Sunni Traditions in praise of the Ahlul-Bayt

Some of the famous traditions in praise of Imam Ali (AS) recorded in the Sunni books.

Hadith Al-Tashbih

The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:

"Whoever wishes to see Adam in his knowledge, Noah in his piety, Abraham in his forbearance, Moses in his strength, and Jesus in his

worship and devotion should look at Ali ibn Abi Talib."

Sunni Refernces: al Muhibb al Tabari in al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 218, 208;

al Muttaqi in Kanz alummal, i, 226; Ibn Abi al Hadid, Sharh Nahj al Balaghah (Egypt, ed. Muhammad Abu al?Fadl), ix, 168;

al Qunduzi, Yanabi al Mawaddah (Istanbul), p. 214, 312; Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Dimashq, "Tarjumat al-Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib," ii, 280;

Fakhr al Razi, Tafsir, ii, 700; Ibn al Maghazili, Manaqib, 212;

Hadith Al-Munasabah

The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:

"Whoever contests Ali in regard to the khilafah is an unbeliever." Sunni Refernces:

Ibn al Maghazili in his Manaqib (Tehran), p.45, from Abu Dharr al Ghifari, Allamah Ayni Hyderabadi in Manaqib Sayyidina Ali (Alam Press, Charminar), p.52, from al Khatib

al Khwarazmi and Ibn al Maghazili.

Hadith Al-Safinah

The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:

"The parable of my Ahlul bayt is that of the boat of Noah, whoever gets aboard it is saved and whoever stays away from it is

drowned."

Sunni References: Al Hakim in his Mustadrak, ii, 343, iii, 150:

Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al Awliya', iv, 306; al Khatib in Ta'rikh Baghdad, xii, 19; al Suyuti in al Durr al Manthur (al-Matba`at al Maymaniyyah, Egypt, 1314), under verse 2:58; al Muttaqi in Kanz al Ummal, i, 250, vi, 216; al Haythami in Majma` al Zawa'id, ix, 167, 168; al Muhibb al Tabari in Dhakha'ir al Uqba, 20; al Manawi in Kunuz al?Haqa'iq, 132.

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Hadith Al-Muqatalah

Abu Said al Khudri reports:

"We sat waiting for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh&hp) when he came out to meet us. The strap of his sandal was broken and he

tossed it to Ali. Then he (pbuh&hp) said: "A man amongst you will fight the people over the tawil (interpretation) of the Quran in the same way as I have fought over its tanzil (revelation)." Thereupon Abu Bakr said, 'Is that I?' The Prophet (pbuh&hp) said: "No." Then

Umar asked him, 'Is that I?' "No." said the Prophet (pbuh&hp). "It is the mender of the sandal (i.e. Ali)."

Sunni References: al Hakim in Mustadrak, iii, 122; Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, iii, 33, 82; Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al Awliya', i, 67; Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, iii, 282, iv, 33; Ibn Hajar, al Isabah, i, 22, iv, 152; Ibn Abd al Barr, al lsti`ab, ii, 423; al Haythami, Majma al Zawa'id, v, 186; al Muttaqi, Kanz al Ummal, vi, 155, 390, 391.

The Messenger of Allah said:

"Loving Ali is the sign of belief, and hating Ali is the sign of hypocrasy."

Sunni references: - Sahih Muslim, v1, p48; - Sahih Tirmidhi, v5, p643; - Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p142; - Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal v1, pp 84,95,128 - Tarikh al-Kabir, by al-Bukhari (the author of Sahih), v1, part 1, p202

- Hilyatul Awliya', by Abu Nu'aym, v4, p185 - Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v14, p462 This tradition of Prophet was popular to the extent that some of the companions used to say:

"We recognized the hypocrites by their hatred of Ali." Sunni references: - Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p639, Tradition #1086 - al-Istiab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, p47 - al-Riyad al-Nadirah, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, v3, p242 - Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p91

Also Muslim in his Sahih narrated on the authority of Zirr that:

Ali (RA) said: By him who split up the seed and created something living, the Apostle (may peace and blessing be upon him) gave me a promise that no one but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would nurse grudge against me.

Sahih Muslim, English version, Chapter XXXIV, p46, Tradition #141

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Abu Huraira narrated:

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) looked toward Ali, al-Hasan, al-Husain, and Fatimah, and said: "I am in the state of war with

those who will fight you, and in the state of peace with those who are peaceful to you."

