Hadith narrations from Shia and Khawarij

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, Imam al-Bukhari did narrate Hadith from Shia. Although it was not so common. That is because they are Muslim, and he would only narrate from the ones he felt were truthful and accurate in narration.

Explanation

Undoubtedly Imam al-Bukhari was incredibly cautious and diligent when narrating Hadith. Although it was relatively rare for him to narrate Hadith from Shia, he did do so. Thus, the Shia are Muslim and not Kafir. Since it is not permitted to narrate from disbelievers (Kuffar).

The Ahl al-Sunnah did not consider the Shia to be Kafir. Rather they were considered deviant Muslims. And there is no absolute prohibition in narrating Hadith from such people. So, if they were reliable narrators, their Hadith was accepted.

The Imam only narrated from those Shia he deemed to be upright and truthful in Hadith narration. He would never narrate from one he thought to be dishonest. This should be an obvious point, because he would not narrate from Sunnis, he felt were not truthful. So, he obviously would not do so from Shia.

Examples

خَالِد بن مخلد الْقَطوَانِي الْكُوفِي أَبُو الْهَيْثَم من كبار شُيُوخ البُخَارِيّ روى عَنهُ وروى عَن وَاحِد عَنهُ قَالَ الْعجلِيّ ثِقَة فِيهِ تشيع وَقَالَ بن سعد كَانَ متشيعا مفرطا. (فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري)

Khaled bin Mukhlad al-Qatwani al-Kufi Abu al-Haytham. One of the major Shaykhs of al-Bukhari. He narrated from him (directly), and he narrated from him through one person. Al-Ijli said: Trustworthy, he has Shiism in him. Ibn Sa’d said: He was an extreme Shi’ite. (Imam Ahmad bin Ali bin Hajr al-Asqalani 852H, Fath al-Bari).

عبد الملك بن أعين الكوفي أخو حمران عن أبي عبد الرحمن السلمي وأبي وائل وعنه السفيانان شيعي صدوق روى له البخاري ومسلم مقرونا بآخر. (الكاشف في معرفة من له رواية في الكتب الستة)

Abd al-Malik ibn Ayan al-Kufi. Brother of Hamran. (He narrated) from Abi Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami and Abi Wael. And from him the two Sufyans. He was an honest Shiite. (Imams) al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from him, alongside another. (Imam al-Dhahabi 748H, al-Kaashif).

In the Nusoos (texts) above we find two examples of Shia narrators Imam al-Bukhari conveyed Hadith from. This is clear proof that the early Muslims did not consider the Shia Kafir. Since it is not permitted to convey Hadith from a Kafir.

Imam Bukhari narrating Hadith from Shia is also proof that a Shia person could be considered trustworthy and reliable in his narration. That is despite his deviance (Bidah). This form of acceptance by Sunni scholars is not limited to Shia. Rather it did extend to other deviants too.

Khawarij and Mutazilah  

Two other groups that have existed from the early history of this Ummah were the Khawarij and Mutazilah. Imam al-Bukhari has narrations from both of them. Once again emphasising that these groups were considered deviant Muslims and not Kuffar (disbelievers).

وَعِمْرَانُ هُوَ السَّدُوسِيُّ كَانَ أَحَدَ الْخَوَارِجِ مِنَ الْعَقَدِيَّةِ بَلْ هُوَ رَئِيسُهُمْ وشاعرهم وَهُوَ الَّذِي مدح بن مُلْجِمٍ قَاتِلَ عَلِيٍّ بِالْأَبْيَاتِ الْمَشْهُورَةِ وَأَبُوهُ حِطَّانُ بِكَسْرِ الْمُهْمَلَةِ بَعْدَهَا طَاءٌ مُهْمَلَةٌ ثَقِيلَةٌ وَإِنَّمَا أَخْرَجَ لَهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ عَلَى قَاعِدَتِهِ فِي تَخْرِيجِ أَحَادِيثِ الْمُبْتَدِعِ إِذَا كَانَ صَادِقَ اللَّهْجَةِ مُتَدَيِّنًا وَقَدْ قِيلَ إِنَّ عِمْرَانَ تَابَ مِنْ بِدْعَتِهِ وَهُوَ بَعِيدٌ وَقِيلَ إِنَّ يَحْيَى بْنَ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ حَمَلَهُ عَنْهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْتَدِعَ. (فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري)

Imran is al-Sadusi. He was one of the Kharijites from al-Aqadiyah. Rather, he was their leader and poet. He was the one who praised Ibn Muljim, the killer of (Sayidina) Ali, with the infamous verses. His father was Hittan, with a Kasrah and not a dot, followed by a heavy Taa with no dot. (Imam) al-Bukhari narrated from him upon based upon his principal regarding Hadith narrations from an innovator if he was truthful and religious.

