The last sermon (Khutabul Wada) of Prophet Muhammad

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful

There are two version of the narration "Leaving Two Things"
1- Which is mentioned above (Quran & Sunnah)
2- Leaving two things namely "Quran & Ahl e bait" and whoever leaves any one of them will go astray.

The first narration is only quoted by one source. The second narration is quoted by many sources. However, if we examine both narrations, we will see the the word "Quran" which is "common" in both narrations.

Now the debatable word is "Sunnah" and or Ahl e bait:

If we investigate about the word "Sunnah" which means the traditions of the holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and those were demonstrated by him in his life time. His entire traditions encompassed the teachings and commandments of Quran:
Now if we consider the 1st version of the narration which states that; "I am leaving Quran & Sunnah" would mean that he is repeating one requirement twice; because all his "Sunnah" is based on Quran so why is he using the word "Quran & Sunnah" when it means the same requirements to follow?

Also, according to the first narration, he is leaving two Things. Quran is a "Thing" which is with us in physical form and will remain until the day of Judgment without any change or alteration; His Sunnah is not A Thing in physical form and as we all know that there are more than 5 School of Thoughts in Muslims and they do not agree on many issues, narrations and traditions and they have their own understanding of "Sunnah"; I give you a simple example here; Among the major 5 school of thoughts, they all pray Salaat 5 times a day but their Wudu is performed slightly differently? and they all claims that their way of performing Wudu is right way of Sunnah; So, which Sunnah is the right one?

Therefore, the narration stating "Leaving 2 things the Quran & the Sunnah" does not match or contains any logic or relation.

Now we examine the other narration that states "I am leaving 2 things the Quran and my Ahl e Bait":

The Quran is a physical thing which is left and that gives you guidance and if you follow the commands, you will never go astray.

The Ahl e Bait are the "physical thing" who were left behind after the departure of our holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and who were the perfect examples and closest in observing Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Sunnah and displaying and demonstrating to the Ummah.

In addition to the above statement, there are numerous and continuous chain of Ahadith that shed the light and provides a logical and evidential conclusion to prove that the narration stating "Leaving 2 things" is the right narration of our holy Prophet (P.B.U.H):

Hadis no.1: Prophet (P.B.U.H) said; My Ahl e Bait is like the Ark of Noah (A.S); whoever boards on that Ark will not go astray.

Hadis No. 2: Prophet (P.B.U.H) said; My Ahl e Bait are from me and I am from them {He has said individually for his daughter Fatema (A.S), his son in law Ali (A.S), his grand sons Hassan (A.S) Hussain (A.S); so, if we try to understand the both narrations, we would come to the conclusion that, in the first Hadis, He (P.B.U.H) is directly guiding the Umma to follow Ahl e Bait after him and they will guide you towards the right path and save you from going astray.

In the 2nd Hadis, The Prophet (P.B.U.H) have stated name by name, (Ali a.s, Fatema a.s, Hassn a.s and Hussain a.s) in different occasions the same wording or conjecture and He (P.B.U.H) is trying to make us understand that "his Ahl e Bait are from him and "He" (P.B.U.H) is from "Them" means, they possess all of his qualities, virtues, seer'a and knowledge and if we Muslims wants to seek a guidance after me in order to follow the right path and stay away from going astray, then follow the guidance of his Ahl e Bait.
I would also like to add some very relevant Ayaat (Verses) from Holy Quran that indicates perhaps the direction we have discussed in my above mentioned commentary:

Verse (Al Ahzab 33): Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs from you, Ahl e Bait and to purify you with a thorough purification:

Verse (42:23): "Say no reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin" Allah the High:

Verse (Al Sajda 24) And we made from among them, leaders, giving guidance under our command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in our Ayaat:

Verse (Al Imran 61): But whoever disputes with you in this matter after knowledge that has come to you then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near and your near, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah for the liars:
{(If you see in the books of Hadis and Tafseers, (Sahih Muslim), Prophet (P.B.U.H) brought Ali (a.s), Fatema (a.s), Hassan (a.s) and Hussain (a.s)}
So, the conclusion is that the 2nd narration"I am leaving two things among you" stands clear and above and more likely meets the criteria and fulfil the conditions.

A B Azam