The Hadith of the Ahlul Bayt (as)

The second source is the Sunnah: After the Quran itself, the second source of Tafsir is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) — his words, actions, and approvals that explain the Quran. The Prophet (SAW) was commanded to explain the Quran, so his explanation is the most authoritative after the Quran itself.

The third source is the Ahlul Bayt (as): The third source — and the one that makes Shia Tafsir distinct — is the Hadith of the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt (as). Their narrations are authoritative extensions of the Prophet's (SAW) Sunnah, equal in status, because the Prophet (SAW) joined the Quran and his family together in the Hadith of Thaqalayn.

The Hadith of Thaqalayn: The Prophet (SAW) said, "I am leaving among you two weighty things — the Book of Allah and my progeny, the Ahlul Bayt. They will NOT separate from each other until they meet me at the Pond." (Sahih Muslim; Bihar al-Anwar) — to be checked. The Quran and the Ahlul Bayt (as) are inseparable by divine decree. To interpret the Quran without the guidance of the Ahlul Bayt (as) is to separate the two Thaqalayn — and that is not permitted.

Why the Imams know best: The Imams (as) received both the Zahir (outward) and the Batin (inner) meaning from the Prophet (SAW). They were eyewitnesses to the revelation — the Prophet's (SAW) own household saw the verses come down. Their Tafsir never contradicted itself across twelve Imams and 250 years, which proves its divine origin. Imam Sadiq (as) said, "We are the people of the Quran — it was revealed among us, and we know its Ta'wil." (Al-Kafi) — to be checked.

Every Tafsir is checked against them: The Shia rule is simple: every Tafsir of any verse must be checked against what the Imams (as) said about it. A Tafsir that contradicts the Imams (as) is rejected. The Imams (as) are the "speaking Quran" (Natiq bil-Quran), while the written Quran is the "silent Quran" (Samit). Together they complete the Thaqalayn.

Example

In Surah Al-Fatiha (1:5) we say, "You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help." Imam Sadiq (as) explained the word "we worship" (na'budu) is plural — worship is a communal act; we stand before Allah together. And Imam Baqir (as) explained the "Straight Path" of verse 6: "The straight path is our path — the path of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Imams after him." (Al-Kafi) — to be checked. The verses are general; the Imams (as) show us their deepest application.

Key Terms

• Thaqalayn (ثقلین) — the "Two Weighty Things": the Book of Allah and the Ahlul Bayt (as), left by the Prophet (SAW)
• Sunnah (سنة) — the words, actions, and approvals of the Prophet (SAW)
• Natiq bil-Quran (ناطق بالقرآن) — the "speaking Quran": the Imams (as), who explain the silent written Quran
• Batin (باطن) — the inner, hidden meaning of a verse

Quran or Hadith

Hadith al-Thaqalayn — The Prophet (SAW): "I am leaving among you two weighty things — the Book of Allah and my progeny, the Ahlul Bayt. They will NOT separate from each other until they meet me at the Pond." (Sahih Muslim; Bihar al-Anwar) — to be checked. The Quran and the Ahlul Bayt (as) can never be separated.

Hadith — Imam Baqir (as) in Al-Kafi: "The straight path is our path — the path of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Imams after him." — to be checked. The Imams (as) show the deepest application of the Quran's words.