- Was it not in Ghadeer Khum that Muhammad made Ali rise up in
the presence of those, who had attended the Hajj. 2. And said: Of
whomsoever I am the master, after me Ali son of Fatima binte Asad is (also)
his master. 3. Then he said: O Allah, love those, who love him and be
inimical to those inimical to him. 4. And you created enmity to all tribes in
the path of God and did not pay heed to any condemnation in God’s way. 5.
After Muhammad, you were the most deserving, and the ignorant people of
the community are never like the wise.
Explanation of the verses
It is possible for Christians to intone the praise of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.),
because they had not embraced Islam; so how can they have faith in Islamic Caliphate? But the fact is that even opponent of Islam were aware of the
excellence of Ali (a.s.).
He possessed merits like a good nature, extensive knowledge, numerous
extraordinary qualities, and his valor and miracle, regarding, which the Prophet
of Islam (s.a.w.a.) has mentioned. Scholars of other religions have confessed and
the excellence of the Prophet and his successor are mentioned by numerous
writers.
As we see, numerous books of Christian writers mention the excellence of
Prophet and his successor.1
Introduction to the poet
Buqrat bin Ashwat Wamiq Armani Nasrani was the ruler and great leader of
Armenia in the third century. Ibne Shahr Ashob, in his Maalimul Ulama2 his
mentioned him among those, who were moderate in their praise for Ahle Bayt
(a.s.).
A large number of Christians have praised Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and
composed panegyrics about him; among them being their poet, Zainaba3 bin
Ishaq Rasani Mosuli Nasrani.
Baihaqi in Mahasin wal Masawa4 and Zamakhshari in Rabiul Abrar5 have
mentioned these couplets from him:
- I don’t want to condemn the family of Adi and Teem, but I am a
supporter of Bani Hashim. 2. I don’t care for any condemnation because of
praising Ali and his family. 3. People say: What is the matter that pious ones
of Arabs, non-Arabs and Christians have affection to Ali? 4. I told them that
not only me, all the creatures, even the enemies love Ali.
Our Shaykh, Imaduddin Tabari, in part two of his Basharatul Mustafa6 has
narrated these verses from Abu Yaqub Nasrani:
- What to say of that tree of Paradise that no other tree can equal. 2.
Mustafa is its root, Fatima its branch and the chief of humans, Ali is its
trunk. 3. His two Hashemite sons: Hasnain, are its fruits and all Shias,
leaves. 4. All authentic sources have mentioned this statement of Prophet. 5.
I am attached to them and I hope for salvation through them. 6. And hope to
be raised among them in the hereafter.
In these verses, the poet has hinted at the traditional report of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), which scholars7 have quoted that:
“I am the tree and Fatima is its branches and Ali is its trunk and Hasan and
Husain are its fruits and our Shia are its leaves and the tree is rooted in the Adn
Paradise and other trees are in the rest of the Paradise.”
These are the wordings of the tradition according to Ahle Sunnat. According
to our scholars, it is as follows:
“People are created from different trees; I and Ali Ibne Abi Talib are created
from one and the same tree; then what is your statement regarding the tree, whose
root I am and Fatima is its branch and Ali is its trunk and Hasan and Husain are
its fruit and our Shia are its leaves. So, one, who attaches himself to one of its
shoots, it would take him to Paradise and one, who abandons it, would fall into
Hell.”8
Among the latter Christians, who composed verses in praise of Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.) is Abul Masih Antaki Misri in his poem entitled Alawiya having
5595 lines.