Introduction
Some important events which took place in the history of Islam are included in years thirteen and fourteen.
Da’wat dhi ‘l-‘ashíra (Appointment of Ali-asws Ibn Abi Talib-asws)
When the Verse of the Holy Quran ‘And warn your nearest relations’ (26:214) was revealed, Rasool Allah-saww organised a feast which is known as “the Feast of the Clan” (Da’wat dhi ‘l-‘ashíra). This is the first time that Rasool Allah-saww openly and publicly called the relatives to accept him-saww as the Messenger and Prophet of Allah-azwj. It is also the same feast in which Rasool Allah-saww declared ‘Ali-asws Ibn Abi Talib-asws very openly, very clearly, and very explicitly as his-saww successor and caliph. We will learn about the Da’wat dhi ‘l-‘ashíra, from the following Ahadith:
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws said: ‘when this Verse was Revealed [26:214] And warn your nearest relations, Rasool-Allah-saww called me-asws and said: “‘O Ali-asws! Allah-azwj has Commanded me-saww that I-saww should warn my-saww near relatives. But I-saww have been patient after recognising their unwillingness to accept it (the religion of Allah-azwj). So I-saww remained silent until Jibraeel-as came to me-saww and said: ‘O Muhammad-saww! Do what you-saww have been asked for.’ So (Ya Ali-asws) make for us a Sa’a (a unit of measurement) of food, and place upon it a leg of lamb, and fill for us a cup of milk, and gather for me-saww the Clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws and I-saww will let them know and deliver to them what I-saww have been Commanded to.”
‘So, I-asws did what I-asws had been ordered with. Then I-asws invited them to Rasool Allah-saww. There were, in those days, forty of them. Among them were his-saww uncles Abu Talib-asws, and Hamza-asws, and Al-Abbas, and Abu Lahab-la. So when they gathered to Rasool Allah-saww, he-saww called for the food which I-asws had prepared for them. So I-asws came up with it. When I-asws had placed it, Rasool-Allah-saww took a part of the meat, and tore it and then threw it by the side of the platter. Then Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Eat in the Name of Allah-azwj!’ So the people ate until they had no (further) need of it. And I-asws say it by Allah-azwj in whose Hand is the soul of Ali-asws, if one man from them were to eat (under normal conditions) he would finish it (the whole of the food) without feeling anything has reached his stomach. Then Rasool Allah-saww said: “quench the people”. So I-asws came to them with that cup (of milk). They drank from it until they had all been thoroughly quenched.
‘So when Rasool-Allah-saww intended to speak to them, Abu Lahab-la interrupted the speech. He-la said, “You are all destroyed by what has enchanted you, by this sorcery of your companion-saww” (nouzobillah). So the people dispersed and the Prophet-saww did not get to speak to them. On the next day, Rasool Allah-saww said: “O Ali-asws! This man preceded me-saww to what my-saww people were to hear from me-saww. So the people dispersed before I-saww could speak to them. Therefore, prepare for us, from the food, the like of what you-asws did. Then gather them to me-saww”. So I-asws did it. Then I-asws gathered them to him-saww and he-saww called for the food. I-asws brought it near to them and they did what they had done the day before, and ate until there was nothing more that they needed. Then he-saww said: “quench them”. So I-asws came up to them with that cup (of milk). They drank until all of them were thoroughly quenched from it.
‘Then Rasool-Allah-saww spoke. He-saww said: “O Clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws! By Allah-azwj! I-saww do not know of any youth among the Arabs who has come to his people with anything better than what I-saww have come to you all with. I-saww have come to you with the good of the world and the Hereafter. And Allah-azwj has Commanded me that I-saww should invite you. So which one of you would (like to) be my-saww Vizier, so that he would become my-saww brother, and my-saww successor, and my-saww Caliph among you?”
‘So the people declined from it, altogether. I-asws (Imam Ali-asws) said: “And I-asws am younger than them in age, and kinder than them in eyes, and weaker than them (in presence). I-asws, Ya Rasool Allah-saww would become your-saww Vizier.” So Rasool Allah-saww took me-asws and said: “this is my-saww brother-asws, and my-saww successor-asws, and my-saww Caliph among you, therefore listen to him-asws and obey.”’
So the people got up and they were laughing and saying to Hazrat Abu Talib-asws, that the Prophet-saww had ordered him to listen to Imam Ali-asws and therefore obey his own son.[1]
Additional Ahadith on the Invitation to the Near Relatives
The narrator of the Hadith said that Abu Lahab said to them (the ones who were invited by Rasool Allah-saww), ‘This is a spell that the man (referring to Rasool Allah-saww, nouzobillah) has cast upon you’. Then the Prophet-saww said to them: ‘Allah-azwj has Commanded me-saww that I-saww should warn my-saww relatives, and I-saww have not come to you all from Allah-azwj with any instructions, except to tell you that you should say, “There is no god except Allah-azwj.”’
So Abu Lahab said, ‘Is this what you-saww have called us for?’ Then they dispersed from him-saww. So Allah-azwj Revealed the Verse: “[111:1] Perdition (punishment in Hell shall) overtake both hands of Abu Lahab, and he will perish”. Then Rasool Allah-saww called them with another invitation and fed them and quenched their thirst, then said to them: ‘O sons of Abdul Muttalib-asws! If you were to obey me-saww you would become kings of the earth and its rulers, and there has not been a Prophet-as Sent by Allah-azwj except that there has been Made for him-as a successor, a brother, a Vizier. So, which one of you wants to become my-saww brother, and my-saww Vizier, and my-saww successor, and my-saww inheritor, and the fulfiller of my-saww debts?’[2]
The narrator of the Hadith says that Imam Ali-asws (Ibn Abi Talib-asws) said, ‘I-asws, O Rasool Allah-saww! So he-saww said: ‘You-asws!’ So that is why he-asws is Rasool Allah-saww‘s successor. The group stood up to leave, and they were saying to Abu Talib-asws, ‘Obey your-asws son-asws, for he-asws has command over you-asws.’[3]
The narrator of the Hadith says: ‘The Prophet-saww said: ‘I-saww was sent to the People-asws of my-saww Household especially, and to the people generally’.[4]
Shiab-e-Abi Talib-asws (Valley of Abu Talib-asws)
This is the valley of Hazrat Abu Talib-asws (Shiab-e-Abi Talib-asws), where the members of Banu Hashim were forced to take refuge from the infidels of Makkah and lived there in a painful social boycott for three years.
When Islam began to spread, the Makkans asked Abu Talib-asws, the uncle and protector of the Prophet-saww, to hand the Prophet-saww over to them for execution, but Abu Talib-asws steadfastly refused. Abu Talib-asws immediately called on the members of Banu Hashim to meet at the Ka’bah (the House of Allah-azwj) and convinced them to pledge that they would protect, at any cost, Rasool Allah-saww (Muhammad-saww).
The Quraysh held a meeting and decided to outcast the Banu Hashim by placing them under a total social boycott. The conditions of the agreement were, the other clans from the Quraysh would not marry their daughters, buy or sell to them, keep company with them, nor would they accept any peace offer from them until they handed over the Prophet-saww to them. Once all the people present had agreed with the points mentioned above, they put this pact in writing. The Quraysh chiefs signed this document and the parchment was secured inside the Ka’bah.
At this point, Abu Talib-asws gathered the forty members of the Bani Hashim clan and took them to ‘Shiab-e-Abi Talib-asws’ in order to protect the life of the Holy Prophet-saww. Hazrat Abu Talib-asws closed down all sides of the ‘Shiab-e-Abi Talib-asws’ and started protecting Rasool Allah-saww day and night. Abu Talib-asws, would unshielded his-asws sword during night and walk around the valley for protection of Rasool Allah-saww, though he-asws would not settle on that. He-asws would also change the sleeping place of Rasool Allah-saww several times during the night and would usually move his son Ali-asws ibn Abi Talib-asws at the place of Rasool Allah-saww. This was so that if all security measures in place were to be overcome by the Quraysh and if they were to succeed in making their way in, they would still strike Ali-asws, his-asws son-asws rather than Rasool Allah-saww, who they could have found, somehow, sleeping there during the early part of the night.
The boycott was devastating for the Bani Hashim and for many months they lived in hardship. It was so rigorously applied that the food had become scarce and they had to eat the leaves of trees. The women, and more specially the children and suckling babies would cry with hunger which could be heard all over the valley. The Quraysh told the merchants not to sell any goods to them. Prices were increased to prevent them from buying even essentials. They remained in that state for three years. Occasionally, Imam Ali-asws would break the barricades of Quraysh and bring in some food and essentials for the family members. Despite such grim circumstances, Rasool Allah-saww never ceased inviting non-Muslims to Islam. Rasool Allah-saww particularly invited non-Muslims who would come to Makkah during the time of Hajj. It was at this time that Rasool Allah-saww would speak to tribes that had travelled to Makkah from all over the Arab world.
