Part 2 : Those who authenticated it
Part 3 : As reported by al-Haakim & al-Dhabhi
Part 4 : Strange way to reject this Hadith?
Welcome to our blog! In this article, we shall examine Hadith al-Tayr (Hadith of the Bird), which is one of the many evidence for the superiority of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib over all the companions of the Prophet ﷺ
Part 1 : The Narration
1) Imam Abu Eesa Muhammad Ibn Eesa al-Tirmidhi narrated :
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَيْرٌ فَقَالَ ” اللَّهُمَّ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ يَأْكُلُ مَعِي هَذَا الطَّيْرَ ” . فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ فَأَكَلَ مَعَهُ
Sufyan Ibn Wakee’ narrated from Ubayd-Allah Ibn Musa on the authority of Eesa Ibn Umar that al-Suddi narrated that Anas Ibn Malik said :
There was a roasted bird with the Prophet ﷺ so He ﷺ said ‘O Allah, send to me the most beloved of Your creation to eat this bird with me.’ So, Ali came and ate with him.
~Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 3721
Imam at-Tirmidhi commented :
قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ السُّدِّيِّ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ . وَعِيسَى بْنُ عُمَرَ هُوَ كُوفِيٌّ وَالسُّدِّيُّ اسْمُهُ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَدْ أَدْرَكَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ وَرَأَى الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَثَّقَهُ شُعْبَةُ وَسُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ وَزَائِدَةُ وَوَثَّقَهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ
This is a strange Hadith, we do not know this narration except from al-Suddi from this source and this Hadith has been narrated by Anas Ibn Malik from different sources too.
al-Suddi’s name is Isma’il Ibn Abd al-Rahman and he knew Anas Ibn Malik and he saw al-Husayn Ibn Ali and he was considered trustworthy by Shubah Ibn al-Hajjaj, Sufyan al-Thawri, Za’idah and Yahya Ibn Sa’eed al-Qattan.
~Ibid
• Those who look down on this narration due to al-Suddi should know that al-Tirmidhi himself mentioned that he was a student of Anas Ibn Malik and Shubah Ibn al-Hajjaj, Sufyan al-Thawri, Za’idah and Yahya Ibn Sa’eed al-Qattan authenticated him as well as Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Hafidh al-Ijli, Imam an-Nisai’i, Hafidh Ibn Hibban, Qadhi Iyadh, Allamah al-Dhabhi, Hafidh ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, al-Saaji, and al-Marwazi
2) Abu Ya’ala al-Mussali mentioned :
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُسْهِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلَكِ بْنِ سَلْعٍ ثِقَةٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ السُّدِّيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عِنْدَهُ طَائِرٌ فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ يَأْكُلُ مَعِي مِنْ هَذَا الطَّيْرِ»، فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَرَدَّهُ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ عُمَرُ فَرَدَّهُ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ عَلِيٌّ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ
al-Hasan Ibn Hammad narrated from Mushir Ibn Abd al-Malik Ibn Sala’ who is a trustworthy narrator that Eesa Ibn Umar narrated from al-Suddi that Anas Ibn Malik said :
The Prophet ﷺ had a bird with him so he said ‘O Allah, bring me the most beloved of Your creation to eat this bird with me.’ Abu Bakr came but he was sent back then Umar came and he was sent back. Then Ali came and he was given permission.
~Musnad Abu Ya’ala vol 7:105-106
• All the narrators are Thiqah. This narration is refuted by the Nawasib due to Mushir Ibn Abd al-Malik but Abu Ya’ala himself called him Thiqah while narrating his Hadith here.
