Q: According to the Ulama of Ilm ul Hadith, what is the status of the authenticity of the famous hadith that is attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam: "I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its gate?" I want to know what the opinion of the ulama of the Deoband is on the authenticity of this hadith.
A: Jazakallah for your interesting and important query. Regarding the hadith أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها
(I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door) we have proof that this is an authentic hadith and not fabricated, as some have claimed. Here are the quotations:
(I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door) we have proof that this is an authentic hadith and not fabricated, as some have claimed. Here are the quotations:
1. Imam Haakim narrated this in his Mustadrak and termed it saheeh. It must be noted that Imam Haakim compiled the mustadrak for the sole purpose of recording those saheeh Ahaadith that are not found in Bukhari and Muslim. Tabarani also narrated this in Mu’jam Al Kabeer.
2. Though Bukhari, Tirmizhi, and Yayha in Mu’een disputed its authenticity, and some such as Abu Haatim and Yahya bin Sa’eed went on to totally negate the very origin of this hadith, other scholars have given opposite findings. Abu Sa’eed Alaa-ee and Hafiz Ibni Hajar said that this hadith is of the hasan category and is tenable proof because of the numerous chains through which it has been transmitted. Ibni Hajar Makki supported this view as well, and also quoted the authentication of Imam Haakim. He further states that those who brand this hadith as fabricated have erred.
Extracted from Al-Maqaasidul Hasanah and Kashful-Khifaa.
And Allah knows best
Mufti Siraj Desai
