2. Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah and his Incidents
3. The Incidents of `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, Ibn `Abbas and `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Tayyar
May 30, 20161.The Stories of Imam Hasan ibn `Ali and his Offspring
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2. Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah and his Incidents
Before presenting the narrations, I shall present a verdict from the Shia regarding the integrity of Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah:
كان محمد بن حنيفة احد رجال الدهر في العلم والزهد والعبادة و الشجاعة و هو افضل ولد علي بن ابي طالب بعد الحسن والحسين.
Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah was a man of his time in knowledge, devotion, and bravery. He was the best of the offspring of ‘Ali after Hassan and Hussain.[1]
Qadi Nur Allah Shustari has also made mention of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah and has praised him immensely together with stating that he was a reliable person.
The following narrations have been narrated through the transmission of Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah
قال (ابن الحنيفة)قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر!و خشيت ان يقول عثمان قلت ثم انت قال ما انا الا رجل من المسلمين.
Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah narrates, “I asked my father as to who is the most virtuous of people after Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?”
He said, “Abu Bakr.”
I further asked, “Then who?”
He replied, “‘Umar.”
I then feared that he would say ‘Uthman so I quickly remarked, “Then you?”
He said, “I am but a man from amongst the Muslims.”[2]
عن منذر الثوري عن محمد بن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي يا ابت من خير الناس بعد رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم؟قال ابو بكر قلت ثم من ؟قال عمر!قلت ثم انت؟قال انا رجل من المسلمين.
Translation same as above.[3]
عن محمد بن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر!و خشيت ان اقول ثم من فيقول عثمان فقلت ثم انت يا ابت قال ما انا الا رجل من المسلمين.
Translation same as above.[4]
عن ابن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر! قلت ثم انت؟ قال انا رجل من المسلمين لي حسنات و سيئات يفعل فيها ما يشاء.
Translation similar to the above narration with the addition, “I have virtuous and evil deeds regarding which Allah will decide as He wishes.”[5]
Deductions From These Narrations
- These are the statements of the children of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu which have been cited by various scholars of hadith with their chains of transmission. The questioner is the son of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and he himself is the answerer, hence there is no possibility of any other interpretation whatsoever.
- These narrations likewise allude to the fact that ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the third most virtuous after Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Hence, we find that Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah had the fear of his father saying that ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the third most virtuous had he further inquired.
NEXT⇒ 3. The Incidents of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib, Ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar al Tayyar
[1] ‘Umdat al Talib Fi Ansab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah al Sayed Jamal al Din 347/352.
[2] Al Bukhari 1/518; Abu Dawood 2/288.
[3] Hilyat al Auliya’ 5/78.
[4] Kanz al ‘Ummal 6/366.
[5] Kanz al ‘Ummal 6/370.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
2. Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah and his Incidents
Before presenting the narrations, I shall present a verdict from the Shia regarding the integrity of Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah:
كان محمد بن حنيفة احد رجال الدهر في العلم والزهد والعبادة و الشجاعة و هو افضل ولد علي بن ابي طالب بعد الحسن والحسين.
Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah was a man of his time in knowledge, devotion, and bravery. He was the best of the offspring of ‘Ali after Hassan and Hussain.[1]
Qadi Nur Allah Shustari has also made mention of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah and has praised him immensely together with stating that he was a reliable person.
The following narrations have been narrated through the transmission of Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah
قال (ابن الحنيفة)قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر!و خشيت ان يقول عثمان قلت ثم انت قال ما انا الا رجل من المسلمين.
Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah narrates, “I asked my father as to who is the most virtuous of people after Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?”
He said, “Abu Bakr.”
I further asked, “Then who?”
He replied, “‘Umar.”
I then feared that he would say ‘Uthman so I quickly remarked, “Then you?”
He said, “I am but a man from amongst the Muslims.”[2]
عن منذر الثوري عن محمد بن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي يا ابت من خير الناس بعد رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم؟قال ابو بكر قلت ثم من ؟قال عمر!قلت ثم انت؟قال انا رجل من المسلمين.
Translation same as above.[3]
عن محمد بن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر!و خشيت ان اقول ثم من فيقول عثمان فقلت ثم انت يا ابت قال ما انا الا رجل من المسلمين.
Translation same as above.[4]
عن ابن الحنيفة قال قلت لابي اي الناس خير بعد النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم قال ابو بكر قال قلت ثم من؟قال عمر! قلت ثم انت؟ قال انا رجل من المسلمين لي حسنات و سيئات يفعل فيها ما يشاء.
Translation similar to the above narration with the addition, “I have virtuous and evil deeds regarding which Allah will decide as He wishes.”[5]
Deductions From These Narrations
- These are the statements of the children of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu which have been cited by various scholars of hadith with their chains of transmission. The questioner is the son of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and he himself is the answerer, hence there is no possibility of any other interpretation whatsoever.
- These narrations likewise allude to the fact that ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the third most virtuous after Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Hence, we find that Muhammad ibn al Hanafiyyah had the fear of his father saying that ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the third most virtuous had he further inquired.
NEXT⇒ 3. The Incidents of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib, Ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Abdullah ibn Jafar al Tayyar
[1] ‘Umdat al Talib Fi Ansab Al Abi Talib of Ibn ‘Inabah al Sayed Jamal al Din 347/352.
[2] Al Bukhari 1/518; Abu Dawood 2/288.
[3] Hilyat al Auliya’ 5/78.
[4] Kanz al ‘Ummal 6/366.
[5] Kanz al ‘Ummal 6/370.