The Attraction and Repulsion of Ali (a.s.)

Abodes of Piety and Purity

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Love with and devotion to them results in nothing but obedience to the Truth and pursuit of Virtue. Their love is like alchemy that transmutes and augments. Of all conformable to Quraba (kith and kin), Ali is the most befitting. Fakhr-i-Razi says, "Zamakhshari reports in Kashaf: when this verse was revealed, they asked from the Prophet, 'Who are those of your kith and kin whose love has been made obligatory on us'? The Prophet replied: "Ali, Fatima and their sons".

This tradition proves that these four personalities are Prophet's Quraba, i.e. the near ones from love with whom people should benefit. To this effect, arguments may be advanced from some other angles also:

  1. The verses about "mowadat fil qurba" (affection with near ones).

  2. Undoubtedly the Prophet loved Fatima most of all and said. "Fatima is part and parcel of myself; whatever offends her offends me". He also loved Ali and Hasnain as is clear from abundant and consistent traditions reported in this context.

Hence love with them obligatory on the whole of the Umma. Because the Quran says "Follow the Prophet (so that) you may find the right course and get guided." It again says: "For you, virtuous precedent is instituted in the life style of messenger of Allah". It proves that love with the progeny of Muhammad, i.e., Ali, Fatima and Hasnain is obligatory on all the Muslims.

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There are numerous traditions reported from the Prophet, enjoining love with and affection towards Ali:

  1. Ibn Aseer cites (from traditions) and says: Prophet said, "Oh Ali.' God, has enriched you with merits which are the most coveted for by His men. Avoidance of worldly benefits: He constructed you in such a manner that neither you benefit from the sordid world nor does it from you. He endowed you with the love for the have-nots. They are happy with your leading them and you are happy with them because they follow you. Blessed is the one who loves you with rectitude. Cursed is the man who has animosity with you and fabricates lies against you".

  2. Suyooti reports that the Prophet said, "Love with Ali is the faith and, enmity with him is the hypocrisy."

  3. Abu Naeem narrates the Prophet having said while addressing the Ansar, "Should I tell you a thing which if you hold fast you will not get astray?" They said, "Yes, O! Prophet of God". He replied, "It is Ali. Love him for the sake of my love, because Allah through Jabra'eel has bade me to tell you this".

The Sunnis have also narrated from the Prophet, inter-alia, that a glance at Ali's face and description of his merits is like offering a prayer. Tabri narrates from 'Aisha saying, "I saw that my father would constantly gaze at Ali. I asked him, 'My dear father! I see you often looking at Ali, why so'? He replied 'O my daughter, I have heard the Prophet saying: 'a glance at Ali's face is like saying a prayer". Ibn Hojr reports from 'Aisha that the Prophet said, "The best of my brothers is Ali and the best of my uncles is Hamza. Remembrance and mention of Ali is like saying of a prayer".

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By Allah and by Prophet, Ali was the most loved. Hence he is the best of the loved ones. Anas bin Malik says, "One of the boys from Ansar would be detailed each day for attending the Prophet. One day it was my turn, when Umm-i-Aiman brought a roasted fowl to the Prophet. She said 'Oh Prophet of God! I myself have caught it and have roasted it for you'. The Prophet said' 'Oh Allah! Send Thy cherished servant to join me in this feast'. In the meantime the door was knocked and the Prophet asked me to open it. I said to myself may be he is an Ansar. But I saw Ali at the back of the door. I told him that the Prophet was busy, and I returned to my own position. Once again there was a knock; the Prophet asked me to open the door. Again I prayed: may he be an Ansar. I opened the door, but again it was Ali. I said to him that the Prophet was busy, and I myself resumed my position. Again there was a knock and the Prophet said, 'Anasr go and open the door and let him in. You are not the first to be clannish. He is not an Ansar'. I went and conducted Ali in. He joined the Prophet in eating the roasted fowl".