Introduction: Hadith al-Tayr Series
- Anonymous
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Hadith al-Tayr is one of the most important Hadiths that every Shi’i should be aware of. It has crucial importance in illustrating the high station of Imam Amir al-Mu’mineen Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) as the most superior companion and proving his legitimacy for caliphate.
It is unfortunate that many Shi’a today remain either unaware of this invaluable Hadith or remain uncertain about how to justify its authenticity. For those unfamiliar, it is a well-known and widely transmitted narration, found in numerous prominent Sunni sources, most famously in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3721:
اللَّهُمَّ ائْتِنِي بِأَحَبِّ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ يَأْكُلُ مَعِي هَذَا الطَّيْرَ جَاءَ عَلِيٌّ فَأَكَلَ مَعَهُ
"There was a bird with the Prophet (ﷺ), so he said: 'O Allah, send to me the most beloved of Your creatures to eat this bird with me.' So Ali came and ate with him."
As we can see, the narration affirms the superiority of Imam Ali (as) over all other companions, and even supersedes him over other previous prophets of God. This directly challenges foundational Sunni doctrines, which maintain that Abu Bakr and Umar surpass Ali (as) in virtue. Unsurprisingly, the Hadith has become a point of significant controversy, as its implications stand in stark contrast to core Sunni creed.
Sunnis have exerted considerable effort to discredit this narration by any means possible, regardless of how far-fetched those attempts may be, despite the overwhelming evidence supporting its authenticity, as will be demonstrated. Their objections have taken various forms, including challenges to its chain of transmission, claiming its content is impossible, providing alternative interpretations, and all the more.
We will refute all these objections in our coming series in the following manner: