Al-Mustadrak: A Hadith Compilation Both Praised and Criticized
: While Imam Husayn was a young child sitting on the Prophet's lap, Gabriel appeared and informed the Prophet that his grandson would be martyred in a land called (in modern-day Iraq). The Handover of Earth
In standard multi-volume Islamic reference sets, Volume 4 of al-Mustadrak generally shifts from everyday social transactions into broader legal and historical subjects. Scholars looking at page 398 usually find two main things: 1. Context and Subject Matter
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Due to its importance, this page is a frequently cited reference across a wide range of Islamic literature. This includes classical commentaries, theological works, and specialized books on the virtues of the Ahl al-Bayt, regardless of their doctrinal leanings within the broader Sunni tradition. al-hakim al-mustadrak vol. 4 p. 398
Al-Hakim al-Mustadrak, also known as "The Mustadrak of Al-Hakim", is a renowned hadith collection compiled by the famous Muslim scholar, Muhammad ibn Abdillah al-Hakim al-Naisaburi (d. 1025 CE). The book is considered one of the most important sources of Islamic prophetic traditions.
Understanding Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn : Analyzing Volume 4, Page 398
Sunni response: Even if al-Hakim authenticated them, greater critics (Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, al-Dhahabi) weakened them due to a weak narrator (e.g., Ja‘far ibn Sulayman, or Maysarah ibn ‘Abd Rabbih, depending on the edition). Therefore, the page is not definitive proof.
The hadith is narrated by , a beloved companion of the Prophet (ﷺ), who was the son of Zayd ibn Harithah. The Prophet's statement in this hadith is definitive and leaves no room for ambiguity: the difference in religion is an insurmountable barrier to inheritance. Context and Subject Matter Report Details Due to
: أخبرناه أبو الحسين علي بن عبد الرحمن الشيباني بالكوفة، ثنا أحمد بن حازم الغفاري، ثنا خالد بن مخلد القطواني، قال: حدثني موسى بن يعقوب الزمعي، أخبرني هاشم بن هاشم بن عتبة بن أبي وقاص، عن عبد الله ابن وهب بن زمعة، قال: أخبرتني أم سلمة رضي الله عنها، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم اضطجع ذات ليلة للنوم فاستيقظ وهو حائر، ثم اضطجع فرقد، ثم استيقظ وهو حائر دون ما رأيت به المرة الأولى، ثم اضطجع فاستيقظ وفي يده تربة حمراء يقبلها، فقلت: ما هذه التربة يا رسول الله؟ قال: أخبرني جبريل عليه الصلاة والسلام أن هذا يقتل بأرض العراق للحسين، فقلت لجبريل: أرني تربة الأرض التي يقتل بها فهذه تربتها«هذا حديث صحيح على شرط الشيخين، ولم يخرجاه»
To evaluate any specific textual citation within Al-Mustadrak , one must first understand why the book was written. Al-Hakim observed that many critics of Islam mistakenly assumed that any prophetic narration omitted from Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim was inherently unauthentic or weak.
The word Mustadrak translates to "supplement" or "rectification." Imam Al-Hakim (d. 405 AH / 1014 CE) compiled this text with a highly specific academic goal: to collect authentic traditions that were omitted by the two premier Hadith masters, Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, despite those traditions meeting the rigorous criteria ( shurut ) set by those masters.
Why do researchers seek out with such precision? There are three primary reasons: 1025 CE)
If you are a student, researcher, or writer, correctly citing requires precision. Follow this template:
Volume 4 of the work often deals with Al-Fitan (trials/tribulations) and the characteristics of the community that will survive them, making the theme of unity on page 398 particularly central to the volume's narrative arc.
Next time you encounter a citation to Al-Mustadrak , vol. 4, p. 398, do not just copy it. Open the volume. Read the isnad. Read al-Dhahabi’s response. And join the timeless conversation between the muhaddithun (traditionists) who guarded the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with unparalleled precision.