When three years had passed and Quraysh continued to implement the social boycott of the Abu Talib-asws and Bani Hashim, Allah-azwj got their signed parchment, which they had hidden in the Kabah, to be eaten up by a termite. It ate all writing on the parchment except for the Name of Allah-azwj, which remained intact. Allah-azwj Sent down Angel Jibraeel-as who informed this to Rasool Allah-saww to inform Abu Talib-asws that he-asws should go to the Kabah.
Abu Talib-asws went to the Kabah and found the presence of some of the notable members of the Quraysh therein. They were afraid of Abu Talib-asws due to his-asws unexpected arrival there and they all stood up out of respect.
They asked for the reason of the Abu Talib-asws coming to the Kabah, and Abu Talib-asws informed them what Allah-azwj had Done to their signed parchment, and they should stop their unjust and cruel social boycott or else await Allah-azwj’s wrath. After much fighting among them and consultation, they decided to end their social boycott. In the same year, Abu Talib-asws and the wife of Rasool Allah-saww were called back by Allah-azwj, and they-asws met their martyrdom. At that Rasool Allah-saww was asked to migrate from Makkah as he-saww had lost his-saww support.[5]
Additional Ahadith on Shiab-e-Abi Talib-asws
Imam Hassan Askari-asws said: Rasool Allah-saww is the one-saww who, when the Quraysh placed him-saww under arrest in the valley (of Abu Talib-asws) and closed its doors, supplicated and received far superior food and whatever they desired for. The Prophet-saww, subsequently, lifted his-saww right hand towards the mountains and similarly his-saww left hand towards the mountains and said to them: ‘Move away!’ and then said this by his-saww hand: ‘Come to Muhammad-saww and his-saww supporters, O vegetation!’ Allah-azwj Gave to him-saww trees and fruits and rivers and types of flowers and plants. He-saww looked at the trees and the fragrant basil and vegetables which gladden the hearts and the eyes and by which the distress and grief disappear, and they knew that not a single of this is from the kingdom of this earth.[6]
Imam Hassan Askari-asws also explained about Allah-azwj‘s Words: Then let him summon his council (96:17)]. He-asws said: ‘When Abu Talib-asws passed away, Abu Jahl and Al-Waleed, may Curses of Allah-azwj be upon them both, called out, ‘Come and kill Muhammad-saww, for the one-asws who used to help him-saww has died!’ So Allah-azwj said: (96:17) then let him summon his council, [96:18] We too would summon the braves of the army (Al-Zabaniyya – Angels of Hell). He-asws said: ‘So if he (Abu Jahl) calls for the killing of Rasool-Allah-saww, We would also Call Al-Zabaniyya’ (to kill and punish the non-believers).[7]
Migration from Makkah to Madina
When Quraysh became very annoyed with the preaching of Rasool Allah-saww and the success of Islam in Makkah, they decided to collectively attack Rasool Allah-saww during one night. They picked one person from each tribe in order to have the presence and contribution of each tribe in the killing of Rasool Allah-saww while asleep. They started gathering during the earlier part of the night and sealed all possible ways out of Rasool Allah-saww’s house.
Allah-azwj Asked Rasool Allah-saww to leave his-saww house immediately and immigrate to Medina (350 kilometres from Makkah), by entrusting the deposits of the people with Imam Ali-asws, who would join him-saww later, after returning back the deposits of people, who used to entrust their valuables to Rasool Allah-saww for safekeeping. Rasool Allah-saww miraculously made his way out through the rows of Quraysh, without them realising him-saww going out of their well-planned surveillance.
The narrator of the Hadith says regarding the explanation of the exit of the Prophet-saww from his-saww house towards the cave (on his way to Medina), that Rasool-Allah-saww asked that Imam Ali-asws should sleep on his-saww bed instead. Rasool Allah-saww said to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws: ‘Ransom me-saww with your-asws self.’ Ali-asws said: ‘Yes, Rasool-Allah-saww.’ He-saww said: ‘O Ali-asws, sleep on my-saww bed and cover up (yourself) with my-saww blanket.’ Ali-asws slept on the bed of Rasool-Allah-saww and covered up with his-saww blanket (so that Quraysh would think Rasool Allah-saww is resting in his-saww bed). (Allah-azwj Sent) Jibraeel-as to Hold Rasool-Allah-saww’s hand, take him-saww out from the Quraysh whilst they were asleep and he (Jibraeel-as) was reciting to him-saww And We have made in front of them a barrier and a barrier behind them, so We have Covered them over, so they are not seeing [36:9].[8]
The narrator says in another Hadith:
It is narrated: “On the (immigration) night (of Rasool Allah-saww), when Imam Ali-asws slept in the bed of Rasool Allah-saww, Allah-azwj Revealed to Jibraeel-as and Mikaeel-as that I-azwj have made you brothers of each other. And one of you is given a longer life than the other. Which one of you will give (the extra years of) his life to the other? They did not agree upon giving away part of their lives (to the other one who was given lesser life-span).
At that Allah-azwj Revealed to them: “Why can’t you be like Ali-asws Ibn Abi Talib-asws? I-azwj Made him-asws the brother of Muhammad-saww and he-asws (is prepared to sacrifice his-asws life to protect the life of his-asws brother-saww) and Ali-asws is sleeping in his (brother’s) bed after dedicating his-asws life to him-asws. So go to the earth and protect Ali-asws from (the attackers of) his (brother). So they came down and Jibraeel-as sat at Ali-asws’s head side and Mikaeel-as sat at his-asws feet side and said: “Glad Tidings for you O son of Abu Talib-asws, who can be like you-asws? That Almighty Allah-azwj Boasts about you to the angels-as.”
The narrator says that Rasool Allah-saww said:
‘The next morning after I was in the cave (on my way to Madina), Jibraeel-as came to me-saww overjoyed, and I-saww asked him-as about his-as happiness, Jibraeel-as replied; “Why I-as should not be happy when Almighty Allah-azwj Honoured your-saww brother-asws, successor and the Imam-asws of the Umma last night, and Allah-azwj was so Proud of him-asws and He-azwj Said: “O angels-as, Look at My-azwj Proof-asws, how he-asws is risking his-asws life for the Prophet-saww. [9]
Imam Hassan Al-Askari-asws said that Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws said: ‘When Allah-azwj Sent Muhammad-saww in Makkah and Manifested his-saww call, and advertised his-saww words, and faulted the idol worshipping religions, they came after him-saww to hurt Muhammad-saww and the rest of his-saww companions, and Muhammad-saww had to leave Makkah and go to Medina.
He-saww turned back to face Makkah and said: ‘Allah-azwj Knows that I-saww love you (O City of Makkah). Had your inhabitants not forced me-saww to go out, I-saww would not have given priority to another city over you, nor changed you for another one, and I-saww feel sad and grieved’.
Allah-azwj Revealed unto him-saww: ‘O Muhammad-saww! The Most High Sends Greetings to you-saww and Says, ‘I-azwj Shall Return you-saww to this city victorious, unscathed, powerful, compelling’. And that is the Words of the High “Most surely He Who has made the Quran binding on you will bring you back to the destination” – 28:85 meaning to Makkah victorious and a winner, and Rasool Allah-saww informed that to his-saww companions. However, the Makkans laughed when they heard about this’.[10]
Verses of the Holy Quran in the Praise of Ali-asws:
(It has been narrated) that Abu Ja’far-asws and Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘These Verses which are at the end of Aal-e-Imran (3rd Chapter) were Revealed regarding Ali-asws and regarding a group of his-asws companions. And that is, when Allah-azwj the High Commanded (Rasool-Allah-saww) for the emigration to Medina after the passing away for his-saww uncle Abu Talib-asws, and the Quraysh had allied against him-saww to murder Rasool Allah-saww at night. So they would all strike with one strike, so that it would not be known who murdered him-saww, so he would not be seized for its consequences.
So Allah-azwj Commanded that his-saww cousin-asws Imam Ali-asws sleep in his-saww place, and he-saww should go out of Medina at night. So Rasool Allah-saww did what Allah-azwj had Commanded him-saww for, and made Imam Ali-asws sleep in his-saww place upon his-saww bed, and advised Ali-asws to bring his-saww family to Medina. So the mushraqeen (Polytheists) from the Quraysh came, from the ones who had formed a pact and allied for it, but they found Imam Ali-asws to be in his-saww place. So they returned back upon their heels, and Allah-azwj invalidated what they had vowed against him-saww and allied for.
Then Imam Ali-asws brought his-saww family members among the men and women to Medina. Abu Sufyan came to know of his-asws exit and Imam Ali’s-asws journey to Medina. So he followed him-asws in order to return him-asws. And he had with him a black slave who was ferocious and bold in confrontation. So his master ordered him to meet up with Imam Ali-asws and prevent him-asws from the journey until his companions come up (to form a bigger resistance). He met up with Imam Ali-asws and said to him-asws, ‘You-asws will not move ahead with the ones who are with you-asws until I bring you-asws to my master’. So he-asws said to him: ‘Woe be unto you! Return to your master or else I-asws will kill you’.
But, he did not return. So Imam Ali-asws unsheathed his-asws sword and struck him, and his head fell off from his body. And he-asws marched on with the women and the family members. Abu Sufyan came and found his slave killed. So he followed Imam Ali-asws and met up with him-asws. So he said to him-asws, ‘O Ali-asws! You-asws are taking the daughters and the cousins without our permission and you-asws are killing our slaves?’ So he-asws said: ‘I-asws took them by the permission of the one for whom the permission was to be taken from. So get on with your business’. But, Abu Sufyan did not return, and fought against him-asws, with the help of his companions for the whole day. But, they could not turn him-asws back, so they returned disappointed.
And Imam Ali-asws marched on with his-asws companions, and he-asws had told his-asws companions that a battle may be imposed upon them. Imam Ali-asws ordered them to encamp to rest and then journey with the ones with them. So they encamped and Prayed as what was possible, and threw themselves (prostrated) remembering Allah-azwj the High in all these situation until the morning. And they Praised Him-azwj, and thanked Him-azwj, and worshipped.
Then Imam Ali-asws went with them to Medina, to the Prophet-saww, and Jibraeel-as descended before their arrival. So he-as told the Prophet-saww of their story, and recited to him-saww the Verses from the end of Aal-e-Imraan-as (3rd Chapter) up to His-azwj Words [3:194] surely You do not fail to Fulfil the Promise. So when Imam Ali-asws arrived with them to the Prophet-saww, Rasool Allah-saww said to him-asws: ‘Allah-azwj, Glory be to Him-azwj has Revealed regarding you-asws and regarding your-asws companions Verses in the Quran’. And Rasool Allah-saww recited to Imam Ali-asws the Verses from the end of (the Chapter of) Aal e Imraan-as up to its last one. And the Praise is for Allah-azwj the Lord-azwj of the Worlds’.[11]
The Story of Migration of Rasool Allah-saww
This is the will of Rasool Allah-saww to all of his-saww companions which was made when he-saww went into the cave. Allah-azwj Revealed unto him-saww: ‘O Muhammad-saww! The Most High Sends to you-saww His-azwj Salutations and Says that Abu Jahl-la and the Chiefs of the Quraysh have plotted to kill you-saww and Commands you-saww to make Ali-asws sleep in your-saww place and Says to you-saww that his-asws status with you-saww is that of Ismail-as the Slaughtered, with Ibrahim-as the Friend, who-asws will give his-asws life for your-saww life and his-asws soul for your-saww soul.
Rasool Allah-saww said to Imam Ali-asws: ‘Are you-asws happy that they may come looking for me-saww and find you-asws instead, and in their ignorance attack and kill you-asws?’ Imam Ali-asws said: ‘Yes, O Rasool Allah-saww! I-asws would be happy to give up my-asws soul for your-saww soul, and sacrifice my-asws self for your-saww self, and, I-asws would be happy for my-asws soul and my-asws self to be sacrifice for a brother of yours-saww or a near one or an animal who may be of benefit to you-saww for I-asws love to be in your-saww service and to be spent on between your-saww orders and your-saww prohibitions and in the love of your-saww friends, and helping your-saww sincere companions and fighting against your-saww enemies. If it is not for this then I-asws would not like to be in this world even for one moment’.
Rasool Allah-saww turned attentively to Imam Ali-asws and said to him-asws: ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! The Angels of the Guarded Tablet have read these words of yours-asws to me-saww and Allah-azwj has Promised such Rewards for you-asws for this, in the Place of Bliss, that no one has ever heard of or seen the likes of these, nor has any thinker contemplated them’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww said to Imam Ali-asws: ‘O Ali-asws! You-asws are to me-saww like the ears and eyes and head are to the body, and the soul is with the body. You-asws are as dear to me as the cold water is to the one suffering from the illness of the thirst’. Then he-saww said to him-asws: ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! Cover yourself-asws with my-saww blanket. When the infidels come over, talk to them, for Allah-azwj will Incline towards you-asws and save you-asws from them’.
When Abu Jahl-la came over with some people armed with swords, Abu Jahl-la said to them: ‘Don’t attack him-asws when he-asws is asleep and unaware; stone him-asws first, then kill him-asws (so he-saww wakes up). They threw heavy stones at him-asws. He-asws uncovered his-asws head and said: ‘What are you doing?’ They realised that he-asws was Imam Ali-asws.
Abu Jahl-la said to them: ‘Do you see how Muhammad-saww made this one sleep here and escaped himself-saww leaving us to be involved with him-asws here whilst Muhammad-saww reaches a place of refuge. Do not involve yourselves with Imam Ali-asws for he-asws has been deceived by being destroyed for Muhammad-saww. Why did he-asws not sleep in his-asws own place if his-saww Lord-azwj is his-saww Protector as he-saww claims to be?’
Imam Ali-asws said: ‘Are you-la saying this on my-asws behalf O Abu Jahl-la?’ But, Allah-azwj has Granted to me-asws such intellect that were it to be divided between all the idiots and the insane ones of this world, they would all become intellectuals; and such strength that were it to be divided between all the weak people, they would all become strong; and such bravery that were it to be divided between all the cowards of this world, they would all become brave; and such forbearance that were it to be divided between all the fools of this world, they would all become gentlemen’.
‘And had not Rasool Allah-saww ordered me-asws to stay calm until we meet, I-asws would have killed you. Woe be unto you O Abu Jahl-la and curse be upon you-la! Abu Al-Bakhtary Bin Hisham became angry and intended to kill him-asws with his sword. He saw the mountains coming towards him to crush him, and the earth opened up to swallow him up, and he saw the waves of the seas coming towards him to drag him away into the sea and he saw the sky about to fall down upon him. His sword dropped away from him and he fainted and was taken away by the people. Abu Jahl-la said: ‘He has had an attack of Jaundice’. He-la wanted to cover up the affair.
Rasool Allah-saww said to Imam Ali-asws when he-saww met him-asws: ‘O Ali-asws! Allah-azwj Elevated your-asws voice during the conversation with Abu Jahl-la up to the heights, and Made it reach the Gardens. The Trustees and the Houries spoke good about it: ‘Who is this favourable one to Muhammad-saww, when he-saww had been denied and made to emigrate?’ It was said to them: ‘This is his-saww deputy, who slept on his-saww bed and gave his-asws self for his Prophet-saww, and his-asws soul for his Prophet-saww‘s soul’.
The Trustees said: ‘O our Lord-azwj! Make us to be his-asws Trustees’. The Houries said: ‘Make us to be his-asws women’. Allah-azwj Said to them: ‘You are for him-asws, but he-asws has the decision to divide you between his-asws friends, and those who love him-asws, by the Order of Allah-azwj. He-asws is fully aware of their capacities. Are you all happy with that?’ They said: ‘Yes, our Lord-azwj, we are happy’.[12]
The Condition of Abu Bakr in the Cave:
(Our 6th Imam-asws) has said that: ‘Rasool Allah-saww said while turning to Abu Bakr in the cave: ‘Calm down, for Allah-azwj is with us’. And he had been taken over by intense fear, and he was not calm. So when Rasool Allah-saww saw his state, he-saww said to him: ‘Would you like me-saww to show you my-saww companions from the Helpers narrating in their gathering? shall I-saww show you Ja’far-asws and his-asws companions sailing in the sea?’ He said, ‘Yes’. So Rasool Allah-saww wiped his-saww hand upon his face. Abu Bakr visualised the Helpers narrating, and visualised Ja’far-asws and his-as companions sailing in the sea. So Abu Bakr decided in that very moment that the Prophet-saww was a sorcerer’[13].
Rasool Allah-saww Waited For Imam Ali-asws before Entering into Medina:
Rasool Allah-saww waited for Imam Ali-asws outside Medina. Imam Ali-asws joined him-saww together with the other members of their-asws family members, including the mother-asws of Imam Ali-asws and the daughter of Rasool Allah-saww. Then they all entered the city of Medina.
The narrator of the Hadith says I asked from Imam Ali-asws Ibn Hussain-asws (our 4th Imam-asws) about (Imam Ali-asws’s to Migration to Medina):
‘When Rasool Allah-saww migrated to Medina, and left Imam Ali-asws behind, he journeyed to Medina over twelve nights from the Month of Rabbi -ul- Awwal with the setting of the sun.
‘And Rasool Allah-saww stayed at (the house of) Amro Bin Awf for about ten days. They were saying to him-saww, ‘Stay with us, so we will build for you-saww house and a Masjid’. So Rasool Allah-saww said; ‘No. I-saww am awaiting Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, and have asked him-asws to meet me-saww, and I-saww will not settle in a house until Imam Ali-asws comes, and he-asws will not be long, Allah-azwj Willing.’ So Imam Ali-asws came to the Prophet-saww at the house of Amro Bin Awf and stayed with him-saww.
‘When Imam Ali-asws arrived, Rasool Allah-saww, transferred from Quba to the Clan of Saalim Bin Awf, and Imam Ali-asws was with him-saww, on the Day of Friday at sunrise. So they drew a boundary for him-saww for a Masjid, and established its Qiblah (direction of Prayer). Rasool Allah-saww Prayed with them the Friday Prayer of two cycles, and preached them two sermons. Then Rasool Allah-saww went to Medina upon a she-camel, and Imam Ali-asws was with him-saww.
‘Rasool Allah-saww had freed the camel’s reins until it ended up at the place which you see’, and the fourth Imam-asws gestured by his-asws hands to the door of the Masjid of Rasool Allah-saww. The Imam-asws said: ‘So it paused at it and knelt, and placed itself upon the ground. So Rasool Allah-saww descended, and Abu Ayub welcomed him-saww and carried his-saww saddle bag and made him-saww to enter his house. And Rasool Allah-saww and Imam Ali-asws stayed with him until they built for him-saww, his-saww Masjid, and built for him-saww his-saww house, and a house for Imam Ali-asws. So, both of them-asws transferred to their-asws houses’.
So Saeed Bin Al-Musayyab (the narrator) said to Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws, Abu Bakr was with Rasool Allah-saww when he-saww arrived at Medina. So when did he separate from Rasool Allah-saww?’ So the Imam-asws replied: ‘Abu Bakr was with him-saww when Rasool Allah-saww proceeded to Quba, and he-saww decided to wait for Imam Ali-asws. So Abu Bakr said to him-saww, ‘Come with us to Medina, for the people would rejoice at your-saww arrival there and are eager to welcome you-saww. So come with us and do not stay over here waiting for Imam Ali-asws, from what I can see, it would take him-asws a month to come to you-asws’. So Rasool Allah-saww said to him: ‘Never! He-asws will not be long, and I-saww will not move until my-saww cousin-asws, and my-saww brother-asws for the sake of Allah-azwj, and the most beloved to me-saww of my-saww Family comes over, for he-asws saved me-saww from the Polytheists by being in my-saww place’.
The Imam-asws said; ‘So Abu Bakr became angry and was disgusted by it, and felt envious of Imam Ali-asws, and that was the first enmity initiated from him to Rasool Allah-saww with regards to Imam Ali-asws, and the first of his opposition to Rasool Allah-saww. So he went until he entered Medina, and left behind Rasool Allah-saww at Quba waiting for Imam Ali-asws’.
(The narrator) said, ‘I said to Imam Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws, ‘So when did the Messenger-saww get Syeda Fatima-asws married to Imam Ali-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘At Medina, a year after the Migration, and Syeda-asws was in her-asws ninth year’.
So I (the narrator) said to the fourth Imam-asws, ‘when was the Salat became Obligatory upon the Muslims in the form that they are Praying today?’ He-asws said: ‘At Medina when the Call was made apparent, and Al-Islam was strong, and Allah-azwj Decreed Jihad upon the Muslims, and Rasool Allah-saww increased in the Prayer, seven cycles – two cycles in Al-Zohr, and two cycles in Al-Asr, and one cycle in Al-Maghrib, and two cycles in Al-Isha, and accepted Al-Fajr upon what it had been Obligated in order to expedite the descent of the Angels of the day from the sky and to expedite that rising of the Angels of the night to the sky. And the Angels of the night and the Angels of the day had been testifying with Rasool Allah-saww for Al-Fajr Prayer, so that is the Statement of Allah-azwj: “[17:78] (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn is witnessed”, witnessed by the Muslims and witnessed by the Angels of the day and Angels of the night’.[14]
Change of the Qibla (Direction of Salat toward Makkah instead of Jerusalem):
Imam Hassan Al-Askari-asws said: ‘And that when Rasool Allah-saww used to be in Makkah, Allah-azwj Ordered him-saww to face towards the Bayt Al-Maqdas during his-saww Prayers, and make the Kabah to be in between if possible, and if it is not possible then only towards the direction of Bayt Al-Maqdas as before. And Rasool Allah-saww did that for a long duration of thirteen years.
‘And when he-saww was in Medina, he-saww used to face towards Bayt Al-Maqdas and not towards the Kabah for seventeen months. A group of stubborn Jews came and said: ‘By Allah-azwj! Muhammad-saww does not know how to Pray to the extent that he-saww faces towards our direction and he-saww has adopted our ways and customs in his-saww Prayers’. Jibraeel-as came over and Rasool Allah-saww said to him: ‘O Jibraeel-as! It would be good if Allah-azwj were to change the direction from Bayt Al-Maqdas to the Kabah, for I-saww have been hurt by the talks of the Jews regarding the direction’. Jibraeel-as said: ‘Peace be on you-saww! Ask your-saww Lord-azwj, for He-azwj will never reject anything that you-saww ask for and will never keep you-saww away from your-saww desire’.
When his-saww supplication was completed, Jibraeel-as flew up into the sky and then came down within a moment and said: ‘Read, O Muhammad-saww! “Indeed We see the turning of your face to heaven, so We shall surely turn you to a qibla which you shall like; turn then your face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you are, turn your face towards it” (2:144). The Jews said with regards to that “What has turned them from their qibla which they had? – (2:142) Allah-azwj Answered them beautifully by Saying: “Say: The East and the West belong only to Allah” – 2:142 and He-azwj is the Owner of them and Placing on you the effort to turn in one direction is like Placing on you the effort of turning towards another direction “He guides whom He likes to the right path – 2:142 and it is for your betterment, and the obedience to this will take them towards the Blissful Gardens.
Battle of Badr
The narrator of the Hadith says that Imam Hassan Askari-asws (11th Imam-asws) said:
Abu Jahl-la sent his messenger to Prophet Muhammad-saww and, he approached him-saww threateningly and said: ‘O Muhammad-saww! This madness (nouzobillah) which you have in your head has made your life in Makkah very difficult and has made you-saww reach Yathrab (Medina), and they (Quraysh) will not ease off from you-saww until you-saww review your-saww affairs.
This message was given to Prophet Muhammad-saww when he-saww was living on the outskirts of Medina, and there were present with him-saww a group of his-saww companions, and the generality of the infidels and some Jews from the Children of Israel, and this was what the messenger had been ordered to do, to present this message, to set aside the believers so that the rest of the unbelievers would attack them. Rasool Allah-saww said to the messenger: ‘Have you finished your message?’ He said ‘Yes’.
He-saww said: ‘Listen to the reply: Abu Jahl-la threatens me-saww with difficulties and destruction, and the Lord-azwj of the worlds Promises to me-saww Help and victory, and the News of Allah-azwj is True, and I-saww accept what is from Allah-azwj as Right. Muhammad-saww has no fear of anyone’s desertion or anger when he-saww has the Help of Allah-azwj the Almighty Who will Grant him-saww Preference by His-azwj Grace and Honour’.
‘Say to him-la: O Abu Jahl-la! You have sent to me-saww a message which Satan-la has inspired you-la with and I-saww am answering you-la with what Allah-azwj has Inspired me-saww with – The battle between us and you-la will be after twenty nine days from now, and Allah-azwj will Have you-la killed by a weak companion of mine-saww, and you will bring with you Otbah, and Sheyba, and Waleed, and such and such’ – Rasool Allah-saww mentioned a number of the Quraysh people – ‘in the centre of Badr. Seventy of you will be killed, and seventy of you will be taken prisoner, who will bear a heavy and great (war) penalty’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww called out to those who were present from the believers, the Jews, the Christians and others: ‘Would you like to see the death place of each one of these?’ They said: ‘Yes’. Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Let us go to Badr, for over there is where the armies will meet and the battle will be, and over there will be the great affliction. I-saww will place my-saww feet on those places where they will die, then you will see that there will be no difference in that, neither more nor less from these spots’ (when the battle is finished). So, none of them agreed wanted to go there (to witness) except Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws alone, and Imam Ali-asws said: ‘Yes, in the Name of Allah-azwj‘. The rest of them said: ‘We need provisions and expenses for this, and it is not possible to return from there, for it is a journey of days’.
Rasool Allah-saww said to the rest of the Jews: ‘What have you got to say?’ They said: ‘We want to settle down in our homes, and have no need to witness what you-saww claim for your-saww enemies’. Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘I-saww do not want to give you the difficulty of walking up to there. Take one step, and Allah-azwj will Fold the earth in such a way for you that by your second step you will be over there’.
The believers said: ‘Rasool Allah-saww speaks the truth; we will be honoured by these Signs’. And the infidels and the hypocrites said: ‘We will all examine this lie and cut off the excuse of Prophet Muhammad-saww, and let this claim of his-saww be a proof over him-saww, and the exposure of his-saww lie.’
The Holy Imam Hassan Al-Askari-asws said: ‘The people took one step, then another, and found themselves by the well of Badr’. Rasool Allah-saww went and said: ‘Make the well as a reference. And at a certain distance from it he-saww said: ‘This is the death place of Abu Jahl-la, and a certain man of the Helpers will wound him and an elderly companion of mine-saww will kill him’.
Then the Holy Imam Hassan Al-Askari-asws said: ‘Rasool Allah-saww measured from this well in another direction, then another, then another, such and such a distance, and mentioned different distances. When all the counting and measuring had completed, Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘This is the death place of Otbah, and that is the death place of Sheyba, and that is the death place of Waleed, and they will be killed by such and such’ – until he-saww had named all seventy of them with their names – ‘and such and such will be made captive’ – until he-saww had named seventy of them with their names and their fathers names and their characteristics, and detailed their lineage from their fathers, and the lineage of their friends as well’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Are you all aware now of what I-saww have informed you of?’ They said: ‘Yes’. He-saww said: ‘This is the truth which will transpire after twenty eight days from now, on the twenty ninth day. The Promise of Allah-azwj is Destined to happen and is a must’. Then Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘O group of Muslims and Jews, write down what you have just heard’. They said: ‘O Rasool Allah-saww, we have heard and our minds will not forget’.
Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Writing is preferable and a remembrance for you‘. They said: ‘O Rasool Allah-saww! And where is the ink and paper?’ Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘That is for the Angels’. Then he-saww said: ‘O Angels of my-saww Lord-azwj! Write down what you have heard from this story on paper, and place a copy of this in the sleeves of each and every one of them’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww said: O Group of Muslims! Shake your sleeves and take out what is in them and read from it’. Each one of them look into their sleeves and found a parchment, read it, and found mentioned in it what Rasool Allah-saww had said correctly, not more and not less and not ahead of it nor left anything behind from it. Then Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Put them back in your sleeves for these are proofs over you, and a matter of honour for the believers from among you and argumentative proof over the infidels’. These remained with them.
When the day of Badr came, the events all transpired in accordance with what Rasool Allah-saww had said would happen, not more and not less, and it was exactly as had been written down by the Angels, not more and not less. The Muslims accepted the apparent acceptance of the Jews and left their hidden beliefs to their Creator-azwj.
The narrator of the Hadith says:
‘When the Cavalry lined up on the Day of Badr, Abu Jahl-la raised his hands and said, ‘O our gods! We have severed our ties (of kinship), and they have come against us those whom we do not recognise (anymore), so let the punishment befall. So Allah-azwj Revealed [70:1] A questioner, asked for the Punishment to befall’.[15]
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Imam Abu Abdullah-asws said: On the day of Badr (the slogan of Muslims) was
‘يَا نَصْرَ اللَّهِ اقْتَرِبْ اقْتَرِبْ ‘‘O victory of Allah-azwj, Come close! Come close!
The slogan of Muslims on the day of ‘Uhud’ was ‘يَا نَصْرَ اللَّهِ اقْتَرِبْ’ ‘O Victory of Allah, Come close!’’[16]
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘On the Day of Badr, Iblees-la used to belittle the Muslims in the eyes of the infidels, and magnify the infidels in the eyes of the Muslims. So Jibraeel-as pulled the sword against him-la and Iblees-la fled from him-as, saying, ‘O Jibraeel-as, I-la have been Granted a term, I-la have been Granted a term’, until he-la ended up in the sea’. Zurara (the narrator) said, ‘So I said to Abu Ja’far-asws, ‘What was it that he-la was afraid of since he-la had been Granted a specific term?’ He-asws said: ‘Some parts of his-la sides to be cut off’.[17]
The Story of the Abyssinia King:
Imam Abu ‘Abdullah-asws has said, ‘Once al-Najashi (king of Abyssinia) called to his presence Ja’far-asws Ibn Abu Talib-asws and his-asws companions (who were sent to him by Rasool Allah-saww to teach him and his people Islam). When they came in, they found the king sitting on the ground wearing two old pieces of cloth.’
The Imam-asws said that Ja’far-asws has said, ‘We felt compassion for him in our hearts when we saw him in that condition. When he noticed our feelings from our faces he said, “All praise is due to Allah-azwj for his giving victory to Muhammad-saww and delight to his-saww heart. Should I give you the good news’?” I said, ‘Yes, O King.’ He then said, “This hour my informant people have come from your land and have informed me that Allah-azwj has Granted victory to His-azwj Prophet, Muhammad-saww and has destroyed his-saww enemies. So and so are taken captive when they met each other in a land called Badr.”
Ja’far-asws then said to him, ‘O king, why do you sit on the ground wearing two pieces of old cloth?” He then said, “O Ja’far-asws, we find in what Allah-azwj had Revealed to Jesus that of the rights of Allah-azwj on His servants is to show humbleness when He-azwj Does a Favour for them. Since Allah-azwj has Done a favour for me by means of granting victory to Muhammad-saww I show humility.’ When this was mentioned to the Holy Prophet-saww he said to his companions, ‘Charity increases the wealth of the donor, therefore, give charity. Humbleness elevates the position of a person, therefore, be humble, Allah-azwj will Raise your degree in praiseworthy status, Forgiveness increases the respect of a person, therefore, forgive, Allah-azwj will Grant you respect.[18]
Battle of Uhud
Abu Sufyan mobilised Quraysh again after the defeat at Badr where they had met with heavy losses, along with some of their leading members had been killed including Abu Jahl, Utbah, Shaiba, Walid, Umayya bin Khalaf, and Hanzala bin Abu Sufyan,. After the death of Abu Jahl, leadership of the Makkans had passed on to Abu Sufyan.
Abu Sufyan forbade families of those who had been killed in the battle of Badr to cry and to lament their losses, which was a deeply rooted tradition of Arabs. Abu Sufyan, his wife and some others had taken oaths that they would remain a stranger to every pleasure until they had taken the revenge of Badr from the Muslims. So they spent the whole year working on intense preparations in which they equipped and trained a new army.
One year after the battle of Badr, Abu Sufyan left Makkah along with three thousand seasoned warriors. He was also accompanying his wife and some women to sing and encourage their solders.
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Abu Abdullah-asws (our 6th Imam-asws) has said: (when Muslims were attacked by the Quraysh) ‘They ran away being defeated on the Day of Uhud. So Rasool-saww Allah-saww became angry with intense anger’. The Imam-asws said: ‘Whenever he-saww became angry, sweat would descend from his-saww forehead like pearls’.
The Imam-asws said: ‘So Rasool Allah-saww looked around and Imam Ali-asws was by his-saww side. So he-saww said to him-asws: “Join with the sons of your-asws father (and go after the enemies).” So he-asws rode and struck the first one he-asws met from them’. So Jibraeel-as said: ‘This is the consolation, O Muhammad-saww!’ Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘He-asws is from me-saww and I-saww am from him-asws’. So Jibraeel-as said: ‘And I am from you-asws both, O Muhammad-saww’.
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘So the Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj looked towards Jibraeel-as who was on a seat of gold in between the sky and the earth and he was saying: ‘There is not sword except for Zul-Fiqar (Sword which Jibraeel-as brought) and no warrior like Ali-asws’.[19]
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘When the people (Muslims) were (initially) defeated on the Day of Uhud and fled from the Prophet-saww, he-saww turned towards them with his-saww face and was saying: ‘I-saww am Muhammad-saww! I-saww am Rasool Allah-saww! I-saww have neither been killed nor have I-saww died’. So and so, and so and so turned towards him-saww saying, ‘Now he-saww is mocking with us as well and we have been defeated. And there remained with him-saww Imam Ali-asws and Samaak Bin Kharsha Abu Dujanaar, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him.
So the Prophet-saww called Samaak Bin Kharsha Abu Dujanaar over and said: ‘O Abu Dujana! Leave, for youar are free from your Baayt (pledge of allegiance). As for Ali-asws, so I-saww am from him-asws and he-asws is from me-saww’. So hear came over and sat down in front of the Prophet-saww and wept, and said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj!’ And hear raised hisar head towards the sky and said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! Iar will not free myself from my Baayt (pledge of allegiance). Iar gave myar Baayt to you-saww, so where shall Iar go, to a wife who will die, or a son who will die, or a house which will be ruined and wealth which will be destroyed, and a term (death) which comes nearer?’ So the Prophet-saww left himar, and hear did not stop fighting until he was weakened by the wounds and hear was on one side of him-saww and Imam Ali-asws was on the other side of him-saww.
