Hadith Man Mat: Difference between revisions

'''Ḥadīth Man Māt''' (Arabic: حَدیث مَنْ مات) is a well-known [[hadith]] from [[the Prophet Muhammad (s)]] according to which: “if a man dies while he does not know the [[Imam]] of his time, he will die a death of [[Jahiliyya]] (ignorance)”. The hadith is cited in Shiite and Sunni sources with different wordings. The [[Shi'as]] take it to be concerned with the problem of [[imamate]], implying the obligation of knowing and obeying the [[Imams]]. Sunni scholars take it to be concerned with the relationship between people and a Muslim ruler and the obligation of pledging their allegiance to him.

There are some hadiths in Islamic sources beginning with the phrase, “man mat” (if a man dies). By “Hadith Man Mat” is meant the Prophet’s (s) well-known remark according to which, “if a man dies while he does not know the Imam of his time, he will die a death of ignorance”. [[Ibn Abi Ya'fur]] asked [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] about the Prophet’s hadith according to which, “if a man dies while he does not know the Imam of his time, he will die a death of ignorance”: is it the death as an unbeliever? He replied: “it is the death as a misguided person”. He then asked: “if a man dies at this time without a leader, will he die a death of ignorance?” He replied: “Yes”.

Hadith Man Mat is cited with slight differences in Sunni sources as well. The Prophet (s) said: “if a man dies without an Imam, he will die a death of ignorance”. Or “if a man withdraws from obedience, he will meet God on Dooms Day without a plea, and if a man dies without having pledged an allegiance, he will die a death of ignorance”. Sunni scholars take this hadith to be reliable and good.

The Shi'as have appealed to the hadith in their discussions of the problem of [[imamate]] to argue that it is an obligation to known and obey the Imams. According to the Shi'a, the “imam” in this hadith refers to [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and [[Infallible Imams (a)]], and at present, it refers to [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]].

However, Sunni scholars have provided a different interpretation of this hadith. In his ''[[Sahih Muslim|Sahih]]'', [[Muslim b. Hajjaj]] cited this hadith under a section entitled as “the section concerning the obligation of accompanying the group [i.e. majority of Muslims] at the time of riots and avoiding people who call to infidelity”. Some Sunni sources have interpreted the hadith in terms of another hadith from the Prophet (s) according to which, “if a man dies while parting with the group [i.e. majority of Muslims], he will die a death of ignorance”.

Sunni Muslims take the “imam” in this hadith to refer to the ruler of the Islamic community who should be obeyed and to whom people should pledge their allegiance in order to keep the majority. The obligation of obeying the Islamic ruler include all Muslim rulers, regardless of whether they are just, sinners, or whatever.

Some Sunni sources have taken the “imam” in this hadith to refer to the Prophet (s) himself, holding that people are obliged to believe in him, because he is the leader of people in this world.