Hadith of the Quran and Sunnah authenticity. The Shi'a claim that this hadith is the most authentic of hadiths, claiming that it has been narrated by over 35 companions of Muhammad. The "Hadith al-Thaqalayn" is used by the Shi'a, among other reasons, to support their belief of Ali's succession to Muhammad. Shi'as view this hadith as a clear indication that Muhammad wished to keep the matter of leadership within his own family, starting with his cousin Ali. They believe that Muhammad was clearly indicating that only the "Ahl al-Bayt" have a right to authority and leadership. It is based on this claim that the Shi'as reject
Hadith terminology its source. This provides confirmation that the "hadith" is authentically attributed to its source at a level above reasonable doubt. This is due to its being beyond historical possibility that narrators could have conspired to forge a narration. In contrast, an "ahaad hadith" is a narration the chain of which has not reached a number sufficient to qualify as "mutawatir". "Hadiths" can be "mutawatir" in both actual text and meaning: The second category, "ahaad" ( meaning "singular") narration, refers to any "hadith" not classified as "mutawatir". Linguistically, "hadith ahad" refers to a "hadith" narrated by only one narrator. In "hadith"