• If we examine carefully, this narration states that Abu Bakr & Umar came to Rasul-Allah ﷺ first but they were rejected and then Imam Ali came and he was granted permission, which proves that the Wasi of Rasul-Allah ﷺ is more beloved to Allah than Abu Bakr & Umar
3) Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani narrated :
ﻧﺎ ﺳﻠﻤﺔ ﺑﻦ ﺷﺒﻴﺐ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻧﺎ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺮﺯاﻕ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺃﻧﺎ اﻷﻭﺯاﻋﻲ، ﻋﻦ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻛﺜﻴﺮ، ﻋﻦ ﺃﻧﺲ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺎﻟﻚ
Salama Ibn Shabeeb narrated from Abd al-Razzaq al-Sinani who narrated from al-Awzai’i on the authority of Yahya Ibn Abi Kathir that Anas Ibn Malik narrated –
أَهْدَتْ أُمُّ أَيْمَنَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ طَائِرًا بَيْنَ رَغِيفَيْنِ. فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ، فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: « اللَّهُمَّ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ، يَأْكُلُ مَعِي مِنْ هَذَا الطَّائِرِ» ، فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ، فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَشْغُولٌ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدِهِ، فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ يَأْكُلُ مَعِي مِنْ هَذَا الطَّائِرِ» ، فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ، فَارْتَفَعَ الصَّوْتُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «أَدْخِلْهُ مَنْ كَانَ» ، فَدَخَلَ.. فَأَكَلَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى فَرَغَا
Umm Ayman gifted the Prophet ﷺ a roasted bird between two loaves of bread. The Prophet ﷺ raised his hand and said ‘O Allah bring me the most beloved of Your creation to eat this bird with me.’
Then Ali came and Anas Ibn Malik said ‘Rasul-Allah ﷺ is busy.’ Then He ﷺ raised his hand again and made the same dua’a and Ali came again and the conversation between Ali and Anas became loud.
So Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘Whoever it is, let him enter.’ So Ali entered and ate with him.
~al-Mu’jam al-Awsat lil-Tabarani vol 2:206-207
• All of its narrators are the narrators of Sahih al-Bukhari and/or Sahih Muslim.
• Yahya Ibn Abi Kathir is criticized for Tadlis but his narrations are accepted as he only narrated from Thiqah narrators :
وقال أبو حاتم الرازي : هو إمام لا يروي إلا عن ثقة
Ibn Abi Haatim al-Raazi said : He (Yahya ibn Abi Kathir) was an Imam and he didn’t narrate except from a Thiqah.
~Siyar Alam an-Nubala vol 6:28
Part 2 : Those who authenticated it
1) Abu Mu’awiyyah al-Beiruti wrote :
وقد ألَّف عددٌ من العلماء جزءًا في طرق حديث الطير، منهم: ابن جرير الطبري، ابن مردويه، الحاكم، أبو طاهر محمَّد بن أحمد بن حمدان، أبو نعيم الأصبهاني، وأبو بكر الباقلاني، الذهبي
A group of scholars have written volumes on the sources of narration of the bird, including : Ibn Jarir at-Tabari, Ibn Mardawayh, al-Haakim, Abu Taahir Muhammad Ibn Ahmad, Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani, Abu Bakr al-Baqilani and al-Dhabhi.
~Taarikh Nishapur page 68
2) Allamah Nur ad-Deen al-Haythami said :
رَوَاهُ الْبَزَّارُ وَالطَّبَرَانِيُّ بِاخْتِصَارٍ، وَرِجَالُ الطَّبَرَانِيِّ رِجَالُ الصَّحِيحِ غَيْرَ فِطْرِ بْنِ خَلِيفَةَ، وَهُوَ ثِقَةٌ.
al-Bazzar & al-Tabarani narrated the Hadith of the Bird and the narrators of al-Tabarani are the narrators of al-Sahih (Bukhari/Muslim) except Fitr Ibn Khalifah, who is trustworthy.
~Majmaa’ al-Zawa’id vol 9:126
Sanad narrated by al-Tabarani :
ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﺒﻴﺪ اﻟﻌﺠﻠﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺠﻮﻫﺮﻱ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺣﺴﻴﻦ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺳﻠﻴﻤﺎﻥ ﺑﻦ ﻗﺮﻡ، ﻋﻦ ﻓﻄﺮ ﺑﻦ ﺧﻠﻴﻔﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻧﻌﻢ، ﻋﻦ ﺳﻔﻴﻨﺔ،
Ubayd al-Ijli narrated from Ibrahim Ibn Sa’ad al-Jawhri who narrated from Husayn Ibn Muhammad who narrated from Sulayman Ibn Qarm on the authority of Fitr Ibn Khalifah from Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Na’im who narrated from Safeenah
~al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer li-Tabarani vol 7:82
3) Ibn Abd Rabb al-Andalusi mentioned :
ﻳﺎ ﺇﺳﺤﺎﻕ، ﺃﺗﺮﻭﻱ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ؟ ﻗﻠﺖ: ﻧﻌﻢ. ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻓﻬﻞ ﺗﻌﺮﻑ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ اﻟﻄﻴﺮ؟ ﻗﻠﺖ: ﻧﻌﻢ. ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻓﺤﺪﺛﻨﻲ ﺑﻪ. ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻓﺤﺪﺛﺘﻪ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ، ﻓﻘﺎﻝ: ﻳﺎ ﺇﺳﺤﺎﻕ، ﺇﻧﻲ ﻛﻨﺖ ﺃﻛﻠﻤﻚ ﻭﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﻇﻨﻚ ﻏﻴﺮ ﻣﻌﺎﻧﺪ ﻟﻠﺤﻖ، ﻓﺄﻣﺎ اﻵﻥ ﻓﻘﺪ ﺑﺎﻥ ﻟﻲ ﻋﻨﺎﺩﻙ؛ ﺇﻧﻚ ﺗﻮﻗﻦ ﺃﻥ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ. ﻗﻠﺖ: ﻧﻌﻢ؛ ﺭﻭاﻩ ﻣﻦ ﻻ ﻳﻤﻜﻨﻨﻲ ﺭﺩﻩ. ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺃﻓﺮﺃﻳﺖ ﻣﻦ ﺃﻳﻘﻦ ﺃﻥ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ، ﺛﻢ ﺯﻋﻢ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺣﺪا ﺃﻓﻀﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ
Caliph al-Mamun al-Abbasi asked to Ishaq Ibn Ibrahim al-Mu’sabi : ‘O Ishaq, are you a narrator of Hadith, do you know the Hadith of the bird?’ He replied ‘Yes,’ So he asked him to narrate it.
Then he said ‘O Ishaq, Your stubbornness has become clear, you are certain that this Hadith is authentic?’ He replied ‘Yes, it was narrated by someone I cannot refute.’ Then Mamun al-Abbasi said ‘What do you think of someone who is certain that this Hadith is authentic, then claims that someone else is superior to Ali?’
~al-Iqd al-Fareed vol 5:354
4) Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani :
الحديث السادس عشر: كان عند النبي ﷺ طير
The sixteenth Hadith : (The Hadith of the bird)
السادس عشر: الترمذي، (وهو حسن)
The sixteenth Hadith (of the bird) as narrated by al-Tirmidhi, it is Hasan.
~Ajwibat al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani aan Ahadith al-Masabih page 13 and 16
5) Allamah Taj al-Deen al-Subki mentioned :
ﺇﻥ اﻟﺤﻖ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﺃﻧﻪ ﺭﺑﻤﺎ ﻳﻨﺘﻬﻲ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺩﺭﺟﺔ اﻟﺤﺴﻦ
The truth is that this Hadith (of the bird) may reach at least the status of Hasan.
~Tabqat al-Shafiyyah vol 4:170
6) Allamah Ibn al-Maghizali al-Maliki mentioned this Hadith in his book ‘Manaqib Emir al-Mu’meenin Ali’, page 214, and in the introduction of the book at page 22 he mentioned all the Hadith in it are Sahih :
ﻓﺠﻤﻌﺖ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻀﺎﺋﻠﻬﻢ ﻣﺎ اﻧﺘﻬﺖ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺘﻲ، ﻭﺑﻠﻐﻪ ﺟﻬﺪﻱ ﻭﻃﺎﻗﺘﻲ، ﻣﻤﺎ ﺃﻧﺰﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﻓﻴﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ اﻵﻳﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮﺭاﺕ، ﻭﻣﺎ ﺟﺮﻯ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻟﻔﻆ اﻟﺮﺳﻮﻝ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪﻻﻻﺕ، ﻭﻣﺎ ﻇﻬﺮ ﻣﻨﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻌﺠﺰاﺕ، ﻣﺎ ﻻ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ اﻟﻤﻨﺼﻒ ﺑﻌﻘﻠﻪ ﺇﻧﻜﺎﺭﻩ
I have collected in this book the Fadhail of the Ahlul Bait of what was well known to me, about what Allah ﷻ revealed about them in the Qur’an and what was reported from the words of Rasul-Allah ﷺ and their apparent miracles, what a FAIR-MINDED person cannot deny.
7) Allamah Ibn Shaheen wrote :
وروى هذا الحديث عن أنس بن مالك جماعة ، ورواه ابن عباس ، وسفينة ، وأبو رافع ، عن النبي (ص) ، تفرد علي بهذه الفضيلة ، لم يشركه فيها أحد.
