Hadith 17: ‘Ali was the first (male) to embrace Islam.
Hadith 16: It was said to ‘Ali and Abu Bakr on the Day of Badr, “Jibril is (present) with one of you two and Mikaʾil with the other. Israfil is a great angel who witnesses the battle.”…
May 14, 2018Hadith 18: The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “There is someone from among you who will fight for the (correct) interpretation of this Qur’an, just as I fought for its revelation.” …
May 14, 2018BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Hadith 17
أول من أسلم علي.
‘Ali was the first (male) to embrace Islam.
This hadith has been transmitted by ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Abbas, Zaid ibn Arqam, Salman al Farisi, Ma’qil ibn Yasar, Ya’la ibn Murrah al Thaqafi, Layla al Ghifariyyah, Malik ibn al Huwayrith, Buraidah, ‘Afif, Abu Ayub, Abu Rafi’, Anas, Abu Dharr, and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhum.
Ibn ‘Abbas’s version is authentic. The remaining versions are inauthentic. Therefore, I will restrict myself to Ibn ‘Abbas’s version and leave the others for the original work. The most authentic chain of transmission (of Ibn ‘Abbas’s version) is narrated by Ibn Abi ‘Asim. His chain of transmission is as follows:
Ahmed ibn al Furat narrated to us — ‘Abdul Razzaq narrated to us — from Ma’mar — from ibn Tawus — from his father — from Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma.[1]
This chain of transmission is authentic. Al Hafiz al ‘Iraqi authenticated it after ascribing it to al Tabarani—via ‘Abdul Razzaq.[2]
Dispute Regarding the First Person to Embrace Islam
I have mentioned the difference of opinion regarding the first person to embrace Islam in the original work. Imam al Baghawi reports an ijma’ (consensus) that Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha was the first to embrace Islam.[3] Ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani states that the majority of Muslims agree that Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu was actually the first to embrace Islam.[4] Al Hafiz al ‘Iraqi reports from the majority of Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was, in fact, the first to embrace Islam.[5]
[1] Ibn Abi ‘Asim: al Ahad wa al Mathani, 185-188 and al Awaʾil, 71.
[2] Al Hafiz Zayn al Din al ‘Iraqi: al Taqyid wa al Idah, 268.
[3] Imam al Baghawi: Ma’alim al Tanzil, 4/87.
[4] Al Hafiz ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani: Fath al Bari, 7/170.
[5] Al Hafiz Zayn al Din al ‘Iraqi: al Taqyid wa al Idah, 266.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Hadith 17
أول من أسلم علي.
‘Ali was the first (male) to embrace Islam.
This hadith has been transmitted by ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Abbas, Zaid ibn Arqam, Salman al Farisi, Ma’qil ibn Yasar, Ya’la ibn Murrah al Thaqafi, Layla al Ghifariyyah, Malik ibn al Huwayrith, Buraidah, ‘Afif, Abu Ayub, Abu Rafi’, Anas, Abu Dharr, and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhum.
Ibn ‘Abbas’s version is authentic. The remaining versions are inauthentic. Therefore, I will restrict myself to Ibn ‘Abbas’s version and leave the others for the original work. The most authentic chain of transmission (of Ibn ‘Abbas’s version) is narrated by Ibn Abi ‘Asim. His chain of transmission is as follows:
Ahmed ibn al Furat narrated to us — ‘Abdul Razzaq narrated to us — from Ma’mar — from ibn Tawus — from his father — from Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma.[1]
This chain of transmission is authentic. Al Hafiz al ‘Iraqi authenticated it after ascribing it to al Tabarani—via ‘Abdul Razzaq.[2]
Dispute Regarding the First Person to Embrace Islam
I have mentioned the difference of opinion regarding the first person to embrace Islam in the original work. Imam al Baghawi reports an ijma’ (consensus) that Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha was the first to embrace Islam.[3] Ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani states that the majority of Muslims agree that Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu was actually the first to embrace Islam.[4] Al Hafiz al ‘Iraqi reports from the majority of Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was, in fact, the first to embrace Islam.[5]
[1] Ibn Abi ‘Asim: al Ahad wa al Mathani, 185-188 and al Awaʾil, 71.
[2] Al Hafiz Zayn al Din al ‘Iraqi: al Taqyid wa al Idah, 268.
[3] Imam al Baghawi: Ma’alim al Tanzil, 4/87.
[4] Al Hafiz ibn Hajar al ‘Asqalani: Fath al Bari, 7/170.
[5] Al Hafiz Zayn al Din al ‘Iraqi: al Taqyid wa al Idah, 266.