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Thul-\ijjah 19, 1329
1) Al-Ámidi has done nobody injustice except his own self by casting doubt about the authenticity of this <ádíth which is one of the most accurate sunan and a most solid legacy.
2) Nobody else has doubted its accuracy, nor did anyone else dare to argue about its grounds. Even al-Thahbi, who is a most prejudiced narrator, has admitted its accuracy in his Talkhis Al-Mustadrak.[1] Ibn \ajar al-Haithami, in spite of his antagonistic views embedded in his Al-@awá`iq al-Mu<riqa, has quoted this <ádíth in his chapter on "Al-Shubuhát," citing statements by the foremost narrators of <ádíth testifying to its accuracy; so, refer to that book. Had this <ádíth not been accurate, al-Bukhári would not have included it in his book, in spite of his prejudice when it comes to counting `Ali's merits and those of Ahl al-Bayt (as).
Mu`awiyah was the leader of the oppressive gang. He stood in enmity against the Commander of the Faithful (as), fought him, cursed him from Muslims' pulpits and ordered people to do likewise. Yet, in spite of his insolent hostility, he never doubted the status <ádíth. Nor has Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqá# exaggerated when he, according to Muslim, was asked by Mu`áwiyah why he hesitated to denounce "Abu Turáb;" he answered him by saying:[2] "I remember three a<ádíth of the Messenger of Alláh which I have personally heard, because of which I shall never curse him. Had I had just one of his exclusive merits, it would have been more precious for me than a herd of the choicest red camels. I have heard the Messenger of Alláh (pbuh), who was then accompanied by a few people participating in some of his campaigns, saying to `Ali: `Are you not pleased that your status to me is similar to that of Aaron to Moses except that there will be no Prophet after me?'"[3] Mu`áwiyah was dumbfounded, and he could not utter a word or pressure Sa`d.
In addition to all of this, Mu`áwiyah himself has narrated the same <ádíth. Ibn Hajar says in his book Al-Sawá`iq Al-Mu<riqa:[4] "A<med has said that a man once asked Mu`áwiyah a question and his answer was: `Forward your question to `Ali because he is more knowledgeable.' Yet the man said: `Your own answer to this matter is dearer to me than that of `Ali.' Mu`áwiyah was angry, and he said: `What a bad statement you have uttered! You hate a man whom the Messenger of Alláh used to gorge with knowledge? He even told him that his status to him was like that of Aaron to Moses except that there would be no Prophet after him? Whenever `Umer was confused about a matter, he sought `Ali's advice....'"[5] In short, the status <ádíth is considered, according to the consensus of all Muslims, regardless of their sects and inclinations, to be authentic.
3) Authors of both Al-Jámi` Baynal @i<á< Al-Sitta and Al-Jámi` Bayna Rijál al-@a<í<ain have quoted it, and it is included in Bukhári's chapter on the Battle of Tabúk in his @a<í<, in Muslim's chapter on `Ali's merits in his @a<í<, in a chapter on the attributes of the Prophet's companions in Ibn Majah's sunan, and in a chapter on `Ali's merits in \ákim's Al-Mustadrak. Imám A<med Ibn \anbal has quoted it in his Musnad from several different reporters. Ibn `Abbás, Asmá' bint `Ámís, Abu Sa`d al-Khudri, Mu`áwiyah ibn Abu Sufyán,[6] and many other companions have all narrated it as recorded in the musnad. Al-^abráni has quoted it as narrated by Asmá' bint `Ámís, Umm Salamah, \abís ibn Janadah, Ibn `Umer, `Ali ibn Abu ^álib (as),[7] and many others. Al-Bazzáz has included it in his Musnad,[8] and so has al-Tirmithi in his @a<í<[9] depending on the authority of Abu Sa`íd al-Khudri. In Al-Istí`áb, in a chapter dealing with `Ali, the author quotes Ibn `Abdul Birr narrating it, then he comments thus: "This is one of the most reliable and accurate a<ádíth narrated about the Prophet by Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqá#." Sa`d's references are numerous and are enumerated by Ibn Abu Khayth`amah and others. Ibn `Abbás, Abu Sa`íd al-Khudri, Umm Salamah, Asmá' bint Ámís, Jábir ibn `Abdulláh, and quite a few other traditionists have all narrated it." As a matter of fact, whoever researches the Battle of Tabúk and refers to books of traditions and biographies will find them mentioning this <ádíth. Those who have written biographies of `Ali, among authors of glossaries of ancient as well as modern times, regardless of their inclinations and sectarian preferences, have all quoted this <ádíth. It is also quoted by anyone who writes about the merits of Ahl al-Bayt, those of the Imáms among the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) such as A<med ibn \anbal, and by others before or after his time. It is a <ádíth taken for granted by all past Muslim generations.
4) There is no lesson to learn about the doubt cast by al-Amidi regarding this <ádíth in his Musnad, since the man knows nothing about the science of traditions, and his knowledge about musnads and narrators is the knowledge of illiterate commoners who do not know the meaning of <ádíth. In fact, his own extensive knowledge in the science of usul is the reason why he has fallen in such a dilemma. According to the requirements of usul, he saw it to be a correct <ádíth which he could not get rid of except by suspecting its isnad, thinking that that would be possible. Indeed, that was only his unattainable desire, and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Sh
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[1] Letter No. 26 contains his admission of its authenticity.
[2] This occurs in his section dealing with `Ali's virtues at the beginning of page 324, Vol. 2, of his @a<í<.
[3] Al-\ákim, too, quotes it at the beginning of page 109, Vol. 3, of his Al-Mustadrak, admitting its authenticity due to its being endorsed by Muslim.
[4] This occurs in the fifth maqsad of Al-Maqásid when the author discusses verse 14 in Section 11, page 107, of Al-Sawá`iq al-Mu<riqa.
[5] He says that others have quoted it, and that some added to it "Get up; may Alláh never allow you to stand up," and his name is omitted from the diwán, to the end of his quotation on page 107 of his Al-@awá`iq al-Mu<riqa. This proves that a group of late traditionists besides A<med has quoted the status <ádíth from Mu`áwiyah.
[6] As we mentioned in the beginning of this Letter, quoting the fifth maqsad of the Maqásid of verse 14 of the verses discussed in Chapter 11, Al-@awá`iq al-Mu<riqa, page 107.
[7] As Ibn \ajar describes in the first <ádíth of the forty ones which he discusses in the second section of chapter 9, page 72, of his Al-@awá`iq al-Mu<riqa. Al-Sayyú>i has stated the following while discussing `Ali (as) in his chapter on the righteous caliphs: "Al-^abráni has quoted this <ádíth from all these men, adding to them Asmá' bint Qays."
[8] Al-Sayyú>i indicates so while discussing `Ali (as) in his chapter on the caliphs on page 65.
[9] As attested to by <ádíth 2504 of the <ádíth of Kanz al-`Ummál, page 152, Volume 6.