What is the authenticity of the mentioned hadith that the Shi'a use to prove the Imamate of Ahl al-Bayt, which states: "I am leaving among you two successors: the Book of Allah... and my 'Itrah, my Ahl al-Bayt"?

Some falsifiers cite two hadiths to support their claims regarding the Ahl al-Bayt's (Prophet's household) right to the Caliphate, but these arguments do not hold up for the following reasons:

1. The first hadith: "I am leaving among you two successors: the Book of Allah and my Itrah (progeny), my Ahl al-Bayt." The wording "two successors" is not preserved (غير محفوظ), and the chain of narration (isnad) for this hadith is weak due to Shareek al-Qadi (whose memory was poor) and al-Qasim ibn Hassan (who is unknown - majhul). Even if the hadith were authentic, its intended meaning is a recommendation to adhere to the Book of Allah and the Ahl al-Bayt and to protect them, not to appoint the Ahl al-Bayt to the Caliphate.

2. The second hadith: "I am leaving among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me: one of them is greater than the other: the Book of Allah and my Itrah, my Ahl al-Bayt." This wording is not preserved, and its chain of narration is also weak due to Atiyyah al-Awfi (who narrated objectionable reports and committed tadlis - concealment of defects in the isnad), an inconsistency (idhtirab) in the chain, and tadlis by Habib ibn Abi Thabit. The authentic narration in Muslim (Hadith al-Thaqalayn) mentions "the Book of Allah" first and recommends it, then mentions "my Ahl al-Bayt" and recommends them, without making "you will never go astray" conditional on anything other than holding fast to the Book of Allah alone.

Conclusion: Although these hadiths have an authentic origin, the wordings used by these individuals to argue are weak, and their intended meaning is a recommendation to cherish the Ahl al-Bayt, not to appoint them to the Caliphate. The Ummah has unanimously agreed upon the superiority of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them, over all other Companions, including Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.