It was said that Imran repented from his innovation (Bidah). But this is implausible. And it was said that Yahya bin Abi Kathir took it from him before he became an innovator. (Imam Ahmad in Ali bin Hajr al-Asqalani 852H, Fath al-Bari).

قَوْلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَمْ يُسَمِّهِ هُوَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ شَيْخُ الْمُعْتَزِلَةِ. (فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري)

His saying: from an unnamed man, he was Amr bin Ubaid. The Shaykh of the Mu’tazilah. (Imam Ahmad in Ali bin Hajr al-Asqalani 852H, Fath al-Bari).

In the Nass (text) above Imam Ibn Hajr is commenting on Hadith number 7083 from Sahih al-Bukhari. He explains that the unnamed individual was a leader of the Mu’tazilah movement.

Is the testimony of Shia accepted

As well as the Hadith narrations of the Shia being accepted, we find that their court testimony is also accepted. This is another clear proof that they were considered Muslim by Hanafi Imams. Since the court testimony of an apostate against a Muslim is not accepted.

وَتُقْبَلُ شَهَادَةُ أَهْلِ الْأَهْوَاءِ إلَّا الْخَطَّابِيَّةُ وَقَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ -: لَا تُقْبَلُ لِأَنَّهُ أَغْلَظُ وُجُوهُ الْفِسْقِ

كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ الْمُعْتَزِلَةِ وَالْقَدَرِيَّةِ وَالْخَوَارِجِ. وَسَائِرُهُمْ تُقْبَلُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ عَلَى مِثْلِهِمْ وَعَلَى أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ، إلَّا الْخَطَّابِيَّةُ وَهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ الرَّوَافِضِ لَا لِخُصُوصِ بِدْعَتِهِمْ وَهَوَاهُمْ بَلْ لِتُهْمَةِ الْكَذِبِ. (فتح القدير)

Al-Hidayah: The testimony of the people of desires is accepted, except for the Khattabiyah. (Imam) al-Shafi’i (May Allah Most High have mercy upon him) said: It is not accepted, because it is the worst form of immorality.

Fath al-Qadeer: All of them from the Mu’tazila, Qadariyyah, and Kharijites. Their testimony is accepted upon the like of them and upon the Ahl al-Sunnah. Except for the Khattabiyah. They are a sect of the Rafidites. It is not due to their deviation and following desires. Rather due to the accusation of lying. (Imams al-Marghinani 593H and Ibn Humam 861H).

 

(وَتُقْبَلُ شَهَادَةُ أَهْلِ الْأَهْوَاءِ إلَّا الْخَطَّابِيَّةَ) مِنْهُمْ، وَالْهَوَى مَيَلَانُ النَّفْسِ إلَى مَا يَسْتَلِذُّ بِهِ مِنْ الشَّهَوَاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا سُمُّوا بِهِ لِمُتَابَعَتِهِمْ النَّفْسَ وَمُخَالَفَتِهِمْ السُّنَّةَ كَالْخَوَارِجِ وَالرَّوَافِضِ. (العناية شرح الهداية)

The testimony of the people of desires is accepted, except for the Khattabiyah. From them. Desire refers to the inclination of the soul towards that which it finds pleasurable of temptations. They were named by it because they follow the Nafs and go against the Sunnah. Like the Kharijites and the Rafidites. (Imam al-Babarti 786H, al-Inayah).

Cursing is not Kufr

One of the more vile actions Shia engage in is cursing the blessed companions Sayidina Abu Bakr and Sayidina Umar. However, Imam Ibn Abideen clarifies that this will not make them Kafir. Although it does make them extremely deviant.

وَأَمَّا الرَّافِضِيُّ سَابُّ الشَّيْخَيْنِ بِدُونِ قَذْفٍ لِلسَّيِّدَةِ عَائِشَةَ وَلَا إنْكَارٍ لِصُحْبَةِ الصِّدِّيقِ وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ بِكُفْرٍ فَضْلًا عَنْ عَدَمِ قَبُولِ التَّوْبَةِ بَلْ هُوَ ضَلَالٌ وَبِدْعَةٌ وَسَيَأْتِي. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

As for the Rafidhi. The one who curses the two Shaykhs without slandering Sayidah Aishah, or denying the companionship of the truthful, or the like is not in disbelief (Kufr). Let alone not accepting the repentance. Rather it is misguidance and an innovation. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtar).

Conclusion

Imam al-Bukhari did narrate Hadith from Shia. Although Sunni Muslims deem Shia deviant, they are not considered Kuffar (disbelievers). Therefore, Hadith can be taken from them, as long as they fulfill the criteria of narration.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (15.12.2024)