Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, ch.77, p.445 and Hamwaini in
Fara'idu's-Simtain report that Ibn Abbas said: "I heard the Holy Prophet saying:
' I and Ali, Hasan, Husain and nine of the descendants of Husain are completely
pure and infallible.'"
Salman Farsi says that the Holy Prophet, putting his hand on the shoulder of
Husain, said: "He is the Imam and the son of the Imam, and of his descendants
there will be nine Imams who will all be virtuous trustees of Allah."
Zaid Ibn Thabit reports that the Holy Prophet said: "Verily, of Husain's
descendants will be born Imams who will be virtuous trustees, infallible
judges."
Imran Ibn Hasin reports that the Holy Prophet said to Ali: "You are heir to my
knowledge. You are the Imam and Caliph after me. You will tell the people what
they do not know. You are the father of my grandson and husband of my daughter.
Of your descendants there will be infallible Imams."
KNOWLEDGE OF THE AHLE BAIT
Abu Ishaq Hamwaini in Fara'idu's-Simtain, Hafiz Abu Nu'aim Ispahani in
Hilyatu'l-Auliya, and Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha report from Ibn
Abbas that the Holy Prophet said: "My progeny have been created from the same
seed from which I have been created. Allah Almighty has bestowed upon them
knowledge and wisdom. Woe be to him who rejects them."
Ibn Abi'l-Hadid in Sharh-e-Nahju'l-Balagha, and the author of Siratu's-Sahaba,
report from Hudhaifa Bin Asaid that the Holy Prophet said: "I leave behind for
you two weighty things: the book of Allah and my 'Ahle Bait.' If you attach
yourselves to these two you will be rescued." Tabrani reports an addition: "Do
not reject their authority; otherwise you shall be ruined. Do not show any
disrespect toward them or ignore them, or else you shall be destroyed. Do not
try to teach them because verily they know better than you do."
In other reports Hudhaifa Bin Asaid quotes the Holy Prophet as saying: "After me
there will be Imams from my progeny. Their number will be equal to the number of
Bani Isra'il's heralds, that is, twelve, of whom nine will be Husain's
descendants. Allah has bestowed upon all of them my knowledge and wisdom. So do
not teach them because surely they know better than you do. Follow them since
they are definitely with truth, and truth is with them."
WHY THE NAMES OF THE IMAMS DO
NOT APPEAR IN THE HOLY QUR'AN
First, this divine book is concise. It contains many general principles but few
details, which have been left for the chief commentator, the Holy Prophet, to
explain. Allah says: "And whatever the Apostle gives you, accept it; and from
whatever he forbids you, keep back." (59:7)
Because the names and numbers of the twelve Imams are not mentioned in the Holy
Qur'an, some people do not accept them. But on that basis they should reject
their own caliphs since no verse of the Holy Qur'an makes any mention of their
caliphs, except Ali Bin Abi Talib, or of the Umayyad or Abbasid caliphs, or of
the authority vested in the Community to elect a caliph by consensus.
Second, if it is necessary to reject anything which is not clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an, then you should reject many of the methods of our worship since there is no mention of their details in the Holy Qur'an.
THERE IS NO MENTION OF UNITS (RAK'ATS)
OF PRAYERS IN THE HOLY QUR'AN
The ritual prayer is perhaps the central act of worship in a Muslim's life. The
Holy Prophet emphasized its performance. He said: "The ritual prayer is the
pillar and protector of religion. If the ritual prayer is accepted, all other
religious performances will be accepted. If it is rejected, all other religious
performances will also be rejected."
Of course, there is no mention in the Holy Qur'an of the number of units
(rak'ats) to be performed for each prayer or any of the other specific details
regarding how the prayers are to be performed. Does this mean that we should
abandon the prayers? The Holy Qur'an simply says: "Establish salat (prayer).
There are no details distinguishing required from optional acts. These were
explained by the Holy Prophet.
In the same way other commands have been stated in the Holy Qur'an in principle
only. Their details, conditions and relevant instructions were explained by the
Holy Prophet. Similarly, concerning the Imamate and caliphate, the Holy Qur'an
says only: "Obey Allah and obey the Prophet and those in authority among you."
And we are bound to follow the Holy Prophet's order in this regard in the same
way we follow his instructions with regard to the details of the ritual prayers.
Muslim commentators, whether Sunni or Shia, cannot make their own
interpretations of the Holy Qur'an. The Holy Prophet said: "If someone gives his
own interpretation of the Holy Qur'an, his place is Hell."
Accordingly, every sensible Muslim turns to the real interpreter of the Holy
Qur'an, the Holy Prophet. For many years I have studied both Sunni and Shia
Qur'anic commentary and hadith but have never come across a single hadith in
which the Holy Prophet said that 'uli'l-amr' refers to political rulers. On the
other hand, the books of both the Sunnis and Shias contain numerous reports that
the Holy Prophet was asked to indicate the meaning of 'uli'l-amr' and he replied
that 'uli'l-amr' referred to Ali and his eleven descendants. I will present only
a few of these numerous hadith which have been narrated through sources accepted
by Sunnis.
ULI'L-AMR REFERS TO ALI AND
THE IMAMS OF THE AHLE BAIT
(1) Abu Ishaq Sheikhu'l-Islam Hamwaini Ibrahim Bin Muhammad writes in his
Fara'idu's-Simtain: "The Prophet told us that 'uli'l-amr' refers to Ali Bin Abi
Talib and the Ahle Bait of the Holy Prophet."
(2) 'Isa Bin Yusuf Hamadani reports from Abu'l-Hasan and Salim Bin Qais, who
report from Amiru'l-Mu'minin Ali that the Holy Prophet said: "My associates are
those whose obedience has been linked by Almighty Allah with His own obedience.
It is they to whom He refers when He says 'Those in authority from among you.'
It is necessary that you not oppose what they say. You should obey them and
follow their orders." Amiru'l-Mu'minin goes on to say, "When I heard this, I
said: "O Prophet, let me know who the 'uli'l-amr' are." The Prophet said: "O
Ali! You are the first of them."
(3) Muhammad Bin Mu'min Shirazi, one of the most eminent Sunni religious
scholars, writes in his Risala-e-I'tiqadat that when the Holy Prophet appointed
Amiru'l-Mu'minin his representative in Medina, the verse "uli'l-amr-e-Minkum"
(And those in authority from among you) was revealed in reference to Ali Bin Abi
Talib.
(4) Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in his Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, Ch.38, reports
from Manaqib that it is stated in Tafsir-e-Mujahid that this verse was revealed
in reference to Amiru'l-Mu'minin when the Prophet appointed him as his
representative in Medina. The Holy Imam said: "O Holy Prophet of Allah! Have you
appointed me Caliph over women and children?" Then the Holy Prophet said: "Are
you not content that you have the same relation to me as Aaron had to Moses?"
(5) Sheikhu'l-Islam Hamwaini reports Salim Bin Qais Hilali as saying the
following: During Uthman's caliphate, I saw some Muhajirs and Ansars sitting
together praising themselves. Ali was silent among them. The people asked Ali to
speak. He said: "Do you not know that the Holy Prophet said: 'I and my Ahle Bait
were one light, which existed in His creation 14,000 years before the creation
of Adam? When He created Adam, He placed that light in his spine when he came
down to the earth. Then He placed it in Noah in his ark; then in Abraham's spine
while he was in the fire; similarly in the pure spines of fathers and in the
pure wombs of mothers, none of whom were born unlawfully." Those in the group
who were foremost in the battles of Badr and Hunain said: "Yes, we have heard
these words." Then Ali said, "Tell me on oath whether you know that in the Holy
Qur'an Allah has given preference to the foremost ones,
and that in Islam no one equals me in merit." They said, "Yes, we acknowledge
this."
Then Ali recited from the Holy Qur'an: "And the foremost are the foremost; these
are they who are drawn nigh (to Allah)." (56:10-11) He said: "When this verse
was revealed, the people asked the Holy Prophet who were the foremost ones, and
about whom the verse was revealed. Now tell me on oath if you know that the Holy
Prophet told them that Allah Almighty revealed this verse about the prophets and
their vicegerents. I am foremost among all the prophets and Ali, my wasi
(vicegerent) is foremost among all the vicegerents?"
Then Ali said: "The Holy Qur'an tells us, 'Obey Allah and obey the Prophet and
those vested with authority from among you' (4:59) and the verse 'Verily, verily
your guardian is (none else but) Allah and His Prophet (Muhammad) and those who
believe, those who establish prayer and pay the poor-rate, while bowing down (in
prayer).' (5:55) and the verse 'have not taken anyone as an adherent besides
Allah and His Apostle and the believers.' (9:16) Allah subsequently ordered His
Holy Prophet to identify who was meant by the words 'uli'l-amr' (those vested
with authority) in the same way as the ritual prayer, fasting and the Hajj had
been clarified. Accordingly, at Ghadir-e-Khum the Holy Prophet appointed me over
the people and declared: 'O people when Almighty Allah commissioned me to
prophethood I felt apprehension that people would oppose me.'
Then the Holy Prophet continued: 'O people, do you know that Allah Most High is
my Master? I enjoy more mastery over the selves of the believers than they have
over themselves?'
When all confirmed that it was so, the Holy Prophet announced: 'Of whomsoever I
am the master, Ali is his master; O Allah be a friend of him who is a friend of
Ali and be an enemy of him who is an enemy of Ali.'
