The Hadith of the Golden Chain or Hadith Silsilat al-Dhahab () is a hadith narrated from Ali al-Rida, the eighth of the Twelve Imams.Abdul Aziz Abdulhussein Sachedina (1998). The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the jurist in Islamic Jurisprudence. Oxford University Press. . Pages 58-60 It is particularly renowned for its chain of transmission through members of the Prophet Muhammad's family and for its emphasis on Tawhid (the oneness of God).Mohammad Ali Sabzvari. Translated by Mohammad H. Faghfoory (2007). Tuhfah Yi-Abbasi: The Golden Chain of Sufism in Shi'ite Islam. University Press of America. . Page v-xiii Al-Rida recited the hadith in Nishapur during his journey from Medina to Khorasan. The narration was written down and transmitted by thirty thousands scholars and locals present at the gathering. The addition concerning the “conditions” is especially significant in Twelver Shi'ism, connecting monotheism with acceptance of divinely appointed religious authority and Imamate. For this reason, the hadith has become one of the most important traditions associated with Imam al-Rida and the doctrine of Imamate.
The hadith is not exclusive to Shia sources. Multiple versions of it are also found in Sunni hadiths, although its wording and interpretation differ between sources. Consequently, the Hadith of the Golden Chain is significant not only in Shia Islam, but also in Sunni Islam. It is valued as among the most truthful and accurate of all hadiths in Shia Islam.Abdul Hadi Al-Fadhli (2011). Introduction to Hadith 2nd. ICAS Press The Islamic College. . Page 64 The hadith is important because it states that, on the one hand, monotheism leads believers to "God's fortress," a place of protection, and on the other hand, acceptance of the Imamate is a fundamental condition for entering this fortress.
Background
When thousands of people gathered to welcome Imam Reza's arrival at the entrance to Nishapur, scholars requested him to narrate a hadith.Michael Cooperson (2000). Classical Arabic Biography: The Heirs of the Prophet in the Age of al-Ma'mun. Cambridge University Press. . Page 81 According to some Shia scholars, ten, twenty, or thirty thousands wrote down and transmitted this hadith at the gathering. Only fifty narrations are available today. The chain of the narrators of the hadith reaches the Prophet of Islam through Ahl al-Bayt, hence called Hadith of Golden Chain.Liyakat N. Takin (2006). The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma and Religious Authority in Shia Islam. SUNY Press. . Page 69 Several Important hadith collections quoted it as Al-Tawhid, Ma'ani al-Akhbar, the Uyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha of ibn Babawayh and the Al-Amali of Shaykh Tusi. The hadith is also narrated in Sunni hadith books. Regarding the implications of the hadith, there are two extreme opinions by Sunni scholars; While some of them discrediting the hadith by implying that the Sunni books lack it, some others hold that all Sunni scholars accepted it.
Hadith The hadith is narrated by Imam Ali al-Rida while entering Nishapur, Khorasan. Many historians have recorded it. Old documents quote the hadith with small different wordings. When Imam Reza was entering the city a large crowd had gathered outside the city and some of the great scholars such as Muhammad ibn al-Rafi, Ahmad ibn al-Harith, Ishaq ibn al-Rahuwayh, and Yahya ibn al-Yahya were accompanying him. Twenty (or ten or thirty) thousands have reported the event. The narrations mentioning twenty thousands reporters are more famous and reliable. Many Sunni laymen and scholars participated in welcoming the Imam. Scholars asked Ali al-Rida to narrate hadith for them. So al-Rida announced the Hadith of the Golden Chain.
Shia narrations Shia hadith collections such as Al-Tawhid, Maani Al-Akhbar, and Uyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha of Shaykh al-Saduq and Al-Amali of Shaykh Tusi has narrated the hadith: Ahsan al-Maqaal: Ma'ani al-Akhbar, Oyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha, Al-Tawhid:
Sunni narrations Many Sunni scholars have narrated this event. Two of the important narrations are the "Fortress narration" and the "Faith narration".
The Fortress narration There exists two different viewpoints among Sunni scholars regarding the Fortress Narration. Some of them mention Abu al-Salt Abd al-Salam ibn Heravi as the only narrator of this hadith and have disqualified him as a narrator, and consequently disregard the hadith. On the other hand, some of the Sunni scholars regard Abu al-Salt as highly credible and therefore confirm the hadith, and some others even suggested healing powers for the hadith.
The part specifying 'condition' Although the last part of the hadith ("There are few conditions and I am one of its conditions") is omitted in most Sunni hadith books, some of the Sunni scholars such as Khaje Parsa Hanafi and Qazi Bahjat Affandi Shafi'i have mentioned this part in their narration as well.
Al-Silsilah al-Dhahab in Hadith terminology
Hadith terminology categorize the hadith into several sections. The following are some important topics that are discussed about Al-Silsilah al-Dhahab. Al-Silsilah al-Dhahab is a Hadith Qudsi, i.e., the word of God, but differs from the Quran. Gabriel transmitted the hadith from God to Prophet. Al-Silsilah al-Dhahab is Mutawatir. Shia and Sunni scholars have narrated the hadith by different expressions with authenticity. The hadith is Musalsal, meaning that it's a word of God and is conveyed from the prophet through Ahl al-Bayt to Ali al-Rida. In other word, narrators of the hadith are Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt. According to Shia view, they are infallible and immune from error in practical matters, in inviting people to the religion and in perceiving the realm of cognition. Because of that, the hadith is called Golden Chain.
Notes
See also
Al-Risala al-Dhahabiyya Al-Sahifat al-Ridha Hadith of the two weighty things Hadith of the pond of Khumm
References
External links Silsilat Al-Dhahab