Sunni Scholars recognize Ghadir Hadith as one of the most established and well-attested traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).
Scholarly Acknowledgment of Its Authenticity
Among Sunni scholars, Hadith al-Ghadir is widely acknowledged and documented through numerous reliable chains of transmission. The distinguished scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, commenting on this hadith, states:
“The narration ‘Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master’ was reported by al-Tirmidhi and al-Nisaei through several different chains. Ibn Uqda compiled all of them in a single volume, and many of its chains are authentic and sound true.”
Similarly, the renowned historian and hadith expert al-Dhahabi affirms its validity in his works on hadith criticism. He narrates:
“Muttalib ibn Ziyad reported from Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqil who said: I was with Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain (peace be upon him), Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and Abu Jafar in the house of Jabir when a man from Iraq entered and said, ‘I ask you by God, tell me what you witnessed and heard from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family).’ Jabir replied: ‘We were at al-Juhfa, at Ghadir Khumm, and a great multitude from Juhaynah, Muzaynah, and Ghifar were present. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) came forth from his tent, gestured three times with his blessed hand, took the hand of Ali (peace be upon him), and proclaimed: “Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master.”’”
This testimony, preserved and authenticated by leading Sunni authorities, stands as one of the most explicit affirmations of Imam Ali’s divinely appointed guardianship and leadership after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). Its profound message of allegiance, loyalty, and unity continues to echo across centuries, symbolizing the enduring bond between faith, truth, and divine authority.
