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Imam `Ali’s External Virtues and Merits

`Ali’s Genealogy

Beyond doubt, kinship with the Messenger of Allah is both a unique privilege and superiority over others. Hence, God considers the honor of kinship with the Holy Prophet (s.a) as part of the honor of nearest relations when we read in the Holy Qur’an: “and warn your nearest relations” (26:214).

Elsewhere, God says: “and most surely it is a reminder for you and your people” (43:44). It is for this reason that God Almighty has prohibited giving charity to them due to their honor and dignity. Hence, the closer a person is to the Messenger of Allah, the more honorable and dignified he or she is.[276]

Imam `Ali (a.s) has said: We are a family beyond comparison.[277]

Abu-`Uthman Jahiz who was an ardent enemy of Imam `Ali says: `Ali was truthful in what he said! How can we compare anyone with this family when the Messenger of Allah, two purified persons, `Ali and Fatimah, their two sons, Hasan and Husayn, two martyrs of Islam, Hamzah and Ja`far who flies in paradise with two wings, the great chief of Hijaz, `Abd al-Muttalib, the provider of water to the Hajj pilgrims, `Abbas, the wise man of Batha' and Najdah, Abu-Taib  are from this family in which all the merits and virtues are gathered. Ansar are their helpers and Muhajir are those who immigrated towards them. Accepter is one who has accepted them and Faruq, that is, the distinguisher between justice and injustice is among them. True disciples are their disciples and if Dhu’l-Shahadatayn (the man of double testimony) was honored with this title, it is because his testimony is about them.

A proof of their dignity is that the Messenger of Allah said: Verily, I am leaving among you two valuable things. You will not go astray after me as long as you adhere to them. One is greater than the other. They are the Book of Allah, which is a rope stretched from the heavens to the earth, and my Household. They will never separate from one another until they come to me at the Pond.

Verily, if the household of the Holy Prophet (s.a) was like other people, `Umar would not ask `Ali to be his father-in-law to obtain the

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فِي الفَضائِلِ الحاصِلَةِ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِن خارِجٍ:

فِي نَسَبِهِ:

لاَ شَكَّ أنَّ النَّسَبَ وَالقُرْبَ مِنْ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَزِيَّةٌ وَفَضيلَةٌ عَلى غَيْرِهِمْ، وَلِهذا شَرَّفَهُمُ اللهُ تَعالَى بِسَهْمِ ذَوي القُرْبَى فَقالَ تَعالَى: ﴿وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ.﴾ وَقالَ تَعالَى: ﴿وَإِنَّهُ لَذِكْرٌ لَكَ وَلِقَوْمِكَ.﴾ وَحَرَّمَ عَلَيهِمُ الصَّدَقاتِ تَشْريفاً وَتَعْظيماً. وَكُلُّ مَنْ كَانَ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَقْرَبَ كَانَ أَرْفَعَ. وَقالَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: نَحْنُ أهْلُ بَيْتٍ لاَ يُقاسُ بِنا أَحَدٌ.

قَالَ الجَاحِظُ وَهُوَ عَدُوُّ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: صَدَقَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، كَيْفَ يُقاسُ بِقَوْمٍ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ وَالأَطْيَبانِ عَلِيٌّ وَفاطِمَةُ وَالسِّبْطانِ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ وَالشَّهيدانِ أسَدُ اللهِ حَمْزَةُ وَذو الْجَناحَينِ جَعْفَرُ وَسَيِّدُ الوادِي عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَساقِي الْحَجيجِ العَبَّاسُ وَحَكيمُ البَطْحاءِ وَالنَّجْدَةِ أَبُو طالِبٍ، وَالخَيرُ فِيهِم وَالأنْصارُ أَنصارُهُمْ وَالمُهاجِرُ مَنْ هاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَمَعَهُمْ وَالصِّدّيقُ مَنْ صَدَّقَهُمْ وَالفارُوقُ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَينَ الحَقِّ وَالباطِلِ فيهِمْ وَالحَوارِيُّ حَوارِيُّهُمْ وَذو الشَّهادَتَينِ لأَنَّهُ شَهِدَ لَهُمْ وَلا خَيْرَ إلاَّ فِيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ ومِنْهُمْ وَمَعَهُمْ؟ وَأَبَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أهْلَ بَيْتِهِ بِقَوْلِهِ: إنِّي تارِكٌ فِيكُمُ الخَليفَتَينِ أحَدُهُما أكْبَرُ مِنَ الآخَرِ؛ كِتابُ اللهِ حَبْلٌ مَمْدودٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ إلَى الأَرْضِ وَعِتْرتِي أهْلَ بَيْتِي. نَبَّأَنِيَ اللَّطيفُ الخَبيرُ أنَّهُما لَنْ يَفْتَرِقا حَتَّى يَرِدا عَلَيَّ الحَوْضَ. وَلَوْ كَانُوا كَغَيْرِهِمْ لَما قَالَ عُمَرُ لَمَّا طَلَبَ مُصاهَرَةَ عَليٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ

 

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honor of kinship. `Umar reported the Holy Prophet (s.a) as saying: Every relation through blood or marriage on the Day of Judgment will be cut off except relation with me, which will never be cut off. These were good traits of all members of the Holy Prophet’s household. Nevertheless, Imam `Ali (a.s) has special privileges for the blessed days of his life and his excellent qualities the description of which requires voluminous books to cover.

Imam `Ali is a man of noble birth, supreme position, abundant knowledge, wonderful rhetoric, eloquent speech, and broadmindedness. Based on this, his morality is an example of his pure and genuine character. `Ali’s personality testifies to the former honors of his family. This is `Ali’s description by an enemy let alone by his devotee in whose veins the love for `Ali runs.[278]

Imam `Ali’s dignified mother was Fatimah bint Asad ibn Hashim ibn `Abd-Manaf, a lady who undertook to rear the Messenger of Allah in his childhood, fondling him on her lap. She was among the first women who believed in Allah and His messenger and immigrated to Medina with the Holy Prophet (s.a).[279]

The day this lady passed away, the Messenger of Allah personally undertook to perform her funeral rites, shrouding her in his own garment and when the digging of grave was knee-deep, removed the earth from the grave, lay down in the grave for moments and said: O Lord, who are living forever, you make the living die and the dead to become alive, through Your messenger, Muhammad and the messengers before me, forgive my mother, Fatimah bint Asad, instill the profession of faith into her ear and widen her grave, for you are the Most Merciful.

At this time, the Holy Prophet (s.a) instilled the right words in her ear, repeatedly saying: Your son, your son! Not Ja`far or `Aqil! Those attending the funeral service said: O Messenger of Allah! What you did for `Ali’s mother, Fatimah, you did not for others. You shrouded her in your own garment, lay down in her grave before burial, and instilled into her ear, you said: Your son, your son; Not Ja`far or `Aqil. What is the meaning of all this? The Messenger of Allah said: One of the days I was speaking about how people were naked and bare-footed when they will be on the Resurrection Day.


 

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وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: كُلُّ سَبَبٍ وَنَسَبٍ مُنْقَطِعٌ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ إلاَّ سَبِبِي وَنَسَبِي.

فَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَلَوْ أفْرَدْنا لآِياتِهِ الشَّريفَةِ وَمَقاماتِهِ الكَريمَةِ وَمَناقِبِهِ السَّنِيَّةِ كِتاباً لأَفْنَيْنا فِي ذَلِكَ الطَّواميرَ الطِّوالَ. العِرْقُ صَحيحٌ، وَالمَنْشَأُ كَريمٌ، وَالشَّأنُ عَظيمٌ، وَالعَمَلُ جَسيمٌ، وَالعِلْمُ كَثيرٌ، وَالبَيانُ عَجيبٌ، وَاللِّسانُ خَطيبٌ، وَالصَّدْرُ رَحيبٌ، وَأخْلاقُهُ وِفْقَ أعْراقِهِ، وَحَديثُهُ يَشْهَدُ بِقَديِمهِ.

هَذَا قَوْلُ عَدُوِّهِ مِنْهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ.

وَأُمُّهُ: فَاطِمَة بِنْتُ أسَدِ بْنِ هاشِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنافٍ. رَبَّتْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي حُجْرِها وَكَانَتْ كَالأُمِّ لَهُ، وَسَبَقَتْ إلَى الإيمَانِ وَهاجَرَتْ مَعَهُ إلَى المَدينَةِ، وَلَمَّا ماتَتْ تَوَلّى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أمْرَها وَكَفَّنَها بِقَميصِهِ. وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الحَفْرُ إلَى اللَّحْدِ حَفَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِيَدِهِ وَأخْرَجَ تُرابَهُ بِيَدِهِ وَنامَ فِي قَبْرِها ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللهُ الَّذِي يُحْيي وَيُميتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ إغْفِرْ لأُِمّي فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ أسَدٍ وَلَقِّنْها حُجَّتَها وَوَسِّعْ عَلَيْها قَبْرَها وَمَدْخَلها بِحَقِّ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَالأنْبِياءِ الَّذينَ مِنْ قَبْلي فَإنَّكَ أرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمينَ.

وَلَقَّنَها فَسُمِعَ مِنْهُ: ابْنُكِ ابْنُكِ لاَ جَعْفَرُ وَلا عَقيلُ. فَقيلَ لَهُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ رَأَيْناكَ قَدْ صَنَعْتَ مَعَ أُمِّ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ صُنْعاً لَمْ تَصْنَعْهُ بِغَيْرِها؛ كَفَّنْتَها فِي قَميصِكَ وَتَوَسَّدْتَ لَحْدَها وَقُلْتُ لَهَا: ابْنُكِ ابْنُكِ لاَ جَعْفَرُ وَلا عقيلُ؛ فَما سَبَبُ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقالَ: إنِّي ذَكَرْتُ لَهَا يَوْمـاً أنَّ النَّـاسَ يُحْشَرونَ يَوْمَ القِيـامَةِ عُراةً حُفاةً فَقَالَتْ: وَاسَوْأَتَاهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ! فَقُلْتُ: إنِّـي

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Hearing this, Fatimah bint Asad became very sad, saying: woe to the humiliation of that day! I promised her that I would shroud her in my own garment so that she would not come to the Resurrection Day naked. I lay down in her grave to make her safe from tightness of grave. The reason I said: Your son, your son, Not Ja`far or `Aqil, was that the examining angels entered her grave, asking her: Who is your Lord? She said: God Almighty is my Lord. She was asked: Who is your prophet. She said: Muhammad. She was asked: Who is your Imam? She kept silent, not knowing what to answer. I said to her: Your son, your son, meaning that your Imam and leader is your son, `Ali, not `Aqil or Ja`far.[280]

Imam `Ali was the first Hashemite of two Hashemite lineage. He was born a Hashemite, both on the mother and father sides.[281]

Imam `Ali’s dignified father was Abu-Talib, `Abd-Manaf ibn `Abd al-Muttalib Known as Shaybat al-Hamd, literally meaning a model of thanksgiving or the thanksgiving old man.

`Ali and the Holy Prophet’s lineage gather together in `Abd al-Muttalib, the son of Hashim ibn `Abd-Manaf, the son of Qasi ibn Kilab ibn Murrah ibn Ka`b ibn Lu’ay ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr ibn Malik ibn Nadr ibn Kinanah ibn Khuzaymah ibn Mudrikah ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar ibn Nizar ibn Ma`d ibn `Andan ibn Mubdi` ibn Mani` ibn Adad ibn Ka`b ibn Yashjub ibn Ya`rub ibn Humaysa` ibn Qaydar ibn Isma`il ibn Ibrahim, the Friend of God.

`Ali was the Holy Prophet’s full blood cousin on both sides. His uncles were `Abbas, Hamzah ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, his brothers, `Aqil and Ja`far, his sons, Hasan and Husayn, and his wife, lady Fatimah, the princess of the world women. Due to Allah’s Grace, Imam `Ali has been honored by God Almighty with all the excellent qualities of this family. These blessings are tied to all members of the Holy Prophet’s household.[282]

`Ali’s Marriage with Lady Fatimah

Ibn `Abbas reports: When Fatimah, the honorable daughter of the Holy Prophet (s.a) reached maturity, prominent suitors came to the Messenger of Allah, asking her hand in marriage, having the impression that their requests would be accepted but the Holy Prophet (s.a) rejected their requests, saying: I am waiting for Allah’s decree, for Fatimah’s marriage is on His decree.

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أُكَفِّنُكِ بِقَميصي لِيَسْتُرَكِ فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ، فَفَعَلْتُ. وَتَوَسَّدْتُ قَبْرَها لِتأْمَنَ مِنْ ضَغْطَةِ القَبْرِ. وَنَزَلَ عَلَيْها المَلَكانِ فَقالا لَهَا: مَنْ رَبُّكِ؟ فَقَالَتْ: اللهُ رَبِّي. فقالا لَهَا: مَنْ نَبِيُّكِ؟ فَقَالَتْ: مُحَمَّدٌ نَبِيِّي. فقالا: مَنْ إمَامُكِ؟ فَارْتَجَّ عَلَيْها، فَقُلْتُ: ابْنُكِ ابْنُكِ لاَ جَعْفَرُ وَلا عَقيلُ.

وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ هاشِمِيٍّ مِنْ هاشِمِيَّيْنِ، وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ وَلَدَهُ هاشِمٌ مَرَّتَيْنِ. وَأَبوهُ: أَبُو طالِبٍ عَبْدُ مَنافِ بْنِ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ ـ شَيْبَةِ الحَمْدِ، وَعِنْدَهُ يَجْتَمِعُ نَسَبُهُ وَنَسَبُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ـ بْنِ هاشِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنافِ بْنِ قُصَيِّ بْنِ كِلابِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غالِبِ بْنِ فِهْرِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ كِنانَةَ بْنِ خُزَيمَةَ بْنِ مُدْرِكَةَ بْنِ إلْياسَ بْنِ مُضَرَ بْنِ نَزارِ بْنِ مَعْدِ بْنِ عَدْنانَ بْنِ مُبْدِعِ بْنِ مَنيعِ بْنِ أَدَدَ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ يَشْجُبَ بْنِ يَعْرُبَ بْنِ الهُمَيْسَعِ بْنِ قَيْدارَ بْنِ إسْماعيلَ بْنِ إبْراهيمَ الخَليلِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لأَِبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ، وَعَمَّاهُ حَمْزَةُ وَالعَبَّاسُ وَإخْوَتُهُ جَعْفَرٌ وَعَقيلٌ وَابْناهُ الحَسَنُ وَالحُسَينُ وَزَوْجَتُهُ سَيِّدَةُ نِساءِ العَالَمِينَ. فَهُوَ وَاسِطَةُ عَقْدِ الكَمالِ المَخْصوصِ عِنْدَ اللهِ بِالكَمالِ وَالإفْضالِ.

فِي تَزْويجِهِ بِفاطِمَةَ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ:

قَالَ ابنُ عَبَّاسٍ: كَانَتْ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ تُذْكَرُ فَلا يَذْكُرُها أحَدٌ لرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إلاَّ أعْرَضَ عَنْهُ وَقالَ: أتَوَقَّعُ الأَمْرَ مِن السَّماءِ. إنَّ أمْرَها إلَى اللهِ تَعالَى.

 

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Sa`d ibn Mu`adh Ansari who knew this, said to `Ali ibn Abi-Talib: By God, the Messenger of Allah has no one in mind save you. `Ali answered: Marriage needs wealth which I have not! The Messenger of Allah too knows that I have no wealth! Sa`d said: I put you under an obligation to do so. `Ali said: What should I say to the Holy Prophet? Sa`d said: Say: I have come here to ask the hand of Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad in marriage. To this end, `Ali came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah but due to modesty, he had lowered his head and did not say anything. The Messenger of Allah said: O `Ali, I see a sign of request in your face. What is your request? `Ali said: Asking your daughter’s hand in marriage! The Holy Prophet (s.a) who looked happy and had a smile on his lips, said: I will accept it eagerly. On his return, `Ali told Sa`d the whole story. Sa`d said: The Messenger of Allah had accepted your request, for he keeps his promise and never breaks it.

On that night, the Messenger of Allah called Bilal, saying: I married my daughter to my cousin. I wish to hold a marriage banquet to set it as a tradition among my Ummah. Now, go to sheep-selling market, buy a sheep and five mudd of barley, and make a pot ready for cooking them. I will invite Muhajir and Ansar to this banquet. Bilal carried out what the Holy Prophet had ordered. A large group of people gathered in the Holy Prophet’s house, ate from the food yet no shortage was seen in it. Then, the Holy Prophet ordered Bilal to take the food to the houses of his wives and to say to them: Eat of this food, you and any woman who comes to you. Bilal carried out this order.[283]

Then, the Messenger of Allah attended the gathering of his wives, saying: I have married my daughter, Fatimah to my cousin. I intend to send her to him. She is your daughter, do whatever you can for her nuptial ceremony. The Holy Prophet’s wives who were overjoyed, perfumed and adorned Fatimah with their Jewels and took to her house the dowry which Salman and Bilal had prepared on the order of the Holy Prophet. A cloak of Khaybar, a jug, a ewer, a tub, curtain, a mattress of date fiber and a pillow were all that made up the dowry. Then, they informed the Holy Prophet to come. Seeing this scene and having tears on his cheeks, the Holy Prophet raised his hands in prayer and said: O Lord! Make this marriage auspicious to a couple most of whose vessels are made of clay.[284]

 

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فَقالَ سَعدُ بنُ مُعاذٍ الأنصَارِيُّ لعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إنِّي وَاللهِ مَا أرَى النَّبِيَّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يُريدُ بِهَا غَيْرَكَ. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: مَا أنَا بِذِي دُنْياً يُلْتَمَسُ مَا عِنْدِي، وَقَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إنَّهُ مَا لي حَمْراءُ وَلا بَيْضاءُ. فَقالَ لَهُ سَعدٌ: أعْزِمُ عَلَيْكَ لَتَفْعَلُنَّ. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: مَاذا أَقولُ؟ قَالَ لَهُ: تَقولُ لَهُ: جِئْتُكَ خَاطِباً إلَى اللهِ تَعالَى وَإلَى رَسولِهِ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ. فَانْطَلَقَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَتَعَرَّضَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَقالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: كَأَنَّ لَكَ حاجَةً؟ قَالَ: أجَلْ. فَقالَ: هاتِ. فَقالَ: جِئْتُكَ خاطِباً إلَى اللهِ وَإلَى رَسُولِهِ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ. فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَرْحباً وَحُبَّاً. فَقالَ ذَلِكَ لِسَعْدٍ، فَقالَ: لَقَدْ أَنْكَحَكَ ابْنَتَهُ، إنَّهُ لاَ يُخْلفُ ولا يَكْذِبُ. فَدَعا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ تِلكَ اللَّيْلَةِ بِلالاً فَقالَ: إنِّي قَدْ زَوَّجْتُ فَاطِمَةَ ابْنَتِي بِابْنِ عَمِّي وَأنا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْ أَخْلاقِ أُمَّتِي الطَّعامُ عِنْدَ النِّكاحِ. إِذْهَبْ يَا بِلالُ إلَى الغَنَمِ فَخُذْ شَاةً وَخَمْسَةَ أمْدادِ شَعيرٍ فَاجْعَلْ قَصْعَةً فَلَعَلِّي أجْمَعُ عَلَيْها المُهاجِرِينَ وَالأنْصارِ. فَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ دَعا النَّاسَ فَأَكَلَ الجَميعُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا بِلالُ احْمِلْها إلَى أُمَّهاتِكَ. فَقُلْ لَهُنَّ كُلْنَ وَأَطْعِمْنَ مِنْ عَيْشِكُنَّ، فَفَعَلَ. ثُمَّ إنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ دَخَلَ عَلَى النِّساءِ وَقالَ: إنِّي قَدْ زَوَّجْتُ ابْنَتِي بِابْنِ عَمِّي، وَإنّي دافِعُها إلَيْهِ فَدُونَكُنَّ ابْنَتُكُنَّ. فَقُمْنَ إلَى الفَتاةِ فَعَلَّقْنَ عَلَيْها مِنْ حِلِيِّهِنَّ وَطَيَّبْنَها وَجَعَلْنَ فِي بَيْتِها فِراشاً حَشْوُهُ لِيفٌ وَوِسادَةً وَكِساءً خَيْبَريَّاً وَمَرْكناً وَجِراراً وَمُطَهِّرةً لِلْماءِ وَسِتْرَ صوفٍ رَقيقٍ.

وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَدْ بَعَثَ سَلْمانَ وَبِلالاً لِيَشْتَرِيا لَهَا ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ. فَلَمَّا وُضِعَ بَينَ يَدَيْهِ بَكَى وَجَرَتْ دُموعُهُ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إلَى السَّماءِ وَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ بارِكْ لِقَوْمٍ جُلُّ آنِيَتِهِمُ الخَزَفُ.

