Authentic Shia hadeeth on Ghadeer is actually fabrication of Saba’ites.

Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem (In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful)

It is agreed upon fact among the knowledgeable scholars of Ahlesunnah that, Saba’ites(The followers of Ibn Saba the Jew(la) attributed many false reports to Ahlelbayt. Ahlesunnah believe that just as Jesus(as) is free from all the false attributions made towards him, even Ahlelbayt are free from all such fabrications that were attributed to them by Saba’ites to them. However the Shias over the years have tried a lot to cover this reality, by making false propaganda that Ibn Saba(la) was an imaginary character, where as on the other hand even the Shia books had authentic reports regarding the existence and role of Ibn Saba(la), in books such as Rijal Kashi, Bihar Al Anwar, and other books. In this article we will be presenting before our respected readers, an example of the Saba’ite fabrications present in authentic Shia book Al Kafi, which was deemed authentic by Shia scholars. We will be using the rule present in Shia books in order to verify the authenticity of ahadeeth, to show that the authentic Shia hadeeth regarding Ghadeer was actually a fabrication of Saba’ites. And this eye opening and shocking reality must raise a big question mark on the reliability of Shia narrators who are considered trusthworthy by Shias and on the other reports which these people narrated, in the mind of truth-seeking person.

 

Abdullah ibn Saba the Jew(la) and Saba’ites.

Before we present the Shia hadeeth we would like Let us bring before the readers an important phrase from the book of esteemed Shia scholar in regards to the presence of reports from the Saba’ites in Shia books.

Esteemed Shia scholar Syed Husain Mohammad Jafri in his book ‘The Origins and Early Development of Shi‘ah Islam’ (p. 300) states:

There is another important point that must be discussed here briefly. A considerable number of traditions are to be found, especially in the earliest Shi‘i collection of hadith, Al-Kafi, which describe the Imams as supernatural human beings. What was the origin of these traditions, and to what extent are the Imams themselves responsible for them? These traditions are reported, as indeed are all Shi‘i traditions, on the authority of one of the Imams, in this case from Al-Baqir and Ja‘far. But were these Imams really the authors of such traditions, which describe their supernatural character? The first thing which must be noted in this connection is that while Al-Baqir and Ja‘far themselves lived in Medina, most of their followers lived in Kufa. This fact brings us to a crucial problem. Kufa had long been a centre of ghulat speculations and activities. Whether ‘Abd Allah bin Saba, to whom the history of the ghulat is traced, was a real personality or not, the name as-Saba’iyya is often used to describe the ghulat in Kufa who believed in the supernatural character of Ali. According to the heresiographers, Ibn Saba was the first to preach the doctrine of waqf (refusal to recognise the death of ‘Ali) and the first to condemn the first two caliphs in addition to ‘Uthman. (The Origins and Early Development of Shi‘a Islam, p. 300, Ansariyan Publications, Qum) .

We would like to bring in attention of the readers that, this Shia scholar questions the reliability of considerable number of reports in Shia books, especially Al-Kafi, and this Shia scholar also throws light on the view that, Ibn Saba(la) used to condemn  and hate the first three Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman).

 

How to verify the authenticity of Shia reports according to the rule taught by Ahlelbayt?

Imams from Ahlelbayt have taught a principle to judge  the narrations attributed to them, by comparing the text of those reports with the holy Quran. If the text agrees with Quran then they can be accepted, but if the text goes against Quran then those are to be rejected.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.:”The holy Prophet (s.a.), “Over every truth there is a reality and above every valid issue there is light. Whatever agrees with the holy Quran you must follow it and whatever does not agree disregard it.”(Al kafi H 197, Ch. 22, h 1).

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqba from Ayyub ibn Rashid from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following:”Of Hadith whatever does not agree with the holy Quran is a useless statement.“(Al kafi H 200, Ch. 22, h 4).

Imam Baqir(ra) said: ” What ever reaches you, whether it is whatever we have said, or what others have said about us, you should reflect on it, accept it if it is in the line with quran and reject it if it violates the quran.(At –toose, Al amalee, vol 1, page 237).

Thus we find that, inorder to check the text of a report, we need to verify it with Quran, if that report DOES NOT AGREE with Quran then it must be rejected. So we will be using the same rule, to verify the hadeeth of Al-Kafi which was declared authentic by Shia scholars.

 

Shia Report on Ghadeer.

Mohammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Mohammad ibn Al-Hussain from Al-Hajjaal from Abdul Samad ibn Bashir from Hassan Al-Jamal who said: I took Aba Abdullah Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s), from Madinah to Makkah and we went to the Masjid of Al-Ghadeerr, then Imam (a.s), recipient of divine supreme covenant, looked to the left side of the Mosque and said: “That place is the footstep of the Messenger of Allah (saw), recipient of divine supreme covenant, when he said: “Of whomsoever I am master, Alee is his master!” Then Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s), turned to another direction and said: “That place is where pavilion of Abi Bakr and Umar and Salim Mawla Abi Hudhaifa and Abi Ubaida Al-Jarrah was located, when they saw the Messenger of Allah (saw), recipient of divine supreme covenant, took the hand of the Commander of Faithful Imam Alee (a.s), recipient of divine supreme covenant, and held it high. They said to one another: ‘Look his eyes how they turn (i.e. the eyes of the Messenger of Allah), as if they are the eyes of a madman.’ Then Jibreel (a.s) came down and revealed the following verse:

وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

When the disbelievers listen to you reciting the Quran they almost try to destroy you with their piercing eyes. Then they say, “He is certainly insane”.The Quran is nothing but a reminder from God to mankind.(Quran 68:51-52).

Source: Usool Al-Kafi. Vol. 4, Pg. # 326, H. # 2.

Note: Allama Al-Majlisi, the narration is Saheeh (Authentic). Mir’aat Al-`Uqool. Vol. 18, Pg. # 283. [SCAN PAGES, Page 1; Page2]

This hadeeth goes against Quran:

As we  know,  that the Imams from Ahlelbayt taught the golden rule to verify the text of a Hadeeth using Qur’an, So let us verify this Hadeeth using the principle taught by Ahlelbayt.

This Shia hadeeth shows that, When Prophet Muhammad(Saw) declared Alee(ra) as Master, seeing this, noble Sahaba(ra) of Prophet(Saw), said to each other that, “’Look his eyes how they, as if they are the eyes of a madman” (Ma’azAllah). Then Allah(swt) revealed this verse: “When the disbelievers listen to you reciting the Quran they almost try to destroy you with their piercing eyes. Then they say, “He is certainly insane”.(Quran 68:51, Shia translator Muhammad Sarwar).

Another Shia translation: Those who disbelieve would almost cause your death with their eyes when they hear this Qur’an and they say: “He is insane!”(Quran 68:51, The Light of The Holy Qur’an)

One more translation: The disbelievers almost strike you down with their looks when they hear the Quran. They say, ‘He must be mad!’(68:51)[Translator Abdel Haleem]

A proper reading of this verse is sufficient to realize that this report is actually a fabrication of Saba’ites . Because in this verse, Allah(swt) says that, The ones who said those derogatory words for Prophet(Saw) did that listening to Quran. Those words were not said by people, out of envy due to a person being made master or being given a high rank, rather the Quranic verse clearly shows that those words were said by disbelievers of Makkah, due to their listening to Glorious Quran. That is why the next verse of Quran says: The Quran is nothing but a reminder from God to mankind.( Quran 68:52, Shia translator Muhammad Sarwar).

But as we see, the Shia hadeeth states that, those derogatory words were said by people when Ali(ra) was made Master and when the Prophet(Saw) was turning his eyes. Whereas, the Quran states that the people said those words while listening to the Quran. The reason indicated by this Quranic verse for saying such derogatory words was that it was due to listening to the Quran, it has no similarity or resemblance or relation to the  reason given in Shia hadeeth that people said those derogatory words out of envy after seeing someone being made master or seeing the turning of eyes of Prophet(Saw). So the Quran contradicts the Shia hadeeth,  which proves that it was falsely attributed to Ahlelbayt. The evil ones mentioned in the verse of Quran, infact are the disbelievers(Kuffar) of Makkah who would envy when they listened to the  Quran, where as the Muslims brought Emaan listening the Quran.

Tafseer(commentary) of (Quran 68:51) 

Let us present before the readers some Scholarly Commentaries of this verse (68:51) from both Shia and Sunni commentators to strengthen our view that those derogatory/abusive words were the outcome of listening to the Quran.

1. Shia tafseer of Pooya Ali:

When disbelievers found themselves helpless against the force of the Quran, in the intensity of their hatred, they looked at the Holy Prophet as if they would “eat him up” or trip him up, or disturb him from his position of stability. They used all sorts of terms of abuse in frustration-mad, possessed etcetera-but the true message of Allah prevailed, and it is made an eternal source of guidance to all mankind.(Tafseer Pooya Ali, commentary for 68:51).

