RAFIDHI NARRATORS IN SUNNI HADITH COLLECTIONS | 'ABD AL-MALIK BIN 'AYAN
'ILM AR-RIJAL
AMIR AL-ZABIDI
14 min read
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Abstract
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Narrator 1: ʿAbd al-Malik bin ʿAyyan
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Recently, the Sunni historian and Hadith scholar Adnan Rashid issued a challenge on the platform "X" (formerly known as Twitter) to identify a Rāfidī Shīʿī narrator within the chains of transmission in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. He also asserted that while Sunnis have numerous reports from Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, none originate from the Rāfidha Shīʿa.
In response to this claim, a series of sections will be produced and analyzed—God willing—each focusing on different Rāfidī and Shīʿī narrators who are found within the six most renowned Sunni hadith collections.
In this particular section, the first Rāfidī and Shīʿī narrator is introduced: ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿAyyān. He was a Shīʿī and Rāfidī narrator whose reports are present in all six of the most esteemed Sunni hadith compilations—namely, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Ibn Mājah, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, and Sunan al-Nasāʾī.
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His full name is ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun ibn Sansan al-Shaybani, also known as Abū Dharīs al-Kūfī. He was the brother of the renowned Shiʿa narrators Zurāra bin Aʾyun and Ḥamrān. He belonged to the Aʾyun family, which was a known family in the city of Al-Kufa. Within the Shiʿi literature, he is regarded as a highly esteemed figure.
The Shiʿi scholar Muhammad bin 'Umar Al-Kashshi has narrated the following:
حدثنى محمد بن مسعود ، قال : حدثيني المشائخ : أن حمران ، وزرارة ، وعبدالملك ، وبكيرا ، وعبدالرحمان بني أعين كانوا مستقيمين ومات منهم أربعة في زمان أبي عبدالله عليه السلام ، وكانوا من أصحاب أبي جعفر عليه السلام ، وبقي زرارة إلى عهد أبي الحسن عليه السلام فلقي مالقي
"Muhammad bin Masʿūd narrated to me, saying: The Mashayikh [Shaykhs; Scholars] informed me that Ḥamrān, Zurāra, ʿAbd al-Malik, Bukayr, and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān—sons of Aʾyan—were steadfast in their faith. Four of them passed away during the time of Abū ʿAbdillāh [Imam As-Sadiq] (peace be upon him), and they were among the companions of Abū Jaʿfar [Imam Al-Baqir] (peace be upon him). As for Zurāra, he lived until the era of Abū al-Ḥasan [Imam Al-Kadhim] (peace be upon him) and faced what he faced [meaning death]." [1]
Here, we see that the tradition from the Shi'i narrator Muhammad bin Mas'ud transmits a narration from his Shi'ite Shaykhs, stating that Zurāra, ʿAbd al-Malik, Bukayr, and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān—the sons of Aʾyun—remained steadfast in their faith. Furthermore, it affirms that four of them—namely, all except Zurāra—passed away during the time of Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq, peace be upon him, while Zurāra lived until the era of Imam Musa al-Kāẓim.
Regarding the chain of narration, Sayyid al-Khūʾī stated the following:
الرواية صحيحة وكفى بها في حسن عبدالملك واستقامته
"The narration is authentic, and it alone suffices as evidence of ʿAbd al-Malik’s bin A'yun virtue and uprightness." [2]
With this presented, it becomes evident that ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun, along with his brothers, are praised in Shiʿi literature and regarded as individuals of virtue and uprightness.
Within the Sunni scholarly tradition, ʿAbd al-Malik bin A’yun is regarded as trustworthy. However, there is one aspect that has been noted about him, which is considered highly derogatory in the Sunni perspective—he was a Rāfiḍī, meaning he rejected the belief that Abu Bakr and Umar were the religious caliphs and leaders of the Muslims.
Regarding the statement of the Sunni scholar ʿAlaʾ Ad-Din Al-Mughaltāy, he has transmitted the following account of what the Sunni scholar Al-ʿUqayli said about ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyun:
وفي " كتاب العقيلي ": رافضي روى عنه الثوري ثم تركه
"In Kitāb Al-ʿUqaylī, it is stated: '[He; Abd al-Malik bin A’yun was] A Rāfidī . At-Thawrī narrated from him and then abandoned him.'" [3]
Here, we see that the Sunni scholar Al-ʿUqaylī explicitly describes ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyun as a Rāfidī and states that Sufyān al-Thawrī initially narrated from him but later ceased to do so. It is important to note that Abū Jaʿfar Al-ʿUqaylī was an early Sunni scholar (d. 934 CE / 322 AH), which provides insight into how ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyun was perceived within the early Sunni scholarly community.
