THE HOLY PROPHET SAW | SAYYIDA FATIMA RA | SIDNA AL-HASSAN RA | SIDNA AL-HUSAYN RA | MAWLAY IDRISS RA

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (God glorify his face): Commander of the Faithful and Light of the Worlds

[The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said] "We were, me and Ali, two lights before Allah and then He left us in the loin of Adam and kept moving us from loin to loin until we reached our grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Then I moved to the loin of Abdellah and he moved to those of Abu Talib. Then, our light reunited in Al-Hassan and Al-Hussayn: they are in fact two lights of the light of the Lord of the worlds". (Jawahir al-Maani)

Shrine of Sidna Ali ibn Abi Talib, al-Najaf Sharif, Iraq

Praised be to Allah who by the Uncreated Light of the Morning-Dawn of Pre-Eternity upraised the firmaments of existence from the illuminative horizons of transcendental resplendence and spread them upon the watery expanses of being and Self-Disclosed the Theophany of Its Mercy to the empyrean realms of beautific magnificence and majestic scintillance clothed with the garment of Compassion. Blessings and Peace be upon the Splendor of Allah Most High be upon the Best of Its Creation, the Foremost of Its Cosmocration and the Pinnacle of Its Emanation, He Who is the One Who stands as the eternal christophany of Adam, Mawlana Mohammed ibn Abdellah (peace and blessing be upon him). Glory be upon the celestial Fatima Zahra (the Radiant), the First Pole (Qutb) in Islam, the Imam of her Age, the Houri and Mother of the Cosmos and the Womb of Contingency: She who is both the conjunction as well as the progenitor of the Twin Divine Lights and all creation. Blessed be Our Lady, Sayyida al-Batul, Fatima Zahra', al-Qurashiya al-Haashimiya, Umm al-Hassanayn [the mother of Sidna al-Hassan and Sidna al-Hussayn], the Cosmocrator, the Logos-Self and Face of divinity, the Mother of Her Father, the origin and the return; then upon the Lion of Allah and Gate to the City of All-Knowledge, Mawlana Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah glorify his face); and, then, upon the Righteous House of Their Progeny and Excellence be infinite peace, blessings and glory - constantly, absolutely! The consummation of laudation within the Luminous Divine Radiance of Eternal Peace be upon the First Unity in every moment, before every moment and after every moment! And praised be Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds! 

Praise be to Allah! May His Name be glorified and exalted. His greatness is Immense, His Power is elevated, His majesty Sanctified. Peace and Blessing be upon the Mohammedian Presence and His Family. Know, may Allah be pleased with you, that no Sufi book has ever shown the proper, glorious homage due to Mawlana and Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib ibn Abdel Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with all of them) than the book of Jawahir al-Maani wa-Bulugh al-Amani fi Fayd Shaykh Sidi Abil Abbas at-Tijani” (Gems of Indications and Attainment of Aspirations in the Overflowings of Sidi Abil Abbas Tijani) by the Khalifa al-Mu’addam Sidi Abul Hassan Ali Harazem Berrada al-Fasi (d. 1212/1797).  

According to Jawahir al-Maani, Sidna Shaykh Mawlana Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani (may Allah sanctify his secrets) said,    

[The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said] "We were, me and Ali, two lights before Allah and then He left us in the loin of Adam and kept moving us from loin to loin until we reached our grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Then I moved to the loin of Abdellah and he moved to those of Abu Talib. Then, our light reunited in Al-Hassan and Al-Hussayn: they are in fact two lights of the light of the Lord of the worlds". 

(..) "When the prophet (peace and blessing on him and his family) went one day to Sayyida Fatima’s, whereas Sidna Ali was sleeping in the room and Sidna Al-Hassan and Sidna Al-Hussayn were playing next to her: “IN FACT, YOU, THESE TWO AND THE SLEEPER, WILL BE WITH ME IN THE SAME LEVEL IN PARADISE, but this isn’t true for others even among prophets and messengers”.  

(..) Ibn Abbas [has quoted the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)] as saying: "Actually nine tenth of knowledge has been bestowed upon Ali and by God Ali shares the other one tenth of knowledge with all the people."

