The existence of the Companions (رضی الله عنه) is a source of mercy, blessings, and ease for us. They are like shining stars that guide wandering travelers through the darkness of disbelief, polytheism, and heresy to the straight path. The strong and expansive tree of Islam, under which we seek refuge today, has been nourished by the blood of these sacred personalities. Not only did they sacrifice their homes, lives, honor, and worldly positions, but they also did not hesitate to sacrifice their loved ones in the path of Allah to protect this steadfast religion from the fierce winds and storms of time.
Whether it was Sayyidina Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, or Ali, and other Companions (رضی الله عنه), they spent their wealth in the way of Allah, lived in poverty, faced the oppression of disbelievers and polytheists, and endured wounds from arrows, swords, and spears in the battlefield. Yet, despite losing everything, their resolve remained unshaken, and they never let go of the mantle of Islam. This is why Allah, the Lord of the worlds, granted them the eternal testimony of “Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah” (Qur’an 98:8), announcing their success and the glad tidings of entering Paradise.
These blessed individuals were fortunate enough to be in the company of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, benefiting from his presence day and night. They are the fortunate ones who witnessed the revelation of the Qur’an with their own eyes and heard the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with their own ears, passing this knowledge down to us. Among these sacred souls is the great name of the fourth Caliph, Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضی الله عنه).
Birth and Name
Dear respected ones, Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) was born ten years before the announcement of Prophethood. His mother, Sayyida Fatimah bint Asad (رضی الله عنه), named him “Haider” after her father. Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) himself mentions in one of his poems: “I am the one whom my mother named Haider.” His father, Abu Talib, named him “Ali.” He was raised in the lap of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he is the cousin, son-in-law, and the fourth rightly guided Caliph of the Muslims.
Like other Companions (رضی الله عنه), he also migrated from Makkah to Madinah and participated in all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, except for the Battle of Tabuk.
The First to Accept Islam Among Children
Dear respected ones, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) was the first child to accept Islam. As narrated by Sayyidina Zayd ibn Arqam (رضی الله عنه), “The first to embrace Islam was Ali.”
The Status and Grandeur of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه)
Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) holds the honor of being the one upon whom the Prophet ﷺ commanded to climb on his shoulders to bring down the idols from the Kaaba. When he ascended, he found himself in such a lofty position that he said, “I thought I could touch the edge of the sky.”
Another narration that indicates his status is when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “O Allah, whoever I am a supporter of, Ali is also his supporter.”
Sayyidina Ibn Umar (رضی الله عنه) narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ established brotherhood among the Emigrants and the Helpers, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) came with tears in his eyes and said, “O Messenger of Allah, you have made brothers among your Companions, but you have not made me anyone’s brother!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “You are my brother in this world and the Hereafter.”
The grandeur of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) can also be understood from the fact that Allah, the Creator of the universe, placed the descendants of the Prophet ﷺ in the lineage of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah has placed the descendants of every Prophet in his lineage, and He has placed my descendants in the lineage of Ali ibn Abi Talib.”
The Love for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) as a Faithful Obligation
Dear ones, love for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) and all the members of the Ahl al-Bayt is an integral part of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. Allah says: “Say, ‘I do not ask of you any reward for it except for love of kin.'” (Qur’an 42:23) This means to love my close relatives!
Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I am the house of wisdom, and Ali is its door.” This means that Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) is one of the doors to the knowledge of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, without complete love for him, no one can partake in the inheritance of knowledge from the Prophet ﷺ.
The Test of Faith
Dear respected ones, love for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) is a test of faith. True love for him is a sign of a believer, while hatred towards him is a sign of hypocrisy. Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) stated: “I swear by the One who split the seed and created living beings! The Prophet ﷺ made a covenant with me: ‘Only a believer will love me, and only a hypocrite will harbor enmity towards me.'”
My dear brothers, loving Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) does not mean exaggerating his status or placing him above the three Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (رضی الله عنه). It does not mean insulting any beloved Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the name of love for Ali (رضی الله عنه).
