Hadith al-Safina: Difference between revisions

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'''Hadith al-Safāna''' (the narration of the ark) is a famous [[hadith]] narrated from [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. In this Hadith, the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] of the Prophet are likened to [[Noah]]'s Ark. The Hadith is counted as one of the narrative proofs of the special situation of the Prophet's household in guidance and leadership of Muslims.

Hadith al-Safina is narrated through about 50 [[Sanad]]s with slight differences in various hadith collections with slightly different words, in a way that results in [[Tawatur]] of the meaning of it. The Hadith is narrated by six [[infallible Imams (a)]] ([[Imam Ali]], [[Imam al-Hasan]], [[Imam al-Sajjad]], [[Imam al-Baqir]], [[Imam al-Sadiq]] and [[Imam al-Rida]] (a)), some [[Sahaba]]s (the Companions of the Prophet (s)) ([[Abu Dhar]], [[Abu Sa'id al-Khudri]], [[Ibn 'Abbas]], [[Anas b. Malik]], [[Salama b. Akwa']], [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] and [[Abu Musa Ash'ari]]) and a group of [[Tabi'in]] (the Followers).

* '''Necessity of obedience and adherence:''' In this Hadith, Ahl al-Bayt are introduced as a means of salvation; obey the means of salvation is necessary to attain salvation. Thus, it is necessary to obey Ahl al-Bayt.  

* '''Infallibility of Ahl al-Bayt:''' if someone whose obedience is obligatory is fallible, there will be no guarantee that he does not make any mistakes in his guidance. While in the Hadith the salvation through Ahl al-Bayt has been guaranteed, Therefore, Ahl al-Bayt must be infallible.

* '''Superiority of Ahl al-Bayt:''' If there were other people who were superior to Ahl al-Bayt, they should have been mentioned in the Hadith as the rescue ark.  

* '''Affection for Ahl al-Bayt:''' Entering the rescue ark without having affection for them is not possible.  

Having narrated this Hadith in his book ''al-Mustadrak'' from Abu Dhar, al-Hakim al-Nayshaburi explicitly says that based on [[Muslim al-Nayshaburi]]'s criteria this Hadith is [[al-Hadith al-Sahih|Sahih]], i.e. this Hadith is similar to other Hadiths mentioned By Muslim in his book ''[[Sahih Muslim|Sahih]]'', which is the second most reliable Hadith collection in [[Sunni]] school of thought.  

As Abu Dhar held the door of [[Ka'ba]] while narrating this Hadith, al-Tayibi believes that this act is an emphasis on the authenticity of it and his appearance publicly and especially, in [[Masjid al-Haram]] shows the importance of this Hadith to Abu Dhar, and that he wanted to draw the attention of the public to it. Al-Tayibi adds that in another narration Abu Dhar introduced him in the beginning by saying "who knows me, knows me; and who does not, I am Abu Dhar. I heard the Prophet …." By introducing himself, he wanted to remind people of another Hadith from the Prophet (s) about himself: "There is no one under the sky and on the earth more truthful than Abu Dhar." In Hadith al-Safina the Prophet of God (s) has mentioned this ark as the only way for redemption of this world and its seductions.

Al-Samhudi writes in ''[[Jawahir al-'iqdayn fi fadl al-sharafayn (book)|al-Jawahir al-'iqdayn]]'' that the ark of Ahl al-Bayt will rescue those who board it as [[Noah]]'s Ark did. The Hadith wants to encourage people to hold firmly to the rope of Ahl al-Bayt, honor them and have affection for them.  

Likewise, al-Manawi writes in his book ''Fayd al-qadir'' that Ahl al-Bayt were likened to Noah's Ark as they rescue and guide people, i.e. as the people who were on Noah's Ark survived and were rescued, the salvation of the Islamic nation depends on adherence to Ahl al-Bayt (a); for they are the leaders and bright lights of guidance.