 

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The wives of the Messenger of Allah chose Ummu-Ayman as housekeeper to meet the needs of the bride.[285]

Then, the Messenger of Allah called Fatimah to come to his presence. When Fatimah’s eyes fell on her husband, `Ali, who was sitting beside her father, she started weeping. The Messenger of Allah who intended to put her hand in `Ali’s hand, while weeping said: My daughter, Fatimah! I did not marry you to `Ali on my own, rather, God on your behalf and Gabriel on `Ali’s behalf, arranged this marriage in heaven between you two.[286]

At that time, God Almighty commissioned the tree of Tuba to give away ornaments, robes, pearls and rubies and ordered the Paradisiacal women to get together and pick up heavenly ornaments, pearls and rubies. They obeyed Allah’s order, take pride in it till the Day of Judgment and offer those ornaments to one another, saying: These are all from the blessings of Fatimah.[287]

Verily, my daughter, I have married you to the best of my kinship. I married you to one who is a master in this world and will be a righteous man on the Day of Judgment. Putting Fatimah’s hand in `Ali’s hand, the Messenger of Allah said: Now, go to your house. May God Almighty brings about love between you and improve your affairs till I come to see you again. The bride and the bridegroom sat beside each other for a few moments while the Holy Prophet’s wives too were with them. Of course, there was a curtain between `Ali and them and Fatimah was sitting next to women.[288]

After the passage of a short time, the Messenger of Allah entered the bridal chamber. Seeing that the Holy Prophet had come, the women hurriedly left the house except Asma’ bint `Umays. As for the reason she stayed there, she said: When Khadijah was in the bed of death, she was weeping. I said to her: Why are you weeping at this time while you are one of the greatest women in world, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, and you were given the good tiding that you will go to paradise? Khadijah said: The reason I am weeping is that my daughter, Fatimah is very young and she will need someone to help her on her wedding night. I am afraid there will be no woman to help her! I said: O my lady, don’t worry, I promise to meet her needs on that night if I live long enough till then. So, when all women left the

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وَاتَّخَذْنَ أمّ أيْمَنَ بَوَّابَهُ. ثُمَّ إنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ هَتَفَ بِفاطِمَةَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ زَوْجَها مَعَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَكَتْ، فَأخَذَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِيَدِها وَيَدِ عَلِيٍّ، فَلَمَّا أرادَ أنْ يَجْعَلَ كَفَّها فِي كَفِّ عَلِيٍّ بَكَتْ. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا زَوَّجْتُكِ مِنْ نَفسِي، بَلِ اللهُ تَوَلَّى تَزْويجَكِ فِي السَّماءِ؛ كَانَ جَبْرَئيلُ خاطِباً وَاللهُ تَعالَى الوِلِيَّ، وَأَمَرَ شَجَرَةَ طوبَى فَحَمَلَتِ الحُلِيَّ وَالحُلَلَ وَالدُّرَّ وَالياقوتَ، ثُمَّ نَثَرَتْهُ، وَأَمَرَ الحورَ العِينَ فَاجْتَمَعْنَ فَلَقَطْنَ فَهُنَّ يَتَهادَيْنَهُ إلَى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ وَيَقُلْنَ: هَذَا نِثارُ فَاطِمَةَ. وَقَدْ زَوَّجْتُكِ خَيْرَ أهْلي؛ لَقَدْ زَوَّجْتُكِ سَيِّداً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَسَيِّداً فِي الآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ. وَأمْكَنَهُ مِنْ كَفِّها وَقالَ لَهُما: إذْهَبا إلَى بَيْتِكُما، جَمَعَ اللهُ بَيْنَكُما وَأصْلَحَ بالَكُما وَلا تُهيجَا شَيْئاً حَتَّى آتِيَكُما. فَامْتَثَلا حَتَّى جَلَسا مَجْلِسَهُما وَعِنْدَهُما أُمَّهاتُ المُؤْمِنينَ، وَبَيْنَهُنَّ وَبَيْنَ عَلِيٍّ حِجابٌ وَفاطِمَةُ مَعَ النِّساءِ. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَدَخَلَ وَخَرَجَ النِّساءُ مُسْرِعاتٍ سِوى أسْماءَ بِنْتِ عُمَيْسٍ، وَكانَتْ قَدْ حَضَرَتْ وَفاةَ خَديجَةَ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ فَبَكَتْ فَقَالَتْ: أتَبْكينَ وَأَنْتِ سَيِّدَةُ نِساءِ العَالَمينَ وَأَنْتِ زَوْجَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَمُبَشَّرَةٌ عَلى لِسانِهِ بِالجَنَّةِ. فَقَالَتْ: مَا لِهَذا بَكِيتُ، وَلَكِنَّ المَرْأَةَ لَيْلَةَ زَفافِها لاَ بُدَّ لَهَا مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ تُفْضي إلَيْها بِسِرِّها وَتَسْتَعينُ بِهَا عَلَى حَوائِجِهَا، وَفاطِمَةُ حَديثَةُ عَهْدٍ بِصِبا وَأَخافُ ألاّ يَكونَ لَهَا مَنْ يَتَوَلّى أُمورَها حينَئِذٍ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا سَيِّدتِي، لَكِ عَهْدُ اللهِ أنّي إنْ بَقيتُ إلَى ذَلِكَ الوَقْتِ أنْ أقُومَ مَقامَكِ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةُ وَأمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ النِّساءَ بِالخُروجِ فَخَرَجْنَ وَبَقِيَتْ. فَلَمَّا أرادَ الخُروجَ

 

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house, I stayed there. The Messenger of Allah who had ordered all women to leave the house, seeing my shadow said: Who are you? I said: I am Asma’ bint `Umays. He said: Did I not tell you to leave the house? I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah, but my staying here is not meant to disobey you, rather, I promised to Khadijah to stay with Fatimah on such a night and told him the whole story. Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah started weeping, prayed for me and said: I pray to God to safeguard you from Satan from four sides. Then, he said to me: Fill a tub of water and bring it here. I carried out his order. The Messenger of Allah filled his mouth with water and poured it back to the tub, raised his hands in prayer and said: O Lord! This bride and groom are from me and I am from them. Cleanse them of impurity in the same way you cleansed me of impurity.

Then, he called Fatimah, took a handful of water and sprinkled it on her face and breast. He took two handfuls of water and sprinkled them on her side and head! Then, he sprinkled some water on her body, repeated the same prayer and told Fatimah to drink a few draughts of it, to rinse her mouth with it and to perform ablution with it. The Messenger of Allah then asked for another tub and did the same with `Ali. After doing so, he left Fatimah’s house and on his way home, he repeatedly prayed for them not for anyone else.[289]

Ibn `Abbas reports: On the night Fatimah was sent to `Ali’s house, to honor this honorable Lady, the Messenger of Allah was in front of her, Gabriel on the right side, Michael on the left side, and seventy thousand angels were following her, glorifying the Lord till dawn. There are many Hadiths in this relation but this one is above all.[290]

`Ali, the Holy Prophet’s Brother

Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad has quoted Zayd ibn `Awfi as saying: I went to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a) where `Ali was speaking about covenant of brotherhood among the companions. He said: O Messenger of Allah, when I saw that you made covenants of brotherhood among your companions but I was ignored, my soul was going out of my body! If this is because I have done something wrong and you are angry with me, here I am for any punishment you deem proper! Seeing `Ali’s sad face, the Messenger of Allah said: By


 

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رَأى سَوادِي فَقالَ: مَنْ أَنْتِ؟ فَقُلْتُ: أسْماءُ بِنْتُ عُمْيسٍ. فَقالَ: أَلَمْ آمُرُكِ أنْ تَخْرُجي؟ فَقُلْتُ: بَلى يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، وَما قَصَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ خِلافَكَ، وَلكِنّي أَعْطَيْتُ خَديجَةَ عَهْداً. فَحَدَّثْتُهُ فَبَكى وَقالَ فَأَسْأَلُ اللهَ أنْ يَحْرُسَكِ مِنْ فَوْقِكِ وَمِنْ تَحْتِكِ وَمِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْكِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِكِ وَعَنْ يَمينِكِ وَعَنْ شِمالِكِ مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ الرَّجيمِ، ناوِلينِي المَرْكَنَ وَامْلَئيهِ ماءً. فَمَلأْتُهُ، فَمَلأَ فاهُ ثُمَّ مَجَّهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إنَّهُما مِنّي وَأنا مِنْهُمْا. اللَّهُمَّ كَما أَذْهَبْتَ عَنِّيَ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرْتَني تَطْهيراً فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُما الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُما تَطْهيراً. ثُمَّ دَعا فَاطِمَةَ فَضَرَبَ كَفَّاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْها وَأُخْرى بَيْنَ عاتِقَيْها وَأُخْرى عَلَى هامَتِها ثُمَّ نَفَخَ جِلْدَها وَخَدَّيْها ثُمَّ الْتَزَمَها وَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إنَّهُما مِنِّي وَأنا مِنْهُمْا. اللَّهُمَّ فَكَما أَذْهَبتَ عَنِّيَ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرتَنِي تَطْهيراً فَطَهِّرْهُما. ثُمَّ أَمَرَها أنْ تَشْرَبَ مِنْهُ وَتَتَمَضْمَضَ وَتَسْتَنْشِقَ وَتَتَوَضَّأَ، ثُمَّ دَعا بِمرْكَنٍ آخَرَ فَصَنَعَ بِهِ كالأَوَّلِ. ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَ عَلَيْهِمَا البابَ وَانْطَلَقَ، وَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَدْعو لَهُما حَتَّى تَوارَى فِي حُجْرَتِهِ لَمْ يُشْرِكْ أَحَداً مَعَهُما فِي الدُّعاءِ.

قَالَ ابن عَبَّاسٍ: لَمَّا أنْ كَانَتْ لَيْلَةَ زُفَّتْ فِيهَا فَاطِمَةُ إلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قُدَّامَها وَجِبْريلُ عَنْ يَمينِها وَمِيكائيلُ عَنْ يَسارِها وَسَبْعونَ ألْفَ مَلَكٍ مِنْ وَرائِها يُسَبِّحُونَ اللهَ وَيُقَدِّسونَهُ حَتَّى طَلَعَ الفَجْرُ.

