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The Contest Between Text and Sectarian Doctrine: An Analysis of Hassan bin Farhan al-Maliki’s View on the Transmission and Signification of the Ghadir Tradition
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
| The event of Ghadir Khumm has consistently occupied a central place in the attention of scholars from various Islamic schools of thought. Although the authenticity of the Ghadir tradition—and even its mutawātir (mass-transmitted) status—is not disputed by many Sunni traditionists, disagreement over its meaning has a long history. In this context, Hassan bin Farhan al-Maliki, a contemporary Saudi Hanbali scholar, adopts a critical stance toward his predecessors and offers a revisionist interpretation of Ghadir that transcends the conventional boundaries separating Sunni and Shi‘i understandings of its significance. In addition to explicitly affirming the mutawātir status of the Ghadir tradition, he regards it as a supreme testament (waṣiyyah ʿuẓmā), arguing that reducing its meaning to mere love (maḥabbah) or support (nuṣrah) is not only incompatible with its textual and contextual indicators but also constitutes an affront to the dignity of Prophethood. He further interprets the testament of Ghadir as an explicit designation (naṣṣ) of the Imamate of Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī and critiques the prevailing historical justifications as later fabrications motivated by sectarian prejudice. Finally, he considers the departure from the testament of Ghadir to be the principal cause of the distortion of religion, the sacralization of human practice, and the civilizational decline of the Muslim community. Although the overall thrust of his arguments concerning Ghadir and the consequences of abandoning its testament is methodologically sound, certain aspects nevertheless require further scholarly refinement and critical examination. |
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| Keywords: Hassan bin Farhan al-Maliki, Ghadir, Testament (Waṣiyyah), Saqīfah, Imam |
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Full-Text [PDF 240 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/15 | Accepted: 2026/07/28 | Published: 2026/08/1
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