So when hear dropped, Imam Ali-asws carried himar to the Prophet-saww and placed himar in his-saww presence. So hear said, ‘O Rasool Allah-saww, have Iar been loyal to myar Baayt?’ Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Yes’. And the Prophet-saww said good things for himar. While the people were attacking the Prophet-saww from the right, Imam Ali-asws defended him-saww. But when Imam Ali-asws defended him-saww, they attacked the Prophet-saww from the left. That situation did not cease until his-asws sword broke into three pieces. So he-asws came to the Prophet-saww. He-asws displayed it in front him-saww and said: ‘This is my-asws sword which has broken. Thus, it was on that day that the Prophet-saww gave him-asws Zul-Fiqar (Zulfiqar).
And when the Prophet-saww saw that (Imam Ali-asws) was exhausted due to the frequency of the fighting, he-saww raised his-saww head towards the sky and he wept and prayed. Imam Ali-asws turned towards the Prophet-saww and said: ‘O Rasool Allah-saww! I-asws heard a loud rumble and heard the galloping of Hayzoum (the Horse of Jibraeel-as), and when I-asws would attack to strike anyone, they would fall dead before I-asws struck.’ So he-saww said: ‘This was Jibraeel-as and Mikaeel-as, and Israfeel-as among the Angels’.
Then the people (enemy) were defeated.
A Hadith on the Shahadat of Hamza-asws
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Hinda Bint Otba-la was in the middle of the army (of Quraysh during battle of Uhud) and Hamza Bin Al-Muttalib-asws was attacking (and killing) the people (soldiers of Quraysh). So when she saw that he-as was defeating them and that no one was able to stand against him-as, Hinda Bint Otba, may Allah-azwj Curse her, came to an Ethiopian slave with an oath that, were he to defeat Prophet Muhammad-saww, or Imam Ali-asws, or Hamza-asws, she would give him freedom from slavery.
فَقَالَ وَحْشِيٌّ أَمَّا مُحَمَّدٌ فَلَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَرَأَيْتُهُ رَجُلًا حَذِراً كَثِيرَ الِالْتِفَاتِ فَلَمْ أَطْمَعْ فِيهِ فَكَمَنْتُ لِحَمْزَةَ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَهُدُّ النَّاسَ هَدّاً فَمَرَّ بِي فَوَطِئَ عَلَى جُرُفِ نَهَرٍ فَسَقَطَ فَأَخَذْتُ حَرْبَتِي فَهَزَزْتُهَا وَ رَمَيْتُهُ فَوَقَعَتْ فِي خَاصِرَتِهِ وَ خَرَجَتْ مِنْ مَثَانَتِهِ فَسَقَطَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَشَقَقْتُ بَطْنَهُ فَأَخَذْتُ كَبِدَهُ وَ جِئْتُ بِهَا إِلَى هِنْدٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا هَذِهِ كَبِدُ حَمْزَةَ فَأَخَذَتْهَا فِي فَمِهَا فَلَاكَتْهَا فَجَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ فِي فِيهَا مِثْلَ الدَّاغِصَةِ فَلَفَظَتْهَا وَ رَمَتْ بِهَا فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكاً فَحَمَلَهُ وَ رَدَّهُ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ.
So the slave said, ‘I shall ambush Hamza-asws for I view him-asws as a guide for the people (in the army).’ So he struck Hamza-asws with his spear. It pierced his-asws side and came out from his-asws bladder. So he-asws fell down. So the slave came up to him-asws and took his-asws liver, and came with it to Hinda. She took it and placed it in her mouth, and chewed upon it. So Allah-azwj Made her to be ‘Al Daagisa’ (a cannibal).[20]
Battle of Khandaq (Ahzab)
The battle of Ahzab or Khandaq took place in the month of Ramadan, in the fifth year of Hijrat. Briefly, when the Bani Nuzayr tribe were expelled from Medina, some of them went to Khyber and their chief, Huyy bin Akhtab, went to Makkah, and incited Abu Sufyan to organize an expedition against the Prophet. Ibn Akhtab in the similar manner met the other Arab chiefs along with the infidels of Makkah till he had mobilized 2000 men from Quraysh, Kanana, Aqra bin Habis, Abbas bin Mardas with Bani Sulaym against Muslims.
The narrator of the Hadith says:
‘I was with Rasool-Allah-saww in the ditch of ‘Khandaq’, and the people were digging, and Imam Ali-asws was digging.
ثم قال النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) لعثمان بن عفان: «احفر» فغضب عثمان و قال: لا يرضى محمد أن أسلمنا على يده حتى يأمرنا بالكد، فأنزل الله على نبيه: يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا قُلْ لا تَمُنُّوا عَلَيَّ إِسْلامَكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَداكُمْ لِلْإِيمانِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صادِقِينَ.
Then the Prophet-saww said to Usman Bin Affan: ‘Dig!’ So Usman got angered by this, so Allah-azwj Revealed unto His-azwj Prophet-saww [49:17] They think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims. Say: Lay me not under obligation by your Islam: rather Allah lays you under an obligation by Guiding you to the faith if you are truthful’.[21]
When Amro Bin Abd Wadd Crossed the Trench:
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Amro Bin Abd Wadd went towards the Trench (Khandaq), when Rasool-Allah-saww was organising his-saww companions into lines in front of him-saww. He (Amro) shrieked out while looking at the army (of Muslims) and he sprung across to the side of Rasool-Allah-saww. At that, all companions of Rasool-Allah-saww ran from the front of Rasool-Allah-saww and (took refuge) behind Rasool-Allah-saww.
So Allah-azwj Revealed in that time [33:18] Allah Knows those among you who hinder others, and those who say to their brethren: Come to us; and they come not to the fight except a few up to His-azwj Words [33:19] Being ungenerous with respect to you; (but when fear comes, you will see them looking towards you, their eyes rolling being overwhelmed from the death; but when the fear is gone they smite you with sharp tongues, being ungenerous of the good things) These have not believed, therefore Allah has Confiscated their deeds; and that was easy for Allah.
Amro Bin Abd Wadd immersed his spear into the ground and wandered around it and was saying (a war poem).
So Rasool-Allah-saww asked who would fight him. No one answered him-saww except Amir-ul-Momineen-asws.
Amir-ul-Momineen-asws walked briskly towards him and he-asws was saying (a war poem):
So Amro said to him-asws, ‘Who are you-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘I-asws am Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, cousin of Rasool-Allah-saww, and his-saww son-in-law’. Amro said, ‘By Allah-azwj! Your-asws father-asws was a friend of mine, and I dislike the idea of killing you-asws’. Amir-ul-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘My-asws cousin-saww has made it known to me-asws that if you were to kill me-asws, I-asws would enter the Paradise and you would be in the Fire, and if I-asws were to kill you, you would be in the Fire and I-asws would still enter the Paradise’.
So Amro said: ‘Both options are good for you-asws, O Ali-asws, this is an unfair division’. So Imam Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws hereby present to you three options, so answer me-asws (with regard to) one of these’. Amro said, ‘Give them, O Ali-asws!
The Imam-asws said: ‘Testify that there is no god except for Allah-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-Allah-saww’. He refused so Imam Ali-asws said: ‘As for the second one, it is that you should return this army (back) from Rasool-Allah-saww.’ Amro disagreed with this also, saying, ‘Then the women of Quraysh would narrate that I was scared and turned back upon my heels from the war and abandoned a people who had appointed me as their chief.’
So, Amir-ul-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘So the third (option) is that you come down from your horse to (fight) me-asws.’ Amro agreed and they began (to duel); Amro was killed.[22]
The Wrath of Allah-azwj and the Fleeing of the Kufar from Khandaq:
The narrator of the Hadith says:
Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘Rasool Allah-saww stood upon the mound, on which is the Masjid Al-Fatah, during the military expedition of Khandaq. So he-saww said: ‘Who will go and bring their news to us – the Paradise will be for him’. No one stood up. He-saww then repeated it. Still no one stood up’. Abu Abdullah-asws explained: ‘What the people wanted was something higher than the Paradise’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww told Huzeyfa, ‘Go to them until you can hear their speech, and come to me-saww with their news’. When he went, Rasool Allah-saww said; ‘Our Allah-azwj! Protect him from his front, and from his back, and from his right, and from his left, until he returns’. So he took his sword, and his bow, and his shield.
