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Explicitly emphasizing the inseparability of the [[Quran]] and the Ahl al-Bayt (a), as it states, "the two will never separate until they come to me at the pond," this hadith implies the infallibility of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), since any [[sins]] or mistakes on their part would result in their separation from the Quran.<ref>See: Mufīd, ''al-Masāʾil al-Jarūdīyya'', p. 42; Ibn ʿAṭiyya, ''Abha l-murād'', vol. 1, p. 131; Baḥrānī, ''Manār al-hudā'', p. 671; Ḥammūd, ''al-Fawāʾid al-bahīyya'', vol. 2, p. 95.</ref> Furthermore, the Prophet (s) stated in this hadith that one who follows the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) will never go astray. This also suggests the Ahl al-Bayt's (a) infallibility, as unconditional adherence to them would otherwise lead to misguidance if they were not infallible.<ref>Ibn ʿAṭiyya, ''Abha l-murād'', vol. 1, p. 131; Baḥrānī, ''Manār al-hudā'', p. 671; Ḥammūd, ''al-Fawāʾid al-bahīyya'', vol. 2, p. 95.</ref> In other words, this hadith signifies the obligation to obey the Ahl al-Bayt (a), where such an obligation indicates their infallibility.<ref>Ḥalabī, ''al-Kāfī fī al-fiqh'', p. 97.</ref> | Explicitly emphasizing the inseparability of the [[Quran]] and the Ahl al-Bayt (a), as it states, "the two will never separate until they come to me at the pond," this hadith implies the infallibility of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), since any [[sins]] or mistakes on their part would result in their separation from the Quran.<ref>See: Mufīd, ''al-Masāʾil al-Jarūdīyya'', p. 42; Ibn ʿAṭiyya, ''Abha l-murād'', vol. 1, p. 131; Baḥrānī, ''Manār al-hudā'', p. 671; Ḥammūd, ''al-Fawāʾid al-bahīyya'', vol. 2, p. 95.</ref> Furthermore, the Prophet (s) stated in this hadith that one who follows the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) will never go astray. This also suggests the Ahl al-Bayt's (a) infallibility, as unconditional adherence to them would otherwise lead to misguidance if they were not infallible.<ref>Ibn ʿAṭiyya, ''Abha l-murād'', vol. 1, p. 131; Baḥrānī, ''Manār al-hudā'', p. 671; Ḥammūd, ''al-Fawāʾid al-bahīyya'', vol. 2, p. 95.</ref> In other words, this hadith signifies the obligation to obey the Ahl al-Bayt (a), where such an obligation indicates their infallibility.<ref>Ḥalabī, ''al-Kāfī fī al-fiqh'', p. 97.</ref> | ||
In Shiite hadiths, "Ahl al-Bayt" in the Hadith of the Two Weighty Things is interpreted as referring to the [[Shiite Imams (a)]].<ref>See: Khazzāz al-Qummī, ''Kifāyat al-athar'', p. 87, 92, 192, 137; Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 57.</ref> Some Sunni scholars<ref>Munāwī, ''Fayḍ al-qadīr'', vol. 3, p. 14.</ref> believe that "Ahl al-Bayt" here refers to the Companions of the Cloak, with others identifying its foremost example as Imam Ali (a). | In Shiite hadiths, "Ahl al-Bayt" in the Hadith of the Two Weighty Things is interpreted as referring to the [[Shiite Imams (a)]].<ref>See: Khazzāz al-Qummī, ''Kifāyat al-athar'', p. 87, 92, 192, 137; Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 57.</ref> Some Sunni scholars<ref>Munāwī, ''Fayḍ al-qadīr'', vol. 3, p. 14.</ref> believe that "Ahl al-Bayt" here refers to the Companions of the Cloak, with others identifying its foremost example as Imam Ali (a).<ref>Haytamī, ''al-Ṣawāʿiq al-muḥriqa'', vol. 2, p. 442, 443.</ref> | ||
