In Kufa during the year 36-37 A.H.
Imam of the Hanbalis, Ahmad bin Hanbal1 has narrated from Yahya bin Adam from Hanash bin Harith bin Laqeet Nakhai Ashjai from Riyah bin Harith that:2
Some people came to Ali and said:
“Peace be on you, O our master.”
He said: “How am I your master, while you are Arabs?”
They replied: “We heard from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) in Ghadeer that he said:
‘Of whomsoever I am the master, Ali is also his master.’”
Jamaluddin Ataullah bin Fazlullah Shirazi in his book, Al-Arbaeen fee Fadhail Ameerul Momineen3 has said under the above mentioned of tradition of Ghadeer:
“This tradition is narrated by Zurr bin Jubaish and he said: Ali (a.s.) came out of the castle and a caravan of swordsmen with swords hanging from their necks, turbans the heads, were just setting out; they turned to His Eminence and said: ‘Peace be on you, O Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on you O our master.’”
After replying to the greetings, Ali (a.s.) asked:
“Which companions of Prophet are present here now?”
Twelve persons: Khalid bin Abu Ayyub Ansari, Khuzaimah bin Thabit ZuShahadatain, Qays bin Thabit bin Shammas, Ammaar bin Yasir, Abu Haitham bin Taihan, Hashim bin Utbah bin Abi Waqqas, Habib bin Budail bin Warqa stood up and testified that on the day of Ghadeer they heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) say:
“Of whomsoever I am the master, Ali is also his master…”
Then Ali (a.s.) asked Anas bin Malik and Bara bin Azib:
“Why did you not stand up and testify, although you also heard like these people heard?”4
Then Ali (a.s.) said: “O Allah, if these two have concealed the statement, involve them in calamities.”
Thus, Bara became blind, in such a way that he had to ask others his way home and he used to say:
“How can one cursed by Ali find his way?”
Anas was involved in leprosy from his feet.
Those involved in the curse of Imam Ali (a.s.) for concealing the tradition of Ghadeer
In many traditions of challenge and his protest on the day of Rahba and the day of Rakban, it is hinted that some companions of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), who were present in Ghadeer and who concealed the testimony to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) were involved in curse of Ali (a.s.). In many collections this is clarified in detail. These people were as follows:
1. Abu Hamza Anas bin Malik (d. 90-91-93 A.H.).
2. Baraa bin Azib Ansari (d. 71-72 A.H.).
3. Jarir bin Abdullah Bajali (d. 51-54 A.H.).
4. Zaid bin Arqam Khazraji (d. 66-68 A.H.).
5. Abdur Rahman bin Madlaj.5
6. Yazid bin Wadiya.