This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri Hafizahullah Difa-e-Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhum.
Virtues of Ali Radi Allahu Anhu
Muhib al-Din Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him (694 AH), says:
قد أجمع أهل السنة من السلف والخلف من أهل الفقه والأثر أن عليا أفضل الناس بعد عثمان، هذا مما لم يختلف فيه .
"The consensus of the earlier and later Sunni jurists and hadith scholars is that after Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, the most excellent companion is Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. There is no difference of opinion on this."
Reference: (Al-Riyadh al-Nadhira: 180/3)
Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him (748 AH), says:
علي رضى الله عنه سيد كبير الشأن، قد أغناه الله تعالى أن تثبت مناقبه بالأكاذيب؛ ولكن الرافضة لا يرضون إلا أن يحتجوا له بالباطل، وأن يردوا ما صح لغيره من المناقب، فتراهم دائما يحتجون بالموضوعات، ويكذبون بالصحاح، وإذا استشعروا أدنى خوف لزموا التقية، وعظموا الصحيحين، وعظموا السنة، ولعنوا الرفض وأنكروا، فيعلنون بلعن أنفسهم شيئا ما يفعله اليهود ولا المجوس بأنفسهم، والجهل بفنونه غالب على مشايخهم وفضلائهم، فما الظن بعامتهم، فما الظن بأهل البر والخير منهم، فإنهم جاهلية جهلاء، وحمر مستنفرة، فالحمد لله على الهداية، فتعليمهم ونصحهم وجرهم إلى الحق بحسب الإمكان من أفضل الأعمال، نسأل الله التوفيق، وحسن الخاتمة منه آمين .
"Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, is a great and noble leader. Allah Almighty has enriched him to such an extent that false narrations are reported about his status, but the Rafidah are satisfied only when they rely on false narrations and deny the virtues proven by authentic hadiths. Therefore, you will see them always relying on fabricated narrations and denying authentic hadiths. When they fear someone, they resort to taqiyya (dissimulation), then praise the Sahihayn and the greatness of hadith, curse Rafidism, and deny it. Thus, they are openly cursing themselves in a way that even Jews and Magians never did with their own lives. Every kind of ignorance dominates their scholars and virtuous people; what then will be the condition of the common masses?! What will be the condition of their righteous ones?! They are blind, ignorant, and stubborn donkeys. Thanks be to Allah who has guided us. Teaching these people as much as possible, advising them, and inviting them to the truth is the best of deeds. We ask Allah Almighty for the ability to be guided and for a good ending, Ameen!"
Reference: (Talkhis Kitab al-Mawdu'at p. 141)
Maymun bin Mehran, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
أربع لا تتكلم فيهن : علي، وعثمان، والنجوم، والقدر .
"Do not discuss four matters: Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, astrology, and predestination."
Reference: (Masawi al-Akhlaq lil-Kharaiti: 748 with Hasan chain)
The Precedence of Islam:
Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam رضي الله عنه narrates:
أول من صلى مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال فى موضع آخر : أول من أسلم على .
"The first prayer offered with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was by Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه. In another narration, it is mentioned: Among the children, Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه was the first to accept Islam."
Reference: (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 371/4, Fada'il al-Sahaba by al-Nasa'i: 34, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3735 with a good chain)
Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله has graded this narration as Hasan Sahih, Imam Hakim رحمه الله
Reference: (143/3)
declared it "Sahih al-Isnad." Hafiz Zahabi رحمه الله has agreed with this.Hafiz Ibn Kathir رحمه الله (748 AH) states:
أما على رضي الله عنه، فإنه أسلم قديما، وهو دون البلوغ على المشهور، ويقال : إنه أول من أسلم، وقد روي فى ذلك حديث عنه ولا يصح، والصحيح أنه أول من أسلم من العلمان، كما أن خديجة أول من أسلم من النساء، وأبو بكر الصديق أول من أسلم من الرجال الأحرار، وزيد بن حارثة أول من أسلم من الموالي .
"Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is an early Muslim companion. He had not yet reached adulthood when he was blessed with the blessing of Islam. It is said that he was the first to accept Islam; however, the hadith narrated in this regard is not authentic. The correct understanding is that he was the first among the children to embrace faith. Sayyida Khadijah رضي الله عنها was the first among women, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه among free men, and Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harithah رضي الله عنه among freed slaves to be honored with Islam."
Reference: (Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya: 31/11)
Most Beloved Kunyah:
A person said to Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa'd رضي الله عنه:
هذا فلان، لأمير المدينة، يدعو عليا عند المنبر، قال : فيقول : ماذا؟ قال : يقول له : أبو تراب فضحك، قال : والله ما سماه إلا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وما كان له اسم أحب إليه منه، فاستطعمت الحديث سهلا، وقلت : يا أبا عباس كيف ذلك قال : دخل على على فاطمة ثم خرج فاضطجع فى المسجد، فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم : أين ابن عمك، قالت : فى المسجد، فخرج إليه فوجد رداء ه قد سقط عن ظهره، وخلص التراب إلى ظهره، فجعل يمسح التراب عن ظهره، فيقول: اجلس يا أبا تراب مرتين .