Some Shiite theologians believe that Hadith al-Thaqalayn is a [[Mutawatir Hadith|frequently transmitted]] hadith, leaving no doubt about its authenticity. Others argue that, while it may not be mutawatir in its exact wording, it is so in terms of its meaning. | Some Shiite theologians believe that Hadith al-Thaqalayn is a [[Mutawatir Hadith|frequently transmitted]] hadith, leaving no doubt about its authenticity.<ref>Ibn ʿAṭiyya, ''Abha l-murād'', vol. 1, p. 130; Baḥrānī, ''Manār al-hudā'', p. 670.</ref> Others argue that, while it may not be mutawatir in its exact wording, it is so in terms of its meaning.<ref>Baḥrānī, ''al-Ḥadāʾiq al-nāḍira'', vol. 9, p. 360; Māzandarānī, ''Sharḥ uṣūl kāfī'', vol. 6, p. 124.</ref> | ||
===Hadith al-Aman=== | ===Hadith al-Aman=== | ||
{{Main|Hadith al-Aman}} | {{Main|Hadith al-Aman}} | ||
Hadith al-Aman is a renowned hadith transmitted from the Prophet (s) through both Shiite and Sunni sources, albeit in slight variations in its wording: Stars are safety for the inhabitants of the sky and my household (Ahl al-Bayt) are safety for my nation. | Hadith al-Aman is a renowned hadith transmitted from the Prophet (s) through both Shiite<ref>See: ''al-Tafsīr al-mansūb ilā al-Imām al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī al-ʿAskarī'', p. 546; Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 2, p. 27; Ṭūsī, ''al-Amālī'', p. 259, 379.</ref> and Sunni sources,<ref>See: Ibn Ḥanbal, ''Faḍāʾīl al-ṣaḥāba'', vol. 2, p. 671; Ḥākim al-Nayshābūrī, ''al-Mustadrak ʿala l-ṣaḥīḥayn'', vol. 2, p. 486, vol. 3, p. 517; Ṭabarānī, ''al-Muʿjam al-kabīr'', vol. 7, p. 22; Ibn ʿAsākir, ''Tārīkh Damishq'', vol. 40, p. 20.</ref> albeit in slight variations in its wording: "Stars are safety for the inhabitants of the sky and my household (Ahl al-Bayt) are safety for my nation." | ||
In appealing to this hadith, it is noted that the Prophet (s) likens his Ahl al-Bayt (a) to stars, symbolizing their role in ensuring the safety of his nation or the inhabitants of the earth. By describing his Household as the stars of guidance and the safeguard against disputes and misguidance, the Prophet (s) implies their infallibility, as such a role would be impossible without their infallibility. | In appealing to this hadith, it is noted that the Prophet (s) likens his Ahl al-Bayt (a) to stars, symbolizing their role in ensuring the safety of his nation or the inhabitants of the earth. By describing his Household as the stars of guidance and the safeguard against disputes and misguidance, the Prophet (s) implies their infallibility, as such a role would be impossible without their infallibility.<ref>See: Rabbānī Gulpāygānī and Fāṭimīnizhād, ''Ḥadīth-i amān wa imāmat-i Ahl-i bayt (a)'', p. 31.</ref> | ||
In the hadiths cited in the book ''[[Kifayat al-athar (book)|Kifayat al-Athar]]'', "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" in this hadith is interpreted as referring to the Shiite Imams (a), explicitly attributing infallibility to them. [[Al-Hakim al-Nishaburi]], a Sunni hadith scholar of the fourth century | In the hadiths cited in the book ''[[Kifayat al-athar (book)|Kifayat al-Athar]]'', "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" in this hadith is interpreted as referring to the Shiite Imams (a), explicitly attributing infallibility to them.<ref>Khazzāz al-Qummī, ''Kifāyat al-athar'', p. 29.</ref> [[Al-Hakim al-Nishaburi]], a Sunni hadith scholar of the fourth/tenth century, acknowledges that Hadith al-Aman has a reliable chain of transmission.<ref>Ḥākim al-Nayshābūrī, ''al-Mustadrak ʿala l-ṣaḥīḥayn'', vol. 2, p. 486</ref> | ||
