The Virtue of Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Anhu and the Reality of the Tradition
Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Anhu is the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the fourth Caliph, and the Lion of Allah. His countless virtues are attributed to the tongue of Prophethood, and the authentic virtues are those conveyed to us through correct ahadith from the Prophet ﷺ. Statements based on false and weak narrations cannot be given the status of virtues. Here, a famous such tradition is mentioned:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali Radi Allahu Anhu is its gate.”
Among the general public, it is commonly believed that this is a saying of the Prophet ﷺ, but in reality, according to the principles of hadith scholars, this tradition is not authentic. To determine its chain of narration, research on the narrations related to this is presented here:
Narration Number 1:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا دَارُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Translation: “I am the house of wisdom and Ali رضي الله عنه is its door.”
Commentary:
This narration is “weak” due to several reasons:
- Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Abdullah al-Rumi has been declared “weak” by the majority of hadith scholars.
- Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi says: “فِیہِ ضُعْفٌ”
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 22/8)
- Imam Abu Zur’ah al-Razi says: “شیخ لین”
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil: 22/8)
- Imam Ibn Hibban says: “He fabricates hadiths and attributes them to trustworthy narrators.”
Reference: (Al-Majruhin: 94/2)
Regarding Shareek ibn Abdullah, it is also said that he “صَدُوقٌ یُّخْطِیُٔ کثیراً”
meaning he was truthful but made many mistakes.
His narrations have also been declared weak due to poor memory.
There is also an indication of tadlees (concealment) in this.
For these reasons, scholars have declared this narration “rejected” and “false.” Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Ibn Hibban, and Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on them) have also called it a fabricated narration.
Narration Number 2:
Another narration on the same subject is attributed to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
’أَنَا دَارُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Imam Al-Ajri رحمه الله added in this: “Whoever wishes to enter this house should come through the door.”
This narration is also weak and unacceptable due to other defects in its chain.
Comment:
The chain of this narration, whose condition is being described, is weak and unreliable like the first narration.
Narration Number 3:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعِلْمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ بَابَ الْمَدِینَۃِ‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge, and Ali رضي الله عنه is its gate; whoever wishes to acquire knowledge should come through the gate of the city.”
Comment:
The chain of this narration is unreliable for several reasons:
- Shareek bin Abdullah is known for tadlees (deception in narration).
- Salmah bin Kaheel did not narrate directly from Sanabahi.
- Suwaid bin Saeed Hadhaani, whom Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) considers to be guilty of tadlees. Due to his blindness, his memory weakened in the later part of his life, and therefore his narrations are not considered reliable.
Reference: (Tabaqat al-Mudallisīn: 120)
Narration Number 4:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْفِقْہِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is its gate.”
Commentary:
This chain of narration is false and contains multiple defects:
- Abdul Hamid bin Bahr Basri is accused of plagiarism in narrations.
- Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that Abdul Hamid’s narrations are rejected and that he steals the hadiths of trustworthy narrators and presents them as his own.
Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 325/5)
- Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, also says that he narrates from Malik, Sharik, and the Kufis such narrations which are not theirs, and it is not permissible to take evidence from his hadith.
Reference: (Al-Majruhīn: 142/2)
- Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, and Imam Abu Nu’aym Asbahani, may Allah have mercy on him, have also said similar things that he narrates altered and rejected hadiths.
- The tadlis (concealment) of Sharik bin Abdullah Qazi is also included in this narration. About him, Allama Ma’alimi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that even if Sharik’s narration is established, it cannot be trusted because it contains tadlis, errors, and confusion.
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Fawa’id al-Majmu’ah lil-Shawkani, p. 352)
Narration Number 5:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْجَنَّۃِ، وَأَنْتَ بَابُہَا یَا عَلِيُّ، کَذِبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّہٗ یَدْخُلُہَا مِنْ غَیْرِ بَابِہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of Paradise and O Ali, you are its gate. Whoever claims that he will enter other than through the gate, he is lying.”
Commentary:
Its chain of narration is false because:
- Sa’d bin Tarif Askani is a rejected narrator and Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله declared him a fabricator (one who invents false hadiths). He held Rafidhi beliefs.
Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 2241)
- It has also been said about Asbagh bin Nabatah al-Tamimi that he is rejected and he is also accused of being a Rafidhi.
Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 537)
Narration Number 6:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’شَجَرَۃٌ أَنَا أَصْلُہَا، وَعَلِيٌّ فَرْعُہَا، وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَیْنُ مِنْ ثَمَرِہَا، وَالشِّیعَۃُ وَرَقُہَا، فَہَلْ یَخْرُجُ مِنَ الطَّیِّبِ إِلَّا الطَّیِّبُ؟ وَأَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَہَا؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “I am the trunk of the tree, Ali رضي الله عنه is its branch, Hasan and Husayn رضي الله عنهما are its fruits, and the Shia are its leaves. Only pure things produce pure things. I am the city of knowledge and Ali رضي الله عنه is its gate, so whoever intends to seek knowledge should come through the gate.”
Commentary:
This narration is false and fabricated because:
- Yahya bin Bashar Kindi and Ismail bin Ibrahim Hamdani are both unknown narrators, as Imam Khateeb Baghdadi رحمه الله stated.
Reference: (Talkhees al-Mutashabih: 308/1)
- Hafiz Zahabi رحمه الله also declared Yahya bin Bashar Kindi as unknown and a narrator of false traditions.
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 366/4)
Narration Number 7:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَأَنْتَ یَا عَلِيُّ بَابُہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of wisdom, and O Ali رضي الله عنه! You are its gate.”
Commentary:
This is an extremely false narration because:
- Jabir bin Yazid Jufi is a liar and abandoned narrator.
- Regarding Ahmad bin Hamad Hamdani, Hafiz Zahbi (may Allah have mercy on him) states that this narrator is unknown.
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 94/1)
- Amr bin Shammar is a weak and abandoned narrator.
Narration Number 8:
Attributed to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعِلْمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is its gate; whoever intends to acquire knowledge should come through the gate of the city.”
Commentary:
This narration is also false. Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) states that there are many unknown narrators in its chain.
Narration Number 9:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’یَا عَلِيُّ، أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَابُ، کَذِبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّہٗ یَصِلُ إِلَی الْمَدِینَۃِ، إِلَّا مِنَ الْبَابِ‘
Translation: “O Ali! I am the city of knowledge and you are its gate. Whoever claims that he can enter the city without this gate is a liar.”
Commentary:
This narration is also false because:
- There is no information available about Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Umar bin Muslim Lahqi.
- Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Abu Mufaddal Kufi is accused of lying and fabricating hadiths.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 466/5, Lisan al-Mizan: 231/5, 232)
Narration Number 10:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعِلْمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; whoever wants knowledge should come through the gate.”
Commentary:
This narration is false in its chain because:
- Dawood bin Suleiman Jurjani Ghazi was declared a liar by Imam Yahya bin Ma’in رحمه الله, and Imam Abu Hatim رحمه الله called him unknown. Furthermore, Hafiz Al-Dhahabi رحمه الله stated that this person had a collection of fabricated narrations.
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 8/2, Lisan al-Mizan: 417/2)
- Ali bin Hussain bin Bandar bin Muthanna Astr Abadi was criticized by the Muhaddithin, as Imam Ibn Najjar رحمه الله declared him weak, and Imam Ibn Tahir called him accused.
Reference: (Lisan al-Mizan: 217/4, Mizan al-I’tidal: 121/3)
Narration Number 11:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعِلْمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; whoever wants to acquire knowledge should come through the gate.”
Commentary:
This narration is false because:
- No information could be found about Hasan bin Muhammad bin Jarir.
- Without the introduction of Ubaidullah bin Abu Rafi’, this narration is not acceptable.
Narration Number 12:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، وَلَا تُؤْتَی الْبُیُوتُ إِلاَّ مِنْ أَبْوَابِہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; entering houses is only through doors.”
Commentary:
This narration is also not established because:
- Ali bin Umar bin Ali bin Hussain has been declared unreliable by Hafiz Ibn Hajar, meaning his narration cannot be trusted.
Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 4775)
- Hafs bin Umar San’ani has been declared weak by Hafiz Ibn Hajar.
Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 1420)
- Muhammad bin Musaffi bin Bahlul Qurashi committed tadlees al-taswiyah, meaning he used to conceal narrators in the chain of narration.
Reference: (Al-Majruhīn by Ibn Hibban: 94/1)
Narration Number 13:
In Imam Darqutni’s book
, there is a narration whose narrator Yahya bin Salmah bin Kaheel is described by Hafiz Ibn Hajar as: “He is abandoned and a Shia narrator.”
Hafiz Al-Dhahabi also declared him abandoned.
