Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib: Light of the Worlds

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"O family of the House, Allah only wishes to distance fault from you and cleanse you." (Quran 33:33) Yes, I swear it by the Moon, and by the night when it retires, and by the dawn when

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

it rises, this Sign is one of the greater Signs, one of those which warn human beings (Quran 74:32-36). Abdullah bin Abbas and others reports that when the following verse of the Holy Quran was revealed: "Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives; and whoever earns good, We give him more of good therein." (Quran 42:23) a group of companions asked "O Messenger of Allah, who are those of your relatives whose love has been made obligatory on us by Allah?" The Prophet replied, "They are Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Husayn." Some hadith contain the words "and their sons," meaning Hassan and Husayn. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said to Sayyida Fatima: "O Fatima, I give you the good tidings that Allah made you superior to all the women of the world, and made you the purest of all the women of Islam" (Bukhari and Ahmad); "You are (Fatima) the mistress of the women of all the worlds!" (Shifa); Fatima is a part of me, and whoever angers her, angers me. (Bukhari & Muslim) "'I am leaving you with something. Take hold of it and you will not go astray: the Book of Allah, my family and the people of my House. Take care to follow my instruction regarding them.'" (Shifa) Referring to his two grandsons, Al-Hassan and AlHussayn, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, "Whosoever loves these two, their father and their mother will be with me on the Day of Resurrection." (Shifa) Praised be to Allah who by the Uncreated Light of the MorningDawn of Pre-Eternity upraised the firmaments of existence from the

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

illuminative horizons of transcendental resplendence and spread them upon the watery expanses of being and Self-Disclosed the Theophany of Its Mercy to the empyrean realms of beautific magnificence and majestic scintillance clothed with the garment of Compassion. Blessings and Peace be upon the Splendor of Allah Most High be upon the Best of Its Creation, the Foremost of Its Cosmocration and the Pinnacle of Its Emanation, He Who is the One Who stands as the eternal christophany of Adam, Mawlana Mohammed ibn Abdellah (peace and blessing be upon him). Glory be upon the celestial Fatima Zahra (the Radiant), the First Pole (Qutb) in Islam, the Imam of her Age, the Houri and Mother of the Cosmos and the Womb of Contingency: She who is both the conjunction as well as the progenitor of the Twin Divine Lights and all creation. Blessed be Our Lady, Sayyida al-Batul, Fatima Zahra', al-Qurashiya al-Haashimiya, Umm al-Hassanayn [the mother of Sidna al-Hassan and Sidna al-Hussayn], the Cosmocrator, the LogosSelf and Face of divinity, the Mother of Her Father, the origin and the return; then upon the Lion of Allah and Gate to the City of AllKnowledge, Mawlana Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah glorify his face); and, then, upon the Righteous House of Their Progeny and Excellence be infinite peace, blessings and glory - constantly, absolutely! The consummation of laudation within the Luminous Divine Radiance of Eternal Peace be upon the First Unity in every moment, before every moment and after every moment! And praised be Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds! O Household of the Prophet of Allah! Love for you,

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

has been made obligatory for us by Allah, as revealed in the Quran. It is sufficient for your dignity that. if one does not send salutations to you in the ritual prayers, his prayers will not be accepted. - Imam Shafii'i Praise be to Allah! May His Name be glorified and exalted. His greatness is Immense, His Power is elevated, His majesty Sanctified. Peace and Blessing be upon the Mohammedian Presence and His Family. Know, may Allah be pleased with you, that no Sufi book has ever shown the proper, glorious homage due to Mawlana and Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib ibn Abdel Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with all of them) than the book of Jawahir al-Maani waBulugh al-Amani fi Fayd Shaykh Sidi Abil Abbas at-Tijani (Gems of Indications and Attainment of Aspirations in the Overflowings of Sidi Abil Abbas Tijani) by the Khalifa al-Muaddam Sidi Abul Hassan Ali Harazem Berrada al-Fasi (d. 1212/1797). According to Jawahir al-Maani, Sidna Shaykh Mawlana Shaykh Abil Abbas Tijani (may Allah sanctify his secrets) said, [The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said] "We were, me and Ali, two lights before Allah and then He left us in the loin of Adam and kept moving us from loin to loin until we reached our grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Then I moved to the loin of Abdellah and he moved to those of Abu Talib. Then, our light reunited in Al-Hassan and Al-Hussayn:

