Doubt: From whom is the Hadith “Whoever dies and does not know the Imam of his time, is similar to someone who has died during the time of ignorance.”?
Answer
From whom is the Hadith “Whoever dies and does not know the Imam of his time, is similar to someone who has died during the time of ignorance”. ?
This religious quote is one of the consecutive and widely-known narrations shared by both Sunnis and Shias that can be found in many books and has been narrated from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).
1- Shia’s books
The late Sheikh Saduq, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the noble book of Kamal al-Din and Tamam al-Nema:
سئل أبو محمد الحسن بن علي عليهما السلام وأنا عنده عن الخبر الذي روي عن آبائه عليهم السلام: “أن الأرض لا تخلو من حجة لله علي خلقه إلي يوم القيامة وأن من مات ولم يعرف إمام زمانه مات ميتة جاهلية” فقال عليه السلام: إن هذا حق كما أن النهار حق، فقيل له: يا ابن رسول الله فمن الحجة والامام بعدك؟ فقال ابني محمد، هو الامام والحجة بعدي، من مات ولم يعرفه مات ميتة جاهلية.
Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) was asked (while I was there) about this quote which had been narrated from his fathers: “The earth would never be empty of God’s authority (Hujjat i.e. delegated ruler) over the people until the Day of Judgment and if someone dies without acknowledgment about the Imam of his time, has died a death of ignorance. Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) said: This statement is true and obvious as daylight. He was asked: O, Son of the Messenger of God! Who is the Imam and Hujjat succeeding you? He said: My son, Muhammad, is the Imam and the Hujjat (delegated authority) who would succeed me. Whoever dies and does not know him, has died a death in ignorance.
Kamal al-Din and Tamam al-Nema, by Sheikh Saduq pp. 409-410/ Kifayat al-Athar by Al-Khazaz Al-Qomi, p. 296/ Wasa’il al-Shi’ah (Al-Bayt) by Al-Hurr Al-Ameli,, vol 16, p. 246/ Mustadrak al-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza al-Nuri, vol 18, p. 187.
2- Sunni’s books
مَنْ مات وليس في عنقه بيعة مات ميتة جاهلية .
Whoever dies while has no allegiance to an Imam, has died a death in ignorance.
Sahih Muslim by Muslim al-Nisabouri, vol. 3, chapter 14, p. 239 / Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, vol. 8, p. 217 / Majma al-Zawa’id, vol. 5, p. 282, Hadith 9103 / Meshkaat al-Masabih, vol. 2, p. 109, Hadith 3674 / Selselat al-Ahadith al-Sahiha, vol. 2, p. 677 Hadith 984 / Ketab Al-Sunnah vol. 1 p. 500
مَنْ مات بغير إمام مات ميتة جاهلية.
Whoever dies without an Imam, has died a death in ignorance.
Majma al-Zawa’id by Alheithami, vol. 5, p. 282, Hadith 9102 / Musnad al-Tayalsi, vol. 3, p. 425, Hadith 2025 / Hilat al-Auliya, vol. 3, p. 234.
من مات ولا بيعة عليه، مات ميتة جاهلية.
Whoever dies while has no pledge of allegiance, has died a death in ignorance.
مَنْ مات وليستْ عليه طاعة مات ميتة جاهلية.
Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. 9, p. 285.
Whoever dies and obedience to an Imam is not obligatory for him, he has died a death in ignorance.
Majma al-Zawa’id by Al-Haythami, vol. 5, p. 289, Hadith 9131 / Ketab Al-Sunnah, vol. 2, p.489.
مَنْ مات وليس عليه إمام جماعة فإن موتته موتة جاهلية.
Whoever dies and does not have an Imam as a leader to follow, his death is the death in ignorance.
Al-Mustadrak Ala Al-Sahihain, vol. 1, p.192.
من مات ليس عليه إمام فميتته جاهلية.
Whoever dies and does not have an Imam, has died a death in ignorance.
Al Mu’jam Al Kabir by Tabarani, vol. 10, p.350 / Al-Mu’jam Al-Ausat, vol. 3, p. 361 / Majma al-Zawa’id by Al-Haythami, vol. 5, p. 290.
The Sunnis, on one hand, have quoted these narrations and confirmed their authenticity, but on the other hand, they have practically no Imam whom all follow unanimously. And this is a paradox that they have failed to solve ever.
