Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn (Vol. 4, p. 398) by Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri records a narration regarding the "Dust of Karbala," wherein the Prophet (ﷺ) gifted soil to Umm Salama (رضي الله عنها) that turned to blood upon the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Al-Hakim deemed the report authentic (

), a judgment supported by Al-Dhahabi, serving as a testament to Prophetic foreknowledge and the sanctity of the events at Karbala. For more details, visit Internet Archive

Understanding Shi'a Prostration on Turbah | PDF | Shia Islam

In the fourth volume of Al-Mustadrak 'ala al-Sahihayn Al-Hakim al-Naysaburi

, page 398 contains a significant and detailed narration concerning the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali The Vision of the Red Earth

The "long story" found at this reference involves a prophecy given to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Al-Islam.org The Prophecy

: While Imam Husayn was a young child sitting on the Prophet's lap, Gabriel appeared and informed the Prophet that his grandson would be martyred in a land called (in modern-day Iraq). The Handover of Earth

: Gabriel brought a handful of red soil from that land and gave it to the Prophet. Seeing this, the Prophet began to weep for the future suffering of his grandson. Umm Salama’s Trust : The Prophet then handed this soil to his wife, Umm Salama , telling her:

"When you see this soil turn into blood, you will know that my Husayn has been slaughtered" The Fulfillment

: Umm Salama kept the soil in a glass bottle. Many years later, on the day of

(10th of Muharram, 61 A.H.), she witnessed the soil in the bottle turning into fresh blood, confirming the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. Al-Islam.org Context and Significance

This narration is frequently cited by scholars to explain the sanctity of the land of Karbala and is a primary source for the practice of prostrating on

(clay from Karbala). Al-Hakim recorded this hadith noting its authenticity, and it is also corroborated in other major works like Siyar a`lam al-nubala' Ibn Kathir's Al-Bidayah wa'l-nihayah Al-Islam.org of this prophecy or see other historical accounts from the same volume? Laws and Practices: Why do the Shi'ah prostrate on Turbah

2. Intra-Sunni Theology

Sunnis universally love and respect ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (the fourth rightly guided Caliph). However, narrations that elevate him above the other three caliphs (Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman) are subject to intense scrutiny. The narrations on page 398, if taken literally, could imply a super-excellence (afdaliyyah) for ‘Ali. Therefore, traditional Sunni scholars either:

Conclusion

Al-Hakim al-Mustadrak stands as a testament to the scholarly efforts in preserving and interpreting Islamic teachings. For those interested in a particular passage, such as Vol. 4 p. 398, consulting a scholarly source or a detailed hadith commentary would provide the most accurate and insightful information.

Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri’s Al-Mustadrak alal-Sahihayn serves as a critical supplement to Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, with Volume 4, Page 398, providing significant narrations often relating to the virtues of the Prophet’s family, legal rulings, or eschatological signs. While Al-Hakim graded these reports as authentic, scholars like Imam al-Dhahabi often provided critical annotations (Talkhis) on such pages to verify the chains of narration. For more information, consult scholarly editions of Al-Mustadrak.

How to Cite This Reference Properly

If you are a student, researcher, or writer, correctly citing Al-Hakim al-Mustadrak vol. 4, p. 398 requires precision. Follow this template:

Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri, Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn, ed. Mustafa ‘Abd al-Qadir ‘Ata (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1990), vol. 4, p. 398, hadith no. [X].

Note: Different editions may have slight pagination shifts. The classic Beirut edition (4 volumes) most commonly uses this page number. The newer Dar al-Minhaj edition (5 volumes) sometimes shifts it to vol. 4, p. 474 or vol. 5, p. 128. Therefore, always mention the hadith number in addition to the page.

In the standard Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah edition, page 398 corresponds to Hadith number 4720 (or 4721-4723). Verify against your copy.

Al-Mustadrak: Structure and Methodology

Al-Mustadrak is arranged by chapters of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), following the standard order: purification, prayer, zakat, fasting, and so on. Volume 4, in most standard printings (such as the widely used Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah or Dar al-Minhaj editions), typically covers the latter parts of Kitab al-Tafsir (Book of Qur’anic Exegesis) and moves into Kitab al-Tarikh (Book of History and Biographies) and Kitab al-Fitan (Book of Tribulations) and Kitab al-Manaqib (Book of Virtues).

Page 398 of Volume 4 falls squarely within a critical section: the Virtues of the Prophet’s Family (Ahl al-Bayt) and Virtues of the Companions (Manaqib al-Sahabah) , specifically regarding ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah honor his face).

Al-Hakim’s Grading vs. Al-Dhahabi’s Critique

The key to understanding the value of vol. 4, p. 398 lies in the margins. Al-Hakim often concludes a Hadith with: "This is a Sahih Hadith, not compiled by al-Bukhari and Muslim" (هذا حديث صحيح على شرطهما ولم يخرجاه).

However, Imam al-Dhahabi, in his Talkhis, frequently responds with:

Scholars advise: Never quote al-Hakim’s Mustadrak without referencing al-Dhahabi’s verdict in the margin. A tradition on p. 398 that al-Hakim calls "Sahih" might be downgraded by al-Dhahabi due to a hidden defect (‘illah) or a transmitter known for tadlis (concealing defects in transmission).