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

they are in fact two lights of the light of the Lord of the worlds". (..) "When the prophet (peace and blessing on him and his family) went one day to Sayyida Fatimas, whereas Sidna Ali was sleeping in the room and Sidna AlHassan and Sidna Al-Hussayn were playing next to her: IN FACT, YOU, THESE TWO AND THE SLEEPER, WILL BE WITH ME IN THE SAME LEVEL IN PARADISE, but this isnt true for others even among prophets and messengers. (..) Ibn Abbas [has quoted the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)] as saying: "Actually nine tenth of knowledge has been bestowed upon Ali and by God Ali shares the other one tenth of knowledge with all the people." (..) Naught in the world reaches knowledge absolutely expect through the fountain of Ali (Ibn Abi Talib), may Allah be pleased with him, for he is the gate of the city of the knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)." And in the Jawahir, The Chieftain of the Universe (peace and blessing be upon him) gave me the Greatest Name (al-Ism alAadam) especially reserved for Sidna Ali (ibn Abi Talib) (may Allah glorify his face), after he gave me the Greatest Name especially reserved for himself (peace and blessing be upon him. The Prophet (peace and

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

blessing be upon him) told me: This Name that is especially reserved for Sidna Ali (may Allah glorify his face) is only given to he whom Allah has willed in His Past to become a Qutb. I said to the Chieftain of the Universe (peace and blessing be upon him): Give me permission in all its secrets and all what it contains. And so he did! The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said about Sidna Ali (may Allah glorify his face), There is no sword but Dhul-Fiqar, and there is no man but Ali. (Sunan Al-Bayhaqi, 3/376; Al-Tabari, 2/514) The carrier of my flag in this life and the Hereafter is Ali. (AlTabari, 2/201; Al-Fadail of Ahmad, 253) My Lord commanded me to close all the doors except the door of Ali. (Al-Khasaith of Al-Nisai, 13; Al-Tirmidhi, 13/173; Al-Bayhaqi, 7/65;; Musnad Ahmad, 4/369) The truest believers are three: the believer during the time of Alyasa, the believer during the time of Pharaoh, and the best of all, Ali. (AlJami of Al-Suyuti, 2/83) The one who wants to live my life and die my death will attach himself to Ali. (Musnad of Ahmad, 5/94)

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

We were created from the same tree, I and Ali. (Al-Tirmidhi, 13/178) Embellish your gatherings by mentioning Ali. (Musnad Ahmad, 4/368, 5/419; Al-Khasais of Al-Nisai) Embellish your gatherings by mentioning Ali. (Musnad Ahmad, 4/368, 5/419; Al-Khasais of Al-Nisai, 9) I am the warner, and the guide after me is Ali. (Musnad Ahmad, 1/151; AlTirmidhi, 2/135; Al-Khasais of Al-Nisai, 20) Exemption from the Hellfire comes with love for Ali. (Mustadrak AlSahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori) There would not be one sufficient for Fatima if God had not created Ali. (Hiliyat Al-Awliya, 1/34) For the one who believes and trusts in me, I recommend the sainthood of Ali. (Al-Jami' of Al-Suyuti, 1/230) The first of you to reach the Pond is the first of you who accepted Islam: Ali. (Al-Tabarani, 5/32) No one is permitted on the Bridge except by the sainthood of Ali. (Ibn AlMaghazeli, 15; Al-Isti'ab, 2/457) No one can give account of me but Ali. (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 119, 242) There is a tree in Paradise called Tuba. Its roots are in the house of Ali, and its branches are Ali. (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Nisabori, 3/109; Musnad Ahmad, 4/370; Al-Khasais of Al-Nisai, 25; Al-Tirmidhi; Al-Tabarani.) Ali is the distinguisher between truth and falsehood. (Musnad Ahmad) The most righteous one is Ali. (Al-Bayhaqi, 4/35; Kenz Al-Omal, 7/176; Al-Jami' of Al-Suyuti, 2/276; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 93) The hand of Ali and my hand are equal in justice. (Mustadrak AlSahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/14; Al-Tabari, 2/272; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Ibn Al-Maghazali) Ali is my brother in this life and the Hereafter. (Al-Khasais of AlNisai, 5; AlTirmidhi) Ali is the best of humanity, and the one who denies it has blasphemed. (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 129; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 233; Tarikh Baghdad of Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, 5/37; Al-Khawarizmi, 235) Ali is the door of servitude, and whoever passes through that door is a true believer. (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori; Kanz Al-Umal, 6/156; Al-Dilmi) Ali is the Imam of goodness, the fighter against iniquity, the helper of those who come to his aid, and the deserter of those who desert him. (Kanz Al-Umal, 6/153; AlDarqutni)

