Shia books of Hadith (Ahaadith), narrations

Hadith (Ahaadith) are narrations of Prophet Mohammed.

Shia don't rely on Sunni Hadith books (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim etc), Shia have several reasons as to why Sunni hadith books are rejected. Sunnis, have six major authentic (Sihaa Sitta) hadith books and several others to their list which are secondary on level in their collection.

For a Sunni any doubt on any hadith from those six books are an act of blasphemy. That is the reason Sunni prefix the word 'Sahih' (Authentic) to those books, among those six book (Siha Sitta); Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are two ultra-correct books next only to Holy Quran or on par.

Shia are of opinion that since hadith are narrated by a chain of narrators who are fallible people bound to make mistakes no matter even if un-intentional, therefore, no hadith could be called 100% authentic (Sahih), thus, Shia don't prefix the names of books of hadith with word 'Sahih' (Authentic), because no matter how small but there are chances of error.

One major difference between Shia collection and Sunni collection are Sunni judge the person as right or wrong, if he/she is right; what ever he/she said is authenic. Shia rather check whether his/her hadith is right or wrong, since all people are fallible except Prophet Mohammed (saw), Fatima Zahra (as) and 12 Imams (as).

Shia have another set of books which are authentic but never ever 100% authentic since the chain of narration are taken from fallible people. There are four major books of Shia Hadith which are least in error, they are called 'Kutub al Arba' (Four books).

Four Major Shia Hadith book (Kutub al Arba) are:

1) Al Kafi (The Sufficient) by Mohammed bin Yaqub Kulaini, it has 15176 narrations/ Ahaadith.

2) Man La Yahdruhu Al Faqih (I am my own Jurist) by Shaikh Saduq Mohammed bin Ali, it has 9044 narrations/ Ahaadith

3) Tahdiib Al Ahkaam (The Refinement of Laws) by Shaikh Abu Ja'far Tusi, it has 13590 narrations/ Ahaadith

4) Al Istibsaar (Foresight) by Shaikh Abu Ja'far Tusi, it has 5511 narrations/ Ahaadith

Other Shia Hadith books are:

5) Bihar Al Anwaar (Ocean of Luminescence)

6) Wasaail Ush Shia (Details for Shia)

7) Haqq Al Yaqin (Reality of Certainty)

8) Ain al Hayaat (Essence of Life)

9) Kitab Sulaym bin Qays (Book of Sulaym bin Qays)

10) Sahifa Sajjadiya (Psalms of Sajjad/ 4th Imam), it is a prayer book.

11) Nahjul Balagha (Peak of Eloquence), compiled by Sayyed Radi, the book is collections of sermons, letters and quotations of 1st Imam Ali bin Abu Talib (as)

It is a Shia Islamic belief based on several Hadith found in above mentioned books, that there are several other books which are always under possession of current Imam, these books are never in possessions of people. These books include hand written Qur'an by Imam Ali Murtada, Jafr, Jabr and Mushaf Fatima (Codex of Fatima). Apart from these books current Imam also possesses original Suhuf Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham), Tauraat (Torah), Zabuur (Psalms), Injeel (Gospel) and original revealed books of every prophet of past times.

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

Sahaba (Prophet's Companion) who Shia honour

1) Salman Persian (Faarsi)
2) Abu Darr Ghiffaari
3) Miqdaad Kindi
4) Ammar bin Yasir
5) Bilal bin Ribah (Habashi/ Ethiopian),
6) Huzaifa Yamani
7) Abu Saeed Khudri
8) Abu Ayyub Ansaari
9) Jaabir bin Abdullah Ansaari
10) Abdullah bin Mas'ud
11) Adi bin Haatim Taai
12) Hujr bin Adi Taai
13) Zaid bin Harith
14) Abdullah bin Afiif
15) Ubbay bin Ka'ab
16) Owaiz Qirni
17) Khabbab bin Ariit
18) Muslim bin Ausaja
19) Abu Raafi
20) Miknaaf bin Hunaif
21) Uthman bin Hunaif
22) Khalid bin Sa'id
23) Buraida Aslami
24) Khuzaima bin Saabit
25) Abul Hathama bin Tihaan
26) Sahl bin Hunaif
27) Sa'ad bin Obaida
28) Qais bin Sa'ad
29) Malik bin Nuwaira
30) Abu Obaid Yusuf Saqaafi

May Allah be pleased with above Sahaba (Prophet Mohammed's faithful companions), to be updated soon, with more faithful Sahaba.


Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

Eid Nawroz in Shia Islam

On 18th Dhul Hajja 60 Hijri, Prophet Mohammed declared Ali son of Abu Talib, his cousin and son in law as his vicegerent and absolute leader of all Muslims. With these declaration Prophet Mohammed received the orders to declare the revelation [Quran 3: 5] announcing Islam to have attained perfection and become complete.

This famous event came to be known as Event of Ghadeer and subsequently as Eid Ghadeer. Islam follow lunar Hijri calender, and the announcement of Ghadeer was made at Solar Equinox (usually falls on 20th or 21st March following Earthly revolutions) which could not be celebrated through Lunar Calender, thus date of Ghadeer (18th Dhul Hajja) and Solar equinox (21st March) both are celebrated through Hijri and solar calender respectively.

Ghadeer is an important event in Islam, thus special day was chosen (Solar Equinox, 21st March) when Earth stood straight and both day and night became equal. Spring season begins with Solar Equinox. To conclude, Nawroz is just Eid Ghadeer through Solar calender.

In pre-Islamic days it was taken as new year day in most of calenders throughout the world, in Iran the new year day was called Nawroz ( New Day). Many important events of older prophets prior to Prophet Mohammed as well as many events of Prophet Mohammed's life happened on this very day, like Prophet Mohammed declared his mission on Nawroz (21st March) etc. 

6th Imam Ja'far Sadiq mentioned its importance as well in several traditions during his time. Technically speaking, the new revolution of Earth or actual new year begins with Nawroz, at Tehwil Nawroz time when Earth stand on its own axis.

Nawroz Mubarak!

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

Prophet Mohammed's life and family details

Name: Mohammed and Ahmed 

Epithet: Abul Qasim

Birthdate: 17th Rabiul Awwal 54 BH (Friday, 9th May 570 AD) 

Birthplace: Makka, Hijaz ( Present day Saudi Arabia)

Father: Abdullah  (Died 3 months before Prophet Mohammed's birth)

Paternal Grandfather: Abdul Mutallib (Shaiba) son of Hashim

Paternal Grandmother: Fatima daughter of Amr

Mother: Amina (Died when Prophet Mohammed was 6 yrs old)

Maternal Grandfather: Wahhab son of Abdul Munaf

Maternal Grandmother: Barra daughter of Abdul Uzza

Foster Mother: Halima Sa’adia daughter of Abu Zoeb

Legal Guardian ( Paternal Uncle): Abu Talib son of Abdul Mutallib

Wives who bore children:

1. Khadija daughter of Khuwalid (Prophet Mohammed was 25 yrs old and she was 28 yrs old when they married)

2. Maria Coptic daughter of Shamoon (Simon)

Sons: 

1. Qasim (died in infancy) son from Khadija 

2. Tayyab (died in infancy) son from Khadija 

3. Tahir (died in infancy) son from Khadija 

4. Ibrahim (died in infancy) son from Maria 

Daughter: Fatima daughter from Khadija 

Son in Law: Ali son of Abu Talib 

Adopted sons:

1. Ali son of Abu Talib

2. Zaid son of Harith

Adopted Daughters:

1. Zainab daughter of Hala (Sister in law, Hala was Khadija's sister)

2. Ruqaiyya daughter of Hala 

3. Umme Kulthum daughter of Hala

Grandsons:

1. Hasan son of Ali

2. Husain son of Ali

3. Mohsin son of Ali (Miscarried)

Granddaughters:

1. Zainab daughter of Ali

2. Umme Kulthum daughter of Ali

Passing date: 28th Safar 11 AH (Saturday, 23rd May 632 AD) 

Death reason: Poisoned by Zainab daughter of Harith

Burried: Madina, Hijaz ( Present day Saudi Arabia)

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

Shia date of Prophet Mohammed's birthday: 17th Rabiul Awwal

There are various dates of birth of Prophet Mohammed, the point to be noted in these cases are most of the dates are narrated by Sahaba (Companions) of Prophet Mohammed.