Narration Number 14:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’ہٰذَا أَمِیرُ الْبَرَرَۃِ، وَقَاتِلُ الْفَجَرَۃِ، مُنْصُورٌ مَّنْ نَّصَرَہٗ، مَخْذُولٌ مَّنْ خَذَلَہٗ‘، مَدَّ بِہَا صَوْتَہٗ، ثُمَّ قَالَ : ’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْحِکَمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “They are the leaders of the righteous and the killers of the wicked. Whoever supports them will be victorious, and whoever tries to disgrace them will be humiliated.” Then he said: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; whoever wants to acquire wisdom should come through the gate.”
Commentary:
This narration is false because:
- Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Yazid Hashimi was a liar and fabricator of false narrations. Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “He used to fabricate hadiths and attribute them to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 192/1)
- Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “He narrated false and rejected hadiths from trustworthy narrators.”
Reference: (Al-Majruhīn: 152/1)
- Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, and Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, also declared him a liar.
Reference: (Talkhis al-Mustadrak: 127/3)
- Sufyan al-Thawri’s tadlis (concealment of defects) is also included in this narration, due to which this narration has been declared even weaker.
Narration Number 15:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَبُو بَکْرٍ وَّعُمَرُ سَیِّدَا أَہْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ ۔۔۔۔ أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکَمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ بِالْمَدِینَۃِ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ بَابَہَا‘
Translation: “Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, are the leaders of Paradise. I am the city of wisdom and Ali is its gate; whoever desires to acquire wisdom should come through the gate of the city.”
Commentary:
This is also a false narration because:
- Habib bin Nu’man is an unknown narrator.
Reference: (Talkhis al-Mutashabih: 161/1)
- Husayn bin Abdullah al-Tamimi is an obscure narrator.
Reference: (Talkhis al-Mutashabih: 161/1)
Narration Number 16:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَیْہِ السَّلَامُ سَیِّدُ الْعَرَبِ…عَلِيٌّ عَلَیْہِ السَّلَامُ خَیْرُ الْبَشَرِ، مَنْ أَبٰی فَقَدْ کَفَرَ‘
Translation: “Ali ibn Abi Talib is the leader of the Arabs… Ali is better than all humans, whoever denies this is a disbeliever.”
Commentary:
This narration is false and fabricated; the various narrators of it are examined:
- Isa bin Mehran Abu Musa Mustatf:
Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that this person used to narrate fabricated and rejected traditions and was a staunch Rafidi.Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 260/5)Imam Khateeb Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, says that this person used to insult the Companions and fabricate false hadiths.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad: 168/11)Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, also declared him a liar and fabricator.
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 324/3) - Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ubaidullah Abu Fazl Kufi:
This narrator was also a high-level liar, deceiver, and fabricator of hadiths.Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Khateeb: 467/5, Lisan al-Mizan by Ibn Hajar: 321/5) - Khalid bin Tahman Abu Ula Khafaf:
Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, states that this narrator suffered from memory confusion ten years before his death, after which he began accepting suggestions, meaning he would accept whatever narration was presented to him.Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal by Ibn Adi: 19/3) - Ibn Shadhan:
The author of this narration, Ibn Shadhan, was also a severe liar, about whom more details will be discussed later.
Narration Number 17:
Attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’یَا عَلِيُّ، أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَأَنْتَ بَابُہَا… فَمَثَلُکَ وَمَثَلُ الْأَئِمَّۃِ مِنْ وُّلْدِکَ بَعْدِي؛ مَثَلُ سَفِینَۃِ نُوحٍ‘
Translation: “O Ali! I am the city of wisdom and you are its gate… You and the Imams who come after you are like Noah’s Ark; whoever boards it is saved.”
Commentary:
This narration is false and fabricated; many narrators in its chain are unreliable:
- Saad bin Tarif Askani Khafaf:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “He is a discarded narrator, and Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, declared him a fabricator of false hadiths and a Rafidhi.”Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 2241) - Ibn Shadhan:
Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says that Ibn Shadhan is a deceiver and a fabricator of false hadiths, and his transmitted narrations are false, invalid, and unreliable.Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 467/3)Regarding another narration of his, he said: “This is a lie.”
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 467/3)
Narration Number 18:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعِلْمَ؛ فَلْیَأْتِ الْبَابَ‘
Translation: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate; whoever wants to acquire knowledge should come through the gate.”
Commentary:
This is also a fabricated narration. The statements of the scholars of hadith regarding the narrators included in its chain are as follows:
- Ahmad bin Hafs Sa’di:
Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله says: “He narrated fabricated reports which were not followed by anyone.”Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 199/1)Imam Isma’ili رحمه الله says that his intellect was lost and sometimes he would become confused.
Reference: (Mu’jam al-Isma’ili: 355/1)Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله classified him as “Sahib al-Manakirat” (one who narrates fabricated reports) and said that “he is weak and of no use.”