===Hadith al-Safina=== | ===Hadith al-Safina=== | ||
{{Main|Hadith al-Safina}} | {{Main|Hadith al-Safina}} | ||
The well-known Hadith of the Ark is transmitted from the Prophet (s) in numerous Shiite and Sunni sources, with slight variations in wording: "Indeed, my Ahl al-Bayt (Household) among you are like Noah's Ark—whoever embarks on it will be saved, and whoever deviates from it will drown." Some scholars suggest that this hadith is | The well-known Hadith of the Ark is transmitted from the Prophet (s) in numerous Shiite<ref>See: Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 2, p. 27; Ṣaffār, ''Baṣāʾir al-darajāt'', p. 297; Khazzāz al-Qummī, ''Kifāyat al-athar'', p. 37; Ṭūsī, ''al-Amālī'', p. 60, 249, 459, 482, 513, 733; Baḥrānī, ''Ghāyat al-marām'', vol. 3, p. 13-24.</ref> and Sunni sources,<ref>See: Ibn Ḥanbal, ''Faḍāʾīl al-ṣaḥāba'', vol. 2, p. 785; Ḥākim al-Nayshābūrī, ''al-Mustadrak ʿala l-ṣaḥīḥayn'', vol. 2, p. 373, vol. 3, p. 163; Ṭabarānī, ''al-Muʿjam al-kabīr'', vol. 3, p. 45; Munāwī, ''Fayḍ al-qadīr'', vol. 2, p. 519, vol. 5, p. 517.</ref> with slight variations in wording: "Indeed, my Ahl al-Bayt (Household) among you are like Noah's Ark—whoever embarks on it will be saved, and whoever deviates from it will drown." Some scholars suggest that this hadith is [[mutawatir]].<ref>Mūsawī Shaftī, ''al-Imāma'', p. 209.</ref> Al-Hakim al-Nishaburi holds that the hadith has a reliable chain of transmission.<ref>Ḥākim al-Nayshābūrī, ''al-Mustadrak ʿala l-ṣaḥīḥayn'', vol. 3, p. 163.</ref> | ||
In his citation of the hadith, [[Mir Hamid Husayn al-Hindi]] argues that if the Ahl al-Bayt's (a) ark saves people and deviation from it leads to misguidance, then the Ahl al-Bayt (a) themselves must a fortiori be immune to misguidance. Otherwise, an unconditional command to follow them and embark on their ark would lead to misguidance, which is impossible for God and the Prophet to decree. | In his citation of the hadith, [[Mir Hamid Husayn al-Hindi]] argues that if the Ahl al-Bayt's (a) ark saves people and deviation from it leads to misguidance, then the Ahl al-Bayt (a) themselves must a fortiori be immune to misguidance. Otherwise, an unconditional command to follow them and embark on their ark would lead to misguidance, which is impossible for God and the Prophet (s) to decree.<ref>Mīr Ḥāmid Ḥusayn, ''ʿAbaqāt al-anwār'', vol. 23, p. 655, 656.</ref> | ||
In Hadith al-Safina, "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" is interpreted as referring to the [[Twelve Imams|Twelve Imams (a)]]. 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-Manawi, a Shafi'i scholar of the tenth and eleventh centuries AH, identifies "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" in this hadith as including the Imams (a) and [[Lady Fatima (a)]]. | In Hadith al-Safina, "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" is interpreted as referring to the [[Twelve Imams|Twelve Imams (a)]].<ref>Khazzāz al-Qummī, ''Kifāyat al-athar'', p. 34, 210, 211; Abū Ṣalāḥ Ḥalabī, ''al-Kāfī fī al-fiqh'', p. 97.</ref> 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-Manawi, a Shafi'i scholar of the tenth and eleventh centuries AH, identifies "Ahl al-Bayt (a)" in this hadith as including the Imams (a) and [[Lady Fatima (a)]].<ref>Munāwī, ''Fayḍ al-qadīr'', vol. 2, p. 519.</ref> | ||
==Origin of the Belief in Infallibility== | ==Origin of the Belief in Infallibility== | ||