A Shi'ite Encyclopedia (chapter 2-3)

Ghadir Khum (part 3 of 3)

The chains (asnad) of narrations of Ghadir Khum

The importance of the tradition of Ghadir Khum in history is reflected in its widespread documentation and mentioned by the multitude of personalities over the centuries. Although, some trivialized, only listed the occurrence among the historical events without giving it a thought, or discussed the matter in a mixture of emotional judgments, none could deny the authenticity of these narrations. The essence of what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) delivered on the day of Ghadir was not disputed among any, even if they disagreed on its interpretation, for reasons obvious to the alert.

Let us look at the lists of some of the Sunni traditions, commentators, and historians who have documented the tradition of Ghadir Khum in chronological order:

Sunni Traditionists who mentioned the Tradition of Ghadir Khum

  1. Mohammed Ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (Imam al-Shafi'i, d. 204) per "al-Nihayah" by Ibn al-Athir
  2. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (Imam al-Hanbali, d. 241), in "Masnad" and "al-Manaqib"
  3. Ibn Majah (d. 273), in "Sunan Ibn Majah"
  4. al-Tirmidhi (d. 279), in "Sahih al-Tirmidhi"
  5. al-Nisa'i (d. 303), in "al-Khasa'is"
  6. Abu-Ya'la al-Mousilli (d. 307), in "al-Masnad"
  7. al-Baghawi (d. 317), in "al-Sunan"
  8. al-Doolabi (d. 320), in "al-Kuna wal Asmaa"
  9. al-Tahawi (d. 321), in "Mushkil al-Athar"
  10. al-Hakim (d. 405), in "al-Mustadrak"
  11. Ibn al-Maghazili al-Shafi'i (d. 483), in "al-Manaqib"
  12. Muhammad al-Ghazzali (d. 505), in "Sirrul `Alamayn"
  13. Ibn Mindah al-Asbahani (d. 512), in his book
  14. al-Khatib al-Khawarizmi (d. 568), in "al-Manaqib" and "Maqtal al-Imam al-Sibt"
  15. Abul Faraj Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597), in "Manaqib"
  16. al-Ganji al-Shafi'i (d. 658), in "Kifayat al-Talib"
  17. Muhib al-Din al-Tabari (d. 694), in "al-Riyadh al-Nadhirah" and "Dhakha'ir al-'Aqabi"
  18. al-Hamawainy (d. 722), in "Fara'id al-Samdtin"
  19. al-Dhahabi (d. 748), in "al-Talkhis"
  20. al-Khatib al-Tabrizi (d. 8th century), in "Mishkat al-Masabih"
  21. al-Haythami (d. 807), in "Majma' al-Zawa'id"
  22. al-Jazri (d. 830), in "Asna al-Matalib"
  23. Abul Abbas al-Qastalani (d. 923), in "al-Mawahib al-Ladaniya"
  24. al-Muttaqi al-Hindi (d. 975), in "Kanz al-Ummal"
  25. Abdul Haqq al-Dihlawi, in "Sharh al-Mishkat"
  26. al-Hurawi al-Qari (d. 1014), in "al-Muraqat fi Sharh al-Mishkat"
  27. Taj al-Din al-Manawi (d. 1031), in "Kunooz al-Haqa'iq fi Hadith Khair al-Khala'iq" and "Faidh al-Qadir"
  28. al-Shaikhani al-Qadiri, in "al-Siratul Sawi fi Manaqib Aal al-Nabi"
  29. Ba Kathir al-Makki (d. 1047), in "Wasilatul Amal fi Manaqib al-Aal"
  30. Abu-Abdullah al-Zarqani al-Maliki (d. 1122), in "Sharh al-Mawahib"
  31. Ibn Hamzah al-Dimashqi al-Hanafi, in "al-Bayan wal Taarif" ... and many others.