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 94/1) - Sa’id bin Uqbah al-Kufi:
Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله says: “He is unknown and not trustworthy.”Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 413/3)
Narration Number 19:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Translation: “I am the city of wisdom and Ali is its gate.”
Commentary:
This narration is false and fabricated because:
- There is an issue with the chain of narration through Uthman bin Abdullah.
- Imam Ibn Adi رحمه الله says: “This narration is mursal from Al-A’mash (meaning narrators are missing in the chain), and it was stolen by weak narrators from Abu Sulayt al-Harawi.”
Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 177/5)
- Regarding Uthman bin Khalid, Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله states: “He narrates distorted narrations and reports chains from trustworthy narrators that are not from them.”
Reference: (Al-Majruhīn: 102/2)
- The indication of tadlis (concealment) by Al-A’mash is also pointed out in this narration, which further weakens it.
Narration Number 20:
Narration reported with another chain:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Commentary:
This narration is also fabricated because:
- Regarding Hasan bin Uthman Tastari, Imam Ibn Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “He used to fabricate hadiths and steal the narrations of others.”
Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Dhu’afa al-Rijal: 345/2)
- Abdur Rahman Ahwazi has declared him a liar.
Narration Number 21:
A narration attributed to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Commentary:
This narration is also false because:
- Raja bin Salmah is accused of stealing hadith.
Reference: (Al-Mawdu’at by Ibn al-Jawzi: 351/1)
- Abu Muawiyah Muhammad bin Hazm Dhareer and A’mash are both mudallis (those who practice tadlis), and this narration also includes A’mash’s tadlis.
Narration Number 22:
Another narration attributed to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْحِکْمَۃِ، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Commentary:
This narration is also false because:
- Abu Salat Abdus Salam bin Salih has been declared weak and abandoned as a narrator.
- It also contains A’mash’s tadlis.
Narration Number 23:
A narration narrated through the chain of Ibn Muharriz:
Commentary:
This narration is also defective because:
- Ibn Mihraz is not authenticated.
- Muhammad bin Tufail bin Malik Hanafi is mentioned as trustworthy only by Imam Ibn Hibban, but he is an unknown narrator.
Summary:
All these narrations related to “Madinat al-Hikmah” are weak, unknown, and fabricated in their chains of transmission. The narrators involved are weak, deceptive, or liars, and the hadith scholars have strongly rejected these narrations.
Narration Number 24:
Muhammad bin Ja’far Fidi has narrated this hadith
Commentary:
Husayn bin Fahm has been described as trustworthy, reliable, and a memorizer by Imam Al-Hakim, but according to Imam Al-Daraqutni (may Allah have mercy on him), “Husayn bin Fahm is not strong.”
The issue of authentication of Abu Husayn Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Tamim Qantari is also present in this chain.
Narration Number 25:
Imam Abu Ubaid Qasim bin Salam has narrated this hadith
Commentary:
This chain is invalid for various reasons:
- Ismail bin Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Jabirini Abu Harun about whom Imam Ibn Abu Hatim says that his hadiths do not match those of truthful narrators.
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil: 196/2)
- Imam Ibn Hibban says that he distorts chains of narration and steals hadiths.
Reference: (Al-Majruhīn: 130/1)
- Imam Hakim said about him that he used to narrate fabricated hadiths.
Reference: (Lisan al-Mizan: 433/1)
Narration Number 26:
Umar bin Ismail bin Mujalid has narrated by continuation
Commentary:
Umar bin Ismail about whom Imam Abu Hatim Razi says that he is weak in hadith.
Imam Ibn Mu’in called him a liar and stated that he narrated the false hadith “Ana Madinat al-Ilm.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar also declared him abandoned.
Narration Number 27:
Ibrahim bin Musa Razi has narrated by continuation
Commentary:
Imam al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, himself says that he does not know this narrator and has not heard any other narration from him. This further weakens this narration.
Narration Number 28:
Ahmad bin Salmah Abu Amr Jurjani narrated by continuation
Commentary:
Imam Ibn Adi says about Ahmad bin Salmah that he used to narrate false traditions from trustworthy narrators and plagiarize hadiths.
Hafiz Al-Dhahabi also declared him a liar.
Narration Number 29:
Hasan bin Rashid narrated by continuation
Commentary:
The narrator of this chain Hasan bin Ali Adawi is a liar and Imam Ibn Adi says that he plagiarized narration from Abu Sulayt al-Harawi.
Narration Number 30:
Musa bin Muhammad Ansari narrated by continuation
Commentary:
Imam Abu Urubah says about Mahfuz bin Bahr Antaki that he used to narrate false traditions.
Hafiz Al-Dhahabi included this narration among the false narrations of Mahfuz bin Bahr.
Narration Number 31:
A man from the people of Sham (a man from Syria) has narrated this tradition
Commentary:
This tradition is false because:
- Imam Daraqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Abu Sulayt falsely attributed this tradition to Abu Muawiyah, and several weak narrators transmitted it. Among them are Umar ibn Isma’il ibn Mujalid, Muhammad ibn Ja’far, and a lying person from Sham. The lying Syrian narrated it with the chain from Hisham from Abu Muawiyah.”Reference: (Ta’leeqat al-Daraqutni ‘ala al-Majruhīn: 179) - Imam Daraqutni did not mention the complete chain but declared the ambiguous narrator (the lying Syrian) as false, and this alone is sufficient to prove its falsehood.
Narration Number 32:
Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi has narrated this tradition
Commentary:
This tradition is also false because:
- Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that Ja’far bin Muhammad Baghdadi is an unknown narrator and this narration is fabricated.
Reference: (Mizan al-I’tidal: 415/1)
- Abu Ja’far Muttin, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “No trustworthy narrator has narrated this hadith from Abu Mu’awiyah; only Abu Sulayt al-Harawi has narrated it, and the great muhaddithin have declared it false.”
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib: 172/7)
Narration Number 33:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَأَبُو بَکْرٍ وَّعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ سُوَرُہَا، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Commentary:
This narration is also false because:
- Hasan bin Tamim bin Tamam is an unknown narrator, and his hearing from Sayyiduna Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, is not established.
- The second narrator Abu al-Qasim Umar bin Muhammad bin Husayn Karkhi requires authentication.
- Hafiz Ibn Asakir, may Allah have mercy on him, states: “Both the chain and the text of this narration are severely rejected.”
Reference: (Tarikh Dimashq: 321/45)
Narration Number 34:
Attributed to the Prophet ﷺ:
’أَنَا مَدِینَۃُ الْعِلْمِ، وَأَبُو بَکْرٍ أَسَاسُہَا، وَعُمَرُ حِیطَانُہَا، وَعُثْمَانُ سَقْفُہَا، وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُہَا‘
Commentary:
This is a blatant lie, and the fabricator of this narration is Ismail bin Ali bin Muthanna Astrabadi.
Opinions of the Imams:
- Imam Yahya bin Ma’in, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This hadith is baseless.”
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 99/6)
- Imam Abu Zar’ah Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, says that many scholars have found faults in this hadith.
Reference: (As-Sawalat al-Barzi’i: 753/2)
- Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, has declared it “Munkar” (rejected).
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 22/8)
- Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This hadith is strange and rejected.”
Reference: (Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 3723)
- Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This narration is not proven from the Prophet ﷺ.”
Reference: (Al-Majruhin: 94/2)
- Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This hadith is contradictory and not authentic.”
Reference: (Al-‘Ilal: 247/3)
- Imam ‘Aqili, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “No hadith with this meaning is authentic.”
Reference: (Ad-Du‘afa’ al-Kabir: 150/3)
- Imam Ibn ‘Adi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This hadith is rejected and fabricated.”
Reference: (Al-Kamil fi Du‘afa’ ar-Rijal: 192/1)
- Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “All narrations with this meaning are rejected.”
Reference: (Tarikh Dimashq: 380/42)
- Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi has declared it fabricated.
Reference: (Al-Mawdu‘at: 533/1)
- Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This is a false hadith.”
Reference: (Tahdhib al-Asma’ wa al-Lughat: 490/1)
- Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This hadith is fabricated.”
Reference: (Tarikh al-Islam by adh-Dhahabi: 1191/5)
- Shaykh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, has declared it self-fabricated.
Reference: (Minhaj as-Sunnah: 515/7)
- Allama Ibn Tahir, may Allah have mercy on him, has also declared it fabricated.
Reference: (Takhrij Ahadith al-Ihya’ by al-Iraqi: 1830)
- Allama Abdul Rahman Mu‘allimi, may Allah have mercy on him, has also called it fabricated.
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Fawa’id al-Majmu‘ah by ash-Shawkani, p. 349)
Summary:
This hadith is weak and rejected with all its chains of narration. All the narrations of the hadith from Ibn Abbas are transmitted through Abu Muawiyah from Al-A’mash from Mujahid, therefore it is also “weak and muddled.” There are authentic and established narrations regarding the virtue and excellence of Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and his virtue is clear.
