The Twelfth Narration: ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu gathered the people in the public square and said, “I entreat in the name of Allah every person who heard Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying what he said on the day of Ghadir Khum.”…..

The Eleventh Narration: On the day of the Battle of Khaybar the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Tomorrow I will give the flag to somebody who will be granted victory, he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him…..
February 19, 2019
The Thirteenth Narration: Fatimah complained to me about (her hands becoming calloused due to milling) the flour. I said to her, “Why don’t you go to your father and request a slave from him.”….
February 19, 2019

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The Twelfth Narration

Abu Tufayl ‘Amir ibn Wathilah radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

جمع علي الناس في الرحبة فقال أنشد بالله كل امرئ سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول يوم غدير خم ما سمع فقال أناس فشهدوا ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال يوم غدير خم ألستم تعلمون أني أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم وهو قائم ثم أخذ بيد علي فقال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه، وعاد من عاداه. قال أبو الطفيل فخرجت وفي نفسي منه شئ فلقيت زيد بن أرقم فأخبرته فقال: وما تنكر أنا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu gathered the people in the public square and said, “I entreat in the name of Allah every person who heard Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying what he said on the day of Ghadir Khum.”

Many people stood up—and gave testimony that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said on the day of Ghadir Khum whilst standing, “Do you not know that I am closer to the believers than themselves?”

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then took hold of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu’s hand and announced, “Whoever’s friend I am, ‘Ali is his friend. O Allah, befriend whom he befriends and be at war with the one who shows him hostility.”

Abu al Tufayl says, I left the gathering with some uncertainty. I then met Zaid ibn Arqam whom I related my uncertainty to. He said, “Why the uncertainty? I have personally heard this from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”[1]

 

The chain of narrators of this hadith are strong. Many other similar narrations have been recorded.

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

  1. The meaning of this narration is as follows:

 

Whomsoever I love and assist, ‘Ali will love and assist. Therefore, whoever befriends and loves me should befriend and love ‘Ali. The supplication was to emphasise the sentiment, “O Allah love and assist that person who loves and assists ‘Ali and be at war with the one who shows him hostility.”

 

  1. This narration holds great virtue in favour of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam proclaimed their bond to be an inseparable one.

Yes, some other Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum do share this virtue, such as Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu regarding whom Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

هذا مني وانا منه

He is from me and I am from him.[2]

 

And Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu to whom Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

 

انت اخونا ومولانا

You are our brother and friend.[3]

 

However, in the case of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam emphasised this deep connection by the aforementioned supplication.

  1. This narration is a sign of the true prophethood of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The result of the supplication made by Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was that those who showed hostility to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu on religious issues are remembered by history as downtrodden failures. On the other hand, all the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and others who had an affinity for him are remembered by history as heroes of the Islamic cause. They conquered the east and the west with droves of people accepting Islam due to them. All the good actions of those who came into the fold of Islam due to them will be credited to their account as well.

 

  1. Question: If all those that opposed ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu fall under the ambit of the downtrodden, what of those Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who fought against him? Weren’t they on the straight path? Did they not benefit multitudes of people prior to and after the battles against ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu? Furthermore, did they not attain the help of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala?

Answer: This apparent contradiction had led many scholars, including Ibn Taymiyyah, to declare the supplication in this hadith as an unacceptable addition. However, this view leaves much to be desired as many hadith scholars declared it as authentic. The answer to this apparent contradiction is better understood in this manner: Both groups of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum had interpreted their view through logic based on the sources of Shari’ah; of which they were masters. Two groups had formed due to them coming to different conclusions which led to the fighting between the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. The principle of Shari’ah is clear, one who comes to a conclusion based on an interpretation provided he possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to do so will not be held accountable if he errs. The safest path to traverse when coming upon the battles fought by the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum against each other, is to adopt silence. The pious predecessors would prefer to not comment on this issue. This is the safest path which also lends much respect to the Noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

 

  1. If the Ahlul Bayt encounter some of the masses ignoring their virtue, they should proclaim their virtue so that these and other people do not become accursed through the supplication of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. If there is discord amongst the masses the Imam should remind them of his status and virtue. This will not be considered as inflating one’s ego, it will rather be considered to be an attempt to protect the unity of the ummah.

 

  1. The desirability of defending the honour of the Ahlul Bayt without being prompted to do so.

 

  1. The permissibility of recounting the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt in gatherings. If circumstances are such that people are attempting to vilify the Ahlul Bayt, such gathering will become highly emphasised.

 

  1. The encouragement of spreading knowledge whilst traveling.

 

  1. A believer should take offense at one rejecting the hadith of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. Entertaining evil thoughts of the Ahlul Bayt is objectionable at the very least.