(..) “Naught in the world reaches knowledge absolutely expect through the fountain of Ali (Ibn Abi Talib), may Allah be pleased with him, for he is the gate of the city of the knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)."

 

و قال سيدي أحمد التجاني رضي الله عنه ما يصل شيء في الوجود من العلم مطلقا إلا من صهريج علي رضي الله عنه لأنه باب مدينة علمه صلى الله عليه و سلم.

The Chieftain of the Universe (peace and blessing be upon him) gave me the Greatest Name (al-Ism al-A’adam) especially reserved for Sidna Ali (ibn Abi Talib) (may Allah glorify his face), after he gave me the Greatest Name especially reserved for himself (peace and blessing be upon him.” “The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) told me: This Name that is especially reserved for Sidna Ali (may Allah glorify his face) is only given to he whom Allah has willed in His Past to become a Qutb. I said to the Chieftain of the Universe (peace and blessing be upon him): ‘Give me permission in all its secrets and all what it contains. And so he did!”

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said about Sidna Ali (may Allah glorify his face), 

“There is no sword but Dhul-Fiqar, and there is no man but Ali.” (Sunan Al-Bayhaqi, 3/376; Al-Tabari, 2/514)

“The carrier of my flag in this life and the Hereafter is Ali.” (Al-Tabari, 2/201; Al-Fada’il of Ahmad, 253)

“My Lord commanded me to close all the doors except the door of Ali.” (Al-Khasa’ith of Al-Nisa’i, 13; Al-Tirmidhi, 13/173; Al-Bayhaqi, 7/65;; Musnad Ahmad, 4/369)

“The truest believers are three: the believer during the time of Alyasa, the
believer during the time of Pharaoh, and the best of all, Ali.” (Al-Jami’ of Al-Suyuti, 2/83)

“The one who wants to live my life and die my death will attach himself to
Ali.” (Musnad of Ahmad, 5/94)

“We were created from the same tree, I and Ali.” (Al-Tirmidhi, 13/178)

“Embellish your gatherings by mentioning Ali.” (Musnad Ahmad, 4/368, 5/419; Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’i)

“Embellish your gatherings by mentioning Ali.” (Musnad Ahmad, 4/368, 5/419; Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’i, 9)

“I am the warner, and the guide after me is Ali.” (Musnad Ahmad, 1/151; Al-
Tirmidhi, 2/135; Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’i, 20)

“Exemption from the Hellfire comes with love for Ali.” (Mustadrak Al-
Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori)

“There would not be one sufficient for Fatima if God had not created Ali.” (Hiliyat Al-Awliya’, 1/34)

“For the one who believes and trusts in me, I recommend the sainthood
of Ali.” (Al-Jami' of Al-Suyuti, 1/230)

“The first of you to reach the Pond is the first of you who accepted Islam: Ali.” (Al-Tabarani, 5/32)

“No one is permitted on the Bridge except by the sainthood of Ali.” (Ibn Al-
Maghazeli, 15; Al-Isti'ab, 2/457)

“No one can give account of me but Ali.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 119, 242)

“There is a tree in Paradise called Tuba. Its roots are in the house of Ali,
and its branches are Ali.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/109; Musnad Ahmad, 4/370; Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’i, 25; Al-Tirmidhi; Al-Tabarani.)

“Ali is the distinguisher between truth and falsehood.” (Musnad Ahmad)

“The most righteous one is Ali.” (Al-Bayhaqi, 4/35; Kenz Al-Omal, 7/176; Al-Jami'
of Al-Suyuti, 2/276; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 93)  

