أ ـ المَكانَةُ عِندَ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله
His Position with the Messenger of God (SA)
624. الإرشادـ في ذِكرِ أحوالِ الإِمامِ عَلِيٍّ عليه السلام بَعدَ الهِجرَةِ ـ:
624. Al-Irshad, - in stating the conditions of Imam Ali (AS) after the emigration -:
أنزَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه و آله عِندَ وُرودِهِ المَدينَةَ دارَهُ ،
“The Prophet (SA) took him in his house when he arrived at Madinah,
وأحَلَّهُ قَرارَهُ ،
allowed him to stay with him
وخَلَطَهُ بِحُرَمِهِ وأولادِهِ ،
and mix with his womenfolk and children.
ولَم يُمَيِّزهُ مِن خاصَّةِ نَفسِهِ ،
He did not withhold him from anything special to him,
ولَا احتَشَمَهُ في باطِنِ أمرِهِ وسِرِّهِ .
nor did he hold him back from the inward aspect and secrets of his affair.”
الإرشاد : ج1 ص54 .
Al-Irshad, vol.1, p. 54.
625. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
625. Imam Ali (AS) said:
كُنتُ في أيّامِ رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله كَجُزءٍ مِن رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله ،
In the days of the Messenger of God (SA) I was like a part of the Messenger of God (SA).
يَنظُرُ إلَيَّ النّاسُ كَما يُنظَرُ إلَى الكَواكِبِ في اُفُقِ السَّماءِ ،
The people would look at me as they looked at the stars in the horizons of the sky.
ثُمَّ غَضَّ الدَّهرُ مِنّي ،
Then I was degraded,
فَقُرِنَ بي فُلانٌ وفُلانٌ ،
such that so and so were linked with me.
ثُمَّ قُرِنتُ بِخَمسَةٍ أمثَلُهُم عُثمانُ ،
Thereafter I was linked with five, amongst whom the ideal person was Uthman
فَقُلتُ : وا ذَفَراه !
I said: Phew!.
ثُمَّ لَم يَرضَ الدَّهرُ لي بِذلِكَ حَتّى أرذَلَني ،
However, time was not well-pleased with that until belittled me
فَجَعَلَني نَظيرا لِابنِ هِندٍ وَابنِ النّابِغَةِ ،
and made me an equal to Ibn Hind [Reference to Muawiyah] and Ibn al-Nabighah [Reference to Amr ibn al-As].
لَقَدِ استَنَّتِ الفِصالُ حَتَّى القَرعى . (مَثل يضرب للذي يتكلّم مع من لا ينبغي أن يتكلّم بين يديه لجلالة قدره مجمع الأمثال : ج1 ص333) .
شرح نهج البلاغة : ج20 ص326 ح733 .
Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 20, p. 326, h 733.
626. عنه عليه السلام:
626. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنا مِن رَسولِ اللّهِ كَالضَّوءِ مِنَ الضَّوءِ ، (الضوء هو النور ، وعليه يكون معنى الحديث قريبا من معنى الحديث النبوي المشهور : «أنا وعليّ من نور واحد» . لكن ورد الحديث في بعض النسخ هكذا : «كالصِّنو من الصِّنو» والصِّنْو : أن تطلع نخلتان من عِرق واحد (النهاية : ج 3 ص 57) ، وعليه فيكون المعنى مقاربا لما ورد فيالنبوي المشهور : «أنا وعليّ من شجرة واحدة».(
“I am to the Messenger of God (SA) like the light to the light [Âaw’ means ‘light’‚ therefore this tradition is similar in meaning to the famous Prophetic hadith: ‘I and ‘Ali are from the same light’. However‚ another version of the tradition includes sinw as a variant of daw’. It literally means one of the two palm tree branches having grown from the same stem and in this case this tradition is similar in meaning to the famous Prophetic hadith: I and ‘Ali are from the same tree (that is we are peers). See al-Nihayah¸ Vol.3¸ p. 57 sub. voc.]
وَالذِّراعِ مِنَ العَضُدِ .
and the forearm to the upper arm.”1668
نهج البلاغة : الكتاب 45 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 45.
627. عنه عليه السلام :
627. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا صِنوُهُ ، ووَصِيُّهُ ،
“I am his peer (sinw), his confidant, executor¸
ووَلِيُّهُ ،
his protecting friend¸
وصاحِبُ نَجواهُ وسِرِّهِ .
possessor of his confidential talk and his confidant.”
الأمالي للمفيد : ص 6 ح 3 .
Al-Amali by al-Mufid, p. 6, h. 3.
628. عنه عليه السلام:
628. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لَقَد قُبِضَ رَسولُ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله
“The Messenger of God (SA) passed away
وإنَّ رَأسَهُ لَعَلى صَدري ،
when his head was on my chest;
ولَقَد سالَت نَفسُهُ في كَفّي ،
his soul flew on to my palms,
فَأَمرَرتُها عَلى وَجهي .
so I rubbed it over my face.
ولَقَد وَليتُ غُسلَهُ صلى الله عليه و آله
I undertook to cleanse him
وَالمَلائِكَةُ أعواني ،
while the angels were my assistants.
فَضَجَّتِ الدّارُ وَالأَفنِيَةُ ؛
The house and the courtyard were full of them,
مَلَأٌ يَهبِطُ ،
a group descending
ومَلَأٌ يَعرُجُ ،
and another ascending.
وما فارَقَت سَمعي هَينَمَةٌ مِنهُم ،
I never ceased to hear their humming,
يُصَلّونَ عَلَيهِ حَتّى وارَيناهُ في ضَريحِهِ .
invoking blessing on him, until we buried him in his grave.
فَمَن ذا أحَقُّ بِهِ مِنّي حَيّا ومَيِّتا ؟ !
Thus, who can have greater right to him than me during his life or after his death?
فَانفُذوا عَلى بَصائِرِكُم ،
Penetrate with foresight,
وَلتَصدُق نِيّاتُكُم في جِهادِ عَدُوِّكُم ،
make your intentions pure in fighting your enemy.
فَوَالَّذي لا إلهَ إلّا هُوَ إنّي لَعَلى جادَّةِ الحَقِّ ،
By Him, Who is such that there is no god but He, I am on the path of truth
وإنَّهُم لَعَلى مَزَلَّةِ الباطِلِ .
and they are on the slippery path of falsehood.
أقولُ ما تَسمَعونَ وأستَغفِرُ اللّهَ لي ولَكُم .
I say what you hear and I seek God’s forgiveness for myself and for you.”
نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 197 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 197.
ب ـ مُنتَهَى الخُضوعِ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و آله
The Utmost of Submission to the Prophet (SA)
629. الإمام الصادق عليه السلام :
629. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said:
جاءَ حِبرٌ مِنَ الأَحبارِ إلى أميرِ المُؤمِنينَ عليه السلام ،
“One of the Jewish rabbis came to the Commander of the Faithful (AS)
فَقالَ : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ، مَتى كانَ رَبُّكَ ؟
and said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful, when was your Lord?’
فَقالَ لَهُ : ثَكِلَتكَ اُمُّكَ !
He said: ‘May your mother be bereft of you,
ومَتى لَم يَكُن حَتّى يُقالَ :
when He was not, so it is said:
مَتى كانَ ؟ !
When was He?
كانَ رَبّي قَبلَ القَبلِ بِلا قَبلٍ ،
My Lord was before the before without any before.
وبَعدَ البَعدِ بِلا بَعدٍ ،
And after the after without any after.
ولا غايَةَ ولا مُنتَهى لِغايَتِهِ ،
There is no utmost limit or final end for Him.
انقَطَعَتِ الغاياتُ عِندَهُ ،
All final ends fall short before Him.
فَهُوَ مُنتَهى كُلِّ غايَةٍ .
He is the final goal of all goals.’
فَقالَ : يا أميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ،
He then said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful:
أ فَنَبِيٌّ أنتَ ؟
Are you a prophet?’
فَقالَ : وَيلَكَ !
He said: ‘Woe unto you! Indeed,
إنَّما أنَا عَبدٌ مِن عَبيدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله.
I am one of the servants of Muhammad (SA).’ ”
الكافي : ج1 ص89 ح5 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 89, h. 5.
630. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام:
630. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لَقَد عَلِمَ المُستَحفَظونَ مِن أصحابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه و آله أنّي لَم أرُدَّ عَلَى اللّهِ ولا عَلى رَسولِهِ ساعَةً قَطُّ ،
“The confidants among the companions of Muhammad (SA) know that I never opposed God or His Messenger at all.
ولَقَد واسَيتُهُ بِنَفسي فِي المَواطِنِ الَّتي تَنكُصُ فيهَا الأَبطالُ وتَتَأَخَّرُ فيهَا الأَقدامُ ، نَجدَةً أكرَمَنِي اللّهُ بِها .
By virtue of courage with which God has honoured me I supported him with my life on occasions when the heroes would turn away and the feet remain behind.”
نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 197 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 197.