Regarding what the Sunni scholar Ibn Hajar al-ʿAsqalānī has transmitted, we find the following:
وقال الحميدي، عن سفيان، حدثنا عبد الملك بن أَعْيَن شيعيٌّ كان عندنا رافضيٌّ صاحبُ رأي
"Al-Ḥumaydī has said, from Sufyān, that ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyan told us: "A Shi'ite, He is considered by us as a Rafidhi; a person with his own opinion." [4]
Here, we see another example of how an early Sunni scholar, namely Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah [725 CE/107 AH-814 CE/198 AH], who lived during the time of 'Abd Al-Malik bin A'yan, narrated from him, as evidenced in the six most renowned Sunni collections below, calling 'Abd Al-Malik bin A’yun is referred to as a Rafidhi.
It is also noteworthy that Sufyan mentions in the plural that he was perceived as a Rafidhi, providing further indication and evidence that Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah, along with other Sunni scholars of his time, considered 'Abd Al-Malik bin A’yun to be a Rafidhi. Despite this, Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah narrated from him, illustrating a key aspect of early Sunni scholarship: even if an individual, according to Sunni standards, is regarded as an extreme Shi'a—denying Abu Bakr, Umar, and other companions, and insulting them, which would make him a disbeliever from the Sunni perspective—he may still be considered credible and reliable in terms of transmitting narrations.
Regarding the chain of narration which the Sunni Scholar Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani transmitted, there are no issues with its authenticity.
Concerning the narrator Al-Humaydi, the teacher of Muhammad Al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajar al-ʿAsqalani has stated the following:
عبد الله ابن الزبير ابن عيسى القرشي الأسدي الحميدي المكي أبو بكر ثقة حافظ فقيه أجل أصحاب ابن عيينة
"Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr bin Isa al-Qurashi al-Asadi al-Humaydi al-Makki Abu Bakr, a trustworthy (Thiqah), Hafidh, and jurist (Faqih), the most virtuous of the companions of [Sufyan] Ibn ʿUyaynah." [5]
Regarding Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah, the Sunni Scholar Adh-Dhahabi has mentioned the following:
ثقة، ثبت، حافظ، إمام
"Trustworthy (Thiqah), steadfast, memorizer (Hafidh), leader (Imam)." [6]
Since the chain is unquestionably authentic, it is firmly established that ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun was a Rafidhi according to Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah and the Sunni Scholars at Sufyan's time. Additionally, as mentioned, Sufyan bin ʿUyaynah, who affirmed ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun’s Rafidhism and Shi'ism, lived in Kūfa at the same time as ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun. This serves as even greater evidence for those who may doubt his Rafidhi affiliation.
In another narration from Sufyan bin Uyaynah, Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani mentioned the following:
وقال حامد، عن سفيان: هم ثلاثة إخوة: عبد الملك، وزُرَارَة، وحُمْرَان، روافض كلهم، أَخْبَثُهم قولًا عبد الملك
"Hamid said, from Sufyan: They are three brothers: Abdul Malik, Zurara, and Humran, all of them are Rafidis, and the most vile of them in terms of speech is Abdul Malik." [7]
This presents a different transmission path to Sufyan bin ʿUyaynah, in which Hamid bin Yahya al-Balkhi narrates from him instead of al-Humaydi. Regarding Hamid bin Yahya al-Balkhi, the Sunni scholar Ibn Hajar al-ʿAsqalani has stated the following:
ثقة حافظ
"He was trustworthy and a Hafidh." [8]
Thus, this chain is also considered authentic according to Sunni standards. What Sufyan bin Uyaynah stated is that the Ayun brothers were three: Abd Al-Malik, Zurara, and Humran, and that all three were Rawafidh. According to Sufyan bin Uyaynah, the most extreme in terms of speech regarding Rafidhism was Abd Al-Malik. Therefore, Abd Al-Malik in the Sunni literature was not merely a Rafidhi, but an extreme Rafidhi according to the Sunni standards.
