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.106-7; 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> [[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]]'' specifically 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 of the most famous hadith narrators have narrated this hadith<ref>Husayni Milani, Vol.17, PP.23-8</ref>. Other scholars including [[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]] have acknowledged the authenticity, strength 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:{{iarabic| 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:{{iarabic| 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 l-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>.

Sunni scholar [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]]<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Vol.13, P.211</ref> considers this hadith as generally agreed upon by all Islamic sects, and [[Ibn 'Abd al-Birr]]<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Birr, Vol.3, P.1097</ref> recognizes it as among the more correct and authentic hadiths. Different sources do narrate the hadith differently<ref>Ibn 'Abd al-Birr, Vol.3, P.1097; </ref>. [[Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri]] has considered this hadith as [[Sahih]] (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)]] could not dispute this hadith and must accept its legitimacy. At times they 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 has been recorded that when debating with scholars of jurisprudence, [[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 a hypocrite<ref>al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Vol.8, P.498</ref>.

al-Hakim Nishapuri considered this hadith authentic with regards to its sources and has quoted from [['Abd Allah b. 'Abbas|Ibn 'Abbas]] that the Prophet (s) said this hadith in the [[Battle of Tabuk]]. Ibn 'Abbas has also narrated that the noble Prophet (s) addressed 'Ali (a) by saying, "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>

[[Shi'a]] scholars have responded by gathering the various documentations of this hadith. According to scholars with a specialty in hadiths, this particular hadith is among "most authentic of the Prophet's traditions and most established sources." Al-Dhahabi, a great Sunni scholar, has approved this hadith in his ''Talkhis al-mustadrak''.<ref>Hakim Nishaburi, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, P. 134.</ref> 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)]], as well as create fictitious hadiths against him, has not only accepted this hadith but also narrated it.<ref>Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, P. 179</ref>

# In their recordings, many Sunni scholars did not limit this hadith to the Battle of Tabuk and believe that the Prophet (s) shared this hadith in other occasions too. In approving the deputyship of Imam 'Ali (a), [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]]<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Vol.13, P.211</ref> referred to the Qur'an and different hadiths applying the merits and positions of Aaron to 'Ali (a) and if the Prophet (s) was not the Last of Prophets, 'Ali (a) would even be his successor 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>"

* Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah. ''al-Mustadrak 'ala al-sahihayn''. Beirut: Dar al-Ma'rifa, n.d.