"The governor of Medina, so-and-so, speaks ill of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه on the pulpit." He was asked: What does he say? He said: On the pulpit, he calls Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه Abu Turab. Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa'd رضي الله عنه smiled and said: By Allah! This name was given to him by the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم himself, and this name was the most beloved to him. The narrator, wishing to hear the full hadith, asked: Abu Abbas! When did this incident happen? He said: Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه came to Sayyida Fatimah رضي الله عنها, then went to the mosque and lay down. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked Sayyida Fatimah رضي الله عنها: Where is your cousin? She said: In the mosque. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to the mosque and saw Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه lying down, the sheet had slipped from below and dust was touching his back. The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم began to brush off the dust and said: Abu Turab! Get up, Abu Turab! Get up."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3703, Sahih Muslim: 2409)
Son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ :
Sayyiduna Masroor bin Mukharamah رضي الله عنه narrates:
سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمكة يخطب ثم قال : إن بني هشام استأذنوني فى أن ينكحوا ابنتهم عليا، وإني لا آذن، ثم لا آذن إلا أن يريد ابن أبى طالب أن يفارق ابنتي ، وأن ينكح ابنتهم ثم قال : إن فاطمة مضغة أو بضعة مني يؤذيني ما آذاها ويريبني ما أرابها، وما كان له أن يجمع بين بنت عدو الله، وبين ابنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم .
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was delivering a sermon on the pulpit in Makkah. He said: Banu Hashim have asked my permission to marry their daughter to Ali رضي الله عنه, but I will not give permission. However, if Ali رضي الله عنه divorces my daughter, then he may marry their daughter. Then he said: Fatimah رضي الله عنها is the apple of my eye; whoever harms her harms me, whoever disturbs her disturbs me. It is not permissible for Ali رضي الله عنه to have my daughter and the daughter of the enemy of Allah married to him at the same time."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5230, Sahih Muslim: 2450)
In Sahih Bukhari
Reference: (3729)
it is stated:"Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه ended his intention to marry her."
Relationship with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ :
Sayyiduna Bara bin Azib رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
أنت مني، وأنا منك .
"You are from me and I am from you."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4251)
Sayyiduna Habashi bin Janadah Saluli رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
علي مني وأنا منه ولا يؤدي عني إلا أنا أو على .
"Ali رضي الله عنه is from me and I am from Ali رضي الله عنه; either I or Ali رضي الله عنه will fulfill my responsibility."
Reference: (Fada'il al-Sahaba by An-Nasa'i: 44, Musnad Imam Ahmad, 164/4 with authentic chain)
The Relationship between the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه narrates:
لما خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى تبوك خرج على يشيعه، فبكى، وقال : يا رسول الله، أتتركني مع الخوالف؟ فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم : يا على أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا النبوة .
"When the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was going for the Battle of Tabuk, Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه came and started crying. He said: O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! Are you leaving me behind? He replied: Ali رضي الله عنه! Your relationship with me is like that of Musa (Moses) with Harun (Aaron), except for prophethood. So, do you not like this honor?"
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2404, Khawas Ali by Al-Nasa'i: 47)
This hadith is mutawatir.
Reference: (Qutaf al-Azhar al-Mutanathira by Al-Suyuti p. 281, Nazm al-Mutanathir by Al-Kattani p. 206)
Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is from Ahl al-Bayt:
Sayyida Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took 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) under a cloak and prayed:
أللهم أهل بيتي أذهب عنهم الرجس وطهرهم تطهيرا .
"O Allah! These are also my Ahl al-Bayt; do not let filth come near them and grant them the highest degree of purity."
Reference: (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 298/6, and its chain is Hasan)
Sayyiduna Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the verse of Mubahala
Reference: (Surah Al-Imran: 61)
was revealed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) called 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) and said:اللهم هؤلاء أهلي .
"O Allah! These are also my Ahl al-Bayt."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2404)
Sayyiduna Wathilah ibn Asqa' (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
اللهم هؤلاء أهل بيتي، وأهل بيتي أحق .
"O Allah! These are also my Ahl al-Bayt, and my Ahl al-Bayt have more right to honor and respect."
Reference: (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 107/4, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (1976)
declared this hadith as "Sahih" (authentic), and Imam Bayhaqi (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra: 152/2)
also declared its chain authentic.Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (3/147)
declared it "Sahih" according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari and Muslim (may Allah have mercy on them), and Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it authentic according to the conditions of Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him).Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is a Rightly Guided Caliph:
Sayyiduna Safeena رضي الله عنه narrates:
خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : الخلافة فى أمتي ثلاثون سنة، ثم يكون ملك، ثم قال سفينة : أمسك، خلافة أبى بكر وخلافة عمر ثنتا عشرة سنة وستة أشهر وخلافة عثمان ثنتا عشرة سنة وستة أشهر ثم خلافة على تحملة الثلاثين قلت : فمعاوية؟ قال : كان أول الملوك .
