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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books To Be With the Truthful Disagreement about al-Thaqalayn We have already conceived, through the aforementioned discussions, the viewpoints of the Shi‘ah and Ahl al-Sunnah regarding the caliphate, and the acts and conduct of the Messenger (S) toward the Ummah , as held by the two sects.

Has the Messenger of Allah (S) then left anything for his Ummah , upon which it depends and to which it refers regarding any controversial matter entailing inevitable dispute, that was stated by the Holy Qur’ān, when the Almighty said: "O ye who believe! Obey God and obey the apostle and those vested with authority from among you; and then if ye quarrel about anything refer it to God and the Apostle if ye believe in God and in the Last Day (of Judgement).

This is the best and fairest way of ending (the dispute)" (4:59). True, the Messenger has to leave behind for the Ummah a foundation and basis upon which it relies and to which it refers, since he was sent as a blessing for the worlds and he is so keen and concerned that his community be the best of communities, and never be in disagreement after him.

Hence his and the traditionists reported that he said “I am leaving behind among you two precious things (Thaqalayn), as long as you adhere to them you will never go astray after me. The Book of Allah and my ‘Itrah, my . They will never separate till they come unto me near the pond (hawd), so look how you are going to treat them after me.”[^1] This hadith is sahih (correct) and authentic, and was reported by both the sects Sunnah and Shi‘ah.

It was narrated in the Musnads and Sahihs of Ahl al-Sunnah, through more than thirty . Since I, as usual, never argue by the books of the Shi‘ah or sayings of their ‘ulamā’, who have reported the Hadith al-Thaqalayn, acknowledging its veracity, so that the discussion be objective, fair and square (though fairness and equity necessitating that a reference should be made too to the Shi‘ah). Hereinafter a brief list of the narrators of this hadith from among the Sunni ‘ulamā’.

Sahih Muslim: "kitāb fadā’il ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib". Vol. VII P.122 Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Vol.V.P.328 Al-’Imām al-Nasā’i in his book al-Khasā’is. p.21 Al-’Imām Ahmād ibn Hanbal. in his Musnad, Vol.III,P.17 Mustadrak al-Hākim, vol.III, P.109 Kanz al-’ummāl, vol.I, p.154 Ibn Sa’d in al-Tabaqāt al-kubrā, vol.