A group narrated the Hadith of the bird from Anas Ibn Malik, and it was narrated by Ibn Abbas, Safeenah and Abu Rafee’ from the Prophet ﷺ
Imam Ali is unique in this virtue and nobody shares this fazail with him.
~Sharah Madhab Ahl al-Sunnah vol 1:161
• Allamah Ibn Asakir mentioned :
قل ابن شاهين : وهو حديث حسن غريب
Ibn Shaheen said : This Hadith is Hasan Gharib
~Taarikh Damishq vol 42:248-249
8) Shaykh Mansoor Ali Naasif took this narration in his book – al-Taj al-Jami’ lil Usool fee ahadith al-Rasool ﷺ vol 3:336 and all the narration in this book are Sahih according to his manhaj :
كتاب جمع ما تفرق في صحيحي البخارى ومسلم وغيرهما من الأحاديث الصحيحة.
A book that collects the scattered hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim and other authentic hadiths.
~Ibid vol 1:1
9) Hafidh Zubayr Ali Zae wrote :
حدیث الطیر کی بہت سی سندوں میں سے تاریخ دمشق لابن عساکر ( (۱۹۲٫۴۵) میں امام دارقطنی والی روایت حسن لذاتہ ہے
Hadith of the Bird has many Sanad as quoted by Ibn al-Asakir in Taarikh Damishq and in it is a Sanad from Imam al-Daraqutni which is Hasan li-Zaati.
~Fatawa Ilmiyyah al-Ma’roof Tawzeeh al-Akhaam vol 1:573
•Sanad from Abu al-Hasan al-Daraqutni :
أخبرنا أبو غالب بن البنا أنا أبو الحسين بن الابنوسي أنا أبو الحسن الدارقطني نا محمد بن مخلد بن حفص نا حاتم بن الليث نا عبيد الله بن موسى عن عيسى بن عمر القارئ عن السدي نا أنس بن مالك
Abu Ghaalib narrated from Abu al-Husayn Ibn al-Ebnosi who narrated from Abu al-Hasan al-Daraqutni who narrated from Muhammad Ibn Mukhlid Ibn Hafs who narrated from Haatim Ibn al-Layth who narrated from Ubayd-Allah Ibn Musa on the authority of Eesa Ibn Umar that al-Suddi narrated from Anas Ibn Malik.
~Taarikh Damishq, Ibn Asakir, Vol. 42:254
10) Shaykh Tahir al-Jazairi wrote :
وَمن الطوَال الَّتِي لم تخرج فِي الصَّحِيح حَدِيث الطير وَحَدِيث قس بن سَاعِدَة وَحَدِيث أم معبد وَغَيرهَا من الطوَال فَهَذِهِ الْأَنْوَاع الَّتِي ذكرنَا من الْمَشْهُور الَّذِي يعرفهُ أهل الْعلم وقلما يخفى ذَلِك عَلَيْهِم وَهُوَ الْمَشْهُور الَّذِي يَسْتَوِي فِي مَعْرفَته الْخَاص وَالْعَام
Among the extended hadiths that were not included in the Sahih (Bukhari/Muslim) are the Hadith of the bird and others. These types of Hadiths are famous and are known to the people of knowledge and not hidden from them. It is famous in the general public and scholars too.
~Tawjih al-Nazar Ila Usool al-Athar vol 1:426
11) Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghada mentioned :
قال شيخنا فرج الله عنه : وقد ( صحيح ) الحافظ الذهبي حديث الطير في جزء خاص . وكذلك المؤليف العراقي ، والحافظ ابن حجر ، والسخاوي ، والسيوطي .
Our Shaykh Abd-Allah Ibn al-Siddiq al-Ghumari said : al-Hafidh al-Dhabhi authenticated the Hadith of the bird and so did Zayn ad-Deen al-Iraqi, Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, Hafidh al-Sakhawi and Allamah Jalal ad-Deen al-Suyuti.
