Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah states in his commentary on Sahih Muslim that Qadi Iyad has said: From this hadith, the Rawafid and the Imamiyyah sect, in fact all Shia groups, have taken evidence that the caliphate was the right of Ali radi Allahu anhu and that he was bequeathed it. He states that then these sects themselves fell into disagreement. The Rawafid declared all the Companions to be disbelievers because they did not give precedence to Ali radi Allahu anhu, and some Shia went even further by declaring Ali radi Allahu anhu himself to be a disbeliever for not standing up to claim his right. All these are people of a despicable creed and, from the perspective of reason, are corrupt, such that their statements should be rejected or debated with them.

Whereas, in this hadith, there is no evidence for them to establish the superiority of our master Ali radi Allahu anhu (over the three Companions). Because there is no such indication in it that Ali radi Allahu anhu is superior to anyone, or that he is like so-and-so. Nor is there any proof in it that Ali radi Allahu anhu would be the caliph after the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said this to Ali radi Allahu anhu at the time when he appointed him as the leader in Madinah and himself took all the other Companions towards the expedition of Tabuk. This is further supported by the fact that Harun alayhis salam did not become the successor of Musa alayhis salam, rather he passed away during the lifetime of Musa alayhis salam. Harun alayhis salam was made the deputy by Musa alayhis salam at the time when he himself set out for the appointed meeting (Mount Tur) to converse with his Lord. (Compiled)