The Holy Prophet and ‘Ali’s Merits — part 1/2

The Holy Prophet and ‘Ali’s Merits (God Decrees the Holy Prophet to Express ‘Ali’s Merits)

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari as saying: Gabriel came down to me, saying: God Almighty has commissioned you to express ‘Ali’s merits among your companions so that they will convey your message to the future generations. He has also decreed all angels to listen to you when you speak of ‘Ali’s merits. God Almighty has revealed to you, saying: O Muhammad! Whoever opposes you about ‘Ali’s merit will be in fire and whoever obeys you will be in paradise.

The Messenger of Allah immediately ordered a crier to gather the people. Then the Holy Prophet went up the pulpit and began his sermon, saying: I seek refuge to God from the outcast Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. O people! I am bearer of good news and a warner. I am an unschooled prophet who has not learnt reading and writing from anyone. I am commissioned by my Lord to speak of the merits of a man whose flesh is my flesh and whose blood is my blood and he is a treasure of my knowledge, a man whom God has chosen, has guided and loves.

God Almighty created me and him and blessed each of us with a merit. I was appointed as prophet and he was charged with propagating my mission. He appointed me as the city of knowledge and ‘Ali as the gate of the city. God appointed him as receptacle of my knowledge from which erudition and injunctions of religion are derived. He appointed ‘Ali as my successor and decreed I should convey these recommendations to you. The Compassionate God warns his enemies of torment and will bless his friend with a supreme position, forgives his followers and orders people to obey him.

O people, know that God Almighty states: Enmity with ‘Ali is enmity with Me and love for him is love for Me; whoever curses him, has cursed Me and whoever opposes him, has opposed Me; whoever rebels against him, has rebelled against Me; whoever harms him, has harmed Me; Whoever has rancor against him, has had rancor against Me; whoever longs for him, has longed for Me. Whoever plays tricks in him, has played trick on Me; whoever helps him, has helped Me.

حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا عَلَى سَبْعِ حَدَائِقَ أَقُولُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، مَا أَحْسَنَهَا! فَيَقُولُ: لَكَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَحْسَنُ مِنْهَا. فَلَمَّا خَلاَ لَهُ الطَّرِيقُ إعْتَنَقَنِي وَأَجْهَشَ بَاكِياً. فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، مَا يُبْكِيكَ؟ قَالَ: ضَغَائِنُ فِي صُدُورِ أَقْوَامٍ لاَ يُبْدُونَهَا لَكَ إِلاَّ بَعْدِي. فَقُلْتُ: فِي سَلاَمَةٍ مِنْ دِينِي؟ فَقالَ: فِي سَلاَمَةٍ مِنْ دِينِكَ.

فِي أَمْرِ اللهِ تَعالَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِتَبْلِيغِ فَضَائِلِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

رَوَى جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ نَزَلَ عَلَيَّ وَقالَ: إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَقُومَ بِتَفْضِيلِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ خَطِيباً عَلَى أَصْحَابِكَ لِيُبَلِّغُوا مَنْ بَعْدَكَ ذَلِكَ عَنْكَ وَيَأْمُرُ جَمِيعَ الْمَلائِكَةِ أَنْ تَسْمَعَ مَا تَذْكُرُهُ. وَاللهُ يُوحِي إِلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَنَّ مَنْ خَالَفَكَ فِي أَمْرِهِ فَلَهُ النَّارُ وَمَنْ أَطَاعَكَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ. فَأَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مُنَادِياً فَنَادَى الصَّلاَةَ جَامِعَةً. فَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ وَخَرَجَ حَتَّى عَلاَ الْمِنْبَرَ. فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ: أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، أَنَا الْبَشِيرُ وَأَنَا النَّذِيرُ وَأَنَا النَّبِيُّ الأُمِّيُّ. إِنِّي مُبَلِّغُكُمْ عَنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ فِي أَمْرِ رَجُلٍ لَحْمُهُ مِنْ لَحْمِي وَدَمُهُ مِنْ دَمِي، وَهُوَ عَيْبَةُ الْعِلْمِ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي إنْتَجَبَهُ اللهُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ وَاصْطَفَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ وَتَوَلاَّهُ، وَخَلَقَنِي وَإِيَّاه، وَفَضَّلَنِي بِالرِّسَالَةِ، وَفَضَّلَهُ بِالتَّبْلِيغِ عَنِّي. وَجَعَلَنِي مَدِينَةَ الْعِلْمِ، وَجَعَلَهُ الْبَابَ، وَجَعَلَهُ خَازِنَ الْعِلْمِ، وَالْمُقْتَبَسَ مِنْهُ الأَحْكَامُ، وَخَصَّهُ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ، وَأَبَان أَمْرَهُ، وَخَوَّفَ مِنْ عَدَاوَتِهِ، وَأَزْلَفَ مَنْ وَالاَهُ، وَغَفَرَ لِشِيعَتِهِ، وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً بِطَاعَتِهِ. وَأَنَّهُ عَزَّ وَجلَّ يَقُولُ: مَنْ عَادَاهُ فَقَدْ عَـادَانِي،