Then Salman stood up and asked: 'O Holy Prophet what is the significance of
Ali's mastery?' The Holy Prophet replied: 'Ali's mastery is like my own mastery.
Of whomsoever I am the master Ali is also his master.'
Then the verse was revealed: 'This day have I perfected for you your religion
and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion.' (5:3)
Thereupon the Holy Prophet said: 'Allah is Great, Who has perfected the
religion, completed His favor upon me, and is satisfied with my prophethood and
is satisfied with Ali being the vicegerent after me.'"
This hadith confirms those hadith which I related during past nights to show
that 'master' connotes complete mastery over more than one's own.
"The people then said: 'O Holy Prophet tell us the names of your
vicegerents.' The Holy Prophet said: 'They are Ali, who is my brother, my
successor, and my vicegerent and the master of every believer after me; then his
son, Hasan, then Husain, then nine successive sons of Husain. The Holy Qur'an is
with them and they are with the Holy Qur'an. They will not separate from it, and
it will not separate from them until they reach me at the Pool of Kauthar.'"
After recording the full report, he has recorded three other reports from
Manaqib narrated by Salim Bin Qais, Isa Bin Sirri, and Ibn Mu'awiya showing that
the words 'uli'l-amr' refer to the twelve Imams of the 'Ahle Bait.'
I believe that the above reports are enough to clarify the real meaning of
'uli'l-amr.' As for the number and names of the Holy Imams, I will relate hadith
narrated by eminent Sunni scholars, without referring, as has been my practice,
to the many reports by Shia scholars.
NAMES OF THE TWELVE IMAMS AND THEIR NUMBER
(1) Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in his Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, ch.76, reports from
Fara'idu's-Simtain of Hamwaini, who reports from Mujahid, who reports from Ibn
Abbas, that a Jew named Na'thal came to the Holy Prophet and asked him questions
about Tawhid (Unity of Allah). The Holy Prophet answered his questions and the
Jew embraced Islam. Then he said: "O Holy Prophet, every prophet had a wasi
(vicegerent). Our Prophet, Moses Bin Imran, made a will for Yusha Bin Nun.
Please tell me who is your wasi?" The Holy Prophet said: "My vicegerent is Ali
Bin Abi Talib; after him are Hasan, and Husain and after them are nine Imams,
who are the successive descendants of Husain."
Na'thal asked the Holy Prophet the names of those Imams. The Holy Prophet said:
"After Husain, his son, Ali, will be the Imam; after him his son, Muhammad;
after him his son, Ja'far; after him his son Musa; after him his son, Ali; after
him his son, Muhammad; after him his son, Hasan; after him his son, Muhammad
Mahdi will be the last Imam. There will be twelve Imams."
In addition to the names of the nine Imams, this hadith further states that each
would succeed as Imam after his father. Na'thal made further inquiries, and the
Holy Prophet described the manner of death of each Imam.
Then Na'thal said, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that
you are His Holy Prophet. I bear witness that these twelve holy Imams are your
vicegerents after you. What you have said is exactly what is recorded in our
books and in the will of Moses."
Then the Holy Prophet said: "Paradise is for him who loves them and obeys them,
and Hell is for him who is hostile to them and opposes them."
Na'thal then recited some couplets to the effect that "May Allah, the Exalted,
shower His blessings upon you, chosen Prophet and pride of the Bani Hashim.
Allah has guided us by means of you and the twelve holy men whom you have named.
Certainly Allah has purified them and preserved them from impurity. He who loves
them is successful. He who hates them is the loser. The last of the Imams will
quench the thirst of the thirsty. He is the one the people will wait for.
Prophet of Allah, your progeny is a blessing for me and for all the believers.
Those who turn away from them will soon be thrown into Hell."
(2) The great scholar, Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi, in his Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, ch. 76
reports from Manaqib of Khawarizmi, who reports from Wathila Bin Asqa' Bin
Qarkhab, who reports Jabir Bin Abdullah Ansari; and also Abu'l-Fazl Shaibani and
he from Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Ibrahim Shafi'i, who reports Jabir Ansari (one
of the chief companions of the Prophet) as saying: "Jundal Bin Junadab Bin
Jubair, a Jew, came to the Holy Prophet and asked him about Tawhid. After
hearing his reply, the man became a Muslim. He said that on the previous night
he had seen Moses in a dream telling him: 'Embrace Islam at the hands of the
last of the prophets, Muhammad, and attach yourself to the vicegerents after
him.' He thanked Allah for the blessing of Islam. He then asked the Holy Prophet
to tell him the names of his vicegerents. The Holy Prophet began by saying: 'My
vicegerents are twelve in number.'
