The praise of Imam ‘Ali ibn Hussain

Imam ‘Ali ibn Hussain used to mention the Sahabah of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and ask Allah in his salah to shower His mercy and forgiveness on them due to the help they offered to the Rasul of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in spreading the call to the oneness of Allah and in spreading the Message of Allah to the masses. He says:

فاذكرهم منك بمغفرة ورضوان اللهم وأصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم خاصة الذين أحسنوا الصحبة والذين أبلوا البلاء الحسن في نصره وكانفوه وأسرعوا إلى وفادته وسابقوا إلى دعوته واستجابوا له حيث أسمعهم حجة رسالاته وفارقوا الأزواج والأولاد في اظهار كلمته وقاتلوا الآباء والأبناء في تثبيت نبوته وانتصروا به ومن كانوا منطوين على محبته يرجون تجارة لن تبور في مودته والذين هجرتهم العشائر إذ تعلقوا بعروته وانتفت منهم القرابات إذ سكنوا في ظل قرابته اللهم ما تركوا لك وفيك وارضهم من رضوانك وبما حاشوا الخلق عليك وكانوا من ذلك لك وإليك، واشكرهم على هجرهم فيك ديارهم وخروجهم من سعة المعاش إلى ضيقه ومن كثرة في اعزاز دينك من إلى أقله، اللهم وأوصل إلى التابعين لهم باحسان الذين يقولون ربنا اغفر لنا ولاخواننا الذين سبقونا بالايمان خير جزائك الذين قصدوا سمتهم وتحروا وجهتهم لومضوا إلى شاكلتهم لم يثنهم ريب في بصيرتهم ولم يختلجهم شك في قفو آثارهم والائتمام بهداية منارهم مكانفين ومؤازرين لهم يدينون بدينهم ويهتدون بهديهم يتفقون عليهم ولا يتهمونهم فيما أدوا إليهم

… And include them in Your forgiveness and pleasure. O Allah, especially the Sahabah of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who were excellent companions, who endured great hardships in supporting him, who stood by his side and welcomed him eagerly. They hastened to his call, and surrendered to him when he conveyed the proof of his message. They endured the pain of separation from their wives and children in promoting his message, and fought their fathers and sons to affirm his Prophethood and through him were victorious. Their love for him was pure and intense and they anticipated great reward on account of it. They are the ones whose families ostracised them when they held firm onto his rope and whose relationships were annulled when they remained in the shadow of his relationship. Do not forget, O Allah, what they sacrificed for Your sake. Grant them Your divine pleasure because they were with Your Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They were callers towards You. Compensate them for abandoning the homes of their people for Your sake, and for forsaking prosperity for narrowness of life. Grant them this because of the many who were oppressed for the establishment of your religion. O Allah, grant the greatest of Your rewards to those who followed in their way; those who say, “O Allah, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith;” those who pursued their example and strove to tread their path, following in their footsteps; not doubting, being steered by the light of their guidance, accepting their teachings as religion, and being led by their guidance. Send your rewards to those who do not dispute about them and do not accuse them falsely.[1]

ويروى عنه رضي الله عنه انه لما وقع بعضهم في أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان فلما فرغوا قال لهم ألا تخبروني.أنتم الْمُهٰجِرِيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ أُخْرِجُوْا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُوْنَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنْصُرُوْنَ الله وَرَسُوْلَهُ اُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُوْنَ؟ قالوا لا قال فأنتم الَّذِيْنَ تَبَوَّؤُا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيْمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّوْنَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُوْنَ فِي صُدُوْرِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوْتُوْا وَيُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَاُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ؟ قالوا لا قال أشهد أنكم لستم من الذين قال الله عز وجل فيهم وَالَّذِيْنَ جَآءُوْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْاِيْمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ اٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَحِيْمٌ اخرجوا.فعل الله بكم!”

It is also narrated from him that once some people were criticizing Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhum. After they had completed, he said, “Tell me, are you from the emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval and supporting Allah and His Messenger. Those are the truthful.[2]?”

They said, “No”

He asked: “Are you then from those who were settled in the Home [i.e., al Madinah] and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they [i.e., the emigrants] were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful.[3]?”

They replied, “No”

He then said, “Then I bear witness that you are not from those (described as) And those who came after them, saying, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.’[4] Go away. May Allah deal with you.”

Abu Hazim al Madani says:

ما رأيت هاشميا أفقه من علي بن الحسين، سمعته وقد سئل: كيف كانت منزلة أبي بكر وعمر عند رسول الله – صلى الله عليه ووآله سلم -؟ فأشار بيده إلى القبر، ثم قال: بمنزلتهما منه الساعة

I have not seen any Hashimi who was more understanding than ‘Ali ibn Hussain. Once he was asked, “What was the status of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma in the eyes of the Rasul of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?”

He gestured towards their graves and said, “Just as their relationship is with him right now.”[5]

NEXT⇒ The praise of Imam Muhammad al Baqir

[1] Al Sahifah al Sajjadiyyah al Kamilah of Zayn al ‘Abidin pg. 13

[2] Surah al Hashr: 8

[3] Surah al Hashr: 9

[4] Surah al Hashr: 10

[5] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, vol. 4 pg. 394

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents