Hadith al-Manzila: Difference between revisions

'''Hadīth of Manzila''' (Arabic: حدیث المنزلة) is among famous hadith narrated from the [[Prophet (s)]] which has been approved by both [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] scholars. This hadith introduces the position of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], with regards to the Prophet (s) and his primacy over other [[companions of the prophet (s)|companions]]. It is a frequently narrated hadith ([[mutawatir]]) in the view of Shi'a scholars and among the proofs for Imam 'Ali's (a) right for the [[caliphate]] after the noble Prophet (s).

(Arabic:  <font color=green>«'''‌أنتَ مِنّی بِمَنزلةِ هارونَ مِنْ مُوسی، اِلّاأنـّه لانَبی بَعدی'''‌»</font>)

Different narrations of the hadith of Manzila are common in the message which is [[Imam 'Ali (a)|Imam 'Ali's (a)]] position with regards to the Prophet (s) the same as [[Aaron]]'s position with regards to [[Moses]]. The few differences in the expressions of different narrations are due to narrations in different occasions and narrations based on the message.

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<ref>Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Vol.3, PP.133-4; Ibn 'Abd al-Birr, Vol.3, PP.1097-8; Ibn Athir, al-Kamil fi al-tarikh Vol.2, P.278; Sibt b. Jowzi, PP.27-8' Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Vol,13, P.211; Juwayni al-Khurasani, Vol.1, P.122; al-Haythami, Vol.9, P.111; Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, Vol.2, P.509; Al-Suyuti, P.168; Halabi, Vol.3, PP.187-8; Qunduzi, Vol.1, PP.111-2; Husayni Firuz Abadi, Vol.1, PP.347-64; Khidri, P.169</ref>.

[[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]]<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Vol.13, P.211</ref> reagrds this hadith agreed upon by all Islamic sects; and [[Ibn 'Abd al-Birr]]<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Birr, Vol.3, P.1097</ref> knows it among most correct and authentic hadiths. In some sources, different ways of narrating this hadith has been mentioned<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Birr, Vol.3, P.1097; </ref>. [[al-Hakim al-Nishapuri]] has considered the way of narrating the hadith correct<ref>Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Vol.3, P. 134</ref> 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 al-Khatib al-Baghdadi<ref>al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Vol.8, P.262</ref>, [[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<ref>Ibn 'Abd Rabbih, Vol.5, PP.357-8</ref>. According to al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]] referred to this hadith and called the person who insulted 'Ali (a) as hypocrite<ref>al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Vol.8, P.498</ref>.

[[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)<ref>Ibn Athir, Usd al-ghaba, Vol.4, PP.104-5; Qunduzi, Vol.1, P.161;</ref>.

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."<ref>Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol.1, P.545, Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Vol.3, P.134; Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya, Vol.7, P.351</ref>

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<ref>Sura Taha (20:29-32)</ref>. God accepted Moses' request<ref>Sura Taha (20:36)</ref> and Aaron became Moses' vicegerent in his absence<ref>Sura A'raf (7:142)</ref>. 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.)

Aaron had a great position before Moses and thus Imam 'Ali's (a) position and rightfulness for caliphate after the Prophet (s) can be understood. Based on the story of Asron and Moses in the [[Qur'an]], Aaron was Moses' deputy in his mission, thus 'Ali (a) was also the Prophet's (s) deputy in his leadership and guardianship, except in his [[prophethood]]. Aaron was the second man after Moses among [[Bani Israel]], thus 'Ali (a) was the same in the Prophet's (s) ummah. Aaron was Moses' brother, so was 'Ali (a) the Prophet's (s) brother based on the frequently narrated [[Hadith of Mu'akhat]] which has been mentioned in both [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] references. Aaron was the best of Moses' people before God and 'Ali (a) was so.

Aaron was Moses' exclusive deputy in his absence and so was 'Ali (a), especially due to the Prophet's (s) word that, "It would not be appropriate that I go to the [[Battle of Tabuk]], except you would be my vicegerent here". Aaron was the most knowledgeable person among the people of Moses, and so was 'Ali (a) as stressed by the Prophet (s). Obeying Aaron was incumbent both upon [[Joshua b. Nun]] (Moses' deputy) and Moses' people; so was obeying 'Ali (a) even with the assumption of the deputyship of [[Abu Bakr]], [['Umar b. Khattab|'Umar]], [['Uthman b. Affan|'Uthman]] or anyone else.

Aaron was the most beloved person before God and Moses, so was 'Ali (a). God supported Moses by his brother Aaron and did the same about the Prophet (s) by 'Ali (a). Aron was infallible regarding any error or ignorance, and so was 'Ali (a).

Some Sunni scholars have questioned the source of this hadith and have considered it among the sole sources (akhbar al-ahad)<ref>For example, see Amidi, P.167</ref>.

[[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.<ref>Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, P. 179</ref>

A group of Sunnis related this hadith only to the [[Battle of Tabuk]]<ref>Ibn Taymiyya, Vol.7, P.322</ref> and some others even limited it and said that the Prophet (s) appointed 'Ali (a) his deputy only in [[Medina]] and only among his own family<ref>al-Baqilani, P.457; Mir Hamid Husayn, Vol.2, Chaper.1, PP.74-6</ref> and said that accepting this hadith does not mean that all the Prophet's (s) positions and merits except [[prophethood]] could be also approved about 'Ali (a) and the appearance of hadith can only mean that 'Ali (a) was the Prophet's (s) deputy only in the absence of the Prophet (s) at the time of the Battle of Tabuk and just about his family affairs like [[Aaron]] was his deputy in his absence.

The answer would be,

# Many Sunni scholars did not limit this hadith to the Battle of Tabuk and believe that the Prophet (s) said the same hadith in other occasions too. In approving the deputyship of Imam 'Ali (a), [[Ibn Abi al-Hadid]]<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Vol.13, P.211</ref> referred to the Qur'an and different hadiths and says that all merits and positions of Aaron are proved about 'Ali (a) and if the Prophet (s) was not the Last of Prophets, 'Ali (a) would even be his partner in prophethood. The Prophet (s) named 'Ali's (a) sons the same as Aaron's sons and said, "I named them Shubbar and Shubayr after Aaron's sons.<ref>Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol.1, P.158; al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Vol.3, P.168; Muttaqi, Vol.12, PP.117-8; Majlisi, Vol.101, PP.110-2</ref>"

# Companions themselves understood a general sense of the hadith regarding 'Ali's (a) positions; for example, when [[Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari]] was asked about the meaning of the hadith of Manzila, he (s) answered that in this hadith, the Prophet (s) appointed 'Ali (a) as his deputy among his ummah, in his life and after his demise and made his obedience incumbent upon you<ref>Ibn Babiwayh, P. 74</ref>.

Aaron had the position of caliphate and other merits when Moses was alive, since he passed away before Moses, thus 'Ali (a) might have had Aaron's positions and merits while the Prophet (s) was alive; therefore, Hadith of Manzila cannot be considered a rule for caliphate after the Prophet (s)<ref>Qadi 'Abd al-Jabbar, Vol.10, Chap.1, PP. 159-60; Jurjani, Sharh al-Mawaqif, P.363; Mir Hamid Husayn, Vol. 2, Chap.1. P.86</ref>.

# The word "except" in the hadith ("Illa annahu la nabiyya ba'di"), ["except for there is no prophet after me."]) clarifies the generality of the hadith and the mentioned positions and merits are approved for 'Ali (a) after the Prophet (s), otherwise there would be no need for the exception. According to [[al-Tabraasi]]<ref>al-Tabrasi, P.252</ref>, hadith scholars generally agree that the Prophet (s) appointed 'Ali (a) as his deputy in Medina in the Battle of Tabuk and did not dismiss him and this position remained valid for Imam 'Ali (a).

[[Aaron]] became [[Moses]]' caliph in his absence, however people were deceived by Zimri b. Salu and became calf-worshipper and no one helped Aaron and thus he chose to tolerate them.

Hadith of Manzila interprets all such events for [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] as well. In the absence of the Prophet (s), 'Ali (a) was his caliph and his similarity with Aaron is about everything happened to Aaron and is not limited to before or after demise of the [[Prophet (s)]].