عمرو بن العاص

To ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ

About ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ

“I am the first of this Ummah, Mahdi is the middle of it, and Isa is the last of it. And in between there are calamities and tyrant rulers.”

“The Messenger of Allah one day said to the people in his meeting, ‘Do you know what is (of one’s) weakness?’ They said, ‘Allah and the Messenger of Allah know better.’ He then said, ‘There are three kinds of weaknesses: First, a friend prepares food for another friend but fails to keep his promise and does not come for food. Second, one of you meets a man and wants to know who he is but fails to acquire such information and he departs the man. Third, is about women, one becomes close to his wife and depletes his energy before she is satisfied.’ ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr al-‘As asked, ‘What should he do, O the Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘He should hold back until it comes from both of them in concert.’” “In another Hadith it is said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The weakest of all is one who meets a man and is attracted to him but does not ask his name, his relationships or where he lives.’”

I was with Muawiyah and a group of the people from the Quraysh tribe were there. Some of the Hashemites were among them. Muawiyah said, “O Hashemites! Why do you think you are better than us while we both come from the same father and mother, and we both come from the same family and country?”Ibn Abbas said, “We say we are better than you for the same reason that you say you are better than the Quraysh, and the Quraysh say they are better than the Helpers (Ansar), and the Helpers (Ansar) say they are better than the Arabs, and the Arabs say they are better than the non-Arabs. That is we are proud because of God’s Prophet (MGB). You can neither deny this nor escape from this fact.”Muawiyah said, “O Ibn Abbas! You have been granted such a convincing tongue with which you press your false accusations over the truth.”Ibn Abbas said, “Shut up! Indeed falsehood can never overcome the truth. Quit being jealous as jealousy is bad.”Muawiyah said, “You spoke the truth. I swear by God that I like you for four characteristics and I forgive you for four deeds. The four reasons I like you for are: First of all I like you because of your close relationship to God’s Prophet (MGB). The second reason is that you are a man from my family and from the pure race of Abd Manaf. The third reason is that my father was friends with your father. The fourth reason is that you are the speaker for the Quraysh tribe and you are their learned man. And your four deeds which I forgive you for are: your taking part in the Battle of Siffin along with those who attacked me; your ugly act being not assisting Uthman against the rebels who attacked him, and your attempts against Ayesha , plus your rejection of Zyad being my step-brother.When I considered your wicked deeds in detail, I found an excuse for your deeds from the Book of the Honorable the Exalted God and one from Arab poems. Your excuse based on the Book (Quran) comes from the following verse, ‘Others (there are who) have acknowledged their wrong-doings: they have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them (in Mercy): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Your excuse based on Arab poems comes from the words of the Zebyan tribe who said, ‘Which of your brothers can you find free of faults. You will be left without any friends if you cut off relations for small faults.’ You should know that I have recognized your four good characteristics and have forgiven your four deeds as the poet said, ‘I accept good deeds from my loved ones. I forgive them for whatever else they may have done.’”When he finished, Ibn Abbas started to respond by first reciting God’s praises and glorifications. Then he said, ‘You mentioned that you like me because I am close to God’s Prophet (MGB). This is incumbent upon you and all Muslims who believe in God and His Prophet (MGB), since this love is the reward which God’s Prophet (MGB) asked for in return for what he brought you in terms of illumination and clear reasoning. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘…Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin.’ Whoever doesn’t follow this verse and doesn’t love his near of kin is going to be hopeless, without honor and in Hell.You mentioned that you like me because I am a man from your family. Well, that is right. You wanted to perform your duty and visit your relations of kin. You seem to be doing a lot of that these days. You are not to be blamed today for your past mistakes.You mentioned that you like me because my father was friends with your father. That is right and it is certified by what the poet said about it:I will strive to be loyal to my friend for as long as he is aliveAnd shall do so with his relatives should he die and I stay aliveWhoever honors not his pledge, I shall not trustSince then he shall not pacify my swollen heart.You mentioned that you like me because I am the speaker for the Quraysh tribe and I am their learned man. You likewise have a similar rank. However, you are so noble as to mention me to be of such a rank. This is also supported by what the poet said about it:Noble ones set other ones up higher than themselvesThey honor others though they are nobler themselvesYou mentioned my animosity with you, since I attacked you at Siffin. By God, I would have been amongst the worst creatures in the world had I not done so. O Muawiyah! How could you even imagine that I would abandon my cousin Ali - the Commander of the Faithful and the Master of the Muslims - who was supported by the Emigrants (Muhajerin), the Helpers (Ansar), and the cream of the crop of the freedom-lovers, and join you! O Muawiyah! Then I would have serious doubts about my faith in my religion, my moral constitution and myself.You mentioned that I abandoned Uthman. Well, even those who were much closer to him abandoned him and left. I followed his close associates and those who were not so close to him. I never assisted the rebels who revolted against him. I just abandoned him. You mentioned my effort made against Ayesha . You know that she had been ordered by the Sublime God’s Prophet (MGB) to stay behind the veil at home, but she tore the veil, left her house and opposed the Prophet (MGB). The way we treated with her was appropriate.You mentioned my rejection of your step-brotherhood with Zyad. However, this was not my denial but the Prophet’s denial since he (MGB) has said, ‘the offspring belongs to the owner of the bed and the fornicatress gets stoned.’ Now I like to do what would please you, whatever it may be.’Then Amr Ibn Al-A’as started to talk and said, ‘O commander of the faithful (referring to Muawiyah!) By God, he doesn’t like you and just wants to fool you into thinking that he agrees with you using his sharp tongue. He cited the poems to support this.’Then Ibn Abbas said, ‘Indeed Amr put himself to great trouble. He should now know that he is facing a strong opponent.’Then Ibn Abbas added, ‘O Amr! I swear by God that I am opposed to you for the sake of God and I shall not apologize for that. You had said, ‘I hate Muhammad.’ The Honorable the Exalted God revealed, ‘For he who hateth thee, he will be cut off (from Future Hope).’You have been cut off from the religion and the world. You even hated Muhammad in the Age of Ignorance!Indeed the Blessed the Sublime God says, ‘Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who resist Allah and His Messenger…’ Indeed you have always resisted God and God’s Prophet (MGB). You did whatever you could against the Prophet of God (MGB). You gathered all your forces - on foot or riding - against the Prophet (MGB) until God defeated you, hanged up your sign of deception around your neck, reduced your strength and rejected your way. That is why you turned around and changed your approach and re-directed your plans of animosity with the members of the Holy Household of the Prophet (MGB). Therefore, you united with Muawiyah for this goal. However, you should know that love for the household of Muawiyah and no others is nothing but animosity with the Honorable the Exalted God and His Prophet (MGB). You still have your old animosity with and jealousy of the progeny of Abd Manaf as the poet says,Amr blamed me but he himself was debasedNear a male lion he turned into a weak hyenaHe doesn’t equal me so I shall not fight himHe is not my servant so I can’t punish him!Amr Ibn Al-A’as wanted to reply but Muawiyah stopped him and said, ‘O Amr! I swear by God that you cannot match him. It would be best for you to stop it.’Amr Ibn Al-A’as used this opportunity and became silent. Ibn Abbas said, ‘O Muawiyah! Please I beseech by God! Please let him start talking. Then I shall debase him so much that the masters and the slaves cite his case and restate his story in meetings and parties up until the Resurrection Day.’Then Ibn Abbas started to speak and said, ‘O Amr!’ However, Muawiyah put his hand on Ibn Abbas’s mouth and said, ‘O Ibn Abbas! I swear to you to finish this since I do not like the Syrians to hear this speech.’ Then Ibn Abbas told Amr, ‘O blameworthy servant! Get lost.’ Then they left.”