Immediately following the narration from Hamid bin Yahya Al-Balkhi and Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah, the Sunni scholar Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani proceeds to present the words of another early Sunni scholar, namely Abu Hatim Ar-Razi [who died 890 C.E/ 277 A.H], regarding 'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayun.
The Sunni Scholar Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani has mentioned the following:
وقال أبو حاتم: هو من عُتُقِ الشيعة، مَحَلُّه الصدق، صالح الحديث، يكتب حديثه
"Abu Hatim said: He is among the most extreme Shi'ites, he is truthful, his narrations are sound, and his hadiths are written down." [9]
Here, we see another example of a Sunni scholar who has demonstrated that 'Abd Al-Malik bin A'yun was not only regarded as a regular Shi'a, but one of the most extreme Shi'ites; which means that, without a doubt, he was a Rafidhi according to the Sunni scholar Abu Hatim Ar-Razi's view.
Abu Hatim Ar-Razi mentions that Abd Al-Malik bin A’yun was from the 'Utuq [the most extreme; عتق] of the Shi'a, and regarding the term 'Utuq [the most extreme; عتق], the linguist Ibn Al-A’rabi has said the following:
كلُّ شَيْءٍ بَلَغَ النِّهَايَةَ فِي جودةٍ أَو رَدَاءَةٍ أَو حُسْنٍ أَو قُبْحٍ، فَهُوَ عَتيقٌ، وجَمْعُهُ عُتُقٌ
Everything that reaches the extreme in quality, whether in excellence or inferiority, beauty or ugliness, is considered 'Atiq, and its plural is 'Utuq. [10]
This means that 'Abd Al-Malik bin A'yan was at the highest level of Shi'ism, which indicates that he was undoubtedly considered a Rafidhi according to the words of the Sunni scholar Abu Hatim Ar-Razi.
From what has been presented from the early Sunni Scholarship, it is evident that Abd Al-Malik bin A’yun was not only considered a Shi'i, but also an extreme Shi'i and Rafidhi in the Sunni literature.
'Abd Al-Malik bin A'yan's Presence in the Six Major Sunni Hadith Collections
Regarding 'Abd Al-Malik bin Ay'an's narrations in the Sunni hadith literature, it can be observed that the authors of all six of the most famous Sunni hadith books—namely, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah—have narrated from Abd Al-Malik bin Al-A'yan.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan's presence in Sahih Al-Bukhari
From Sahih Al-Bukhari, we can see that Muhammad Al-Bukhari has narrated the following:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، وَجَامِعُ بْنُ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنِ اقْتَطَعَ مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ بِيَمِينٍ كَاذِبَةٍ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ". قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُولَئِكَ لاَ خَلاَقَ لَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ} الآيَةَ.
“Humaid narrated to us, from Sufyan from Abdul Malik bin 'A'yan and Jami' ibn Abi Rashid who narrated from Abu Wa'il, from Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Whoever takes the property of a Muslim by taking a false oath, will meet Allah Who will be angry with him." Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, recited the Verse:-- 'Verily those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter, neither will Allah speak to them, nor look at them.' [The Holy Qur'an 3:77] [11]
Here, Abd Al-Malik bin Al-A'yyan is identified as one of the narrators in this hadith found in Sahih Al-Bukhari, from the path from Al-Humaydi narrating from Sufyan bin Uyayanah, who in turn narrates from Abd Al-Malik bin Al-Ayyan.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayun's presence in Sahih Muslim
Regarding Abd Al-Malik's presence in Sahih Muslim, the following narration from Muslim bin Hajjaj has been documented:
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْمَكِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ جَامِعِ بْنِ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ، وَعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ، سَمِعَا شَقِيقَ بْنَ سَلَمَةَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى مَالِ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ .
"Ibn Abi Umar Al-Makki narrated to us, Sufyan narrated to us, from Jami' ibn Abi Rashid and Abdul Malik bin Ayyan, who both heard from Shaqiq ibn Salamah, who said: 'I heard Ibn Mas'ud say:
I heard the Messenger of Allah observing: He who took an oath on the property of a Muslim without legitimate right would meet Allah and He would be angry, with him. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in support of his contention recited the verse:" Verily those who barter Allah's covenant and their oaths at a small price." [12]
Here we see that Abd Al-Malik bin Al-A'yan is found in Sahih Muslim, through a chain that includes Ibn Abi Umar Al-Makki, Sufyan bin Uyaynah, and Abd Al-Malik bin Al-Ayyan. This provides another example of how early Sunni scholars relied on a Rafidhi narrator such as Abd Al-Malik bin Al-Ayyan. The fact that such a narrator is present in both Bukhari and Muslim's Sahih collections is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Sunni scholars were able to accept narrations from Rafidhi-Shi'a narrators.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayun's presence in Sunan Abu Dawud
When examining the book Sunan Abu Dawud, we also find that Abd Al-Malik bin Ayun is included there as well, as the Sunni scholar Abu Dawud Al-Sijistani mentions the following:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عِيسَى الْبُسْطَامِيُّ، وَحَامِدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ جَامِعِ بْنِ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ، وَعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ، وَعَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ أَبِي غَرَزَةَ، بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ " يَحْضُرُهُ الْكَذِبُ وَالْحَلِفُ " . وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الزُّهْرِيُّ " اللَّغْوُ وَالْكَذِبُ "
"Husayn ibn 'Isa al-Busṭami, Hamid ibn Yahya, and Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Zuhri narrated to us, saying: Sufyan narrated to us from Jami' ibn Abi Rashid, Abdul Malik bin A'yan, and Asim, from Abu Wa'il, from Qays ibn Abi Ghazah, with the same meaning, saying: 'Falsehood and swearing are present.' And Abdullah al-Zuhri said: 'Laghw (idle talk) and lying.'" [13]
In this instance, we observe that Abd Al-Malik bin Al-’A’yun is cited in the book Sunan Abi Dawud. Additionally, the Sunni scholar Muqbil bin Hadi Al-Wadi'i has provided the following commentary on the chain:
هذا حديث صحيحٌ على شرط الشَّيخين. وهو من الأحاديث التي ألزم الدارقطني البخاري ومسلمًا أن يخرجاها، كما في "الإلزامات" (برقم ٥٣).
"This is a sahih (authentic) hadith according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). It is among the narrations that Al-Daraqutni deemed necessary for Al-Bukhari and Muslim to include in their compilations, as mentioned in Al-Ilzamat (Hadith No. 53)." [14]
This further demonstrates that a Rafidhi such as ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyan—who is classified as an extreme Shi’a within Sunni scholarship—was deemed trustworthy by the esteemed Sunni scholar Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadiʿi, as al-Wadiʿi authenticated the chain of transmission in which ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyan appears based upon the criteria of Al-Bukhari and Muslim in his book [As-Sahih al-Musnad mimma Laysa fi as-Sahihayn; The Authentic Musnad: which Is not found in the two sahihs], indicating that all narrators within the chain, including ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʿyan, were considered reliable according to the criteria of Al-Wadiʿi, Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan's presence in Sunan Ibn Majah
Regarding Abd Al-Malik bin A’yan presence in the book Sunan Ibn Majah, the Sunni scholar Ibn Majah has mentioned the following:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ الْعَدَنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ، وَجَامِعِ بْنِ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ، سَمِعَا شَقِيقَ بْنَ سَلَمَةَ، يُخْبِرُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلاَّ مُثِّلَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ حَتَّى يُطَوِّقَ عُنُقَهُ " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى (وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ} الآيَةَ .
"It has been narrates to to us from Muhammad bin Abi Umar Al-Adani, who said: Sufyan bin Uyayna narrated to us from Abd al-Malik bin A'yan and Jami' bin Abi Rashid, who both heard from Shaqiq bin Salama, who reported from Abdullah bin Mas'ud, who narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: 'There is no one who does not pay the Zakat of their wealth except that on the Day of Judgment, he will be shown a snake with a large head, which will coil around his neck.' Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited to us its confirmation from the Book of Allah, the Exalted: 'And let not those who are stingy with what Allah has given them of His favor think...' (Quran verse)." [15]
From the chain of this hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah, we observe that Abd Al-Malik bin A'yun appears in a chain that goes through Muhammad bin Abi Umar Al-Adani, to Sufyan bin Uyaynah, and then to Abd Al-Malik bin A'yun.
