Re-examining “Hadith al-Ghadir” in ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār
Among the textual proofs related to the question of Imamate, Hadith al-Ghadir holds a special position. This hadith, which has been transmitted with the well-known wording, “Whoever I am his mawla, then this ʿAlī is his mawla,” is among the traditions that have received extensive attention from Muslim scholars throughout history. However, a comprehensive and methodical examination of this hadith requires extensive investigation across various sources and a precise analysis of both its chain of transmission and its indication.
In this regard, the monumental work ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār, authored by Allamah Mīr Ḥāmid Ḥusayn Lucknawī, may be regarded as one of the most important scholarly efforts in this field.
The Structure of the Examination of Hadith al-Ghadir in ʿAbaqāt
Allamah Mīr Ḥāmid Ḥusayn examined Hadith al-Ghadir in seven independent volumes. Several fundamental themes are pursued in these volumes:
- Collection of the transmission routes of the hadith: In the first stage, the various routes through which Hadith al-Ghadir was transmitted were collected from numerous sources, especially Sunni sources.
- Examination of the chains of transmission: Subsequently, the transmitters of the hadith in its various generations were subjected to rijāl-based examination, and the reliability of the transmissions was analyzed precisely.
- Establishing tawātur: One of the most important achievements of this section is the establishment of the tawātur of Hadith al-Ghadir on the basis of its numerous and widespread transmissions.
- Analysis of its indication: In the final section, the indication of the hadith concerning the Imamate of Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī (peace be upon him) is explained in detail through an examination of the various possibilities and responses to objections.
The Position of This Section within the ʿAbaqāt Project
The examination of Hadith al-Ghadir constitutes only one part of the hadith-based Manhaj of ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār; nevertheless, in terms of the volume and depth of its argumentation, it is regarded as one of the most outstanding sections of the work. This section is a clear example of the Allamah’s scholarly methodology in dealing with the textual proofs of Imamate—a methodology based on extensive investigation, precise analysis of chains of transmission, and multilayered analysis of indication.
Revival and Publication
In the project for the revival of the works of Allamah Mīr Ḥāmid Ḥusayn, the “Hadith al-Ghadir” section of ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār has been published in seven volumes. This undertaking represents an important step toward making one of the most significant sections of this scholarly encyclopedia accessible to contemporary researchers.
Hadith al-Ghadir in ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār is not merely a historical report; rather, it is an example of a broad scholarly project in which a single hadith has been comprehensively examined in terms of both chain of transmission and indication. Re-examining this section can open new horizons for researchers in understanding the argumentative methodology of Shi‘a scholars concerning the question of Imamate.
For further acquaintance with Hadith al-Ghadir in ʿAbaqāt al-Anwār and the measures undertaken to revive this book, read the introductory article to this book written by its reviver.
