Hadith Al-Thaqalayn (The Two Valuables)
The Hadith al-Thaqalayn, also known as the Hadith of the Two Weighty Things, refers to a saying (hadith) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
According to the hadith of Muhammad (ﷺ), the Quran and Ahl al-Bayt ("people of the house") had been described as the 2 weighty things.
In the context of this Hadith, Muhammad's family refers to Alī ibn Abi Tālib, Fatimah bint Muhammad (the daughter of Muhammad (ﷺ)), and their children – Hasan and Husayn.
This hadith is accepted by Shia and Sunni Islam:
The Hadith al-Thaqalayn, as most strongly established hadiths, is classified in Islam as Mutawatir and the authenticity of it is confirmed by numerous chains of transmission of Shia and Sunni Muslim.
The hadith points the authoritative knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt and the Quran and convinces Muslim to believe in both of them together.
In al-Tirmidhi Ṣaḥīḥ, through isnād traced to Jābir ibn Abdullāh [al-Ansāri], the latter said,
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah during his Hajj, on the Day of Arafah. He was upon his camel Qaswa, giving a Khutbah, so he said:
'O people! Indeed, I have left among you, that which if you hold fast to it, you shall not go astray:
The Book of Allah and my family, the people of my house.'"1
Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Asim, Husayn ibn Ismā’īl al-Mahamili in his Amālī and Ibn Rahwayh recorded that Alī reported that the Messenger of God said:
"Whoever God and His Messenger are his "Mawla" (Guardian) this Alī is his Mawla.
I have left for you, what if you adhere to, you will never go astray: the Book of God, His rope in His hand and in your hands, and the members of my House."2
Al-Tirmidhi recorded that Zayd Ibn Arqam reported that the Messenger of God said:
"Indeed, I am leaving among you, that which if you hold fast to them, you shall not be misguided after me. One of them is greater than the other:
The Book of Allah is a rope extended from the sky to the earth, and my family - the people of my house - and they shall not split until they meet at the Ḥawd (basin), so look at how you deal with them after me."3
Al-Hakim recorded that Zayd Ibn Arqam reported:
"When the Messenger of God was coming from the Farewell Pilgrimage he stood at Ghadir Khumm... and said:
I am about to be summoned (by God) and I will respond (to His call). I am leaving in you the Two Valuables: One of them is bigger than the other:
- the Book of God and the members of my House.
Beware how you shall treat them after me for they shall not part from each other until they join me at the basin (on the Day of Judgment)..."4
Al-Hakim recorded also that Zayd Ibn Arqam said that the Prophet said on that day:
"O people I am leaving in you two elements if you follow you shall not go astray. They are the Book of God and the members of my House."5
Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ reported that Zayd Ibn Arqam said:
One day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up to deliver sermon at a watering place known as Ghadir Khumm situated between Mecca and Medina.
He praised Allah, extolled Him and delivered the sermon and. exhorted (us) and said:
Now to our purpose:
O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord and I, in response to Allah's call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you Al-Thaqalayn two weighty things:
the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.
He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said:
The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family.
He (Husain) said to Zayd:
Who are the members of his household?
Aren't his wives the members of his family?
Thereupon he said:
His wives are the members of his family (but here) the members of his household are those for whom acceptance of Zakat is forbidden.
And he said: Who are they?
Thereupon he said: 'Alī and the offspring of 'Alī.6
Al-Samhudi al-Shafi’i in his book Jawāhir al-'iqdayn (according to Yanabi al-Muwadda page 40) reported that Umm Salamah (wife of the Messenger) said:
"The Messenger of God held the hand of Alī at Ghadir Khumm and lifted it... Then he said:
'Whoever I am his "Mawla" Alī is his "Mawla" '.
Then he said:
'O people I am leaving in you the Two Valuables: The Book of God and the members of my House. They will never part with each other until they join me at the Basin (on the Day of Judgment).'"7
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa’īd al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of God said:
"I am about to be summoned by God and I shall respond. I am leaving in you the Two Valuables: The Book of God and the members of my House.
The Almighty informed me that they will never part with each other until they join me at the Basin (on the Day of Judgment). Beware how you shall treat them after me."8
Ibn Kathīr in his book "Al-Bidāya wa’l-Nihāya" (part 5 page 209 and part 7 page 348) recorded that Hudhaifa b. Usaid al-Ghifari reported that the Messenger of God said:
"And I shall question you when you join me on the Day of Judgment about The Two Valuables. Beware how you shall treat them after me:
The bigger Valuable is the Book of God, a rope whose end is in the hand of God and the other end is in your hands. Hold it firmly. Do not go astray and do not deviate.