وَالأخْبارُ شائِعَةٌ بِهذا وَنَحْوِهِ وَهُوَ مِنْ أعْظَمِ الفَضائِلِ. الحَمْدُ للهِ عَلَى وِلايَةِ أهْلِ البَيْتِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

فِي مُؤاخاتِهِ لِلنِّبِيِّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ:

مِنْ كِتابِ مُسْنَدُ أحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ: عَنْ زَيدِ بْنِ آدَمِيٍّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَذَكَرَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قِصَّةَ مُؤاخاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَيْنَ الصَّحابَةِ. فَقالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: لَقَدْ ذَهَبَتْ رُوحي وَانْقَطَعَ ظَهْري حِينَ رَأَيْتُكَ فَعَلْتَ بِأَصْحَـابِكَ مَا فَعَلْتَ. فَإِنْ كَانَ هَذَا مِنْ سَخَطِكَ عَلَيَّ فَلَكَ العُتْبَى وَالكَرامَةُ. فقَـالَ

 

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God Almighty Who appointed me as prophet, the reason I forsook to speak to you was nothing but to reserve you as a brother for myself. As for your position to me is like Aaron’s to Moses except that there will be no prophet after me. O `Ali, you are my brother and heir. I said: What will I inherit from you? He said: What the former prophets have left behind among their followers and that is the book of Allah, and the tradition of His messengers. You will be with me in paradise while my daughter is with you. You are my brother and friend. Then, the Messenger of Allah, as a sign of happiness for this great occasion recited the verse “They shall as be brethren, on raised couches, face to face” (15:47).[291]

Ibn Mughazili, the Shafi`ite jurisprudent has reported Anas as saying: On the day of Mubahalah (mutual curse), the Messenger of Allah made a covenant of brotherhood among his companions. At this time, `Ali was standing in a place the Holy Prophet could see him and knew his position but did not say a word about brotherhood with him. He left the place for home with tearful eyes. The Messenger of Allah asked for `Ali. Those present in that place said `Ali had gone home weeping. The Messenger of Allah said to Bilal: Go quickly and bring `Ali here. When Bilal arrived in `Ali’s house, he found `Ali weeping. Lady Fatimah asked `Ali for his weeping, saying: May Allah never make you weep! `Ali said: the Messenger of Allah made covenant of brotherhood between Muhajir and Ansar, but he did not say a word about me though he saw me standing there! Lady Fatimah said: Don’t worry. Perhaps my father has reserved you for himself! Bilal reports: I said: O `Ali, go and see the Messenger of Allah. `Ali went to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a) who asked `Ali about the reason for his weeping. `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah! You made the covenant of brotherhood among the companions, but you did not say a word about my brotherhood with anyone, though you were seeing me! The Messenger of Allah said: O `Ali, I reserved you for myself. Are you not happy for being the brother of the prophet? `Ali said: Yes indeed, O Messenger of Allah! I am really happy but how did I obtain such an honor? The Holy Prophet took `Ali’s hand in his hand, took him up the pulpit, raised his hands in prayer and said: O Lord! `Ali is from me and I am from `Ali. His position to me is as Aaron’s to Moses. Then he said: Whomever I am the master, `Ali is his master too. Following this event, `Ali happily set out for his house. Following him, `Umar ibn Khattab said: congratulations for this position. Now, you are my master and that of every Muslim![292]

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رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: وَالَّذي بَعَثَنِي بِالحَقِّ نَبِيَّاً مَا أَخَّرْتُكَ إلاَّ لِنَفْسِي. فَأَنْتَ مِنّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إلاَّ أنَّهُ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي، وَأَنْتَ أخِي وَوَارِثي. قَالَ: قَالَ: وَما أَرِثُ مِنْكَ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ: مَا وَرَّثَ الأَنْبِياءُ مِنْ قَبْلي. قَالَ: وَما وَرَّثَ الأَنْبِياءُ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ؟ قَالَ: كِتابَ اللهِ وَسُنَّتَهُمْ. وَأَنْتَ مَعي فِي قَصْري فِي الجَنَّةِ مَعَ ابْنَتي فَاطِمَةَ. وأَنْتَ أخِي وَرَفيقي. ثُمَّ تَلا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: ﴿إِخْوَاناً عَلَى سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ.﴾ المُتَحَابُّونَ فِي اللهِ يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إلَى بَعْضٍ.

وَرَوى الفَقيهُ ابْنُ المُغازِلِيِّ الشَّافِعِيُّ عَنْ أنَسٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ المُباهَلَةِ وَآخَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَينَ المُهاجِرِينَ وَالأنْصارِ وَعَلِيٌّ واقِفٌ يَراهُ وَيَعْرِفُ مَكانَهُ وَلَمْ يُؤاخِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَينَ أحَدٍ، فَانْصَرَفَ عَلِيٌّ باكِيَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ. فَافْتَقَدَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقالَ: مَا فَعَلَ أَبُو الحَسَنِ؟ قَالوا: إنْصَرَفَ باكِيَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: يَا بِلالُ إذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِي بِهِ. فَمَضى بِلالٌ إلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، وَقَدْ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ باكِيَ العَيْنَيْنِ. فَقَالَتْ فَاطِمَة: مَا يُبْكيكَ؟ لاَ أَبْكى اللهُ عَيْنَيْكَ. قَالَ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ آخَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَينَ المُهاجِرينَ وَالأَنْصارِ وَأنا واقِفٌ يَرانِي وَيَعْرِفُ مَكانِي لَمْ يُؤاخِ بَينِي وَبَينَ أحَدٍ. قَالَتْ: لاَ يُحْزِنُكَ اللهُ، لَعَلَّهُ إنَّما أخَّرَكَ لِنَفْسهِ.

فَقالَ بِلالُ: يَا عَلِيُّ أَجِبِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَأَتى عَلِيٌّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا يُبْكيكَ يَا أَبَا الحَسَنِ؟ فَقالَ: آخَيْتَ بَيْنَ المُهاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصارِ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ وَأنَا واقِفٌ تَرانِي وَتَعْرِفُ مَكانِي وَلَمْ تُؤاخِ بَينِي وَبَينَ أَحَدٍ. قَالَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّما إدَّخَرْتُكَ لِنَفْسي، ألا يَسُرُّكَ أنْ تَكونَ أَخا نَبِيِّكَ؟ قَالَ: بَلى، يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، أنَّى لي بِذَلِكَ؟ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ وَأرْقاهُ المِنْبَرَ فَقالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إنَّ هَذَا مِنّي وَأنا مِنْهُ. ألا إنَّهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ هارونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إلاَّ أنَّهُ لاَ نِبِيَّ بَعْدي. ألا مَنْ كُنتُ مَوْلاهُ فَهذا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلاهُ. فَانْصَرَفَ عَلِيٌّ قَريرَ العَيْنِ فَاتَّبَعَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَّابِ فَقالَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ يَا أَبَا الحَسَنِ، أَصْبَحْتَ مَوْلايَ وَمَوْلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.

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Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman reports: the Messenger of Allah made covenant of brotherhood between Muhajir and Ansar in a way he made each the brother of his peer. Then, he took `Ali’s hand in his hand, saying: `Ali is my brother. Hudhayfah further reports: Beyond doubt, the Messenger of Allah is the master of all prophets and leader of the pious ones as well as the messenger of the lord of the universe, who is peerless, and `Ali, his brother too is peerless in universe.[293]

Only Door of `Ali’s House Open to the Masjid

The fact that the doors of the companions’ house open to the Masjid were closed except that of `Ali proves `Ali’s unique position.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Musnad has quoted Zayd ibn Arqam as saying: The doors of houses belonging to some of the Holy Prophet’s companions opened to Masjid which they frequented at will.

One of the days, the Messenger of Allah ordered all the doors to be closed, saying: You have to close the doors opening to Masjid and there is no exception in this regard save the door of `Ali’s house which will never be closed. With this order, some of the companions started to speak to one another about the reason behind it and envy `Ali. They would say: What is this privilege that the Holy Prophet has given to `Ali? Zayd reports: The Messenger of Allah rose up and after praising Allah said: It is not me who have issued the order to close all the doors to Masjid except that of `Ali, to which some of you have protested. By God, I have neither closed nor opened the door of any house. This decree has been issued by God Almighty and I am the one to convey it. Hence, in conveying this decree, I will obey God and will carry out His decree.[294]

Ibn Mughazili in Manaqib has quoted `Adi ibn Thabit as saying: The Messenger of Allah after entering the mosque said to the companions: God Almighty revealed to prophet Moses (a.s): Build for me a pure mosque in which no one but Moses, Aaron, and the children of Aaron will reside. He also revealed to me to build a pure mosque in which no one but me, `Ali, and his children will reside.[295]

Hudhayfah ibn Usayd Ghifari has been reported as saying: When the companions of the Holy Prophet came to Medina, they had no house

 

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قَالَ حُذَيفَةُ بْنُ اليَمانِ آخَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَيْنَ المُهاجِرينَ وَالأَنْصارِ وَكَانَ يُؤاخي بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَنَظيرِهِ. ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: هَذَا أخِي. قَالَ حُذَيفَةُ: فرَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ سَيِّدُ المُرْسَلينَ وَإمام ُالمُتَّقينَ وَرَسُولُ رَبِّ العَالَمينَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي الأَنامِ شَبيهٌ وَلا نَظيرٌ وَعَلِيٌّ أَخوهُ.

والأخْبارُ فِي ذَلِكَ كَثيرَةٌ، وَهذِهِ مَنْزِلَةٌ شَريفَةٌ وَمَقامٌ عَظيمُ لَمْ يَحْصَلْ لأَِحَدٍ مِثْلُهُ.

فِي سَدِّ الأبْوابِ:

خَصَّصَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِفَضيلَةٍ لَمْ يَشْرِكْهُ فِيهَا سِواهُ. رَوَى أحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبل ٍفِي مُسْنَدِهِ عَنْ زَيدِ بْنِ أرْقَمَ قَالَ: كَانَ لِنَفَرٍ مِنْ أصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أبْوابٌ شارِعَةٌ فِي المَسْجِدِ. فَقالَ يَوْماً: سُدُّوا هَذِهِ الأَبْوابَ إلاَّ بابَ عَلِيٍّ. فَتَكَلَّمَ فِي ذَلِكَ أُناسٌ. قَالَ: فَقامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَحَمَدَ اللهَ وَأثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أمَّا بَعْدَ، فَإنِّي أَمَرْتُ بِسَدِّ هَذِهِ الأَبْوابِ غَيْرَ بابِ عَلِيٍّ فَقالَ فِيهِ قائِلُكُمْ. وَاللهِ مَا سَدَدْتُ شَيْئاً وَلا فَتَحْتُهُ وَلكِنِّي أُمِرْتُ بِشَيْءٍ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ مَناقِبِ ابْنِ المُغازِلِيِّ الشَّافِعِيِّ: عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثابِتٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إلَى المَسْجِدِ فَقالَ: إنَّ اللهَ أَوْحى إلَى نَبِيِّهِ مُوسَى أنِ ابْنِ لي مَسْجِداً طاهِراً لاَ يَسْكُنُهُ إلاَّ مُوسَى وَهَارونُ وَابْنا هارُونَ. وَإنَّ الله أَوْحى إِلَيَّ أنِ ابْنِ مَسْجِداً طاهِراً لاَ يَسْكُنُهُ إلاَّ أنَا وَعَلِيٌّ وَابْنا عَلِيٍّ.

وَعَنْ حُذَيفَةَ بْنِ الأسْيَدِ الغِفارِيِّ قَالَ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ أصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ المَدينَةَ

 

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to live in. Hence, they had made their resting-place in the mosque but the Messenger of Allah barred them from doing so, saying: Mosque is the place of worship. So you must not use it as a place for rest or sleeping, for you may have nocturnal pollution which will undermine its sanctity. Following this order, the companions moved from the mosque and built houses around it based on their need and ability and opened a door to the mosque. The Messenger of Allah in another order, gave Mu`adh ibn Jabal the mission to close the doors opening to the mosque. To this end, Mu`adh went to Abu-Bakr first to convey the message, saying: The Holy Prophet has ordered you to move from the mosque and block the door of your house to the mosque. Abu-Bakr said: I will eagerly accept the Holy Prophet’s order. He immediately blocked the entrance to the mosque and left that place.

Then Mu`adh conveyed the Holy Prophet’s message to `Umar, saying: Block the door of your house opening to the mosque and leave the place. `Umar said: I will obey the Holy Prophet’s order but I wish one of the windows of my house would open to the mosque. Mu`adh conveyed to the Messenger of Allah what `Umar had wished. Then, Mu`adh went to `Uthman when the Holy Prophet’s daughter was in his house and conveyed the message. `Uthman too complied with the Holy Prophet’s order and left the mosque.

