hadiths as evidence, for this hadith is transmitted only by the people of the Sunnah through chains belonging to the people of the Sunnah. The hadith itself is not found in the two Sahih collections. Indeed, some hadith scholars, such as Ibn Hazm(1) and others, have criticized it. Nevertheless, it was narrated by the compilers of the Sunan collections, such as Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and Ibn Mājah, and by the compilers of Musnad collections(2), such as Imam Ahmad and others(3).

On your own principles, then, how can you establish its authenticity such that you may invoke it as evidence? Even assuming it is established, it is a solitary report. How, then, is it permissible for you to use it as evidence(4) concerning one of the fundamental principles of religion(5), and to declare all Muslims misguided—save one group—on the basis of solitary reports that you yourselves do not accept as evidence even in subsidiary doctrinal matters?!

Is this anything but the height of contradiction(6) and ignorance?

The Fifth Argument:

The hadith has been transmitted with its own explanation in two forms. In one, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—(7) was asked about the saved group and replied:

“Those who follow the same path that I and my Companions follow today.”

In the other narration, he said:

“They are the Community.”

Each of these two explanations contradicts the position of the Imamiyya and requires that they be