Prohibition Against Speaking Ill of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه)
Dear respected ones, in the current era, the tsunami of disbelief and heresy is directed towards Islamic countries, and the honor of sacred personalities like the Prophets (رضی الله عنه) and the Companions (رضی الله عنه) is not safe from this onslaught. In European countries, blasphemous cartoons are being exhibited at the state level. Some Pakistani TV channels are broadcasting insults against the Companions (رضی الله عنه) in live shows, and the Fifth Generation War has begun to create discord among Muslims. The enemies are actively working to weaken the beliefs and ideologies of Muslims through funding from Jews and Christians, promoting external Wahhabis, Shiite extremists, and Qadianis who deny the finality of Prophethood.
This is why today, some Shiites exaggerate in the name of love for the Ahl al-Bayt, while some Wahhabis express their enmity towards Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه). Regarding those who do so, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “You have a resemblance to Jesus; the Jews hated him to the extent that they slandered his mother, while the Christians loved him to the extent that they elevated him to a status he did not possess.”
Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) further stated: “Two types of people will perish regarding me: (1) Those who exceed the limits in love for me and attribute to me qualities that I do not possess (like the Rafidis), and (2) Those who harbor enmity towards me, whose hatred will lead them to slander me (like the Khawarij).”
In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited speaking ill of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) by saying: “Whoever insults Ali has insulted me.”
Similarly, Sayyidina Urwah ibn Zubair (رضی الله عنه) narrated that someone spoke ill of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) in front of Sayyidina Umar (رضی الله عنه). Sayyidina Umar pointed towards the grave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “Do you know who is in this grave? This is Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib. Whenever you mention Ali, do so with goodness; for if you insult Ali, you will hurt the one in this grave.”
The Vicegerency of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Dear respected ones, the love that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) can be understood from the fact that he appointed him as his deputy on multiple occasions. Once, when the Prophet ﷺ was about to leave for the Battle of Tabuk, he appointed Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) as his deputy in Madinah. Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) expressed his desire to accompany the Prophet ﷺ, to which the Prophet ﷺ replied: “Are you not pleased to be to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there is no Prophet after me?”
This means that just as Musa (علیہ السلام) left Harun (علیہ السلام) as his deputy among his people, the Prophet ﷺ was leaving Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) as his deputy among those left behind.
Misinterpretation of a Hadith by the Rafidis
Dear respected ones, the aforementioned narration: “Are you not pleased to be to me as Harun was to Musa?” is misinterpreted by the Rafidi Shiites as evidence for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) being the rightful Caliph. Imam Nawawi and Imam Qadi Iyad have explained that “the Rafidis, Imamiyah, and Shiite sects use this hadith as evidence that the Caliphate is the right of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) and that the Prophet ﷺ bequeathed it to him.”
Imam Qadi Iyad further states that among them, there is a disagreement that (God forbid) all the Companions (رضی الله عنه) are disbelievers because they accepted someone else as Caliph in the presence of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه). Some Rafidis have even gone so far as to declare Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) a disbeliever for not fighting against the other Companions (رضی الله عنه) for his Caliphate.
The Caliphate of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه)
Dear companions of the Islamic community, the Rafidi Shiites try to prove the Caliphate of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) without interruption, disregarding all scholarly rules and principles. They present fabricated and weak narrations as evidence. However, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) himself explicitly denied this matter.
It is narrated by Amr ibn Sufyan (رضی الله عنه) that when Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) was victorious in the Battle of Jamal, he said: “O people! The Messenger of Allah did not give us any command regarding this leadership until we saw fit to appoint Abu Bakr, and he established and upheld it until he passed away.”
In this narration, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) is not only denying the Caliphate without interruption for himself but also expressing his approval of the selection of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (رضی الله عنه) as Caliph.
Furthermore, it was impossible for Sayyidina Abu Bakr (رضی الله عنه) to become Caliph while there was a bequest for Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه). He would have preferred to be obedient to Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) if there had been any bequest from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding the matter of Caliphate.
The Order of Preference Among the Rightly Guided Caliphs
Dear respected ones, the Rafidi Shiite sect considers Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) superior to the three Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman). Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) himself stated: “No one should prefer me over Abu Bakr and Umar; otherwise, I will punish him with the punishment of a liar!”
In another instance, he said: “Whoever prefers me over Abu Bakr and Umar, I will punish him with painful lashes!”
My dear brothers, our predecessors also acknowledged the superiority of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (رضی الله عنه) over all the Companions (رضی الله عنه) and the entire Muslim Ummah. As Sayyidina Salim ibn Abi al-Ja’d (تابعی) stated, when I asked Imam Muhammad ibn Hanifiyyah whether Sayyidina Abu Bakr (رضی الله عنه) was the first to embrace Islam, he replied: “No.” I then asked why Abu Bakr was always mentioned first. He said: “This is because he is the most virtuous in Islam.”