Mu`adh’ last message was conveyed to Hamzah who obeyed the Holy Prophet’s message, left the mosque and blocked the door of his house to the mosque. Amid this, `Ali was thinking about whether this order would include him too though the Messenger of Allah had built a house for him among his own houses in the mosque.

But the Messenger of Allah removed any doubt about it by saying: O `Ali, you stay where you are, for you are purified and this order does not include you and your family. When this news reached Hamzah, he said: O Messenger of Allah! I was surprised that you sent all of us out of mosque but you kept only a youth of Bani `Abd al-Muttalib in it. The Holy Prophet said: This was not a decision of my own, for I would not give privilege to anyone if I had to decide. By God, this is a grace God Almighty has bestowed upon `Ali. As for you, I have good news about you. God and His messenger are pleased with you. So be happy. This good news became manifest in the battle of Uhud

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لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ بُيوتٌ فَكانوا يَبِيتونَ فِي المَسْجِدِ. فَقالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ: لاَ تَبِيتوا فِي المَسْجِدِ فَتَحْتَلِموا. ثُمَّ إنَّ القَوْمَ بَنَوْا بُيوتاً حَوْلَ المَسْجِدِ وَجَعَلوا أبْوابَها إلَى المَسْجِدِ وَإنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ مُعاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ فَنادَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقالَ: إنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَأْمُرُكَ أنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنَ المَسْجِدِ وَتَسُدَّ بابَكَ. فَقالَ: سَمْعاً وَطاعَةً. فَسَدَّ بابَهُ وَخَرَجَ مِنَ المَسْجِدِ. ثُمَّ أرْسَلَ إلَى عُمَرَ فَقالَ: إنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَأْمُرُكَ أنْ تَسُدَّ بابَكَ الَّذِي فِي المَسْجِدِ وَتَخْرُجَ مِنْهُ. فَقالَ: سَمْعاً وَطاعَةً للهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ غَيْرَ أنّي أرْغَبُ إلَى اللهِ فِي خَوْخَةٍ فِي المَسْجِدِ. فَأَبْلَغَهُ مُعاذٌ مَا قَالَ عُمَرُ. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إلَى عُثْمانَ وَعِنْدَهُ رُقَيَّةُ فَقالَ: سَمْعاً وَطاعَةً. فَسَدَّ بابَهُ وَخَرَجَ مِنَ المَسْجِدِ. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إلَى حَمْزَةَ فَسَدَّ بابَهُ وَقالَ: سَمْعاً وَطاعَةً للهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ. وَعَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي ذَلِكَ مُتَرَدِّدٌ لاَ يَدْرِي أهُوَ فِي مَنْ يُقيمُ أوْ فِي مَنْ يَخْرُجُ. وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَدْ بَنَى لَهُ فِي المَسْجِدِ بَيْتاً بَينَ أبْياتِهِ فَقالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أُسْكُنْ طاهِراً مُطَهَّراً. فَبَلَغَ حَمْزَةَ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ تُخْرِجُنا وَتُمْسِكُ غِلْمانَ بَنِي عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ؟ فَقالَ لَهُ نِبِيُّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَوْ كَانَ الأَمْرُ لِي مَا جَعَلْتُ دُونَكُمْ مِنْ أَحَـدٍ. وَاللهِ مَا أَعْطـاهُ إيَّـاهُ إلاَّ اللهُ، وَإنَّكَ لَعَلَى خَيْرٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، أَبْشِرْ. فَبَشَّرَهُ


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when Hamzah was martyred. This privilege of `Ali was heavy for some of the companions. So in their gathering, they started to complain and tried to know the reason. Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah rose up among the companions and said: It is heavy for some men to see that I have allowed `Ali to stay in the mosque, and have started to complain about it. By God, sending out some people from mosque and allowing `Ali to remain in the mosque was not on my order. God Almighty revealed to Moses (a.s) and his brother: Build houses for your close relatives, making them Kiblah for them, perform prayer in them. Following this decree, God ordered Moses again not to allow anyone to reside or have sexual intercourse with his wife in that place of worship except Aaron and his progeny. Since `Ali’s position to me is like that of Aaron to Moses, and he is my brother, no one has the right to have sexual intercourse with his wife in this place except `Ali and his progeny. The Messenger of Allah further said: If anyone is displeased with this, the way is open for him. Let him go from here to there, pointing with his holy hand toward Syria.[296]

Mutual Curse (Mubahalah)

The story of mutual curse indicates one of the other merits of Imam `Ali, his children and his dignified wife, for the Messenger of Allah sought their help so that his prayer be answered by their saying Amen.

Following the conquest of Mecca when Islam and its rule spread in Hijaz, delegations from every direction came to the Holy Prophet (s.a) either to embrace Islam or to seek life security. One of these delegations was the Christians of Najran consisting of thirty people headed by Abu-Harithah who was their bishop (chief priest). Some of the members of this delegation were: Al-`Aqib, al-Sayyid, and `Abd al-Masih who came to Medina in fine silk robes while wearing a cross on their necks. The Holy Prophet too was performing his afternoon prayer. At this time, a group of the Jews of Medina met the Christians, started discussing their differences with one group rejecting the other. At any rate, Najran delegation came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a), saying: O Muhammad! What is your opinion about Jesus, the son of Mary? The Messenger of Allah said: Jesus is the servant of Allah who appointed him as a prophet.

 

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النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ شَهيداً.

وَنَفَسَ ذَلِكَ رِجالٌ عَلى عَلِيٍّ فَوَجَدوا أنْفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ فَضْلُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَعَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقامَ خَطِيباً فَقالَ: إنَّ رِجالاً يَجِدُونَ فِي أَنْفُسُهِمْ مِنْ أنْ أُسْكِنَ عَلِيَّاً فِي المَسْجِدِ. وَاللهِ مَا أَخْرَجْتُهُمْ وَلا أَسْكَنْتُهُ. إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ أَوْحَى إلَى مُوسَى وَأَخيهِ: أنْ تَبَوَّءا لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتاً وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ. وَأَمَرَ مُوسَى أنْ لاَ يَسْكُنَ مَسْجِدَهُ وَلا يَنْكَحَ فِيهِ وَلا يَدْخُلَهُ إلاَّ هارُونُ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ. وَإنَّ عَلِيَّاً مِنّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى وَهُوَ أَخِي دونَ أَهْلِي وَلا يَحِلُّ مَسْجِدي لأَِحَدٍ يَنْكِحُ فِيهِ النِّساءَ إلاَّ عَلِيٌّ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ. فَمَنْ ساءَهُ ذَلِكَ فَهاهُنَا، وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الشَّامِ.

فِي المُباهَلَةِ:

قَضِيَّةُ المُباهَلَةِ تَدُلُّ عَلَى فَضْلٍ تامٍّ وَوَرَعٍ كامِلٍ لِمَوْلانا أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأفْضَلُ الصَّلَواتِ وَأكْمَلُ التَّحِيَّاتِ وَلِوَلَدَيْهِ وَزَوْجَتِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، حَيْثُ اسْتَعانَ بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي الدُّعاءِ إلَى اللهِ وَالتَّأْمينِ عَلَى دُعائِهِ لِتَحْصَلَ لَهُ الإجابَةُ فِيهِ. وَلَمَّا انْتَشَرَ الإسلامُ بَعْدَ الفَتْحِ وَقَوِيَ سُلْطانُهُ وَفِدَ إلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ الوُفودُ. مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنِ اسْتَأْمَنَ لِيَعودَ إلَى قَوْمِهِ بِرَأْيِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِيهِمْ. وَكَانَ مِمَّنْ وَفِدَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو حارِثَةَ أُسْقُفُّ نَجْرانَ فِي ثَلاثينَ رَجُلاً مِنَ النَّصَارى مِنْهُمُْ العاقِبُ وَالسَّيِّدُ وَعبْدُ المَسِيحِ، فَقَدِموا المَدينَةَ عِنْدَ صَلاةِ العَصْرِ وَعَلَيْهِمْ لِباسُ الدِّيباجِ وَالصُّلُبُ فَصارَ إِلَيْهِمُ اليَهودُ وَتَساءَلوا بَيْنَهُمْ. فَقَالَتِ النَّصارَى لَهُمْ: لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ. وَقَالَتْ لَهُمُ اليَهودُ: لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ كَما حَكى اللهُ تَعالَى عَنْهُمْ. فَلَمَّا صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ العَصْرَ تَوَجَّهُوا إلَيْهِ يَقْدِمُهُمُ الأُسْقُفُّ فَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، مَا تَقُولُ فِي السِّيِّدِ الْمَسِيحِ؟ فَقالَ: عَبْدُ اللهِ، إصْطَفاهُ وَانْتَجَبَهُ. فَقالَ الأُسْقُفُّ: أَتَعْرِفُ لَهُ أَباً؟ فَقالَ


 

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The chief priest said: Do you know any father for him? The Holy Prophet said: No, because his creation was not through marriage so that he would have a father. The bishop said: Was he not created? The Holy Prophet said: Yes, he was created! They said: How can a person be created with no father? At this time, God Almighty revealed the following verse: “surely the likeness of Jesus is with Allah as the likeness of Adam, …, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars” (3:59-61). Reciting these verses, the Messenger of Allah added: If you do not accept what I say, prepare yourself for mutual cursing and know that punishment will come down on those who are unjust! The chief priest and his companions started exchanging views and decided to be given a deadline till the next morning so that they would announce the result of their decision. The Holy Prophet (s.a) agreed. Returning home, the chief priest said to his aides: If tomorrow Muhammad and his household come for mutual cursing, we will never give in to it but if he comes with his companions, we will take part in it and know that he is not right.

Turning to Christians, an outstanding person said: O Christian community, you certainly know that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, for he spoke truthfully about Jesus Christ. By God, if a group carry out mutual cursing with a prophet, life will become bitter to the elderly people and they will perish soon and no children will be found among them. If you go for mutual cursing, you will all perish! If you are fond of your religion and adhere to it, the only solution will be to compromise with this man, to put an end to hostility and to return to your land.

