Hadith of the Ark Hadith of the Ark The Hadith of the Ark () is a tradition narrated from the Islamic prophet Muhammad by different narrators such as Ali ibn Abu Talib, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (known as "Sadiq") and Abd Allah ibn Abbas. In this tradition, Muhammad compares his household ("Ahl al-Bayt") to Noah's ark, the only way to salvation in a sea of darkness, deviations, innovations and passions. According to Shi‘ism, the Twelve Imams are the Ulu'l-Amr, who are like the ark of Noah, and refers to them. Both Shi'a and Sunni scholars agree that prophet narrated this hadith. The Hadith is as
Hadith of the Ark follows: Behold! The similitude of my Ahlul Bayt, is like that of the Ark of Noah: The one who embarks it, will have saved himself, and the one who turns away from it, is doomed. Many Sunni books narrate this Hadith. Some significant Sunni books that narrate this Hadith are: Al-Hakim al-Nisaburi, one of the greatest Sunni scholars, narrated this hadith as authentic (sahih) in his Mustadrak. Al-Heithami in his book ("written against Shia") states: By many narrations of this hadith which strengthen each other;""certainly Ahl al-Bayt are like the Ark of Noah, saved Whoever boarded"", and in Sahih Muslim