عمرو

To ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ

“Allah will destroy one who takes the command of Muslims and destroys it.”

he heard Abu Khalid al-Ahmari quote on the authority of Isma’il ibn Abi Khalid, on the authority of Ata ibn al-Sa’eb, on the authorityof his father, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Amr that God’s Prophet (MGB) said, “There are a lot of good deeds but there are only a few good-doers.”

“If a ruler does not fulfill the needs of his subjects, Allah will not fulfill his wishes on the Day of Judgment. If the ruler accepts gifts it is betrayal of trust and if he takes bribe, he is a polytheist.”

God’s Prophet (MGB) chose twelve leaders or chiefs from amongst his nation just as many as the Chiefs of Moses (MGB) due to an order delivered by Gabriel. Nine of them were from the Khazraj clan and three of them were from the O’as clan. The ones from the Khazraj clan were as follows: As’ad ibn Zurarah; Al-Bara’ ibn Ma’rur; Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haraml - the father of Jabir ibn Abdullah; Rafe’a ibn Malik; Sa’ed ibn Ebadat; Al-Monzar ibn Amr; Abdullah ibn Ravaheh; Sa’ed ibn al-Rabi’a; Ibn al-Qavafil Ebadat al-Samit - and what is meant by Ibn al-Qavafil is those noble men of Khazraj in Medina that no one dared bother anyone who lived under their protection. And the men from the Oa’s tribe were as follows: Abul Haysam ibn al-Teyhan; Aseed ibn Hazir; and Sa’ed ibn Khaysama.” I have recorded the detailed account in my book Kitab Al-Nabuwat. The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “The word Naqib translated here as leader or chief refers to the heads or chiefs of the tribes. It has also been said that it refers to trustworthy and honest ones who act as a witness for their tribe. The origin of the word Naqib is the word Naqb which refers to an opening, a tunnel or a ditch in the ground or the hills. One is said to be the leader of his tribe or the chief of his tribe, since he constantly questions about the conditions of the people in the tribe. He is the chief like one who questions about hidden secrets. And the meaning of the following words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘…Allah did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve leaders among them’ is that God has chosen one chief from each tribe and has made a covenant with them regarding their religion. Some have said that these chiefs were dispatched to the oppressors to find about their conditions and bring back their news to Moses (MGB). They returned and prevented their tribes from fighting with the oppressors, since they had become frightened of their armaments and physical strength. This is a well-known account. However, we have only meant to describe the meaning of the word Naqib here. May God grant success to good works.”

I was in the house in which the six-member council held a gathering. I heard Ali (a.s.) say, ‘The people established Abu Bakr as the Caliph while by God it was my right to be in charge of the affairs and I was more deserving for that position than he was. Moreover, Abu Bakr put Umar in charge of the Caliph while by God it was my right to be in charge of the affairs and I was more deserving for that position than Umar was. Now Umar has placed me as the sixth member of a six-member council without recognizing my nobility over them. If needed, I can bring arguments for them which the Arabs, the non-Arabs, the ones who have pledged, and the atheists cannot deny and I can change everything around with them.’ Then Ali (a.s.) added, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has accepted the Unity of God before me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no. It was you.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) has said, ‘Your relationship to me is like that of Aaron’s relationship to Moses (MGB) except that there will be no Prophets after me’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no. It was you.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you with whom God’s Prophet (MGB) has shared his offering for the Lord of the Two Worlds other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no. It was you.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you to have gone to the Prophet when upon receiving a roasted bird God’s Prophet (MGB) prayed to ‘O my Lord! Please send me your most beloved creature to share this bird with me’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no. It was you.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said the following when Umar returned from Fort Khaybar and his companions called him a coward and he called his companions cowards, since he had been defeated there, ‘Tomorrow I shall give this flag to one who is not going to flee, whom God and God’s Prophet love, and he loves God and God’s Prophet. He shall not return until by God’s help he conquers the Fort.’ Indeed the next morning he (MGB) said, ‘Bring Ali (a.s.) to me.’ They told him (MGB), ‘O Prophet of God! His eyes hurt so much that he cannot even wink.’ The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Bring him to me.’ When I went to see God’s Prophet (MGB), he spit his blessed 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. I took the flag, and God defeated the atheists. Was that me, or someone other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no. It was you.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has a brother like my brother Ja’far who is adorned with two wings in Paradise with which he can go anywhere he wishes to?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has an uncle like my uncle Hamzih who is the Lion of God and God’s Prophet, and the Master of the Martyrs?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has offspring like mine being Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein who are the (grand)children of God’s Prophet (MGB) and the Masters of the Youth in Paradise?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has a wife like mine being Fatimah - the daughter of God’s Prophet (MGB) who is a piece of the Prophet’s own flesh and blood, and the Master of the Ladies in Paradise?