A survey of one reading attributed to Imam Ali

Abstract

One reading (qara'at) of Asr sura, , which is inconsistent with other valid readings, has been attributed to Ali (p.b.u.h). Because this reading contains additions to the Asr sura, its acceptation is not possible. A survey of two chains of traditions about this reading of the Asr sura attributed to Ali (p.b.u.h) shows that these traditions are of isolated type (khabar vahed). It also shows that the main narrator is an unknown person and there is only one single narrator, named Abu Ishaq al-Sbi'ai, who narrates it from the previous unknown narrator.
From the point of view of tradition scholars Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i’s traditions are weak due to the fact that he often doesn't state clearly that he has heard traditions himself. furthermore he suffered from mental disorder in the last decades of his life. Therefore, his traditions couldn’t possibly be accurate. What's more, there are a number of different citations based on his traditions. All this implies that his traditions have not been transferred to us sound and safe.

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