Chapter One: A General View

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.

829. رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه و آله :

829. The Prophet (SA) said:

أقضى اُمَّتي

“The most experienced of my community in judicial law

وأعلَمُ اُمَّتي بَعدي عَلِيٌّ .

and most knowledgeable after me is Ali.”

الأمالي للصدوق : ص642 ح870 .

Al-Amali, by al-Saduq, p. 642, h.870.

830. صحيح البخاري عن عمر :

830. Sahih al-Bukhari, reporting from Umar, who said:

أقضانا عَلِيٌّ .

 “The most knowledgeable of us in judicial law is Ali.”

صحيح البخاري : ج4 ص1629 ح4211 .

Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 1629, h. 4211.

831. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :

831. Imam Ali (AS) said:

بَعَثَني رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله إلَى اليَمَنِ ،

“The Messenger of God (SA) sent me to Yemen,

فَقُلتُ : يا رَسولَ اللّهِ ، تَبعَثُني

so I said: ‘O Messenger of God (SA), do you send me forth,

وأنَا شابٌّ أقضي بَينَهُم

while I am, still a young, to judge between them

ولا أدري مَا القَضاءُ ؟

when I do not know how to pass judgement?’

فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ في صَدري ،

So he tapped me on the chest

ثُمَّ قالَ : «اللّهُمَّ اهدِ قَلبَهُ ، وثَبِّت لِسانَهُ» ،

and said: ‘O God! Guide his heart and strengthen his tongue’.

فَما شَكَكتُ بَعدُ في قَضاءٍ بَينَ اثنَينِ .

I have never entertained a doubt about the judgement between two individuals since then.”

سنن ابن ماجة : ج2 ص774 ح2310 .

Sunan Ibn Maja, vol. 2, p. 773, h. 231.

832. عنه عليه السلام :

832. Imam Ali (AS) said:

لَو ثُنِيَ لِيَ الوِسادُ لَحَكَمتُ بَينَ أهلِ التَّوراةِ بِتَوراتِهِم ،

 “If a cushion is placed for me I will rule between the people of the Torah with their Torah,

وبَينَ أهلِ الإِنجيلِ بِإِنجيلِهِم ،

between the people of Gospels with their Gospels,

وأهلِ الزَّبورِ بِزَبورِهِم ،

between the people of the Psalms, with their Psalms

وأهلِ القُرآنِ بِقُرآنِهِم ،

and between the people of the Qur’an with their Qur’an,

حَتّى يَزهَرَ كُلُّ كِتابٍ مِن هذِهِ الكُتُبِ ويَقولُ :

until each one of these books will shine and say:

يا رَبِّ إنَّ عَلِيّا قَضى بِقَضائِكَ .

‘O Lord, Ali has judged according to Your judgement.’ ”

لإرشاد : ج1 ص35 .

Al-Irshad, vol. 1, p. 35.