Chapter Three: The Traditions of Vicegerency

Encyclopedia of Imam Ali (AS), written by Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri, abridged by Mahdi Gholamali, translated by Zaid Alsalami and Safyullah Khan, edited by Hamid Reza Salarkia and published by NORPUB.

68. السنّة عن عبد اللّه بن مسعود:

68. Al-Sunnah, narrating from `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, who said:

 إنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه و آله قالَ لَيلَةَ الجِنِّ :

“The Messenger of Allah (SA) said on the Night of the Jinn:

نُعِيَت إلَيَّ ـ وَاللّهِ ـ نَفسي .

 “By Allah, I have been informed of my death.”

فَقُلتُ : يَقومُ بِالنّاسِ أبو بَكرٍ الصِّدّيقُ !

I said: “Would Abu Bakr lead the people?”

فَسَكَتَ .

He kept silent.

فَقُلتُ : يَقومُ بِالنّاسَ عُمَرُ !

I said: “Would `Umar lead the people?”

فَسَكَتَ .

He kept silent.

فَقُلتُ :يَقومُ بِالنّاسِ عَلِيٌّ ! !

I said: “Would Ali lead the people?”

فَقالَ : لا يَفعَلونَ ،

He said: “They will not follow him;

ولَو فَعَلوا دَخَلُوا الجَنَّةَ أجمَعينَ .

if they were to follow him, they would all enter Heaven.”

السنّة لابن أبي عاصم : ص 549 ح 1183 .

Al-Sunnah, by ibn Abi Asim, p. 549, h. 1183.

69. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله:

69. The Prophet (SA) said:

 يا عَلِيُّ ، أنتَ وَصِيّي ،

“O Ali, you are my executor,

أوصَيتُ إلَيكَ بِأَمرِ رَبّي .

and I have made you my executor by the command my Lord.

وأنتَ خَليفَتي ،

You are my vicegerent;

اِستَخلَفتُكَ بِأَمرِ رَبّي .

I have appointed you as vicegerent by order from my Lord.”

كتاب من لا يحضره الفقيه : ج4 ص179 ح5405 .

Kitab man la-Yahzuruh al-Faqih, vol. 4, p. 179, h. 5405.

70. عنه صلى الله عليه و آله :

70. The Prophet (SA) said:

إنَّ عَلِيَّ بنَ أبي طالِبٍ خَليفَةُ اللّهِ وخَليفَتي ،

“Verily, Ali ibn Abi Talib is the vicegerent of Allah and my vicegerent,

وحُجَّةُ اللّهِ وحُجَّتي .

and he is the proof (hujjah) of Allah and my proof.”

الأمالي للصدوق : ص271 ح299 .

Al-Amali, by al-Saduq, p. 271, h. 299.

71. فاطمة عليهاالسلام :

71. Fatimah al-Zahra’ (AS) said:

اُشهِدُ اللّهَ تَعالى لَقَد سَمِعتُهُ [ صلى الله عليه و آله ] يَقولُ :

“I bear witness to Allah that I have heard him (SA) say:

عَلِيٌّ خَيرُ مَن أخلُفُهُ فيكُم ،

“Ali is the best to succeed me among you.

وهُوَ الإِمامُ وَالخَليفَةُ بَعدي .

He is the Imam and the vicegerent after me.”

كفاية الأثر : ص199 .

Kifayat al-Athar, p. 199.

72. السنّة عن ابن عبّاس :

72. Al-Sunnah, narrating from Ibn `Abbas, who said:

خَرَجَ النّاسُ في غَزوَةِ تَبوكَ ،

“The people went out for the Battle of Tabuk,

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ : أخرُجُ مَعَكَ ؟

and Ali asked [The Prophet (SA)]: “Shall I go with you?”

قالَ : لا .

He (SA) said: “No.”

قالَ : فَبَكى .

When Ali started to cry,

قالَ : أفَلا تَرضى أن تَكونَ مِنّي بِمَنزِلَةِ هارونَ مِن موسى إلّا أنَّكَ لَستَ بِنَبِيٍّ ! !

so the Prophet (SA) said to him: “Would you not be well pleased to be in relation to me as Aaron was in relation to Moses, except that you are not a prophet?

وأنتَ خَليفَتي في كُلِّ مُؤمِنٍ مِن بَعدي .

You are my vicegerent over every believer after me.”

السنّة لابن أبي عاصم : ص589 ح1351 .

Al-Sunnah, by Ibn Abi Asim: p. 589, h. 1351.

73. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله :

73. The Prophet (SA) said:

يا عَلِيُّ ، أنتَ وَصِيّي ، وأبو وُلدي ،

“O Ali, you are my executor, the father of my sons,

وزَوجُ ابنَتي ،

the husband of my daughter,

وخَليفَتي عَلى اُمَّتي في حَياتي وبَعدَ مَوتي ؛

and my vicegerent over my nation, during my lifetime and after my death.

أمرُكَ أمري ،

Your command is my command

ونَهيُكَ نَهيي .

and your prohibition is my prohibition.

اُقسِمُ بِالَّذي بَعَثَني بِالنُّبُوَّةِ وجَعَلَني خَيرَ البَرِيَّةِ

By Him who sent me with prophethood and made me the best of His creation,

أنَّكَ لَحُجَّةُ اللّهِ عَلى خَلقِهِ ،

you are the proof of Allah against His creation,

وأمينُهُ عَلى سِرِّهِ ،

His trustee over his secret,

وخَليفَتُهُ عَلى عِبادِهِ .

and His vicegerent over His servants.”

عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام : ج1 ص297 ح53

`Uyun Akhbar al-Riza (AS), vol. 1, p. 297, h. 53.