ج ـ التَّقَدُّمُ عَلَى الأَقرانِ
Precedence over Peers
631. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
631. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لا يَتَقَدَّمُني أحَدٌ إلّا أحمَدُ صلى الله عليه و آله ،
“Nobody precedes me except Ahmad (SA).
وإنّي وإيّاهُ لَعَلى سَبيلٍ واحِدٍ ،
Indeed, I and he are on the same path,
إلّا أنَّهُ هُوَ المَدعُوُّ بِاسمِهِ .
even though he is called to by his name (as a prophet).”
الكافي : ج1 ص198 ح3 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 198, h. 3.
632. عنه عليه السلامـ في خُطبَةٍ لَهُ بَعدَ وَقعَةِ النَّهرَوانِ ـ:
632. Imam Ali (AS) said, in a sermon after the Battle of al-Nahrawan:
فَقُمتُ بِالأَمرِ حينَ فَشِلوا ،
“I undertook the affair when others failed,
وتَطَلَّعتُ حينَ تَقَبَّعوا ،
came forward when others retreated,
ونَطَقتُ حينَ تَعتَعوا ،
spoke when others stuttered,
ومَضَيتُ بِنورِ اللّهِ حينَ وَقَفوا .
and advanced with the light of God when others stood.
وكُنتُ أخفَضَهُم صَوتا ،
I was the lowest of them in voice
وأعلاهُم فَوتا ،
but the highest in outstripping.
فَطِرتُ بِعِنانِها ،
I cleaved to its rein
وَاستَبدَدتُ بِرِهانِها ،
and applied myself to its pledge,
كَالجَبَلِ لا تُحَرِّكُهُ القَواصِفُ ،
as the mountain which neither sweeping wind could move
ولا تُزيلُهُ العَواصِفُ ،
nor storm could shake.
لَم يَكُن لِأَحَدٍ فِيَّ مَهمَزٌ ،
No one could find fault with me
ولا لِقائِلٍ فِيَّ مَغمَزٌ .
nor could any speaker speak ill of me.”1674
نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 37 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 37.
د ـ الفَضائِلُ الباهِرَةُ
Splendid Virtues
633. الإمام الباقر عليه السلام :
633. Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:
كانَ أميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ـ صَلَواتُ اللّهِ عَلَيهِ ـ يَقولُ :
“The Commander of the Faithful would say:
ما لِلّهِ عَزَّ وجَلَّ آيَةٌ هِيَ أكبَرُ مِنّي ،
There is no sign for God greater than I am,
ولا للِّهِ مِن نَبَأٍ أعظَمُ مِنّي .
nor is there any tiding for God mightier than I am.”
الكافي : ج1 ص207 ح3 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 207, h. 3.
634. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
634. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا الصِّدّيقُ الأَكبَرُ ،
“I am the greatest attester
وأنَا الفاروقُ بَينَ الحَقِّ وَالباطِلِ .
and the Distinguisher of truth from falsehood.”
كنز الفوائد : ج1 ص265 .
Kanz al-Fawaid, vol. 1, p. 265.
635. عنه عليه السلام :
635. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا كَلامُ اللّهِ النّاطِقُ .
“I am the speaking word of God.”
بحار الأنوار : ج 82 ص 199 .
Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 82, p. 199.
636. عنه عليه السلام :
636. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا ... أعرَفُكُم بِالكِتابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ ،
“I am ... the most well-informed of you concerning the Book and the Sunnah,
وأفقَهُكُم فِي الدّينِ ،
the most discerning concerning the religion
وأعلَمُكُم بِعَواقِبِ الاُمورِ .
and the most knowledgeable of the outcomes of affairs.”
الاحتجاج : ج1 ص182 ح36 .
Al-Ihtijaj, vol. 1, p. 182, h 36.
637. عنه عليه السلام :
637. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا أوَّلُ مَن يَجثو بَينَ يَدَيِ الرَّحمنِ لِلخُصومَةِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ .
“I will be the first to kneel for lawsuit before the Beneficent on the Day of Judgment.”
صحيح البخاري : ج4 ص1458 ح3747 .
Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 1458, h. 3747.
638. عنه عليه السلام :
638. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا قَسيمُ اللّهِ بَينَ الجَنَّةِ وَالنّارِ ،
“I am God’s divider between Paradise and the Fire.
لا يَدخُلُها داخِلٌ إلّا عَلى حَدِّ قَسمي .
No enterer will enter it except on the basis of my division.”
الكافي : ج 1 ص 198 ح 3 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 198, h. 3.
