to lose his way?
During the ghaybah of the Qaim, we have an obligation to stick strictly with the pure teachings of all the eleven Imams before him, and those of his, that have been authentically transmitted. Shaykh al-Saduq (d. 381 H) records: My father, may Allah be pleased with him – ‘Abd Allah b. Ja’far al-Himyari – Ayub b. Nuh – Muhammad b. Abi ‘Umayr – Jamil b. Darraj – Zurarah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said: “A time will come upon mankind when their Imam will become invisible to them.” So, I asked, “What should mankind do during that time?” He replied, “They must adhere to the matter upon which they are until it becomes clear to them.”10
Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya declares about it: Its chain is sahih.11
Al-Saduq further reports: My father and Muhammad b. al-Hasan b. Ahmad b. al-Walid – Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Saffar – al-‘Abbas b. Ma’ruf – ‘Ali b. Mahziyar – al-Hasan b. al-Mahbub – Hammad b. ‘Isa – Ishaq b. Jarir – ‘Abd Allah b. Sinan: I and my father went to Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him. Then, he asked, “How will you be if you fall into a situation in which you cannot see an Imam of guidance, and you cannot see any guide, and none will be saved in it except those who supplicate with Du’a al-Ghariq?” So, my father said to him, “If that happens overnight, what should we do?” He replied, “As for you personally, you will not meet it (i.e. such a situation). But, when it occurs, you people must adhere to what is in your hands until the matter becomes clear to you.”12
Al-Haj Muhammad Zakariya declares about it: Its chain is sahih.13
Shaykh al-Kulayni (d. 329 H) then caps it all: Muhammad b. Yahya – Ahmad b. Muhammad b. ‘Isa – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Fadhdhal – Ibn Bukayr – ‘Ubayd b. Zurarah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Preserve your books, for you will soon need them.”14
Al-Majlisi comments: Muwaththaq ka al-Sahih15
Shaykh Hadi al-Najafi also states: The report has a reliable chain.16
So, apparently, the Shi’ah are under a command to strictly follow the authentic ahadith documented in the Shi’i books, throughout the longer disappearance of their Imam. It is these books that take his place until his reappearance to establish the final Kingdom of Allah on the earth. Luckily, there are about 11,500 (eleven thousand and five hundred) ahadith with strictly reliable chains in the Shi’i books, as Ayatullah al-Muhsini has revealed in his Mu’jam al-Ahadith al-Mu’tabarah (Dictionary of Reliable Ahadith), published in Qum in 2013 by Nashr Adyan. That is surely far more than enough for anyone who truly seeks the correct guidance of the Prophet and his pure Ahl al-Bayt, ‘alaihim al-salam.
However, there is, sadly, a general lack of interest among the Shi’i laymen in the reliable ahadith of the purified offspring. Many, as far as we can tell, have abandoned the duties of reading, memorizing and studying the authentic ahadith to the ‘ulama and those in the Shi’i seminaries only. Yet, this obligation has been imposed upon all Shi’is indiscriminately by Allah and His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi. Al-Kulayni says: Muhammad b. Ya’qub – ‘Ali b. Ibrahim b. Hashim – his father – al-Hasan b. Abi al-Husayn al-Farisi – ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Zayd – his father – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Seeking knowledge is OBLIGATORY upon EVERY Muslim. Take note: verily, Allah loves the seekers of knowledge.”17
Ayatullah al-Muhsini mentions that this hadith has several dha’if chains in the Shi’i books, and that according to ‘Allamah al-Suyuṭi, it has thirty dha’if chains in the Sunni books. Then, he concludes: And concerning everything that has several chains with us (i.e. Shi’is) and with them (i.e. Sunnis), it becomes necessary to believe that it genuinely came from our master, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his family.18
Therefore, it is sahih on account of its numerous chains in Shi’i and Sunni books, even though all of them are dha’if.