2. Shia Tafseer ( The Light of The Holy Qur’an) :
The closing Verses of the Chapter resumes the point mentioned in the opening of the Chapter regarding the false ascription of insanity to the Noble Prophet (SAW) by his enemies, saying the disbelievers would almost cause his death with their eyes upon hearing the Qur’anic Verses and falsely claim that he is insane. The last blessed Verse of the Chapter is saying that this Qur’an is but an awakening and a reminder to the worlds whose teachings and warnings are enlightening, its illustrations are meaningful, its encouragements and glad tidings are promising to the spirit and all in all it awakens the neglectful and reminds them of their obligations. How one may falsely claim that the Messenger of Allah is insane? The Arabic word dhikr denotes reminder as the Holy Qur’an serves as a Reminder to all. (The Light of The Holy Qur’an  by Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and A Group of Muslim Scholars, under explanation of verse 68:51).

Some Sunni commentaries:

1. Tafseer Jalayn:
Indeed those who disbelieve would almost throw you down [to the ground] (read la-yuzliqūnaka or la-yazliqūnaka) with their looks, looking at you in a severe way, almost hurling you to the ground or making you fall from your place, when they hear the Reminder, the Qur’ān, and they say, out of envy: ‘He is truly a madman!’, on account of the Qur’ān that he has brought.(tafseer jalayn)

2. Tafseer Ibn Abbas: 
(And lo! those who disbelieve) the disbelievers of Mecca (would fain disconcert thee) would kill you (with their eyes) and it is said this means: they would give you the evil eye (when they hear the Reminder) when they hear you recite the Qur’an, (and they) i.e. the people of Mecca (say: Lo! he is) i.e. Muhammad (indeed mad) bewitched;( Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs).

3.Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 
(and they say: “Verily, he is a madman!”) meaning, they cut at him with their eyes and attack him with their tongues saying, “Verily, he is a madman.” They say this because he came with the Qur’an.

So in the light of these commentaries for  (68:51) by both Shia and Sunni commentators we find that, the disbelievers  used such abusive words for Prophet(Saw) due to their hearing the Quran, not due to anyone being made Master, as  found in the fabricated narration of Saba’ites.

Surah Al-Qalam(68) is Makkan Surah.

1. There is a consensus among the scholars that Surat al-Qalam was revealed in Makkah as stated by al-`Allamah al-Imam al-Suyuti in al-Itqaan (p.31-49)

2. Allama Mawdoodi states in his tahfeem ul Quran:
Period of Revelation:This too is one of the earliest surahs to be revealed at Makkah, but its subject matter shows that it was sent down at the time when opposition to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) had grown very harsh and tyrannical.(Tahfeem ul Quran, , introduction of Surah 68).

3. Shia tafseer, The Light of The Holy Qur’an  states:
The Chapter, revealed in Mecca, has 52 Verses. Some Qur’an exegetes have entertained doubts about the Revelation of all the blessed Verses of the Chapter in Mecca, though the Chapter stands in total harmony with Meccan Chapters in terms of tone and content, since above all, it treats of the Noble Prophet’s (SAW) Prophetic call and confrontation with the foes who regarded him as insane, call to patience and steadfastness, and warning the opponents against Divine torments. (The Light of The Holy Qur’an  by Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and A Group of Muslim Scholars, introducation of Surah 68).

Thus, we find that Surah Al Qalam(68) was revealed in Makkah, however the fabricated narration of Saba’ites, is discussing about incident of Ghadeer and verse being revealed at that time, it is agreed upon fact that the incident of Ghadeer occurred many years after Prophet(Saw) migrated from Makkah. In other words, Surah Al Qalam was revealed many years before the incident of Ghadeer took place, which again proves that the Shia hadeeth is a fabrication of Saba’ites.

Asbaab Al-Nuzool:

Let us look at the ‘Sabab Al-Nuzool’ (“occasion/circumstance of revelation”) of the Ayah to further strengthen the fact that (68:51) was revealed in regards to Disbelievers not for any companion of Prophet Muhammad(Saw).

Comment on verse 51 of Surah 68: Hence, [be patient] even though they who are bent on denying the truth would all but kill thee.

