Waqidi has written that Abu Hamza1 Yaqub bin Mujahid has narrated from
Muhammad bin Ibrahim from Abu Amr that: I asked Ayesha: “Who named Umar
Farooq as ‘chief of believers?” She replied: “He is the chief of believers.”2
Allamah Amini says: Abu Hazra was a story-teller and he liked to attribute
falsehood to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and his wives, mothers of
believers, to please his listeners by fabricating an excellence of Umar, unaware of
the fact that even though after a long time, history would falsify him and expose
his vile acts.
Suyuti has mentioned in his Sharh Shawahid Mughni:3
“We have narrated through correct chains of narrators that: They were Labid
bin Rabia and Adi bin Hatim, who addressed Umar as ‘chief of believers’ when
they met him in Iraq.”
Tabari in his Tarikh, has stated through his chains of narrators from Hassan
Kufi that:4 When Umar took over Caliphate, it was said: O successor of successor
of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.). Umar said: “This is a very long title to address
the Caliph. On the contrary, you are believers and I am your trustee. So you
should say: O chief of believers.”
Ibne Khaldun has written in his Muqaddima that:5
“By chance, some companions said to Umar: O chief of believer! So people
liked that and thought that it was an appropriate phrase and thus they began to
address him with these words only.”
Thus, the clear cut report of Tabari is that: Umar himself chose this title for
himself. Yes, one, whom the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) named as chief of
believers (Ameerul Momineen) is Imam Ali (a.s.). Hafiz Abul Ala Hasan bin
Ahmad Attar has narrated a tradition through the chains of Ibne Abbas that:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: “Umme Salma, be a witness and
listen to this: This Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) is chief of believers (Ameerul
Momineen).”6
Tibrani, in his Mojam, has narrated through the channels of Abdullah bin
Aleem Jehni in a chainless report that:7 Indeed, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime on
the night of ascension, revealed three things to me regarding Ali: he is the lord of
believers, Imam of pious and leader of folks of Paradise, whose hands, feet and foreheads and places of prostration and ablution are luminous.
Traditions that support and strengthen this
Among them being: a report, which Abu Nuaim has mentioned in Hilyatul
Awliya on the authority of Ibne Abbas that: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)
said: Almighty Allah did not reveal any verse beginning with the words: “O
those, who believe…” except that Ali is their chief.8
Among them is: The report which Khatib and Hakim have narrated from
Jabir bin Abdullah and Hakim has regarded it as authentic and says: On the day
of Hudaibiyya, I heard from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) while he was
holding the hand of Ali that he said:
“This is the chief of the righteous, killer of oppressors; one, who helps him,
would be helped and one, who deserts him, would he deserted.”9
Among them is: A report, which Ibne Adi in his Kamil,10 has narrated
through the chains of Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) that:
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: “Ali is the chief of believers and wealth is the
chief of hypocrites.”
It is mentioned in a report: “Wealth is the chief of oppressors.”
It is mentioned in a report: “Wealth is the chief of disbelievers.”11
Damiri has said: That is why Ameerul Momineen Ali Karram Allahu Wajhu
is called as the leader of the bees, which is queen of bees and other bees surround
it and take refuge with her.