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Sunni Traditions in Praise of Ali (As)
Sunni Traditions in Praise of Ali (As)
Some of the famous traditions in praise of Imam Ali (AS) recorded in the Sunni books.
Hadith Al-Tashbih
Hadith Al-Munasabah
Hadith Al-Safinah
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Hadith Al-Muqatalah
This tradition of Prophet was popular to the extent that some of the companions used to say:
"We recognized the hypocrites by their hatred of Ali."
Sunni references:
- Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p639, Tradition #1086
- al-Istiab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, p47
- al-Riyad al-Nadirah, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, v3, p242
- Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p91
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Abu Huraira narrated:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) looked toward Ali, al-Hasan, al-
Husain, and Fatimah, and said: "I am in the state of war with
those who will fight you, and in the state of peace with those who
are peaceful to you."
Sunni references:
(1) Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p699
(2) Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p52
(3) Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p767, Tradition #1350
(4) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p149
(5) Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p169
(6) al-Kabir, by Tabarani, v3, p30, also in al-Awsat
(7) Jamius Saghir, by al-Ibani, v2, p17
(8) Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v7, p137
(9) Sawai'q al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p221
(10) Talkhis, by al-Dhahabi, v3, p149
(11) Dhakha'ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p25
It is the well-known fact in the history that Muawiyah fought Imam Ali . And based on the above tradition
of the Prophet(PBUH) the Prophet has declared war on Muawiyah. How can we still love a person whom
the Prophet has declared war on him?
Interesting to see, al-Hakim has many other traditions about necessity of following Ahlul-Bayt, among
which is the following tradition. This tradition is also narrated by many other Sunni scholars and is known as
the "Tradition of the Ship" in which the Prophet (PBUH&HF) stated:
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(8) A'alam al-Wara, pp 132-133
(9) Tadhkirat al-Khawas al-Ummah, Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi al-Hanafi, pp 28-33
(10) al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, by Noor al-Din al-Halabi, v3, p273
The above tradition was in connection with verses 2:58 and 7:161 of Quran which describe the Gate of
Repentance of Bani Israel. Those of companions of Moses who did not enter the Gate of the Repentance were
lost in the desert for forty years, while those who did not enter the ark of Noah were drowned. Ibn Hajar
concludes that:
"The analogy of the Ark of Noah signifies that those who love and honor the Ahlul-Bayt and derive from
their guidance will be rescued from the darkness of opposition, and those who will turn against them will be
drowned in the sea of ingratitude and will perish in the desert of insubordination and rebellion."
Quran 33:33
...Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O
people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying.
One can see that the author of Sahih Muslim confirms that:
1- Imam Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain are the Ahlul-Bayt,
2- The purification sentence in Quran (the last sentence of Verse 33:33) was revealed for the virtue of the
above-mentioned individuals, and NOT for the wives of the Prophet (PBUH&HF).
The verse "Verily Allah intends to ... (33:33)" was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH&HF) in the house of Umm
Salama. Upon that, the Prophet gathered Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain, and covered them with a
cloak, and he also covered Ali who was behind him. Then the Prophet said: "O' Allah! These are the Members
of my House (Ahlul-Bayt). Keep them away from every impurity and purify them with a perfect
purification." Umm Salama (the wife of Prophet) asked: "Am I also included among them O Apostle of
Allah?" the Prophet replied: "You remain in your position and you are toward a good ending."
Hadith al-Tatt-heer:
He is among the purified members of Ahlul Bayt and this fact has already been proved in the chapter about
Ahlul Bay
The verse "Verily Allah intends to ... (33:33)" was revealed to the
Prophet (PBUH&HF) in the house of Umm Salama. Upon that, the
Prophet gathered Fatimah, al-Hasan, and al-Husain, and covered
them with a cloak, and he also covered Ali who was behind him.
Then the Prophet said: "O' Allah! These are the Members of my
House (Ahlul-Bayt). Keep them away from every impurity and
purify them with a perfect purification." Umm Salama (the wife of
Prophet) asked: "Am I also included among them O Apostle of
Allah?" the Prophet replied: "You remain in your position and you
are toward a good ending. "
It is because of this purification that the door of Ali (looking into the masjid) was kept open while the doors
of all the companions were ordered to be shut. This purification and cleansing (by Allah) from all forms of
impurities puts Ali above all the companions. What more can a nation hope for when it can have a caliph
that was purified (by Allah) under the cloak of the prophet and that can lead the people to guidance and
rule them with the justice of the prophet.
al-Hakim (in al-Mustadrak) in connection with the attainments of Imam al-Hasan, and al-Haythami (in
connection with the excellence of the Holy Family) have narrated that Imam al-Hasan (AS) addressed the
people after the martyrdom of his father Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) and said during his speech:
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belong to the family from whom Allah has ward off all filth and
made them pure.
Sunni references:
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p172
- Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, p172
Al Tirmidhi in his Sahih reports that once when the Prophet (S) sat down to eat a fowl that had been
prepared for his dinner, he prayed to God:
"My God, bring the most beloved of Your creatures, that he may
eat this fowl with me." Then Ali (AS) came and the Prophet ate
with him.
al Hakim in Mustadrak, iii, 130, 131;
• Abu Nuaym in Hilyah, vi, 339;
• al Khatib in Tarikh Baghdad, ii, 171;
• al Muhibb al Tabari in al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 160, 161, and Dhakha'ir al?-uqba, 61;
• al Haythami in Majma al Zawa'id, ix, 125, 126;
• al Muttaqi in Kanz al Ummal, iv, 406;
• Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, iv, 30.