The following day when Christians came to see the Holy Prophet (s.a), they found the Messenger of Allah taking the hand of `Ali in his hand, Hasan and Husayn being in front of him and Fatimah behind him. The chief priest asked people about them. They said: This man whose hand is in the hand of the Messenger of Allah is his cousin, son-in-law and the most beloved man to him, that is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib, these two children are his grandchildren and the most beloved to him, and that woman too is his daughter, the dearest and most honorable and the closest to his heart, whom he calls his own spirit! Looking at `Aqib, Sayyid and `Abd al-Masih who enjoyed high

 

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النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَمْ يَكُنْ عَنْ نِكاحٍ فَيَكُونَ لَهُ أَبٌ. قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ قُلتَ إنَّهُ عُبْدٌ مَخْلوقٌ، وَأَنْتَ لَمْ تَرَ عَبْداً مَخْلوقاً إلاَّ عَنْ نِكاحٍ وَلَهُ وَالِدٌ؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعالَى الآيَاتِ مَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعالَى: ﴿إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِنْدَ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ… فَنَجْعَلْ لَعْنَةَ اللهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ.﴾ فَتَلاهَا عَلَى النَّصَارَى وَدَعاهُمْ إلَى المُبَاهَلَةِ وَقالَ: إنَّ اللهَ أَخْبَرَنِي أنَّ العَذابَ يُنَزَّلُ عَلَى المُبْطِلِ عُقَيْبَ المُبَاهَلَةِ وَيَتَبَيَّنُ الحَقُّ مِنَ البَاطِلِ. فَاجْتَمَعَ الأُسْقُفُّ وَأَصْحابُهُ وَتَشَاوَروا فَاتَّفَقَ رَأْيُهُمْ عَلَى اسْتِنْظَارِهِ إلَى صَبِيحَةِ غَدٍ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعوا إلَى رِحَالِهِمْ قَالَ الأُسْقُفُّ: أُنْظُروا مُحَمَّداً فَإِنْ غَدا بِأَهْلِهِ وَوِلْدِهِ فَاحْذَرُوا مُباهَلَتَهُ، وَإِنْ غَدا بِأَصْحابِهِ فَبَاهِلُوهُ فَإنَّهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ. وَقالَ العَاقِبُ: وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّصَارَى إنَّ مُحَمَّداً نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلَقَدْ جاءَكُمْ بِالفَصْلِ مِنْ أمْرِ صَاحِبِكُمْ. وَاللهِ مَا بَاهَلَ قَوْمٌ نَبِيَّاً قَطُّ فَعاشَ كَبيرُهُمْ وَلا نَبُتَ صَغيرُهُمْ، وَلَئِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ لَتُهْلَكُنَّ. فَإنْ أَبَيْتُمْ إلاَّ ألْفَ دِينِكُمْ وَالإقامَةَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَم عَلَيْهِ فَوادِعوا الرَّجُلَ وَانْصَرِفوا إلَى بِلادِكُمْ. فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الغَدِ وَقَدْ جَاءَ آخِذاً بِيَدِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَالحَسَنِ وَالحُسَيْنِ يَمْشِيانِ بَينَ يَدَيْهِ وَفاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ تَمْشي خَلْفَهُ، فَسَأَلَ الأُسْقُفُّ عَنْهُمْ. فَقَالُوا: هَذَا ابْنُ عَمِّهِ وَصِهْرُهُ وَأبُو وِلْدِهِ وَأَحَبُّ الخَلْقِ إلَيْهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ. وَهذَانِ الطِّفْلانِ ابْنا ابْنَتِهِ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ وَهُما مِنْ أَحَبِّ الخَلْقِ إلَيْهِ. وَهَذِهِ الجَارِيَةُ فَاطِمَةُ ابْنَتُهُ وَهِيَ أَعَزُّ النَّاسِ عَنْدَهُ وَأَقْرَبُهُمْ إلَى قَلْبِهِ.

فَنَظَرَ الأُسْقُفُّ إلَى العَاقِبِ وَالسَّيِّدِ وَعَبْدِ المَسيحِ وَقالَ لَهُمْ: أُنْظُروا قَدْ جَاءَ بِخاصَّتِهِ مِنْ

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positions with him, the chief priest said: Think well about your affair, for those who accompany him are his endeared ones like whom there is no one on the earth. He has brought them for mutual cursing, a sign that he is sure about what he says! By God, if he were not right, he would not expose his endeared ones to mutual cursing. By God, if the position of Caesar of Rome who follows us was not involved, we would certainly embrace Islam. But this great obstacle on our way, there is no option other than compromise or accepting what he wants.

Now, try to get out of this dangerous situation and save your future with cleverness. O Christian people, I can see illuminated faces to whom everyone resorts for the removing of mountains, God will remove that mountain from one place to another. If you are ready for mutual cursing with them, you will certainly perish and there will be no Christian on the earth till the Day of Judgment!

Hearing the words of their chief priest, the delegation of Najran Christians came to the conclusion that they should end the matter peacefully. Hence, they said: O Abu-al-Qasim! We have decided not to have mutual cursing with you. So you shall have your religion and we shall have our religion. The Messenger of Allah said: You have to embrace Islam so that you will share profit and loss with Muslims. They disagreed. The Holy Prophet (s.a) said: Therefore, be prepared for fighting. They said: We are not able to fight Arabs. Nevertheless, we will compromise with you in a way that you will not attack us, nor will you stop us from practicing our religion. In return, we will promise to pay two thousand garments, each garment being equal to forty Dirhams, each year and if it is less than it a year, we will make it up the following year, that is, one thousand garments in the month of Safar and one thousand in the month of Rajab. In addition to this, we will offer you thirty armors each year. The Messenger of Allah accepted their request, saying: By God in whose Hand my life is, if the Christians of Najran embarked on mutual cursing, they would certainly perish; they would be transformed into pigs and monkeys; a blazing fire would engulf them so much so that it would burn the birds on branches and in the sky; all the Christians of Najran would perish and all the Christians on the earth would be annihilated.

The reason the aforementioned verse was recited is that God Almighty has considered Muhammad’s life as `Ali’s life and `Ali’s life as Muhammad’s life.[297]

 

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وُلْدِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ لِيُباهِلَ بِهِمْ وَاثِقاً بِحَقِّهِ. وَاللهِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِمْ وَهُوَ يَتَخَوَّفُ الحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ فَاحْذَرُوا مُباهَلَتَهُ. وَاللهِ لَوْلا مَكانَةُ قَيْصَرَ لأَسْلَمْتُ لَهُ، وَلكِنْ صَالِحُوهُ عَلَى مَا يَتَّفِقُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَارْجِعُوا إلَى بِلادِكُمْ وَارْتَؤُوا لأَنْفُسِكُمْ. يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّصَارَى إنِّي لأَرَى وُجُوهاً لَوْ شَاءَ اللهُ أنْ يُزيلَ جَبَلاً مِنْ مَكانِهِ لأَزالَهُ بِهَا فَلا تُباهِلُوهُ فَتَهْلَكوا وَلا يَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ نَصْرانِيٌّ إلَى يَوْمِ القِيامَةِ. فَقَالُوا: يَا أَبَا القَاسِمِ رَأَيْنا أنْ لاَ نُباهِلَكَ وَأَنْ نُقِرَّكَ عَلَى دِينِكَ وَنَثْبُتَ عَلَى دِينِنا. قَالَ: فَإذْ أَبَيْتُمُ المُباهَلَةَ فَأَسْلِموا يَكُنْ لَكُمْ مَا لِلْمُسْلِمينَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ. فَأَبَوْا. قَالَ: فَإنِّي أُناجِزُكُمْ. فَقَالُوا: مَا لَنا بِحَرْبِ العَرَبِ طاقَةٌ، وَلَكِنْ نُصالِحُكَ عَلَى أنْ لاَ تَغْزُوَنا وَلا تُخيفَنا وَلا تَرُدَّنا عَنْ دِينِنا عَلَى أنْ نُؤَدِّيَ إلَيْكَ كُلَّ عامٍ ألْفَيْ حُلَّةٍ قِيمَةُ كُلِّ حُلَّةٍ أرْبَعونَ دِرهَماً، فَما زَادَ أوْ نَقُصَ فَبِالحِسَابِ، ألْفٌ فِي صَفَرَ وَألْفٌ فِي رَجَبٍ، وَثَلاثينَ دِرْعاً عارِيَةً مِنْ حَديدٍ. فَصالَحَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَقالَ: وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، الهَلاكُ قَدْ بَدا عَلَى أهْلِ نَجْرانَ وَلَوْ لاعَنوا لَمُسِخوا قِرَدَةً وَخَنازِيرَ وَلاضْطَرَمَ الوادِي عَلَيْهِمْ نَاراً، وَلاسْتَأْصَلَ اللهُ نَجْرانَ وَأَهْلَهُ حَتَّى الطَّيْرَ عَلَى رُؤوسِ الشَّجَرِ وَلمَا حالَ الحَوْلُ عَلَى النَّصارَى كُلِّهِمْ حَتَّى هَلَكوا. وَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ تَعالَى فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ نَفْسَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ هِيَ نَفْسَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَيْثُ قَالَ: ﴿وَأَنْفُسَنَا وَأَنْفُسَكُمْ﴾.

 

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Love for `Ali, A Must

God Almighty states: “say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives” (42:24). Beyond doubt, Imam `Ali (a.s) is the master of the Household of the Holy Prophet (s.a) and a near relative.[298]

Ahmad ibn Hanbal in a narration recounts that the Messenger of Allah having the hands of Hasan and Husayn in his hand said: Whoever has the love for me, for my two sons, and for their parents in heart, will be near me in paradise on the Day of Judgment.[299]

Ahmad ibn Hanbal has quoted Zarr ibn Habish as saying: `Ali said: By God, the Messenger of Allah informed me of the divine covenant to the effect that hypocrisy is the sign of enmity with you and faith is the sign of love for you. Hence no one is my enemy unless he is hypocrite, and no one loves me unless he is a believer.[300]

Ahmad ibn Hanbal has reported `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi-Layla as saying: On the day of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah said: I will give the banner of Islam to a man who loves Allah and His messenger, and Allah and His messenger too love him. He is a champion who has never turned his back on war and kills the ill-fated enemies of Islam with his sword. The Holy Prophet’s companions, who were longing for this honor, looked at the face of the Messenger of Allah but soon they became desperate, for this honor was given to `Ali.[301]

The Holy Prophet (s.a) has been quoted by Hudhayfah as saying: Whoever wishes to resort to a ruby God created and said “be” and it “was”, has to accept the imamate of `Ali ibn Abi-Talib after me and to obey him.[302]

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud has been reported as saying: the Messenger of Allah had come to the house of Ummu-Salamah from the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh when someone knocked the door. The Messenger of Allah said: Ummu-Salamah, go and open the door. Ummu-Salamah said: O Messenger of Allah! Who is at the door and how high is his position that I should welcome him without Hijab (veil) given that verses were revealed about me yesterday? The Messenger of Allah said: Obey my order, for to obey me is to obey Allah and to disobey me is to disobey Allah. The man who is asking for permission

 

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فِي وُجوبِ مَحَبَّتِهِ وَمَوَدَّتِهِ:

قَالَ اللهُ تَعالَى: ﴿قُلْ لاَ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْراً إِلاَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى.﴾ وَأمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ سَيِّدُ ذَوي القُرْبَى.

وَرَوى أحْمَدُ فِي مُسْنَدِهِ أنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أخَذَ بِيَدِ الحَسَنِ وَالحُسَيْنِ وَقالَ: مَنْ أَحَبَّنِي وَأَحَبَّ هَذَيْنِ وَأَبَاهُما وَأُمَّهُمَا كَانَ مَعِيَ فِي دَرَجَتِي يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.