قال السيوطي في الدر المنثور ، في ذيل تفسير قول الله تعالى : ( النبي أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم ) قال : وأخرج ابن أبي شيبة وأحمد والنسائي عن بريدة قال : عرفت مع علي اليمن فرأيت منه جفوة ، فلما قدمت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ذكرت عليا فتنقصته ، فرأيت وجه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد تغير ، وقال : يا بريدة : ألست أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم ؟ قلت : بلى يا رسول الله ، قال : من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه . قال السيوطي في تاريخ الخلفاء : أخرج الترمذي عن أبي سريحة ، أو زيد بن أرقم ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال : من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه . وأخرج الإمام أحمد عن الإمام علي وأبي أيوب الأنصاري ، وزيد بن أرقم ، عمر وذي مر ، وأخرجه أبو يعلى عن أبي هريرة ، وأخرجه الطبراني عن ابن عمر ، ومالك بن الحويرث ، وحبشي بن جنادة ، وجرير ، وسعد بن أبي وقاص ، وأبي سعيد الخدري وأنس ، وأخرجه البزار عن ابن عباس وعمارة وبريدة ، وفي أكثرها زيادة : اللهم وال من والاه ، وعاد من عاداه . وروى الإمام أحمد في المسند بسنده عن البراء قال : كنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر ، فنزلنا بغدير خم ، فنودي فينا : الصلاة جامعة ، وكسح لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، تحت شجرتين ، فصلى الظهر ، وأخذ بيد علي ، فقال : ألستم تعلمون أني أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم ؟ قالوا : بلى ، قال : فأخذ بيد علي ، فقال : من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه ، اللهم وال من والاه ، وعاد من عاداه فلقيه عمر بعد ذلك ، فقال له : هنيئا يا ابن أبي طالب ، أصبحت وأمسيت مولى كل مؤمن ومؤمنة. وذكره المتقي في كنز العمال . وروى النسائي في الخصائص بسنده عن زيد بن أرقم قال : لما رجع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من حجة الوداع ، ونزل غدير خم ، أمر بدوحات فأقمن ، ثم قال : كأني دعيت فأجبت ، وإني تارك فيكم الثقلين ، أحدهما أكبر من الآخر ، كتاب الله ، وعترتي أهل بيتي ، فانظروا كيف تخلفوني فيهما ، فإنهما لن يفترقا حتى يردا على الحوض ، ثم قال : إن الله مولاي ، وأنا مولى كل مؤمن ، ثم أخذ بيد علي رضي الله عنه ، فقال : من كنت وليه فهذا وليه ، اللهم وال من والاه ، وعاد من عاداه ، فقلت لزيد سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنه ما كان في الدرجات أحد ، إلا رآه بعينه ، وسمعه بأذنيه . وروى الخطيب البغدادي بسنده عن أبي هريرة قال : من صام يوم ثماني عشر من ذي الحجة ، كتب له صيام ستين شهرا وهو يوم غدير خم ، لما أخذ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، بيد علي بن أبي طالب فقال : ألست ولي المؤمنين ؟ قالوا : بلى يا رسول الله ، قال : ( من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه ) ، فقال عمر بن الخطاب : بخ بخ يا ابن أبي طالب ، أصبحت مولاي ومولى كل مسلم ، فأنزل الله : ( اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم . وقد جاء أن عليا كرم الله وجهه قام خطيبا فحمد الله وأثنى عليه ، ثم قال : أنشد الله من ينشد يوم غدير خم إلا قام ، ولا يقوم رجل يقول : أنبئت أو بلغني ، إلا رجل سمعت أذناه ، ووعى قلبه ، فقام سبعة عشر صحابيا ، وفي رواية ثلاثون صحابيا ، وفي المعجم الكبير ستة عشر ، وفي رواية اثنا عشر ، فقال : هاتوا ما سمعتم ، فذكروا الحديث ، ومن جملته : ( من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه ) وعن زيد بن أرقم : وكنت ممن كتم ، فذهب الله ببصري ، وكان علي كرم الله وجهه ، دعا على من كتم . ولما شاع قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم ( من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه ) في سائر الأمصار ، وطار في جميع الأقطار ، بلغ الحارث بن النعمان الفهري ، فقدم المدينة ، فأناخ راحلته عند باب المسجد ، فدخل والنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم جالس ، وحوله أصحابه ، فجاء حتى جثا بين يديه ، ثم قال : يا محمد ، إنك أمرتنا أن نشهد أن لا إله إلا الله ، وأنك رسول الله فقبلنا ذلك منك ، وإنك أمرتنا أن نصلي في اليوم والليلة خمس صلوات ، ونصوم شهر رمضان ونزكي أموالنا ونحج البيت ، فقبلنا ذلك منك . ثم لم ترض بهذا حتى رفعت بضبعي ابن عمك ففضلته ، وقلت : ( من كنت مولاه ، فعلي مولاه ) ، فهذا شئ من الله أو منك ؟ فاحمرت عينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال : والله الذي لا إله إلا هو ، إنه من الله ، وليس مني ، قالها ثلاثا فقام الحارث وهو يقول : اللهم إن كان هذا هو الحق من عندك ، وفي رواية : إن كان ما يقول محمد حقا ، فأرسل علينا حجارة من السماء ، أو إئتنا بعذاب أليم ، فوالله ما بلغ باب المسجد ، حتى رماه الله بحجر من السماء ، فوقع على رأسه ، فخرج من دبره ، ونزل قوله تعالى : ( سأل سائل بعذاب واقع * للكافرين ليس له دافع ) .  وهكذا ينظر العلويون إلى  بيعة غدير خم ) كأعظم حادثة تاريخية ، كما أن يومها لديهم ، إنما هو أعظم الأيام ، وبعد أن تمت هذه البيعة ، نادى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أصحابه وتلا عليهم قول الله تعالى : ( اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا ) ثم قال : ( الحمد لله على كمال الدين ، وتمام النعمة ، ورضي الله برسالتي ، وبولاية علي بعدي ) . ثم استأذن حسان بن ثابت الأنصاري ، النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، بالإنشاد ، فأذن له وقال : قال يا حسان على اسم الله وبركاته ، فأنشد حسان أبياته المشهورة وهي وناداهم يوم الغدير نبيهم * بخم واسمع بالرسول مناديا وقد خص من دون البرية كلها * عليا وسماه هناك مواخيا وقال فمن مولاكم ووليكم * فقالوا ولم يبدوا هناك تعاليا إلهك مولانا وأنت ولينا * وما لك منا في المقالة عاصيا فقال له قم يا علي فإنني * رضيتك من بعدي إماما وهاديا هناك تلا اللهم والي وليه * وكن للذي عادى عليا معاد فأجابه الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم : لا تزال مؤيدا بروح القدس ، ما نصرتنا بلسانك يا حسان ، ولا تزال مؤيدا ما نافحت وخاصمت عنا ، وأثبت فضائلنا لدى المنكر والمكابر

