(23:12) The Wrongdoers: Others (are those who) have...

(23:12) The Wrongdoers: Others (are those who) have acknowledged their wrong doings: they have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps God will turn unto them (in mercy); for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (9:102) Besides the Quranic verses, there are numerous traditions from disproving some of the . Two examples are mentioned here.

Abu-Hazim relates that according to Sahl ibn Sa`d, the Prophet said: I send you to the Fountain of Kawthar; whoever arrives at it drinks from it and whoever drinks from it shall never be thirsty again.

Some people come to me; I know them and they know me; then we are separated from each other.[1] While I was narrating this tradition, says Abu-Hazim, Nu`man ibn Abi-`Ayyash heard it and asked, 'Did you hear Sahl say it in this way?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'I bear witness that according to Abu-Sa`id Khidri this same tradition ends as follows: They are with me. Then I am told You are not aware of what they did after you.

Then I reply, 'Far from (Allah's) mercy are those who changed (the precepts) after me. The phrases I know them and they know me and who changed after me clearly refer to the who were with the Prophet for some time.

(Bukhari and Muslim have reported this tradition, too) Bukhari and Muslim quote the Prophet to have said: On the Day of Resurrection, a group of my or my people come to me; they are then taken away from the Fountain (of Kawthar); (They are prevented from coming to or nearing the Fountain). I say, O Lord, these are my . And the Lord replies, You know not [1] Jami` al-Usul of Ibn al-Athir, the book al-Hawz fi wurud al-Nass; `Alayhi; p. 20 (Tradition No. 7972).

of what they did after you; they returned on their heels (to the Age of Ignorance).[1] Conclusion: Based on Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions cited above, it becomes clear that the and those who met the Prophet were not of the same rank. One group included the pure individuals of the highest merit whose valuable services facilitated the growth of the young tree of Islam. The other group included people who were, right from the beginning, hypocrites, double dealers, black-hearted or sinful.

Thus, the Shiites' view - the same view as in God's Book and in the Sunnah - concerning the of the Prophet becomes clear. [1] Jami` al-Usul, vol. 11, p. 120 (Tradition No. 7973). Back Index Next Previous…