4. Fourth objection
He says: “Among the wrong beliefs of Shia is that on the day of thirst in
Qiyamat, Ali would drive away his enemies from the Pool and provide drinks to
his followers. They also believe that he is the distributor of Hell fire and the Hell
fire is under his command and he can bring out anyone he likes from it.”1
Reply to fourth objection
Previously, we mentioned the authorities of this report2 and stated that most
of them have testified to its veracity and remaining scholar say that it is a good
tradition. Thus, this statement is not baseless and belief in it is not restricted to
Shia; on the contrary, Ahle Sunnat scholars also believe this.
But Qaseemi due to his ignorance about or malice against the family of
prophethood, regards it to be among the calamities of Shia. The second tradition,
also, like the first, is the most beautiful and well known excellence in view of
Muslims.
Abu Ishaq bin Dizyal (d. 280/281 A.H.) has narrated from Amash, from
Moosa bin Tarif from Abaya that he heard from Ali (a.s.):
“On Judgment Day, I would be the distributor of Hell fire. I would say: Take
this one and leave that one.”
It is mentioned by Ibne Abil Hadeed in his Sharh,3 Hafiz Ibne Asakir in his Tarikh4
and Hafiz Abu Bakr, Khatib Baghdadi; Imam Ahmad was also asked
regarding it. Muhammad bin Mansur Tusi said:
“We were with Ahmad bin Hanbal, when a person asked: O Aba Abdullah,
what is your view regarding the tradition that Ali said: I am the distributor of Hell
fire? He replied: Why do you deny this tradition? Is it not that it is narrated from
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) that he said to Ali (a.s.): None would love you, except
the believer and none would hate you, except the hypocrite? I said: Yes. He
asked: What is the abode of the believers? I replied: Paradise. He asked: What is
the abode of hypocrites? I replied: In Hell fire. He said: Then Ali is the
distributor of Hell fire.”
The above incident is mentioned in the book of Tabaqat Ashab Ahmad and
Hafiz Ganji has narrated it from him in his Kifaya.5 Alas, if Qaseemi was aware of the statement of his Imam, Ahmad Ibne Hanbal.
5. Fifth objection
He says: “There are numerous reports in Shia books that the Awaited
(Montazar) Imam would destroy all Masjids and therefore Shia are enemies of all
Masjids. Therefore, if one surveys their areas, one would see very few Masjids.”6
Reply to fifth objection
The Awaited Divine Proof (Hujjat Montazar) is the chief of those, who
believe in Allah and Judgment Day and who populate the Masjids. Then how can
he demolish them? And Shia, who attribute this to him are not yet born.
As for what he has said regarding Shia areas, I don’t know whether he has
ever gone to these places and mentioned this point or just alleged it. In either
case, he has become eligible for making false allegations. One, who has visited
Shia areas from developed cities to villages and hamlets, would have definitely
seen small and large Masjids along with the amenities, which go along with
them. They would have also seen Friday and congregation prayers being held
there.
6. Sixth objection
He says: “Can the Shia produce a word from Quran to support their belief
regarding transmigration of souls and incarnation of God into their Imams, belief
of return (Rajat), infallibility of Imams, according precedence to Ali over Abu
Bakr, Umar and Uthman? Or can the Shia provide evidences that Ali is present
among clouds or that lightning is the smile of Ali and thunder is his call?”7
Reply to sixth objection
If this man ponders over the statements of Almighty Allah:
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭ (١٨)
“He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand.”8
Or the promise of God to punish those, who make false allegations:
هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ (١١)
“Defamer, going about with slander.”9
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍۢ (٢٢٢)
“They descend upon every lying, sinful one.”10
وَيْلٌۭ لِّكُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍۢ (٧)
“Woe to every sinful liar.”11
Or if he testifies to the promise of chastisement by Almighty Allah for those
who slander, he would never slander the Shia and in reply to Shaitan, he would
ask: In which period have Shia Imamiyah believed in transmigration of soul and
incarnation of God into persons of the Imams? Who has faith in the presence of
Ali in cloud, that they should need to prove this from Quran? Yes, Ali is in the
clouds is statement of Shia in following the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in a meaning
as was mentioned before.12 Finally some people have distorted the report in order
to defame Shia.
As for the Shia belief regarding the Return (Rajat), it is based on Holy
Quran. But those, who are blind in bigotry are such they are unable to see
anything even in Quran. Thus, it is necessary to refer to books of Imamiyah.
Some scholars have written separate books on this subject. Alas, if he had
referred to some of them.
The Quran, in addition to Return (Rajat), also proves infallibility and it is
the verse of purification, which proves the infallibility of some infallibles and the
infallibility of the rest of them is also proved due to inclusion. The report which
Ahmad bin Hanbal has mentioned regarding the verse is sufficient to prove this.13
Why should the Quran not prefer Ali (a.s.) over others, whereas Almighty
Allah deemed his Mastership (Wilayat) equal to Mastership (Wilayat) of Allah
and Prophet? When He says:
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمْ رَٰكِعُونَ (٥٥)
“Only Allah is your Guardian and His Apostle and those who
believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while
they bow.”14
And before that, we said:15 Jurists, tradition scholars and scholastic theologians have consensus that this verse was revealed about Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.).
If the researcher is decent, he would find tens of verses in Quran revealed
about Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and which prove his excellence over others. It is
nothing new or amazing, as according to Quran Ali is the self of Prophet. Allah
perfected His religion and completed His favor through his Mastership (Wilayat)
and chose for us the religion of Islam.
We turn back the question on Qaseemi saying whether he and those having
same views as him, can produce one letter from Quran to prove the precedence of
Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman over Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), the beloved one
(Wali) of Allah?