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HADITH AL-SAQLAIN

Encyclopaedia of Ismailism by Mumtaz Ali Tajddin

The word saqlain means weighty or heavy thing. In his saying, the Prophet called the Koran and Ahl al-Bayt as the weighty things, and thus this tradition became known as Hadith al-Saqlain. This tradition was spoken on four major occasions, such as at Arfat (Tirmizi, 5:328), at Ghadir Khum (Nisai, 96:79), at Prophet's Mosque in Medina (Ibn Atiyyah, 1:34) and in Prophet's chamber during his last illness (Ibn Hajar, p. 89). This tradition however became more famous at Ghadir Khum. Besides, this tradition has been transmitted through more than a hundred channels by over 35 Companions of the Prophet.

Zaid bin Arqan reported: When the Prophet was returning from the Valedictory Pilgrimage, he halted at Ghadir al-Khum and said, "I am about to be summoned (by God) and I will respond (to His call). I am leaving in you two weighty things: one of them is bigger than other; the Book of God, and my Ahl al-Bayt. Beware how you shall treat them after me, for they shall not part from each other until you join me at the basin (on the judgment day)." (vide, Mustadrak, 3:109, al-Muslim, 15:180, Masnad, 4:367, etc.)


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