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Thul-\ijjah 1329
1) Have I not ascertained its reliability by Sunnis, I would not have mentioned it to you. Yet Ibn Jarír and Imám Abu Ja`fer al-Iskáfi have taken its authenticity for granted.[1] Several other critics have also considered it authentic. It is sufficient proof for its authenticity the fact that it is reported by the reliable authorities upon whose accuracy the authors of #a<í< books rely unhesitatingly. Refer to page 111, Vol. 1, of A<med's Musnad, where you will read this <ádíth as narrated by Aswad ibn `Ámir[2] from Sharík,[3] al-A`mash,[4] Minhál,[5] `Abbád ibn `Abdulláh al-Asadi,[6] from `Ali (as) chronologically. Each one of these men in the chain of narrators is an authority in his own right, and they all are reliable traditionists according to the testimony of the authors of the #a<í< books without any dispute. Al-Qaysaráni has mentioned them in his book Al-Jámi` Bayna Rijál al-@a<í<ain. There is no doubt that this <ádíth is authentic, and the narrators report it from various ways each one of which supports the other.
2) The reason why both shaykhs [Bukhári and Muslim], and their likes, have not quoted this <ádíth is due to the fact that it did not agree with their own personal views regarding the issue of succession. This is why they have rejected a great deal of authentic texts for fear the Shí`as may use them as pretexts; therefore, they hid the truth knowingly. There are many Sunni shaykhs, may Alláh forgive them, who have likewise hidden such texts, and they have in their method of hiding a well known history written down by al-\áfi~ ibn \ajar in his Fat< Al-Barári. Al-Bukhári has assigned a special chapter for this theme at the conclusion of his chapter on "Al-`Ilm," in Vol. 1, page 25, of his @a<í<, subtitled "A Chapter on Those Who Recognized the Knowledge of some People Rather than that of Others."
3) Whoever knows the way al-Bukhári thought, his own attitudes towards the Commander of the Faithful (as), and towards all Ahl al-Bayt (as), will come to know that Bukhári's pen falls short of narrating texts regarding them, and his ink dries up before recounting their attributes. He will not be surprised to see him rejecting this particular <ádíth as well as others similar to it; therefore, we seek refuge with Alláh, the Almighty, the Sublime, and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Sh
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[1] Refer to <ádíth 6045 of the <ádíth included in Kanz al-`Ummál, page 396, Vol. 6, where you will find reference made to Ibn Jarír's verification of this <ádíth. If you refer to Muntakhab al-Kanz, the beginning of the footnote on page 44, Vol. 5, of A<med's Musnad, you will find reference to Ibn Jarír's verification of this <ádíth. As regarding Abu Ja`fer al-Iskáfi, he has emphatically judged its accuracy in his book Naq_ al-`Uthmániyya; so, refer to the text of page 263, Vol. 3 of Shar< Nahjul Balághah by al-\adíd, Egyptian edition.
[2] Both al-Bukhári and Muslim have relied on him in their #a<í<s. They have both learned <ádíth from Shu`bah, and Bukhári has learned it from `Abdul-`Azíz ibn Abu Salámah, while Muslim has learned <ádíth from Zuhayr ibn Mu`áwiyah and \ammad ibn Salámah. His <ádíth is narrated in Bukhári by Mu<ammad ibn \átim ibn Bazí`. In Muslim's @a<í< he is quoted by Harún ibn `Abdullah the critic, and by Abu Shaybah and Zuhayr.
[3] Muslim has relied on his authority in his @a<í<, as we explained when we discussed him in Letter No. 16.
[4] Both Bukhári and Muslim rely on his authority in their respective #a<í<s, as we have stated while discussing him in Letter No. 16.
[5] Al-Bukhári has relied on him, as we explained when we mentioned him in Letter No. 16.
[6] His full name is `Abbád ibn `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwám al-Qarashi al-Asadi. Al-Bukhári and Muslim rely on his authority in their respective #a<í<s. He has heard <ádíth from Asmá' and `Ayesha daughters of Abu Bakr. He is quoted in both #a<í<s by Ibn Abu Malka, Mu<ammad ibn Ja`fer ibn al-Zubayr, and Hishám ibn `Umer.