“Examination of the Fourth Hadith within the Section Titled ‘The Fortieth Hadith of the Mahdiyin'”

Dar al-Hidayah | Continuing the examination of the fortieth heading from Nidham Al-Aqili’s book “Forty Hadiths on the Mahdiyeen and the Children of the Qa’im (AS)”, this article analyzes the fourth narration cited under that heading – which is effectively the “forty-third” hadith used by the followers to prove the Imamate of Ahmed Isma’il al-Basri (Ahmed Al-Hasan) and their imaginary Mahdiyeen.

Nidham Al-Aqili’s core claims are:

• Imamate is not limited to twelve Imams.
• The Mahdiyeen, after Imam Mahdi (AS), hold the station of Wasayah (successorship) and Imamate.
• The Mahdiyeen are the Itrat (progeny) and children of Imam Mahdi (AS).

The Fourth Hadith Under the Fortieth Heading

The fourth narration that Nidham Al-Aqili cites under the fortieth heading is as follows:

Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah al-Ansari said: “I entered upon Fatimah (AS), and before her was a tablet (Lawh) in which were the names of the successors (Awsiya’) from her progeny. I counted twelve names – the last of them being al-Qa’im (AS). Three of them were named Muhammad, and three of them were named ‘Ali.”

Source: Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 532

Critical Analysis – Four Major Refutations

Refutation One: Textual Corruption in the Number of “Ali” Names – It Should Be Four, Not Three

This hadith mentions the names of the Imams from the progeny of Fatimah al-Zahra (AS). Among them, the names that are “‘Ali” are actually four – not three:

1. Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al-‘Abidin) (AS)
2. Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS)
3. Imam ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (AS)
4. Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) – who is the father of the eleven Imams from Fatimah’s progeny

In reality, there are four names of “‘Ali” in the Tablet. Allamah Majlisi (may Allah have mercy on him) has pointed out that the scribes likely wrote “three of them were ‘Ali” instead of “four of them were ‘Ali”. This is confirmed by the version found in ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida and other books:

From Abu al-Jarud, from Abu Ja’far (AS), from Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah al-Ansari, who said: “I entered upon Fatimah (AS), and before her was a tablet in which were the names of the successors. I counted twelve names – the last of them being al-Qa’im. Three of them were named Muhammad, and four of them were named ‘Ali.“

Source: ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), Vol. 1, p. 46

Refutation Two: Allamah Majlisi’s Explanation – The Tablet Lists the Eleven from Fatimah’s Progeny Plus Their Father

Allamah Majlisi (may Allah have mercy on him) explains the narration in Al-Kafi that mentions “three of them were ‘Ali” as follows:

“His saying ‘I counted’ – the ‘fa’ here indicates consequence (tafri’). Meaning: I added to them (the eleven) their father and their origin, so together with him they became twelve. ‘Three of them’ – meaning three from the children (not from the total). For the one named ‘Ali from the total is four. The apparent meaning is that textual corruption (taṣḥīf) occurred from the scribes, for al-Saduq narrated in Al-Ikmal, Al-‘Uyun, Al-Faqih, and Shaykh al-Tusi narrated in Al-Ghaybah with this chain from Jabir, and in all of them and in other books it reads: ‘and four of them were ‘Ali.’“

Source: Mir’at al-‘Uqul, Vol. 6, p. 228

This makes it clear that:

• The tablet contains the names of eleven Imams from the progeny of Fatimah (AS) – from Imam al-Hasan (AS) to Imam al-Mahdi (AS).
• When Jabir says he counted twelve, he includes Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) – who is the father and origin of the eleven.
• Thus, the twelve Imams are: ‘Ali (AS) and eleven from his progeny.

Refutation Three: The Version from Al-Irshad Explicitly States “From Her Progeny” – Yet Counts Twelve

The narration in Al-Irshad explicitly states that the tablet contained the names of the successors from her progeny – and yet Jabir counted twelve names. How is this possible? It is through the principle of predominance (taghlīb):

From Abu al-Jarud, from Abu Ja’far (AS), from Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah al-Ansari, who said: “I entered upon Fatimah bint Rasulillah (AS), and before her was a tablet in which were the names of the successors and the Imams from her progeny. I counted twelve names – the last of them being al-Qa’im from the progeny of Fatimah. Three of them were named Muhammad, and four of them were named ‘Ali.”

Source: Al-Irshad fi Ma’rifat Hujaj Allah ‘ala al-‘Ibad, Vol. 2, p. 346

Here, the phrase “from her progeny” (min waladiha) is used for the twelve Imams through the principle of taghlīb – because eleven of them are from her progeny, and the exception (‘Ali (AS)) is already known from other narrations.

The version in Al-Kafi similarly says “the names of the successors from her progeny” – and then Jabir counts twelve – again through the principle of taghlīb.