ه ـ المَناقِبُ المَعدودَةُ
The Numeral Excellences
639. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
639. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لَقَد اُعطيتُ السِّتَّ ؛
“I have been given six things:
عِلمَ المَنايا وَالبَلايا وَالوَصايا ،
Knowledge of deaths, of the tribulations, of the testaments
وفَصلَ الخِطابِ ،
and conclusive speech.
وإنّي لَصاحِبُ الكَرّاتِ ،
I have been given the power to attack the enemy
ودَولَةِ الدُّوَلِ ،
and the power to subdue the adversary.
وإنّي لَصاحِبُ العَصا وَالميسَمِ ،
I am the possessor of the staff (of Moses) and the Maysam (the marking seal) [The seal of Solomon.]
وَالدّابَةُ الَّتي تُكَلِّمُ النّاسَ .
and I am the being (al-dabbah) that speaks to the people.” [ a reference to Qur’an 27:82]
الكافي : ج1 ص198 ح3 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 198, h. 3.
640. عنه عليه السلام:
640. Imam Ali (AS) said:
لَقَد اُعطيتُ السَّبعَ الَّتي لَم يَسبِقني إلَيها أحَدٌ ؛
“I have been given seven things to which nobody preceded me:
عُلِّمتُ الأَسماءَ ،
I have been taught the names,
وَالحُكومَةَ بَينَ العِبادِ ،
judgement between people,
وتَفسيرَ الكِتابِ ،
interpretation of the Book,
وقِسمَةَ الحَقِّ مِنَ المَغانِمِ بَينَ بَني آدَمَ ،
and equal distribution of spoils among the children of Adam.
فَما شَذَّ عَنّي مِنَ العِلمِ شَيءٌ إلّا وقَد عَلَّمَنيهِ المُبارَكُ .
The blessed Prophet has taught me every form of knowledge.
ولَقَد اُعطيتُ حَرفا يَفتَحُ ألفَ حَرفٍ ،
ولَقَد اُعطِيَت زَوجَتي مُصحَفا فيهِ مِنَ العِلمِ
My wife has been given a scripture wherein is knowledge
ما لَم يَسبِقها إلَيهِ أحَدٌ خاصَّةً مِنَ اللّهِ ورَسولِهِ .
to which no one has preceded, as a gift from God and His Messenger.”
بصائر الدرجات : ص200 ح2 .
Basair al-Darajat, p. 200, h. 2.
641. عنه عليه السلام:
641. Imam Ali (AS) said:
اُحاجُّ النّاسَ يَومَ القِيامَةِ بِتِسعٍ ؛
“I will argue against people on the Day of Judgment over nine things:
بِإِقامِ الصَّلاةِ ،
establishment of prayer,
وإيتاءِ الزَّكاةِ ،
almsgiving,
وَالأَمرِ بِالمَعروفِ ،
enjoining good
وَالنَّهيِ عَنِ المُنكَرِ ،
and forbidding evil,
وَالعَدلِ فِي الرَّعِيَّةِ ،
justice among the subjects,
وَالقَسمِ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ ،
equal distribution,
وَالجِهادِ في سَبيلِ اللّهِ ،
striving in the path of God
وإقامَةِ الحُدودِ وأشباهِهِ .
and execution of fixed legal punishments and the like.”
فضائل الصحابة لابن حنبل : ج1 ص538 ح898 .
Fadail al-Sahabah, by Ibn Hanbal, vol. 1, p. 538, h. 898.
642. عنه عليه السلام:
642. Imam Ali (AS) said:
كانَ لي عَشرٌ مِن رَسولِ اللّهِ صلى الله عليه و آله لَم يُعطَهُنَّ أحَدٌ قَبلي ،
“I had ten things from the Messenger of God (SA) nobody before me was given them
ولا يُعطاهُنَّ أحَدٌ بَعدي ؛
nor will anybody after me be given.
قالَ لي : يا عَلِيُّ ،
He said to me: O Ali,
أنتَ أخي فِي الدُّنيا وَالآخِرَةِ ،
you are my brother in this world and in the hereafter;
وأنتَ أقرَبُ النّاسِ مِنّي مَوقِفا يَومَ القِيامَةِ ،
you will be the nearest to me in station on the Day of Judgment;
ومَنزلي ومَنزِلُكَ فِي الجَنَّةِ مُتَواجِهَينِ كَمَنزِلِ الأَخَوَينِ ،
and your abode and my abode in Paradise will be face to face as the houses of the two brothers;
وأنتَ الوَصِيُّ ،
you are the executor;
وأنتَ الوَلِيُّ ،
you are the protecting friend;
وأنتَ الوَزيرُ ،
and you are the minister.
عَدُوُّكَ عَدُوّي ،
Your enemy is my enemy
وعَدُوّيَعُدوُّ اللّهِ ،
and my enemy is the enemy of God.