“The hand of Ali and my hand are equal in justice.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of
Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/14; Al-Tabari, 2/272; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Ibn Al-Maghazali)

“Ali is my brother in this life and the Hereafter.” (Al-Khasa’is of Al-Nisa’i, 5; Al-
Tirmidhi)

“Ali is the best of humanity, and the one who denies it has blasphemed.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 129; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 233; Tarikh Baghdad of Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, 5/37; Al-Khawarizmi, 235)

“Ali is the door of servitude, and whoever passes through that door is a
true believer.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori; Kanz Al-Umal, 6/156; Al-Dilmi)

“Ali is the Imam of goodness, the fighter against iniquity, the helper of those who come to his aid, and the deserter of those who desert him.” (Kanz Al-Umal, 6/153; Al-
Darqutni)

“Ali is the Imam of the pious, the prince of believers, and the leader of the resplendent.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisapuri, 3/129; Kanz Al-Umal, 6/153)

“Ali is to me what Harun was to Musa.” (Al-Tabarani)

“Ali holds a right over this nation like the right of a father over his son.” (Muslim, 2/361; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Al-Hakim, 3/130; Musnad Ahmad, 3/198; Al-Nisa’i, 7; Asad Al-Ghaba, 3/40)

“Ali  is with the Quran, and the Quran is with Ali.” (Al-Bukhari, 5/19; Muslim,
2/360; Al-Tirmidhi, 5/304; Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/109; Ibn Majah, 1/28; Musnad Ahmad, 3/328)

“Ali and his Partisans are the successful ones.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 47; Mizan Al-'Itidal, 2/313)

“Ali is the door of my knowledge, and the one who will clarifies for my nation that which I was sent with.” (Tafsir Al-Tabari, 3/171)

“Love for Ali is faith, and hatred for Ali is hypocrisy.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 67;
Al-Khawarizmi, 236; Fara’id Al-Samateen; Yanabi' Al-Mawda)

“Ali is the partition between Heaven and Hell.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-
Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/127; Al-Jami' of Al-Suyuti, 1/374