Regarding the order of preference among the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Sheikh Najm al-Din stated that “after our Prophet ﷺ, the most virtuous among people is Sayyidina Abu Bakr, followed by Sayyidina Umar, then Sayyidina Uthman, and finally Sayyidina Ali.”
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani stated that “the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah unanimously agree that the order of preference among the Rightly Guided Caliphs is the same as the order of their Caliphate,” meaning that Sayyidina Abu Bakr (رضی الله عنه) is the most virtuous, followed by Sayyidina Umar, then Sayyidina Uthman, and finally Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه).
Prohibition Against Insulting the Companions (رضی الله عنه)
Dear respected ones, Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) and all the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are embodiments of truth and loyalty, and they are sources of guidance. Their sacred existence serves as a beacon of light in the darkness of oppression. By the blessing of the companionship of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they have attained a special status in the sight of Allah, and they are the fortunate souls who have already received the decree of Allah’s pleasure and success in this world.
Allah says:
“And the foremost among the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them with good conduct, Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide eternally. That is the great success.” (Qur’an 9:100)
Therefore, whoever insults these blessed individuals is wretched and opposes the divine decree mentioned above!
In the prophetic traditions, there is a specific prohibition against criticizing the Companions (رضی الله عنه) and admonishing them. Imam Tirmidhi narrated from Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Mughaffal (رضی الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Fear Allah regarding my Companions! Do not make them a target after me! Whoever loves them, loves them for my love, and whoever hates them, hates them for my hatred. Whoever harms them has harmed me, and whoever harms me has harmed Allah. And whoever harms Allah will soon be taken to account!”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said: “Do not insult my Companions! For if one of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not reach the measure of one of them, nor half of it!”
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (رضی الله عنه) stated: “Do not insult the Companions of Muhammad! For the status of one of them for an hour is better than the deeds of any one of you for a lifetime!”
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah chose me and chose my Companions for me, making them my ministers, relatives, and supporters. Whoever insults them will have the curse of Allah, the angels, and all of mankind upon him! Allah will not accept any of his obligatory or voluntary acts!”
Conclusion
Dear brothers in Islam, the two noble Sheikhs, Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Umar, and Sayyidina Amir Muawiyah (رضی الله عنه) are all relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Those who insult or curse them will face the curse of Allah and the Messenger, as well as the entire universe. The Rafidis and Shiite extremists should reflect on their actions and beliefs in light of the aforementioned statements of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and refrain from insulting these sacred personalities.
It is with great sorrow that I must say that the trend of insulting the Companions (رضی الله عنه) is rapidly increasing! Some individuals with Rafidi and Nasibi ideologies are using a few issues of an interpretative nature among the Companions (رضی الله عنه) as a basis to insult and belittle these sacred personalities, ruining their own Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, despite knowing everything, declared these Companions as believers.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There will be two factions in my Ummah, and a group will emerge from among them that will kill the first group, and they will be closer to the truth!” (And the second group is not false, but they are forgiven.)
In the explanation of this hadith, Imam Nawawi states that “Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) was on the truth, and the group of Sayyidina Muawiyah (رضی الله عنه) rebelled against him with interpretative reasoning. This hadith also clarifies that both groups are believers, and due to this dispute and conflict, they did not exit from faith nor become sinful; this is our belief and that of our supporters.”
The Belief of Ahl al-Sunnah Regarding the Disputes Among the Companions
Dear respected ones, Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah believe that all the Companions are just, heavenly, and deserving of respect. There is no permission to criticize or insult them based on their mutual disputes arising from interpretative differences. Here are some statements from the prominent scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah regarding the justice of the Companions and their mutual disputes:
- Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari stated: “We love all the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ! And we keep our tongues silent regarding the differences among them!”
- Allama Shahab al-Din Khafaji wrote regarding the justice of the Companions: “All the Companions are just, as mentioned in the hadith: ‘The best of generations is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.’ This is why Imam al-Haramayn (Abu al-Maali Abdul Malik ibn Imam Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Yusuf al-Juwayni al-Shafi’i) has reported the consensus on the justice of all the Companions.”
