Shi'a View of The Sahaba

Shi'a View Of The Sahaba

Shia do not accept the Sunni view that the testimony of nearly all Sahaba is an authenticated part of the chain of narrators in a hadith. Shias argue that not all the Sahaba were righteous, just because they saw or were with Muhammad. The Quran states:

And among those around you of the wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the townspeople of Al-Madinah (there are some who) persist in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad) knowest not. We, We know them, and We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom. —Quran, sura 9 (At-Tawba), ayat 101

Above ayah stated that there are hypocrites in the city of Medina around Muhammad but no one knows them but God. Shias further argue that after passing away of Muhammad the righteousness of Sahaba can be assessed by their loyalty towards Ahl al-Bayt, Muhammads family. Also Shias accept hadith from the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt. This is due to that Shia believes them to be thoroughly cleansed from all sin, through their interpretation of the Quran Surah 33 Verse 33 and the hadith of the Cloak.