1. Then peace be from peace [Almighty Allah] who was handed the
standard of Mastership (Wilayat) on the day of Ghadeer. 2. Reader of the
book of God and best of its readers and senior-most successor of Messenger
of Allah (s.a.w.a.), the chosen one and the guide. 3. Climbing the shoulders of
Ahmad, other than relation and companionship, is another excellence (of
his). 4. He was cognizant of all sciences; brief and detailed. 5. He is the most
perfect and superior person for the sake of prayer, service in religion and
the world. 6. With spear and wielded sword, he made the most difficult
victory, easy in Khyber.
Explanation of the verses
He has mentioned some merits of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) in this
panegyric and here we hint at what is mentioned in this following verse:
“3. Climbing the shoulders of Ahmad, other than relation and companionship, is another excellence (of his).”
It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah that when we entered Mecca with the
Prophet, 360 idols were present around the Holy House and Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) ordered all of them to be toppled and there was a tall idol on the roof of
Kaaba.
His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) glanced at Ali (a.s.) and said: “O Ali, either you
climb on my shoulders or I climb on your shoulders in order to topple the idol of
Hubal.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), you climb on my shoulders.”
Ali says: When the Prophet stepped on my shoulders, I was unable to bear
him due to heaviness of messengership. I said: “Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.),
permit me to climb on your shoulders.”
His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) smiled and he stepped down from my back and bent
down and I climbed on his shoulders. By the one, Who split the seed and created
man, if I wanted to touch the heavens, I would have been able to do so and I
toppled Hubal from the roof of Kaaba and following that Allah, the Mighty and
the High revealed the verse of:
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
“And say: The truth has come and the falsehood has vanished; surely falsehood is a vanishing (thing).”1
A number of tradition scholars, imams of traditions and history have
narrated this and in the later centuries, writers have quoted from them and
recorded it in their books and accepted it without any doubt in its chains of authorities
In Al-Ghadeer,2 Allamah Amini has mentioned the names of forty-one
authorities, among them being:
1. Ahmad, imam of Hanbalis (d. 241 A.H.), in his Musnad through authentic
chains of narrators and through reliable narrators.3
2. Abu Ali Ahmad Mazani (d. 263 A.H.) and Nasai have narrated from him.4
3. Hafiz Shamsuddin Dhahabi (d. 748 A.H.), in Talkhisul Mustadrak.5 He says: “Its chain of narrators is perfect, but its text is unacceptable and improper.”!
Allamah Amini says: In the past centuries, no tradition scholar found its
text unacceptable and improper till Dhahabi came and the tradition scorched his
heart and enflamed the fire of malice in him and fortunately this allegation and
imaginary denial was buried with him and no tradition scholar has supported him
in his stance.
4. Hafiz Jalaluddin Suyuti (d. 911 A.H.): He has mentioned this traditional
report in his book, Jamiul Kabeer and in its sequence6 and it is also
mentioned in Al-Khasaisul Kubra.7
5. Nuruddin Halabi Shafei (d. 1044 A.H.) in Seeratul Halabiyya8.
6. Shaykh Abu Bakr bin Muhammad Hanafi (d. 1270 A.H.) in Qiratul Uyun al-Mubsira.9
Introduction to the poet
Shaykh Salih bin Abdul Wahab bin Arandas Hilli, famous as Ibne Arandas
is from the elder Shia scholars and writers in jurisprudence and principles of
jurisprudence and his verses are present in praise of Ahle Bayt (a.s.), which show
his deep attachment to the Holy Family and his severe malice to enemies of Ahle
Bayt (a.s.).
In Al-Muntakhab, the late Tarihi has mentioned some of his verses.10 His
verses are also mentioned in Dairatul Maarif, dictionaries and other books.
In Al-Taliqa, Allamah Samawi has mentioned his biography and in that he
has mentioned him to be in possession of piety, excellence, self-building and
having great knowledge. Following that in Al-Babaliyat,11 Khatib Fazil Yaqubi
has mentioned his biography and has extolled him in excess and it is mentioned
in Al-Taliya that: