Hadith al-Manzila: Difference between revisions

This hadith has been mentioned in different historical, traditional and theological sources.<ref>Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol.1, P.277; Vol.3, P.417; Al-Bukhari, Vol.5, P.129; Tirmidhi, Vol.5, P.638; Al-Kafi, Vol.8, PP.107-8; Al-Baqilani, P. 457; Qadi 'Abd al-Jabbar, Vol.10, Chapter 1, P. 158; Khatib al-Baghdadi, Vol.4, P. 465; Fakhr Razi, Vol.2, P.257; Taftazani, Vol.5, P.296</ref> Even, some [[Shi'a]] scholars have written independent books on them, including [[Mir Hamid Husayn]] (d. 1306 AH/1889) who dedicated one volume of ''[['Abaqat al-anwar]]'' to this hadith. Hakim Haskani narrated from his teacher, Abu Hazim Hafiz 'Abdaway that he recorded narration of the hadith of Manzila from 5000 references. In another report, 88 ones among most famous narrators of hadith have narrated this hadith<ref>Husayni Milani, Vol.17, PP.23-8</ref>. People such as [[Ibn Taymiyya]]<ref>Ibn Taymiyya, Vol.7, P.326</ref>, 'Abd al-Haqq Dihlawi, Ganji al-Shafi'i, Abu l-Qasim 'Ali b. Muhassin al-Tanukhi and [[Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti|al-Suyuti]] acknowledged authenticity and popularity of this hadith. This hadith has also been mentioned in [[Sahih al-Bukhari]]<ref>Al-Bukhari, Vol.4, P.208; Vol.5, P.129: حَدَّثَنِی مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِیمَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِیهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِی صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَیهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِعَلِی: «‌أَمَا تَرْضَی أَنْ تَکونَ مِنِّی بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ، مِنْ مُوسَی‌»</ref>, [[Sahih Muslim]]<ref>Muslim, Vol.7, P.119: حَدَّثَنَا یحْیی بْنُ یحْیی التَّمِیمِی وَأَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ وَعُبَیدُ اللَّهِ الْقَوَارِیرِی وَسُرَیجُ بْنُ یونُسَ کلُّهُمْ عَنْ یوسُفَ الْمَاجِشُونِ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الصَّبَّاحِ - حَدَّثَنَا یوسُفُ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ الْمَاجِشُونُ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُنْکدِرِ عَنْ سَعِیدِ بْنِ الْمُسَیبِ عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِی وَقَّاصٍ عَنْ أَبِیهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلی الله علیه وسلم- لِعَلِی «‌أَنْتَ مِنِّی بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَی إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ لاَ نَبِی بَعْدِی ». قَالَ سَعِیدٌ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُشَافِهَ بِهَا سَعْدًا فَلَقِیتُ سَعْدًا فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِمَا حَدَّثَنِی عَامِرٌ فَقَالَ أَنَا سَمِعْتُه‍. فَقُلْتُ آنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ فَوَضَعَ إِصْبَعَیهِ عَلَی أُذُنَیهِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَکتَا.</ref> and other Sunni hadith references.

[[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]] reagrds this hadith agreed upon by all Islamic sects; and [[Ibn 'Abd al-Birr]] knows it among most correct and authentic hadiths. In some sources, different ways of narrating this hadith has been mentioned. [[al-Hakim al-Nishapuri]] has considered the way of narrating the hadith correct and in ''Talkhis al-mustadrak'', Hafiz al-Dhahabi has stressed its authenticity. Even enemies of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] have not been able to reject this hadith and have had to accept it and sometimes have unintentionally narrated it. According to Khatib al-Baghdadi, [[Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik]] admitted the original text of this hadith, however he changed the name [[Aaron]] to [[Qarun]]. It is said that when debating with jurisprudents, also [[Ma'mun al-'Abbasi]] referred to this hadith. According to Khatib Baghdadi, [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]] referred to this hadith and called the person who insulted 'Ali (a) as hypocrite.

[[Mu'awiya]] did not reject this hadith and when he asked [[Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas]] (one of the enemies of 'Ali (a)), "Why don't you curse 'Ali (a)?" Sa'd answered, "because of the three merits, the [[Prophet (s)]] mentioned for 'Ali (a)" then, he narrated the hadith of Manzila and since then Mu'awiya stopped forcing Sa'd to curse 'Ali (a).

[[Zayd b. Arqam]] is among the companions who narrated this hadith and has said that when the Prophet (s) appointed 'Ali (a) in his place in [[Medina]], some people thought that the Prophet (s) was upset about 'Ali (a). When 'Ali (a) heard about that, he told the Prophet (s) about that and the Prophet (s) said the hadith of Manzila.

al-Hakim Nishapuri considered this hadith authentic with regards to its sources and has quoted form [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas|Ibn 'Abbas]] that the Prophet (s) said this hadith in the [[Battle of Tabuk]]. Also, Ibn 'Abbas has narrated that the noble Prophet (s) addressed 'Ali (a) and added, "It would not be appropriate that I go, except you would be my vicegerent here" and then said, "After me, you are the guardian of every man and woman believer."

In addition to proving a great merit for [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], this hadith also proves his right for [[caliphate]] and infallibility, since the [[Prophet (s)]] has proved that Imam 'Ali (a) had all the virtues of [[Aaron]] except for being a prophet. According to Quranic verses, prophet [[Moses]] asked God to choose Aaron as his deputy and helps him in his mission. God accepted Moses' request and Aaron became Moses' vicegerent in his absence. Therefore, Aaron had all the positions of Moses as well and if Aaron remained alive after Moses, he would become his successor (according to Jews, Aaron passed away forty years before Moses.)

Some Sunni scholars have questioned the source of this hadith and have considered it among the sole sources (akhbar al-ahad).

[[Shi'a]] scholars have answered that, "Indeed this hadith is authentic and frequently narrated and according to hadith scholars this hadith is among "most authentic prophet's traditions and most established sources" and even al-Dhahabi, a great Sunni scholar, has approved this hadith in his ''Talkhis al-mustadrak''. If this hadith were not authentic, it would not be mentioned in [[Sahih al-Bukhari]] and [[Sahih Muslim]]. Moreover, [[Mu'awiya]] who was a fierce enemy of Imam 'Ali (a) who had ordered others to insult and curse [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and to invent hadith against him, not only accepted this hadith but also narrated it.