An Investigation into Ghuluww and Hadith Forgery in Khatabiyya and Imam's Reaction towards Them

Recognition of thoughts and behaviors of Islamic sects is considered one of the academic needs of a society. It can identify different viewpoints and religious beliefs that exist in the different periods of Islamic history. Khatabiyya is one of the sects that have noticeable impacts. Mohammad ibn Maghlas Asadi was its leader known as Abolkhattab. He spread his exaggerating ideas in the first half of the second century and has some followers. This paper answers to three questions: 1. what factors caused them to exaggerate? 2. Did this sect provide grounds for forging hadith? 3. What were Imams’ reactions toward them? Studying the sources of knowing the sects, hadith and narrators shows that the most important incentives of this approach were financial interests, certain political goals and presidential ambitions and also created the most significant grounds for forging hadith especially about Imams’ virtues and knowledge of the unseen and theological subjects such as incarnation of God in persons. This paper uses descriptive – analytical method for studying the topic.