Prophet Mohammed began to have companions after the age of 40 years when he declared himself as Prophet of God. Before the declaration he was considered just a virtuous man had few friends and no one was interested in when was he born. Amazingly, these people who later got converted to Islam, became companions started to narrate Prophet Mohammed's biography, when was he born etc etc.

How did they knew when was he born? Most of Sahaba (Companions) had never witnessed Prophet Mohammed's childhood as they were quite young or of same age. Those who were older to Prophet Mohammed most among them had died during the very life time of Prophet Mohammed. These same age people who became companions narrating biography of Prophet Mohammed about his childhood needs scrutiny.

These Sahaba (Companions) narrated their individual versions to the so called biographers who compiled books of Ahaadith (Anthologies), Seerah (Biographies) of Prophet Mohammed. Most of these people never questioned Sahaba (Companions) as to how come they know when was Prophet born on which date on what day? They just went on to record whatever was narrated to them.

A Sahabi (a Companion) who became Muslim in Madina narrated the birth, childhood and Makkan life of Prophet Mohammed in details and no one questioned him about how he gathered knowledge when he was not present. Just to make their books thicker and heavier biographers wrote whatever they heard from these Sahaba (Companions).

Sunnis began celebrating Prophet Mohammed's birthday on 12th Rabiul Awwal during the caliphate of Harun Rashid; no record is available to show that Sunnis ever celebrated his birth before the reign of Harun Rashid. Their version of birthday is based on narrations of Prophet Mohammed's companions of later life who never witnessed birth and childhood of Prophet Mohammed. Their version state the date to be 12th Rabiul Awwal (Monday) year of Elephant as most probable date, they also have other dates in their records from other companions which are 9th, 11th etc.

Shia all around the world celebrate the Birthday of Prophet Mohammed on 17th Rabiul Awwal on authority of narration (Hadith) narrated by Abu Talib the uncle and legal guardian of Prophet Mohammed from childhood unto his very death, Abu Talib died some time prior to Migration (Hijra) to Madina. It was rather Abu Talib's death which triggered Migration (Hijra). Thus this narration whose chain of narration goes back to Abu Talib is considered most authentic among Shia.

Abu Talib narrated that his nephew Mohammed was born on 17th Rabiul Awwal in the year of Elephant, 53 BH (Friday). No one can question Abu Talib how he knew all these, since he was a close family member and had been legal guardian of Prophet Mohammed. Also, Shia had always celebrated Birthday of Prophet Mohammed even before the reign of Harun Rashid.

However, among 12 Imams (as) and other Ahlul Baet (Family of Prophet Mohammed) there are more than one version of births of some Imams (as) as well as that of other members, of which some dates are considered more authentic while others are considered less authentic. Thus, there is nothing wrong if one celebrates birth of Prophet Mohammed on 12th as well. Rather from 12th to 17th whole week is celebrated as Prophet Mohammed's birth week.

Sunnis also consider the same date 12th Rabiul Awwal as the day Prophet Mohammed passed away, if you read Sunni records of the last day of Prophet Mohammed he became well and came out of house and offered prayers in mosque, later all of sudden became seriously ill and passed away by noon. If it was 12^th Rabiul Awwal his birthday and Prophet Mohammed recovered from illness, why no one wished him in that regards?

Modern Salafi (Wahhabbi) cite the same reason when they declare that celebrating Prophet Mohammed’s birthday is forbidden and a sin in Islam. Actually, why no one wished him was because the day was simply not his birthday. Rather was not even month of Rabiul Awwal. Same dates of birth and passing away give rise to high doubt that dates were randomly chosen to fill up doubtful biographies.