Then, the Holy Prophet said: O people! Listen to what I say and obey me, for I am warning you against the severe chastisement as God states:

“On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil, it shall wish that between it and that (evil) there were a long duration of time; and Allah makes you to be cautious of (retribution from) Himself” (3:30).

Then the Holy Prophet (S) raised the hand of ‘Ali and said: O people! This man is the leader of the believers and God’s proof for all the people. He will fight the unbelievers!

The Messenger of Allah raised his hands in prayer and said: O Lord! You are a witness that I have acted according to Your decree and carried out this mission. These are Your servants and You have the power to transform them. I now seek forgiveness for you and myself. Then, the Holy Prophet came down from the pulpit. Concurrently Gabriel came down and conveyed God’s message to him in relation to communicating the mission, saying: O Muhammad! God Almighty greets you and says: You will be rewarded for carrying out this decree; Hail to you that you conveyed our divine mission; you made necessary recommendations to your Ummah, pleaded the believers, and disappointed the unbelievers.

O Muhammad, your cousin will be put to test and he will pass the test. We will put the people to test through him. O Muhammad, praise your Lord at all times and all places and say: Praise be to Allah,

“and they who act unjustly shall know to what final place of turning they shall turn back” (26:227).¹⁷¹

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Ibn Abbas as saying: God Almighty blessed me with five features and blessed ‘Ali with five features too. He blessed me with comprehensive and meaningful words, and blessed ‘Ali with comprehensive knowledge; he blessed me with prophethood, and blessed ‘Ali with guardianship; he blessed me with Kawthar fountain, and blessed ‘Ali with Salsabil fountain; he blessed me with revelation, and blessed ‘Ali with inspiration; he called me to Himself on the Night Journey, and he opened the ways to heavens for ‘Ali and removed the veils in a way that he saw me and I saw him!

وَمَنْ وَالاَهُ فَقَدْ وَالاَنِي، وَمَنْ نَاصَبَهُ نَاصَبَنِي، وَمَنْ خَالَفَهُ خَالَفَنِي، وَمَنْ عَصَاهُ عَصَانِي، وَمَنْ آذَاهُ آذَانِي، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُ أَبْغَضَنِي، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُ أَحَبَّنِي، وَمَنْ أَرَادَهُ أَرَادَنِي، وَمَنْ كَادَهُ كَادَنِي، وَمَنْ نَصَرَهُ نَصَرَنِي. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إسْمَعُوا لِمَا آمُرُكُمْ بِهِ وَأَطِيعُوهُ. فَإِنِّي أُخَوِّفُكُمْ عَذَابَ اللهِ ?يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُحْضَراً وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَداً بَعِيداً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللهُ نَفْسَهُ.?

ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ: مَعَاشِرَ النَّاسِ، هَذَا مَوْلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَحُجَّةُ اللهِ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَالْمُجَاهِدُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ. اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي قَدْ بَلَّغْتُ، وَهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَأَنْتَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى إصْلاَحِهِمْ، فَأَصْلِحْهُمْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ.

ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: إِنَّ اللهَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلاَمَ وَيَقُولُ: جَزَاكَ اللهُ خَيْراً عَنْ تَبْلِيغِكَ، فَقَدْ بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالاَتِ رَبِّكَ وَنَصَحْتَ لأُمَّتِكَ وَأَرْضَيْتَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَرْغَمْتَ الْكَافِرِينَ. يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إِنَّ ابْنَ عَمِّكَ مُبْتَلىً وَمُبْتَلىً بِهِ. يَا مُحَمَّدُ، قُلْ فِي كُلِّ أَوْقَاتِكَ: الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَ.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: أَعْطَانِيَ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعالَى خَمْساً وَأَعْطَى عَلِيَّاً خَمْساً: أَعْطَانِي جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَأَعْطَى عَلِيَّاً جَوَامِعَ الْعِلْمِ، وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيَّاً وَجَعَلَهُ وَصِيَّاً، وَأَعْطَـانِيَ الْكَوْثَرَ وَأَعْطَـاهُ السَّلْسَــبِيلَ، وَأَعْطَــانِي الْوَحْيَ

Then the Holy Prophet’s eyes were filled with tears! I said: May my parents be ransom for you. Why are you weeping? The Holy Prophet said: O Ibn Abbas! The first thing God told me was to look down. I saw that all the veils had been removed and the doors of heavens were open; ‘Ali had raised his head towards me; he was speaking to me; I was speaking to him too, and God was speaking to me! I said: What did God say to you?

The Holy Prophet said: God said: O Muhammad! I appointed ‘Ali as your successor, vizier, and executor. Convey these words of mine to him, for he is listening to you! I conveyed God’s message to him while he was in God’s presence. Bowing down, ‘Ali said: I do obey God’s decree and accept His command. At that time God ordered to angels to hail him and they hailed ‘Ali too and ‘Ali hailed them too. I saw angels giving good news to one another. They hailed me wherever I passed by them.

O Muhammad! By God who appointed you as a prophet, the angels were rejoicing for the leadership of ‘Ali. I saw the bearer of the throne lowering their heads towards the earth. I asked Gabriel: Why are they looking at the earth? He said: They call on God to see ‘Ali and God too gave them a chance to see ‘Ali. He informed me of the event to the letter. I found out that I had not taken a step without ‘Ali being informed of it!

Ibn Abbas reports: I said: O Messenger of Allah! Please guide me. He said: It is incumbent on you to have the love for ‘Ali! Again I said: O Messenger of Allah! Please guide me to what is good and fair! The Holy Prophet said: It is incumbent on you to have the love for ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib! By God who appointed me as prophet, He will not accept any good deed from a servant without asking about his love for ‘Ali though He knows better. The reason He asks about love for ‘Ali is that if a servant confesses he loves ‘Ali, his deeds are accepted, for nothing is hidden for God to ask about. If the answer is negative, he will be sent to hell!

O Ibn Abbas! By God who appointed me as a prophet, the fire of hell is more furious to ‘Ali’s enemy than to a person who believes God has a son!

وَأَعْطَاهُ الإِلْهَامَ، وَأُسْرِيَ بِي إلَيْهِ وَفُتِحَ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَالْحُجُبُ حَتَّى نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ وَنَظَرْتُ إلَيْهِ. ثُمَّ بَكَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَقُلْتُ: مَا يُبْكِيكَ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي؟ فَقالَ: يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا كَلَّمَني بِهِ رَبِّي أَنْ قَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، أُنْظُرْ تَحْتَكَ. فَنَظَرْتُ إلَى الْحُجُبِ قَدِ انْخَرَقَتْ وَإِلَى أَبْوَابِ السَّمَاءِ قَدِ انْفَتَحَتْ وَنَظَرْتُ إلَى عَلِيٍّ وَهُوَ رَافِعٌ رَأْسَهُ إلَيَّ فَكَلَّمَنِي وَكَلَّمْتُهُ وَكَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجلَّ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، بِمَ كَلَّمَكَ رَبُّكَ؟

قَالَ: قَالَ لِي: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلِيَّاً وَصِيَّكَ وَوَزِيرَكَ وَجَعَلْتُهُ الْخَلِيفَةَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ، فَأَعْلِمْهُ بِهَا، فَهَا هُوَ يَسْمَعُ كَلاَمَكَ. فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ وَأَنَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجلَّ. فَقالَ لِي: قَدْ قَبِلْتُ وَأَطَعْتُ. فَأَمَرَ اللهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ أَنْ تُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَفَعَلَتْ. فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمَ، وَرَأَيْتُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ يَتَبَاشَرُونَ بِهِ. وَمَا مَرِرْتُ بِمَلأٍ إلاَّ هَنَّؤُونِي وَقَالُوا: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَقَدْ دَخَلَ السُّرُورُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ بِاسْتِخْلاَفِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ لَكَ ابْنَ عَمِّكَ. وَرَأَيْتُ حَمَلَةَ الْعَرْشِ قَدْ نَكَسُوا رُؤُوسَهُمْ فَسَأَلْتُ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَقالَ: إِنَّهُمُ اسْتَأْذَنُوا اللهَ فِي النَّظَرِ إلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُمْ. فَلَمَّا هَبِطْتُ جَعَلْتُ أُخْبِرُهُ بِذَلِكَ وَيُخْبِرُنِي، فَعَلِمْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَطَأْ مَوْطِئاً إلاَّ وَقَدْ كُشِفَ لِعَلِيٍّ عَنْهُ.

قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ أَوْصِنِي. فَقالَ: عَلَيْك بِحُبِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ أَوْصِنِي.

قَالَ: عَلَيْك بِمَوَدَّةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيَّاً إنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ مِنْ عَبْدٍ حَسَنَةً حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ حُبِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَهُوَ تَعالَى أَعْلَمُ. فَإِنْ جَاءَهُ بِوِلاَيَتِهِ قَبِلَ عَمَلَهُ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيهِ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَأْتِهِ بِوِلاَيَتِهِ لَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ وَأَمَرَ بِهِ إلَى النَّارِ. يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيَّاً إنَّ النَّارَ لأَشَدُّ غَضَباً عَلَى مُبْغِضِ عَلِيٍّ مِنْهَا عَلَى مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ للهِ وَلَداً.

O Ibn Abbas! Should the archangels and the apostles be unanimously hostile to ‘Ali, God will throw all of them into the fire of hell. I said: O Messenger of Allah, can anyone be ‘Ali’s enemy? The Holy Prophet said: ‘Ali’s enemies are those who have no real share of Islam, though they apparently consider themselves Muslims and my Ummah. O Ibn Abbas! A sign of their enmity with ‘Ali is that they prefer people of lower rank to him! By God who appointed me as a prophet, He has not created any prophet more honorable than me and no prophet’s successor more honorable than ‘Ali. Ibn Abbas reports: I always cherished this advice of the Holy Prophet by having a love for ‘Ali and his leadership. I do not know any better act for myself than ‘Ali’s love!

Ibn Abbas reports: It was not long before that the Messenger of Allah was on the verge of departing from this world. I went to his presence and said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be ransom for you. Now that your days are numbered, what is your advice to me? The Holy Prophet said: O Ibn Abbas! Oppose ‘Ali’s enemies and never support them. Do not take them your friends!

I said: O Messenger of Allah! Why don’t you advise people to forsake ‘Ali’s enmity at this sensitive juncture of time given that there is no obstacle? The Messenger of Allah started weeping so much so that he almost fainted! He then said: O Ibn Abbas: It has been so destined that the sworn enemies of Islam will oppose ‘Ali in the future! By God who appointed me as a prophet, no denier of ‘Ali’s right will ever die without God deny him the blessing He has given him.

O Ibn Abbas! Should you wish to meet your Lord while He is pleased with you, adopt the path of ‘Ali; be always with him; be pleased with his leadership; be hostile to his enemies, and be a friend of his friends. Have no doubt about ‘Ali and his leadership, for any doubt about ‘Ali is doubt about God.¹⁷² Salman Farsi has reported: We swore an oath of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah not to fail to be benevolent to Muslims, consider ‘Ali as our leader and love him.¹⁷³

يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، لَوْ أَنَّ الْمَلائِكَةَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَالأَنْبِيَاءَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى بُغْضِهِ، وَلَنْ يَفْعَلُوا، لَعَذَّبَهُمُ اللهُ بِالنَّارِ. قُلتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، وَهَلْ يُبْغِضُهُ أَحَدٌ؟ فَقالَ: يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، نَعَمْ! يُبْغِضُهُ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُونَ أَنَّهُمْ مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَمْ يَجْعَلِ اللهُ لَهُمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ نَصِيباً. يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، إنَّ مِنْ عَلاَمَةِ بُغْضِهِمْ لَهُ تَفْضِيلَ مَنْ هُوَ دُونَهُ عَلَيْهِ. وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيَّاً مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ نَبِيَّاً أَكْرَمَ عَلَيْهِ مِنِّي وَلاَ وَصِيَّاً أَكْرَمَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ وَصِيِّي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَلَمْ أَزَلْ مُحِبَّاً لَهُ كَمَا أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَوَصَّانِي بِمَوَدَّتِهِ، وَإنَّهُ لأَكْبَرُ عَمَلِي عِنْدِي.

قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: ثُمَّ مَضَى مِنَ الزَّمَانِ مَا مَضَى وَحَضَرَتْ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الْوَفَاةُ وَحَضْرُتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، قَدْ دَنَا أَجَلُكُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي؟ فَقالَ: يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، خَالِفْ مَنْ خَالَفَ عَلِيَّاً وَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ لَهُمْ ظَهِيراً وَلاَ وَلِيَّاً. قُلتُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، فَلِمَ لاَ تَأْمُرُ النَّاسَ بِتَرْكِ مُخَالَفَتِهِ؟

قَالَ: فَبَكَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَتَّى أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، سَبَقَ الْكِتَابُ فِيهِمْ وَعِلْمُ رَبِّي. وَالَّذِي بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيَّاً، لاَ يَخْرُجُ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ خَالَفَهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَأَنْكَرَ حَقَّهُ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرَ اللهُ مَا بِهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ.

يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، إذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَلْقَى اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ وَهُوَ عَنْكَ رَاضٍ فَاسْلُكْ طَرِيقَةَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَمِلْ مَعَهُ حَيْثُمَا مَالَ، وَارْضَ بِهِ إِمَاماً، وَعَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ، وَوَالِ مَنْ وَالاَهُ. يَا بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، إحْذَرْ أَنْ يَدْخُلَكَ شَكٌّ فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّكَّ فِي عَلِيٍّ كُفْرٌ بِاللهِ. وَعَنْ سَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ قَالَ: بَايَعْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى النُّصْحِ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالإئْتِمَامِ بعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَالْمُوَالاَةِ لَهُ.

The Holy Prophet has been quoted by Imam Sadiq (a.s) on the authority of his father and grandfather as saying: During my Night Journey when I reached Sidrat al-Muntaha, the herald of God said: O Muhammad! Make necessary recommendation about ‘Ali, for he is the master of the Muslims, the leader of the pious, and the head of the prosperous on the Day of Judgment.¹⁷⁴

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Abd al-Rahman Ansar on the authority of his father as saying: God has blessed me with nine merits which are gathered in ‘Ali; three merits in this world and three merits in the hereafter; I wish two merits for him and I am worried about the one merit remaining!

As for the three worldly merits, ‘Ali will conceal my private parts (implying that he will do everything related to my burial), he is the guardian of my Ahl al-Bayt, and my executor. As for three merits of hereafter, I am given the banner of al-Hamd which I will give to him, I will trust ‘Ali in intercession, and he will help me with carrying the keys of paradise and dividing them among those who deserve paradise. As for the two things I wish for him, ‘Ali will never go astray or become unbeliever. As for the last one, I fear that Quraysh will maltreat and betray him after me.¹⁷⁵

Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi- Layla has quoted his father as saying: On the day of Khaybar battle, the Messenger of Allah gave the banner to ‘Ali and God made him victorious. On the day of Ghadir Khum, the Holy Prophet while introducing ‘Ali said: He is the master of every believing man and women.

Addressing ‘Ali, the Holy Prophet said: O ‘Ali, you are from me and I am from you. You will fight for the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an after me in the same way that I fought for the revelation of the Holy Qur’an. He also said: O ‘Ali! Your position to me is as Harun to Musa. Peace with you is peace with me and war against you is war against me. You are the firm rope of Allah to whom people should clutch. You solve people’s problems when they are at a loss. You are the guardian of every believing man and woman. You are the one about whom God revealed the verse

“and an announcement from Allah and His apostle to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage” (9:3).

You are the one who acts according to my Sunnah and will defend my nation.

وَعَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إلَى السَّمَاءِ وَانْتَهَيْتُ إلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى نُودِيتُ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إسْتَوْصِ لِعَلِيٍّ خَيْراً، فَإِنَّهُ سَيِّدُ الْمُسْلِمينَ وَإِمَامُ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَقَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أُعْطِيتُ فِي عَلِيٍّ تِسْعاً: ثَلاَثاً فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَثَلاَثاً فِي الآخِرَةِ، وَاثْنَتَيْنِ أَرْجُوهُمَا لَهُ، وَوَاحِدَةً أَخَافُهَا عَلَيْهِ. فَأَمَّا الثَّلاَثُ الَّتِي فِي الدُّنْيَا: فَسَاتِرُ عَوْرَتِي، وَالْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِ أَهْلِي، وَوَصِيِّي فِيهِمْ. وَأَمَّا الثَّلاَثُ الَّتِي فِي الآخِرَةِ: فَإِنِّي أُعْطَي لِوَاءَ الْحَمْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَأَدْفَعُهُ إلَيْهِ فَيَحْمِلُهُ عَنِّي، وَأَعْتَمِدُ عَلَيْهِ فِي مَقَامِ الشَّفَاعَةِ، وَيُعِينُنِي عَلَى حَمْلِ مَفَاتِيحِ الْجَنَّةِ.

