Walid said: “I am more eloquent and vocal than you and my spear is sharper
than you. I am more capable of chasing the enemy.”
Ali (a.s.) responded: “Shut up! As you are a transgressor.”
Almighty Allah has also revealed the following verse:
أَفَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَنْ كَانَ فَاسِقًا لَا يَسْتَوْنَ
“Is he then who is a believer like him who is a transgressor? They are not equal.”1
Ibne Abil Hadeed has mentioned this report in Sharh Nahjul Balagha on the
authority of his teacher.
This report is so clear that there is no doubt in it, because the most famous
persons have narrated it and people have consensus on it.2
2. هُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers.”3
In Tarikh Medina Damishq,4 Hafiz Abul Qasim Ibne Asakir has narrated
from Abu Huraira that it is written on the Throne (Arsh): There is no god, except
I, the one and without any partner. Muhammad is my servant and messenger, whom I have supported through Ali.
And it is a statement of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime in His noble Book:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“He it is Who strengthened you with His help and with the believers.”5
…and the believers imply only Ali (a.s.).
In the eighth chapter of his book of Mawaddatul Qurba, Sayyid Hamadani
has narrated from Imam Ali (a.s.) as follows: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)
said to me:
“I saw your name in four places besides my name: During the journey of my
ascension to the heavens, when I reached Baitul Muqaddas, I saw inscribed on a
rock: There is no god, except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; I
supported him with Ali as a vicegerent.
When I reached the Sidratul Muntaha, it was inscribed on it: Indeed, I am
Allah, there is no god, except me; Muhammad is my chosen one from My
creatures. I helped and supported him through his vicegerent, Ali.
And when I reached the throne of the Lord of the worlds, I saw written on its
legs: Indeed, I am the Almighty Lord. There is no god, except Me. Muhammad is
my beloved among My creatures. I supported him through his vicegerent, Ali.
When I reached Paradise, I saw written on its gate: There is no god, except
Me. Muhammad is my beloved among My creatures. I helped and supported him
through his vicegerent, Ali.”
3. يَأَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللَّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for you and (for) such of the believers as follow you.”6
In Fazailus Sahaba, Hafiz Abu Nuaim has narrated through his authorities
that this verse was revealed about Ali (a.s.) and believers imply Ali (a.s.).
4. مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللهَ عَلَيْهِ : فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا
“Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah (and accepted martyrdom on His path): so of them is he who accomplished his vow, and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least;”7
In Manaqib,8 Khatib Khwarizmi and Sadrul Huffaz Ganji writes in the book of Kifayatut Talib,9 quoting from Ibne Jarir and other commentators that the words:
فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ
“So of them is he who accomplished his vow.”10
This verse was revealed regarding Hamza and his companions. They had
made a covenant to God that they would not flee from the battlefield and turn
away from enemies. Thus, they continued to confront the enemies till they met
martyrdom. And the words:
فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ
“And of them is he who yet waits.”11
…are regarding Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.). He also continued to tread the path
of Jihad and did not deviate in the least and did not change this style.
Ibne Hajar writes in the book of Sawaiqul Mohriqa:12
When Ali was speaking from the pulpit in Masjid Kufa, a person asked him
about the verse:
…. مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللهَ عَلَيْهِ
“Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah…”13
He replied:
“May Almighty Allah forgive me. This verse is revealed about me, Hamza,
my uncle and Harith bin Abdul Muttalib, my cousin. As for Ubaidah, he was
martyred in the Battle of Badr. Hamza was also martyred during the Battle of
Uhad. As for me: I am waiting for the day when I would be martyred at the most
vicious person of the nation and my beard would be smeared with the blood of
my head. It is a covenant, which my beloved, Abul Qasim, the Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.a.) has taken from me.”