The Narrators of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah and the Narrators of the Shia

Our deen is based on the Qur’aan Majeed and Mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). If one examines the Qur’aan Majeed and Mubaarak Sunnah, he will find that both are transmitted to the ummah via the illustrious Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), those regarding whom Allah Ta’ala had granted the glad tidings of Jannah in this very world. Allah Ta’ala declares in the Qur’aan Majeed:

رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْهُ

Allah Ta’ala is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah Ta’ala.

In the Mubaarak Ahaadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) bore testimony to the fact that his Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) are the greatest of this ummah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “My Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) are like guiding stars for my ummah. Whichever of them you follow, you will be rightly guided.” (Muntakhab Musnad Abd ibnu Humaid #781)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had cursed all those who revile his Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) saying, “May the curse of Allah Ta’ala be on such people who are the worst of the creation.” (Sunan Tirmizi #3866)

The crux of the matter is that the Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) – the greatest of this ummah – are the narrators of the Qur’aan Majeed and Hadith and their integrity and reliability is impeccable.

On the contrary, when we study the religion of the Shia, we find that their religion is based on the statements of their Imaams. They regard the statements of their Imaams to be higher than the statements of the Ambiya (alaihimus Salaam).

Khumaini, an Iranian shia scholar, writes regarding the rank of their Imaams:

وإن من ضروريات مذهبنا أن لأئمتنا مقاما لا يبلغه لا ملك مقرب ولا نبي مرسل

“Among the essential and fundamental beliefs of our religion (Shia) is the belief that our Innocent Imaams hold the station which could not be reached by any favoured Angel, Prophet or Messenger” (Alhukumatul islaamiyyah Pg. 52)

We have witnessed that the Sahaabah (radhiyallau ‘anhum) – the narrators of the Qur’aan and Hadith – are the greatest of the Ummah, as testified to by Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam). Let us now examine the narrators of the Shia religion, those who narrate from their Imaams.

Among the main books of the Shia is the book “Usool-ul-Kaafi”. This book holds an extremely high position among them similar to the position of Saheeh Bukhaari among the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah. When one has to examine the narrations found in this kitaab (as well as other Shia books), he will find that a great portion is narrated on the authority of a person named Zuraarah.

Zuraarah reports from personalities whom the Shiah consider to be among their twelve Imaams viz. Imaam Muhammad Baaqir (rahimahullah) and Imaam Ja‘far Saadiq (rahimahullah).

When Imaam Ja‘far Saadiq (rahimahullah) was asked regarding the narrator Zuraarah who narrates from him, he said,

ما أحدث أحد في الإسلام ما أحدث زرارة من البدع عليه لعنة الله

“No person has innovated in Islam the innovations which Zuraarah has innovated. May the curse of Allah Ta’ala be upon him” (Rijal al Kashshi pg. 149)

On another occasion, Imaam Ja‘far Saadiq (rahimahullah) said regarding Zuraarah:

زرارة شر من اليهود والنصارى، ومن قال: إنّ مع الله ثالث ثلاثة

Zuraraah is worse than the Jews, the Christians, and those who say that Allah is but one of the trinity. (Rijal al Kashshi pg. 160)

Despite this being the pathetic condition of the Shia narrator, Zuraarah, who formed the basis of a great portion of the Shia religion, and despite their Imaams declaring him a fabricator and liar, they still latch onto his narrations in their religion.