When Huzeyfa left, Rasool Allah-saww arose and called out:
‘وَ نَادَى يَا صَرِيخَ الْمَكْرُوبِينَ وَ يَا مُجِيبَ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ اكْشِفْ هَمِّي وَ غَمِّي وَ كَرْبِي فَقَدْ تَرَى حَالِي وَ حَالَ أَصْحَابِي’ ‘O Helper of the afflicted, and O Responder to the distressed, Uproot my-saww stress, and my-saww grief, and my-saww affliction, for You-azwj can See my-saww condition, and the condition of my-saww companions!’
So Jibraeel-as descended unto him-saww and said; ‘O Rasool Allah-saww! Verily Allah-azwj has Heard your-saww speech, and your-saww supplication, and has Answered you-saww.’ So Rasool Allah-saww went down on his-saww knees, and extended his-saww hands, and shed tears from his-saww eyes, then said: ‘شُكْراً شُكْراً كَمَا رَحِمْتَنِي وَ رَحِمْتَ أَصْحَابِي’ ‘Thank You-azwj, thank You-azwj for being Merciful to me-saww and to my-saww companions’.
Then Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Allah-azwj has Sent upon them a wind from the sky to the world in which was gravel.’ Huzeyfa said, ‘I went out and I saw that the people had lit many fires. And the first soldier of Allah-azwj, a wind in which was gravel, struck them. It extinguished their fires, it uprooted their tents, flung away spears, to the extent that they were defending themselves against the gravel with their shields.’
Huzeyfa sat down in between two men from the Polytheists. Iblees-la stood up in the form of an obedient man among the Polytheists. He-la said, ‘O you people! You all have encamped in an area near this sorcerer. Indeed! Nothing from his-saww matters has been forgotten. It has not been a good year. The shoes and the hooves have been destroyed.’
Huzeyfa said, ‘And the greater soldier of Allah-azwj arrived. So Abu Sufyan arose to be on his camel, then shouted among the Quraysh, ‘Find safety!’ Other tribes acted similarly. And so the confederated tribes (Al-Ahzab) went away’. And Huzeyfa returned to Rasool Allah-saww and informed him-saww of the news.
Battle of Zaat Al-Salasil
The narrator of the Hadith says that Abu Abdullah-asws said:
The people of the valley of Al-Yaabas gathered together twelve thousand horsemen, and they agreed that no one would abandon anyone, and all of them would die in the attempt to kill the Rasool-Allah-saww and Imam Ali-asws. So Angel Jibraeel-as descended upon the Rasool-Allah-saww, and informed him-saww of their story and what they had agreed upon, and Allah-azwj Commanded that he-saww should send Abu Bakr to them with four thousand horsemen.
So the Rasool-Allah-saww ascended the Pulpit, Praised Allah-azwj and Extolled Him-azwj, and then said: ‘O group of Emigrants and Helpers. Jibraeel-as has informed me-saww that the people of the Valley of Al-Yaabas have twelve thousand horsemen who have committed themselves to kill me-saww and my-saww brother Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. And Allah-azwj has Commanded me-saww that I-saww should send against them Abu Bakr with strong horsemen. So prepare against your enemy, and rise against them in the Name of Allah-azwj. His-azwj Blessings are on the coming day, if Allah-azwj so Desires’.
The Muslims made their preparations, and the Rasool-Allah-saww ordered Abu Bakr with the instructions: ‘When you see them, present Al-Islam to them. If they pledge their allegiances to you, that is fine. Otherwise stop them. Fight them and capture them and their wealth, and ruin their dwellings’.
So Abu Bakr and the Muslims went. He travelled with them until they ended up to the people of the valley of Al-Yaabas. A hundred men from the people of the valley of Al-Yaabas came out to them heavily armed. They asked the Muslims, ‘Who are you? And where do you come from?’ So Abu Bakr went out to them with a number of his Muslim companions. He said to them, ‘I am Abu Bakr, a companion of the Rasool-Allah-saww’. They said, ‘What made you come to us?’ He said, ‘The Rasool-Allah-saww ordered me to present Al-Islam to you. You can accept it or else face a war.’
They said, ‘By Al-Laat and Al-Uzza (two of their idols), were you not a close relative we would have killed you, and all those who are with you. Return, you and those who are with you, in good health, for we only want your master-saww and his-saww brother Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws.’
Abu Bakr said to his companions, ‘O people! These people are greater in number than you, so let us return and let the Rasool-Allah-saww know of the situation of these people’. The Muslims said to him unanimously, ‘You have opposed – O Abu Bakr – the words of the Rasool-Allah-saww. So fear Allah-azwj and stop these people.’ But he said, ‘I know what you do not know.’ He left, and all the people left with him. They informed the Prophet-saww of the conversation with those people, and what Abu Bakr replied to them. So the Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O Abu Bakr! You have opposed my-saww order, and did not do what I-saww commanded you to.’
The Prophet-saww told the people what had happened, and then said: ‘Jibraeel-as has told me-saww that I-saww should send Umar instead. So go, O Umar, in the Name of Allah-azwj, and do not act as your brother Abu Bakr had acted, for he has disobeyed Allah-azwj.’
So Umar went out with the Emigrants and the Helpers who were with Abu Bakr, journeying along the same path until he came to the people and was close enough to them so they could see him. A Hundred men came out to him and said to him similar things to what they had said to Abu Bakr. He also left, and the people left with him. His heart almost flew out of his (chest) when he saw their huge numbers and what (weaponry) they had with them, and he returned fleeing from them. Jibraeel-as descended and informed the Rasool-Allah-saww Umar had left, and the Muslims had left with him.
So, the prophet-saww told the people again what had happened. He then sent Imam Ali-asws, with the same orders as before.
So, Imam Ali-asws went out. He-asws travelled with the Muslims on a path other than the one taken by Abu Bakr and Umar, which was more difficult to travel upon, so the Muslims were worried. He-asws said to them: ‘Do not fear, for the Rasool-Allah-saww has informed me-asws that Allah-azwj will Grant us victory.’ Their confidence increased, and they travelled upon that road until they were close enough to the army that they could see them. Imam Ali-asws commanded his-asws companions to encamp.
The people of the valley of Al-Yaabas heard the approach of Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and his-asws companions, so a hundred of their men went to them heavily armed. When Imam Ali-asws saw them, he-asws went out to them. They asked him-asws, ‘Who are you-asws? And where do you-asws come from? And what do you-asws want?’ He-asws said: ‘I-asws am Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, the cousin of the Rasool-Allah-saww and his-saww brother-asws. I-asws hereby call you to
‘إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، و أن محمدا رسول الله’ the testimony of ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj Rasool-saww’.’ So, they said to him-asws, ‘You-asws are the one we want, and you-asws are seeking us. We have heard what you-asws are presenting to us. This is not compatible to us. So be careful and prepare for a severe battle, and know that we shall kill you-asws and your-asws companions, and the promised battle starts tomorrow.’
So, Imam Ali-asws said: ‘Woe be unto you! You are threatening me-asws with your huge numbers and your unity, but I-asws am being Supported by Allah-azwj, and the Angels-as, and the Muslims against you, and there is no Power or Might except with Allah-azwj, the Exalted, the Magnificent’. They returned to their positions, and Imam Ali-asws returned to his-asws position. So when the night had passed, he-asws ordered his-asws companions that they should relieve their animals, water them, and saddle them. When dawn broke, he-asws Prayed with the people, and attacked them with his-asws companions. They did not even know about it until the horses trod upon them (as they were relaxed due to their great numbers). Imam Ali-asws captured the people and wealth, ruined their dwellings, and went with the prisoners of war.
And Jibraeel-as descended and informed Rasool-Allah-saww of the victory that Allah-azwj had Granted to Imam Ali-asws and the group of the Muslims. So the Rasool-Allah-saww informed the people of the victory Granted by Allah-azwj to the Muslims, and he-saww let them know that no more than two of them had been killed. And he-saww went out to welcome Imam Ali-asws along with all the Muslims of Medina at three miles from Medina. When Imam Ali-asws saw him-saww, he-asws descended from his-asws horse, and the Prophet-saww descended. The Prophet-saww embraced him-asws, and kissed him-asws between his-asws eyes. The group of the Muslims descended also, and turned towards the war booty and the prisoners, and what sustenance Allah-azwj has Provided them with from the people of the valley of Al-Yaabas’.
Then Imam Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws said: ‘The Muslims had never achieved such war booty at all except from Khyber. So Allah-azwj Blessed and High Revealed with regards to that (the whole incident) [100:1] I swear by the runners breathing heavily (breath), Meaning the running of the horses running with the men, and their cries in their reins and in restraining them [100:2] Then those that produce fire striking, [100:3] Then those that make raids at morn. Allah-azwj has Told you that they raided them in the morning.’