~al-Ajwibat al-Fadilat page 156
Part 3 : As reported by al-Haakim & al-Dhabhi
1) Initially, al-Haakim rejected this Hadith as he knew what this Hadith really meant, as Allamah al-Dhabhi mentioned :
فسئل أبو عبد الله الحاكم عن حديث الطير، فقال: لا يصح، ولو صح لما كان أحد أفضل من علي بعد النبي
al-Haakim al-Nishapuri was asked about the Hadith of the bird. He said ‘If it were authentic, none would be superior to Ali after the Prophet ﷺ’
~Siyar Alam an-Nubala vol 17:168
2) As he was compiling his al-Mustadarak, he realized the sources of the Hadith of the bird are numerous, and it is a Hadith which can not be rejected, so he narrated :
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَافِظُ، أَنْبَأَ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ الزَّيَّاتُ قَالَا: ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عِيَاضِ بْنِ أَبِي طَيْبَةَ، ثنا أَبِي، ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بِلَالٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ
Abu Ali al-Hafidh narrated from Humayd Ibn Yunus al-Zayyat who narrated from Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Iyyadh who narrated from his father who narrated from Yahya Ibn Hassan on the authority of Sulayman Ibn Bilal that Yahya Ibn Sa’eed narrated from Anas Ibn Malik who said :
كُنْتُ أَخْدُمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَقُدِّمَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَرْخٌ مَشْوِيٌّ، فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمُ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ يَأْكُلُ مَعِي مِنْ هَذَا الطَّيْرِ» قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ: اللَّهُمُ اجْعَلْهُ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ، فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى حَاجَةٍ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ، فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى حَاجَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «افْتَحْ» فَدَخَلَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا حَبَسَكَ عَلَيَّ» فَقَالَ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ آخِرَ ثَلَاثِ كَرَّاتٍ يَرُدَّنِي أَنَسٌ يَزْعُمُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى حَاجَةٍ، فَقَالَ: «مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ؟» فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، سَمِعْتُ دُعَاءَكَ، فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلًا مِنْ قَوْمِي،
I was on the service of Rasul-Allah ﷺ and a roasted bird was presented to him and He ﷺ said ‘O Allah, bring me the most beloved of Your creation so that he may share this bird with me.’ Anas said ‘O Allah, make him a man from the Ansar.’
Then Ali came and I told him Rasul-Allah ﷺ is busy, then he came again and I said the same and then Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘Open the door.’ so Ali entered and Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘What kept you away from me?’ He replied ‘Anas turned me back saying that you were busy.’
Rasul-Allah ﷺ asked Anas ‘What made you do it?’ So, I replied ‘Ya Rasul-Allah I heard your dua’a and I wanted that man to be from my people.’
~al-Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn vol 3:141-142, Hadith no.4650
• After narrating this Hadith, al-Haakim said :
هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ ” وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ زِيَادَةً عَلَى ثَلَاثِينَ نَفْسًا، ثُمَّ صَحَّتِ الرِّوَايَةُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَسَفِينَةَ، وَفِي حَدِيثِ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسٍ زِيَادَةُ أَلْفَاظٍ
This Hadith is Sahih upon the condition of al-Sahihayn (Bukhari & Muslim), but they didn’t record it. More than thirty students have narrated this from Anas then it’s also proven to be narrated from Ali, Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri & Safeenah. And what was narrated from Anas Ibn Malik through Thabit al-Bunani has more words in it.
~Ibid
• P.s – We have seen more than thirty students narrating this Hadith from Anas Ibn Malik and in them are : Ibrahim Ibn Muhajir, Ibrahim al-Nakhai’i, Ishaq Ibn Abi Talha, Ismail Ibn Abi Mugheera, Ismail al-Suddi, Thabit al-Bunani, Thamamah, al-Hasan al-Basri, al-Hasan Ibn al-Hakam, Humayd al-Tawil, Khalid Ibn Ubayd, Dinar Ibn Abd-Allah, al-Zubayr Ibn Adee’, al-Zuhri, Sa’eed Ibn al-Musayyib, Abd al-Aala al-Taghlibi, Abd al-Aziz Ibn Ziyad, Salim Mawla Umar Ibn Ubayd-Allah, Abd-Allah Ibn Anas Ibn Malik, Abd-Allah al-Qashiri, Abd-Allah Ibn al-Muthanna, Abd-Allah Ibn Ya’ala, Abd al-Malik Ibn Abi Sulayman, Abd al-Malik Ibn Umayr, Uthman al-Tawil, Amr Ibn Dinar, Aata Ibn Abi Rabah, Imran Ibn Wahb al-Tai’i, Qatadah, Muhammad Ibn Sulaym, al-Muthanna Ibn Aban, Muslim Ibn Kaysan, Maymoon Ibn Abi Khalaf, Nafee’, Hilal Ibn Suwayd, Yahya Ibn Sa’eed, Yahya Ibn Abi Kathir, Abu Ja’far al-Sabbak, Abu al-Khaleel and etc.