Regarding the chain, the known Sunni scholar Nasir Ad-Din Al-Albani has provided the following ruling:
صحيح
"It is Sahih [authentic]." [16]
Here is further evidence that the chains of narrations in which Abd Malik bin A'yun appears are consistently authenticated, demonstrating his credibility within the Sunni tradition.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan's presence in Jami' At-Tirmidhi
Regarding Abd Al-Malik bin A’yan presence in the book Jami' At-Tirmidhi, the Sunni scholar Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi has mentioned the following:
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ جَامِعٍ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ وَعَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ لاَ يُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلاَّ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي عُنُقِهِ شُجَاعًا " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَيْنَا مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ : (وَلَاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ) الآيَةَ . وَقَالَ مَرَّةً قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِصْدَاقَهُ : (سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ) " وَمَنِ اقْتَطَعَ مَالَ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ بِيَمِينٍ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ : (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ ) الآيَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ يَعْنِي حَيَّةً .
Ibn Abi 'Umar narrated to us, Sufyan narrated to us from Jami' and Abd Al-Malik bin A'yan from Abu Wa'il from Abdullah bin Mas'ud, who relayed to the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: "There is no man who does not pay the zakat of his wealth except that Allah will place a snake around his neck on the Day of Judgment." Then he recited its parallel from the Book of Allah, the Exalted: "And do not think those who are stingy with what Allah has given them from His bounty..." (Qur'anic verse). And he mentioned another verse: "They will be tormented with what they were stingy with on the Day of Judgment." And whoever takes his Muslim brother's wealth by his right hand will meet Allah while He is angry with him. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited another verse from the Book of Allah: "Indeed, those who purchase the covenant of Allah..." (Qur'anic verse). Abu 'Isa [At-Tirmidhi] said, "This hadith is Hasan [good] and Sahih [authentic]." The meaning of the word "shuja'an aqra'" is interpreted as a snake. [17]
Here, we see that the Sunni scholar Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi, a student of Muhammad Al-Bukhari, narrates a chain through Ibn Abi 'Umar from Sufyan bin Uyaynah, who narrates from 'Abd Al-Malik bin Al-'Ayan, as well as the narrator Jami'. We also observe that the Sunni scholar Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi has authenticated the hadith by stating:
هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
"This hadith is Hasan [good] and Sahih [authentic]." [18]
Here, we have another Sunni scholar who considers a chain of narrators in which 'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan is present to be authentic. This means that Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi also regards 'Abd Al-Malik bin 'A'yan as trustworthy, further proving that Sunni scholars repeatedly rely on narrations coming through a Rafidhi-Shi'i narrator.
'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan's presence in Sunan An-Nasa'i
Regarding Abd Al-Malik bin A’yan presence in the book Sunan An-Nasa'i, the Sunni scholar An-Nasa'i has mentioned the following:
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ عَبْدَةَ بْنِ أَبِي لُبَابَةَ ، وَسَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ ، كِلَاهُمَا سَمِعَهُ مِنْ وَرَّادٍ كَاتِبِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ: «كَتَبَ مُعَاوِيَةُ إِلَى الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ : أَخْبِرْنِي بِشَيْءٍ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ قَالَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ».
Muhammad bin Mansur narrated to us, from Sufyan, who said: "I heard it from ʿAbdah bin Abi Lubabah, and I also heard it from ʿAbd Al-Malik bin Aʿyan, both of whom heard it from Warrad, the scribe of Al-Mughira bin Shuʿbah. He said:
Muʿawiyah wrote to Al-Mughira bin Shuʿbah, asking him to inform him of something he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Al-Mughira replied:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), whenever he finished his prayer, used to say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none may give what You have withheld, and the might of the mighty person cannot benefit him against You.’" [19]
Here, we observe a sixth example from the Sunni scholar An-Nasa’i, who narrates through a chain that includes Muhammad bin Mansur, who transmitted from Sufyan, who in turn narrated from ʿAbdah bin Abi Lubabah and ʿAbd Al-Malik bin Aʿyan. This carries significant weight within the Sunni literature, as An-Nasa’i considers everything he includes in his Sunan to be Sahih (authentic).
Ibn Hajar Al-’Asqalani has said that Muhammad bin Mu’awiyah Al-Ahmar, who is a narrator who narrates from An-Nasa’i, has mentioned that An-Nasa’i has stated the following:
السنن كله صحيح وبعضه معلول إلا أنه لم يبين علته والمنتخب منه المسمى بالمجتبى صحيح
”Everything in the book of Sunan [Sunan Al-Kubra] is Sahih [Authentic], and some of it has concealed defects, Except that he [An-Nasa’i] has not demonstrated its concealed defectiveness, and what is elected from it, which is called Al-Mujtaba [As-Sunan As-Sughra; also called Sunan An-Nasa'i], is all authentic.” [20]
The narrator Muʿawiyah bin al-Ahmar, who transmits this report from the renowned Sunni scholar AbuʿAbd Ar-Rahman An-Nasa'i is considered trustworthy, as the known Sunni scholar Adh-Dhahabi has stated the following about him:
كان شيخا نبيلا ، ثقة ، معمرا .
And he [Mu'awiyah bin Al-Ahmar] was a noble Shaykh, trustworthy, and long-lived." [21]
Based on this, it is established that 'Abd Al-Malik bin 'Ayan is considered trustworthy according to An-Nasa'i's criteria, as this conclusion is drawn from the fact that An-Nasa'i regards the narrations in 'As-Sunan al-Sughra' as authentic, and 'Abd Al-Malik bin A'yan, as presented, is included as a narrator within this collection.
Summary & Conclusion
ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyun, also known as Abū Dharīs al-Kūfī, was a prominent Shiʿi figure from the renowned Aʾyun family of Kufa. He was the brother of esteemed Shiʿa narrators Zurāra and Ḥamrān. Shiʿi sources, such as Al-Kashshi, praise him for his steadfast faith, and the Shiʿi Scholar Sayyid al-Khūʾī affirms his reliability and virtue.
In Sunni scholarship, he is considered trustworthy but is also labelled a Rāfiḍī Shiʿi, which means that he rejected Abu Bakr and Umar as rightful leaders. Sunni Scholars such as Abu Ḥātim al-Rāzī and Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah describe ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyan as an extreme Shiʿi and Rāfiḍī , with the latter considering him the most outspoken among his brothers.
Despite this, ʿAbd al-Malik bin Aʾyan is present in the six major Sunni hadith collections, including Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, indicating that Sunni scholars accepted his narrations despite his sectarian affiliations—Rafidhism, which is heavily criticized in the Sunni tradition.
References
[1] At-Tusi, Abu Ja'far. Ikhtiyar Ma'rifat al-Rijal. Vol. 1. p. 382.
[2] Al-Khoei, Sayyid Abu al-Qasim. Mu'jam Rijal Al-Hadith. Vol. 12, p. 17.
[3] Al-Mughaltāy, ʿAlaʾ Ad-Din. Ikmal Tahdhib Al-Kamal. Vol. 8, p. 302.
[4] Al-ʿAsqalani, Ibn Hajar. At-Tahdhib At-Tahdhib. Vol. 8, p. 335.
[5] Al-ʿAsqalani, Ibn Hajar. Taqrib At-Tahdhib, p. 303.
[6] Adh-Dhahabi, Shams Ad-Din, Al-Kashif, Volume 1, Page 449
[7] Al-ʿAsqalani, Ibn Hajar. At-Tahdhib At-Tahdhib. Vol. 8, p. 335.
[8] Al-ʿAsqalani, Ibn Hajar. Taqrib At-Tahdhib, p. 149.
[9] Al-ʿAsqalani, Ibn Hajar. At-Tahdhib At-Tahdhib. Vol. 8, p. 335.
[10] Ibn Mandhur, Lisan Al-'Arab. Volume 10, Page 236
[11] Al-Bukhari, Muhammad. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 97, Hadith 71
[12] Bin Hajjaj, Muslim. Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 264
[13] As-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 23, Hadith 2
[14] Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadi'i, Al-Sahih al-Musnad Mimma Laysa fi al-Sahihayn, vol. 2, p. 145.
[15] Ibn Majah, Abu 'Abd Allah, Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 8, Hadith 2
[16] Ibn Majah, Abu 'Abd Allah. Sunan Ibn Majah, Annotator: Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd Al-Baqi, Volume 1, Page 568
[17] Abu 'Issa, At-Tirmidhi. Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Book 47, Hadith 64
[18] Abu 'Issa, At-Tirmidhi. Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Book 47, See Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi's commentary in Arabic after presenting Hadith 64
[19] Abu 'Abd Ar-Rahman, An-Nasa'i, Sunan An-Nasa'i, Volume 3, Page 70
[20] Al-'Asqalani, Ibn Hajar. An-Nukat 'Ale Kitab Ibn As-Salah, Volume 1, Page 484
[21] Siyar 'Alam An-Nubala, Shams Ad-Din Adh-Dhahabi, Volume 16, Page 68