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Ali is the Imam of the pious, the prince of believers, and the leader of the resplendent. (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim AlNisapuri, 3/129; Kanz Al-Umal, 6/153) Ali is to me what Harun was to Musa. (Al-Tabarani) Ali holds a right over this nation like the right of a father over his son. (Muslim, 2/361; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Al-Hakim, 3/130; Musnad Ahmad, 3/198; Al-Nisai, 7; Asad Al-Ghaba, 3/40) Ali is with the Quran, and the Quran is with Ali. (Al-Bukhari, 5/19; Muslim, 2/360; Al-Tirmidhi, 5/304; Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim AlNisabori, 3/109; Ibn Majah, 1/28; Musnad Ahmad, 3/328) Ali and his Partisans are the successful ones. (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 47; Mizan Al-'Itidal, 2/313) Ali is the door of my knowledge, and the one who will clarifies for my nation that which I was sent with. (Tafsir Al-Tabari, 3/171) Love for Ali is faith, and hatred for Ali is hypocrisy. (Ibn AlMaghazeli, 67; Al-Khawarizmi, 236; Faraid Al-Samateen; Yanabi' Al-Mawda) Ali is the partition between Heaven and Hell. (Mustadrak AlSahihain of AlHakim Al-Nisabori, 3/127; Al-Jami' of Al-Suyuti, 1/374 The position of Ali amongst the people is like Surat Ikhlas in the Quran. (Muslim, 1/48; Al-Tirmidhi, 2/299; Al-Nisai, 27; Musnad Ahmad, 6/299; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 191)

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Ali is the beloved between two friends, myself and Ibrahim. (Yanabi' AlMawda, 88; Faraid Al-Samatin; Al-Abrar; Moniq Ibn Ahmad AlKhawarizmi) Whoever splits with Ali has split with me, and whoever splits with me has split with God. (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 45; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 181) Ali is from me and I am from him, and he is the protector of every true believer after me. (Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 69; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 125) Ali is the most beloved of God and His Prophet in all of creation. (Kanz Al-Umal, 5/33; Al-Riyadh Al-Nudhra, 2/211; Ibn Al-MaghazAli, 219) Mentioning Ali is a form of worship, and looking upon him is a form of worship. (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisapuri, 3/123; Kenz Al-Omal, 6/156; Al-Tabarani; Ibn Al-Maghazeli, 240, 278; AlKhawarizmi, 62) Love for Ali is a good deed, so dont ruin it with bad deeds. (AlTabarani; Yanabi' Al-Mawda, 2/3) Ali holds the position of the Kaaba. (Mustadrak Al-Sahihain of AlHakim AlNisapuri, 3/122; Musnad Ahmad, 3/82; Al-Tabarani, 6/155) Ali stands in relation to me as my head to my body. (Mustadrak AlSahihain of Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori, 3/141; Al-Jami of Al-Suyuti, 1/583; Tarikh