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Hadith Al-Wilayah
The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:
"Verily, Ali and I are inseparable, and he is the master (wali) of
every believer after me."
Sunni Refernces:
• Al Tirmidhi, in his Sahih, ii, 297,
• Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, iv, 437, v, 356;
• Abu Dawud al Tayalisi in his Musnad, iii, 111, xi, 360;
• al Haythami, Majma al Zawaid, ix, 109, 127, 128, 199;
• al Khatib al Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, iv, 339;
• al Muhibb al Tabari, al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 203, 171;
• al Muttaqi al Hindi, Kanz al Ummal, vi, 154, 155, 396, 401;
• Ibn al Athir in Usd al Ghabah, v, 94;
• Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al Awliya, vi, 294;
• al Nasa'i, Khasais, 19, 23;
as well as Ibn Abi Shaybah, al Tabari, al Tabarani, al ?Daylami, Ibn Mardawayh, Ibn al Jawzi, al Rafii, and
Ibn Hajar
Hadith Noor
The Holy Prophet (pbuh&hp) said:
"Fourteen thousand years before Adam, upon whom be peace, was
created, I and Ali were a light in the presence of God. When God
created Adam, upon whom be peace, He divided it into two parts. I
am one of the parts and Ali is the other part."
Sunni Refernces:
• Al Muhibb al Tabari narrates this tradition on the authority of Salman (RA) from the Prophet
(pbuh&hp) in al Riyad al Nadirah, ii, 163:
• Ahmad ibn Hanbal in al Fada'il;
• Sibt ibn al Jawzi in Tadhkirat Al­khawass, 46;
• Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris al Razi in Zayn al Fata fi tafsir Surat Hal ata, MS.;
• Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Zawaid manaqib Amir al Muminin, MS.,
• This tradition has also been narrated by also Ibn Mardawayh, Ibn Abd al Barr, al Khatib al
Baghdadi, Ibn al Maghazili, al-Asimi, Shiruyah al Daylami and others from Imam Ali (AS), Salman
(RA), Abu Dharr (RA), Anas ibn Malik (RA), Jabir ibn Abd Allah (RA) and other Companions.
In the history of Islam, "Shi'ah" has been especially used for the followers of Imam 'Ali (a). This phrase is not
something invented later! The first individual who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself. When
the following verse of the Qur'an was revealed:
(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of
creatures (Qur'an 98:7)
The Prophet (s) said to Ali: "It is for you and your Shi'ah."
He further said: "I swear by the one who controls my life that this
man (Ali) and his Shi'ah shall secure deliverance on the Day of
Resurrection."
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Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, (Cairo) vol. 6, p. 379
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir Jami' al-Bayan, (Cairo) vol. 33, p. 146
Ibn Asakir, Ta'rikh Dimashq, vol. 42, p. 333, p. 371
Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, (Cairo) Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247
O Messenger, Proclaim what has been sent down to you from your
Lord; and if you don't do it, you have not delivered His Message (at
all); and Allah will protect you from the people
(Qur'an: Chapter 5, Verse 67)
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Today I have perfected your religion and completed my favor upon
you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion. (Qur'an 5:3)
When the verse "(O Muhammad) Say, 'I do not ask for any reward
for this (bringing of Allah's message) except the love for the near
kinship.'" (42:23) was revealed, the Muslims asked the Prophet:
"Who are these near kin of yours whose love is obligatory upon us?"
He replied, "'Ali, Fatima, and their two sons."
al−Hakim al−Naysaburi, al−Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 2, page 444
al-Qastallani, Irshad al-Sari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 7, page 331
al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur, volume 6, pages 6-7
al-Alusi al-Baghdadi, Ruh al-Ma’ani, volume 25, pages 31-2
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Allah on the liars." (3:61), the Prophet (s) called ‘Ali, Fatima, al-
Hasan and al-Husayn and said: ‘O Allah, these are my Family
(Ahli)’.
Muslim, al-Sahih, (English translation), book 031, number 5915
al−Hakim al−Naysaburi, al−Mustadrak `ala al-Sahihayn, volume 3, page 150. He states that it is sahih in
accordance with the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim
Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, volume 7, page 60
al-Tirmidhi, al-Sahih, kitab al-manaqib, volume 5, page 596
Ahmad b. Hanbal, al-Musnad, volume 1, page 185
al-Suyuti, History of Khalifas Who Took The Right Way, (London, 1995), page 176
Prophet of Allah (s) referred to Imam 'Ali (as) as an Imam, when he declared:
"Three things have been revealed to me about Ali: That he is
the Sayyid al Muslimeen (Chief of Muslims),
Imam-ul-Muttaqeen (Imam of the Pious),
and wa Qa'id ul Ghurrul Muhajj'ileen (Leader of the bright-faced
people on Yaum al Qiyamah)"
Taken from Al Mustadrak by Imam Hakim, p 137 & 138 Riyadh al Nadira, by Mohibbudin al Tabari, Vol 2, p
122
"O Ali! Soon a rebellious group will fight against you, you will be on
the truth. Whoever does not support you on that day will not be
from us"
Kanz al Ummal, by Ali Muttaqi al Hind quoting Ibn Asakir, hadith number 32970
Rasulullah said:
"Verily among you will be one who will fight for the meaning of the
Qur'an in the same way that I fought for its revelation. People
asked will that be Abu Bakr or`Umar? Rasulullah (s) replied 'No,
but he who is mending my shoes, that person was 'Ali"
Kanz ul Ummal, Hadith number 32967
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