Refutation Four: The Most Complete Version of the Hadith of the Tablet – Explicitly States “Eleven from My Progeny”

The most detailed and complete version of the Hadith of the Tablet – which has been transmitted through multiple chains and is considered one of the greatest divine proofs for the Imamate of the Twelve Imams and the refutation of all false claimants – is as follows:

From Jabir al-Ju’fi, from Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir (AS), from Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah al-Ansari, who said:

“I entered upon my mistress Fatimah (AS), and before her was a tablet whose radiance almost overwhelmed the eyes. In it were twelve names: three on its surface, three on its interior, three at its end, and three at its side – so I counted them and they were twelve names.

I said: ‘Whose names are these?’ She said: ‘These are the names of the successors (Awsiya’). The first of them is my cousin (ibn ‘ammi), and eleven from my progeny – the last of them being al-Qa’im (peace be upon them all).’

Jabir said: ‘I saw in it: Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad in three places; and ‘Ali, ‘Ali, ‘Ali, ‘Ali in four places.'”

Source: Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, Vol. 1, p. 311

This version is explicit, clear, and definitive. It states without any ambiguity:

• “The first of them is my cousin” – i.e., ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS).
• “And eleven from my progeny” – i.e., eleven Imams from the children of Fatimah (AS).
• “The last of them being al-Qa’im” – i.e., Imam Mahdi (AS).

The total is twelve Imams – no more, no less. There is absolutely no mention of any “Mahdiyeen” or “children of Imam Mahdi (AS)” or any Imams after the twelfth Imam.

The Hadith of the Tablet: The Decisive Proof

The Hadith of the Tablet is one of the most authenticated and widely transmitted narrations in Shi’a tradition. It has been narrated through numerous chains and appears in most major hadith collections. It is considered one of the divine miracles establishing the Imamate of the Twelve Imams and the decisive argument (fāṣl al-khiṭāb) in matters of Imamate.

Significantly, Ahmed Al-Hasan himself quotes this hadith in his book Al-‘Ijl (The Calf), Vol. 1, p. 124. By doing so, he has established the proof (ḥujjah) against himself and his followers – because the hadith explicitly limits the Imams to twelve, with the first being ‘Ali (AS) and the last being al-Qa’im (Imam Mahdi, AS). There is no room for any additional Imams (Mahdiyeen) after the twelfth Imam.

Summary of the Argument

The followers of Ahmed Al-Hasan claim that the Hadith of the Tablet – with its mention of names from the progeny of Fatimah (AS) – proves that there are additional Imams (Mahdiyeen) from the children of Imam Mahdi (AS). However, this claim is based on a misreading of the text and a failure to consult the most complete versions of the hadith.

The correct understanding is:

1. The Tablet lists twelve Imams: ‘Ali (AS) and eleven from his progeny (through Fatimah (AS)).
2. The most complete version (Kamal al-Din) explicitly states: “The first of them is my cousin, and eleven from my progeny, the last of them being al-Qa’im.”
3. The mention of “from her progeny” for all twelve is through taghlīb: Because eleven are from her progeny, and the exception (‘Ali (AS)) is well-known.
4. Textual corruption in Al-Kafi: The version in Al-Kafi says “three of them were ‘Ali” – but this is a scribal error. The correct version from other sources says “four of them were ‘Ali” – including ‘Ali (AS) himself.
5. No mention of Mahdiyeen: Nowhere in any version of the Hadith of the Tablet is there any mention of “Mahdiyeen,” “children of Imam Mahdi (AS),” or any Imams after the twelfth Imam.
6. Ahmed Al-Hasan himself quotes this hadith: By doing so, he has established the proof against himself, as the hadith explicitly limits the Imams to twelve.

Conclusion on the Fourth Hadith Under the Fortieth Heading

The Hadith of the Tablet twelve Imams refutation has been thoroughly examined. This analysis conclusively demonstrates:

1. The Hadith of the Tablet is one of the clearest and most definitive proofs for the Imamate of exactly twelve Imams.
2. The twelve Imams are: ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) and eleven from his progeny – ending with al-Qa’im, Imam Mahdi (AS).
3. The most complete version from Kamal al-Din explicitly states: “The first of them is my cousin, and eleven from my progeny, the last of them being al-Qa’im.”
4. There is no mention of Mahdiyeen, children of Imam Mahdi (AS), or any Imams after the twelfth Imam.
5. Ahmed Al-Hasan himself quotes this hadith – establishing the proof against himself and his followers.

Thus, the fourth hadith under the fortieth heading provides absolutely no support for the alleged Yamani sect’s core doctrine and, when correctly understood in its most complete versions, actually refutes the claim of any additional Imams after Imam Mahdi (AS).