“The position of Ali amongst the people is like Surat Ikhlas in the Quran.” (Muslim, 1/48; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Al-Nisa’i, 27; Musnad Ahmad, 6/299; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 191)

“Ali is the beloved between two friends, myself and Ibrahim.” (Yanabi' Al-
Mawda, 88; Fara’id Al-Samatin; Al-Abrar; Moniq Ibn Ahmad Al-Khawarizmi)

“Whoever splits with Ali has split with me, and whoever splits with me
has split with God.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 45; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 181)

“Ali is from me and I am from him, and he is the protector of every true
believer after me.” (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 69; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 125)

“Ali is the most beloved of God and His Prophet in all of creation.” (Kanz
Al-Umal, 5/33; Al-Riyadh Al-Nudhra, 2/211; Ibn Al-MaghazAli, 219)

“Mentioning Ali is a form of worship, and looking upon him is a form of
worship.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisapuri, 3/123; Kenz Al-Omal, 6/156; Al-Tabarani; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 240, 278; Al-Khawarizmi, 62)

“Love for Ali is a good deed, so don’t ruin it with bad deeds.” (Al-Tabarani;
Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 2/3)

“Ali holds the position of the Ka’aba.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-
Nisapuri, 3/122; Musnad Ahmad, 3/82; Al-Tabarani, 6/155)

“Ali stands in relation to me as my head to my body.” (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain
of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/141; Al-Jami of Al-Suyuti, 1/583; Tarikh Baghdad of Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, 1/51; Hiliyat Al-Awliya’, 1/182; Al-Riyadh Al-Nudhra, 2/219)

"The verse of purification was revealed concerning five people: myself,
Ali, Hassan, Hussayn, and Fatima." (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada'il Al-Sahaba)

“Fatima is more beloved to me than you, oh Ali, and you are dearer to
me than her.” (Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, v. 2, p. 654, n. 5761)

Thalabi, in interpreting the verse, “And the retaining ear might retain it” (69:12), said: The Messenger of Allah said to Ali: “I called on God Almighty to make you a true example of this verse.”

Ibn Abbas has quoted the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) as saying: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali the gate thereof. Therefore, anyone who wishes to enter it should go through its gate.”

Bayhaqi has reported that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Whoever wishes to find out about Adam’s knowledge, Noah’s piety, Abraham’s friendliness, Moses’ power and Jesus’ worship, should look at Ali, for he has all these virtues.” (Fada’il al-Sahabah)

Ahmad ibn Hanbal quoting the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) as saying to Sayyida Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her): “My daughter! Are you not pleased for giving you in marriage to the most pioneer among my Ummah, the most knowledgeable of religion and the greatest of them in forbearance?” (Musnad, vol. 5, pp. 26)

Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) has been quoted as saying: “Ali was the most knowledgeable in relation to the Holy Prophet’s tradition.” (Imam Ali, ibn Asakir, vol. 3, pp. 62)

Abu’l-Mu’ayyad, in his book of Manaqib, has reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas that Umar, once, delivered a speech in which he said, “Ali is the most versed of all of us in judicature.”

Bayhaqi quoted Sidna Ali as having said: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) gave me the mission to set out to Yemen for passing judgment among them. Being surprised by the order and its referring to me, I said: O Messenger of Allah! Do you assign me a judge while I am still too young not knowing the principles of judgment! The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) put his hand on my chest, prayed for me and said: 'O Lord! Guide his hear, make his tongue steadfast in telling the truth.' Ali said: By the God who cleaves a grain in the earth, after this prayer, I did not pass any judgment between two persons in which there was a bit of doubt. (Dala’il al-Nubuwwah, vol. 5, pp. 397)

When Sidna Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered a pregnant woman who had committed adultery to be stoned, but Sidna Ali told him not to execute the sentence. When Sidna Umar asked him for the reason, Sidna Ali said, “If this woman’s sin has been proven and she has to be stoned to death, what is the sin of the infant she has in her womb? Therefore, give her respite and delay her punishments, as to give birth to child. Punish this woman when the nursing period comes to an end.” Sidna Umar complied with Sidna Ali’s order saying: “If Ali were not here, Omar would perish!”