Sunni references: (1) Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p699 (2) Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p52 (3) Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p767, Tradition #1350 (4) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p149 (5) Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p169 (6) al-Kabir, by Tabarani, v3, p30, also in al-Awsat (7) Jamius Saghir, by al-Ibani, v2, p17 (8) Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v7, p137 (9) Sawai'q al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p221 (10) Talkhis, by al-Dhahabi, v3, p149 (11) Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p25

It is the well-known fact in the history that Muawiyah fought Imam Ali . And based on the above tradition of the Prophet(PBUH) the Prophet has declared war on Muawiyah. How can we still love a person whom

the Prophet has declared war on him?

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

"Whoever hurts Ali, has hurt me" Sunni references: - Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v3, p483 - Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p580, Tradition #981 - Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p129 - al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p263 - Ibn Habban, Ibn Abd al-Barr, etc.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

"Whoever reviles/curses Ali, has reviled/cursed me" Sunni reference: - al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p121, who mentioned this tradition is Authentic. - Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v6, p323 - Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p594, Tradition #1011 - Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p130 - Mishkat al-Masabih, English version, Tradition #6092 - Tarikh al-Khulafa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p173 - and many others such as Tabarani, Abu Ya'la, etc. It is narrated in Sahih Muslim as well as many other sources that:

Someday (after his last pilgrimage) the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stood to give us a speech beside a pond which is known as Khum

(Ghadir Khum) which is located between Mecca and Medina. Then he praised Allah and reminded Him, and then said: "O' people!

Behold! It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call. Behold! I am leaving for you two precious things. First of them is the book of Allah in which there

is light and guidance... The other one is my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the

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name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. I remind you in the name of Allah about my Ahlul-Bayt. (three times)."

Sunni Reference: - Sahih Muslim, Chapter of the virtues of the companions, section of the virtues of Ali, 1980 Edition Pub. in

Saudi Arabia, Arabic version, v4, p1873, Tradition #36. - And many others such as Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad (see below). For the English version of Sahih Muslim, see Chapter CMXCVI, v4, p1286, Tradition #5920

Narrated Umm Salama:

The Messenger of Allah said: "Ali is with Quran, and Quran is with Ali. They shall not separate from each other till they both return to

me by the Pool (of Paradise)." Sunni references: - al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p124 on the authority of Umm Salama - al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 9, section 2, pp 191,194 - al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani; also in al-Saghir - Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p173 Interesting to see, al-Hakim has many other traditions about necessity of following Ahlul-Bayt, among which is the following tradition. This tradition is also narrated by many other Sunni scholars and is known as the "Tradition of the Ship" in which the Prophet (PBUH&HF) stated:

"Behold! My Ahlul-Bayt are like the Ark of Noah. Whoever embarked in it was SAVED, and whoever turned away from it was

PERISHED." Sunni references: (1) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v2, p343, v3, pp 150-151 on the authority of Abu Dhar. al-Hakim said this

tradition is authentic (Sahih). (2) Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p786 (3) Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, under the commentary of verse 42:23, Part 27, p167(4) al-Bazzar, on

the authority of Ibn Abbas and Ibn Zubair with the wording "drowned" instead of "perished". (5) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p234 under Verse 8:33. Also in section 2, p282. He said this Hadith has been transmitted via numerous authorities. (6) Tarikh al-Khulafaa and Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti (7) al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, pp 37,38 (8) al-Saghir, by al-Tabarani, v2, p22 (9) Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v4, p306 (10) al-Kuna wal Asmaa, by al-Dulabi, v1, p76 (11) Yanabi al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, pp 30,370 (12) Is'af al-Raghibeen, by al-Saban

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said about Ahlul-Bayt:

"Do not be ahead of them for you will perish, do not turn away from them for you will perish, and do not try to teach them since

they know more than you do!" Sunni references: (1) al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Suyuti, v2, p60 (2) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p230, quoted from al-Tabarani,

also in section 2, p342 (3) Usdul Ghabah, by Ibn al-Athir, v3, p137 (4) Yanabi' al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, p41, and P335 (5) Kanz al-Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v1, p168 (6) Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p163 (7) Aqabat al-Anwar, v1, p184

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(8) A'alam al-Wara, pp 132-133 (9) Tadhkirat al-Khawas al-Ummah, Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi al-Hanafi, pp 28-33 (10) al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, by Noor al-Din al-Halabi, v3, p273

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said: "My Ahlul-Bayt are like the Gate of Repentance of the Children of Israel; whoever entered

therein was forgiven." Sunni References: - Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p168 - al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani, Tradition #18 - Arba'in, by al-Nabahani, p216 - al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 230,234 - Another fairly similar tradition was recorded by al-Darqunti as well as Ibn Hajar in his al-Sawa'iq al-

Muhriqah, Ch. 9, section 2, p193 where the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Ali is the Gate of Repentance, whoever entered therein was a believer and whoever went out was an unbeliever."

