Love for Ahl al-Bayt
Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Hussain Ajri, may Allah have mercy on him (360 AH), writes:
قد أثبت من بيان خلافة أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي رضي الله عنهم ما إذا نظر فيها المؤمن سره، وزاده محبة للجميع، وإذا نظر فيها رافضي خبيث أو ناصبي ذليل مهين ، أسخن الله الكريم بذالك أعينهما فى الدنيا والآخرة؛ لأنهما خالفا الكتاب والسنة ، وما كان عليه الصحابة رضي الله عنهم واتبعا غير سبيل المؤمنين .
“I have established from the narration of the caliphates of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, something that will make a believer’s heart blossom upon seeing it and will increase love for all of them, and will cause the wicked Rafidhi and the disgraced and vile Nasibi to be enraged. May Allah the Generous keep their eyes swollen in this world and the Hereafter because this book and Sunnah oppose the path of the Companions and the methodology of the Muhaddithin.”
Our master Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, says that the Nawasib and Rawafid claim:
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, may Allah be pleased with him, and Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. This is their lie. Praise be to Allah! Allah has combined the love of both in our hearts.”
Imam Abu Shahab Hinnat, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
لا يجتمع حب أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي رضي الله عنهم إلا فى قلوب أنقياء هذه الأمة .
“The love of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, can only reside in the hearts of the pious people of this Ummah.”
Maymun bin Mehran, may Allah have mercy on him, 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 Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. Whereas I say: May Allah forgive Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, Talha, may Allah be pleased with him, and Zubair, may Allah be pleased with him.”
Ahl al-Hadith and Ahl al-Bayt :
Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said three times on the occasion of Ghadir Khumm:
أذكركم الله فى أهل بيتي .
“I warn you about the Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House) of Allah.”
Sayyida Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took Ali رضي الله عنه, Fatimah رضي الله عنها, Hasan رضي الله عنه, and Husayn رضي الله عنه under a cloak and prayed:
اللهم أهل بيتي أذهب عنهم الرجس وطهرهم تطهيرا .
“O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt, do not let filth come near them and grant them the highest degree of purity.”
Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه narrates that when the verse of Mubahala
was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم called Ali رضي الله عنه, Fatimah رضي الله عنها, Hasan رضي الله عنه, and Husayn رضي الله عنه and said:
اللهم هؤلاء أهلي .
“O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt.”
Sayyiduna Wathilah bin Asqa’ رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
اللهم هؤلاء أهل بيتي، وأهل بيتي أحق .
“O Allah! These are my Ahl al-Bayt and my Ahl al-Bayt are more deserving of honor and respect.”
Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله
has declared this hadith authentic, and Imam Bayhaqi رحمه الله has also classified its chain as “Sahih.”
Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him,
has declared it authentic according to the condition of Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, and Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, and Hafiz Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, has declared it authentic according to the condition of Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him.
Our master Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed for Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, and Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him:
اللهم ارض عنهم كما أنا عنهم راض .
“O Allah! I am pleased with them, so be pleased with them as well.”
The first Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the fourth Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him:
والذي نفسي بيده، لقرابة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحب إلى أن أصل من قرابتي.
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Taking care of the kinship of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is more beloved to me than my own kinship.”
He also said:
أرقبوا محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فى أهل بيته .
“Take care of the rights of Muhammad, peace be upon him, regarding the Ahl al-Bayt.”
Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Harith, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
صلى أبو بكر رضى الله عنه العصر، ثم خرج يمشي، فرأى الحسن يلعب مع الصبيان، فحمله على عاتقه، وقال : بأبي شبيه بالنبي لا شبيه بعلي وعلي يضحك .
“Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, performed the Asr prayer and then walked on foot. On the way, he saw Sayyiduna Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, playing with children, so he lifted him onto his shoulder and said: May my father be sacrificed for them! They resemble the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, not Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.” Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, smiled.”
Allama Ameer Muhammad bin Ismail San’ani, may Allah have mercy on him (1182 AH), writes:
من أبدانهم وترك تعظيمهم فإن لهم على الامة حقا لا يجهله إلا من غطى الشقاء على نور بصيرته وكذلك المستحل من غير العتيرة آثم إلا لما كان حقهم ! وقد علم الله سبحانه أنه يكثر لهم الأعداء والحسد فخصهم .