2) Allamah adh-Dhabhi commented in the Talkhees :
ابن عياض لا أعرفه
Ibn Iyyadh is unknown.
~Ibid
However, Allamah adh-Dhabhi corrected himself about Ibn Iyyadh and said :
ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻴﺎﺽ….ﻓﺬﻛﺮ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ اﻟﻄﻴﺮ….ﻗﻠﺖ: اﻟﻜﻞ ﺛﻘﺎﺕ ﺇﻻ ﻫﺬا، ﻓﺄﻧﻬﺎ ﺃﺗﻬﻤﻪ ﺑﻪ، ﺛﻢ ﻇﻬﺮ ﻟﻲ ﺃﻧﻪ ﺻﺪﻭﻕ.
Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Iyyadh, He narrated the Hadith of the Bird. I used to say ‘All the narrators are trustworthy except him.’ we used to think he fabricated Hadith but then it was made apparent to us that he is truthful.
~Meezan al-Ae’tidal Vol 3:465
• A point to note here, even if al-Dhabhi is not talking about Ahmad Ibn Iyyadh but Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Iyyadh, we should note that he also said ‘All the narrators are Thiqah’, which includes Ibn Iyyadh too.
3) Let us also examine the usool presented by al-Dhabhi :
اﻟﺜﻘﺔ: ﻣﻦ ﻭﺛﻘﻪ ﻛﺜﻴﺮ، ﻭﻟﻢ ﻳﻀﻌﻒ. ﻭﺩﻭﻧﻪ: ﻣﻦ ﻟﻢ ﻳﻮﺛﻖ ﻭﻻ ﺿﻌﻒ. ﻓﺈﻥ ﺧﺮﺝ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﻫﺬا ﻓﻲ “اﻟﺼﺤﻴﺤﻴﻦ”، ﻓﻬﻮ ﻣﻮﺛﻖ ﺑﺬﻟﻚ. ﻭﺇﻥ ﺻﺤﺢ ﻟﻪ ﻣﺜﻞ اﻟﺘﺮﻣﺬﻱ ﻭاﺑﻦ ﺧﺰﻳﻤﺔ، ﻓﺠﻴﺪ ﺃﻳﻀﺎ. ﻭﺇﻥ ﺻﺤﺢ ﻟﻪ ﻛﺎﻟﺪاﺭﻗﻄﻨﻲ ﻭاﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ، ﻓﺄﻗﻞ ﺃﺣﻮاﻟﻪ: ﺣﺴﻦ ﺣﺪﻳﺜﻪ
A trustworthy narrators : He who is trusted by many and not weakened and below that is he who is neither called Thiqah or weak. If his Hadith is included in Sahih al-Bukhari or Muslim then he is trustworthy.
If his Hadith is authenticated by the likes of al-Tirmidhi or Ibn Khuzaymah then it is strong. If his Hadith is authenticated by al-Daraqutni or al-Haakim then it is at least Hasan.
~al-Mowqizah page 78
• We have already seen that al-Haakim called Ibn Iyyadh’s narrations Sahih.
4) Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani mentioned :
قلت: ذكره ابن يونس في “تاريخ مصر” قال: أحمد بن عياض.. يكنى أبا غسان.. هكذا ذكره، ولم يذكر فيه جرحًا ثم أسند له حديثًا
I say : Ibn Yunus al-Misri mentioned him in his book ‘Taarikh Misr’ and said – He is Ahmad Ibn Iyyadh, known as Abu Ghassan. That’s how Ibn Yunus mentioned him without any Jarah then he mentioned the Sanad of the Hadith of the bird from him.
~Lisan al-Meezan vol 6:533
• If Ibn Yunus al-Misri mentions a narrator without Jarah, he is considered Thiqah as Shaykh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghada wrote :
اتضَحَتْ وجاهَةُ ما أثبتُّه من أنَّ مثلَ البخاري، أو أبي زُرْعة، أو أبي حاتم، أو ابنه، أو ابنِ يونس المصري الصَّدَفي… ممن تكلم أو ألَّف في الرجال، إذا سكتوا عن الراوي الذي لم يُجرَح ولم يأتِ بمَتنٍ منكر: يُعَدُّ سكوتُهم عنه من باب التوثيق والتعديل، ولا يُعَدُّ من باب التجريح والتجهيل، ويكون حديثه صحيحاً أو حَسَناً
The validity of what I have concluded becomes clear that the likes of al-Bukhari, Abu Zura’a al-Raazi, Abu Haatim al-Raazi or his son or Ibn Yunus al-Misri, if they remain silent about a narrator, their silence about him is considered to be an authentication and he should not be considered weak or unknown and his Hadiths are either Sahih or Hasan.
