An analysis on the tradition "mā minnā illā maqtūl aw masmūm

One of the traditions referred to and cited in the Imāmī sources of sīrah, biographical dictionaries (tarājim) and history, is the tradition "mā minnā illā maqtūl aw masmūm (none of us are but either slain or poisoned). According to this tradition it has been judged that all Infallible Imams - even those for whose martyrdom no definite historical evidence exists – have been martyred, while this tradition has not undergone scrutiny in its isnad and text and that the common technical evaluations in its text and purport has not been carried out yet. This article evaluates the degree of authenticity of the above traditions and also, studies the degree of its role in substantiating the martyrdom of the Twelve Imams. The findings suggest that despite certain problems in some of its isnads, this tradition has impeccable isnads. Moreover, from the aspect of its text it does not seem very strange and that all problems about it can be tackled. However, this narration by itself does not suffice to prove the martyrdom of all the Imams.