The above tradition was in connection with verses 2:58 and 7:161 of Quran which describe the Gate of Repentance of Bani Israel. Those of companions of Moses who did not enter the Gate of the Repentance were lost in the desert for forty years, while those who did not enter the ark of Noah were drowned. Ibn Hajar concludes that:

"The analogy of the Ark of Noah signifies that those who love and honor the Ahlul-Bayt and derive from

their guidance will be rescued from the darkness of opposition, and those who will turn against them will be drowned in the sea of ingratitude and will perish in the desert of insubordination and rebellion."

Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, p91

The prophet and Ahlul Bayt have been purified a perfect purification and cleaned from every uncleaness:

Quran 33:33 ...Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying.

"The Tradition of Cloak/Mantle" (Hadith al-Kisaa), and is as follows:

Narrated Aisha:

One day the Prophet (PBUH&HF) came out afternoon wearing a black cloak (upper garment or gown; long coat), then al-Hasan Ibn Ali came and the Prophet accommodated him under the cloak, then al-Husain came and entered the cloak, then Fatimah came and the Prophet entered her under the cloak, then Ali came and the Prophet entered him to the cloak as well. Then the Prophet recited: "Verily Allah intends to keep off from you every kind of uncleanness O' People of the House (Ahlul-Bayt), and purify you a perfect purification (the last sentence of Verse 33:33)."

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Sunni reference: Sahih Muslim, Chapter of virtues of companions, section of the virtues of the Ahlu Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH&HF), 1980 Edition Pub. in Saudi Arabia, Arabic version, v4, p1883, Tradition #61. One can see that the author of Sahih Muslim confirms that: 1- Imam Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain are the Ahlul-Bayt, 2- The purification sentence in Quran (the last sentence of Verse 33:33) was revealed for the virtue of the

above-mentioned individuals, and NOT for the wives of the Prophet (PBUH&HF).

The verse "Verily Allah intends to ... (33:33)" was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH&HF) in the house of Umm Salama. Upon that, the Prophet gathered Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain, and covered them with a cloak, and he also covered Ali who was behind him. Then the Prophet said: "O' Allah! These are the Members of my House (Ahlul-Bayt). Keep them away from every impurity and purify them with a perfect purification." Umm Salama (the wife of Prophet) asked: "Am I also included among them O Apostle of Allah?" the Prophet replied: "You remain in your position and you are toward a good ending." Sunni reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, pp 351,663

Hadith al-Tatt-heer: He is among the purified members of Ahlul Bayt and this fact has already been proved in the chapter about Ahlul Bay

The verse "Verily Allah intends to ... (33:33)" was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH&HF) in the house of Umm Salama. Upon that, the Prophet gathered Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain, and covered them with a cloak, and he also covered Ali who was behind him. Then the Prophet said: "O' Allah! These are the Members of my House (Ahlul-Bayt). Keep them away from every impurity and purify them with a perfect purification." Umm Salama (the wife of Prophet) asked: "Am I also included among them O Apostle of Allah?" the Prophet replied: "You remain in your position and you are toward a good ending. " It is because of this purification that the door of Ali (looking into the masjid) was kept open while the doors of all the companions were ordered to be shut. This purification and cleansing (by Allah) from all forms of impurities puts Ali above all the companions. What more can a nation hope for when it can have a caliph that was purified (by Allah) under the cloak of the prophet and that can lead the people to guidance and rule them with the justice of the prophet. al-Hakim (in al-Mustadrak) in connection with the attainments of Imam al-Hasan, and al-Haythami (in connection with the excellence of the Holy Family) have narrated that Imam al-Hasan (AS) addressed the people after the martyrdom of his father Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) and said during his speech:

O People! Whoever knows me, knows me and whoever doesn't know me should know that I am al-Hasan Ibn Ali; I am the son of the Holy Prophet and of his executor (Wasi). I am the son him who invited people to Allah and warned them of the torture of His Hell-fire. I am the son of the luminous Lamp. I belong to the family upon whom Gabriel used to descend and from there ascend to heavens. I

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belong to the family from whom Allah has ward off all filth and made them pure.

