Quick Answer:
Detailed Answer:
Question: Is it true to ignore the generality of the tradition of “Manzilat” just for being narrated in a particular situation?
Answer: Sometimes it is said that based on words the tradition of “Manzilat” concerns a particular case which was the battle of “Tabuk”; because the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has stated this tradition regarding Imam Ali (a.s.) on his leaving for Tabuk, so the tradition just concerns its particular case that is Ali (a.s.) was to the Prophet (s.a.w.) what Aaron had been to Moses just during the days of Tabuk battle.
We say in the answer that:
First: The tradition is general by itself and according to the known rule by the scholars of the Principles of the Jurisprudence the particular case does not reject the generality of the general reason. In other words the case is not appropriated, for instance if you say to someone who is polluted sexually and touches the “Ayatul Kursi” (some verses of the Holy Quran) that: The polluted person should not touch the Holy Qur’an then is it true to say that this is a particular case that is the aim of the speaker is that the polluted person should not touch the “Ayatul Kursi”? It is never so. Or if a doctor prohibits a patient who eats date from eating sweets then is it true to say that this prohibition concerns a particular case which is the eating of date? No one claims such a thing.
The same thing is true about the tradition of “Manzilat”. Although its case relates to the time of leaving of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) for Tabuk, but the reason is general and includes all occasions. Therefore, Taftazani for rejecting this claim says that: "Certainly the validity relates to the generality of the word not to the particularity of the cause."(1)
Second: This sentence has independently been narrated in the most of narrations and it has been mentioned nothing about it's issuing in the event of Tabuk.
Third: The case of “Manzilat tradition is not restricted to the battle of Tabuk to claim that the case which is appropriated is the reason, but according to the correct traditions that have been mentioned in the Shi’a and Sunni books, the tradition of Manzilat has also been received from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) in many other occasions.(2)
1- Sharh Maqasid, vol. 5, p. 275.
2- Ali Asghar Rizwani, Imamology and answering to the doubts (2), p.229.
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