An Exploration of the Hadith of Dhahdhah from the Viewpoint of the Two Major Islamic Sects

The issue of the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib, the great uncle of the Prophet (P), has long been disputed by Shiites and Sunnis. On the one hand, Shiite scholars believe that Abu Talib died with faith in the Shari’ah of Muhammad (P). On the other hand, the Sunnis guess that he did not believe and died in disbelief. The main document of Abu Talib’s infidelity, which is the intellectual basis of Ahl al-Sunnah historians, commentators, and theologians and who have followed it in their historical, interpretive and theological works even in the smallest relation, is the well-known hadith of dhahdhah that is seen in their primary and secondary sources. The meaning of the narration is that Abu Talib has passed away as an infidel, but because of his assistance and support of the Prophet (P) and with his intercession, he has been transferred from the lowest level of hell to the surface of hell i.e., dhahdhah, that is, by turning the severe stage into a mild one, he has been reduced to torment. The position of Shiite scholars against the hadith of dhahdhah is that these narrations are weak in terms of the document and distorted in terms of eloquence and incoherence with each other in terms of meaning while the dignity of Abu Talib is free from the vices of disbelief. This article seeks to reveal the reality of the hadith of dhahdhah and its meaning through the narrating method of hadith research to clarify a corner of the hidden truth behind such hadiths which are forged by the rulers of oppression and persecution and the basis of some ignorant people.