Sunni references: - al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p172 - Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p172

Imam Husain (ra) said before Ashura:

"Don't you see that the truth is not followed and the falsehood is not discouraged? (The situation is so severe) so that a Believer

wishes to meet Allah (i.e. to die). And today I don't see death but prosperity, and living with tyrants is nothing but disgust and

disgrace." Sunni Reference: Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v2, p39

Imam Husain said:

"I revolted not for wickedness nor for fame. Verily I rose only to seek for rectification in the nation of my grandfather!

Al-Khatid al-Khuwarazmi: Maqtalu'l Husain ,vol.1, p.88

Every day is Ashura and every land is Kerbala Imam Jaafer ibn Mohammad As-Sadiq (A)

My followers remember my thirst every-time you quench yours" (Al-Hussein bin Ali)

Abu Huraira narrated:

The Prophet (PBUH) looked toward Ali, Hasan, Husain, and Fatimah (AS), and then said: "I am in war with those who will fight

you, and in peace with those who are peaceful to you." References: Musnad Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, v5, p699 Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p52 Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p767, Tradition #1350 al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p149, Mu'ujam al-Tabarani al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, p30, Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Ibani, v2, p17 Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v7, p137 Sawaiq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, p144 Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p25 Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6145 Ibn Maghazli in Manaqib Ameer'ul Momineen page 59 - Kanz al-U'ummal, by Allamah Ala'ideen al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, vol 12, #34164 on the authority of Abu Hurayra Kanz al-U'ummal, by Allamah Ala'ideen al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, vol 13, #37621 on the authority of Zayd ibn Arqam

Ali is from me and I am from Ali, and he is the master (wali) of every believer after me.

References: Kanz al-U'ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, vol 11, #32883 Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, v5,p356 [

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Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol 3, #250/4652 Sunan al-Tirmidhi, vol 5, #3796 Ziyadat al-Jami'i al-Sagheer, by Imam al-Suyuti, #2660 The mastership of Ali is similar to the mastership of the prophet. Any person hostile to Ali is also hostile to Allah. Any person who loves Ali also love Allah. No one shares this virtue with the prophet but Ahlul Bayt:

Nobody discharges the responsibility [of my religion] on my behalf except I and `Ali."

Reference: Kanz al-U'ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, vol 11, #32962, 32919 al-Jami'i al-Sagheer, by Jalaludin al-Suyuti, vol. 4, #5601 Mu'ujam al-Tabarani al-Kabir, by Imam al-Tabarani

The messenger pointing to `Ali, said:

"This is the first to have believed in me, the first to shake hands with me on the Day of Resurrection; he is the foremost

friend, and he is the faruq of this nation who distinguishes between right and wrong; he is the chief of the believers."

Reference: Kanz al-U'ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, vol 11, #32990 Mu'ajam al-Tabarani al-Kabir al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan Ibn `Uday in his Al-Kamil

The prophet said:

"The first to enter through this door is the Imam of the pious, the chief of Muslims, the head of the religion, the seal of the wasis, and the leader of those whose foreheads radiate with the mark of faith," whereupon `Ali entered and he, peace be upon him and his progeny, stood up happily excited, hugged

him and wiped his sweat saying: "You shall fulfill my covenant, convey my message, and after me clarify whatever

seems to be ambiguous." Reference: Abu Na`im in his Hilyat al-Awliya' from Anas Ibn Abul Hadid on page 450, Vol. 2, of his Sharh Nahjul Balaghah

Al Tirmidhi in his Sahih reports that once when the Prophet (S) sat down to eat a fowl that had been

prepared for his dinner, he prayed to God:

"My God, bring the most beloved of Your creatures, that he may eat this fowl with me." Then Ali (AS) came and the Prophet ate

with him.

al Hakim in Mustadrak, iii, 130, 131; Abu Nuaym in Hilyah, vi, 339; al Khatib in Tarikh Baghdad, ii, 171; al Muhibb al Tabari in al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 160, 161, and Dhakha'ir al?-uqba, 61; al Haythami in Majma al Zawa'id, ix, 125, 126; al Muttaqi in Kanz al Ummal, iv, 406; Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, iv, 30.