Sunni Commentators of Quran who mentioned Ghadir Khum

The following Sunni commentators mentioned that one or some or all of the mentioned verses of Quran (such as [5:67] which was about the Allah's order to Prophet for announcement of appointment of Ali, [5:3] which was about completeness of religion, and [70:1] which was about the curse of a person who became angry at the Prophet for this announcement) were reported to have been revealed in the event of Ghadir Khum:

  1. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (d. 310), in "Tafsir al-Bayan"
  2. al-Jassas (d. 370), in "Ahkam al-Quran"
  3. al-Hafiz Abu Nu'aym (d. 430), in "Asbab al-Nuzool"
  4. al-Tha'labi (d. 427 or 437), in "Tafsir al-Tha'labi"
  5. al-Wahidi (d. 468), in "Asbab al-Nuzool"
  6. al-Qurtubi (d. 568), in "Tafsir Jamiul Hukam al-Quran"
  7. al-Fakhr al-Razi (d. 606), in "al-Tafsir al-Kabir"
  8. al-Khazin Baghdadi (d. 741), in "Tafsir al-Khazin"
  9. al-Nisaboori (8th century), in "Tafsir al-Nisaboori"
  10. Ibn Kathir (d. 774), in his "Tafsir" (complete version) under the verse 5:3 (It is ommitted in coincise version!) narrated from Ibn Mardawayh.
  11. al-Hafiz Jalaluddin al-Suyuti (d. 910), in his "Tafsir"
  12. al-Khatib al-Sharbini, in his "Tafsir"
  13. Abu al-Saud al-Hanafi (d. 972), in his "Tafsir"
  14. al-Aloosi al-Baghdadi (d. 1270), in his "Tafsir" ... and many others.

Sunni Historians who mentioned the Tradition of Ghadir Khum

  1. Ibn Qutaybah (d. 276), in "Ma'arif" and "Imamah wal Siyasah"
  2. al-Baladhuri (d. 279), in "Ansab al-ashraf"
  3. Ibn Zawlaq al-Laithi al-Misri (d. 287), in his book
  4. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (d. 310), in an exclussive book "Kitabul Wilayah"
  5. al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (d. 463), in "Tarikh Baghdad"
  6. Ibn Abd al-Bar (d. 463), in "al-Isti'ab"
  7. al-Shahristani (d. 548), in "al-Milal wal Nihal"
  8. Ibn 'Asakir (d. 571), in "Tarikh Ibn 'Asakir" and "Yaqoot al-Hamawi"
  9. Ibn al-Athir (d. 630), in "Usd al-Ghabah"
  10. Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 654), in "Tadhkirat Khawas al-Ummah"
  11. Ibn Abi al-Hadid (d. 656), in "Sharh Nahjul Balagha"
  12. Ibn Khalkan (d. 681), in "Tarikh Ibn Khalkan"
  13. Abul Fida (d. 732), in his "Tarikh"
  14. al-Dhahabi (d. 748) , in "Tadhkirat al-Huffadh"
  15. al-Yafi'i (d. 768), in "Miraat al-Jinan"
  16. Ibn al-Shaikh al-Balawi, in "Alef Baa"
  17. Ibn Kathir (d. 774), in "al-Bidayah wal Nihayah"
  18. Ibn Khaldoon (d. 808), in "al-Muqaddimah"
  19. al-Nuwairi (d. ~833), in "Nihayat al-Irab fi Finoon al-Adab"
  20. al-Maqrizi (d. 845), in "al-Khitat"
  21. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852), in "al-Isabah" and "Tahdhib al-Tahdhib"
  22. Ibn al-Sabbagh al-Maliki (d. 855), in "al-Fusool al-Muhimmah"
  23. Mir Khand (d. 903), in "Habib al-Siyar"
  24. Jalalulddin al-Suyuti (d. 910), in "Tarikh al-Khulafa"
  25. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, (d. 974), in "al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah"
  26. al-Hafiz Ahmad Ibn Muhammad al-'Asimi, in "Zain al-Fata"
  27. al-Qirmani al-Dimashqi (d. 1019), in "Akhbar al-Duwal"
  28. Noor al-Din al-Halabi (d. 1044), in "al-Sirah al-Halabiyah" ... and many others.

The Tradition of Ghadir Khum is parallel (mutawatir)

The Tradition of Ghadir is narrated in parallel (mutawatir) and is proven by the Sunnis to be from numerous chain of transmitters:

  1. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated it from 40 chains;
  2. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari in more than 70 chains;
  3. Abu Sa'id al-Sijistani from 120 chains;
  4. Abu Bakir al-Jaabi from 125 chains;
  5. al-Amir Muhammad al-Yamani (2nd century) had 150 chains;
  6. al-Dhahabi has written a complete book on its chains and passed a verdict that it is Mutawatir;
  7. Abul Abbas Ibn `Uqdah has narrated it through 150 chains.