"When Abū Dharr, may God have mercy on him, was being exiled, he met with ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (ʿas), al-Miqdād b. al-Aswad, ʿAmmār b. Yāsir, Ḥudhayfah b. al-Yamān, and ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Masʿūd. Abū Dharr, may God have mercy on him, said, 'Narrate to me a tradition with which we may remember the Messenger of God (ṣ), bear witness to him, call upon him, and believe in him with Unicity. ʿAlī (ʿas) answered, 'This is not the time for me to tell traditions.' 'You have spoken the truth,' the others agreed. Abū Dharr then said, 'You narrate one to us, Ḥudhayfah.' 'You all know,' he responded, 'that I asked about several perplexing matters, about which I have informed you. I had never asked about anything else.' Now Abū Dharr said, 'You narrate one to us, son of Masʿūd.' ʿAbd Allāh b. Masʿūd answered, 'You all know that I would read the Qurʾān; I had never asked about anything else. All of you, however, are the people of traditions.' They all agreed, 'You have spoken the truth.' Abū Dharr requested now, 'You narrate one to us, Miqdād.' Miqdād answered him, 'You all know that I am a man of the sword. I had never asked about anything else. All of you, however, are the people of traditions.' They all agreed, 'You have spoken the truth.' Abū Dharr continued, 'You narrated one to us, ʿAmmār.' ʿAmmār answered, 'You all know that I am a forgetful man; unless I am reminded, then I remember.' Abū Dharr, may God have mercy on him, said to them all, 'I shall narrate to you a tradition which I heard along with whoever else among you happened to hear it. The Messenger of God (ṣ) said, "Do you not bear witness that there is no god but God; that Muḥammad is the Messenger of God; that the Hour is coming, there is no doubt in it; that God shall send forth those in their graves; that the resurrection is true; that the Garden is true; and that the Fire is true?" They answered, "We bear witness to this." He said, "Then I, too, am among the witnesses with you." (Qurʾān 3:81)' Then Abū Dharr asked them all, 'Do you not bear witness that the Messenger of God (ṣ) said, "The most evil of the ancients and the latecomers are twelve, six from the ancients and six from the latecomers." The Messenger (ṣ) then named the six from the ancients, "These were: The son of Adam (ʿas), who killed his brother; Pharaoh; Hāmān; Qārūn; al-Sāmirī; and the Deceiver. The Deceiver has his name among the ancients, but he will emerge with the latecomers. As for the six latecomers: the calf, and this is Naʿthal; Pharaoh, and this is Muʿāwiyah; the Hāmān of this nation, and it is Ziyād; this nation's Qārūn, and it is Saʿīd; al-Sāmirī, and it is Abū Mūsā ʿAbd Allāh b. Qays, for he said as al-Sāmirī said to the people of Moses, "No contact" - meaning here, "no fighting"; and al-Abtar, who is ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ. Do you, therefore, bear witness to this?' They answered, 'Yes!' He answered, "Then I, too, am among the witnesses with you." (Qurʾān 3:81) Then he asked them all, 'Do you all not bear witness that the Messenger of God (ṣ) has said, "My nation shall come to meet me at the Pond under five flags. The first is the flag of the calf. I shall stand up and take his hand, and when I have taken his hand, his face shall blacken, his feet quake, and his insides shake. Whoever joined him in it shall follow behind him. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will answer, 'We denied the Greater One and mangled it up, and we oppressed the Lesser One and took its right.' I will say to them, 'Go to the left,' and they shall turn away extremely thirsty, without having tasted a single drop of it, their faces blackened. Then the flag of the Pharaoh of my nation shall come to me, and most people shall be under it, and there shall be the deniers among them. 'O' Messenger of God,' it will be said, 'what of the deniers who denied the way?' I will say, 'No, rather they denied their own religion and they were those who hated for the sake of the world and were pleased for its sake.' Then I shall stand and take the hand of their leader, and having taken it, his face shall blacken, his feet quake, and his insides shake. Whoever joined him in it shall follow behind him. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will then answer, 'We denied the Greater One and mangled it up, and we fought the Lesser One and killed it.' I will say to them in response, 'Take the path of your companions.' And they shall turn away extremely thirsty, without having tasted a single drop, with their faces blackened. Then the flag of Hāmān shall come to me, I shall take his hand, and having taken it, his face shall blacken, his feet quake, and his insides shake. Whoever joined him in it shall follow behind him. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will answer, 'We denied the Greater One and mangled it up, and we deceived the Lesser One and disobeyed it.' I will say to them in response, 'Take the path of your companions.' And they shall turn away extremely thirsty, without having tasted a single drop, with their faces blackened. Then the flag of ʿAbd Allāh b. Qays shall come to me, and he will be the leader of fifty thousand of my nation. I shall stand up and take his hand, and having taken it, his face shall blacken, his feet quake, his insides shake. Whoever joined him in it shall follow behind him. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will answer, 'We denied the Greater One and disobeyed it, and deceived the Lesser One and turned away from it.' I will say to them in response, 'Take the path of your companions.' And they shall turn away extremely thirsty, without having tasted a single drop, with their faces blackened. Then the flag of al-Mukhdaj shall come to me with his flag. I shall take his hand, and having taken it, his face shall blacken, his feet quake, and his insides shake. Whoever joined him in it shall follow behind him. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will answer, 'We denied the Greater One and disobeyed it, and we fought the Lesser One and killed it.' I will say to them in response, 'Take the path of your companions.' And they shall turn away, extremely thirsty, without having tasted a drop, with their faces blackened. Then the flag of the Commander of the Faithful, the Imam of the Pious, and the Leader of the Cavalry on White-Footed Horses shall come to me. I shall stand up and take his hand, and having taken it, his and his companions' faces shall brighten. I will ask them, 'What did you visit on the Two Weighty Things after me?' They will answer, 'We followed the Greater One and believed in it, and we bore the burden of the Lesser One along with it, supported it, and fought along side it.' I will say to them in response, 'Go down to satiating, sweet, freshwater as those who have their thirsts quenched.' They shall then drink a drink after which they will never feel thirsty again. The face of their Imam is like the risen sun, and the face of his followers will be like the moon on a night it's full, and like the light of the stars in the heavens.' Abū Dharr asked them, 'So do you bear witness to this?' They answered, 'Yes.' He answered, 'Then I, too, am among the witnesses with you.' (Qurʾān 3:81)" Yaḥyā adds to this narration, "'Abbād said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that 'Abd al-Raḥmān narrated this to us.' 'Abd al-Raḥmān said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that al-Ḥārith b. Ḥaṣīrah narrated this to me.' al-Ḥārith said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that Ṣakhr b. al-Ḥakam narrated this to me.' Ṣakhr b. al-Ḥakam said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that Ḥayyān narrated this to me.' Ḥayyān said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that al-Rabīʿ b. Jamil narrated this to me.' al-Rabīʿ said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that Mālik b. Ḍamrah narrated this to me.' Mālik b. Ḍamrah said, 'Bear witness to this for me before God - Mighty and Exalted - that Abū Dharr narrated this to me.' Abū Dharr said likewise." Yaḥyā continues, "The Messenger of God (ṣ) said, 'Gabriel narrated it to me from God - Blessed and Exalted.'"

I want to take you as witnesses for me in the presence of the Blessed the Sublime God. Whoever needs to go to the toilet should do so. Then take off your shoes and coats and sit down and relax.” They did as he ordered. Then he faced the people and said, “O people! I have called you in to serve as witnesses in the presence of the Sublime God. Fear God. Look at yourselves and your leaders. My position and majesty should not prevent you from accepting what is right no matter who says it, or rejecting what is wrong no matter who says it. Be afraid of the Fire for yourselves and seek nearness to the Sublime God by pleasing and obeying Him. Know that those who get close to creatures by disobeying the Creator will be subdued to those creatures by God. Therefore, use your full power of reasoning in arguing with me. I am a man who thinks that Ali (a.s.) is the best man after the Prophet of God (a.s.). Therefore acknowledge me, if you consider what I say to be right and if I am correct. And argue with me and reject my claim using reasoning if I am wrong. Either I will question you, or you will question me as you please.” Once Al-Ma’mun said this, the experts on traditions said, “Fine. We will ask you.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Ask, but appoint one of you tospeak. Once he speaks if others have something to add, they can do so. Or if he makes a mistake, others can correct him.” Then one of them said, “We believe that the best of the people after the Prophet of God (a.s.) was Abu Bakr. This is because there is a unanimously accepted tradition in which we read that God’s Prophet (S) said, ‘Follow those who will be after me - Abu Bakr and Umar.’ We know that he is the best of the people after the Prophet (S), since the Prophet of Mercy issued this decree and ordered that we follow them since we know that only the best of the people will be appointed as leader.”Then Al-Ma’mun said, “There are many traditions. Either they are all correct or all incorrect. Or some are correct and some are incorrect. If we say that they are all correct, then they are all incorrect since some of them violate others. If we say they are all wrong; then the religion is wrong and the holy jurisprudence will be invalidated. Then we must accept the third option: that is some of the traditions are correct and some are incorrect. Now it is so that we must have some reason for their being correct to believe them and reject what is opposite to them. If the reason behind the tradition is right, we must believe it, accept it and put it into action. However, the tradition which you cited includes the proof which invalidates it within itself, since the Prophet of God (a.s.) is the most knowledgeable and wise. He is the most honest of the people. He is the person most improbable to misguide the people towards the impossible or towards believing what is wrong. Therefore, he should not have issued a decree to have these two people become his successors and Divine Leaders. This is because either both of them follow the same manners or followed opposite manners. If they were the same in all aspects, then they must be one in number, form and body. It has not been so and will never be so that two people be one and the same. But if they were different from each other, how is it permissible to follow both of them? This is impossible to do, since as you know obeying one would imply disobeying the other one, and vice versa. The reasons supporting that they were different in manners is that Aba Bakr used to capture the Ahl ar-Riddeh and Umar set them free. Umar asked Abu Bakr to put Khalid (ibn Valid) out of office and execute him for killing Malik ibn Nowayrah. Abu Bakr did not accept this and did not execute him. Umar forbade two Mutt’as ( that of women and Hajj), but Abu Bakr did not. Umar set up the payroll for the armed forces, while Abu Bakr did not doso. Abu Bakr appointed a successor for himself but Umar did not do so. There are many other examples.”The author of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “There exists another point here which Al-Ma’mun did not mention to the enemy. That is the tradition which has not been narrated as the Prophet (S) said, ‘Follow those who will be after me - Abi Bakr and Umar.’ It has been narrated it as ‘Follow those who will be after me - Abu Bakr and Umar.’ Also some have narrated it as ‘Follow those who will be after me - Abu Bakr and Umar.’ If so, it would have the following meaning considering what was said afterwards: ‘Follow those who will be after me - O people, and Abu Bakr and Umar - follow what (exists) after me - God’s Book and my Household.” Now let us return to the rest of what Al-Ma’mun said.Another one of the experts on traditions said, “God’s Prophet (S) said, ‘If I were to choose a friend, I would choose Aba Bakr as my friend.” Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible, since according to your traditions the Prophet (S) established the bonds of brotherhood between his companions, but did not do so for Ali (a.s.). Ali (a.s.) asked the reason for that. The Prophet (S) told him, “I have kept you to be my own brother.” Whichever of these we accept, the other one is rejected.Someone else said, “Ali (a.s.) himself said the following on the pulpit, ‘The best of the people in this nation after the Prophet (S) are Abu Bakr and Umar.’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible too. If the Prophet (S) knew that those two were the noblest of all, he (a.s.) would not have appointed Amr ibn al-Aas and Osama ibn Zayd to be their governors. Also Ali’s words after the demise of the Prophet (S) also reject this. Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I was closer to him to be his successor than I am to my own shirt. However, I feared that there may be discord (in the nation), and the new Muslim converts might return to their state of unbelief.” Ali (a.s.) also asked, “How could those two (Abu Bakr and Umar) be better than I am, while I worshipped God out of my own free will before they did, and will continue to worship Him after them?”Someone else said, “Abu Bakr closed the door of his house and asked, ‘Is there anyone to cancel his pledge of allegiance to me?’ Ali (a.s.) said, ‘God’s Prophet (S) put you ahead. Who then can push you back?’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is not right, since Ali (a.s.) himself refused to pledge allegiance to Abi Bakr. You have narrated yourselves that Ali did not pledge allegiance for as long as (the Blessed Lady) Fatima (a.s.) was alive. Fatima (a.s.) willed that they bury her at night so that those two (Abu Bakr and Umar) could not be present at her funeral. And as another reason for the Prophet (S) not having established him (Abu Bakr) as his successor is that the Prophet (S) said, “Cancel the pledge of allegiance for me.” And also the Prophet (S) told the Helpers, “Vote for either Abu Obaydah or Umar.”Someone else said, “Amr ibn al-Aas said, ‘O Prophet of God! Which of your wives do you love the most?’ The Prophet (S) said, ‘Aa’isha.’ He asked, ‘Which of the men do you like the most?’ The Prophet (S) said, ‘Her father (Abu Bakr).’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is not right either. You yourselves have narrated that when they brought some fried chicken for the Prophet (S), he (a.s.) said, ‘O my God! Please make the most beloved of your creatures be present here.’ And that was Ali (a.s.). Then which of the two of your traditions can we believe?’” Someone else said, “In fact, Ali himself said, ‘I will carry out the punishment for accusation upon whoever considers me to be nobler than Abi Bakr and Umar.’” Al-Ma’mun asked, “How could Ali have said that he will punish one for whom punishment is ِnot decreed? If so, he would have transgressed the limits of the Honorable the Exalted God, and have acted against His orders. Considering him (Ali (a.s.)) to be nobler than those two is not an accusation, either. You yourselves have narrated that your leader (Abu Bakr) said, ‘I have become your master, but I am not any better than you are.’ Then tell me which of these two men do you consider to be more honest? Which one do you consider to be correct: what Abu Bakr said about himself or what Ali said about Abi Bakr? And yet there is a contradiction in this tradition. We have to say that either Abi Bakr is honest in what he says, or he is not. If he is honest, we must ask from where he got to know that. Was it through revelation or did he just think it up himself? If you say that it was due to revelation, we know that the revelations stopped (after the Prophet (S)). And if you say that it was what he himself thought, it cannot be so since we know that there is no way one could think of such things. If you say that he was dishonest, then it is impossible for such a dishonest person to be in charge of the affairs of the Muslims, to uphold the decrees and exercise Divinely-Ordained Punishments.”Someone else said, “It has been narrated that the Prophet (S) said, ‘Abu Bakr and Umar are the Masters of the Elders in Paradise.’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible, since once an old lady called Ashja’iyya was with the Prophet (S) and the Prophet (S) said, ‘An old lady does not enter Paradise.’ She cried. Then the Prophet (S) said, ‘In fact, the Sublime God says, ‘We have created (their Companions) of special Creation. And made them virgin - pure (and undefiled), beloved (by nature), equal in age.’’ Thus you think that Abu Bakr is the only one who will become young when he enters Paradise, while you yourselves have narrated that God’s Prophet (S) told Al-Hassan (a.s.) and Al-Husayn (a.s.) that amongst all the people they are the Masters of Youth in Paradise; and that their father is even better than they are.’”Someone else said, “It has been narrated that the Prophet (S) said, ‘If I were not appointed from amongst you, then Umar would have been appointed.’” Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible since the Sublime God says, ‘We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him…’ Moreover, the Sublime God says, ‘And remember We took from the Prophets their covenant: As (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant.’ How could it then be possible for someone for whom there has been (taken) a covenant (from) not to become a Prophet, and someone else without a covenant become a Prophet?’”Someone else said, “The Prophet (S) looked at Umar on the Day of Arafat, smiled and said, ‘The Blessed the Sublime God is proud of His servants in general, and is especially proud of Umar.’ Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible since the Blessed the Sublime God would not be especially proud of Umar and leave out His Prophet (S) as if Umar is someone especial, and the Prophet is like the rest of the people. This is not stranger than another one of your traditions in which you claim that God’s Prophet (S) said, ‘I entered Paradise and heard the sound of some sandals. When I looked around, I saw Bilal - the servant of Abi Bakr who had come to Paradise before me.’ Yes, the Shiites say that Ali is betterthan Abi Bakr, but you claim that the servant of Abi Bakr is nobler than the Prophet (S) since whoever comes first is better. You have also narrated that Satan runs away even from the shadow of Umar and also claim that Satan induced the Prophet (S) to say, ‘These idols are the Majestic Peacocks.’ You think that Satan fled even from Umar’s shadow, but induced expressions of atheism in the words of the Prophet (S).”Someone else said, “The Prophet (S) has said, ‘Should the penalty descend no one but Umar ibn al-Khattab will be saved.’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is in complete contradiction with the text of the Book. In fact, the Sublime God told His Prophet (S), ‘But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them…’ You are setting up Umar to be like the Prophet (S).”Someone else said, “The Prophet (S) has testified that Umar is one of the ten companions who will be in Paradise.”Al-Ma’mun said, “Were it as you claim, Umar would have never asked Huthayfa, ‘I swear to you by God to tell me if I am one of the hypocrites?’ Had the Prophet (S) told him that he was going to Paradise, would he have denied what God’s Prophet (S) had said and ask that from Huthayfa? Then it could be seen that he acknowledged Huthayfa and not the Prophet (S) which is in opposition to being a Muslim. And if he had acknowledged the Prophet (S), why then did he ask that from Huthayfa? Thus these two traditions contradict each other.”Someone else said, “In fact, the Prophet (S) said, ‘They weighed me against my nation, and I weighed more. Then they put Abu Bakr in my place and he weighed more than me. Then they put Umar in my place and he weighed more than Abu Bakr. Then they took away the scale.’”Al-Ma’mun said, “This is also impossible. Either they measured their weight or they measured their deeds. If they measured their weights, it is not acceptable that they weighed more than the whole nation. And if they weighed their deeds, the deeds of all the nation were available to weigh at that time. Still those Muslims were not created to have done any deeds. Tell me, how did they outweigh the nation?” Some said, “According to their good deeds.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Tell me, would someone who had more noble deeds after the demise of the Prophet (S)attain the same position as those who lived at the time of the Prophet (S), but had done less noble deeds? If you answer in the affirmative, I know of some people today whose good deeds - participation in a holy war, visiting the Kaaba (i.e. House of God), fasting, praying and giving charity - are much more than those who lived at the time of the Prophet (S).” They said, “You are right. The noble ones of our times are as noble as the noble ones at the time of the Prophet (S).” Al-Ma’mun replied, “Then consider what your religious leaders from whom you have learned your religion - have told you about the nobilities of Ali (a.s.); and what they have said about the ten companions whom they have promised to be sure to go to Paradise and compare them. If you see that their deeds are slightly nobler, then what you say is right. However, if you see that what they have narrated about Ali’s nobilities is more, then accept what your religious leaders have said about Ali and do not deviate from that.”The narrator added, “All of them lowered their heads.” Then Al-Ma’mun asked, “Why have you become silent?” They said, “We are finished asking questions.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Then let me ask. What was the most rewarding deed on the day in which God appointed His Prophet (S)?” They said, “Rushing ahead of others in accepting Islam since the Sublime God says, ‘And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter). These will be those Nearest to Allah.’”Al-Ma’mun asked, “Do you know of anyone who accepted Islam before Ali did?”The man said, “That is right, but he was still too young to accept Islam. Abu Bakr was older and the decree was designated for him (to be the Caliph). There is some difference between these two conditions.