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Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Baghdad of Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, 1/51; Hiliyat Al-Awliya, 1/182; Al-Riyadh Al-Nudhra, 2/219) "The verse of purification was revealed concerning five people: myself, Ali, Hassan, Hussayn, and Fatima." (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada'il AlSahaba) Fatima is more beloved to me than you, oh Ali, and you are dearer to me than her. (Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, v. 2, p. 654, n. 5761) Thalabi, in interpreting the verse, And the retaining ear might retain it (69:12), said: The Messenger of Allah said to Ali: I called on God Almighty to make you a true example of this verse. Ibn Abbas has quoted the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) as saying: I am the city of knowledge and Ali the gate thereof. Therefore, anyone who wishes to enter it should go through its gate. Bayhaqi has reported that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: Whoever wishes to find out about Adams knowledge, Noahs piety, Abrahams friendliness, Moses power and Jesus worship, should look at Ali, for he has all these virtues. (Fadail al-Sahabah) Ahmad ibn Hanbal quoting the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) as saying to Sayyida Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her): My daughter! Are you not pleased for giving you in marriage to the most pioneer among my Ummah, the most knowledgeable of religion and the greatest of them in forbearance? (Musnad, vol. 5, pp. 26)

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Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) has been quoted as saying: Ali was the most knowledgeable in relation to the Holy Prophets tradition. (Imam Ali, ibn Asakir, vol. 3, pp. 62) Abul-Muayyad, in his book of Manaqib, has reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas that Umar, once, delivered a speech in which he said, Ali is the most versed of all of us in judicature. Bayhaqi quoted Sidna Ali as having said: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) gave me the mission to set out to Yemen for passing judgment among them. Being surprised by the order and its referring to me, I said: O Messenger of Allah! Do you assign me a judge while I am still too young not knowing the principles of judgment! The Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) put his hand on my chest, prayed for me and said: 'O Lord! Guide his hear, make his tongue steadfast in telling the truth.' Ali said: By the God who cleaves a grain in the earth, after this prayer, I did not pass any judgment between two persons in which there was a bit of doubt. (Dalail al-Nubuwwah, vol. 5, pp. 397) When Sidna Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) ordered a pregnant woman who had committed adultery to be stoned, but Sidna Ali told him not to execute the sentence. When Sidna Umar asked him for the reason, Sidna Ali said, If this womans sin has been proven and she has to be stoned to death, what is the sin of the infant she has in her womb? Therefore, give her respite and delay her punishments, as to give birth to child. Punish this woman when the nursing period comes to an end. Sidna Umar complied with Sidna Alis order saying: If Ali were not here, Omar would perish!

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Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

Zayd ibn Arqam reported: 'One day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) addressed us near a pond called Khumm between Makkah and Madinah. He praised God and extolled Him and preached and reminded (us). Then he said, "Lo, O people, I am only a human being and I am about to respond to the messenger of my Lord [i.e. the call of death]. I am leaving behind two precious things (thaqalayn) among you. The first of the two is the Book of Allah. In it is guidance and light. So get hold of the Book of Allah and adhere to it." Then he urged and motivated (us) regarding the Book of Allah. Then he said, "And my Ahl al-Bayt (family). I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al-Bayt. I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al-Bayt. I urge you to remember God regarding my Ahl al-Bayt"' (Sahih Muslim, part 7, Kitab fada'il alSahaba, pp. 122-123) Al-Hakim reports on the authority of Zayd ibn Arqam said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) while returning from his last hajj (hijjat alwada') came down at Ghadir Khumm and ordered (us) towards the big trees, and (the ground) underneath them was swept. "Then he said, 'I am about to answer the call (of death). Verily, I have left behind two precious things amongst you, one of which is greater than the other. The Book of Allah, the Exalted, and my `itrah (kindred). So watch out how you treat these two after me, for verily they will not separate from each other until they come back to me by the side of the Pond.' Then he said 'Verily, Allah, the Almighty and the Glorious, is my master (mawla) and I am the master

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Imam Ali ibn Abi Talin Light of the Worlds

of every believer (mu'min).' Then he took Ali, may God be pleased with him, by the hand and said, 'This (Ali) is the master of whomever I am his master. O God, love whoever loves him and be the enemy of his enemy.'"

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