Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (Hafizahullah)
"I have brought you something that guarantees both your worldly and spiritual success. I know of no one among the Arabs who has brought such a precious gift for his people. Who among you will assist me in this great responsibility and support my mission?"
The gathering remained silent. Suddenly, Sayyiduna Ali (RA) stood up and said:
"Although I suffer from eye ailments, have slender legs, and am the youngest among you, I will support you."
The Quraysh found this incident astonishing, as a young boy was volunteering for such a monumental responsibility. The attendees burst into laughter. However, history later confirmed the profound truth in this statement.
References: Sirat-un-Nabi, Vol. 1, p. 210; Tarikh Musliman-e-Alam, Vol. 2, p. 160
Thus, this narration is not reliable and should not be used as evidence in discussions of Islamic history.
Historical Context of the Narration
Historians and biographers report that a few days after the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) public announcement at Mount Safa, he instructed Sayyiduna Ali (RA) to arrange a gathering. Members of the family of Abdul Muttalib and other relatives were invited. Approximately 40 people attended this gathering. After the meal, the Prophet (ﷺ) stood and said:"I have brought you something that guarantees both your worldly and spiritual success. I know of no one among the Arabs who has brought such a precious gift for his people. Who among you will assist me in this great responsibility and support my mission?"
The gathering remained silent. Suddenly, Sayyiduna Ali (RA) stood up and said:
"Although I suffer from eye ailments, have slender legs, and am the youngest among you, I will support you."
The Quraysh found this incident astonishing, as a young boy was volunteering for such a monumental responsibility. The attendees burst into laughter. However, history later confirmed the profound truth in this statement.
References: Sirat-un-Nabi, Vol. 1, p. 210; Tarikh Musliman-e-Alam, Vol. 2, p. 160
Authenticity of the Narration
Analysis of Sources
This narration has been recorded by Maulana Shibli in Sirat-un-Nabi (Vol. 1), derived from Tabari’s Tarikh and Tafsir. However, Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, a student of Maulana Shibli, has declared this narration weak. In a footnote, he explains:- The chain of narrators includes Abdul Ghaffar bin Qasim, who is a Shia and Matrook (rejected).
- Another narrator, Minhal bin Amr, is unreliable due to his sectarian biases.
Detailed Critique of Narrators
1. Minhal bin Amr
Minhal bin Amr Al-Kufi is one of the narrators of this story. His credibility is questionable for the following reasons:- Lack of Direct Narration from Companions:
He did not directly narrate from any Companion (Sahabi). - Scholarly Opinions on Minhal bin Amr:
- Yahya bin Saeed Al-Qattan states: "He is unreliable."
- Al-Juzajani writes in his book on weak narrators: "He was of a deviant sect."
- Ibn Hazm criticizes him for his unreliability.
- Imam Shuba abandoned his narrations due to doubts about their authenticity.
- Omission of Key Narrators:
Even if Minhal is considered trustworthy, the chain of narration omits two crucial narrators—one Tabi‘i and one Sahabi—making it disconnected (Mu‘dal). In Hadith terminology, Mu‘dal narrations are considered the weakest and unacceptable.
2. Abdul Ghaffar bin Qasim (Abu Maryam Al-Ansari)
Abdul Ghaffar bin Qasim is the main narrator of this story. Scholars have critically analyzed him as follows:- Scholarly Criticism:
- Imam Dhahabi states: "He is not trustworthy and is a Rafidhi (extremist Shia)."
- Imam Ali bin Al-Madini remarks: "He was a leader among the Shia and fabricated Hadiths."
- Yahya bin Maeen says: "He is worthless."
- Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal reports that Abu Maryam would narrate Hadiths criticizing Sayyiduna Uthman (RA).
- Incidents Highlighting His Unreliability:
- Abu Dawood Al-Tayalisi swears: "Abu Maryam is a liar. I have met him and heard his fabrications."
- Abdul Wahid bin Ziyad narrates that Abu Maryam claimed the Prophet (ﷺ) would return to this world to oversee the deeds of the Muslim Ummah. This blatant fabrication further discredited him.
- Scholarly Verdict:
- Imam Shuba initially narrated from Abu Maryam but abandoned him upon discovering his lies.
- Abu Hatim and Al-Nasa’i classified him as Matrook al-Hadith (rejected in narration).
- Imam Ahmad noted that his narrations were disruptive and caused chaos among listeners.
Conclusion
The narration of I‘lan-e-Safa is a fabrication by Abdul Ghaffar bin Qasim (Abu Maryam). He constructed this story to exaggerate the virtues of Sayyiduna Ali (RA). However, the chain of narrators contains serious defects, including omitted narrators and discredited individuals. Even if the chain were deemed authentic, the content of the narration is problematic and lacks coherence.Thus, this narration is not reliable and should not be used as evidence in discussions of Islamic history.