“That is, the one who causes physical harm to the Ahl al-Bayt and neglects their honor and respect (is cursed). Because the Ahl al-Bayt have a definite right over the Ummah, and only one whose insight is overshadowed by misery and wretchedness can remain unaware of this. Although it is blameworthy to disrespect others besides the Ahl al-Bayt, since the rights of the Ahl al-Bayt are greater and Allah knew that their enemies and enviers would be more, therefore they have been mentioned specifically.”
Sayyiduna Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمص لسانه أو شفته، يعني الحسن بن على صلوات الله عليه، وإنه لن يعذب لسان أو شفتان مصهما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم .
“I am an eyewitness that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was sucking the tongue or lips of Sayyiduna Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, and the tongues or lips that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, sucks will never be touched by punishment.”
Imam Ibrahim Nakha’i, may Allah have mercy on him (196 AH), says:
لو كنت فيمن قتل الحسين بن علي، ثم غفر لي، ثم أدخلت الجنة ، استحييت أن أمر على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم، فينظر فى وجهي .
“If (hypothetically and impossibly) I were among the killers of Husayn and my sin was forgiven, and I even went to Paradise, still I would feel ashamed to face the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him.”
Imam Imran bin Malhan Abu Raja Atardi, may Allah have mercy on him (105 AH), says:
لا تسبوا عليا ولا أهل هذا البيت، فإن جارا لنا من بلهجيم قال : ألم تروا إلى هذا الفاسق الحسين بن على قتله الله، فرماه الله بكوكبين فى عينيه، فطمس الله بصره.
“Do not speak ill of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه and the Ahl al-Bayt, because in our neighborhood lived a man from the tribe of Hajim, who said: Do you not see this sinful (son of a sinner) Husayn ibn Ali? Allah Almighty has destroyed him. This meant that Allah Almighty struck two nails in his eyes and he lost his sight forever.”
Imam Shu’bi رحمه الله says:
حب أهل بيت نبيك، ولا تكن رافضيا، واعمل بالقرآن، ولا تكن حروريا، واعلم أن ما أتاك من حسنة فمن الله، وما أتاك من سيئة فمن نفسك، ولا تكن قدريا، وأطع الإمام، وإن كان عبدا حبشيا .
“Love the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet ﷺ, but do not become Rafidhi. Follow the Quran, but do not become Khawarij. Remember that every good deed of yours is from Allah and every evil is from yourself. Do not deny predestination and obey the ruler of the time, even if he is an Abyssinian!”
He also said:
لو كانت الشيعة من الطير لكانوا رحما ولو كانوا من البهائم لكانوا حمرا .
“If the Shia were birds, they would be vultures, and if they were animals, they would be donkeys.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), writes:
يتبرؤون من طريقة الروافض الذين يبغضون الصحابة ويسبونهم، وطريقة النواصب الذين يؤذون أهل البيت بقول أو عمل .
“The Ahl al-Sunnah (Ahl al-Hadith) are free from the Rafidah, who harbor hatred for the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and speak ill of them, and also declare disassociation from the Nasibis, who verbally and in action cause pain to the Ahl al-Bayt.”
He also says:
أما أهل السنة فيتولون جميع المؤمنين، ويتكلمون بعلم وعدل، ليسوا من أهل الجهل ولا من أهل الأهواء، ويتبرؤون من طريقة الروافض والنواصب جميعا، ويتولون السابقين والأولين كلهم، ويعرفون قدر الصحابة وفضلهم ومناقبهم، ويرعون حقوق أهل البيت التى شرعها الله لهم .
“The Ahl al-Sunnah love all believers. They speak based on knowledge and justice, and do not express ignorance or selfishness. They declare disassociation from the Rawafid and Nawasib, love and revere all the predecessors and the earliest generations, have complete knowledge of the virtues and ranks of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and observe the rights that Allah has established for the Ahl al-Bayt.”
Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Husayn Ajuri, may Allah have mercy on him (360 AH), writes under the Hadith of Thaqalayn:
يدل على أن خطبة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فى حجة الوداع بمنى، وأمر أمته بالتمسك بكتاب الله عز وجل وبسنته صلى الله عليه وسلم، وفي رجوعه من هذه الحجة بغدير خم فأمر أمته بكتاب الله والتمسك به وبمحبة أهل بيته، وبموالاة على بن أبى طالب رضي الله عنه، وتعريف الناس شرف على وفضله عنده، يدل العقلاء من المؤمنين على أنه واجب على كل مسلم أن يتمسك بكتاب الله عز وجل، وبسنة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين، وبمحبتهم وبمحبة أهل بيته الطيبين، والتعلق بما كانوا عليه من الأخلاق الشريفة، والاقتداء بهم رضي الله عنهم، فمن كان هكذا، فهو على طريق مستقيم، ألا ترى أن العرباض بن سارية السلمي قال : وعظنا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم موعظة بليغة، ذرفت منها العيون، ووجلت منها القلوب فقلنا : يا رسول الله، إن هذه لموعظة مودع، فما تعهد إلينا؟ قال : أوصيكم بتقوى الله، والسمع والطاعة، وإن عبدا حبشيا، فإنه من يعش منكم بعدي سيرى اختلافا كثيرا، فعليكم بسنتي، وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين عضوا عليها بالنواجذ، وإياكم ومحدثات الأمور، فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة . والخلفاء الراشدون فهم : أبو بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي رضي الله عنهم، فمن كان لهم محبا راضيا بخلافتهم، متبعا لهم، فهو متبع لكتاب الله عز وجل، ولسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ومن أحب أهل بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الطيبين، وتولاهم وتعلق بأخلاقهم، وتأدب بأدبهم، فهو على المحجة الواضحة، والطريق المستقيم والأمر الرشيد، ويرجى له النجاة .
فإن قال قائل : فما تقول فيمن يزعم أنه محب لأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان، متخلف عن محبة على بن أبى طالب رضي الله عنهم، وعن محبة الحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهما، غير راض بخلافة على بن أبى طالب كرم الله وجهه؟ هل تنفعه محبة أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان رضي الله عنهم؟ قيل له : معاذ الله، هذه صفة منافق، ليست بصفة مؤمن. قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم لعلي بن أبى طالب رضى الله عنه : لا يحبك إلا مؤمن، ولا يبغضك إلا منافق. وقال عليه السلام : من آذى عليا فقد آذاني. وشهد النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم لعلي رضى الله عنه بالخلافة وشهد له بالجنة، وبأنه شهيد، وأن عليا رضى الله عنه محب لله عز وجل ولرسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وأن الله عز وجل ورسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم محبان لعلي رضي الله عنه. وجميع ما شهد له به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الفضائل التى تقدم ذكرنا لها، وما أخبر النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من محبته للحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهما، مما تقدم ذكرنا له، فمن لم يحب هؤلاء ويتولهم فعليه لعنة الله فى الدنيا والآخرة، وقد بريء منه أبو بكر وعمر وعثمان رضي الله عنهم. وكذا من زعم أنه يتولى على بن أبى طالب رضي الله عنه، ويحب أهل بيته، ويزعم أنه لا يرضى بخلافة أبى بكر وعمر ولا عثمان ولا يحبهم ويبرأ منهم، ويطعن عليهم، فنشهد بالله يقينا أن على بن أبى طالب والحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهم براء منه لا تنفعه محبتهم حتى يحب أبا بكر وعمر وعثمان رضي الله عنهم، كما قال على بن أبى طالب رضى الله عنه فيما وصفهم به، وذكر فضلهم، وتبرأ ممن لم يحبهم، فرضي الله عنه، وعن ذريته الطيبة .
هذا طريق العقلاء من المسلمين، ونعوذ بالله ممن يقذف أهل بيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالطعن على أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان رضي الله عنهم، لقد افترى على أهل البيت وقذفهم بما قد صانهم الله عز وجل عنه وهل عرفت أكثر فضائل أبى بكر وعمر وعثمان، إلا مما رواه على بن أبى طالب رضي الله عنهم أجمعين؟.
This is the evidence that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, delivered the Farewell Pilgrimage sermon in Mina and commanded the Ummah to firmly hold onto the Book and the Sunnah. Upon returning from Hajj, at the place of Ghadir Khumm, he ordered to hold firmly to the Book of Allah, maintain love and affection for the Ahl al-Bayt, and have devotion to Sayyidina Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. He made people aware of the virtues and status of Sayyidina Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and guided the wise and insightful Muslims to adopt the Book, the Sunnah, and the ways of the rightly guided Caliphs as their covering and protection. They should breathe love for them and devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt, as well as glean and follow their excellent qualities. Such a person is on the straight path. Reflect on the hadith of Sayyidina Arabadh bin Sariyah, may Allah be pleased with him, who narrates: The Prophet, peace be upon him, gave us such a powerful sermon that our eyes began to shed tears and our hearts were filled with tenderness. We asked: O Messenger of Allah! This seems like a farewell sermon; what do you advise us? He said: I advise you to fear Allah. I command obedience to the leader, even if he is an Abyssinian slave. Because soon after my death, you will face severe disputes. In such a situation, hold firmly to my Sunnah and adhere strictly to the ways of my rightly guided Caliphs, and hold tightly to the Sunnah. Avoid introducing new matters into the religion, for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance leads astray.
The rightly guided caliphs are Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them. Whoever loves and reveres them, is pleased with their caliphate, and follows their leadership, is following the Book and the Sunnah. Whoever loves the pure and pious Ahl al-Bayt, adopts their praiseworthy qualities as his emblem and garment, and properly shows respect, such a person is established on clear evidence, is a traveler on the straight path, and hopes for salvation.
If someone says, what ruling would you issue regarding a person who says that he loves Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them, but does not love Ali and the two noble Hasan and Husayn, may Allah be pleased with them, and does not accept the caliphate of Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him? Will the love of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman benefit him?
It will be said about such a person: May Allah protect us! This is the characteristic of a hypocrite, not of a believer. Because the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه: “Only a believer will love you, and only a hypocrite will harbor enmity against you.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever harms Ali has harmed me.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ informed Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه about the caliphate, Paradise, and martyrdom. You are the lover of Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger are your lovers. All the virtues we have mentioned and the love of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for the two Hasanain Kareemain رضي الله عنهما, etc. Whoever does not have love and reverence for these pure souls is accursed in this world and the Hereafter; Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم are free from such a wretched person. Similarly, whoever claims love for Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه and the Ahl al-Bayt al-Azimah but says that he does not accept the caliphate of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم, nor loves them, and declares disassociation from them and hurls accusations and insults at them, we openly say, bearing witness to Allah, that Sayyidina Ali and the two Hasanain Kareemain رضي الله عنهم will also be free from him. Their love will not benefit him until he also begins to love Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم. Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه praised these pure personalities, narrated their virtues, and declared disassociation from every person who does not love them. May Allah be pleased with you and your family. This is the path of wise Muslims. We seek refuge in Allah from such a person who accuses the Ahl al-Bayt of having insulted Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم. Falsehoods have been imposed on the Ahl al-Bayt, and they have been accused of things from which Allah has protected them. Are not most of the virtues of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم found in the narrations of Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه?
Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him (748 AH), writes:
إن ترك الترحم سكوت، والساكت لا ينسب إليه قول، ولكن من سكت عن ترحم مثل الشهيد أمير المؤمنين عثمان، فإن فيه شيئا من تشيع، فمن نطق فيه بغض وتنقص وهو شيعي جلد يؤدب، وإن ترقى إلى الشيخين بذم، فهو رافضي خبيث ، وكذا من تعرض للإمام على بذم، فهو ناصبي يعزر، فإن كفره، فهو خارجي مارق، بل سبيلنا أن نستغفر للكل ، ونحبهم ، ونكف عما شجر بينهم .
“Remaining silent about invoking mercy upon the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is silence, and no accusation can be attributed to a silent person. However, whoever remains silent about invoking mercy upon the martyr Amir al-Mu’minin, our master Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, such a person reeks of Shi’ism. Whoever speaks ill or diminishes the status of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, is a Shi’a and deserves disciplinary lashes. Whoever dares to insult the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them) is a wicked Shi’a. Similarly, whoever behaves indecently towards our master Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, is a Nasibi and deserves punishment. Whoever declares him a disbeliever is an extremist. The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that we seek forgiveness for all of them, love and have affection for them, and refrain from disputes regarding the Companions.”