The smaller Valuable is the members of my House. The Almighty informed me that they will not part with each other until they join me at the Basin (on the Day of Judgment)."
Ibn Asākir reported this hadith through Hudhaifa b. Usaid al-Ghifari.
Also Al-Tirmidhi said in his Ṣaḥīḥ that Hudhaifa b. Usaid al-Ghifari is one of the reporters of this hadith.
The hadith of Al-Thaqalayn (The Two Valuables) was reported by many companions.
Therefore it is considered by many scholars to be of the "Mutawatir" (a hadith conveyed by numerous reporters) kind or at least from the well-known hadiths.
Of the Two Valuables' hadiths is the hadith of the safety.
Al-Hakim recorded that Abu Dharr said while he was holding the door of the Kaaba:
"Whoever knows me I am the one whom he knows and whoever does not know me I am Abu Dharr. I heard the Prophet saying:
The position of the members of my House among you is the position of Noah's ark and his people. Whoever embarked on it was saved and whoever failed to embark on it was drowned."9
Al-Khatīb al-Baghdādī in his history part 12 page 91 reported similar to this hadith through Anas Ibn Malik.
Ibn Jarir through Abu Dharr and Abu Sa’īd al-Khudri also reported similar to it.
Abu Nu’aym, Ibn Abd al-Barr, Muḥibb al-Dīn Ibn al-Najjār, Al-Tabari and many others reported this hadith.10
This hadith tells us what the hadiths of "Al-Thaqalayn" (The Two Valuables) told us. The two hadiths actually are declaring to the nation that security against straying cannot be obtained but through the adherence to the teaching of the Holy Qur'an and leadership of the members of the House of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
The Hadiths of the Two Valuables and Safety tell us clearly that the Messenger did not leave his nation without leadership after him.
He declared to the Muslims that the leadership of the nation is in the members of his House and that the adherence to the Holy Quran and to their teaching is a security against straying.
There is no doubt that the adherence to the Holy Quran is the imperative duty of every Muslim. And so is the adherence to the teaching of the members of the House of the Prophet and walking in their path.
The most important duty of the nation is to secure itself against straying.
And when the adherence to the leadership of the members of the House of the Prophet is a security against straying it would be the duty of the nation to follow them.
These hadiths declare clearly that when the Holy Prophet chose the members of his House for the leadership of the nation
he did not do it by a human motive but through the revelation of God who chose these members for the leadership of the nation.
The Messenger says that the Book and the members of his House will never part with each other and that the Almighty informed him that the Quran and they will never part with each other until they join him at the Basin (on the Day of Judgment)
It is worthy to mention that these hadiths contain a clear Prophecy.
The Holy Prophet was not able humanly to know that the members of his House will never part with the Holy Quran –
This prophecy was fulfilled completely. Each one of these Imams was an example of purity knowledge and righteousness. None of them departed from the Holy Quran for one day.
Hadith Al-Thaqalayn is reported also in al-Kāfī:
"Indeed I am leaving two things among you, to which if you hold yourself, you will never astray:
- the book of Allah - who is all mighty and great,
- and my ahl al-Bayt (household), my Itrah (family).
O people hear! And I have announced to you that:
indeed you will enter my presence and I will ask you about what you did to the Thaqalayn (two weighty things) and the Thaqalayn are the book of Allah and my ahl al-Bayt."11
- 1. Al-Tirmidhi his authentic Sunan, Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3786
Arabic reference: Book 49, Hadith 4155 - 2. Al-Muttaqi recorded this in Kanz Al- Ummal part 5 p. 23 (hadith no.356)
- 3. Al-Tirmidhi his authentic Sunan, Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3788
Arabic reference: Book 49, Hadith 4157 - 4. Al-Hakim Al-Mustadrak part 3 p. 109.
- 5. Al-Hakim Al-Mustadrak part 3 p. 109.
- 6. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 44
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2408 a
In-book reference: Book 44, Hadith 55 - 7. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 44
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2408 a
In-book reference: Book 44, Hadith 55 - 8. Imam Ahmad Al-Musnad part 3 p. 17.
- 9. Al-Hakim Al-Mustadrak part 3 p. 151.
- 10. Al-Khatīb History of Baghdad part 12 p. 91 (conveyed by Al-Amini Al-Ghadir part 2 p. 301)
- 11. al-Kulayni, al-Kāfī, vol.1 p.294