ووَلِيُّكَ وَلِيّي ،
Your friend is my friend
ووَلِيّي وَلِيُّ اللّهِ .
and my friend is the friend of God.”
الخصال : ص429 ح7 .
Al-Khisal, p. 429, h. 7.
و ـ المَناقِبُ المَنثورَةُ
Miscellaneous Merits
643. الإمام عليّ عليه السلام :
643. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا أولى بِرَسولِ اللّهِ حَيّا ومَيِّتا ،
“I am closer to the Messenger of God alive and dead. [That is both during his lifetime and after his death (Ed).]
وأنَا وَصِيُّهُ ووَزيرُهُ ومُستَودَعُ سِرِّهِ وعِلمِهِ ،
I am his executor his minister, and the repository of his secret and his knowledge.
وأنَا الصِّدّيقُ الأَكبَرُ ،
I am the greatest attester
وَالفاروقُ الأَعظَمُ ،
and I am the mightiest separator.
وأوَّلُ مَن آمَنَ بِهِ وصَدَّقَهُ ،
I was the first [person] to believe in and attest to him.
وأحسَنُكُم بَلاءً في جِهادِ المُشرِكينَ ،
I am the best of you in fighting the polytheists courageously.
وأعرَفُكُم بِالكِتابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ ،
I am the most well-informed of you concerning the Book and the Sunnah,
وأفقَهُكُم في الدّينِ ،
the most discerning concerning the religion
وأعلَمُكُم بِعَواقِبِ الاُمورِ ،
and the most knowledgeable of the outcomes of affairs.
وأذرَبُكُم لِسانا ،
I am the most eloquent [in speech]
وأثبَتُكُم جَنانا .
and the firmest at heart.”
الاحتجاج : ج1 ص182 ح36 .
Al-Ihtijaj, vol. 1, p. 182, h 36.
644. عنه عليه السلام :
644. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا عَينُ اللّهِ ،
“I am the eye of God.
وأنَا يَدُ اللّهِ ،
I am the hand of God,
وأنَا جَنبُ اللّهِ ،
I am the precinct of God¸
وأنَا بابُ اللّهِ .
[and] I am the gateway of God.”
الكافي : ج1 ص145 ح8 .
Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 145, h. 8.
645. عنه عليه السلام :
645. Imam Ali (AS) said:
أنَا عِلمُ اللّهِ ،
“I am the knowledge of God.
وأنَا قَلبُ اللّهِ الواعي ،
I am the conscious heart of God.
ولِسانُ اللّهِ النّاطِقُ ،
I am the speaking tongue of God.
وعَينُ اللّهِ ،
I am the eye of God,
وجَنبُ اللّهِ ،
the precinct of God (janb Allah) [Editor’s note: The term “Janb Allah” has occurred once in the Qur’an (39:56). According to a tradition narrated by Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah Ansari from the Prophet (s.a.w) he interpreted this term and said that his executor (wasi)¸ that is ‘Ali‚ was the instance of that concept. (See Bihar al-Anwar‚ vol. 36‚ pp. 17 and 112). According to another tradition Imam al-Baqir (AS) was quoted as Saying‚ “The meaning of Janb Allah is that there is no one more proximate than the Messenger of God to Him‚ and that there is no one more proximate than the Prophet’s executor (i.e. ‘Ali) to the Prophet (s.a.w). (See Bihar al-Anwar‚ vol. 4‚ p. 9). Shaykh al-Saduq (d. 381/991) having defined the term Janb Allah as ‘obedience and submissiveness’ interpreted the Imam’s words: ‘I am the Janb Allah’ as ‘I am he whose wilayah is equal to obedience and submissiveness to God. (Ibid‚ see also al-Tawhid‚ p. 165). ]
وأنَا يَدُ اللّهِ .
and the hand of God.”
التوحيد : ص164 ح1 .
Al-Tawhid, p. 164, h 1.
646. عنه عليه السلام:
646. Imam Ali (AS) said:
إنَّما مَثَلي بَينَكُم كَمَثَلِ السِّراجِ فِي الظُّلمَةِ ؛
“My example among you is like the example of a lamp in the darkness.
يَستَضيءُ بِهِ مَن وَلَجَها ،
Whoever enters it benefits from its light.
فَاسمَعوا أيُّهَا النّاسُ وعوا ،
So listen, O people, and be vigilant,
وأحضِروا آذانَ قُلوبِكُم تَفهَموا .
and be attentive with the ears of your hearts, and you will understand.”
نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 187 .
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 187.