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Tell me whether Ali’s acceptance of Islam was due to Divine Inspirations from the Sublime God, or was it just due to the invitation of the Prophet (S)? If you say that it was due to receiving inspirations, you have placed him above the Prophet (S) since the Prophet (S) did not receive any inspirations. It was Gabriel who descended (from Heaven) and delivered the messages of the Sublime God to him (a.s.). However, if you say that it was due to the Prophet’s invitation, tell me whether the Prophet (S) invited Ali (a.s.) out of his own will or was his invitation according to God’s order. If you say that it was due to the invitation of the Prophet (S) himself, this would contradict how theSublime God describes His Prophet (S) when He says, ‘…nor am I a pretender’ or when He says, ‘Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him.’ If you say that it was due to God’s order, then God has ordered him to choose Ali (a.s.) from amongst all the children of the people to invite (to Islam). Therefore, the Prophet (S) has invited Ali (a.s.) to Islam due to trusting him and his being approved of by the Sublime God.On the other hand, tell me whether the Wise God would oblige His creatures to do what would be beyond their own power to do? If you answer in the affirmative, then you are an atheist. If, however, you answer in the negative, how would God order His Prophet (S) to invite someone (to Islam) who cannot accept the decree due to his being too young and not able to accept )the invitation)? Moreover, have you ever seen the Prophet (S) invite (to Islam) any other children from his family or outside his family to be designated as a model for Ali (a.s.)? If you think that the Prophet (S) has not invited any other child but Ali (a.s.) to Islam, then this itself would designate that Ali (a.s.) is nobler than all other children.” Al-Ma’mun then added, “Tell me, what would be the noblest deed after having faith.” They said, “Fighting in the way of God.” He said, “Do you know of a record of fighting in the way of God for any of those ten (companions) similar to that of Ali’s record in fighting with atheists and enemies in all the battles which the Prophet (S) conducted in history? Consider the Battle of Badr in which a total of a few more than sixty people were killed. Ali (a.s.) killed more than twenty of them himself, while all the other people killed nearly forty of them.” One of those present in the meeting said, “Abu Bakr was in his own tent along with the Prophet (S) and was directing the battle.” Al-Ma’mun said, “What a strange thing you are saying! Did Abu Bakr plan the battles by himself and without the Prophet (S), or did he participate in the planning along with the Prophet (S), or was it the case that the Prophet (S) needed Abu Bakr’s opinion and leadership? Which of the three cases do you prefer to choose?” The man said, “I take refuge in God from thinking that he participated along with the Prophet (S) in planning the battles, or that he himself decided what to do without the Prophet (S), or that the Prophet (S) needed his opinion.” Then Al-Ma’mun asked, “Then what is the nobility of sitting in a tent and watching the fighters? If the nobility of Abu Bakr was due to his abandoning holy war and not going to thebattlefield, then we must say that all of those who disobey (God) and do not go to the battlefield are nobler than those who fight. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath God promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward.’”Ishaq ibn Hammad ibn Zayd said, “Al-Ma’mun then told me to recite the Qur’anic Chapter Insan. I recited it, ‘Has there not been over Man a long period of Time, when he was nothing…’ until I reached the following verse, ‘And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive.’ And I continued reciting the Chapter up to (a.s.aying), “Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavor is accepted and recognized.” Then Al-Ma’mun asked, “About whom were these verses recited?” I said, “About Ali.” He asked, “Do you know of any traditions in which it is narrated that while Ali (a.s.) fed the poor and assisted the orphans and the captives, he said, ‘We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks’ as it appears in the Qur’an?” I said, “No.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Then the Honorable the Exalted God was aware of what went on within Ali’s (a.s.) heart and expressed it in His Book to make it known to His creatures.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “Do you understand what the Sublime God describes when He describes Paradise in this verse saying, ‘Crystal-clear, made of silver: they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).’” I said, “No.” He said, “This is another nobility. How could there be any crystal-clear silver?” Ishaq said, “I do not know.” Al-Ma’mun replied, “He wants us to imagine silver so clear that one can see its inside from the outside. O Ishaq! This is similar to what the Prophet of God (a.s.) said, ‘O slower! Be more patient with these crystal-clear ones’ referring to ladies due to their being so delicate. It is also similar to what the Prophet of God (a.s.) said, ‘I rode Abu Talha’s horse and found it like a sea’ implying that it galloped very fast just as the sea waves do. And as the Sublime God says, ‘…death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die: and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting’ even though he will die even if death comes to him from just one side.”Then Al-Ma’mun asked, “O Ishaq! Are you not one of those who testify that those ten (companions) are in Paradise?” I said, “yes.” He said, “If you saw that someone did not know whether this tradition was correct or not, would you consider him to be an atheist?” I said, “No.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “What if he asks whether this Chapter is from the Qur’an or not, will you then consider him to be an atheist?” I said, “Yes.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Then I consider the nobility of this man (Ali (a.s.)) to be more. O Ishaq! Tell me if you consider the tradition about the fried chicken (which was brought for the Prophet (S)) to be correct or not?” I said, “Yes.” Al-Ma’mun said, “By God, your animosity can be seen from this. There are only three possibilities. It is either that he was accepted due to the supplications of the Prophet (S), or he was rejected, or that God could not recognize between the noble one and the others. Tell me, which one do you like the most?” Ishaq said, “I kept my head down for some time and then I said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! The Sublime God said the following regarding Abi Bakr: He had no more than one companion; the two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, ‘Have no fear, for Allah is with us’: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Wise.’”Al-Ma’mun said, “Glory be to God! How little is your knowledge of the Book? Can an atheist be a companion of a believer? What kind of nobility is this? Didn’t you hear the Words of the Sublime God, ‘His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust, then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man?’ Thus you see that God made an atheist a believer’s companion. Or according to the following poems from al-Hothali:The morning came and the horse which I rode was wildIt saw the East from beneath its cover.Or as Al-Azdi said,I was frightened about being alone there with my only companion,being a gentle, tall, four-legged animal with thin forelegs.Here the poet has likened his horse to his companion. And when the Sublime God says, ‘…for God is with us…’ means that the Blessed the Sublime God is with every good-doer and every evil-doer. Have you not heard the Words of the Sublime God, ‘Seest thou not that Allah doth know (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three, but He makes the fourth among them, nor between five but He makes the sixth, nor between fewer nor more, but He is in their midst, wheresoever they be: In the end will He tell them the truth of their conduct, on the Day of Judgment. For Allah has full knowledge of all things.’ And regarding His words, ‘Have no fear…’ Tell me about the fears of Abi Bakr. Were they said in obedience, or disobedience? If you consider them to be said in obedience, you have said that the Prophet (S) admonished him against obedience. However, this contradicts what a wise person would do. And if you think that he has disobeyed, then what is the nobility of one who is disobedient? Tell me, upon whom did God send down peace in the following Words of the Sublime God, ‘…then Allah sent down His peace upon him…’”Ishaq replied, “To Abi Bakr since the Prophet (S) did not need any peace. The Prophet (S) was not afraid.”He said, “Let me know about the Words of the Honorable the Exalted, ‘Assuredly Allah did help you in many battlefields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat. But Allah did pour His calm on the Messenger and on the Believers…’”Al-Ma’mun asked, “Do you know who is meant by the believers to whom the Sublime God refers in this verse?” I said, “I do not know.” Al-Ma’mun said, “On the day of the Battle of Hunain the people fled from the battlefield. Only seven people from the Hashemites stayed with the Prophet of God (a.s.). They consisted of Ali (a.s.) who fought with his sword, Abbas who held the horse-strap for the Prophet of God (a.s.), and five others who surrounded the Prophet (S) fearing that the pagans might strike him (a.s.) with their weapons, until the Blessed the Sublime God granted victory to His Messenger (a.s.). Therefore, the reference to the believers in this verse is to Ali (a.s.) and those of the Hashemites who stayed there. Then who is nobler? The one (Ali (a.s.)) who was with theProphet (S) and peace descended upon him and the Prophet (S), or the one (Abu Bakr) who was with the Prophet (S) in the cave, but was not deserving enough for peace to be descended upon? O Ishaq! Which one is nobler? The one (Abu Bakr) who was in the cave with the Prophet (S) or the one (Ali (a.s.)) who slept in the Prophet’s (a.s.) bed sacrificing himself to allow the Prophet (S) to complete his Emigration. In fact, the Blessed the Sublime God ordered His Prophet (S) to order Ali (a.s.) to sleep in the Prophet’s (a.s.) bed, so that the Prophet’s (a.s.) life would be saved. Ali (a.s.) asked, “O the Prophet of GOD! Will you be saved this way?” The Prophet (S) said, “Yes.” Then Ali (a.s.) said, “I hear and obey.” Then he slept in the Prophet’s (a.s.) bed and wrapped a sheet around himself. The pagans surrounded the house and went in. They had no doubt that the Prophet (S) was there. One man from each tribe had come there to each deliver a blow to the Prophet (S), so that the Hashemites could not demand retribution. Ali (a.s.) heard their plans and knew that his life was in danger. However, nothing could scare him as Abu Bakr was scared in the cave. Yet, Abu Bakr was with the Prophet (S) while Ali was there alone. Ali (a.s.) was patient and steadfast. The Sublime God sent down angels to guard him from the evils of the Quraysh (tribe) enemies. When dawn came, they saw him, looked at him and asked, “Where is Muhammad?” Ali (a.s.) replied, “I do not know.” They said, “You have tricked us.” Ali (a.s.) joined the Prophet (S) later. Thus it was Ali (a.s.) who was nobler and good deeds were done by him day after day, until the Sublime God took his life and he was well forgiven by Him.”Al-Ma’mun asked, “O Ishaq! Have you not been the one who narrated the tradition on Mastery?” Ishaq said, “Yes.