The Light of Truth — Page 491
ASSESSING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE ECLIPSE HADITH 491 As for the answer [to this objection], know that this prophecy is one of the matters of the Faith and it was not for Imam Baqir or anyone else to make a declaration befitting the status of Prophets. Moreover, Imam Bāqir, may Allah be pleased with him, did not say that this was his own statement, nor did he attribute it to himself. This is decisive proof that it is a statement of the Best of Messengers. Evidence of this is that it was among the practices of the Salaf that when they spoke about the Religion by means of a statement, but did not attribute the statement to themselves, nor to another believer besides themselves, nor investigated it like researchers; rather, they transmitted it like the muqallidīn [those who strictly follow a specific tradition], this indicated that they meant the statement was a saying of the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. They would quote it as a mursal narration as an indication of its wide- spread recognition, which obviated the need to investigate its isnād [chain of narrators]. This is established by its widespread acceptance, leaving no need for any other support. This is the truth, so accept it and do not be among the doubtful. Among their greatest misconceptions—which arose due to their insistence on suspicion and prejudice and their not suckling from the breast of truth with pure intention, instead becoming emaciated from hunger-is that they say: "There were almost 200 Signs for the Mahdi, so we will never accept you nor believe your claim until we see them all with our own eyes. Before they appear, we do not consider you any- thing but an abrogator, fabricator, and liar. We will not reconsider our hatred for you nor establish a bond of trust with you except after every single one of the Prophetic traditions is fulfilled in your person. And we do not accept what you said before this; indeed, we consider you to be a mischief-maker. ' As for the answer [to this objection], know that these are all 1. The 'pious predecessors' are typically considered the first three generations of Muslims. [Publisher]