Zayd ibn Arqam reported: 'One day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) addressed us near a pond called Khumm between Makkah and Madinah. He praised God and extolled Him and preached and reminded (us). Then he said, "Lo, O people, I am only a human being and I am about to respond to the messenger of my Lord [i.e. the call of death]. I am leaving behind two precious things (thaqalayn) among you. The first of the two is the Book of Allah. In it is guidance and light. So get hold of the Book of Allah and adhere to it." Then he urged and motivated (us) regarding the Book of Allah. Then he said, "And my Ahl al-Bayt (family). I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al­-Bayt. I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al­-Bayt. I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al­-Bayt"' (Sahih Muslim, part 7, Kitab fada'il al­-Sahaba, pp. 122-123)

Al-Hakim reports on the authority of Zayd ibn Arqam said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) while returning from his last hajj (hijjat al­wada') came down at Ghadir Khumm and ordered (us) towards the big trees, and (the ground) underneath them was swept. "Then he said, 'I am about to answer the call (of death). Verily, I have left behind two precious things amongst you, one of which is greater than the other. The Book of Allah, the Exalted, and my `itrah (kindred). So watch out how you treat these two after me, for verily they will not separate from each other until they come back to me by the side of the Pond.' Then he said 'Verily, Allah, the Almighty and the Glorious, is my master (mawla) and I am the master of every believer (mu'min).' Then he took Ali, may God be pleased with him, by the hand and said, 'This (Ali) is the master of whomever I am his master. O God, love whoever loves him and be the enemy of his enemy.'"   

عن الأصبغ بن نباتة قال: خطب علي بن أبي طالب فحمد الله وأثنى عليه ثم قال: أيها الناس إن قريشا أئمة العرب، أبرارها لأبرارها وفجارها لفجارها، ألا ولابد من رحى تطحن على ضلالة وتدور، فإذا قامت على قلبها طحنت بحدتها، ألا إن لطحنيها روقا وروقها حدتها وفلها على الله، ألا وإني وأبرار عترتي وأهل بيتي أعلم الناس صغارا وأحلم الناس كبارا معنا راية الحق، من تقدمها مرق، ومن تخلف عنها محق، ومن لزمها لحق، إنا أهل الرحمة، وبنا فتحت أبواب الحكمة، وبحكم الله حكمنا، وبعلم الله علمنا، ومن صادق سمعنا، فإن تتبعونا تنجوا، وإن تتولوا يعذبكم الله بأيدينا، بنا فك الله ربق الذل من أعناقكم وبنا يختم لا بكم، وبنا يلحق التالي، وإلينا يفيء الغالي، فلولا تستعجلوا وتستأخروا القدر لأمر قد سبق في البشر لحدثتكم بشباب من الموالى وأبناء العرب ونبذ من الشيوخ كالملح، في الزاد وأقل الزاد الملح فينا معتبر، ولشيعتنا منتظر، إنا وشيعنا تمضى إلى الله بالبطن والحمى والسيف، إن عدونا يهلك بالداء والدبيلة وبما شاء الله من البلية والنقمة. وايم الله الأعز الأكرم. أن لو حدثتكم بكل ما أعلم لقالت طائفة: ما أكذب وأرجم ولو انتقيت منكم مائة قلوبهم كالذهب ثم انتخبت من المائة عشرة ثم حدثتهم فينا أهل البيت حديثا لينا لا أقول فيه إلا حقا ولا أعتمد فيه إلا صدقا لخرجوا وهم يقولون: علي من أكذب الناس، ولو اخترت من غيركم عشرة فحدثتهم في عدونا وأهل البغي علينا أحاديث كثيرة لخرجوا وهم يقولون: علي من أصدق الناس، هلك حاطب الحطب، وحاصر صاحب القصب، وبقيت القلوب منها تقلب، فمنها مشغب، ومنها مجدب، ومنها مخصب، ومنها مسيب، يا بني ليبر صغاركم كباركم وليرأف كباركم بصغاركم، ولا تكونوا كالغواة الجفاة الذين لم يتفقهوا في الدين، ولم يعطوا في الله محض اليقين، كبيض بيض في أداحي ويح لفراخ فراخ آل محمد من خليفة جبار عتريف مترف مستخف بخلفي وخلف