Also to forbid the celebration of birthday by making it the death day as well, which was an Ommayyad tactic? This is why no record of Sunnis celebrating his birthday is found before the reign of Harun Rashid. Ommayyad period saw no such celebration, it was only Abbasid era of Harun Rashid which started celebration among Sunnis.

Shia consider 28^th Safar 11 AH as the day Prophet Mohammed passed away. Shia had always celebrated his birthday as well as mourned the day he passed away, there are ample of records. Thus, it shows Shia history was not compiled in later periods out of some political need.

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

Simple Islamic Inheritance as per Shia jurisprudence

1) If a man dies, 1/8 of share goes to his widow, if he left more widows then 1/8th is equally divided among them.
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2) Rest 7/8 is divided among his children, counting each son as 2 and each daughter as 1, each son get 2 parts and each daughter 1 part.
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3) If a woman dies, 1/4 of share goes to her widower, remaining 3/4 is divided among her children, counting each son as 2 and each daughter as 1, each son get 2 parts and each daughter 1 part.
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4) Divorced spouses, adopted, step and illegitimate children don't inherit the dead person.

Eid Zahra (as), 9th Rabiul Awwal

Shia commemorate the tragedy of Karbala through mourning every year, this period comprises of 2 month and 8 days. Mourning starts with Islamic new year and continues up to 8th day of 3rd month Rabiul Awwal. With 8th Rabiul Awwal Mourning comes to end and 9th day of Rabiul Awwal is celebrated as Eid Zahra.

After the tragedy of Karbala long years passed by and remaining members of Prophet Mohammed's family remained grief striken. It was Mukhtar son of Abu Obaid Thaqafi the famous companion of Prophet Mohammed; who avenged the innocent genocide of Prophet Mohammed's progeny.

He captured the tyrants of Yazidi army who mercilessly murdered family members of Prophet Mohammed in Karbala. Among top names of these captured tyrants were Umar son of Sa'ad, Shimr son of Dhul Jaushan, Hurmula son of Kahil, Sunan son of Anas, Obaidullah (Ibn Marjana) son of Ziyad, Khuli son of Ashbayi, Hakim son of Tufail etc. Mukhtar ordered their execution and sent the heads as was the then custom, of these criminals to Imam Ali Sajjad Zainul Abideen son of Imam Husain who was mercilessly martyred in Karbala.

Since, tragedy of Karbala Imam Ali Sajjad was never seen smiling he perpetually wept remembering his martyred family, even when he returned from prison back to Madina he never gave up weeping. When Imam Ali Sajjad received these heads of criminals on 9th Rabiul Awwal, people around him for the first time after the tragedy of Karbala saw him smiling. Thus, Shia celebrate this day as Eid and end the mourning period.

Zainab sister of Imam Husain also smiled when she too saw the heads, this too marked 9th Rabiul Awwal as day of Eid ( celebrations). Mukhtar wrote a letter to Imam Ali Sajjad along with heads to please accept a little service from him. Imam Ali Sajjad gave thanks to God and prayed in favour of Mukhtar. It was 9th year after the tragedy of Karbala.

Huzaifa Yamani the famous companion of Prophet Mohammed had reported long back that Prophet Mohammed himself had celebrated 9th Rabiul Awwal in his home by arranging a feast. Prophet Mohammed during the feast had declared that it would be this day 9th Rabiul Awwal that oppressors who would trouble my progeny would be sent to hell.

Another reason for celebration of 9th Rabiul Awwal is the current, last and 12th Imam Mohammed Mahdi assumed office of Imamat on this very day. 11th Imam Hasan Askari was martyred through poison in prison on orders of Caliph Mo'tamid Billah on 8th Rabiul Awwal thus on 9th Rabiul Awwal 12th Imam Mohammed Mahdi assumed his office of Imamat which continues to this day, its been about 1200 years. 12th Imam Mohammed Mahdi soon underwent occultation after funeral prayers of his father and continues to be in state of occultation. He would return in End time to fill the earth with justice along with Jesus Christ who too would descend.

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed.

It's 9th Rabiul Awwal 1434 (22 Jan 2013) Happy Eid Zahra!