I asked, ‘(What about) His-azwj Words [100:4] Then thereby raise dust?’ He-asws said: ‘It Means the horses raising dust in the valley [100:5] Then rush thereby upon an assembly.’ I asked, ‘(What about) His-azwj Words [100:6] Most surely man is ungrateful to his Lord?’ Imam-asws replied: ‘To disbelieve is being ungrateful.’ I asked, ‘and what about the words [100:7] And most surely he is a witness of that [100:8] And most surely he is stubborn in the love of wealth?’ Imam-asws replied: ‘Allah-azwj Means both of them (Abu Bakr and Umar) who had witnessed the valley of Al-Yaabas, and these two used to be very greedy for the love of life’.
I asked, ‘His-azwj Words [100:9] Does he not then know when what is in the graves is raised [100:10] And what is in the chests is made apparent? [100:11] Most, surely their Lord that day shall be fully aware of them?’ Imam-asws replied: ‘Two Verses were Revealed about those two (Abu Bakr and Umar) especially. The two of them were concealing evil consciences and were acting in accordance with it. So Allah-azwj has Informed the news of these two, and the actions of these two.
So this is the story of the people of the valley of Al-Yaabas and the explanation of (the Chapter 100 in Holy Quran) Al-Adiyaat’.[23]
Battle of Khyber
The battle of Khyber took place in the 7th Hijra. Khyber was a land at a distance of about 96 kilometres from Madina. It consisted of eight to ten strong forts where the Jews lived. They would give refuge to the enemies of Islam. They had become an active centre of conspiracies against Islam.
The narrator of the Hadith says:
On the Day of Khyber when Abu Bakr and Umar had been defeated, Rasool Allah-saww got angry and said: ‘What is wrong with the people that they meet the ‘Mushraqeen’ (Polytheists), then flee? I-saww will give the ‘Alam’ (Flag of Islam) tomorrow to a man-asws who loves Allah-azwj and His-azwj Messenger, is Loved by Allah-azwj and His-azwj Messenger-saww, is not a coward, and will not return until Allah-azwj Grants victory of Khyber by his-asws hands.’
When it was the morning, we gathered around Rasool Allah-saww and Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Where is my-saww brother? Call Imam Ali-asws for me-saww.’ So they came with Imam Ali-asws. Imam Ali-asws had inflammation in the eyes, and he-asws was being held due to his-asws the illness.
Rasool Allah-saww asked Imam Ali-asws to place his-asws head in his-saww lap, and he-saww applied his-saww (pious) saliva in his-asws eyes and held Imam Ali-asws and supplicated for Imam Ali-asws. So Imam Ali-asws did not turn back until Allah-azwj Granted victory to him-asws.[24]
The Story of the Poisoned Arm:
As for the narration of the poisoned arm, this happened when Rasool Allah-saww was returning back to Medina after having been Granted victory by Allah-azwj in the battle of Khyber. A Jewish woman came up to him-saww and expressed Eman (faith). With her was a poisoned arm of a goat which had been grilled. Rasool Allah-saww asked: ‘What is this?’ She replied: ‘I loved to prepared this arm of the goat for you, for I had vowed to Allah-azwj that if Allah-azwj were to Return you-saww safely from them, then I shall slaughter this goat and grill one of its arms for you-saww. Now that you-saww have returned safely from them, I have come to fulfil my vow.’
At that time, with Rasool Allah-saww were Bara’a Bin Ma’roor and Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. Rasool Allah-saww requested some bread and they brought it for him-saww. Bara’a Bin Ma’roor extended his hand towards the food and took a morsel from it and put it into his mouth. Imam Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws said to him: ‘O Bara’a, you are not allowed to start before Rasool Allah-saww.’ He-asws then warned, ‘this Jewish woman who has brought this with her and we are not aware of its condition. If you were to eat it by the order of Rasool Allah-saww then he-saww will be responsible for your safety from it, but if you eat it without his-saww permission, then you will be responsible for your own wellbeing.’
As Imam Ali-asws said this, Bara’a was chewing the poisoned food, and Allah-azwj Gave speech to the grilled meat and it said: ‘O Rasool Allah-saww! Do not eat me, as poison has been mixed with me.’ Bara’a died quickly. Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Call that woman over to me-saww!’ They brought her over and he-saww said to her: ‘What did I-saww do that made you do this?’ She said: ‘You-saww have done a great injustice to me. You-saww have killed my father and my uncle and my brother and my husband and my son, and this is what you have done. I said to myself, ‘If he-saww is a king then I shall take my revenge from him, and if he-saww is a Prophet – as he-saww claims, Allah-azwj will not Let him-saww be poisoned and will Protect him-saww and it will have no effect on him-saww.’
Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘you speak the truth!’ Then Rasool Allah-saww said to her: ‘Do not let the death of Bara’a affect you for Allah-azwj Tried him, and he ate before me-saww, but had he eaten from this by the order of Rasool Allah-saww, he would not have been affected by its poison.’
Then Rasool Allah-saww called for some other companions. Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘Sit around it.’ Rasool Allah-saww extended his-saww hand towards the poisoned meat and blew on it and said: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent the Merciful, In the Name of Allah-azwj the Healer, In the Name of Allah-azwj the Sufficient, In the Name of Allah-azwj the Bestower of health, In the Name of Allah-azwj by Which nothing can harmfully affect.’
Then he-saww said: Eat in the Name of Allah-azwj! Rasool Allah-saww ate his-saww fill from it and so did everyone else. Then he-saww ordered the Jewish woman to be held captive. On the next day he-saww called her over and said: ‘Did they all not eat from that poison which you had presented? Did you not see how Allah-azwj Defended His Prophet-saww and his-saww companions?’ She said: ‘O Rasool Allah-saww! Until now I had doubt that you were the true Prophet of Allah-saww. I hereby bear witness that there is no god but Allah-azwj the One-azwj without any partner, and that you-saww are His-azwj Servant and His-azwj Messenger truly.’ She became a believer.
The Mubahila:
[3:59] Surely the example of Isa with Allah is like the example of Adam; He Created him from dust, then said to him, Be, and he became.
Our 6th Imam (Abu Abdullah-asws) says: ‘The Christians of Najran[25] sent a delegation to Rasool-Allah-saww (for debating). They performed their Prayers by ringing bells, and they Prayed. The companions of Rasool-Allah-saww said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! This (is being done) in your-saww Masjid?’ So he-saww said: ‘Leave them.’
So, when they were free, they approached Rasool-Allah-saww and said to him-saww, ‘To what are you-saww inviting us?’ So, he-saww said: ‘To the testimony that there is no god except for Allah-azwj, and that I-saww am a Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and that Isa-as was a Created servant who used to eat and drink’. They asked, ‘So who was his-as father?’ A Revelation came down unto Rasool-Allah-saww that he-saww should say to them: ‘What are you all saying regarding Adam-as, who was a Created servant, eating and drinking, and marrying?” So the Prophet-saww asked them. They said, ‘Yes’. So he-saww said: ‘So who was his-as father?’ They were astonished and remained silent. Thus, Allah-azwj Revealed [3:59] Surely the example of Isa with Allah is like the example of Adam; He Created him from dust, then said to him, Be, and he became up to His-azwj Words [3:61] and make the Curse of Allah to be upon the liars.
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Therefore imprecate (curse on the liar) with me-saww, so if I-saww was truthful the Curse would descend upon you all, but if I-saww were to be untruthful, then it would descend upon me-saww’.
[1] Tafseer e Furat, H. 407
[2] (المناقب 2: 24.)
[3] (المناقب 2: 25)
[4] (المناقب 2: 24)
[5] An extract taken from Hyait ul Qalub, vol. 2, Chapter 26.
[6] Tafseer Imam Hassan Askariasws , H. 142
[7] Tafseer Al Burhan – H 11753 (تفسير القمّي 2: 430)
[8] Noor Al Saqalayn – Ch 36 H 21
[9] Ahtijaj e Tabrasy, vol. 1, pg 117, شواهدالتنزيل ج : 1 ص : 124
[10] Tafseer Imam Hassan Askariasws, H. 329
[11] نهج البيان 1: 79
[12] Tafseer Imam Hassan Askariasws, H. 303.
[13] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14825
[14] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14983
[15] تفسير القمي 2: 385
[16] Al-Kafi, vol. 5, pg. 47, h. 1
[17] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14867
[18] Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Chap. 55, H. 1
[19] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H 14538
[20] Bihaar Al Anwaar – V 55 P 20
[21] مصباح الأنوار: 325 «مخطوط»
[22] بحار الأنوار (ط – بيروت)، ج20، ص: 225
[23] تفسير القمّي 2: 434
[24] An extract from Kitab Sulaym ibn Qais Hilali, H. 55
[25] A city southwest of Saudi Arabia