Critique and Analysis of the “Asbatna Khulafa al-Din” Narration

[Daralhidaye.ir]| One of the narrations that the followers of Ahmad al-Basri cite to prove the rightfulness of their imam is a narration in which His Holiness al-Askari (a) states that our grandsons are the Caliphs of the religion. We will now proceed to critique and review this narration.

The Narration of “Our Grandsons” and “the Caliphs”

The narration claimed by the followers is as follows:
From what was found in the handwriting of al-‘Askari (alayhis salam), this book: The Imam (a) said in it: We have ascended to the peaks of realities with the feet of prophethood and guardianship (wilayah), and we have illuminated the seven paths with the banners of chivalry (futuwwah). So we are the lions of battle, and the pouring rains of bounty, and with us are the sword and the pen in the immediate, and the banner of praise and knowledge in the hereafter. And our grandsons (asbatuna) are the Caliphs (khulafa’) of the religion and the allies of certainty, and the lamps of the nations, and the keys to generosity…

Translation: “Among the items that were found in the handwriting of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a) is this book: The Imam (a) said in it: We have reached the highest level of realities with the mark of prophethood and guardianship, and we have illuminated the seven paths of heaven with the sign of magnanimity, and we are eloquent and roaring speakers and resounding rains. The hastening sword and pen and the flag of God’s praise and the knowledge of the future are with us. Our grandsons are the Caliphs of the religion and the confederates of certainty and the lamps of the nations and the openers of generosity…”

— Al-Durrah al-Bahirah min al-Asdaf al-Tahirah, p. 48

Explanation of the Followers’ Claim About the Caliphs

The followers of Ahmad al-Basri say: In a narration from Imam Hasan al-Askari (a), he has considered his grandsons (asbat) to be the Caliphs of the religion; therefore, according to this narration, the Mahdiin (according to the claim of Ahmad al-Basri and his followers, Ahmad al-Basri is the first Mahdi) are Imams.

First Point: This narration is narrated for the first time in the book “Al-Durrah al-Bahirah min al-Asdaf al-Tahirah” without mentioning a chain of transmission (sanad) and without referring to the name of the book in question.

Second Point: The use of the plural form indicates speaking on behalf of a collective whole and not stating a personal matter. The fact that he says: “asbatuna khulafa’ al-din; Our grandsons are the Caliphs of the religion,” means the children of the Prophet (s) and the descendants, generation after generation, of Imam Ali (a) are the Caliphs of the religion.

The Caliphs of Imam al-Askari (a) or the Children of the Prophet?

If he had said: “asbati khulafa’ al-din; my grandsons are the Caliphs of the religion,” perhaps then we could have claimed that the intended meaning is the Imam of the Time (aj) and some of the children of the Imam of the Time (aj). This means that not only is this narration not a proof for Ahmad, but even with this narration, it cannot be proven that the Imam of the Time has a child, and there is no connection or relation between the two.

To strengthen this point, it is sufficient to pay attention to the following narration which is transmitted from Imam Husayn (alayhis salam):
Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani narrated to us, he said: ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim narrated to us from his father from ‘Abd al-Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, he said: Waki’ ibn al-Jarrah informed us from al-Rabi’ ibn Sa’d from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salit, he said: al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (alayhis salam) said: “From us (minna) are twelve Mahdis, the first of them is the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the last of them is the ninth of my descendants, and he is the Imam, the Qa’im with the truth.”

Imam Husayn (alayhis salam) said: “From us are twelve Mahdis, the first of whom is the Commander of the Faithful (alayhis salam) and the last of whom is the ninth of my children, and he is the Imam who is the Qa’im with the truth.”

— Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, Vol. 1, p. 317

In this narration, Imam Husayn said: “Verily, from us”; it is self-evident that the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali (alayhis salam), is not the son of His Holiness, the Master of the Martyrs (Sayyid al-Shuhada, alayhis salam). So, he said “From us,” he said “Our grandsons,” he said “We,” which indicates one of the Imams speaking on behalf of all, and not that he is speaking only about himself.