وَأَمَّا اللَّتَانِ أَرْجُوهُمَا لَهُ: فَإنَّهُ لاَ يَرْجِعُ مِنْ بَعْدِي ضَالاًّ وَلاَ كَافِراً. وَأَمَّا الَّتِي أَخَافُهَا عَلَيْهِ فَغَدْرُ قُرَيْشٍ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَالَ: قَالَ أَبِي: دَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الرَّايَةَ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ إلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَفَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ. وَوَقَّفَهُ يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ فَأَعْلَمَ النَّاسَ أَنَّهُ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ. وَقالَ: أَنْتَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْكَ. وَقالَ: تُقَاتِلُ عَلَى التَّأْوِيلِ كَمَا قَاتَلْتُ عَلَى التَّنْزِيلِ. وَقالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي.

وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنَا سِلْمٌ لِمَنْ سَالَمْتَ وَحَرْبٌ لِمَنْ حَارَبْتَ. وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ الْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى. وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ تُبَيِّنُ لَهُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْهِمْ بَعْدِي.

وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ إِمَامُ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ بَعْدِي، وَوَلِيُّ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ بَعْدِي. وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِيهِ ?وَأَذَانٌ مِنَ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الأَكْبَرِ?. وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْتَ الآخِذُ بِسُنَّتِي وَالذَّابُّ عَنْ مِلَّتِي.

The Holy Prophet said: O ‘Ali, on the Day of Judgment, I am the first one who will be raised to life and you will be raised to life with me too. I am at the Pond and you will be with me too. The Messenger of Allah said: O ‘Ali, I am the first person who will enter paradise. You, Hasan, Husayn, and Fatimah will enter paradise after me. God has revealed to me to make your merits public and I have carried out this mission accordingly.

O ‘Ali, beware of rancor some people have in their hearts against you and this will become manifest only after my departure from this world. May the curse of Allah be upon them. Then the Holy Prophet started weeping and when the reason was asked, he said: Gabriel informed me that the rancorous people will bother ‘Ali and will deny his indisputable right. They will fight ‘Ali and will kill his children! Gabriel also informed me the oppression against his children will continue till the uprising of the Riser. But after the uprising of the Riser (Imam Mahdi) they will gain power and people’s love for them will increase. On that day, their ill-speakers will be few, their enemies will be abased and their eulogizers will be numerous.

This prophecy will be materialized when there is an apocalypse and the oppressed people lose their hope of a better world. Then the Riser of Ahl al-Bayt will reappear among them and turns despair into hope. The Messenger of Allah said: The name of the Riser would be the same as my name and the name of his father is the same as the name of my father and he will be one of the sons of my daughter, Fatimah. At that time, truth will become manifest by him and falsehood will be removed by his sword and all the people, whether they wish or not, will follow him.

The narrator reports: At this time, the Holy Prophet stopped weeping. Addressing the believers, he said: I will give you good news about the rule of the Riser, for this uprising is a divine promise with no violation. This victory is imminent. Then, the Holy Prophet raised his hands in prayer, saying: O Lord! These are my household (Ahl al-Bayt), remove uncleanness from them and have mercy on them. Help them in their plights, give them honor, for You have power over everything.¹⁷⁶ Ummu-Salamah was informed that her male servant was speaking ill of ‘Ali.

وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الأَرْضُ وَأَنْتَ مَعِي.

وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنَا عِنْدَ الْحَوْضِ وَأَنْتَ مَعِي.

وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَنْتَ مَعِي تَدْخُلُهَا وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ وَفَاطِمَةُ. وَقَالَ لَهُ: إِنَّ اللهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ بِأَنْ أَقُومَ بِفَضْلِكَ، فَقُمْتُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ وَبَلَّغْتُهُمْ مَا أَمَرَنِي اللهُ بِتَبْلِيغِهِ. وَقَالَ لَهُ: إتَّقِ الضَّغَائِنَ الَّتِي فِي صُدُورِ مَنْ لاَ يُظْهِرُهَا إِلاَّ بَعْدَ مَوْتِي. أُولَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللاَّعِنُونَ. ثُمَّ بَكَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَقِيلَ: مِمَّ بُكَاؤكَ يَا رَسولَ اللهِ؟ فَقالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إنَّهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَهُ وَيَمْنَعُونَهُ حَقَّهُ، وَيُقَاتِلُونَهُ وَيَقْتُلُونَ وُلْدَهُ وَيَظْلِمُونَهُمْ بَعْدَهُ. وَأَخْبَرَنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ يَزُولُ إِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُهُمْ وَعَلَتْ كَلِمَتُهُمْ وَاجْتَمَعَتِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى مَحَبَّتِهِمْ. وَكَانَ الشَّانِئُ لَهُمْ قَلِيلاً وَالْكَارِهُ لَهُمْ ذَلِيلاً، وَكَثُرَ الْمَادِحُ لَهُمْ. وَذَلِكَ حِينَ تَغَيَّرُ الْبِلاَدُ وَضَعُفَ الْعِبَادُ وَالإِيَاسُ مِنَ الْفَرَجِ، فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَظْهَرُ الْقَائِمُ فِيهِمْ. ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إسْمُهُ كَ?سْمِي وَ?سْمُ أَبِيهِ كَ?سْمِ أَبِي. هُوَ مِنْ وُلْدِ ابْنَتِي فَاطِمَةَ، يُظْهِرُ اللهُ الْحَقَّ بِهِمْ وَيُخْمِدُ الْبَاطِلَ بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ وَيَتَّبِعُهُمُ النَّاسُ بَيْنَ رَاغِبٍ إِلَيْهِمْ وَخَائِفٍ لَهُمْ.

قَالَ: وَسَكَنَ الْبُكَاءُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَقَالَ: مَعَاشِرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَبْشِرُوا بِالْفَرَجِ، فَإِنَّ وَعْدَ اللهِ لاَ يُخْلَفُ، وَقَضَاؤُهُ لاَ يُرَدُّ، وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ، وَإنَّ فَتْحَ اللهِ قَرِيبٌ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ أَهْلِي فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيراً. اللَّهُمَّ إكْلأْهُمْ وَارْعَهُمْ وَكُنْ لَهُمْ وَانْصُرْهُمْ وَأَعِنْهُمْ وَأَعِزَّهُمْ وَلاَ تُذِلَّهُمْ وَاخْلِفْنِي فِيهِمْ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. وَبَلَغَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ أَنَّ لَهَا عَبْداً يَنْتَقِصُ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَيَتَناوَلُهُ. فَأَحْضَرَتْهُ وَقَالَتْ: يَا بُنَيَّ،

She called him and kindly said to him: I have heard that you speak ill of ‘Ali. He said: Yes, I do. Ummu-Salamah said: May your mother mourn you! Sit here so that I will tell you what the Messenger of Allah has said about ‘Ali! Then you are free to choose any way you wish! On the day and night the Messenger of Allah was in my house, I asked for permission to enter the room but he did not give me permission.

This made me upset, saying to myself: Perhaps I have disobeyed him or a verse has been revealed about me! I asked for permission to enter the room for the second time but I heard the same answer! For the third time, I asked for permission. This time, the Holy Prophet gave me permission to enter the room. I saw ‘Ali sitting on his knees facing the Messenger of Allah. ‘Ali was saying: May my parents be ransom for you! What should I do if such and such things happen! The Messenger of Allah too was inviting him to patience and self-restraint.

‘Ali repeated what he had asked but he received the same answer. When ‘Ali repeated what he has asked for the third time, the Holy Prophet said: O ‘Ali! if the opponents do not stop their behavior, put your sword on your shoulder and behead them step by step till you will meet me and till blood is dropping from your sword!

After speaking with ‘Ali, the Messenger of Allah turned to me, saying: O Ummu-Salamah, why do I see signs of worry on your face? I said: Why should I not be worried. I asked for permission to enter the room two times but you did not give me permission! The Holy Prophet said: By God! You have not done anything wrong, for God and His messenger always have a good impression of you. But you came at a time when Gabriel was sitting on my right side and ‘Ali on my left side. Gabriel was informing me of the unpleasant events that would happen after me, saying: these events will happen about ‘Ali.