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Please narrate it for me.” Ishaq narrated it for him. Al-Ma’mun said, “Don’t you see that this tradition established a right for Ali (a.s.) incumbent upon Abi Bakr and Umar, but has not established any rights for those two incumbent upon Ali (a.s.)?” Ishaq said, “The people say that God’s Prophet (S) has said this the following regarding Zayd ibn Haritha.” He asked, “Where and when did the Prophet (S) say this?” I said, “In the Ghadir Khom fter returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage of the Kaaba.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Where was Zayd ibn Haritha killed?” I said, “In Mo’ta.” He said, “Was Zayd ibn Haritha not killed before the Qadir Khom instance?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Tell me, what if your fifteen year old son says, ‘O people! Accept that my servant belongs to my cousin.’ Willyou be hurt from this?” I said, “Yes. I will not like that and tell him.” He said, “You tell your son not to say what you believe that the Prophet of God did. Woe be to you who have taken your jurisprudents as your Masters! In fact, the Sublime God says, ‘They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah…’ Yet I swear by God that they neither fasted for them nor did they pray to them. They only obeyed whatever they said. Then Al-Ma’mun added, “Have you narrated the tradition in which God’s Prophet (S) told Ali (a.s.), “Your position relative to me is as same as Aaron’s position relative to Moses.” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Don’t you know that Aaron was Moses’ brother from the side of both his father and mother?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Was Ali the same?” I said, “No.” He said, “Aaron was a Prophet but Ali (a.s.) was not. Then what was the third rank which he (a.s.) had other than that of being the successor? This was said because the hypocrites said, ‘It was hard for the Prophet (S) to take Ali with him and left him (a.s.) behind while the Prophet (S) wanted him to remain there with peace of mind and that is why he (a.s.) said that. This is similar to what Moses (a.s.) told Aaron as said by the Sublime God, ‘Act for me amongst my people: Do right, and follow not the way of those who do mischief.’ I told him, “But Moses (a.s.) left Aaron to be his successor for all his people while Moses (a.s.) was alive and just went to meet his Lord - the Sublime. But the Prophet (S) left Ali (a.s.) as his successor only when he (a.s.) went to the battles.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Tell me. Were there some of his companions along with him when Moses (a.s.) left Aaron as his successor to go to meet his Lord - the Honorable the Exalted?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Did he not establish him as his successor for all of them?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “The Prophet (S) also established Ali (a.s.) as his successor for the weak ones, the women and the children when he (a.s.) went to the battlefield while most of his people were along with him. However, the Prophet (S) appointed Ali (a.s.) to be the successor over all of them. Moreover, the proof that he (a.s.) appointed Ali (a.s.) to be his (a.s.) successor over them during his lifetime when he was not there, and after his demise is that the Prophet (S) said, ‘The position of Ali relative to me is like that of Aaron’s position relative to Moses with the only difference that there will be no more Prophets after me.’ Therefore, according to this expression, Ali (a.s.) is like the prime minister for the Prophet (S), since Moses (a.s.) prayed to the Sublime God and in his prayers and said, ‘And give me a Minister from my family - Aaron, my brother, add to mystrength through him.’ So Ali (a.s.) was to the Prophet (S) like Aaron was to Moses (a.s.). Aaron was the Moses’ Minister, and Ali (a.s.) was the Successor of the Prophet (S) as Aaron was the Successor of Moses (a.s.).” Then Al-Ma’mun looked at the theoreticians and the rhetoricians and asked, “Should I ask you questions or will you ask me?” They said, “We will ask.” He said, “Go ahead and ask.” One of them asked, “Is it not that the Divine Leadership of Ali (a.s.) as expressed by the Prophet of God (a.s.) similar to his expression of the other obligatory deeds such as ‘There are four units for the noon prayer’ or ‘The alms tax for two hundred Dirhams is five Dirhams’ or ‘Go on the pilgrimage to Mecca?’” Al-Ma’mun said, “Yes.” He asked, “Why then are there no differences of opinion about the obligatory deeds, but there are differences concerning the Successorship of Ali?” Al-Ma’mun said, “That is because the obligatory deeds are not such that the people would all compete with each other over them, but there is competition over becoming the successor.”Another one asked, “Why do you deny that the Prophet (S) ordered that the people be allowed to choose someone from amongst themselves to be his successor due to the compassion and kindness which the Prophet (S) had for his nation, and did not appoint a Successor for himself whom the people would disobey as a result of which punishment would descend upon them?” Al-Ma’mun said, “The reason I deny this is because the Sublime God is kinder to His creatures than the Prophet (S). God appointed a Prophet (S) for the people, but did not let them choose him themselves - even though He knew that there were some people among them who would disobey him and there were others who would obey him. This did not prevent the Sublime God from sending the Prophet (S). Another reason is that there would be two possibilities if God had let the people themselves choose a man (to be their Prophet). Either God orders all of them to choose someone or God orders only some of them to choose someone (to be the Prophet). If God orders all of them to choose someone, then no one could be considered to have free will and be free to choose (a.s.ince they are all ordered to vote for someone else). And if God has ordered only some of them to choose someone to be their Prophet, then the ones who are ordered to choose the Prophet must have some significant traits. If you say that they are the jurisprudents, then the significant signs of jurisprudents should be clarified.” Another one said, “It has been narrated that the Prophet (S) said, ‘In the presence of theSublime God, whatever the Muslims consider to be good is good. In the presence of the Sublime God, whatever the Muslims consider to be evil is evil.’” Al-Ma’mun said, “Here we must see whether the Prophet (S) meant all the believers or only some of them. If we say that the Prophet (S) meant all the believers, then this is an impossible thing. And if we think that the Prophet (S) meant only some of them, then as we know each group says something is good. This is like the traditions which the Shiites have narrated about Ali (a.s.), and the non-Shiites have narrated about the others. Then how could that Divine Leadership which is in your mind be proven?”Another one asked, “Is it then permissible to think that the companions of Muhammad (a.s.) made mistakes?” Al-Ma’mun said, “How could we think that they all made a mistake and they were all at a loss, while as you think they considered Divine Leadership neither to be necessary nor a tradition. You think that Divine Leadership is not a necessity in the opinion of the Sublime God, and it is not one of the traditions of His Prophet (S). Then how could what is neither obligatory nor a tradition be a mistake?”Another one said, “Present your reasons if you claim that Ali (a.s.) and no one else deserves the position of Divine Leadership.” Al-Ma’mun said, “I do not claim this, but I confess to it. There are no reasons for what one confesses to. The claimant is him who thinks that he is in charge of all appointments and dismissals, and that he is in charge of everyone. As for reasons, they may be either cited by those of his (Ali’s) peers like Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman and their followers who are all his (Ali’s) enemies, or others whose reasoning has no effect and does not exist at all. Then how could any reasons be presented in such a case?”Another one asked, “What was incumbent upon Ali (a.s.) to do after the demise of the Prophet of God (a.s.)?” Al-Ma’mun said, “That which he (a.s.) did.” The man asked, “Was it not incumbent upon him to declare to the people that he (Ali) is the Divine Leader?” Al-Ma’mun said, “In fact, Divine Leadership is neither in his (Ali’s) hands, nor is it in the hands of the people so that they may choose him or prefer him over others. Rather, it is in the hands of the Sublime God as God told Abraham (a.s.), ‘…I will make thee an Imam to the Nations…’ and as the Sublime God told David (a.s.), ‘O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent onearth…’ And in the case of Adam the Honorable, the Exalted God told His angels, ‘…I will create a vicegerent on earth…’ Therefore, a Divine Leader is appointed by the Sublime God and because of His choice. A Divine Leader is perfect in Creation, from a good family, pure in nature, and innocent throughout life. If it was in one’s own hands, then anyone who was like this was a Divine Leader or deserved to be one; and once he acted against these characteristics he would be dismissed from the position of Divine Leadership automatically. In that case, the appointment and dismissal of the Divine Leader was subject to one’s deeds.”Another one asked, “Then why did you consider Divine Leadership to be a must for Ali (a.s.) after the demise of the Prophet (S)?” Al-Ma’mun said, “Since Ali (a.s.) came into existence with faith from the time of his birth, just like the Prophet (S) had faith from his childhood. Also Ali (a.s.) was free from the deviations of his people (of Quraysh) who had no real reasons for their idol-worshipping, just as the Prophet (S) was free from deviations and idol-worshipping. Idol-worshipping is, in fact, a form of oppression. Any oppressor cannot be a Divine Leader. One who worships idols could not become a leader by the acceptance of all the Muslims. In fact, whoever worships idols has adopted the enemy of God as a god. His decrees would be the decrees of a pagan by the unanimous consensus of all of the nation who bear witness to his atheism, unless they again bear witness that he is no longer an atheist. Whoever once professes to be an atheist should never become a ruler since in that case there would be no differences between one who has professed atheism and a ruler.”Another one asked, “Why did Ali (a.s.) not fight with Abu Bakr and Umar as he (a.s.) did with Mo’awiya?” Al-Ma’mun said, “This is impossible to ask. They should ask about positive actions, not negative ones. That is they would ask for the reasons if Ali (a.s.) had risen to fight them. They cannot ask the reasons for his not rising. We must see whether the issue of the Mastery of Ali (a.s.) was decreed by God, or by others. If it is the case that it was decreed by the Sublime God, then any doubt in His Plan constitutes atheism as the Sublime God said, ‘But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.’ Therefore, one’s deeds are due to one’s origin. If the appointment of Ali (a.s.) wasdecreed by the Sublime God, then Ali’s deeds come from Him and the people must be content with (the appointment) and submit to Ali’s orders. Even the Messenger of God (a.s.) quit fighting on the day of Al-Hodaybiyeh, when the pagans prevented him from performing the ‘Umra (recommendable pilgrimage) ceremonies to the House (of God). And once the Prophet (S) brought together his troops, he fought with them as the Sublime God says, ‘…So overlook (any human faults) with gracious forgiveness.’ Then the Honorable the Exalted said, ‘…then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)…’”Another one asked, “If it is the case as you think that the appointment of Ali (a.s.) to the Divine Leadership was decreed by God and it is obligatory to obey him, why is it then not permissible for the Prophets to abandon the (God’s) invitation and the call, but it was permissible for Ali (a.s.) to abandon what he was ordered to do in calling the people to obey him?” Al-Ma’mun said, “We do not claim that Ali (a.s.) had the mission to invite the people as the Messengers (a.s.) did. We consider him to be a sign or link between the Sublime God and His creatures. Whoever obeys Ali (a.s.) is obedient to God, and whoever opposes Ali (a.s.) is disobeying God. Ali (a.s.) would have strived to call the people to obey him if he had found any helpers. Ali is not to blame for not having found any helpers. Those who did not help him are to be blamed, since they were supposed to obey him anyways. However, he was not ordered to fight without having any helpers. He is like the House of God towards which the people go to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. If they do so they have performed what is incumbent upon them to do. If, however, they do not go, it is they who are to blame, not the House of God.”Another one asked, “If it has been made incumbent upon the people that they must have a Divine Leader whom they must obey, why should it be Ali (a.s.) and no one else?” Al-Ma’mun replied, “That is because the Sublime God would not make some vague thing incumbent upon the people, since that is impossible to do. Thus His Messenger (a.s.) must introduce Ali (a.s.) and this obligation to the people, so that there are no more excuses left for the people in the presence of the Honorable the Exalted God. Don’t you see that if the Sublime God had made it incumbent upon the people to fast for one month, but had not specified which month to fast in and had not given any signs to identify it; and ifthe people were left free to use their own intellect to recognize the month in which the Sublime God wanted them to fast, then the people no longer needed any Prophets or Divine Leaders to inform them about what the Prophet said.”Another one asked, “How can you prove that Ali (a.s.) was mature when the Prophet (S) invited him (to accept Islam)? The people think that when he was invited (to accept Islam) he was a child and ordering him to do so was not permitted. The people think that Ali (a.s.) had not reached the age of maturity for men at that time.”Al-Ma’mun replied, “At that time, Ali (a.s.) was either mature enough that God sent His Prophet (S) to him and invited him (to accept Islam) in which case it would be permitted to order him to abide by Divine decrees and perform the obligatory deeds, or Ali (a.s.) was not mature enough for God to sent His Prophet (S) to him - which is not possible for the Prophet (S) to do as the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘And if the apostle were to invent any sayings in Our name, We should certainly seize him by his right hand and We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart.’ Given this, would the Prophet (S) oblige God’s servants (people) to perform what the Blessed the Sublime God has not granted them the power to carry out? This is an impossibility which cannot be. No wise person would order to do so, neither would the Prophet (S). God is so Sublime that He would not order to do what is impossible to do. His Messenger’s (a.s.) rank is also much higher than to order to do what is impossible to do according to the Wisdom of the Wise One (God).”At this point all the people became quiet. Then Al-Ma’mun said, “You asked me questions and argued with me. Can I ask you some questions now?” They replied, “Yes.”Al-Ma’mun said, “Is it not unanimously accepted by the nation that the Prophet (S) said, ‘Whoever purposefully ascribes lies to me has prepared his seating place in the Fire (in the Hereafter)’?” They replied, “Yes.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Have they not also narrated on the authority of the Prophet (S) that he (a.s.) said, ‘Whoever disobeys God - be it a minor sin or a major sin - and sets that to be his way and insists on it would reside in Fire (in the Hereafter)’?” They replied, “Yes.”Al-Ma’mun said, “Tell me if it is permissible to consider someone that the people have chosen as their leader to be called the successor of God’sProphet (S) or not. Is it permissible to consider him to be appointed by the Honorable the Exalted God even though the Prophet (S) has not established him to be his successor? If you say ‘yes it is permitted’ you are undoubtedly deceitful. If you say ‘no’ then it is a necessary conclusion that Abu Bakr be not considered to be the successor to God’s Prophet (S) nor was he appointed to the position of Caliphate by the Honorable the Exalted God. Thus you have ascribed lies to God’s Prophet (S) and are possibly of those that the Prophet (S) said would enter the Fire. Then tell me which of the following that you say is true: ‘The Prophet passed away without establishing a successor for himself’, or that you call Abu Bakr ‘O successor of God’s Prophet (S)!’ If you claim that both of these statements are true, such a claim is not possible to make since these are contradictory statements both of which cannot be true at the same time. And if you consider one to be true, then you have disproved the other one. Therefore, fear God and consider your own conditions. Do not imitate others. Avoid what is doubtful. I swear by God that the Sublime God would not accept any opinions expressed by His servants, unless they are the result of contemplation and the intellect approves of its being right. Having opposing ideas (about something) is being doubtful. It is not considered to be certitude. Having continual doubt is denying the Sublime God, and would result in dwelling in the Fire.”Al-Ma’mun added, “Tell me if it is permissible for a slave which one buys to become his master, and the buyer becomes a slave.” They said, “No.” He added, “How is it then possible for someone around whom you have gathered, supported him and put him in charge of the Caliphate be your master while you are the ones who have granted him the mastery over you? Will it not be the case that you are his masters? You have made someone to be the Caliph and have then said that he is the successor to the Prophet of God (a.s.). Moreover, once you get discontented with him you would kill him, as you did with Uthman ibn Affan.”Someone said, “That is because the Imam is an agent for the Muslims as long as they are pleased with him. They can dismiss him whenever they are displeased with him.”Al-Ma’mun asked, “To whom do the Muslims, the servants (people) and the towns belong?” They replied, “To the Sublime God.” Al-Ma’munsaid, “Then God is more deserving to appoint an agent over His servants (people) and towns than anyone else, since one of the unanimously accepted principles among the nation is that whoever causes any harm to someone else’s property is held responsible for that, and no one is allowed to usurp the rights over anyone else’s property and he will be sinful and held responsible if he does so.”Then Al-Ma’mun added, “Tell me if the Prophet (S) left anyone as his successor when he died.” They answered, “No, he did not appoint any successor.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “Was not doing so guidance or deviation?” They said, “It was guidance.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Then it is incumbent upon the people to follow guidance, and not become deviated.” They said, “They did so.” Al-Ma’mun asked, “Why then did they appoint a successor after the Prophet (S), even though the Prophet (S) had not done so? Abandoning his way is in itself a form of deviation. It is impossible for what is against guidance to be guidance. If not appointing a successor is considered to be a form of guidance, then why did Abu Bakr appoint a successor for himself when the Prophet (S) had not done so? Umar also referred this issue to the council among the Muslims which was against what his friend (Abu Bakr) had done. You think that the Prophet (S) did not appoint a successor for himself, but Abu Bakr appointed a successor for himself, and Umar did not abandon appointing a successor as the Prophet (S) had done. And as you think Umar did not appoint himself a successor as Abu Bakr had done and used a third approach. Tell me, which of these do you consider to be correct. If you consider what the Prophet (S) did to be correct, then you have considered Abu Bakr to have done wrong. The same holds true for the other options. Tell me, which of these ways is correct. Is what the Prophet (S) did in not appointing a successor correct, or is what the others did who somehow appointed a successor for themselves correct? Tell me, whether not appointing a successor by the Prophet (S) is guidance, and appointing a successor by the other ones is also guidance. Thus guidance is the opposite of guidance. Then what does deviation mean? Where is it? Tell me whether there have been any successors from amongst the Prophet’s (a.s.) companions who have been appointed as the successor with a unanimous consensus after the Prophet’s demise.” Al-Ma’mun added, “If you say no, then you have surely decided that all the people have gone the wrong way after the demise of God’s Prophet (S).And if you say yes, then you have refuted the opinion of the whole nation and what you say will void undeniable things. Tell me whether what the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘Say: ‘To whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?…’ is true or false?” They said, “It is true.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Is it not true that whatever is not with God belongs to God, since He is its creator and owner?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “This disproves what you have made incumbent yourselves being to appoint a successor for God’s Prophet (S), so that the successor’s decrees are in effect regarding you and that you consider him to be a Caliph. You put him out of office whenever you get mad at him. You kill him if he refuses to give up his power. Woe be to you! Do not ascribe lies to God, since you will face its punishment when you stand in the presence of the Sublime God, and go to see God’s Prophet (S) having purposefully ascribed lies to him. The Prophet (S) has said, “Whoever purposefully ascribes lies to me will encounter his place prepared in the Fire.”Then Al-Ma’mun faced the prayer direction (the Qibla), raised his hands and said, “O God! I advised them and did not hesitate to tell them what I had to say. O God! I did not leave them in doubt. O God! In the interests of my religion I sought to get close to you by preferring Ali over others after your Prophet Muhammad (S), just as your Messenger had ordered us to do.” The narrator said, “Then we all dispersed and there was never again such a congregation for as long as Al-Ma’mun lived.”Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari said, “In another tradition we read that all the people became quiet. Then Al-Ma’mun asked, ‘Why have you become quiet?’ They said, ‘We do not know what to say.’ Then Al-Ma’mun said, ‘Therefore, this much debate suffices and you were convinced.’ Then he ordered that everyone be directed out. We were all directed out in a state of being confused and ashamed. Then Al-Ma’mun looked at Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl and said, ‘This is all that they had to say. No one should think that my majesty prevented them from rejecting what I said. God is the One who grants success.’”

