Ḥadīth al-Safīna (the narration of the ark) is a famous hadith narrated from Prophet Muhammad (s). In this Hadith, the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet are likened to Noah’s Ark. The Hadith is counted as one of the narrative proofs of the special situation of the Prophet’s household in guidance and leadership of Muslims.
Text
According to the narration of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari from the Prophet (s), the hadith reads:
| “ | إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَیتِی فِیکُمْ کَمَثَلِ سَفِینَةِ نُوحٍ، مَنْ دَخَلَهَا نَجَی، وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ | ” |
| “ | The example of my household among you is like Noah’s Ark, whoever boards it will survive and whoever misses it will drown.[1] | ” |
Hadith al-Safina is narrated through about 50 Sanads in various hadith collections with slightly different words, in a way that has reached the level of Tawatur of the Content. The Hadith is narrated by six infallible Imams (a) (Imam Ali, Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Sajjad, Imam al-Baqir, Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Rida (a)), some Sahabas (the Companions of the Prophet (s)) (Abu Dhar, Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, Ibn ‘Abbas ) and a group of Tabi’in (the Followers).
Importance
Shi’a scholars paid a special attention to this Hadith as a proof of the rightfulness of Ahl al-Bayt (a). ‘Allama Sharaf al-Din has mentioned this Hadith as the second proof for their rightfulness in his book, al-Muraji’at.
The Hadith is used as evidence for proving the following points:
- Necessity of obedience and adherence: In this Hadith, Ahl al-Bayt (a) are introduced as a means of salvation; to obey the means of salvation is necessary to attain salvation. Thus, it is necessary to obey Ahl al-Bayt (a).
- Infallibility of Ahl al-Bayt (a): if someone whose obedience is obligatory is fallible, there will be no guarantee that he does not make any mistakes in his guidance. While in the Hadith, the salvation through Ahl al-Bayt (a) has been guaranteed. Therefore, Ahl al-Bayt (a) must be infallible.
- Superiority of Ahl al-Bayt (a): If there were other people who were superior to Ahl al-Bayt (a), they should have been mentioned in the Hadith as the rescue ark.
- Affection for Ahl al-Bayt (a): Entering the rescue ark without having affection for Ahl al-Bayt (a) is not possible.
Reference:
[1]- ‘Uyun Akhbar al-Riza (a), vol. 2 , p. 27
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