only after you have found evidence for it in the Book of...

only after you have found evidence for it in the Book of Allah or in the statements made by the Messenger of God; otherwise, the hadith is good only for the person who has narrated it.[1] Imam Baqir (a.s) maintains that observing the Prophets Sunnah is obligatory for the jurisprudent: The true jurisprudent is one who leads an austere life, is desirous of the Hereafter and resorts to the Prophets Sunnah.[2] The Imams of the Shiites esteem the Quran and the Prophets Sunnah so highly that any opposition to it is considered a cause of disbelief.

Imam Sadiq, (a.s) has said, One who opposes the Book of Allah and the Prophets Sunnah is certainly a disbeliever.[3] This lucid statement shows that more than any other Islamic sect, it is the Shiism that values the Prophets Sunnah, and this proves how baseless are the words of those who accuse the Shiites of being alienated from the Prophets Sunnah. Why is it necessary to stick to the traditions of ?

To clarify the Shiites view in regard to the traditions of the household of the Prophet, (a.s) it is necessary first to deal with the following two points: (a) the nature of the words of the infallible Imams, (b) the reasons for the authenticity of Ahl al- Bay and the necessity to follow them. [1] Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, chapter: Superiority of Knowledge, subdivision: al-Akhd bi'l-Sunnah wa Shawahid al-Kitab, hadith 2. [2] Ibid, hadith 8. [3] Ibid hadith 6.

Nature of the words of the Prophets itrah The Shiites maintain that only God has the right to codify rules for mankind, and it is only He Who propagates the Divine Law through His Messenger, who is merely an intermediary between God and mankind in respect to the Revelation.

Thus, the Shiites acceptance of the traditions of the household of the Prophet as one of the sources of jurisprudence does not imply that these hadiths maintain an authenticity independent pf the Prophets Sunnah; they are considered authentic only because they represent the Messenger of Gods Sunnah. This means that the infallible Imams of the Shiites have nothing of their own to convey.

What they say is nothing but the Prophets Sunnah Below are cited a few of the hadiths from the Prophets itrah to clarify the matter.