Do all Muslims supposedly believe the same thing, regardles of whether Shi'a or Sunni or other sect?
There are only two sects in Islam Sunni and Shi'a. Sunni makes up the vast majority whereas Shi'a a small minority. Unlike in Christianity where most denominations differ with regards to core fundamental beliefs, the core fundamental beliefs of Sunni and Shi'a are generally the same.
Did the prophet command the Muslims that after his death they ought to follow his sahabah?
Naturally those who followed the Prophet directly i.e. the Sahaaba would be the best to follow after the Prophet as they met him, spoke to him and spent their time with him. The first generations were the best generations of this Ummah followed by the next generation and so on.
Did the prophet say: “I am about to answer the call (of death). Verily, I leave behind two precious things (thaqalayn) amongst you: the Book of Allah and my progeny. Verily, the two will never separate until they come back to me by the side of the Pond (in the hereafter).”?
This Hadith is referred to as Hadith al-Thaqalayn (The two weighty things). There are a few slight variations of this Hadith but the more reliable version is the following:
“I am going to leave with you two heavy burdens. The first of them is the Book of Allah: in it is the true guidance and the light. Therefore, hold fast to it.” Then he (the Prophet) prompted and induced the Muslims to adhere to the Book of God. Then he said: “And my household. I remind you of Allah in matters relating to my household. I remind you of Allah in matters relating to my household. I remind you of Allah in matters relating to my household.”
This version has been reported (with very minor variations, if any) in Sahih Muslim, Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Daarimiy, and others. In Sahih Muslim #5922, we also find that the following was said:
“The Book of Allah contains right guidance, the light, and whoever adheres to it and holds it fast, he is upon right guidance and whosoever deviates from it goes astray.”
A similar narration has been accepted by the Shia, such as the following in the main shi'a website:
“The Prophet replied: “One of them is the Book of Allah and the other one is my select progeny (Itrat), that is family (Ahlul-Bayt). Beware of how you behave (with) them when I am gone from amongst you, for Allah, the Merciful, has informed me that these two (i.e., Quran and Ahlul-Bayt) shall never separate from each other until they reach me in Heaven at the Pool (of al-Kawthar). I remind you, in the name of Allah, about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you, in the name of Allah, about my Ahlul-Bayt. Once more! I remind you, in the name of Allah, about my Ahlul-Bayt.
References:
- A’alam al-Wara, pp 132-133
It should be noted that this version of Hadith al-Thaqalayn is accepted by the Shia to be the most authentic one, and it is in fact narrated in A’alam al-Wara (pp.132-133) by
“Amin al-Islam” al-Tabrisi, the great Shia author who wrote Majma` al-Bayan.
So one will notice that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) says that in the Quran is guidance and it is a light which we should hold fast to without which we will go astray. It can be inferred from this that the Quran is a source of deriving our religion from. On the other hand, when the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) talks about his family, he says only
“I remind you of my family”. In the version used by the Shia website above, we even read the words quite clearly:
“Beware of how you behave with them…” And in another version, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) uses the words
“how you treat them after me.”
Therefore, the Hadith al-Thaqalayn is in reference to taking care of (and behaving with) the Prophet’s family after his death, and it cannot be construed in the Shia manner at all. While the Quran is referred to as a source of guidance and light, this is not the case for the Ahlel Bayt, which is not referred to as a source of religion. The Hadith only directs the Muslims to refrain from adopting an uncalled for attitude towards them or a disrespectful behavior towards them.
If the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) really meant what the Shia are implying, then the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) should have said something like
“follow the Quran and my Ahly Bayt, the light and gudiance”, instead of saying:
“…The Quran, which is the light of guidance…and I remind you of my family…”
Shaikh Faraz Rabbani’s student Sidi Salman Younas says:
It is important to note what Thaqalayn means. It is the dual form of Thaql. Thaql means
“weight”, “burden”, and
“heavy”. Obviously, Thaql has a general connotation of a weight which burdens and elicits responsibility. Out of all the definitions of Thaql and its various forms and their various explications, “important” or “importance” is not one of them.
“Importance” would be an inference at most, but definitely not a definition. Even if Thaql is to be understood as
“important” it must be understood that it is an importance regarding its characteristic of eliciting responsibility, burden and cumber rather than being momentous and splendid. Obviously, Thaql and its various forms unanimously allude to burden, responsibility and cumber.