This verse was revealed when the disbelievers wanted to give the evil eye to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace.Some people from the Quraysh looked once at him and said: “We have never seen anyone like him or like his proofs”. The Banu Assad were renowned for their evil eye. A fat camel or cow would pass by one of them and, after giving it the evil eye, he would say to his slave-girl: “O girl, take a large basket and a silver coin and bring us some of the meat of this!” The camel or cow would fall dead straight after that and would then be hamstrung. ( Asbaab Al-Nuzool’ by Abu Al-Hassan Ali Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Wahidi)

As we can see, the verse is clearly in regards to the Kuffar(disbelievers), it has no relation with the likes of Abu Bakr, Omar, Salim the Mawla of Abu Hudhayfa and Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarrah, all Badriyeen Sahaba (those who participated in the Badr battle). The whole verse has got nothing to do with the Badri Sahaba, let alone if we read it in the proper context.

The fabrication of Saba’ites is Irrational.

The matn (Text) is a scenario full of hatred where Abu Bakr(ra), Umar(ra), the trustworthy of this Ummah, Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarrah and even Salim the Mawla (SERVANT) of Abu Hudhayfah are presented as enemies of the Prophet(saw)! The same people who were from the first and foremost believers, they accepted Islam when accepting Islam would put a person in all sorts of worldly problems, from persecution to social boycott and from torture to death. Yet, these people didn’t care about their lives, wealth or anything and accepted Islam and stood firm upon it. That is why several verses of Quran were revealed which praised the acts and beliefs of people among whom these Sahaba(ra) were included, such as Quran:

(8:72);(8:74);(48:29);(8:6263);(59:8);(9:20);(16:41);(48:29);(9:100);(4:115); (2:13);(48:18-19);(3:68);(9:88);(9:40), and many more.

The same people, who risked their lives, their wealth, their property, suffered torture, boycott and left their land for Islam and Prophet Muhammad(saw), these people spoke such derogatory words for Prophet Muhammad(Saw) seeing Ali(ra) made a master, as the fabrication of Sabaites states, this is nonsensical, if one looks at it, from an unbiased and fair minded perspective. Importantly, Salim the servant of Abu Hudhayfah, who got freedom due to Islam and Prophet Muhammad(Saw) , who couldn’t even imagine of becoming a leader due to presence of some high ranking Muslims, why would He object Ali(ra) being made Master(if at all he was made) in such a derogatory manner? When we ponder over these facts in fair minded manner, we realize that, the report in Shia book is nothing but a fabrication of Saba’ites, which is irrational and non-sensical.

 

Conclusion.

The report from Shia book Al kafi which was deemed authentic by Shia scholars, is a clear cut fabrication of the Saba’ites, just like many others. It raises a serious question on the reliability of Shia narrators who are considered trusthworthy by Shias and on the other reports which these people narrated,  because when we applied the rule of analyzing the text of reports with Quran to the report narrated from these trusthworthy and reliable Shia narrators, we found that this report goes against the verse of Quran, which shows that it was falsely attributed to Ahlelbayt. Also it goes against the apparent understanding of Quran, which we proved presenting commentaries of Shia and Sunni scholars. It even goes against the Asbaab Al Nuzool of the verse and the time period of revelation of the Surah Qalam. Last but not the least, it is irrational and non-sensical fabrication of Saba’ites.

But we expect that present day Saba’ites will give their hundred percent inorder to defend this fabrication by their forefathers(Saba’ites), since they won’t be able to digest that, their authentic hadeeth is against Quran, we expect them to bring silly and irrational arguments as usual. As they are the people who are so stupid that,  even when Quran spoke about, Olive, fig or Mount Sinai, they tried to interpret these verses to mean there Imams, So what else can be expected from these Saba’ites. We would like to conclude by quoting few lines from the Poem of  Famous Poet of Sub-Continent, Allama Iqbal which perfectly fits these acts of Saba’ites.

Allama Iqbal states:
“Khud badalte naheen Quran ko badal dete hain
huwey kis darja faqeehane haram be taufiq”
“Ahkam tere haq hain magar apne mufassir
taaweel se Quran ko bana sakte hain Pazhand”

(Translation) “These people don’t change themselves but they change the Qur’an (by their interpretations). How unfortunate are these custodians of haram (Islam).” “O Allah! Your guidance is no doubt The Truth. But our interpreters can turn Qur’an into Pazhand by their interpretations.”
[Pazhand is the book compiled by the followers of Zoroaster which according to them is the interpretation of Avesta, the book of Zoroaster in which his followers inserted their own thoughts.]

“Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish“. [Holy Quran 17:81]