Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The explanation of this hadith has already been discussed under hadith number 1370 in the Book of Hajj.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: ➊
Even during the lifetime of Ali radi Allahu anhu, some people had spread the notion that Ali radi Allahu anhu possessed knowledge other than the present Qur’an, which was revealed only to him.
Therefore, he was questioned about this on various occasions, and he, too, refuted and denied this claim at different times and in different contexts.
Yet, despite this explicit clarification, some people still claim that, Allah forbid, there has been omission in the Qur’an.
Whereas he himself says: “We also recite the same Book of Allah that everyone else has; we do not have anything in addition to it,” and the items from his scroll are also narrated from other Companions radi Allahu anhum ajma‘in.

➋
By “innovation” (hadith), what is meant is a crime or an innovation (bid‘ah), and by “innovator” (muhdith), what is meant is a criminal or an innovator (bid‘ati).
Just as there is a severe warning against crime and innovation,
likewise, giving protection and refuge to an innovator or criminal is also a grave crime,
because of which a person becomes deserving of the curse of Allah,
the angels,
and all mankind.
And according to the majority, “obligation” (farḍ) is meant by “sarf” and “supererogatory” (nafl) by “‘adl.”
By the curse of Allah is meant deprivation from His mercy, and by the curse of the angels is meant deprivation from the supplication and seeking forgiveness that they do for the believers.
The details of this are in Surah al-Mu’min, verses 7 to 9.
And by the curse of the people is meant supplicating for his deprivation from mercy.

➌
The protection and refuge granted by any Muslim is equal and of the same status; if any Muslim grants protection and refuge to any disbeliever, then all Muslims are bound by it.
This is the view of the majority.

➍
For a Muslim to abandon his lineage and attribute himself to another family, or for a slave to abandon his emancipators and attribute himself to someone else, is also an extremely grave crime.

➎
‘Ayr and Thawr are two mountains to the south and north of Madinah.
For details, see Fuwad Abdul-Baqi’s commentary on Muslim, vol. 2, pp. 995–997.

Explanation:
1:
This explicit statement of Ali radi Allahu anhu is a clear refutation of the claim made by the Rawafid and Shia, who say that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam entrusted Ali radi Allahu anhu with some special instructions related to the secrets and mysteries of the religion and Shariah. For in the authentic hadith, it is explicitly stated that Ali radi Allahu anhu said: (We have nothing except the Book of Allah and this scroll from the Prophet ﷺ).

2:
‘Ayr and Thawr are two mountains:
Thawr is a small mountain behind Mount Uhud.
Whereas ‘Ayr is near Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar ‘Ali),
and these two mountains are situated to the north and south of Madinah,
while to the east and west of Madinah are two plains of black stones.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clearly marked and demarcated the boundaries of the Haram of Madinah with mihrab-shaped towers.
May Allah reward them with goodness.

3:
That is, the protection granted by such a person will also be respected.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ There was no special esoteric knowledge or testament (wasiyyah) with Ali radi Allahu anhu. Nothing was given to him that was hidden from others; whatever he had, he expressed it openly.

➋ Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, within the mentioned boundaries, is sacred and inviolable in the same way as Makkah al-Mukarramah. Every form of innovation (bid‘ah) is misguidance. Honoring an innovator (bid‘ati) is a great legal injustice in Shari‘ah. The recognition of this act in Madinah al-Munawwarah is even more significant, because it is the source and center of Islam.

➌ In facing the disbelievers, the Muslims are united as one. Even the lowest among them holds the same status as the highest among them.

➍ A freed slave (mawla) cannot sell or change his affiliation of loyalty (wala’) even with permission. This act is forbidden (haram). In the hadith, the mention of “without the permission of his masters” (bighayri idhni mawali-hi) is an incidental restriction, not an exclusionary one.