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Thul-\ijjah 9, 1239
1) Anyone who is acquainted with the biography of the holy Prophet (pbuh), especially researching his conduct while laying the foundations of the Islamic State and its legislative system, the establishment of its bases, the issuing of its codes and the organizing of its affairs on behalf of the Almighty Alláh..., will find `Ali (as) the vizier of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), his supporter against his foes, the custodian of his knowledge, the heir of his government, his vicegerent, and the one in charge after him. Whoever studies the statements and actions of the Prophet (pbuh), while at home or on a journey, will find his statements, peace and blessings of Allah Almighty be upon him and his progeny, sequential in this regard from the beginning of his Call till his demise.
2) Refer to such statements at the dawn of the Call, before Islam was preached in Mecca publicly, when the Almighty revealed unto him the verse "And warn thy nearest tribe (Qur'án, 26:214)." He invited them to the house of his uncle Abu ^álib. They were forty men, more or less. Among them were his uncles Abu ^álib, al-\amzah, al-`Abbás, and Abu Lahab. The <ádíth in this regard is sequentially reported by Sunnis. At the conclusion of his statement to them, the Messenger of Alláh, peace be upon him and his progeny, said:
"O descendants of `Abdul-Mu>>lib! I swear by God that I know no youth among the Arabs who has brought his people something better than what I have brought you. I have brought you the best of this life and the life to come, and God has commanded me to call you towards Him. Therefore, who among you shall support me in this matter and be my brother, the executor of my will, and my successor?"
All the listeners, with the exception of `Ali, who was the youngest among them, kept silent. `Ali responded by saying: "I, O Messenger of Allah, am willing to be your vizier in this matter." The Messenger of Alláh (pbuh) then took `Ali by the neck and said: "This is my brother, executor of my will and vizier; therefore, listen to him and obey him." Those present laughed and kept saying to Abu ^álib: "Alláh has commanded you to listen to your son, and to obey him!"
3) Many of those who have learned the prophetic legacy by heart have reported the <ádíth above verbatim as such. Among them are: Ibn I#<áq, Ibn Jarír, Ibn Abu \átim, Ibn Mardawayh, Abu Na`ím, al-Bayhaqi in his book Al-Dalá'il, both al-Tha`labi and al-^abari in their exegeses of Súrat al Shu`ará' in their book Al-Tafsír al-Kabír, in Vol. 2 of al-^abari's Taríkh al-Umam wal Mulúk. Ibn al-Athír has reported it as an undisputed fact in Vol. 2 of his Al-Kámil when he mentioned how the Almighty commanded His Messenger to declare his call to the public, Abul-Fida in Vol. of his Taríkh while discussing who was the first to embrace Islam, Imám Abu Ja`fer al-Iskáfi al-Mu`tazili in his book Naq_ al-Uthmaniyyah declaring its accuracy,[1] al-\alabi in his chapter on the Prophet's hideout at the house of Arqam in his well-known Sírah.[2]
In this same context, with almost identical wording, has this <ádíth been reported by many masters of <ádíth and most reliable Sunni authorities such as al-^ahawi, ¬iyá' al-Maqdisi in his Mukhtára, and Sa`íd ibn Man#úr in his Sunan. Refer to what Ibn \anbal has recorded of `Ali's <ádíth on pages 111 and 159 of Vol. 1 of his Musnad. He also pointed out at the beginning of page 331 of Vol. 1 of his Musnad, to a very significant <ádíth from Ibn `Abbás] containing ten characteristics in which `Ali has distinguished himself from everyone else. That <ádíth is published in Nisá'i, too, from Ibn `Abbás, on page 6 of his Kha#a'is al `Alawiyyah, and on page 132, Vol. 3, of Hákim's Mustadrak. Al-Thahbi has narrated it in his Talkhís], vouching for its authenticity. Refer to Vol. 6 of Kanz al-`Ummál which contains all the details.[3] Refer also to Muntakhabul Kanz which is cited in the footnote of Imám A<med's Musnad; refer to the footnote on pages 41 and 43 of Vol. 5 of the book to find all details. This, we believe, suffices to serve as glorious proof, and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Sh
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[1] As on page 263, Vol. 3, of Shar< Nahjul Balághah by Ibn Abul Hadíd, Egyptian edition. As regarding his book Naq_ al-`Uthmániyya, it is a unique book worthy of the attention of any seeker of the truth. It is on page 257 and its succeeding pages up to page 281, Vol. 3, of the Shar<, at the end the commentary at the conclusion of the "qási`a" sermon.
[2] Refer to the fourth page of that chapter, or to page 381 of the first volume of Al-Síra al-\alabiyya. Ibn Taymiyyah's wrecklessness is unfair, and his judgment is due to his well-known fanaticism. This <ádíth is quoted by the Egyptian sociologist Mu<ammad Hasanayn Haykal; refer to the second column on page five of the supplement to issue 2751 of his newspaper Al-Siyása dated Thul-Qi`da 12, 1350, and you will find it there explained in detail. If you refer to the fourth column on page six of the supplement to issue 2785 of the same newspaper, you will find the author quoting this <ádíth from Muslim's , A<med's musnad, `Abdullah ibn A<med's Ziyadat al-Musnad, Ibn \ajar al-Haithami's Jámi`ul Fará'id, Ibn Qutaybah's `Uyún al-Akhbár, A<med ibn `Abd Rabbih's Al-`Iqd al-Faríd, `Amr ibn Ba<r al-Já<i~ in his dissertation on the descendants of Háshim, and Imam Abu Is<áq al-Tha`labi's Tafsír. This <ádíth is also quoted by the British author Georges in his well-known book A Treatise on Islam, translated into the Arabic by an atheist from a Protestant descent calling himself Háshim al-`Arabi. You can also find this <ádíth on page 79 of the treatise's Arabic version, 6th edition. Due to the fame this <ádíth enjoys, a few non-Arab writers have included it in their books, especially in French, English and German. In his book Heroes and Hero Worship, Thomas Carlyle quotes it briefly.
[3] Refer to <ádíth 6008 on page 392, and you will find it quoted from Ibn Jarír, while <ádíth 1045 on page 396 is quoted from A<med's Musnad and from al-¬iá al-Maqdisi's Al-Mukhtára, and from al-^a<áwi. Ibn Jarír has verified it. Also refer to <ádíth 6056 on page 397 and you will find it quoted from Ibn Is<áq, Ibn Jarír, Ibn Abu \átim, Ibn Mardawayh, Abu Na`ím, al-Bayhaqi on the branches of faith, and in the Dalá'il, and <ádíth 6102 on page 401 and you will find it quoted from Ibn Mardawayh, and <ádíth 6155 on page 408 and you will find it quoted from A<med's Musnad and from Ibn Jarír from Al-¬iyá fil Mukhtara. Whoever researches Kanz al-`Ummál will find this <ádíth in various places throughout the book. If you look into page 255, Vol. 3, of Sharh Nahjul Balághah by the Mu`tazilite Imam Ibn Abul-\adíd, or at the end of the explanation of the "qási`a sermon" in it, you will find this <ádíth in its entirety.