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 Twelve Successors be from the tribe of Quraysh. Interpretation of the hadith varies widely among Sunni scholars; some have openly claimed that they do not know the meaning. Another interpretation is that the prophecy was fulfilled by the Rashidun Caliphs. Some commentators, such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Taymiyya, link this hadith with the biblical account of Moses and his twelve deputies. Imam Muslim on Sahih Muslim wrote: Rasulullah s.a.w said: "This religion (Islam) will remain standing until twelve caliph, which all of them is from Quraysh, rule over you." (Sahih Muslim) Imam Abu Dawud on Shahih Abi Dawud wrote: Masyruq said: