What Is the Opinion of the Sunni Scholars on the Hadith of Al-Ghadir?

What Is the Opinion of the Sunni Scholars on the Hadith of Al-Ghadir?

A great number of Sunni scholars have declared the wide-scale transmission (tawatur) of the hadith of al-Gahdir, just as they advocate the validity of its chain of transmission, its soundness, and its clear signification for the Imamate of the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali ibn Talib (upon whom be peace) as well as his direct succession to the Messenger of God (upon whom).

Abu al-Khayr Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Jazri al-Shafi‘i, in respect to the hadith of al-Ghadir, thus stated: It has been widely and successively transmitted from the Commander of the Fatimah ‘Ali (upon whom be peace), in the same way that it, i.e. the hadith of al-Ghadir, has been conveyed with a wide-scale transmission from the Prophet (upon whom).

A large number of transmitters have reported it, so there is no regard for one who seeks to weaken it from among those who have no knowledge of this discipline. For it has been reported by way of traceability from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd Allah, al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, al- ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Zayd ibn Arqam, Bura’ ibn ‘Azib, Buraydah ibn al-Husayn, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah, ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas, Habashi ibn Junadah, Sumrah ibn Jundub, Anas ibn Malik, and Zayd ibn Thabit.[1]

As well, Hujjat al-Islam al-Ghazali said: The people have agreed on (the transmission of) the text of the hadith in his sermon on the day of Ghadir Khumm at the presence of all, when he said:

For whoever I am his master, mawla, ‘Ali is his master…. So ‘Umar said: Bravo, Bravo! O Abu al-Hasan ! You have become my master and the master of every master. This is (a clear argument for) consent, approval, and appointment. However, thereafter caprice and desire overcame for love of mastery.[2]

From among those who have also referred explicitly to the wide-scale transmission of the hadith of al-Ghadir are Shams al-Din al-Shafi‘i [3], al-Qastalani [4], and al-Mansur Billah [5].

Here we make mention of the sources of this hadith through the paths of the Sunnis:

1. Abu al-Fida’ Isma‘il ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi (d.774 AH), Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifah) vol.2, p.15.

2. Abu al-Qasim ‘Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Hibat Allah al-Shafi‘i, known as Ibn ‘Asakir (d.571 AH), Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr) vol.2, p.5.

3. Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Wasiti al-Jilati al-Shafi‘i, known as Ibn al-Maghazali (d.483 AH), Manaqib ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (Beirut: Dar Maktabat al-Hayat), p.31.

4. Abu al-Fadl Shihab al-Din Mahmud al-Alusi al-Baghdadi al-Shafi‘i, Ruh al-Ma‘ani (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr), vol.4, p.282.

5. Muhib al-Din Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Tabari, Dhakha’ir al-‘Uqba fi Manaqib Dhawi al-Qurba (Cairo: Maktabat al-Qudsi), p.67.

6. Al-Hafiz Shams al-Din al- Shafi‘i, al-Talkhis Bidhayl al-Mustadrak (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr), vol.3, p.109.

7. Ahmad ibn Abi Ya‘qub ibn Ja‘far ibn Wahab ibn Wadih al-Katib al-‘Abbasi, known as al-Ya‘qubi, Tarikh al-Ya‘qubi (Beirut: Mu’assasat al-A‘lami li al-Matbu‘at), vol.1, p.422.

8. Al-Qastalani, Sharh al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah (Cairo: al-Matba‘ah al-Azhariyyah), vol.7, p.13.

9. ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Maliki, known as Ibn al-Sabbagh (d.855 AH), al-Fusul al-Muhimmah (Beirut: Mu’assasat al-A‘lami (I al-Matbu‘at), p.40.

10. Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu‘ayb, known as al-Nasa’i, Fada’il al-Sahabah (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), p.15.

11. Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al-Suyuti (d.911 AH), Tarikh al-Khulafa’ (Egypt), p.196.

12. Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al-Suyuti (d.911 AH) al-Hawi li al- Fatawa (Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-‘Arabi), vol. 1, p.106.

13. Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Jabir al-Baladhari, Ansab al-Ashraf (Beirut: Mu’assasat al-A‘lami li al-Matbu‘at), vol2, p.111.

14. Abu al-Fida’ Isma‘il ibn Kathir al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi (d.774 AH), al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah (Beirut: Maktabat al-Ma‘arifli al-Matbu‘at), vol.5, p.209.

15. Abu ‘Umar Yusuf ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Birr, al-Isti‘ab (Beirut: Dar al-Jil), vol.3, p.1089

16. ‘Abd al- Ra’wuf al-Manawi, al-Kawakib al-Durriyyah fi Tarajum al-Sadah al-Sufiyyah (Cairo: Al-Maktabah al-Azhariyyah li al-Turath),vol1, p.69.

17. Al-Mahamili, al-Amali (Jordan: Al-Maktabah al-Islamiyyah), p.85.

18. Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Qaysi, Sharh Hashimiyyat al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi (Beirut:Maktabat al-Nahdah), p.197.

19. Muhammad ibn al-Sabban al-Shafi‘i (d.1206 AH), Is‘af al-Raghibin (Beirut: Al-Maktabah al-Sha‘biyyah), p.111.

20. Muhammad Rashid Rida, Tafsir al-Manar (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifah), vol.6, p.464.

21. Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d.241 AH), al-‘Ilal wa Ma‘rifat al-Rijal (Riyad: Al-Maktabah al-Islamiyyah), vol.3, p.262.

22. Abu Mansur ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad Isma‘il al-Tha‘albi al-Naysaburi (d.429 AH), Thimar al-Qulub min al-Mudafwa al-Mansub (Beirut: Dar al-Basha’ir), vol.2, p. 906.

23. Jalal al-Din ibn Abi Bakr al-Suyuti (d.911 AH), al-Jami‘ al-Saghir fi Ahadith al-Bashir al-Nadhir (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol.2, p.66.

24. Nur al-Din ‘Ali ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Samhudi (d.911 AH), Jawahir al-‘Iqdayn fi Fadl al-Sharafayn, Fadl al-‘Ilm al-Jali wa al-Nasab al-Nabawi (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), p.236.

25. ‘Abd al-Ra’wuf al-Manawi, Kunuz al-Haqa’iq (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol.2, p.118.

26. Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Uthman al-Dhahabi (d.748 AH), Mizan al-I‘tidal fi Naqd al-Rijal (Beirut: Dar Ihya’ al-Kitab al-‘Arabi), vol. 3, p.294.

27. Jalal al-Din ibn Abi Bakr al-Suyuti (d.911 AH), al-Durr al-Manthur fi al-Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur (Beirut: Muhammad Amin), vol2, p.293.

28. Nur al-Din ‘Ali ibn Abi Bakr al-Haythami (d.807 AH), Majma‘ al-Zawa’id wa Manba‘al-Fawa’id (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr), vol.9,p.129.

29. Al-Muwaffaq ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Makki al-Khawarizmi (d.568 AH), Manaqib ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (Qum: Jami‘at al-Mudarrisin),p.156.

30. Rukn al-Din Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas‘ud Abu al-Farra’ al-Baghawi (d.516 AH), Masabih al-Sunnah (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifah), vol.4, p.172.

31. Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi, Nawadir al-Usul fi Ma‘rifat Ahadith al-Rasul (Beirut: Dar Sadir), p.289.

32. Kamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Talhah al-Shafi‘i (d.654 AH), Matalib al-Sa’wul fi Manaqib Al al-Rasul, in manuscript, p.4.

33. Abu Sa‘id al-Haytham ibn Kulayb al-Shashi (d.335 AH), al-Musnad (Medina: Maktabat al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam), vol.1, p.166.

34. Abu al-Fath Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Abi Bakr Ahmad al-Shahirstani (d.548 AH), al-Milal wa al-Nihal (Qum: Amir), vol.1, p.136.

35. Sulayman ibn Ibrahim al-Qunduzi al-Hanafi (d.1294 AH), Yanabi‘ al-Mawaddah (Najaf: Al-Matab‘ah al-Haydariyyah), vol.1, p.33.

36. ‘Abd al-Ra’wuf al-Manawi, Fayd al-Qadir Sharh al-Jami‘ al-Saghir (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifah), vol.4, p.358.

37. Abu al-Mu’ayyad al-Muwaffaq ibn Ahmad al-Makki Akhtab al-Khawarizmi (d.568 AH), Maqtal al-Husayn (Iran), vol.1, p.47.

38. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Muntakhab Kanz al-‘Ummal (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami), vol.5, p.30.

39. Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu‘ayb al-Nasa’i (d.303 AH), Khasa’is Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (Iran), p.43.

40. ‘Afif al-Din ‘Abd Allah ibn As‘ad al-Yafi‘i al-Yamani (d.768 AH), Mir’at al-Jinan wa ‘Ibrat al-Yaqzan fi Ma‘rifat Hawadith al-Zaman (Beirut: Mu’assasat al-Risalah), p.143.

41. ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar al-Baydawi, Tawali‘ al-Anwar (Egypt: Al-Diyar al- ‘Amirah), vol.1 p.585.

42. Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Bayhaqi (d.458 AH), al-I‘tiqad ‘ala Madhhab al-Salaf: Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), p.217.

43. Al-Hafiz al-Tabarani (d.360 AH), al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat (Riyad: Maktabat al-Ma‘arif), vol.3, p.69.

44. Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu‘ayb al-Nasa‘i (d.303 AH), al-Sunan al-Kubra (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol.5, p.130.

45. ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn Khaldun (d.808 AH), al-Muqaddimah (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr), p.246.

46. Jamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Zarandi al-Hanafi al-Madani (d.750 AH), Nazm Durar al-Samtayn (Najaf: Al-Qada), p.93.

47. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Khatib al-Tabrizi, Mishkat al-Masabih (Beirut: Al-Maktab al-Islami), vol.3,p.1720.

48. Sayf al-Din al-Amudi (d.631 AH), Ghayat al-Maram fi ‘Ilm al-Kalam, (Cairo), p.375.

49. Abu Ja‘far Ahmad, known as al-Muhib al-Tabari, al-Riyad al-Nadirah fi Manaqib al-‘Ashrah (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah), vol.3, p.127.

50. Badr al-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-‘Ayani (d. 855 AH), ‘Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr), vol.18, p.206.

51. Muhammad ibn Mu‘tamad Khan al-Badkhashani al-Harithi (d.1126 AH), Nuzul al-Abrar bi ma Sahha min Manaqib Ahl al-Bayt al-Athar (Beirut: Mu’assasat al-Mufid), p.54.

52. Al-Shabalanji, Nur al-Absar fi Manaqib Bayt al-Nabi al-Mukhtar (Al-Maktabah al-Sha‘biyyah), p.78.

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1. Asna al-Matalib, p.47.

2. Sirr al- ‘Alamin wa Kashf ma fi al-Darayn by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, p.10.

3. That is Abu al-Khayr Shams al-Din ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Jazri (d.833 AH). He declared it in his book Asna al-Matalib, p.47.

4.See al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah (Cairo: Al-Matba‘ah al-Azhariyyah), p.7, p.13.

5. That is al-Husayn ibn al-Mansur Billah al-Qasim ibn Muhammad (d.1050 AH). He declared it in his book Hidayat al-‘Uqul ila Ghayat al-Sa’wul fi ‘Ilm al-Usul (Yemen).vol.2, p.45