The man said that he had seen this fact in the Torah. He asked the Prophet to
tell him their names, and the Prophet said: 'The first of them is the chief of
the vicegerents, the father of the Imams, Ali. Then follow his two sons - Hasan
and Husain. You shall see these three. When you reach the last stage of your
life, Imam Zainu'l-Abidin will be born, and the last thing that you have of this
world shall be milk. So cling to them so that ignorance may not mislead you.'
The man said that he had seen in the Torah and in other scriptures the names of
Ali, Hasan, and Husain as Elias, Shabbar, and Shabbir. He asked the Holy Prophet
to tell him the names of the other Imams.
Then the Holy Prophet named the remaining nine Imams with their epithets and
added: 'The last of them, Muhammad Mahdi, will live, but disappear. He will
appear later and will fill the world with justice and equity, since it will have
degenerated into injustice and tyranny. Verily, Paradise is for those who show
patience during the time of his occultation. Paradise is for those who are firm
in their love for him. These are they whom Allah Almighty has praised in the
Holy Qur'an and for whom the Holy Qur'an is a 'guide for those who guard
(against evil). Those who believe in the unseen.' Also He says 'These are
Allah's party: now surely the party of Allah are the successful ones.'" (58:22)
THE NUMBER OF CALIPHS AFTER
THE HOLY PROPHET IS TWELVE
Mir Seyyed Ali Shafi'i Hamadani in his Mawaddatu'l Qurba, (Mawadda XIII),
reports that Umar Bin Qais said: "We were sitting in a group in which Abdullah
Bin Mas'ud was also present. Suddenly an Arab came and said: "Who among you is
Abdullah? Abdullah said: "I am." He said: "Abdullah! Did the Holy Prophet tell
you about the caliphs after him?"
Abdullah Bin Mas'ud said, "Yes, the Prophet said: 'After me there will be twelve
caliphs, corresponding to the number of the Imams of the Bani Isra'il.'"
The same hadith has also been reported from Sha'bi, who reported it from Masruq,
who reported it from Abdullah Shiba.
Also Jurair, Ash'ath, Abdullah Bin Mas'ud, Abdullah Bin Umar, and Jubair Bin
Samra all report the Holy Prophet as saying: "There will be twelve caliphs after
me. Their number will correspond to the number of the caliphs of the Bani
Isra'il." According to Abdu'l-Malik's report, the Holy Prophet added: "And all
of them will be from the Bani Hashim."
Most Sunni ulema, including Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Muslim, Sha'bi have reported
the same thing.
Yahya Bin Hasan, a great scholar of jurisprudence, has reported in his
Kitab-e-Umda from twenty different sources, that "Verily, there are twelve
caliphs after the Holy Prophet, and all of them belong to the Quraish." Bukhari
has reported from three sources, Muslim from nine sources, Ali Dawud from three
sources, Tirmidhi from one source, and Hamid from three sources that the Holy
Prophet said: "The caliphs and Imams after me are twelve, and all of them are
from the Quraish." According to some reports, the Holy Prophet said: "All of
them are from the Bani Hashim."
On page 446 Yahya Bin Hasan says: "Some of the scholars have said that hadith in
support of the view that the number of the caliphs and Imams after the Holy
Prophet is twelve are commonly known. Everyone knows that when the Holy Prophet
specified the number of his caliphs to be twelve, he meant that they would
belong to his 'Ahle Bait,' To say that he meant the caliphs who were his
companions would be incompatible with the facts (since there were only four).
Nor can it be said that he meant the Umayyad kings, of whom there were thirteen. Moreover, they were all tyrants except Umar Bin Abdu'l-Aziz, (although even he usurped the caliphate and forced the Imam of the time to remain confined in his house). Since the Holy Prophet had said: "They are all from the Bani Hashim," the Bani Umayyads are not to be included.
So it is clear that the rightful caliphs of the Holy Prophet were the twelve
Imams who were descendants of the Holy Prophet and who excelled all others in
knowledge and piety. This fact is confirmed by this consecutively narrated
hadith of the Holy Prophet. "I leave behind me two great things, the Holy Book
of Allah (the Holy Qur'an) and my 'Ahle Bait.' If you are attached to these two,
never, never, shall you go astray after me. Verily, these two shall never be
separated from one another until they meet me at the Pool of Kauthar. If you are
attached to these two, you will never be misled."
The Holy Prophet said: "Seek knowledge even in China." We have spent ten long
nights discussing issues concerning a precious knowledge - the way of Islam. We
have seen many differences between the Sunni and Shia sects, and we hope that
historical fact and reason have clarified the nature of the differences. If
Allah wills, these discussions will convince sincere seekers of knowledge that
"Whom Allah guides, no one can lead astray."