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Hadith Al-Wilayah

The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:

"Verily, Ali and I are inseparable, and he is the master (wali) of every believer after me."

Sunni Refernces:

Al Tirmidhi, in his Sahih, ii, 297, Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, iv, 437, v, 356; Abu Dawud al Tayalisi in his Musnad, iii, 111, xi, 360; al Haythami, Majma al Zawaid, ix, 109, 127, 128, 199; al Khatib al Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, iv, 339; al Muhibb al Tabari, al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 203, 171; al Muttaqi al Hindi, Kanz al Ummal, vi, 154, 155, 396, 401; Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, v, 94; Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al Awliya, vi, 294; al Nasa'i, Khasais, 19, 23; as well as Ibn Abi Shaybah, al Tabari, al Tabarani, al ?Daylami, Ibn Mardawayh, Ibn al Jawzi, al Rafii, and Ibn Hajar

Hadith Noor

The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:

"Fourteen thousand years before Adam, upon whom be peace, was created, I and Ali were a light in the presence of God. When God

created Adam, upon whom be peace, He divided it into two parts. I am one of the parts and Ali is the other part."

Sunni Refernces:

Al Muhibb al Tabari narrates this tradition on the authority of Salman (RA) from the Prophet (pbuh&hp) in al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 163:

Ahmad ibn Hanbal in al Fada'il; Sibt ibn al Jawzi in Tadhkirat Alkhawass, 46; Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris al Razi in Zayn al Fata fi tafsir Surat Hal ata, MS.; Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Zawaid manaqib Amir al Muminin, MS., This tradition has also been narrated by also Ibn Mardawayh, Ibn Abd al Barr, al Khatib al

Baghdadi, Ibn al Maghazili, al-Asimi, Shiruyah al Daylami and others from Imam Ali (AS), Salman (RA), Abu Dharr (RA), Anas ibn Malik (RA), Jabir ibn Abd Allah (RA) and other Companions.

Shi'ah in the Hadith

In the history of Islam, "Shi'ah" has been especially used for the followers of Imam 'Ali (a). This phrase is not something invented later! The first individual who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself. When the following verse of the Qur'an was revealed:

(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of creatures (Qur'an 98:7)

The Prophet (s) said to Ali: "It is for you and your Shi'ah."

He further said: "I swear by the one who controls my life that this man (Ali) and his Shi'ah shall secure deliverance on the Day of

Resurrection."

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Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, (Cairo) vol. 6, p. 379 Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir Jami' al-Bayan, (Cairo) vol. 33, p. 146 Ibn Asakir, Ta'rikh Dimashq, vol. 42, p. 333, p. 371 Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, (Cairo) Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247

The Prophet (s) said:

"O Ali! (On the day of Judgment) you and your Shi'ah will come toward Allah well-pleased and well-pleasing, and there will come

to Him your enemies angry and stiff-necked (i.e., their head forced up).

Ibn al-'Athir, al-Nihaya fi gharib al-hadith, (Beirut, 1399), vol. 4 p. 106 al-Tabarani, Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol 1 p 319 al-Haythami, Majma' al-Zawa'id, vol. 9, number 14168

The Prophet (s) said :

"Glad tiding O Ali! Verily you and your Shi'ah will be in Paradise." Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Fadha'il al-Sahaba, (Beirut) vol. 2, p. 655 Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani, Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 4, p. 329 al-Khatib al-Baghdadi , Tarikh Baghdad, (Beirut) vol. 12, p. 289 al-Tabarani, Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 1, p. 319 al-Haythami, Majma' al-Zawa'id, vol. 10, pp. 21-22 Ibn 'Asakir, Ta'rikh Dimashq, vol. 42, pp. 331-332 Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, (Cairo) Ch. 11, section 1, p. 247

The Twelve Caliphs / Imaams

Narrated Jabir ibn Samura:

I heard the Prophet (s) saying: "There will be Twelve Commanders." He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, the Prophet added, "All of them will

be from Quraysh." [Sahih al-Bukhari (English), Hadith: 9.329, Kitabul Ahkam; Sahih al-Bukhari, (Arabic), 4:165, Kitabul Ahkam]

The Prophet (s) said:

"The Religion (Islam) will continue until the Hour (Day of Resurrection), having Twelve Caliphs for you, all of them will be

from Quraysh." [Sahih Muslim, (English), Chapter DCCLIV, v3, p1010, Tradition #4483; Sahih Muslim (Arabic), Kitab al-Imaara, 1980 Saudi Arabian Edition, v3, p1453, Tradition #10]

Quranic Ayats and Hadith about Ghadir

O Messenger, Proclaim what has been sent down to you from your Lord; and if you don't do it, you have not delivered His Message (at

all); and Allah will protect you from the people (Qur'an: Chapter 5, Verse 67)

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Today I have perfected your religion and completed my favor upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion. (Qur'an 5:3)

A questioner questioned about the punishment to fall. For the

disbelievers there is nothing to avert it, from Allah the Lord of the Ascent.

(Qur'an 70:1-3)

When Imam 'Ali (a), during the time of his caliphate and decades after the event of Ghadir, said to Anas bin Malik, the Companion of

the Prophet (s): "Why don't you stand up and testify what you heard from the Messenger of Allah on the day of Ghadir?" He answered, "O Amir al-Muminin! I have grown old and do not

remember." Thereupon 'Ali (a) said: "May Allah mark you with a white spot (of leprosy) unconcealable with your turban, if you are intentionally withholding the truth." And before Anas got up from

his place he bore a large white spot on his face." Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari, Kitab al-Ma'arif, (Cairo, 1353 AH), p. 251 Ahmad bin Hanbal, al-Musnad, vol. 1, p. 119 Abu Nu`aym al-'Isfahani ,Hilyat al-Awliya', (Beirut, 1988), vol. 5, p. 27 Nur al-Din al-Halabi al-Shafi'i, al-Sirah al-Halabiyya, vol. 3, p. 336 Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-'Ummal, (Halab, 1969-84), vol. 13, p. 131

What is so special about the Family of the Prophet (s) ?

When the verse "(O Muhammad) Say, 'I do not ask for any reward for this (bringing of Allah's message) except the love for the near kinship.'" (42:23) was revealed, the Muslims asked the Prophet:

"Who are these near kin of yours whose love is obligatory upon us?" He replied, "'Ali, Fatima, and their two sons."

alHakim alNaysaburi, alMustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 2, page 444 al-Qastallani, Irshad al-Sari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 7, page 331 al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur, volume 6, pages 6-7 al-Alusi al-Baghdadi, Ruh al-Maani, volume 25, pages 31-2

The position of truthfulness and virtue of the Ahl al-Bayt was further confirmed by the Quran during the disputation with the Christians of Najran. When the verse was revealed "But whoever

disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of

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Allah on the liars." (3:61), the Prophet (s) called Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan and al-Husayn and said: O Allah, these are my Family

(Ahli). Muslim, al-Sahih, (English translation), book 031, number 5915 alHakim alNaysaburi, alMustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 3, page 150. He states that it is sahih in

accordance with the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 7, page 60 al-Tirmidhi, al-Sahih, kitab al-manaqib, volume 5, page 596 Ahmad b. Hanbal, al-Musnad, volume 1, page 185 al-Suyuti, History of Khalifas Who Took The Right Way, (London, 1995), page 176

Prophet of Allah (s) referred to Imam 'Ali (as) as an Imam, when he declared:

"Three things have been revealed to me about Ali: That he is the Sayyid al Muslimeen (Chief of Muslims), Imam-ul-Muttaqeen (Imam of the Pious),

and wa Qa'id ul Ghurrul Muhajj'ileen (Leader of the bright-faced people on Yaum al Qiyamah)"

Taken from Al Mustadrak by Imam Hakim, p 137 & 138 Riyadh al Nadira, by Mohibbudin al Tabari, Vol 2, p

122

"O Ali! Soon a rebellious group will fight against you, you will be on the truth. Whoever does not support you on that day will not be

from us" Kanz al Ummal, by Ali Muttaqi al Hind quoting Ibn Asakir, hadith number 32970

"'Ali is with the Truth and the Truth is with 'Ali" Kanz ul Ummal hadith number 33018

"Oh Allah, turn the truth in whichever direction 'Ali turns" al Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 124

Rasulullah said:

"Verily among you will be one who will fight for the meaning of the Qur'an in the same way that I fought for its revelation. People

asked will that be Abu Bakr or`Umar? Rasulullah (s) replied 'No, but he who is mending my shoes, that person was 'Ali"

Kanz ul Ummal, Hadith number 32967

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"I revolted not for wickedness nor for fame. Verily I rose only to seek for rectification in the nation of my grandfather!