وَمِنَ المُسْنَدِ: عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ: وَاللهِ إنَّهُ مِمَّا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لاَ يُبْغِضُنِي إلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ وَلا يُحِبُّنِي إلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ.

وَفيهِ: عَنْ عَبْدِ الرّحمنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلى قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَداً رَجُلاً يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ كَرَّاراً لَيْسَ بِفَرَّارٍ.

فَتَشَرَّفَ لَهَا أصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَأَعْطاها عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

وَعَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَتَمَسَّكَ بِقَصَبَةِ الْيَاقُوتِ الَّتِي خَلَقَهَا اللهُ تَعَالَى بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا كُونِي فَكَانَتْ، فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ ابْنِ خالَوَيْهَ وَكِتابِ مَناقِبِ الخَوارِزْمِيِّ: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعودٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنْ بَيْتِ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ حَتَّى أَتى بَيتَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَجاءَ داقٌّ فَدَقَّ البابَ. فَقالَ: يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ قُومِي وَافْتَحِي لَهُ. قَالَتْ: فَقُلْتُ: وَمَنْ هَذَا يَا رَسولَ اللهِ الَّذِي بَلَغَ مِنْ خَطَرِهِ أَنْ أَفْتَحَ البَابَ وَأتَلَقَّاهُ بِمَعاصِمِي وَقَدْ نَزَلَتْ فِيَّ بِالأَمْسِ آيَاتُ كِتـَابِ اللهِ تَعالَى؟ فَقَـالَ: يَـا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ إنَّ طَاعَةَ الرَّسُولِ طَاعَةُ اللهِ وَإنَّ مَعْصِيَةَ الرَّسُولِ


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to come in, is not a man of feeble will or reckless. He will not enter the house unless he knows no woman is on his way. He loves Allah and His messenger and Allah and His messenger too love him.

Ummu-Salamah says: I opened the door but he held the door post and stopped where he was. I went inside the room and behind curtain. Being sure there was no one on his way, he came to the presence of the Holy Prophet and greeted him. The Messenger of Allah said: O Ummu-Salamah, did you know him. I said: Yes, he is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib. Then, he said: His temperament is my temperament, his flesh, his blood, and all the dimensions of his existence come from my existence. He is the one who will act to what I have promised. Listen to this and be a witness of it. O Ummu-Salamah, he is the treasure of my knowledge and the leader of the believers after me. Then, he said: Listen to me and be a witness. He will fight the deviators, Mu`awiyah and his followers, and Khawarij after me. By God, he will enliven my tradition. Again listen to me and be a witness. Then, the Messenger of Allah said: If a servant worships Allah between Rukn and Maqam for thousands of thousands years, and then passes away while being an enemy of `Ali, God will throw him into hell on face and he will be in the abyss of hell forever.[303]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Mu`adh as saying: Love for `Ali ibn Abi-Talib is a good deed with which a sin is forgivable and enmity with him is a sin unforgivable.[304]

Ibn Mas`ud has been quoted as saying: Love for Ahl al-Bayt for one day is better than a year of worship and one who passes away with this one-day-love will certainly enter paradise.[305]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Abu-Dharr as saying: `Ali is the gate of my knowledge and guidance which is opened to its devotees. He will express to my Ummah what I have been commissioned to convey. Love for him is faith, enmity with him is hypocrisy and friendship with him is worship.[306]

The Holy Prophet (s.a) has been quoted by Jabir as saying: Gabriel came down to me while he was holding a green tablet in hand with an inscription in white reading: I have made the love for `Ali ibn Abi-Talib incumbent upon all creatures. Therefore, o prophet, convey it to the whole people.[307]

 

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مَعْصِيَةُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ، وَإِنَّ بِالبَابِ لَرَجُلاً لَيْسَ بِنَزِقٍ وَ لاَ خَرِقٍ، وَمَا كَانَ لِيَدْخُلَ مِنْزِلاً حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ حِسَّاً، وَهُوَ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

قَالَتْ: فَفَتَحْتُ البَابَ فَأَخَذَ بِعُضادَتَيِ البَابِ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الخِدْرَ. فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَسْمَعْ وِطْئاً دَخَلَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، أَتَعْرِفِينَ هَذَا؟ قُلتُ: نَعَمْ، هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. قَالَ: هُوَ أَخِي، مَحَبَّتُهُ مَحَبَّتِي وَلَحْمُهُ لَحْمِي وَدَمُهُ دَمِي. يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، هَذَا قَاضِي عِدَاتِي بَعْدِي فَاسْمَعِي وَاشْهَدِي. يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، هَذَا عَيْبَةُ عِلْمِي وَوَلِيِّي مِنْ بَعْدِي فَاسْمَعِي وَاشْهَدِي. هُوَ قَاتِلُ النَّاكِثِينَ وَالْقَاسِطِينَ وَالْمَارِقِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَاسْمَعِي وَاشْهَدِي. هُوَ وَاللهِ مُحْيِي سُنَّتِي فَاسْمَعِي وَاشْهَدِي. لَوْ أَنَّ عَبْداً عَبَدَ اللهَ أَلْفَ عَامٍ مِنْ بَعْدَ أَلْفِ عَامٍ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ ثُمَّ لَقِيَ اللهَ مُبْغِضاً لِعَلِيٍّ لَكَبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى مِنْخَرَيْهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ الفِرْدَوْسِ عَنْ مُعاذٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: حُبُّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ حَسَنَةٌ لاَ تَضُرُّ مَعَها سَيِّئَةٌ وَبُغْضُهُ سَيِّئَةٌ لاَ تَنْفَعُ مَعَهَا حَسَنَةٌ.

وَمِنْهُ: عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ: حُبُّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ يَوْماً خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِبادَةِ سَنَةٍ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَيْهِ دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ.

وَمِنْهُ: عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: عَلِيٌّ بابُ عِلْمِي وَهَدْيِي وَمُبَيِّنُ لأُمَّتِي مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِي. حُبُّهُ إيمَانٌ وَبُغْضُهُ نِفاقٌ، وَالنَّظَرُ إلَيْهِ رَأْفَةٌ، وَمَوَدَّتُهُ عِبادَةٌ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ المَناقِبِ لِلخَوارِزْمِيِّ: عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: جَاءَنِي جِبْريلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ بِوَرَقَةِ آسٍ خَضْراءَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِيهَا بِبَياضٍ: إنِّي إفْتَرَضْتُ مَحَبَّةَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَى خَلْقِي عَامَّةً؛ فَبَلِّغْهُمْ ذَلِكَ عَنِّي.

 

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The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Ibn `Abbas as saying: God would have never created Hell if all people had had love for `Ali.[308]

The Holy Prophet (s.a) has been reported as saying: O `Ali, if a servant worship God like Noah, gives away gold as heavy as Mount Uhud, lives so long as to go on Hajj pilgrimage on foot a thousand times, and is killed innocent between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah but does not accept your imamate and leadership, he will not deserve to go to paradise.[309]

A man said to Salman: Your extreme friendship with `Ali is amazing! Salman said: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: Whoever loves `Ali loves me and whoever is hostile to `Ali is hostile to me too.[310]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by `Abdullah ibn `Umar as saying: Whoever loves `Ali God Almighty will accept his prayer, fast and good deeds and will answer his prayer. Whoever loves `Ali he will be given cities in paradise as many as the number of his veins. Whoever has love for the family of Muhammad will be safe from hard reckoning, the Balance and the Discriminating Bridge on the Day of Judgment. Whoever passes away with the love for the family of Muhammad will join prophets in paradise with my intercession. Then he said: Let it be known to you that whoever is the enemy of the family of prophet, there will be an inscription between his eyes reading: This person is deprived of God’s mercy.[311]

The Holy Prophet (s.a) has been reported by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud as saying: Whoever believes in me and what has been revealed to me but is the enemy of `Ali, he is lying and has no faith.[312]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Abi- Barza as saying: By God in whose Hand my life is, no one can move on the Day of Judgment unless he is asked about four things: How his life was spent, what his body was worn out for, where his wealth was gained from, and what his wealth was spent on as well as the love for Ahl al-Bayt. At this time `Umar rose up saying: What is the sign of your love? Putting his hand on `Ali’s head, the Holy Prophet said: Love for this great man after my passing away, for to obey him is to obey me and to oppose him is to oppose me.[313]

 

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وَمِنْهُ: عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَوِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَى حُبِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ لَمَا خَلَقَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ النَّارَ.

وَمِنْهُ: قَالَ قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا عَلِيُّ لَوْ أَنَّ عَبْداً عَبَدَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ مِثْلَ مَا أَقامَ نُوحٌ فِي قَوْمِهِ وَكَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبٌ فَأَنْفَقَهُ فِي سَبيلِ اللهِ وَمُدَّ فِي عُمْرِهِ حَتَّى حَجَّ أَلْفَ عامٍ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مَظْلوماً ثُمَّ لَمْ يُوَالِكَ يَا عَلِيُّ لَمْ يَشُمَّ رَائِحَةَ الجَنَّةِ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْها.

وَقالَ رَجُلٌ لِسَلْمانَ: مَا أَشَدَّ حُبَّكَ لِعَلِيٍّ! قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيَّاً فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِي، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَ عَلِيَّاً فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَنِي.

وَمِنْهُ: عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيَّاً قَبِلَ اللهُ عَنْهُ صَلاتَهُ وَصِيَامَهُ وَقِيَامَهُ وَاسْتَجَابَ دُعَاءَهُ. أَلاَ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيَّاً أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ بِكُلِّ عِرْقٍ فِي بَدَنِهِ مَدِينَةً فِي الجَنَّةِ. أَلا وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ أَمِنَ مِنَ الحِسَابِ وَالْمِيزَانِ وَالصِّراطِ. أَلاَ وَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى حُبِّ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَأَنا كَفِيلُهُ بِالجَنَّةِ مَعَ الأَنْبِياءِ. أَلاَ وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَكْتُوباً بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ: آيِسٌ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللهِ.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ آمَنَ بِي وَبِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ وَهُوَ يُبْغِضُ عَلِيَّاً فَهُوَ كَاذِبٌ لَيْسَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ.

وَعَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ وَنَحْنُ جُلُوسٌ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ: وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَزُولُ قَدَمُ عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعالَى عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ: عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَ أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ جَسَدِهِ فِيمَ أَبْلاَهُ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِمَّ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ حُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ.

فَقالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الخَطَّابِ: فَمَا آيَةُ حُبِّكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِكُمْ؟ قَالَ: فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَ إلَى جَانِبِهِ فَقالَ: إنَّ حُبِّي مِنْ بَعْدِي حُبُّ هَذَا.

