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People of Consensus: Difference between revisions
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==Naming== | ==Naming== | ||
In his ''[[Rijal al-Kashshi|Rijal]]'', [[al-Kashshi]] highlighted the names of a number of transmitters of hadiths in three cases (in [[companions of Imam al-Baqir (a)]] and Imam al-Sadiq (a); [[companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]; and [[companions of Imam al-Rida (a)]]), claiming that [[Imami]] scholars have [[consensus]] over the accuracy of hadiths transmitted by these people. For example, he says about some companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a), | In his ''[[Rijal al-Kashshi|Rijal]]'', [[al-Kashshi]] highlighted the names of a number of transmitters of hadiths in three cases (in [[companions of Imam al-Baqir (a)]] and Imam al-Sadiq (a); [[companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]; and [[companions of Imam al-Rida (a)]]), claiming that [[Imami]] scholars have [[consensus]] over the accuracy of hadiths transmitted by these people. For example, he says about some companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a), "the [[Imamiyya]] have consensus over the accuracy of hadiths which accurately narrated by them as well as the truth of their sayings". Since al-Kashshi used the word "consensus" (ijma') with regard to these people, they came to be known as "People of Consensus" ("Ashab al-Ijma'). | ||
==Significance== | ==Significance== | ||
People of Consensus are trusted by Shiite scholars. However, there are different views as to how reliable they are. Such views can be classified into three categories: | People of Consensus are trusted by Shiite scholars. However, there are different views as to how reliable they are. Such views can be classified into three categories: | ||
* The reliability of all people from whom the People of Consensus have transmitted hadith: some people have claimed that any chain of transmission of hadiths in which one of the People of Consensus occurs implies the reliability of all other transmitters from whom they have transmitted hadith, supporting the idea with the saying that, | * The reliability of all people from whom the People of Consensus have transmitted hadith: some people have claimed that any chain of transmission of hadiths in which one of the People of Consensus occurs implies the reliability of all other transmitters from whom they have transmitted hadith, supporting the idea with the saying that, "People of Consensus do not transmit hadiths from anyone except if that person is reliable". However, [[Ayatollah al-Khoei]] has rejected the claim, because these people have sometimes transmitted hadiths from unreliable transmitters of hadiths. | ||
* The reliability of all hadiths: some people have claimed that if People of Consensus occur in the chain of transmission of a hadith, then the hadith counts as reliable and acceptable, even if they have transmitted the hadith from a non-righteous person. [[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]] has subscribed to such a view early in the 7th point at the end of his ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]''. The view was also adopted by [[al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum]] in his ''[[al-Durrat al-Najafiyya]]'' under [[Ibn Abi 'Umayr]]. | * The reliability of all hadiths: some people have claimed that if People of Consensus occur in the chain of transmission of a hadith, then the hadith counts as reliable and acceptable, even if they have transmitted the hadith from a non-righteous person. [[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]] has subscribed to such a view early in the 7th point at the end of his ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]''. The view was also adopted by [[al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum]] in his ''[[al-Durrat al-Najafiyya]]'' under [[Ibn Abi 'Umayr]]. | ||
* The reliability of the People of Consensus only: some scholars, including Ayatollah al-Kho'i, maintain that there was a consensus over the reliability of these people only, that is, they never lied and were highly honored, but it does not mean that all hadiths attributed to them are acceptable. | * The reliability of the People of Consensus only: some scholars, including Ayatollah al-Kho'i, maintain that there was a consensus over the reliability of these people only, that is, they never lied and were highly honored, but it does not mean that all hadiths attributed to them are acceptable. | ||
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The well-known quote from al-Kashshi mentions 18 people as People of Consensus. However, there are two other quotes in this regard as well. | The well-known quote from al-Kashshi mentions 18 people as People of Consensus. However, there are two other quotes in this regard as well. | ||
In his ''[[Rijal Ibn Dawud|Rijal]]'', [[Ibn Dawud]] has quoted al- | In his ''[[Rijal Ibn Dawud|Rijal]]'', [[Ibn Dawud]] has quoted al-Kashshi's remarks about People of Consensus, adding [[Hamdan b. Ahmad]] to the list. Thus, Ibn Dawud takes People of Consensus to be 19 people. However, in manuscripts of ''[[Rijal al-Kashshi]]'' available to us, Hamdan is not mentioned as a Person of Consensus. Thus, [[Muhaddith Nuri]] has speculated that a manuscript of ''Rijal al-Kashshi'' was available to Ibn Dawud which is not available to us. This is supported by the fact that the manuscripts of ''Rijal al-Kashshi'' available to us are summaries of the original book, so it is possible that in the original books Hamdan is mentioned as well. | ||
Muhaddith Nuri takes People of Consensus to be 22 or 23 people. He says although al-Kashshi has mentioned 18 people, he did not mean to restrict People of Consensus to them. He only reported the consensus that he had a reason to believe. So, there might have been another consensus which he had no reason to believe. Other people have replaced [[Abu Basir al-Asadi]] and [[al-Hasan b. Mahbub]] with other people, but they do not mean to say that there is no consensus other than this. Thus, al-Kashshi has just reported one consensus, and others have reported another consensus. We can accept both consensuses, taking all these people to be People of Consensus. Thus, he adds disputed people ([[Layth b. al-Bakhtari]], [[al-Hasan b. Faddal]], [[Faddala b. Ayyub]], and [['Uthman b. 'Isa]]) to the list of People of Consensus. | Muhaddith Nuri takes People of Consensus to be 22 or 23 people. He says although al-Kashshi has mentioned 18 people, he did not mean to restrict People of Consensus to them. He only reported the consensus that he had a reason to believe. So, there might have been another consensus which he had no reason to believe. Other people have replaced [[Abu Basir al-Asadi]] and [[al-Hasan b. Mahbub]] with other people, but they do not mean to say that there is no consensus other than this. Thus, al-Kashshi has just reported one consensus, and others have reported another consensus. We can accept both consensuses, taking all these people to be People of Consensus. Thus, he adds disputed people ([[Layth b. al-Bakhtari]], [[al-Hasan b. Faddal]], [[Faddala b. Ayyub]], and [['Uthman b. 'Isa]]) to the list of People of Consensus. | ||