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Whoever abandons you will abandon me. Whoever abandons me has indeed abandoned God’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The Walia clan must stop, else I shall dispatch a man towards them who is just like me myself. Obeying him is like obeying me and disobeying him is like disobeying me. He shall kill them with the sword!’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘If my love touches the heart of any Muslim, all his sins shall be wiped out by God. Whoever loves me also loves you. Whoever thinks that he loves me, but dislikes you is telling a lie’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘You are my Caliph reigning over my family, children and all the Muslims in my absence. Your enemy is my enemy and my enemy is indeed God’s enemy. Your friend is my friend and my friend is God’s friend’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Mercy shall overtake whomever loves you and becomes your friend. Damnation shall overtake whomever despises you and becomes your enemy’, other than me?’ On that occasion Ayesha said, ‘O Prophet of God! Would you please pray for my father and I not to be amongst those who dislike him and are his enemies?’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Be quiet! If you and your father be amongst those who love him and are his friends, then mercy shall overtake you. However, if you and your father be amongst those who despise him and are his enemy, then damnation shall overtake you. Indeed you and your father are wicked. Your father shall be the first one to usurp his rights and oppress him and you shall be the first one to fight him.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! You are my brother and I am your brother in this world and in the Hereafter. Your house and my house will be facing each other in Paradise just like two brothers’ houses are’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! ! Is there anyone amongst you other than me about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! Indeed God has allocated something to you and has honored you with something. No deed is more loved by God than abstinence in this world. You shall not gain anything in this world. Nothing in this world can get a hold of you either. Abstinence shall be the adornment of the good-doers near the Honorable the Exalted God on the Resurrection Day. Then blessed be the ones who love and acknowledge you. Woe be to the ones who despise and deny you.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you whom God’s Prophet (MGB) sent after water other than me? I went, filled up the water container, and put it on my back to carry it back. On the way back a wind started to blow forcing me to turn back and sit down. Then I stood up. Again a wind started to blow forcing me to turn back and sit down. Then I stood up again. Another wind started to blow forcing me to turn back and sit down. Then I stood up and went to The Prophet (s.w) and told him (MGB) what had happened. The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Gabriel informed me about this. The first wind was Gabriel accompanied by one-thousand angels who greeted you. The second wind was Michael accompanied by one-thousand angels who greeted you. The third wind was Isra’fil accompanied by one-thousand angels who greeted you.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you other than me about whom Gabriel said, ‘O Muhammad! Do you see how Ali (a.s.) cooperates?’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘He is from me and I am from him.’ Then Gabriel added, ‘And I am from you.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has the following honor other than me? Once when I was recording down something for the Prophet of God (MGB), The Prophet (s.w) closed his eyes. I thought that he was telling me things and I kept taking them down. However, when The Prophet (s.w) woke up, he (MGB) asked me, ‘O Ali! Who dictated things for you up until this point?’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! It was you who dictated it to me.’ The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘No. It was Gabriel who dictated it to you.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom the caller from the Heavens has announced, ‘There is no sword like Zulfaqar and there is no true knight but Ali’, other than me? They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘If I were not afraid that the people would start to pick up the dirt under your feet and save it for their progeny I would have said something about you and then everyone would pick some dirt up from under your footsteps’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you other than me about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Protect my house and do not let anyone come to me since the angels come to visit me.’ Then Umar came three times and I returned him telling him that the angels which are so many in number are visiting God’s Prophet (MGB). Then I granted him permission to enter. Once he saw The Prophet (s.w) he told him, ‘O Prophet of God! I came to visit you several times, but Ali (a.s.) did not let me in and said that you are having so many angels visit you. How could Ali (a.s.) see the angels and how did he know how many of them there were?’ Then The Prophet (s.w) faced me and asked, ‘O Ali! He is right! How did you know how many angels there were here?’ I replied, ‘I heard their various sounds and counted their number based on their sound.’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘You are right! You have one of the traditions of my brother Jesus (MGB).’ Then Umar left while he was repeatedly saying, ‘The Prophet (s.w) considered him to be similar to the son of Mary (Jesus (MGB)).’ Then the Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following verses, ‘When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamor thereat (in ridicule)!And they say, ‘Are our gods best, or he?’ This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation, yea, they are a contentious people. He was no more than a servant, We granted Our favor to him, and We made him an example to the Children of Israel. And if it were Our Will, We could make angels from amongst you, succeeding each other on the Earth.’ ’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, Tooba is the name of a Heavenly tree which is rooted in Ali’s house. There are branches of this tree in the homes of all the believers’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘You fight according to my tradition and compensate for my obligations’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you to whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘You will fight the perfidious party, the deviators, and the apostates ’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has gone to God’s Prophet (MGB) when the Prophet’s head was on Gabriel’s lap about whom Gabriel told The Prophet (s.w), ‘Go to you cousin since he is closer to you than I am’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has had the opportunity of holding the Prophet’s head on his lap (while The Prophet (s.w) was asleep) and not said the afternoon prayers until sunset. Then when The Prophet (s.w) woke up and asked, ‘O Ali! Did you say the afternoon prayer?’ and I replied, ‘No’ The Prophet (s.w) prayed and then the light of the sun returned allowing me to say my prayer and then it set other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you with the following honor. When God’s Prophet (MGB) sent the Bara’at Chapter (Declaration of Immunity) with Abu Bakr, the Honorable the Exalted God sent Gabriel and said, ‘O Muhammad! No one but either you or someone who is from your own family should propagate this chapter.’ Then God’s Prophet (MGB) sent me to take it from Abu Bakr. I went, took it from Abu Bakr and propagated it. God has considered me to be of the Prophet’s family. Has anyone else amongst you attained this nobility other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘You are the Divine Leader of whomever obeys me. You are the source of light for my friends. You are the word to which the pious ones are accustomed’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Whoever likes to live as I live, die as I die, reside in Paradise which my Lord has promised - the Paradise in which God has planted the trees with His own Hands - should love Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) and his progeny who shall be the Divine Leaders and the Trustees to whom God grants my knowledge and understanding. They shall not let you enter the gates of loss and shall not let you leave the gates of guidance. You should not try to teach them their duties since they will be more knowledgeable than you are. The truth shall be wherever they are’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘It has been decreed and recorded that no one but believers shall love you and no one but atheists shall detest you’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said something similar to what he (MGB) said about me, ‘On the Resurrection Day, those who are your friends shall rise up from their graves and ride white camels with the fasteners of their saddles being bright lights, and the roads will be paved for them. All difficulties will be eased for them. They shall be granted immunity. They will have no sorrow until they reach the Threshold of the Merciful. A table shall be spread out in front of them from which they can eat until the Reckoning ends. The people shall be frightened while they will not. The people shall be sad while they will not.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has the honor of being married to Fatimah the way I was? As you know when Abu Bakr went to ask The Prophet (s.w) to allow him to marry Fatimah (MGB), The Prophet (s.w) turned him down. Also when Umar went to ask The Prophet (s.w) to allow him to marry Fatimah (MGB), The Prophet (s.w) turned him down. Then when I asked The Prophet (s.w) to allow me to marry Fatimah (MGB), The Prophet (s.w) married her off to me. Then both Abu Bakr and Umar went to see The Prophet (s.w) And said, ‘You did not marry her off to us, but you married her off to him!’ The Prophet (s.w) replied, ‘I did not turn you down and I did not marry her off to Ali. It was God who turned both of you down and married her off to Ali.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Have you heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘All ties of kinship and nationality will be cut off on the Resurrection Day except for ties of kinship with me and my nation.’ Which ties are better than mine and which nationality is better than mine? My father and the Prophet’s father were brothers. My two (grand)sons of the Prophet Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB) (the Masters of the Youth in Paradise) are my sons. Fatimah (MGB) who is the daughter of God’s Prophet (MGB) and the Master of the Ladies in Paradise is my wife. Is there anyone amongst who with a better nationality and ties of kinship than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you other than me about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Indeed God created the people and has divided them up into two groups. He has placed me in the better of the two groups. Then God divided up the people into several branches and placed me in the best branch. Then He divided them up into many tribes and placed me in the best tribe. Then He divided them up into many families and placed me in the best family. Then God chose me and He chose Ali and Ja’far from my family and made me the best of the three. I was sleeping between the two sons of Abi Talib (i.e. Ali and Ja’far) when Gabriel came along with an angel. The angel asked Gabriel, ‘To which of the three have you been sent?’ Gabriel replied, ‘To that one.’ Then Gabriel took my hand and had me sit down.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you other than me whose door (of his house) was left open from the mosque when all the other doors were shut. On that occasion Abbas and Hamzah went to see God’s Prophet (MGB) and said, ‘You forced us out and let him stay in the mosque?’ The Prophet (s.w) replied, ‘I did not force you out and I did not let him stay. It was God who forced you out and let him stay. The Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following to my brother Moses (MGB), ‘Prepare a pure mosque and house yourself, Aaron and Aaron’s children in it.’ The Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following to me too, ‘Prepare a pure mosque and house yourself, Ali and Ali’s children in it.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The truth is with Ali (a.s.) and Ali (a.s.) is with the truth. These Two will be inseparable until they come to me at the Heavenly Pool’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who protected the life of God’s Prophet (MGB) with his own life when the polytheists came and wanted to kill The Prophet (s.w) other than me? I slept in his bed and God’s Prophet (MGB) went to the cave of Sowr. 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 cousin?’ I said, ‘I do not know.’ They beat me up to the point of death.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said what he (MGB) said about me as follows, ‘Indeed God has ordered me about the Mastery of Ali. His Mastery is the same as my Mastery. My Mastery is the same as the Mastery of my Lord! This is a covenant which my Lord has made with me and has made me responsible to declare it to you? Did you hear it?’ The people said, ‘Yes, we heard that.’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘However, there are those amongst you who say ‘we heard’ with his tongue, but carried the people on his shoulders and acts out of enmity with Ali.’ The people said, ‘O Prophet of God! Please introduce them to us.’ The Prophet (s.w) replied, ‘Indeed my Lord has ordered me to turn away from them due to what is destined and each one of you should suffice with what truly goes on in your hearts.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who killed nine of the champions of the Abduldar clan? Then their slave Sawab al-Habashi went to the field and yelled, ‘I swear by God that I shall kill Muhammad in revenge for the blood of my masters.’ Water was running out of his mouth and his eyes looked like two bowls filled with blood due to anger. Everyone was scared of him and stayed back. I went in front of him. He was as tall as a castle. There were two strikes of swords exchanged between the two of us and I cut him up into two pieces from his belly. The lower half of his body was still standing on his two feet, and all the Muslims were looking on and laughing at him.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has killed as many polytheists from the Quraysh as I have?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who went to fight with Amr ibn ‘Abd Wudd when he came into the field and challenged someone to fight with other than me? You were all scared. It was I who stood up. God’s Prophet (MGB) asked me, ‘Where are you going?’ I replied, ‘To fight this corrupt person!’ The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘This is Amr ibn ‘Abd Wudd!’ I said, ‘O Prophet of God! If he is Amr ibn ‘Abd Wudd, I am Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ The Prophet (s.w) said the same thing to me again. I gave him (MGB) the same response. Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Go in the name of God!’ Once I went there and approached him, he asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘I am Ali ibn Abi Talib!’ He said, ‘O cousin! You are a noble fighter. Please return! I was friends with your father and I was his companion. I do not like to kill you.’ I told him, ‘O Amr! You have made a covenant with god to honor one of three proposals presented to you by anyone.’ Amr said, ‘Go ahead and propose!’ I said, ‘Bear witness that there is no god but God, Muhammad is God’s Prophet and confess to what he has brought to us from God.’ Amr said, ‘Present your second proposal.’ I said, ‘Return to your own house.’ Amr said, ‘By God, the women of Quraysh are going to say that I was scared and ran away from the battlefield.’ Then I said, ‘Get off your horse and let’s fight.’ He accepted this proposal and got off his horse. We started to fight and two strikes were exchanged between us. His strike ruptured my armor and his sword reached my head, but I chopped off his legs with my strike. God had him killed by my hands. Is there anyone amongst you to have done this?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who dared to face Marhab when he stepped forward and said, ‘I am he whose mother has named him Marhab. I am a well-experienced champion - armed from head to foot. I attack, sometimes with the spear and sometimes with the sword,’ other than me? He struck me and I struck him. On his head was a covering carved from stone, since his head was so big that his helmet did not fit his head. I split open this covering and my sword hit his head killing him. Is there anyone amongst you who has performed such a feat?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God revealed the following known as the verse of purity upon His Prophet (MGB), ‘…And God only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless’ and then, The Prophet (s.w) took his cloak and covered me under it along with Fatimah (MGB), Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB) and said, ‘O my Lord! These are the members of my Family. Please remove all abomination from them and make them pure and spotless.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom the Prophet said, ‘I am the Master of all the Children of Adam. O Ali! You are the Master of the Arabs’ other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you who has been the subject of the following. Once when God’s Prophet (MGB) was looking at the sky when he was in the mosque, he (MGB) saw that they were bringing something. Then he (MGB) saw that they were bringing something there. He rushed to that direction. His companions reached there after him. There were four black fellows who were carrying a coffin. The Prophet (s.w) told them, ‘Put it down.’ They put the coffin on the ground. The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Open it up.’ They opened it up. There was a black slave in the coffin who had iron chains on his neck. God’s Prophet (MGB) asked, ‘Who is this?’ They answered, ‘He is a wicked and corrupt slave of the Riyaheen who has fled. We have been ordered to bury him with these chains on his neck as you can see.’ I looked at him and said, ‘O Prophet of God (MGB)! Whenever he saw me he said, ‘I swear by God that I love you. I swear by God that only believers love you and only atheists detest you.’ God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! He has attained such a great reward from God just due to this belief that now seventy different tribes of angels each of which has one-thousand branches are praying over his corpse.’ God’s Prophet (MGB) opened up the chains from around his neck, prayed over his corpse and buried him.’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) has said about me, ‘Last night I was granted permission to supplicate. My Lord granted to me everything which I asked for. I asked God to grant you whatever I asked Him to grant me.’ Then I said, ‘Praise be to God.’’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Do you know that after God’s Prophet (MGB) dispatched Khalid ibn al-Walid to the Jadhimah clan and he did to them what he did, God’s Prophet (MGB) climbed up the pulpit and said the following thrice, ‘O my Lord! I am disgusted with what Khalid ibn al-Walid did.’ Then he (MGB) said, ‘O Ali! You go.’ Then I went and gave them compensation, and asked them by God to tell me if there was anything else to be compensated for? They said, ‘Yes. Since you asked us by God to tell you, the compensation for the dishes for our dogs and the knee-caps for our camels is still left.’ Then I gave them compensation for that, too. I also gave them a lot of gold which I had and told them, ‘This is expiation from God’s Prophet (MGB) to compensate for whatever you know or do not know and for any fears that your women and children may have experienced.’ Then I returned to God’s Prophet (MGB) and informed him (MGB) of what I had done. The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘I swear by God that I am more pleased of what you have done than red-haired camels. ’’ They replied, ‘By God. Yes.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Did you hear God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Ali! They had my nation march in front of me last night. Once those who carry the flags passed by me, I prayed to God to forgive you and your followers.’’ They replied, ‘By God. Yes.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Did you hear God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘O Abu Bakr! Go and chop off the neck of the person who is in such and such place.’ Then when Abu Bakr returned, The Prophet (s.w) asked him, ‘Did you kill him?’ Abu Bakr replied, ‘No. I found him praying.’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘O Umar! Go and kill him.’ Then when Umar returned The Prophet (s.w) asked him, ‘Did you kill him?’ Umar replied, ‘No. I found him praying.’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘I ordered you to kill him and you come back telling me that you found him praying?’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘O Ali! Go and kill him.’ Once I started to go, The Prophet (s.w) told me, ‘Kill him if you find him there.’ Once I returned I said, O Prophet of God (MGB)! I did not find anyone there.’ Then The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Would you have killed him if you found him there?’’ They replied, ‘By God. Yes.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Is there anyone amongst you about whom The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Your friends are in Paradise and your enemies are in Hell’, other than me?’ They replied, ‘By God; no.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Do you know that Ayesha told God’s Prophet (MGB), ‘Ibrahim (the son of Mariya al-Qabti) is not your son. He is the son of so and so Al-Qabti.’ The Prophet (s.w) told me, ‘O Ali! Go and kill him!’ Then I asked God’s Prophet (MGB), ‘Are you sending me there as a heated iron to execute this decree as soon as I get there, or do you want me to discover the truth?’ The Prophet (s.w) replied, ‘No. Go and discover the truth.’ Then I went after that Al-Qabti man. Once he saw me, he ran away into a garden. I followed him into the garden. Then he climbed up a date palm tree. I pursued him to the top of the tree. Once he realized that I was chasing him, he took off his under shorts and I noticed that he had been totally castrated. Then I returned and told the Prophet about it. The Prophet (s.w) said, ‘Thanks God for removing this accusation from the Household.’ Wasn’t it done by me?’ They replied, ‘By God. Yes.’ Then Ali (a.s.) said, ‘O God! Please be a witness to this.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Instruct me about calling to Allah and Jihad for His cause. Is it only for a certain group besides whom for others it is not permissible or it is permissible for all who believe in Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious and in the Messenger of Allah? Whoever is as such has permission to call to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, to His obedience and do Jihad for His cause? “He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is for a certain people only. It is not lawful for others beside them. No one other than one who is of these certain people has the right to do Jihad? I then asked, ‘Who are these people?