‘Allamah Hurr al-‘Amili (d. 1104 H) also declares that the hadith has reached the level of tawattur: And it has been reported in the mutawatir text from them, peace be upon them: “Verily, seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim. Take note: and verily, Allah loves the seekers of knowledge.”19
What is meant by “knowledge” within the proper Islamic context is that which was revealed by Allah to Muhammad, His Messenger, as the Qur’an testifies: Say: “Verily, the Guidance of Allah is the only guidance”. And if you (O Muhammad) were to follow their desire after what has come to you of knowledge, then you would have against Allah neither any wali nor any helper.20
Apparently, “knowledge” is the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The Sunnah, of course, is only that which is authentically transmitted – directly or indirectly - from the Prophet through the Twelve Imams.
Al-Kulayni also transmits: ‘Ali b. Ibrahim – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Yunus – Jamil – Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him: “Humanity are upon three categories: a scholar, a student and scum. So, we are the scholars. Our Shi’ah are the students; and the rest of mankind are scum”.21
Al-Majlisi comments: Sahih upon the most apparent.22
Shaykh Hadi al-Najafi also says: The report has a sahih chain.23
This is explicit. Anyone who is not actively studying the authentic ahadith of the Ahl al-Bayt is part of the scum of mankind, and is not a genuine Shi’i – no matter what they call themselves. This is indeed a grave warning to all of us.
For the avoidance of doubt, what must be studied by the Shi’ah is what came directly from the Ahl al-Bayt themselves. Al-Kulayni reports again: ‘Ali b. Ibrahim b. Hashim – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Yunus – Ibn Muskan – Muhammad b. Muslim: I heard Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, saying, “There is none among mankind who has any truth, or any correct submission, and there is none among all mankind who judges with any judgment of truth except what comes from us, the Ahl al-Bayt. When the affairs bifurcate through them, the error is from them, and the correct position is from ‘Ali, peace be upon him.”24
Al-Majlisi declares: Sahih25
Al-Kulayni further documents: A number of our companions – Ahmad b. Muhammad – al-Washa – Tha’labah b. Maymun – Abu Maryam: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said to Salamah b. Kuhayl and al-Hakam b. ‘Utaybah: “Go to the East and go to the West. You will not find any authentic knowledge except what comes from us, Ahl al-Bayt.”26
Al-Majlisi again says: Sahih27
Al-Kulayni has more: Muhammad b. Yahya – Ahmad b. Muhammad – al-Husayn b. Sa’id – al-Nadhr b. Suwayd – Yahya al-Halabi – Mu’alla b. ‘Uthman – Abu Basir: He (Abu Ja’far) said to me, “Verily, al-Hakam b. ‘Utaybah is one of those about whom Allah says {And of mankind are those who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day’ while they are not believers} [2:8]. So, let al-Hakam go to the East, and let him go to the West. I swear by Allah, he will not find knowledge except from the people of the house to whom Jibril descended.”28
Al-Majlisi states: Sahih29
However, there do occur circumstances when one is unable to study the ahadith on his own. For instance, almost none of our primary hadith books has been translated into English; and there are thousands – perhaps millions - of English-speaking Shi’is who do not speak Arabic at all. Many who know Arabic are also not proficient in the Shi’i hadith sciences. So, they are unable to distinguish the reliable ahadith from the unreliable ones. What then are they to do? In such cases, the Imams have directed that the trustworthy scholars of hadith must be contacted. We go to them to ask the authentic ahadith of the Ahl al-Bayt on specific situations. ‘Allamah al-Subhani submits: Al-Kishi narrated with a sahih chain from ‘Ali b. al-Musayyab, who said: I said to al-Ridha, peace be upon him, “My house is far, and I do not have access to you all the time. Therefore, from whom should I take the teachings of my religion?” He said, “From Zakariya b. Adam al-Qummi, the one who is trustworthy over the world and the religion.”30
‘Allamah al-Khui (d. 1411 H) has this further submission: What Muhammad b. Ya’qub has narrated with a sahih chain, from Abu ‘Ali Ahmad b. Ishaq, from Abu al-Hasan, peace be upon him: I (Abu ‘Ali) asked him (i.e. Abu al-Hasan), saying, “Whom should I follow or from whom should I take?” And whose statement should I accept?” He (Abu al-Hasan) said to him, “Al-‘Umari is someone I consider thiqah (trustworthy). Therefore, whatsoever he conveys to you from me, is from me, and whatsoever he says to you from me, he is quoting me. As such, listen to him and obey, because he is thiqah (trustworthy), reliable.”