 

NEXT⇒  The Thirteenth Narration


[1] Al Sunan al Kubra li al Nasa’i, Hadith: 8424; Sunan Abu Dawood.

[2] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2472.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4005.

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

 

The Twelfth Narration

Abu Tufayl ‘Amir ibn Wathilah radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

 

جمع علي الناس في الرحبة فقال أنشد بالله كل امرئ سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول يوم غدير خم ما سمع فقال أناس فشهدوا ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال يوم غدير خم ألستم تعلمون أني أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم وهو قائم ثم أخذ بيد علي فقال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه، وعاد من عاداه. قال أبو الطفيل فخرجت وفي نفسي منه شئ فلقيت زيد بن أرقم فأخبرته فقال: وما تنكر أنا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu gathered the people in the public square and said, “I entreat in the name of Allah every person who heard Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying what he said on the day of Ghadir Khum.”

Many people stood up—and gave testimony that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said on the day of Ghadir Khum whilst standing, “Do you not know that I am closer to the believers than themselves?”

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then took hold of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu’s hand and announced, “Whoever’s friend I am, ‘Ali is his friend. O Allah, befriend whom he befriends and be at war with the one who shows him hostility.”

Abu al Tufayl says, I left the gathering with some uncertainty. I then met Zaid ibn Arqam whom I related my uncertainty to. He said, “Why the uncertainty? I have personally heard this from Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.”[1]

 

The chain of narrators of this hadith are strong. Many other similar narrations have been recorded.

 

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

  1. The meaning of this narration is as follows:

 

Whomsoever I love and assist, ‘Ali will love and assist. Therefore, whoever befriends and loves me should befriend and love ‘Ali. The supplication was to emphasise the sentiment, “O Allah love and assist that person who loves and assists ‘Ali and be at war with the one who shows him hostility.”

 

  1. This narration holds great virtue in favour of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam proclaimed their bond to be an inseparable one.

Yes, some other Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum do share this virtue, such as Julaybib radiya Llahu ‘anhu regarding whom Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

هذا مني وانا منه

He is from me and I am from him.[2]

 

And Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu to whom Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

 

انت اخونا ومولانا

You are our brother and friend.[3]

 

However, in the case of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam emphasised this deep connection by the aforementioned supplication.

  1. This narration is a sign of the true prophethood of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The result of the supplication made by Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was that those who showed hostility to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu on religious issues are remembered by history as downtrodden failures. On the other hand, all the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and others who had an affinity for him are remembered by history as heroes of the Islamic cause. They conquered the east and the west with droves of people accepting Islam due to them. All the good actions of those who came into the fold of Islam due to them will be credited to their account as well.

 

  1. Question: If all those that opposed ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu fall under the ambit of the downtrodden, what of those Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who fought against him? Weren’t they on the straight path? Did they not benefit multitudes of people prior to and after the battles against ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu? Furthermore, did they not attain the help of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala?

Answer: This apparent contradiction had led many scholars, including Ibn Taymiyyah, to declare the supplication in this hadith as an unacceptable addition. However, this view leaves much to be desired as many hadith scholars declared it as authentic. The answer to this apparent contradiction is better understood in this manner: Both groups of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum had interpreted their view through logic based on the sources of Shari’ah; of which they were masters. Two groups had formed due to them coming to different conclusions which led to the fighting between the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. The principle of Shari’ah is clear, one who comes to a conclusion based on an interpretation provided he possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to do so will not be held accountable if he errs. The safest path to traverse when coming upon the battles fought by the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum against each other, is to adopt silence. The pious predecessors would prefer to not comment on this issue. This is the safest path which also lends much respect to the Noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

 

  1. If the Ahlul Bayt encounter some of the masses ignoring their virtue, they should proclaim their virtue so that these and other people do not become accursed through the supplication of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. If there is discord amongst the masses the Imam should remind them of his status and virtue. This will not be considered as inflating one’s ego, it will rather be considered to be an attempt to protect the unity of the ummah.

 

  1. The desirability of defending the honour of the Ahlul Bayt without being prompted to do so.

 

  1. The permissibility of recounting the virtues of the Ahlul Bayt in gatherings. If circumstances are such that people are attempting to vilify the Ahlul Bayt, such gathering will become highly emphasised.

 

  1. The encouragement of spreading knowledge whilst traveling.

 

  1. A believer should take offense at one rejecting the hadith of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

 

  1. Entertaining evil thoughts of the Ahlul Bayt is objectionable at the very least.

 

NEXT⇒  The Thirteenth Narration


[1] Al Sunan al Kubra li al Nasa’i, Hadith: 8424; Sunan Abu Dawood.

[2] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2472.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4005.