Investigative Analysis of the Narration About a Covenant Taken Regarding Ali (RA)Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (May Allah protect him)
❖ The Claim: A Covenant Was Taken Concerning Ali (RA)
According to a narration attributed to Umm al-Mu’minīn Umm Salamah (RA):
“Ali (RA) is upon the truth, and whoever follows him is also upon the truth. Whoever abandons him has indeed abandoned the truth. This is a covenant that was taken earlier.”
[Mizān al-I‘tidāl: 9/556]
❖ Critical Analysis of the Claim
This is presented as a personal opinion of Umm Salamah (RA). Indeed, many companions considered Ali (RA) to be on the truth, and it is possible that Umm Salamah (RA) was among them. However, to claim that a covenant was taken either by the Prophet ﷺ or by Allah in favor of Ali (RA) is not acceptable for several reasons:
- If such a divine or prophetic covenant had truly occurred, thousands of companions would have supported Ali (RA).
- In reality, only a few companions stood with him, which proves the weakness of this report.
✿ The Narrator: Mūsā bin Qays
This narration is reported by Mūsā bin Qays, who referred to himself as ‘Uṣfūr al-Jannah (Bird of Paradise).
- Ibn al-Jawzī: He fabricated Hadiths.
- Al-‘Uqaylī: He was an extremist Rāfiḍī.
- He narrated worthless and fabricated traditions.
Sources Referencing His Status:- Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb: 2/287
- Al-Jarḥ wa al-Ta‘dīl: 8/703
- Tahdhīb al-Kamāl: 3/1392
- Tārīkh al-Bukhārī al-Kabīr: 7/293
- Al-Ḍu‘afā’ al-Kabīr: 4/164
✿ Additional Weak Narrators: Mālik bin Ja‘ūnah and ‘Iyāḍ bin ‘Iyāḍ
Another transmitter of this narration is Mālik bin Ja‘ūnah, who reports it from Umm Salamah (RA). He is:
- Completely unknown (majhūl) in the field of Hadith.
- The narrator ‘Iyāḍ bin ‘Iyāḍ, who transmits from him, is also majhūl.
Due to the unreliability and obscurity of these transmitters, the entire chain of narration is flawed and cannot be accepted as evidence.
Conclusion:
The narration claiming that a covenant was made regarding the truthfulness and following of Ali (RA) is unreliable and fabricated. It is based on a chain that includes:
- Fabricators (Mūsā bin Qays),
- Extremist sectarians (Rāfiḍīs),
- and completely unknown narrators (Mālik bin Ja‘ūnah and ‘Iyāḍ bin ‘Iyāḍ).
Such narrations do not meet the standards of authenticity in Hadith sciences and cannot be used as proof for any religious claim.