Sheikh al-Islam Allama Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), writes:
علي رضي الله عنه، ما زالا مكرمين له غاية الإكرام بكل طريق، مقدمين له، بل ولسائر بني هاشم على غيرهم فى العطاء ، مقدمين له فى المرتبة والحرمة والمحبة والموالاة والثناء والتعظيم، كما يفعلان بنظرائه، ويفضلانه بما فضله الله عز وجل به على من ليس مثله، ولم يعرف عنهم كلمة سوء فى على قط، بل ولا فى أحد من بني هاشم .
“Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, honored our master Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, in every respect as he deserved. Not only him, but they also gave preference in kindness to other Banu Hashim. They placed him in rank and status, honor and respect, love and affection, and reverence above others. Similarly, the same treatment was given to his companions, may Allah be pleased with them; they honored them according to the excellence Allah had granted them, over those who were not granted such excellence. Moreover, it is absolutely not proven that Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, ever spoke any inappropriate word about our master Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, or any Hashemi.”
He also states, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), used to say:
إن كان نصبا حب صحب محمد
فليشهد الثقلان أني ناصبي
“If loving the companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is considered Nusaybiyyah (partisanship), then the jinn and humans bear witness that I am a Nusaybi.”
Islamic historian and Quran commentator Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (774 AH), writes:
ولا تنكر الوصاة بأهل البيت، والأمر بالإحسان إليهم، واحترامهم وإكرامهم، فإنهم من ذرية طاهرة، من أشرف بيت وجد على وجه الأرض، فخرا وحسبا ونسبا، ولا سيما إذا كانوا متبعين للسنة النبوية الصحيحة الواضحة الجلية، كما كان عليه سلفهم كالعباس وبنيه، وعلي وأهل بيته وذريته ، رضي الله عنهم أجمعين .
“The prophetic injunctions regarding the Ahl al-Bayt and the kindness, tolerance, respect, and honor towards them cannot be denied. Because these are pure personalities. In terms of pride and lineage, they are the most honorable family on the face of the earth, especially when they are followers of the authentic hadiths of the Prophet, peace be upon him, with heart and soul, as the Sayyid descendants used to be. For example, Sayyiduna Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, the Abbasids, Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and their Ahl al-Bayt.”
The Wilaya of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and Ahl al-Sunnah:
It is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah that Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه is the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph and the Commander of the Faithful. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (728 AH) states:
من طعن فى خلافة أحد من هؤلاء؛ فهو أضل من حمار أهله .
“Whoever disparages the caliphate of any one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs is more foolish than a donkey.”
He also states:
أما على رضي الله عنه، فإن أهل السنة يحبونه ويتولونه، ويشهدون بأنه من الخلفاء الراشدين والائمة المهديين .
“As far as the noble person of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is concerned, the Ahl al-Sunnah love and befriend him and bear witness with heart and soul that he رضي الله عنه is among the Rightly Guided Caliphs and the rightly guided Imams.”
Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah are moderate; they are far from exaggeration and negligence. They are free from excess and deficiency, giving everyone their full due rights. They consider love and affection for Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه and the Ahl al-Bayt al-Azim as an essential part of faith. They shudder even at the thought of belittling their status. They narrate the virtues and merits of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, recognize him as the rightly guided fourth Caliph, respect the sanctity of his honorable wife Sayyida Fatimah رضي الله عنها, and acknowledge the excellence and virtues of the two noble Hasanayn رضي الله عنهما. They accept their martyrdom as true and rightful. They love those who love them, hold enmity against those who bear enmity towards them, and warn people about the misery and misfortune of such enmity.
Ahl al-Hadith consider all the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, as the foundation of Islam. In our view, their trustworthiness, honesty, justice, truthfulness, and devotion to Allah are unquestionable. Loving all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is part of faith; we give each one their due status and rank. We do not diminish anyone’s rights. Criticizing and blaming them is the behavior of bad people. Undermining them is, in fact, undermining the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Ahl al-Hadith do not deviate from the belief and methodology of the Imams of Hadith regarding the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them. In the disputes and disagreements among the Companions, they adhere to the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah and keep their tongues closed about them, avoiding taking sides. They remain seekers of forgiveness on their behalf. Our faith is that all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, have Allah’s pleasure upon them and are definitely inhabitants of Paradise. When the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, passed away, he was pleased with them. Surely, Allah informed His Prophet, peace be upon him, about their disputes.
In our view, companionship with the Prophet is a precious honor. A Companion is one who saw the radiant face of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, with the wealth of faith or met him and died in a state of faith.