- Imam Abdul Wahhab al-Sha’rani stated regarding the Companions: “It is obligatory to believe that the Companions are rewarded by Allah, and by consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah, all the Companions are just and fair, whether they were involved in these trials or distanced themselves from them!”
- Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haythami stated: “Know that the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah have consensus that it is obligatory for all Muslims to regard all the Companions as just and pure, and to refrain from slandering these sacred personalities!”
- Allama Abdul Aziz Purharwi stated: “Ahl al-Sunnah believe that the truth is with Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه), and those who fought against him made an interpretative error (and were mistaken in their opposition to Sayyidina Ali). Both parties are just and righteous, and based on the well-known hadiths praising the Companions and prohibiting insults against them, it is not permissible to criticize any of them!”
My friends, whether it is Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه), Sayyidina Amir Muawiyah (رضی الله عنه), or other Companions (رضی الله عنه), all are deserving of honor and respect. Their pure hearts are free from worldly wealth and the desire for power. While they may have made some unintentional interpretative errors in certain matters, we have no permission to utter any disrespectful words about these sacred personalities based on those errors, as doing so is tantamount to ruining our own Hereafter!
The Day of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) and the Current Situation
Dear respected ones, Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) on the 13th of Rajab with great reverence and respect. On this occasion, gatherings of remembrance and praise are held, and professional speakers and reciters are paid large sums of money for a few hours. Various places also hold offerings and sacrifices. However, despite this, the roots of Rafidism, Tafdiliyyah, and Nasbiyyah are becoming deeper and stronger in our society, and irreligion is on the rise, leading people astray. Now, even prominent scholars and leaders are being swept away by this flood of misguidance!
Therefore, it is necessary that instead of spending large sums of money on professional speakers, singers, and reciters on the “Day of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه)” or other religious figures, we invest in the religious and educational institutions of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. This will not only be a continuous charity but also contribute to the development of our community.
Dear ones, these educational institutions promote the teachings of the Companions and the Ahl al-Bayt, especially the teachings of Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه). When these institutions are stronger, they will be able to disseminate the teachings of our elders more effectively. Additionally, this will help counter the conspiracies of the Jews and Christians, who are funding efforts to create divisions among Muslims.
Furthermore, invite only qualified scholars to speak at your gatherings so that they can enlighten you about the established beliefs and ideologies of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah regarding the Companions and the Ahl al-Bayt, and help prevent the rapidly growing Rafidism, Tafdiliyyah, Nasbiyyah, and Khawarij ideologies.
Supplication
O Allah! Grant us the ability to follow the pure character of all the Companions, especially Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه), and instill in us the spirit of sacrifice for the steadfast religion. Increase our unity, love, and affection. Grant us the ability to remain silent regarding the mutual interpretative differences among the Companions (رضی الله عنه). Guide all the Rafidis, Khawarij, and Nasibis. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds!
May peace and blessings be upon the best of creation, the light of Your Throne, our master, our Prophet, our beloved, and the delight of our eyes, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds!
Qur’an References:
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:143)
- Surah Al-Mumtahanah (60:8)
- Surah Al-Anfal (8:72)
- Surah Al-Tawbah (9:100)
- Surah Al-Ahzab (33:33)
- Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:55)
- Surah Al-Shura (42:23)
- Surah Al-Hadid (57:27)
Hadith References:
- Hadith regarding Sayyidina Ali being the first to accept Islam.
- Hadith about Sayyidina Ali climbing on the Prophet’s shoulders.
- Hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said: “O Allah, whoever I am a supporter of, Ali is also his supporter.”
- Hadith about the brotherhood established by the Prophet ﷺ among the Companions.
- Hadith regarding the love for Sayyidina Ali as a test of faith.
- Hadith prohibiting insults against Sayyidina Ali and the Companions.
- Hadith about the status of the Companions and their importance in Islam.
Scholarly Commentary:
- Commentary by Imam Nawawi on the status of Sayyidina Ali and the Companions.
- Commentary by Imam Qadi Iyad regarding the interpretation of hadiths related to Sayyidina Ali.
- Commentary by Allama Shahab al-Din Khafaji on the justice of the Companions.
Historical Context:
- Historical accounts of the life of Sayyidina Ali (رضی الله عنه) and his contributions to Islam.
- Historical context of the early Islamic community and the role of the Companions.