Indeed those companions of the Prophet who know the whole Quran by heart all know that there is no one amongst them who has any virtues which I do not have, or I may even be surpass him in that respect. However, I have seventy virtues which none of them has.’I asked, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! Please inform me about those virtues.’ Then Ali (MGB) said,‘1- I never associated any partners with God - even for a twinkling of an eye. I never worshipped Lat and Uzza.2- I never drank any alcohol.3- I have been with God’s Prophet since my childhood when God’s Prophet (MGB) asked my father to become my guardian. From then on I have been with him, eaten and drank with him, associated and talked with him.4- I am the first person to believe in and submit to Islam.5- God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! Your relationship to me is like that of Aaron’s relationship to Moses (MGB) except that there will be no Prophets after me.’6- I was the last person who separated from God’s Prophet (MGB) and placed him in his grave.7- When God’s Prophet (MGB) wanted to go to the cave of Sowr, he put me to sleep in his own bed and covered me up with his blanket. When the polytheists came to his house, they suspected that I was Muhammad (MGB). They woke me up from sleep and asked, ‘What happened to your friend?’ I said, ‘He (MGB) went to take care of something.’ They said, ‘If he had escaped, then Ali would have escaped along with him.’8- God’s Prophet (MGB) taught me one-thousand gates of knowledge each of which opens up to one-thousand other gates.9- God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘When the Honorable the Exalted God resurrects the first up to the last of the people on the Resurrection day, He will install a pulpit for me above that of all the other Prophets and install a pulpit for you above that of all other Trustees. Then you shall climb up it.10- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! I have not been given anything in the Hereafter unless I asked for the like of it for you.’11- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! You are my brother and I am your brother. Your hand is in my hand until you enter Paradise.’12- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! Your similitude in my nation is like that of Noah’s Ark which whoever boarded was rescued, and anyone who did not was drowned.’13- God’s Prophet (MGB) fastened his blessed turban with his own blessed hands on my head. He also prayed for my victory over God’s enemies and thus I was able to defeat them with God’s Permission.14- Once God’s Prophet (MGB) told me to touch the dried nipples of a calf so that it may give some milk. I told him (MGB), ‘O Prophet of God! It would be better if you do it.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! What you do is just like what I do.’ Then I touched its nipple and it gave some milk. I gave some milk to God’s Prophet (MGB). Then an old woman came and lamented from thirst. I gave her some milk to drink. God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘I asked the Blessed the Sublime God to bless your hand and he accepted my supplication.’15- God’s Prophet (MGB) made me his Trustee and told me, ‘O Ali! No one but you can perform the ablutions for the burial for me. No one but you can see my genitals. Should anyone else see them, their eyes will come out of their eye-sockets.’I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! How can I turn you around by myself?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘You will be assisted by the invisible.’ I swear by God that whenever I wished to turn one part around (during the ablutions for the deceased), it turned around by itself.16- When I wanted to undress the Prophet’s corpse to perform the ritual ablutions (wuzu) for the deceased for the Prophet (MGB), there came a voice which announced, ‘O Muhammad’s Trustee! Do not undress him. Perform the ritual ablutions (wuzu) with his clothes on.’ Thus, I performed the ritual ablutions (wuzu) for him from over his clothing. I swear to God who honored him with Prophethood that I did not see his private parts. Thus, God made me especial in this regard amongst the Prophet’s companions.17- Even though Abu Bakr and Umar had asked for Fatimah (MGB) to be married to them, the Honorable the Exalted God married her to me from above the seventh heaven. God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! May this blessing be pleasant for you. The Honorable the Exalted God has married Fatimah (MGB) who is the Master of Women in Paradise and of my own flesh and blood to you.’ Then I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! Am I not of your flesh and blood, too?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘O Ali! Yes you are from me and I am from you just like the right hand and the left hand. I am not independent of you in this world and the Hereafter.’18- God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! You will be the one carrying the flag called ‘Leva ul-Hamd’ in the Hereafter. You will be the one sitting closest to me on the Resurrection Day. They will spread a seat for me and a seat for you. I will be amongst the Prophets and you will be amongst the Trustees. They will put a crown of light and nobility on your head. Seventy-thousand angels will surround you until the Honorable the Exalted God finishes the Reckoning of the creatures. You will be the first man whose grave will be split apart (for the Resurrection) along with me. You will be the first one to stop on the Bridge (of Al-Sirat) with me. You will be the first one to be dressed when they dress, and brought back to life when they bring back to life. You will be the first one to reside with me in the uppermost Heaven. You will be the first one to drink the sealed drink of Paradise with me which is sealed by musk.’19- God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘You will fight with the perfidious party, the deviators, and the apostates in the near future. For everyone of them who fights with you, you shall intercede on behalf of 100,000 of your followers.’ I asked, ‘O Prophet of God! Who are in the perfidious party?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘They are Talha and Zubayr who pledge allegiance to you in Hijaz, but breach it in Iraq. When they do that, you should fight them until the residents of the Earth get rid of them.’ I asked, ‘Who are the deviators?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘Muawiyah and his companions.’ I asked, ‘Who are the apostates? ’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘They will be the companions of Zil-Sadiyeh who will run away from the religion as a bow runs away from an arrow. You should kill them since that would constitute a relief for the residents of the Earth, an abrupt chastisement for them and a savings for you near the Honorable the Exalted God for the Resurrection Day.’20- I heard from the God’s Prophet (MGB) who said, ‘Your similitude in my nation is like that of the door of Hetteh amongst the Children of Israel. Whoever enters into friendship with you, it is as if he has entered the gate which the Honorable the Exalted God has ordered (people) to enter.’21- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its portal. Whoever wishes to gain knowledge should go through that portal.’ Then he (MGB) added, ‘O Ali! Soon you will observe my promise and fight in the same manner as I do, but my nation will disagree with you.’22- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘The Blessed the Sublime God has created my two (grand)children Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein (MGB) from a light which he has induced into you and Fatimah. They shine just like two earrings that shake in the ear while hanging from the ears. Their brightness is seventy times that of the brightness of martyrs. O Ali! Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has given promised me to honor them such as He has never honored anyone else except for the Messengers and the Prophets.’23- God’s Prophet (MGB) gave me his ring, armor and sword-belt in his lifetime and fastened his sword to my waist himself when all his companions and my uncle Abbas were present. Thus, the Honorable the Exalted God has made me especial in this respect, and not them.24- When the Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following verse, ‘O ye who believe! When ye consult the Messenger in private, spend something in charity before your private consultation..’ I had a gold coin. I sold it for ten Dirhams and gave it away in charity before my private consultation with God’s Prophet (MGB). I swear by God that none of the companions of the Prophet (MGB) did that either before or after me. Then the Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following verse to the Prophet, ‘Is it that ye are afraid of spending sums in charity before your private consultation (with him)? If, then, ye do not so, and God forgives you, then (at least) establish regular prayer; practise regular charity; and obey God and His Apostle. And God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.’ Is it not that ‘and God forgives you’ refers to a sin committed for which God forgives them.25- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘Paradise is forbidden for the Prophets to enter before I enter it, and it is forbidden upon the Trustees to enter before you enter it. O Ali! The Blessed the Sublime God has given me glad tidings about you which He has not given to any of the Prophets who came before me. He has given me glad tidings that you will be the Master of the Trustees and your two sons Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein (MGB) will be the two Masters of the Youth in Paradise on the Resurrection Day.’26- My brother Ja’far will be adorned with two wings made of pearl, ruby and chrysolite and fly along with the angels in Paradise.27- My uncle Hamzih will be the Master of the Martyrs in Paradise.28- God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The Blessed the Sublime God has given me a promise about you which will be fulfilled. God has established me as a Prophet and has established you as a Trustee. Soon you shall experience from my nation the same treatment which Moses (MGB) experienced from Pharaoh. However, be patient and consider it to be from God until you see me again. I am the friend of your friends and I consider your enemies to be my enemies.’29- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! You are the Owner of the Heavenly Pool . No one else will own it. Then some people will come to you and ask for water. You will turn them down and say that there is not even a sip of water. They will return with a black face. Then my followers and yours will enter. You will say, ‘return while satiated with water.’ They will return with a white face.’30- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘My nation will be resurrected and become united on the Resurrection Day with five flags. The first flag which will come will be the flag of Muawiyah who is the Pharaoh of my nation. The second flag will be that of Amr ibn al-A’as who is the Sameri of the nation. The third flag will be that of Abu Musa Ash’ari who is like the Catholic Archbishop (Al-Jaseliq) of this nation. The fourth flag will be that of Abil A’oar al-Salmy. Yours will be the fifth flag under which all the believers will be gathered while you are their Leader. Then the Blessed the Sublime will tell those four groups: ‘Turn back and seek brightness.’ Then a wall will be erected in front of them which has a door. In it there is mercy who are my friends and followers. Then those who fought me along with the Kharajites , those who broke their pledge and the people misled from the straight path will knock at that door - that is the door of mercy being my followers. They will cry out, ‘Were we not we with you?’ They will reply, ‘Yes, you were. However, you deceived yourselves, you were hindered, you doubted and worldly aspirations deceived you until God’s order (i.e. death) arrived and pride (i.e. Satan) deceived you. Today nothing will be accepted of you as recompense.’ Nothing will be accepted of those who rejected faith, either. Your place shall be in the Fire. It will be the place you shall turn to. What a bad destiny that is! Then my nation and my followers will come to drink and they get satiated from Muhammad’s (MGB) Heavenly Pool . A cane will be in my hand made of boxthorn wood with which I drive God’s enemies away just as people push others’ camels away from drinking water.31- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, “Were it not from the fear of what the Boasters might say about you similar to what the Christians say about Jesus - the son of Mary (MGB), I would have expressed one of your virtues and then anyone who passed by you would take a piece of the dirt from under your feet for healing.”32- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, “The Blessed the Sublime God helped me regarding fear of enemies. I asked God to help you in the same way in this regard.”33- God’s Prophet (MGB) put his head to my ear and taught me whatever has been and whatever there will be up until the Resurrection Day. The Honorable the Exalted God has let me hear this from His Prophet’s (MGB) tongue.34- When the Christians challenged the Prophet (MGB), the Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following in this regard, ‘If anyone disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge Hath come to thee, say:"Come! let us gather together,- our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!’ Here ‘ourselves’ referred to God’s Prophet (MGB) himself, ‘our women’ referred to Fatimah (MGB), ‘our sons’ referred to Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB). Then the Christians felt sorry and asked God’s Prophet (MGB) to forgive them and he (MGB) forgave them. I swear by Him who revealed the Torah to Moses (MGB), and the Quran to Muhammad (MGB) that they would have all been transmuted into monkeys and pigs, if they had engaged in invocation with us.”35- At the Battle of Badr God’s Prophet (MGB) sent me to bring him a handful of pebbles. I held the pebbles and smelled them They smelled like musk. I gave them to the Prophet (MGB). He (MGB) took them and threw them at the atheists. Four of them were from Paradise. One was from the East. One was from the West. And another one was from beneath the Throne. There were one-hundred thousand angels who accompanied each of them to assist us. The Honorable the Exalted God has not honored anyone else with this either before or after that day.36- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! Woe to your murderer! He is more miserable than Nimrood, more wretched than those who ham-strung the she-camel . The Throne of God the Merciful will be shaken up due to your murder. O Ali! I give you glad tidings that you are going to be amongst the sincere friends, martyrs and good-doers.’37- The Blessed the Sublime God has chosen me amongst the companions of Muhammad (MGB) to know the abrogated and the abolished; the firm and the dubious; and the especial and the general rules. This is an honor granted by God to me and His Prophet (MGB). God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! The Honorable the Exalted God has ordered me to make you near to myself and not to keep you at a distance from me, to teach you and not to speak harshly with you. It is incumbent upon me to obey my Lord and it is incumbent upon you to guard what you learn.’38- God’s Prophet (MGB) chose me for a battle, made supplications for me and made me informed about the affairs that would follow after him. Some of his companions felt bad about this and said, ‘If Muhammad had the power he would even establish his cousin as a Prophet.’ The Honorable the Exalted God honored me by informing me of this issue from the Prophet’s tongue.39- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘Whoever thinks that he loves me but he dislikes Ali is lying. My love and Ali’s love will not be united except in a believer’s heart. O Ali! Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has established those who love me and you as the first people in Paradise. God has also established those who hate me and you as the first group of my nation who will be in Hell.’40- In one of the battles, God’s Prophet (MGB) sent me after water to a well, but it had no water in it. I returned and reported that to him. He (MGB) asked, ‘Does it have any mud?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Just bring some of its mud.’ Then I brought some mud from the well. The Prophet (MGB) said something to the mud and told me to dump it in the middle of a well. I threw the mud in the well. Suddenly water gushed out from the Earth and the well filled up. I went to the Prophet (MGB) and informed him about what had happened. The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! You succeeded and the water gushed out due to your blessing. This was an especial honor for me and no other one amongst the companions of the Prophet (MGB).41- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! I give you the glad tidings that Gabriel (MGB) came to me and said, ‘O Muhammad! Indeed the Blessed the Sublime God looked favorably upon your companions and considered your cousin and the husband of your daughter Fatimah to be the best of your companions. God established him as your Trustee and your messenger.’42- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet say, ‘O Ali! I give you the glad tidings that your home in Paradise will be in front of my home and you will be with me in the uppermost resting-place in the highest Heaven.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! What is the uppermost Heaven?’ He (MGB) replied, ‘It is a cupola made of white pearls with 70,000 doors. O Ali! That shall be the place of residence for you and I.’43- Indeed God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The Honorable the Exalted God has firmly established my love as well as your love in the hearts of believers as He established my hatred as well as yours in the hearts of the hypocrites. Only pious believers love you and only hypocrite unbelievers despise you.’44- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘None of the Arabs but those born out of fornication despise you. None of the Persians but the miserable ones despise you. None of the women except those with anal hemorrhage despise you.’45- Indeed God’s Prophet (MGB) called me in when my eyes hurt and threw his saliva into my eyes and said, ‘O God! Please cool its heat and heat its coolness.’ I swear by God that I have not had any more pains in my eyes since then.46- God’s Prophet (MGB) ordered all his uncles and companions to shut all the doors from the mosque to their homes, except for the one to my house as ordered by the Honorable the Exalted God. No one else has received such an honor.47- In his will to me God’s Prophet (MGB) ordered me to pay back his debts and fulfill his promises. I said, ‘O Prophet of God! You know that I do not have any wealth.’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘God will help you.’ God made it easy for me to pay back all his debts and fulfill all his promises. Once I counted that it exceeded eighty-thousand (Dirhams). Then I made a will to my son Al-Hassan (MGB) to fulfill what had been left.48- God’s Prophet (MGB) came to my house. We had not had anything to eat for three days. The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Do you have anything to eat?’ I said, ‘I swear by Him who honored you with His Nobility and appointed you to Prophethood that it has been three days now that me, my wife and my children have not had anything to eat.’ He (MGB) looked at Fatimah (MGB) and said, ‘Go into the room and see if there is anything to eat there?’ She (MGB) said, ‘I have just come out of there now. There is nothing there to eat.’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! Should I go?’ He (MGB) said, ‘Go in the Name of God.’ So I went in and saw that there was a tray of fresh dates in the middle of the room and a bowl of crumbled bread next to it. I brought them to God’s Prophet (MGB). The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Did you see the one who brought this food?’ I said, ‘Yes, I did.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Can you describe him for me.’ I said, ‘Yes. He had some redness, greenness and yellowness.’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘These are the colors of Gabriel’s wings which have tassels made of pearls and rubies.’ We ate from the crumbled bread in broth until we became full. Yet our hands were perfectly clean and there was nothing in them except the lines of our palm and our fingers. Thus, the Honorable the Exalted God honored only me with this Generosity from amongst the companions of the Prophet.49- The Blessed the Sublime God appointed His Prophet (MGB) to the Prophethood mission and His Prophet (MGB) appointed me to the mission of Trusteeship. Anybody who loves me is fortunate and will be united amongst the Prophets on the Resurrection Day.50- Indeed God’s Prophet (MGB) sent Abu Bakr to propagate the Chapter Bara’at (Declaration of Immunity). Once he left, Gabriel (MGB) came down and said, ‘O Muhammad! Only someone who is from yourself should propagate this chapter.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) sent me on his own camel which was called Kaswa. I found Abu Bakr in Zilhalifa and took that chapter from him. Indeed God honored me in this way.51- On the day of Qadir Khum God’s Prophet (MGB) appointed me as the Master of all the people and said, ‘Whoever I am the Master of, Ali is the Master of. May the oppressive people go far away and be destroyed.’52- Indeed God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Don’t you want me to teach you the words which Gabriel (MGB) has taught me?’ I replied, ‘O Prophet of God! Yes.’ He (MGB) said, ‘Then say ‘O the Sustainer of the poor! O the Kind to the poverty-stricken! O the Most-Hearing of those who hear! O the Most-Seeing of those who see! O the Beneficent the Merciful! Have mercy upon me and give me my share of daily bread.’53- Indeed the Blessed the Sublime God will not destroy this world until the Riser (MGB) who is from our progeny rises up. He (MGB) will kill our enemies. He (MGB) will not accept any poll-tax (Jizya). He (MGB) will break the crosses and idols. He (MGB) will end the world war, seize the possessions and divide them up equally and treat the peasants with justice.54- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! Soon the Umayyads will curse you, but God’s angels will return their curse one-thousand fold. When our Riser (MGB) uprises, he (MGB) will curse them for forty years.55- God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Several tribes from my nation will be tried regarding you. They will say, ‘Why has God’s Prophet (MGB) made Ali (MGB) his Trustee although he left nothing? Is not the Book of my Lord - the Glorious Quran the best things after the Honorable the Exalted God? I swear by Him who appointed me rightfully that if you do not compile the Quran, it will never be compiled.’ Thus, did the Honorable the Exalted God honor me in such a way that none of the other companions of the Prophet (MGB) have been honored.56- The Blessed the Sublime God has granted me the characteristics of those who love Him and obey Him and established me as Muhammad’s Trustee. Let this please whomever it may and dismay whomever it may.’ He was pointing at Medina with his fingers when he said this.57- God’s Prophet (MGB) faced drought in one of the battles. He (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! Stand up to that rock and say, ‘I am the messenger of God’s Prophet’s! Give me water.’ I swear by Him who honored the Prophet (MGB) with Prophethood that once I delivered this message to that rock, there appeared several cow’s and water flowed out of each nipple. When I saw this I rushed to the Prophet (MGB) and reported it. He (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Go and fetch water from them.’ I went there and other people also came and filled their water-skins with water, fed their quadrupeds, drank themselves and made ablutions. Thus, the Honorable the Exalted God has honored me in such a way that none of the other companions of the Prophet (MGB) have been honored.58- Water became scarce in one of the battles. God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! Bring a bowl.’ I brought a bowl to him. Then he (MGB) placed his right hand along with my hand in the bowl and said, ‘Give water!’ Water gushed out from the middle of our fingers.59- In the Battle of Khaybar God’s Prophet (MGB) sent me to conquer the castle. When I reached the door of the castle, I saw that it was closed. I shook it hard, pulled it off of its place, threw it forty steps away and entered the castle. Marhab came to fight with us. Even though two of the companions of the Prophet (MGB) fought with him and returned defeated, I fought with him. I killed him and the ground got filled with his blood.60- I killed Amr ibn ‘Abd Wudd who was as strong as a thousand men.61- I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! Your parable among my nation is like that of the verse, ‘Qul Huallahu Ahad. Whoever loves you wholeheartedly it is as if he has read one-third of the Quran. Anyone who loves you wholeheartedly and also helps you is like one who has read all of the Quran.’62- I accompanied God’s Prophet (MGB) everywhere and was with him in all the battles. His flag was in my hand.63- I never fled from the battlefield, killed everyone who fought with me, and filled the Earth with their blood.64- They brought a roasted heavenly chicken for the Prophet (MGB) from Paradise. He (MGB) asked God to bring the most beloved of his people there. Then the Honorable the Exalted God granted me the Grace to go there and share that chicken with the Prophet (MGB).65- I was praying in the mosque when a beggar came and asked for something. I gave him my ring which was on my finger. Then the Blessed the Sublime God revealed the following verse, ‘Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).’66- The Blessed the Sublime God returned the Sun for me twice which He never did for anyone in the nation of Muhammad (MGB).67- God’s Prophet (MGB) call me ‘The Commander of the Faithful’ during and after his life. He never called anyone else with that title.68- God’s Prophet (MGB) told me, ‘O Ali! There shall be a call from the inside of the Throne on the Resurrection Day asking, ‘Who is the Master of the Prophets?’ Then I will step forward. Then there will be a call asking, ‘Who is the Master of the Trustees?’ and you will step forward. Then Rizvan shall bring me the keys to Paradise, and Malik shall bring me the keys to Hell. They will say, ‘God - may His Majesty be Exalted - has ordered us to bring you these keys so that you may hand them over to Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ O Ali! You will be the Qasim or the one who divides up Paradise and Hell.’69- Indeed I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! Were it not for you, the believers could not be distinguished from hypocrites.’70- Indeed God’s Prophet (MGB) put me, my wife Fatimah (MGB) and our two sons Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB) under a cloak and the Blessed the Sublime God revealed the following verse, ‘…And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.’ Gabriel (MGB) said, ‘O Muhammad! I am also with you.’ Thus, Gabriel became the sixth of us.