~Sukoot al-Mutakalimeen fee al-Rijal page 12
5) We have already seen in the second part that Allamah al-Dhabhi authenticated this Hadith and wrote volumes on the source of this Hadith and finally we quote him :
ﻭﺃﻣﺎ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ اﻟﻄﻴﺮ ﻓﻠﻪ ﻃﺮﻕ ﻛﺜﻴﺮﺓ ﺟﺪا ﻗﺪ ﺃﻓﺮﺩﺗﻬﺎ ﺑﻤﺼﻨﻒ ﻭﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﻬﺎ ﻫﻮ ﻳﻮﺟﺐ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﻟﻪ ﺃﺻﻞ
And there are many chains to this Hadith, which I have singled out in a book and this narration has a reality.
~Tadhkirat al-Huffaz vol 3:164
Part 4 : Strange way to reject this Hadith?
1) Been called a Shia’a for collecting Hadith al-Tayr? Hafidh Ibn Kathir wrote :
وقد رأيتُ له كتابًا جَمَعَ فيه أحاديث غدير خُمّ في مجلَّدين ضخمين، وكتابًا جمع فيه طُرُقَ حديث الطير.. فمن العلماء منْ يزعمُ أن ابنَ جريرٍ اثنان: أحدهما شيعي وإليه ينسب ذلك
I saw a book of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Jarir at-Tabari in which he collected the Hadith of Ghadeer Khumm in two large volumes and a book in which he collected the sources for the Hadith of the bird.
That’s why some scholars claim that Ibn Jarir is a Shia’a.
~al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah vol 12:59
2) Accused of lying just because one narrated this Hadith? Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asaqalani mentioned :
أحمد بن سعيد الجُدِّيّ، وعنه الطَّبَرَاني، فذكر حديثَ الطير بإسنادِ الصَّحيحين، فهو المتَّهم بوضعه
Ahmad Ibn Sa’eed al-Jundi, and Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani narrated from him and he mentioned the Hadith of the Bird with a Sanad of al-Sahihayn (Bukhari & Muslim) and that is why he is accused of fabricating it.
~Lisan al-Meezan vol 1:469
3) Weird analogy to reject this Hadith? Allamah Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi narrated :
قال ابن أبي داود: إنْ صحَّ حديثُ الطير الذي يقال: إنَّ عليًّا أكل مع النَّبِيّ ﷺ منه، فنُبوَّة النَّبِيّ ﷺ باطلة
Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Dawood said : If the Hadith of the Bird which says Ali ate with the Prophet ﷺ is Sahih then the Prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ is invalid.
~Mirat al-Zaman vol 16:542
• Just because Imam Ali becomes superior to Abu Bakr & Umar with this Hadith, does it become a threat to the Prophethood of Rasul-Allah?
4) Narrate this Hadith and get beaten up? Allamah al-Dhabhi mentioned :
واتفق أنه أملى حديث الطير فلم تحتمله نفوسهم فوثبوا به وأقاموه وغسلوا موضعه فمضى ولزم بيته فكان لا يحدث أحدًا من الواسطيين؛ فلهذا قل حديثه عندهم
It happened that Hafidh Abu Muhammad Abd-Allah Ibn al-Saqqa al-Wasti dictated the Hadith of the bird but the people of Wast could not bear it, so they beat him and washed the pulpit.
So he confined himself to his house and did not narrate any Hadith to the people of Wast, which is why his narrations are rare.
~Tadhkirat al-Huffaz vol 3:117
5) My heart does not allow me to authenticate this Hadith? Hafidh Ibn Kathir said :
وبالجملة ففي القلب من صحة هذا الحديث نظر وإن كثرت طرقه
In short, there is something in my heart that stops me from authenticating the Hadith of the Bird despite its numerous sources.
~al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah vol 7:583
P.s – Certainly, in your heart is prejudice against the family of Sayyidna Rasul-Allah & the Shi’ites.
Thank you for reading! Countless Salwat upon Muhammad and Aal’ Muhammad.
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