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They are those who stand by the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious during the war and Jihad is done by the army. Such people have permission to call to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. Those who do not stand up to the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, in war about the soldiers, do not have permission for Jihad and calling to Allah until they make Allah’s stipulations about Jihad rule and govern them? I then said, ‘Explain it to me. I pray to Allah to grant you favors? “He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, informed His prophet in His book how to call people to Him and has described it therein. He has made Jihad of degrees, which can be understood by means of one another and one leads to the other. He, the most Blessed, the most High, has informed that He Himself calls to His own-self and to His obedience and to following His commands. He has begun with Himself saying, “Allah calls to the house of peace and guides whomever He wants to the right path.” (10:25) He then has enjoined upon His Messenger and has said, “O Muhammad, call to the path of your Lord with wisdom, good advice and reason with them with that which is good.” (16:125) It means that he should reason with them by means of the Holy Quran. One who opposes the commands of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is not calling to Allah. He only calls to Allah by that which is other than with which He has commanded in His book to call thereby and it is that in which He has commanded not to call by any means other than this (book). About His Holy Prophet He has said, “You certainly guide to the right path.” (42:52) It “guide” means you call to the right path. He, the most Blessed, the most High, has joined a third party for this task which is His book saying, “This Quran guides (calls) to that which is upright and gives glad news to the believers.” (17:9) “He then has mentioned those who after His own self, His prophet and His book have permission to call to Him saying, ‘Among you there must exist people who call to goodness, command (people) to do what is good and prohibit (people) from committing evil deeds; such are the successful ones? (3:104) He has given more information about who this ’Ummah (nation) is that it is of the offspring of Ibrahim and Isma’il, of the residents of the sacred land, of the ones who never worshipped anyone besides Allah. They are those on whom it is obligatory to call. It is the call of Ibrahim and Isma’il of the people of al-Masjid about whom Allah has spoken in His book that He has removed from them all rijs and has cleansed them thoroughly. They are those whom we have mentioned when speaking of the followers of Ibrahim (a.s.) who are meant to be the ones about whom Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, speaks in the following verse, “I call to Allah with awareness on my part as well as those who follow me.” (12:108) It is a reference to those who followed him in belief in him and affirmation of his truthfulness about whatever he had brought from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. They are of the ‘Ummah in whom he was sent and to whom he belonged and to whom he was sent before the creation of those who never considered anyone as partner of Allah and who never mixed their belief with injustice which is paganism. He then has mentioned the followers of His prophet and the followers of this ’Ummah which He has described in His book as the ones who command people to do good and prohibit them from committing evil and has considered them as the callers to Him and has given them permission to call to Him saying, “O prophet, Allah is sufficient (support for you) and those who follow you of the believers.” (8:64) He then has described the followers of His prophet of the believers and He, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and those who are with him are stern against the unbelievers. They are compassionate to each other. You can see them performing Ruku’s and Sajdah, to seek extra favors from Allah, and pleasure. Their marks are found on their faces because of frequent Sajdah. This is how they are described in the Torah and their description in the bible is. . . .” (48:29) ‘He has also said, “On the day when Allah will not fail the prophet and the believers. They will have their light run in front of them and on their right sides.” (66:8) It is a reference to the believers. Allah has said, “Believers are indeed successful.” (23:2) He then has praised and described them in a very special way so that no one other than those who are like them can consider themselves as one of them. In their praise and in their description He has said, “They are those who are khashV (very humble) in their Salat (prayer), those who stay away from useless matters. . . . they are the ones who inherit, those who inherit paradise wherein they live forever.” (23:3-11) He has also said in their praise and in their description, “They are those who do not pray to anyone besides Allah as the Lord and who do not destroy any soul that Allah has prohibited to destroy except for a truthful purpose, who do not commit fornication and those who do so have committed a sin. His punishment, on the Day of Judgment, will double and they live therein forever in humiliation. ”(24: 68-69) ‘He then has said that He has purchased from these believers their souls and those who possess likewise of their qualities, “Their souls and properties in exchange for paradise; They fight for the cause of Allah so they destroy the enemy and themselves become martyrs. It is a promise to them in all truth in the Torah, the bible and al-Quran.” He then has mentioned their standing by their promise and covenant and their pledging allegiance saying, “Who is more firm in his promise than Allah? Your deal of selling (your souls) is glad news for you and this is the great success.” (9:111) ‘When this verse (9:111) was revealed a man stood up before the Holy Prophet and said, “O Holy Prophet of Allah, do you think, a man who takes up his sword and fights until he is killed, is considered a martyr?” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then revealed the following verse to His prophet, “The repenting, those who praise (Allah) who fast, perform Ruku’ and Sajdah, who command people to do good and prohibit them from committing evil, who protect the laws of Allah, (you can) give glad news to the believing people.” (9:112) The Holy Prophet (a.s.), then interpreted it as a reference to those of the believers who possess such qualities and praise as martyrs deserving paradise. He said that it means repenting from sins, the worshippers who worship only Allah without considering anything as His partner. Praising (Allah) are those who praise Allah in all conditions; in hardships and in ease. Sa’ihun are those who fast. Performing Ruku ’ and Sajdah are those who regularly perform their five times’ daily Salat (prayer), who protect them and safe guard Ruku’, Sajdah in proper humbleness in their proper times. They thereafter command people to do good and prohibit from committing evil and themselves stay away there-from. He said, “Give glad news of paradise and martyrdom to those who are killed while they stand by these conditions.” He, the most Blessed, the most High, then has informed that He has not commanded anyone who does not possess these qualities to do Jihad. ‘He, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, said, “Those who are subjected to injustice are given permission to fight and Allah has the power to help them, those who are expelled from their towns without any good reason, except their saying that Allah is our Lord.” (22:39-40) ‘This is because everything between the earth and the sky belongs to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, His Messenger and their believing followers who have these qualities. Whatever of the worldly things exist in the hands of the pagans, unbelievers, unjust people and sinful people of those opposing the Messenger of Allah and who turn to disobey them, whatever is found in their hands is because of their doing injustice to the believers who possess those qualities. They have suppressed them (the believers) in matters of what Allah has returned (granted) to His Messenger. Thus, it is of their (believers’) rights that Allah has returned to them as Fay ’. The meaning of al-Fay’ is whatever goes in the hands of the pagans and then returns whatever, through their suppression of others, they had taken. So whatever of words or deeds returns back to its place is in the condition of al-Fay’ as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Those who swear to stay away from their women must wait for four months but if they go back Allah is forgiving and merciful.” (2:226) The word “fa”u” signifies “to return”. He then has said, “If they decide to divorce, Allah is hearing and knowledgeable.” (2:227) He has also said, “If two groups of believing people fight each other you must arrange reconciliation between them. If one group rebels against the other you must fight the rebellious ones until they “tafi’u” (go back) to submit themselves to the command of Allah. If they submitted (returned) then arrange reconciliation between them with justice; Allah loves those who practice justice.” (49:10) He by his word “tafi’u” has meant “return”. This is proof that al-Fay’ is whatever returns to the place where it was or it belonged. It then is said about the sun when it declines toward the west, “fa” at al-Shams”. It is said so when the shadow of an object goes back to increase after decreasing. So also is what returns to the believing people from the unbelievers. It is so because of being of the rights of the believing people, which is returned to them after injustice was done to them by the unbelievers. Of such issues are His words, “Permission is granted to the fighters because of injustice done to them.” Believers in general do not qualify for such permission. Such permission is given to those believers who stand by the conditions of their faith and belief, which we already have described. This is because a believer does not have such permission unless injustice is done to him and he cannot be an oppressed one unless he is a believer. He cannot be a believer unless he stands by the stipulations of his belief and faith which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has set upon the believers and those who do Jihad. When the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, are accomplished in him, he becomes a believer. When he is considered a believer he is oppressed and when he becomes oppressed, permission is given to him to do Jihad because of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Permission to fight is given to them because of injustice done to them and Allah has the power to help them.” If he is not up to the stipulations of belief, he is unjust, and of those against whom doing Jihad is obligatory until he repents. He does not have permission to do Jihad or call to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious; he is not of the believers to whom injustice is done and to whom permission to fight is given in the al-Quran. When this verse, “permission to fight . . .” was revealed about Muhajirin (immigrants) who were expelled from Makkah, their homeland and their properties it became lawful, He made it lawful for them to fight.’” “I then said, ‘This was revealed about Muhajirin because of the injustice of the pagans of Makkah. On what basis did they fight Kisra’ and Qaysar (Persians and Romans) and others such as pagan Arab tribes?’ “He (the Imam) replied, ‘If permission to fight was given only because of the injustice done to them by the pagans of Makkah, they then had no reason to fight such multitudes like Kisra’, Qaysar and people other than the people of Makkah of the Arab tribes. This is because those who did injustice to them (al-Muhajirun) were not these people. Instead they were the people of Makkah who had expelled them (al-Muhajirun) from their homeland and had dispossessed them of their properties without good reason. If the verse applied only to al-Muhajirun who were oppressed by the people of Makkah, this verse would remain without any applicable effect to others thereafter al-together; no one of the oppressors and the oppressed would have existed anymore. The obligation mentioned in it would have been lifted entirely after those people; the oppressed and the oppressors would have ceased to exist. In fact, it is not the way you thought it was and not the way I mentioned either. However, al-Muhajirun were oppressed in two ways. People of Makkah oppressed them by expelling them from their homeland and dispossessed them of their properties. Thus, they fought them by the permission of Allah. Kisra’ and Qaysar and others besides such people as the Arab and non- Arab tribes who oppressed them by keeping what rightfully belonged to the believing people. They fought them by the permission of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, in this matter. Based on the authority of this verse (22:39), the believing people of all times have the permission to fight. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, however, has given permission to the believing people who stand up to the stipulations which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has described and fulfill the requirements they need to have in belief and Jihad. Whoever then stands up to such stipulations is a believer, an oppressed and has permission to do Jihad in the sense mentioned. Those otherwise are oppressors and are not oppressed ones. Such ones do not have the permission to fight, to prohibit from committing evil or command people to do good. It is because they are not qualified for such tasks and do not have the permission to call to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. He cannot do Jihad against people like his own-self or call to Allah. One against whom believing people are commanded to do Jihad is not the one who does Jihad; he is prohibited to do Jihad due to lack of qualification. Such people the like of whom is commanded to repent cannot call to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, call to the truth, command others to do good or prohibit others from committing evil. One about whom a command to command him to do good is issued or a command to prohibit him from committing evil is issued cannot prohibit others against evil. ‘Only those in whom the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, which He has described as the qualified ones among the companions of the Holy Prophet, are complete, are of the oppressed ones. They have the permission to do Jihad just as they (al-Muhajirun) were given permission for Jihad. This is because the commands of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, are the same for the earlier and later generations, unless there is good reason or cause. People of the past generation or those of the coming generations are the same in matters of prohibitions also. People of the earlier generation were held responsible for a duty and so also is true of the people of the later generations who will be held accountable like those before them. One who does not have the qualification of those believing people to whom Allah has given permission to do Jihad is not qualified to do Jihad and does not have permission to do so until his return to the stipulation of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, upon him. When the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, upon believing people and those who can do Jihad are found in him in complete form he then is one of those permitted to do Jihad. ‘A servant (of Allah) must maintain piety before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and must not allow himself to be deceived by wishes which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has prohibited to cherish in the form of the false Ahadith against Allah. It is of the kind of Ahadith, which is falsified by the Holy Quran. It denounces them and the carriers of such Ahadith as well as the narrators. (A servant of Allah) must not act before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, upon a doubtful matter in which he is not excused. In matters of lives involved for the cause of Allah, there is no position that can come in the presence of Allah before such matter. It is the ultimate act in greatness of value. One must have control over his ownself. One must show to himself the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and examine it by means of the book of Allah; no one knows better about a person than his own self. If he finds it up to the stipulations of Allah in matters of Jihad, he then should proceed for Jihad. If he finds shortcomings he must reform them and make himself to stand up to what Allah has made obligatory upon him in the form of Jihad. Thereafter he must take steps for Jihad with a soul clean and cleansed of all filthy matters that come between him and his Jihad. We do not say to those who intend to do Jihad - and he is not up to what we described of the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, upon the believing people and those who do Jihad - we do not say to them, “You must not do Jihad.” However, we do say to them that we have taught you the stipulations that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has set upon the people of Jihad with whom He has made a deal and a contract of purchasing their souls and properties in exchange for paradise. ‘Therefore, one must reform the shortcomings that he finds in his self in matters of Allah’s stipulation. He must examine his soul in matters of the stipulations of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. If he finds that he is true to the stipulations and has completed them in himself, then he is of those whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has given permission to do Jihad. I swear by my life that there is Hadith about one who does not find his soul up to the stipulations of Allah. There is Hadith about one who instead finds his soul persisting in disobedience of Allah and in committing unlawful acts and in involvement in Jihad with confusion and ignorance and in acting against Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ignorantly and on the basis of false Ahadith. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, gives victory to this religion through such people who has no share or interest in it. One must maintain piety before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and be cautious about becoming as one of them. It is explained to you and now you have no excuse for ignorance after explanation. There is no power without Allah. Allah is sufficient for us. With Him we place our trust and to Him is the destination.’”