Abu ‘Ali also asked Abu Muhammad, peace be upon him, a similar thing, and he said to him, “Al-‘Umari and his son are thiqah (trustworthy). Therefore, whatsoever they convey to you from me, they are (truly) conveying from me; and whatsoever they say to you, they both are quoting me. As such, listen to them both and obey them, because they both are thiqah (trustworthy), reliable.”31
This hadith supports the rijali methodology in toto. It also emphasizes that we must consult the more knowledgeable Shi’is only so that they could transmit to us – directly or indirectly - the authentic ahadith of our Imams on specific situations.
Shaykh al-Kashi (d. 370 H) records as well: Muhammad b. Mas’ud – Muhammad b. Nasir – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. al-Muhtadi al-Qummi: Muhammad b. Nasir – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Yaqṭin: I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha, peace be upon him, “May I be sacrificed for you. I barely have access to you in order to ask you everything I want concerning the teachings of my religion. Is Yunus b. ‘Abd al-Rahman thiqah (trustworthy), so that I could take from him whatever I need from the teachings of my religion?” He said, “Yes.”32
Commenting on this narration, ‘Allamah al-Khui says: I say: This report is sahih.33
This is like the last in its imports and implications.
Meanwhile, these roles of hadith transmission also extends into judicial matters. Shaykh al-Kulayni documents: Al-Husayn b. Muhammad – Mu’alla b. Muhammad – al-Hasan b. ‘Ali – Abu Khadijah: Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, said to me, “Beware of taking one another for judgment to the unjust people. Instead, look unto a man from amongst you who knows something of our judgments and place him between yourselves (to settle your cases), for I have appointed him a judge. Therefore, take your cases to him for judgment.”34
Ayatullah Sadiq al-Ruhani declares about this hadith: Sahih35
The required qualification of the judge shows that his job is strictly to apply the judgments of the Ahl al-Bayt in the cases before him. If he does not know the judgments of the Imams – which, incidentally, are found only in the reliable ahadith – then, he cannot legitimately adjudicate between Shi’is.
Al-Kulayni provides a shahid as well: Muhammad b. Yahya – Muhammad b. al-Husayn – Muhammad b. ‘Isa – Safwan – Dawud b. al-Husayn – ‘Umar b. Hanzalah: I asked Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, about two men from our companions (i.e. from the Shi’is) who have a dispute between them concerning a debt or an inheritance, and they take their case to the (non-Shi’i) ruler or to the (non-Shi’i) judges. Is this permissible?” He replied, “Whosoever takes his cases to the idol, and he delivers a judgment in his favour, he has only obtained (it) illegally even if it were his established right, because he has taken the judgment of the idol while Allah has commanded him to disbelieve in it.”
I said, “What should they both do?” He replied, “Look towards whoever amongst you has narrated our ahadith, has researched our halal and our haram, and knows our rulings; and accede to his jurisdiction, for I have appointed him a judge over you. Whenever he passes a ruling with our rulings, and it is not accepted from him, then verily, it is only the Ruling of Allah that has been belittled, and we would have been rejected (in such a situation). Meanwhile, the rejecter of us is the rejecter of Allah, and it (i.e. the act of rejection) is equivalent to shirk (idolatry) with Allah.”36
Al-Majlisi says about it: Muwaththaq.37
Hadi al-Najafi also declares: The report has an acceptable chain38
And Ayatullah Sadiq al-Ruhani has some additional comments about the same riwayah: The weakening of the report, as done by some, has no basis. This is because there is none in the chain about whom caution is exercised except Dawud b. al-Husayn, and he has been declared thiqah (trustworthy) by al-Najashi. Even if what is stated from Shaykh, may Allah be pleased with him, concerning his Waqifism is proved, then the report would be muwaththaq. As for ‘Umar b. Hanzalah, he has been declared thiqah (trustworthy) by a group, among them al-Shahid al-Thani, may Allah be pleased with him. A number of reports praising him have also been documented, and a lot of the important narrators narrated from him. Plus, the narrator from him (in this hadith) is Safwan b. Yahya, and he was from among those whose reports are unanimously accepted by the group as sahih, if the chain up to them is sahih.39
1. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 26, Ch. 01, # 35
2. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405
3. Hasan b. ‘Ali al-Saqqaf al-Qurashi al-Hashimi al-Husayni, Sahih Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah (Amman: Dar Imam al-Nawawi; 1st edition, 1416 H), p. 654
4. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 23, Ch. 01, # 26
5. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405
6. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 26, # 17
7. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar al-Aimah al-Aṭhar (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 3rd edition, 1403 H), vol. 23, p. 33, Ch. 01, # 54
8. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 405.
