Investigative Analysis of the Narration Regarding Ali (RA) Holding the Banner on the Day of JudgmentAuthored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (May Allah protect him)
❖ The Claim: Ali (RA) Will Hold the Banner on the Day of Judgment
Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrated:
The companions (RA) asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who will hold your banner on the Day of Judgment?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied, “The one who used to carry it in the world,” meaning Ali (RA).
[Mizan al-I‘tidal: 5/4; Also recorded by Ibn Hibban in al-Majruhin: 54/3]
❖ Contextual Review of This Claim
This statement would have been accurate only if Ali (RA) had held the banner in every battle, which is not the case.
- In the Battle of Khaybar, particularly during the siege of Qamus fort, Ali (RA) held the banner.
- In the Battle of Uhud, he was handed the banner after the martyrdom of Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair (RA).
- However, during the Conquest of Makkah, the flag bearers were Abu ‘Ubaydah, Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam, and Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA).
- In the Battle of Dhat al-Salasil, the standard bearer was Amr ibn al-‘As (RA).
If the narrator had said, “All those who held the banner during the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime will hold it on the Day of Judgment in order,” that might have been a more reasonable proposition.
❖ Historical Insight: Multiple Banners in the Prophet’s ﷺ Era
It is also important to note that during the Prophet’s ﷺ time, each battle had at least three banners—
① One for the Muhajirun
② Two for the Ansar.
Thus, the statement attributed to Jabir (RA) that only Ali (RA) held the Prophet’s ﷺ banner, is historically inaccurate.
Furthermore, Jabir (RA) was not involved in any battle alongside Ali (RA). He is remembered primarily because he was a teacher of Imam al-Baqir, the Shiite Imam. Even so, it is astonishing that such individuals are falsely cited through fabricated reports to promote sectarian agendas.
✿ The Narrator: Nāṣiḥ bin ‘Abdullah al-Bajali al-Kufi
This narration was transmitted by Nāṣiḥ bin ‘Abdullah al-Kufi. The scholars of Hadith have declared him weak.
- Al-Bukhari: He is Munkar al-Hadith (narrates highly objectionable Hadith).
- Al-Nasa’i: He is weak (Ḍa‘if).
- Fallas: He is abandoned (matruk).
- Yahya ibn Ma‘in: He is nothing.
[Mizan al-I‘tidal: 7/4] - Al-Daraqutni: Nāṣiḥ bin ‘Abdullah, known as Abu ‘Abdullah, was from Kufa. He narrates from Simak bin Harb and is considered matruk.
[Kitab al-Ḍu‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin by al-Nasa’i: Pg. 167] - Imam al-Bukhari: He narrates from Simak and from his uncle ‘Abd al-‘Aziz bin al-Khattab. He belonged to the people of Kufa. He is Munkar al-Hadith.
[al-Ḍu‘afa’ al-Ṣaghir: 116] - Al-Nasa’i again affirms: Nāṣiḥ bin ‘Abdullah was from Kufa and weak.
[al-Ḍu‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin: Pg. 100]
✿ The Transmitter: Ismā‘īl bin Abān al-Ghanawi al-Kufi
This narration was transmitted through Nāṣiḥ by Ismā‘īl bin Abān al-Ghanawi al-Kufi.
- Yahya ibn Ma‘in: He is a liar (kadhdhāb).
- Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: He fabricates Hadith.
- Al-Bukhari: Ahmad ibn Hanbal and other scholars have abandoned his narrations.
- Ibn Hibban: He fabricates Hadith in the names of reliable narrators.
- Yahya ibn Ma‘in further said: He attributed fabricated Hadiths to Sufyan al-Thawri.
- Al-Nasa’i and Imam Muslim: He is matruk (abandoned).
[Mizan al-I‘tidal: Vol. 1, Pg. 211] - Al-Nasa’i writes: Isma‘il bin Aban was from Kufa. He narrates from Hisham bin ‘Urwah. He is matruk.
[Kitab al-Ḍu‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin: Pg. 16] - Al-Daraqutni: Isma‘il bin Aban al-Ghanawi was a Kufan. His kunyah was Abu Ishaq al-Kufi. He narrates from Hakam, ‘Aṭiyyah, Nufayl bin ‘Urwah al-Khayyāṭ, and Hisham bin ‘Urwah. He is matruk.
[Kitab al-Ḍu‘afa’ wa al-Matrukin: Pg. 57]
Conclusion:
The narration about Ali (RA) holding the Prophet’s ﷺ banner on the Day of Judgment is unauthentic and baseless, based on
- historical inconsistency regarding who held the banners in various battles,
- and the severely weak and abandoned narrators involved in the chain.
Therefore, this narration cannot be used as evidence to establish any exclusive virtue for Ali (RA) regarding banner-bearing on the Day of Judgment.