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`Abdullah ibn `Umar has reported: The Messenger of Allah was asked: In what tone did the Almighty God speak to you on the night of ascension (Mi`raj)? The Holy Prophet said: He addressed me in the tone of `Ali! At that time, I was inspired to ask: O Lord, are you speaking to me or it is `Ali who is speaking to me? God said: O Ahmad! My truth is different from that of other things! I can neither be compared with people nor am I described with similar things! I created you from my light and `Ali from your light. Thereafter, I became aware of the secret of your heart, finding out there was no one closer and more beloved to your heart than `Ali. Hence, I addressed you in the tone of `Ali so that your heart will be put at rest in this assembly of friendship.[314]

The Messenger of Allah has been reported by Abi- Baraza and Hafiz Abu-`Abdullah Shafi`i as saying: God Almighty took a solemn pledge from me about the position of `Ali in fulfilling my mission. I said: O Lord, what is that important mission? God said: Listen! I said: I am prepared. God said: `Ali is the standard-bearer of guidance, the leader of the saints and the light of the devoted ones. He is the word rendered necessary for the pious. Whoever loves `Ali loves me and whoever is his enemy is my enemy! O prophet! Give these good tidings to him. At this time `Ali came to me and I conveyed this good news to him. `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah! I am the servant of Allah and under His power. If God punishes me, it is but for sin and disobedience, and if He has given the good news about me, He has honored me with His Grace. At this time, I raised my hand in prayer, saying: O Lord! Illuminate his heart with belief. God Almighty answered my prayer about him, saying: I will fulfill what you have wished for him. Then God informed me about the trials which will not befall my companions except him. Then I said: O Lord! Is he my brother and helper? God said: This position had been foreseen before you knew about it, for he has been a subject of my test and I will test people with his position.[315]

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by `Ammar ibn Yasir as saying: I advise to believe in the imamate of `Ali ibn Abi-Talib one who believes in me and accepts my prophethood, for whoever accepts his imamate, has accepted my imamate and prophethood. Whoever believes in my Wilayah will enter the Wilayah of Allah, and Allah is pleased with him.[316]

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وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَقَدْ سُئِلَ بِأَيِّ لُغَةٍ خَاطَبَكَ رَبُّكَ لَيْلَةَ الْمِعْرَاجِ؟ فَقالَ: خَاطَبَنِي بِلُغَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ، فَأَلْهَمَنِي أَنْ قُلتُ: يَا رَبِّ، خَاطَبْتَنِي أَنْتَ أَمْ عَلِيٌّ؟ فَقالَ: يَا أَحْمَدُ أَنَا شَيْءٌ لاَ كَالأَشْيَاءِ، لاَ أُقَاسُ بِالنَّاسِ وَلاَ أُوصَفُ بِالأَشْبَاهِ. خَلَقْتُكَ مِنْ نُورِي وَخَلَقْتُ عَلِيَّاً مِنْ نُورِكَ، فَاطَّلَعْتُ عَلَى سَرَائِرِ قَلْبِكَ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ إلَى قَلْبِكَ أَحَبَّ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ، فَخَاطَبْتُكَ بِلِسَانِهِ كَيْمَا يَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبُكَ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ كِفايَةُ الطَّالِبِ لِلْحَافِظِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ الشَّافِعِيِّ بِإسْنادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ اللهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ عَهْداً فِي عَلِيٍّ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّ بَيِّنْهُ لِي؟ فَقالَ: إسْمَعْ. فَقُلْتُ: سَمِعْتُ. فَقالَ: إنَّ عَلِيَّاً رَايَةُ الْهُدَى وَإمَامُ الأَوْلِيَاءِ وَنُورُ مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي، وَهُوَ الكَلِمَةُ الَّتِي أَلْزَمْتُهَا الْمُتَّقِينَ. مَنْ أَحَبَّهُ أَحَبَّنِي وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُ أَبْغَضَنِي، فَبَشِّرْهُ بِذَلِكَ.

فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ فَبَشَّرْتُهُ. فَقالَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، أنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ وَفِي قَبْضَتِهِ. فَإِنْ يُعَذِّبْنِي فَبِذُنُوبِي، وَإنْ يُتِمَّ الَّذِي بَشَّرْتَنِي بِهِ فَاللهُ أَوْلَى بِي. قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ: اللَّهُمَّ إجْلُ قَلْبَهُ وَاجْعَلْ رَبِيعَهُ الإيمَانَ. فَقالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجلَّ: قَدْ فَعَلْتُ بِهِ ذَلِكَ. ثُمَّ إنَّهُ رَفَعَ إِلَيَّ أنَّهُ سَيَخُصُّهُ مِنَ البَلاَءِ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَخُصَّ بِهِ أَحَداً مِنْ أَصْحَابِي. فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّ، أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي. فَقالَ: إنَّ هَذَا شَيْءٌ قَدْ سَبَقَ. إنَّهُ مُبْتَلىً وَمُبْتَلىً بِهِ.

وَعَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ ياسِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أُوصِي مَنْ آمَنَ بِي وَصَدَّقَنِي بِوِلاَيَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. مَنْ تَوَلاَّهُ فَقَدْ تَوَلاَّنِي وَمَنْ تَوَلاَّنِي فَقَدْ تَوَلَّى اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ.

 

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Abu-`Alqamah has reported: The Messenger of Allah performed his morning prayer in the gathering of his companions and turning to them, said: O companions! Last night, I dreamt of my uncle, Hamzah, and my brother, Ja`far, with a big tray of fruits before them. They were eating the fruits which were from the tree “Sadr.” Then the fruits turned into grapes and after some moments into dates. I went near them, saying: May my father be ransom for you. Which good deed did you find better? They said: May our parents be ransom for you. Among good deeds we did not find but three deeds, namely, sending greeting upon you, quenching a thirsty person and keeping the love of `Ali ibn Abi-Talib in our hearts.[317]

The Messenger of Allah has been reported as saying: God Almighty takes pride in my followers as compared to followers of other prophets, forgives you all and has a special favor towards `Ali. Surely, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all. I neither intimidate people about my tribe nor support them unduly. What I say comes from my Lord who has given me this mission and I have to convey it. Gabriel, the Messenger of Allah says to me: Happy is one who loves `Ali both during his life and after his passing away. Ill-fated is one who is the enemy of `Ali both during his life and after his passing away, and has his rancor in his heart.[318]

`Abdullah Ibn `Abbas who had lost his sight, accompanied by Sa`id ibn Jubayr, passed by the well of Zamzam where a group of people from Syria were cursing `Ali. Hearing this, `Abdullah said: Take me back to those people. Being among them, `Abdullah said: Which one of you curses God? They said: God forbid. None of us curses God! Then, he asked: Which one of you curses the Messenger of Allah? They said: God forbid! We never curse our prophet. Then, he asked: Which one of you curses `Ali? They said: Yes, we curse `Ali! Ibn `Abbas said: I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah saying to `Ali: O `Ali! Whoever curses you, has cursed me and whoever curses me, has cursed Allah! Whoever curses Allah, He will throw him into hell on face! Sa`id reports: Ibn `Abbas said this to them, turned his back from them and left the place.[319]

The Messenger of Allah has been reported by Anas as saying: On the night journey, I saw an angel sitting on a pulpit of light with other angels gathering round him. I said to Gabriel: Who is this angel? Gabriel said:

 

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وَمِنَ المَناقِبِ: عَنْ أَبِي عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ: صَلَّى بِنا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الصُّبْحَ. ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إلَيْنَا فَقالَ: مَعاشِرَ أَصْحَابِي، رَأَيْتُ البَارِحَةَ عَمِّي حَمْزَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَأَخِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَبَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمَا طَبَقٌ مِنْ تِينٍ، فَأَكَلا سَاعَةً ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلَ التِّينُ عِنَباً، فَأَكَلا سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلَ العِنَبُ رُطَباً، فَأَكَلا سَاعَةً. فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُمْا وَقُلْتُ: بِأَبِي أَنْتُمَا! أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ وَجَدْتُمَا أَفْضَلَ؟ قَالاَ: فَدَيْنَاكَ بِالآبَاءِ وَالأُمَّهَاتِ! وَجَدْنَا أَفْضَلَ الأَعْمَالِ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَيْكَ وَسَقْيَ الْمَاءِ وَحُبَّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَاهَى بِكُمْ وَغَفَرَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً وَلِعَلِيٍّ خَاصَّةً. وَإنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ إلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ هَائِبٍ لِقَوْمِي وَلا مُحَابٍ لِقَرَابَتِي. هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ يُخْبِرُنِّي أَنَّ السَّعِيدَ كُلَّ السَّعِيدِ مَنْ أَحَبَّ عَلِيَّاً فِي حِيَاتِهِ وَبَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ، وَأَنَّ الشَّقِيَّ كُلَّ الشَّقِيِّ مَنْ أَبْغَضَ عَلِيَّاً فِي حَيَاتِهِ وَبَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ.

وَمِنْ كِتابِ كِفايَةُ الطَّالِبِ لِلْحافِظِ الشَّافِعِيِّ: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَكَانَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ يَقُودُهُ، فَمَرَّ عَلَى صُفَّةِ زَمْزَمَ فَإذَا قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ يَشْتِمُونَ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. فَقالَ لِسَعيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ: رُدَّنِي إِلَيْهِمْ. فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقالَ: أَيُّكُمُ السَّابُّ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ؟ فَقَالُوا: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ! مَا فِينَا أَحَدٌ سَبَّ اللهَ. قَالَ: فَأَيُّكُمُ السَّابُّ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ؟ قَالُوا: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ! مَا فِينَا أَحَدٌ سَبَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: فَأَيُّكُمُ السَّابُّ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ قَالُوا: أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ كَانَ. قَالَ: فَأَشْهَدُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ سَمِعَتْهُ أُذُنَايَ وَوَعَاهُ قَلْبِي يَقُولُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا عَلِيُّ، مَنْ سَبَّكَ فَقَدْ سَبَّنِي، وَمَنْ سَبَّنِي فَقَدْ سَبَّ اللهَ، وَمَنْ سَبَّ اللهَ أَكَبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى مِنْخَرَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ. ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ.

وَمِنْهُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَرِرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي إلَى السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا أنَا بِمَلَكٍ جَالِسٍ عَلَى مِنْبَرٍ مِنْ نُورٍ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ تُحْدِقُ بِهِ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا جِبْرِيلُ،


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See him from close and greet him. I went close and greeted him. I found out that he was my brother and cousin, `Ali ibn Abi-Talib. I asked amazingly: Has `Ali come to the fourth heaven before me? Gabriel said: No, but since angels were fond of seeing `Ali, God created an angel of light in the form of `Ali. While glorifying Allah, angels go to visit him seventy thousand times every Friday night and day and the reward is offered to those who love `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.[320]

`Ali, the Holy Qur’an,  and the truth are Inseparable

The Messenger of Allah has been reported by Abi-Layla as saying: Soon after my passing away, mischief and sedition will occur among you people from every direction! At that time, do not leave `Ali alone if you look for salvation, f