9. Muhammad Husayn al-Tabaṭabaai, al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an (Qum: Manshurat Jama’at al-Mudarisin fi al-Hawzah al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol. 19, p. 257
10. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn b. Babuyah al-Qummi, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami li Jama’at al-Mudarisin; 1405 H) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], p. 350, Ch. 33, # 44
11. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 16, # 4
12. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. ‘Ali b. al-Husayn b. Babuyah al-Qummi, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami li Jama’at al-Mudarisin; 1405 H) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], p. 348-349, Ch. 33, # 40
13. Muhammad Zakariya, al-Sahih wa al-Mu’tabar min Akhbar al-Hujjah al-Muntazar (Majmu’at al-Rasid; 1st edition, 1434 H), p. 44, # 39
14. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 52, # 10
15. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 1, p. 180
16. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 3, p. 77, # 2582
17. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 30, # 1
18. Muhammad Asif al-Muhsini, Mashra’ah Bihar al-Anwar (Beirut: Muasassat al-‘Arif li al-Maṭbu’at; 2nd edition, 1426 H), vol. 1, p. 43
19. Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Hurr al-‘Amili, Amal al-Amil (Baghdad: Maktabah al-Andalus)[annotator: Sayyid Ahmad al-Husayni], vol. 1, p. 4
20. Qur’an 2:120. See also 2:145, 3:19, 3:61, 10:93, 13:37, 18:65 and 27:15
21. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 34, # 4
22. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 1, p. 111
23. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 11, p. 209, # 13897
24. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 399, # 1
25. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 307
26. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, p. 399, # 3
27. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 309
28. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq al-Kulayni al-Razi, al-Usul min al-Kafi (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah; 3rd edition) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 1, pp. 399-400, # 4
29. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 4, p. 309
30. Ja’far al-Subhani, Kulliyat fi ‘Ilm al-Rijal (Qum: Muasassat al-Nashr al-Islami; 3rd edition, 1414 H), p. 151
31. Abu al-Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui, Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith wa Tafsil Tabaqat al-Ruwat (5th edition, 1413 H), vol. 12, pp. 123-124, # 7604
32. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Tusi, Ikhtiyar Ma’rifat al-Rijal (Muasassat Al al-Bayt) [annotator: Sayyid Mahdi al-Rajai], vol. 2, p. 784, # 935
33. Abu al-Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui, Mu’jam Rijal al-Hadith wa Tafsil Tabaqat al-Ruwat (5th edition, 1413 H), vol. 21, p. 217, # 13863
34. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq, al-Furu min al-Kafi (Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 7, p. 412, # 4
35. Muhammad Sadiq al-Husayni al-Ruhani, Fiqh al-Sadiq (Qum: Muasassat Dar al-Kitab; 3rd edition, 1414 H), vol. 25, p. 18
36. Abu Ja’far Muhammad b. Ya’qub b. Ishaq, al-Furu min al-Kafi (Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: ‘Ali Akbar al-Ghiffari], vol. 7, p. 412, # 5
37. Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, Mir-at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul (Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah) [annotator: Sayyid Muhsin al-Husayni al-Amini], vol. 24, p. 279
38. Hadi al-Najafi, Mawsu’at Ahadith Ahl al-Bayt (Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi; 1st edition, 1423 H), vol. 5, p. 323, # 6114
39. Muhammad Sadiq al-Husayni al-Ruhani, Fiqh al-Sadiq (Qum: Muasassat Dar al-Kitab; 3rd edition, 1414 H), vol. 25, pp. 25-26
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