Hadith of Golden Chain Hadith of Golden Chain Hadith al-Silsilah al-Dhahab () (Hadith of the Golden Chain) is a hadith narrated from Ali al-Ridha, the eighth Imam of the Shia. The "chain" is a reference to the continuity of spiritual authority which is passed down from Muhammad to Ali ibn Abi Talib, through each of the Imams, to Imam Ridha. As transmitters of Hadith, the Imams link subsequent generations to the teachings of Mohammad. This transmission makes the Hadith of the Golden Chain valued as among the most truthful and accurate of all Hadiths for the Shi'ite. The hadith is important to shia because
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