"The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gave us a sermon and said: My Ummah will have the Caliphate for thirty years, then there will be monarchy. Sayyiduna Safeena رضي الله عنه says: Count it, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه's Caliphate was twelve years and six months, Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه's Caliphate was twelve years, then Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه's Caliphate completed the thirty years. Saeed bin Jumhan رحمه الله asked: Sayyiduna Muawiyah رضي الله عنه? He said: He was the first king."
Reference: (Musnad al-Tayalisi: 1203, Musnad Imam Ahmad: 221/5, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2226 with a good chain)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir رحمه الله (774 AH) says:
هذا الحديث فيه رد صريح على الروافض المنكرين لخلافة الثلاثة، وعلى النواصب من بني أمية ومن تبعهم من أهل الشام فى إنكار خلافة على بن أبى طالب .
"This Hadith explicitly refutes the Rafidah, it mentions the Caliphate of three, it refutes the Nasibis of Banu Umayyah and the people of Sham because it affirms the Caliphate of Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه, which they deny."
Reference: (Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya: 154/9)
Hold the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs as obligatory:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين .
“Hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.”
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 4607, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2676, Musnad Imam Ahmad: 126/4-127 with authentic chain)
Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) classified this hadith as "Hasan Sahih," Imam Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (5)
, Hafiz Zia al-Maqdisi (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Itba’ al-Sunnah wa Ijtinab al-Bida’: 2)
classified it as "Sahih," Hafiz Bazzar (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm wa Fadlih Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr: 2306)
called it "Thabit Sahih," and Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm wa Fadlih: 2306)
called it "Thabit."Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (95/1)
said:صحيح، ليس له علة .
“This hadith is authentic, and there is no defect in it.”
Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) agreed with him.
Hafiz Abu Nu’aym al-Isbahani (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
هذا حديث جيد من صحيح حديث الشاميين .
“This is a good hadith among the authentic narrations of the people of Sham.”
Reference: (Al-Musnad al-Mustakhraj ‘ala Sahih al-Imam Muslim: 36/1)
Hafiz Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Sharh al-Sunnah: 102)
said it is "Hasan."Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote:
صححه أيضا الحافظ أبو نعيم الأصفهاني والدغولي، وقال شيخ الإسلام الأنصاري : هو أجود حديث فى أهل الشام وأحسنه .
“Hafiz Abu Nu’aym Asfahani (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hafiz Dughuli (may Allah have mercy on him) also classified it as ‘Sahih.’ Sheikh al-Islam Ansari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: ‘Among the narrations of the people of Sham, this hadith is excellent and of the highest quality.’”
Reference: (Tuhfat al-Talib bi Ma’rifat Ahadith Mukhtasar Ibn al-Hajib: 36)
Allah and the Messenger love our master Ali, may Allah be pleased with him:
Sayyiduna Sahl bin Saad رضي الله عنه narrates:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يوم خيبر : لأعطين هذه الراية غدا رجلا يفتح الله عليه، يحب الله ورسوله ويحبه الله ورسوله فلما أصبح الناس غدوا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كلهم يرجو أن يعطى، فقال : أين على بن أبى طالب؟ فقالوا : يا رسول الله، يشتكي عينيه، قال : فأرسلوا إليه فأتي به، فبصق رسول الله فى عينيه، ودعا له، فبرأ كأن لم يكن به وجع، فأعطاه الراية، فقال على : يا رسول الله، أقاتلهم حتى يكونوا مثلنا؟ قال : انفذ على رسلك حتى تنزل بساحتهم، ثم ادعهم إلى الإسلام، وأخبرهم بما يجب عليهم من حق الله، فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلا واحدا خير لك من أن تكون لك حمر النعم .
"The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said on the day of the Battle of Khaybar: Tomorrow I will give the banner to someone through whom Allah will grant victory, and who will love Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger will love him. Now everyone desired to receive the banner, so the next morning they came to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. He asked: Where is Ali? It was said: He has an eye ailment, so he could not come. He said: Bring him. When he came, the Prophet applied saliva to his eyes, then prayed, and his eyes were healed as if they had never been ill. The banner was given to him. Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه said: O Messenger of Allah! I will keep fighting them until they become like us. He said: Ali! Proceed gently, and when you reach the battlefield, invite them to Islam, tell them what rights Allah has upon them. By Allah! If even one person is guided because of you, it is better than red camels as capital."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4210, Sahih Muslim: 2404)
In Sahih Muslim
Reference: (1807)
, it is mentioned that Marhab said:قد علمت خيبر أني مرحب ... شاكي السلاح بطل مجرب . إذا الحروب أقبلت تلهب .
"All of Khaybar knows that I am Marhab, experienced and brave in armed combat, when the flames of war ignite."
Then Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه replied to him:
أنا الذى سمتني أمي حيدره ... كليث غابات كريه المنظره
"My name was given by my mother as Haider. I am like the lions with terrifying appearances in the forests."
أوفيهم بالصاع كيل السندرة
"I give full retribution to enemies, as is given on a large scale. I teach the enemy a thorough lesson."
Then he رضي الله عنه struck Marhab on the head with his sword and killed him, and he was victorious.