Now let us look at the context of the Hadith:
It is impossible to discuss the Hadith al-Thaqalayn without first understanding the specific context in which the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) said what he said. This is a general rule of thumb pertaining to the Islamic canon as a whole: it is important to know the background in which a Quranic verse was revealed or a certain Hadith was said.
For example, the Quranic verse
“slay them wherever you find them” is often used by Orientalists to wrongfully make it appear as if Islam advocates the slaying of people wherever you find them all the time. Of course, if we look at when this verse was revealed, we find that it was specifically revealed during a battle between the Muslims and the Quraish Mushriks; this makes us realize that it is not a general ruling to slay people but rather it was a verse revealed in a specific situation.
Likewise, Hadith al-Thaqalayn was revealed in a certain context and this background is important to understand if we want to know what the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) meant when he said what he said.
First off, the Hadith about following Quran and Sunnah was said by the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) in front of the larger gathering during his Farewell Sermon atop Mount Arafat. However, the Hadith al-Thaqalayn (i.e. Quran and Ahlel Bayt) was not said during the Farewell Sermon; instead, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) said the Hadith al-Thaqalayn in front of the smaller gathering of people at a place called Ghadir Khumm, a half-way point to Medinah. It was directed only towards those living in Medinah, because the Prophet’s family lived in Medinah and therefore the task of taking care of them would fall upon their shoulders.
If Hadith al-Thaqalayn meant we should follow the Qur'an and his family then surely the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) would have said it in front of all the Muslims during his Farewell Sermon. Instead, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) only said this to those living in the same city as his family, again implying that what he meant was to take care of them. And perhaps the biggest proof is the fact was that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) said the Hadith al-Thaqalayn during his speech at Ghadir Khumm.
What happened was a group of soldiers were harshly criticizing Ali (رضّى الله عنه) and complaining about him to the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) at the place of Ghadir Khumm. It was in response to this hatred, abuse, and disrespect towards Ali (رضّى الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) found it necessary to defend his family in the Hadith al-Thaqalayn. This serves as a very strong proof that the meaning behind the Prophet’s words were not about deriving religion from the Ahlel Bayt but rather about behaving with them, taking care of them, honouring them, respecting them, etc.
Hope that clarifies things for you.
Did the prophet not also say: "I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray."?
Yes as mentioned above the Hadith about following Quran and Sunnah was said by the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) in front of the larger gathering during his Farewell Sermon atop Mount Arafat which he wanted to stress to ALL Muslims to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Did the prophet leave behind 3 things: the Book of Allah, the Sunnah, and his progeny?
This has already been clarified above.
If one follows the Qur'an alone is that sufficient to not go astray?
If one follows the Qur'an properly it then one will know that it clearly commands Muslims to follow the Prophet and the Sunnah.
Allah says repeatedly in the Quran to obey both Him and the Messenger.
One example is Surah an-Nisa ayah 59.
O you, those who have faith, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you dispute over a thing, then return it to Allah and the Messenger, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more beautiful of interpretation.
He says that the Prophet صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم has been sent to explain the Quran, not just to deliver it
(Surah an-Nahl ayah 44).
By clear proofs and scriptures, and We have sent down on you (O Prophet) the Reminder, that you can explain to humankind what is sent down for them and in order that they may reflect.
He says that people do not have faith if they do not take the Prophet صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم as the judge of their disputes
(Surah an-Nisa ayah 65).
No, by your Lord and Sustainer, they do not have faith until they have you (O Prophet) judge what is disputed among them, then they do not find in their souls any distress at what you have decided, and they accept it wholly and completely.
He says that when He and the Prophet صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم have decided a matter, it is not for any believing man or woman to do anything but obey
(Surah al-Ahzab ayah 36).
And it is not ever for a faithful man or a faithful woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided an affair that there is any choice for them in their affair, and who disobeys Allah and His Messenger, so he is indeed wandering far astray.
He says that what the Messenger صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم gives, people should take, and what he prohibits, they should abstain from
(Surah al-Hashr ayah 7).
...And what the Messenger gives you, so take it, and what he prohibits you, so refrain from it. And be in awe of Allah. Surely Allah is Stern of Punishment.
Hope I have clarified things for you. If you have anymore questions then please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you
