Love, affection, and friendship with Ali رضي الله عنه is the way of the believers
من كنت مولاه، فعلي مولاه .
“Whomever I am the master of, Ali is his master.”
This hadith is mutawatir. The following scholars have declared this hadith mutawatir.
Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him (748 AH)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (774 AH)
Allama Ibn al-Jazari, may Allah have mercy on him (833 AH)
Hafiz Suyuti, may Allah have mercy on him (911 AH)
Allama Ajluni, may Allah have mercy on him (1162 AH)
Allama Amir San’ani, may Allah have mercy on him (1182 AH)
Allama Albani, may Allah have mercy on him (1420 AH)
Imam Ibn Shaheen, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا حديث غريب صحيح، وقد روى حديث غدير حم عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نحو مائة نفس، وفيهم العشرة، وهو حديث ثابت، لا أعرف له علة .
“This hadith is authentic and rare; nearly one hundred companions narrated the hadith of Ghadir Khumm from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Among them are the ten promised paradise companions as well. This hadith is established. I do not see any defect in it.”
Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
له طرق جيدة .
“It has excellent chains of narration.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
كثير من أسانيدها صحاح وحسان .
“It has many chains that are authentic and good.”
This hadith is narrated from the following companions, may Allah be pleased with them:
◈ Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him:
◈ Sayyiduna Zaid ibn Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him:
Riyah ibn Harith, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
جاء رهط إلى على بالرحبة فقالوا : السلام عليك يا مولانا قال : كيف أكون مولاكم وأنتم قوم عرب؟ قالوا : سمعنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم غدير حم يقول : من كنت مولاه، فإن هذا مولاه قال رياح : فلما مضوا تبعتهم، فسألت من هؤلاء؟ قالوا : نفر من الأنصار فيهم أبو أيوب الأنصاري.
“A group came to Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, in Rahba and said: Peace be upon you, O our master! Sayyiduna Ali said: How can I be your master while you are Arabs? They said: We heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: Whomever I am the master of, Ali is his master. Riyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: When they left, I followed them and asked: Who were these? They said: They were some people from the Ansar, among them Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him.”
Saeed ibn Wahb, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
قام خمسة أو ستة من أصحاب النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فشهدوا أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : من كنت مولاه، فعلي مولاه .
“Five or six companions testified that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: Whomever I am the master of, Ali is his master.”
Sayyiduna Zaid ibn Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said three times on the occasion of Ghadir Khumm:
أذكركم الله فى أهل بيتي .
“I warn you about the fear of Allah regarding the Ahl al-Bayt.”
The first Caliph Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the fourth Caliph Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him:
والذي نفسي بيده، لقرابة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحب إلى أن أصل من قرابني .
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Caring for the kinship of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is more beloved to me than my own kinship.”
He also said:
ارقبوا محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فى أهل بيته .
“Take care of the rights of Muhammad, peace be upon him, regarding the Ahl al-Bayt.”
The love of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه and Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه in one heart:
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه says that Rafidhi and Nasibi people say:
إن حب عثمان وعلي لا يجتمعان فى قلب مؤمن وكذبوا قد جمع الله عز وجل حبهما بحمد الله فى قلوبنا .
“A believer’s heart cannot contain love for both Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه and Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه; this is their lie. Alhamdulillah! Allah Almighty has combined the love of both in our hearts.”
Imam Abu Shahab Hunaat رحمه الله says:
لا يجتمع حب أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي رضي الله عنهم إلا فى قلوب أنقياء هذه الأمة .
“The love of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه, and Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه can only reside in the hearts of the pious people of this Ummah.”
Maymoon bin Mehran رحمه الله says:
إن أقواما يقولون : لا يسعنا أن نستغفر لعثمان وعلي، وأنا أقول : غفر الله لعثمان وعلي وطلحة والزبير .
“A group says: It is beyond our capacity to seek forgiveness for Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه and Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه. I say: May Allah forgive Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Talhah رضي الله عنه, and Sayyiduna Zubair رضي الله عنه.”
Disparaging Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه is Disparaging the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم:
Sayyidina Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
من أذى عليا فقد أذاني .
“Whoever harms Ali رضي الله عنه, has harmed me.”
Abu Raja Atardi رحمه الله says:
لا تسبوا عليا، ولا أهل هذا البيت، إن جارا لنا من بني الهجيم قدم من الكوفة فقال : ألم تروا هذا الفاسق ابن الفاسق؟ إن الله قتله، يعني الحسين عليه السلام، قال : فرماه الله بكوكبين فى عينه، فطمس الله بصره .
“Do not speak ill of Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه and his family. A neighbor of ours from Banu Hujaym who came from Kufa said: Look at this sinful son of a sinner, meaning Sayyidina Hussain رضي الله عنه, may Allah protect us! Allah destroyed him. Two heavenly embers struck his eyes and his eyesight was lost.”
Hatred and Enmity towards Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه and Ahl al-Bayt is a Cause of Hypocrisy and the Fire of Hell:
Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه states:
والذي فلق الحبة، وبرأ النسمة لعهد النبى الأمي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى : لا يحبني إلا مؤمن، ولا يبغضني إلا منافق .
“By the One Who split the grain and created living beings! The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has promised me that only a believer will love me, and only a hypocrite will harbor hatred against me.”
Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه says:
ليحبني قوم حتى يدخلوا النار في، وليبغضني قوم حتى يدخلوا النار فى بغضي .
“One nation will enter the fire due to excess in love for me, and another nation will enter the fire because of hatred towards me.”
Three Characteristics:
Aamir bin Saad bin Abi Waqas, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates:
أمر معاوية سعدا، فقال : ما منعك أن تسب أبا تراب؟ قال : أما ما ذكرت ثلاثا قالهن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلن أسبة، لأن تكون لي واحدة منهن أحب إلى من حمر النعم، سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول له، وخلفه فى بعض مغازيه، فقال له على : يا رسول الله تخلفني مع النساء والصبيان؟ فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى، إلا أنه لا نبوة بعدي؟ وسمعته يقول فى يوم خيبر : لأعطين الراية رجلا يحب الله ورسوله، ويحبه الله ورسوله فتطاولنا لها، فقال : ادعوا لي عليا فأتي به أرمد، فبصق فى عينيه، ودفع الراية إليه، ولما نزلت، زاد هشام : إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ البَيْتِ دعا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عليا، وفاطمة، وحسنا، وحسينا فقال : اللهم ، يعني هؤلاء أهلي .
“Sayyiduna Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, appointed Sayyiduna Saad, may Allah be pleased with him, as Amir and asked: What is the reason you do not insult Sayyiduna Abu Turab, that is Ali, may Allah be pleased with him? He replied: I do not insult him because I cherish three noble commands of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, which he gave to Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. Each command is dearer to me than red camels. I myself heard that when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, left Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, behind in a battle, Sayyiduna Ali said: O Messenger of Allah, will you leave me behind with women and children? He said: Are you not pleased that your status with me is like that of Harun (Aaron) with Musa (Moses)? However, after me, the chain of prophethood ends. I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say on the day of Khaibar: I will entrust the banner of war to the one who loves Allah and His Messenger and who is beloved to Allah and His Messenger. We began to desire it. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: Bring Ali to me. He was brought, and you were afflicted with eye inflammation. The Prophet, peace be upon him, applied saliva to Sayyiduna Ali’s eyes and handed him the banner. Allah granted victory through his hands, and when this verse was revealed: إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ البَيْتِ O Ahl al-Bayt! Allah intends to remove impurity from you. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, called Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, Lady Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, Sayyiduna Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, and Sayyiduna Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt.”
