Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Hello, I was reading your article on how during and after Prophet Mohammed`s(saws) lifetime, there was a strong bond between all the sahabees namely Moulana Ali(as) and the first three khalifas. If that was so, then why after the death of our beloved Prophet Mohammed(saws), Moulana Ali(as) and his family were subjected to torture and humiliation, Injuries were sustained to Maa Fatema(as) which eventually lead to her death. What is your understanding of the episodes which occurred immediately after the Prophet Mohammed`s(saws) death?

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Answer:

Ali(r.a) and other companions

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly, brother, let me make it clear to you that there is no one who calls himself a true believer, and does not love and respect Hadrat Imam Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) and bint-e-Rasool Allah, Fatema tuz Zahra (r.a.). It is clearly evident from the words of the Prophet (saws) himself how much he loved his daughter Fatema, and his cousin and son-in-law Ali (r.a.); and he had given both these noble souls the good news of being in Paradise in the Hereafter!

1.      When Allah's Messenger (saws) arranged brotherhoods among his companions (between the Muhajireen from Makkah and Ansar of Medina), Hadrat Ali (r.a.) came weeping to him (saws) and said, "You have arranged brotherhoods among your companions, but you have arranged no brotherhood between me and anyone." He (saws) replied, "Your are my brother in this world and the next."

2.      The Prophet (saws) said in one of the battles : “Tomorrow, I (saws) will give the banner (make him the commander of the army) to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.” The Prophet (saws) gave the banner to Hadrat Ali the following day.

3.      Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Paradise is desirous (waiting anxiously) of three people: Ali (ibn Abu Talib), Ammar (bin Yassir) and Salman (al Faarsi)."

4.      When Allah's Messenger (saws) alighted at the pool of Khumm, he took Ali by the hand and asked those present, "Do you not know that I am closer to the believers than they themselves?" They replied, "Certainly." He then asked, "Do you not know that I am nearer to every believer than he himself?" They replied, "Certainly." He then said, " O Allah, he whose ‘maula’ I am, has Ali as his ‘maula’. O Allah, be friendly to those who are friendly to him and hostile to those who are hostile to him."

5.      Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "O Allah, show mercy to Ali! O Allah, cause the truth to accompany him wherever he goes!"

6.      The Prophet (saws) said, "The most learned in legal matters, is Ali."

7.      Allah's Messenger (saws) said: “Ali, verily I like for thee what I like for myself, and I disapprove for thee what I disapprove for myself.”

8.      The Prophet (saws) said to Hadrat Ali(r.a.), "Will you not be pleased from this, that you are to me, like Aaron was to Moses?"

9.      Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "He who reviles Ali has reviled me."

10.  Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "A hypocrite does not love Ali and a believer does not hate him."

Imam Ali (r.a.) said: “By Him Who split up the seed and created something living (Allah), the Prophet (saws) gave me a promise that no one but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would nurse a grudge against me.”

It is evident from the above authentic narrations of the Prophet (saws) what position and ‘maqaam’ Hadrat Ali ibn Abu Talib is held in Islam. He was one of the most noble companions of the Holy Prophet. It has been reported that he was probably 10 years old and the first male to embrace Islam, when the Prophet (saws) announced his mission. He migrated from Makkah to Medina for Islam. He was known for his courage and bravery, and fought all the major battles of Islam with the Prophet (saws). He was, without a doubt, one of the most noblest companions of the Prophet (saws).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam, and Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was definitely amongst them:

They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succour Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100:

Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaar who were the first to respond to the invitation of the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct, and they too, were well pleased with Allah. Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which, canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever. This is the Greatest Success.

And Hadrat Ali (r.a.) is definitely amongst the first of the Muhajirs to accept the Faith!. Allah and His Messenger (saws) have themselves praised Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and his ‘maqaam’ in Islam. This ‘maqaam’ was given because Hadrat Ali (r.a.) loved Allah and His Messenger (saws), feared Allah Alone, and spent his whole life, and gave unlimited sacrifices with the Prophet (saws) in the propagation and for the victory of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself, gave the good news of Paradise to Hadrat Ali (r.a.) during his own lifetime. This honor was given to 10 companions of the Holy Prophet (saws), who were told in their lifetime that Allah has granted them Paradise. And our beloved Prophet (saws) never spoke anything from himself, but it was revealed to him by Allah, the All Wise, All Knowing.

Allah's Messenger (saws) said to Hadrat Ali (r.a.) : "You have a resemblance to Jesus, whom the Jews hated so much that they slandered his mother, and whom the Christians loved so much that they placed him in a position not rightly his." Ali said afterwards, "Two people will perish on my account, one who loves me so excessively that he praises me for what I do not possess, and one who hates me so much that he will be impelled by his hatred to slander me."

The correct opinion is that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was an obedient slave of Allah. He was one of the most ardent followers of the Prophet (saws). He was a soldier of Islam, and spent his life in the service of Allah and His Messenger (saws). He always kept his mission of Paradise and the Mercy of Allah in view, and never cared much for the luxuries and wealth of this world. He used to earn his meager livelihood as a water drawer and lead a very simple life, even when he was elected the Leader of the Faithful or Ameer ul Mu’mineen, and had half of the then known world under his leadership. That was the noble character of our leader and Imam, Ameer ul Mu’mineen, Ali ibn Abu Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him). We should love him for what he was and what he did in the service of Allah, His Messenger, and the propagation and victory of Islam.

Your Statement: If that was so, then why after the death of our beloved Prophet Mohammed(saws), Moulana Ali(as) and his family were subjected to torture and humiliation, Injuries were sustained to Maa Fatema(as) which eventually lead to her death.

Brother, it is not conceivable that one would dare to even point a finger with a bad intention at the noble companion and the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet (saws), Hadrat Imam Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) and his wife and the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Hadrat Fatema bint Mohamed! To claim that immediately after the death of the Prophet (saws), almost all the believers who would sacrifice their wealth, lives and families on one word of the Prophet (saws) when he was alive, became renegades and apostates is not only unbelievable; it is absolutely absurd! Allah Himself has praised the companions of the Holy Prophet (saws) in the Holy Quran itself for their imaan, patience, truthfulness and sacrifices… and Allah and His Messenger (saws) have promised most of them Paradise as their reward…..

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam, (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Bilaal, Ammar bin Yaasir, Talha, Zubayr, etc. were among these early companions who migrated to Medina)

They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succour Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100:

Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaar who were the first to respond to the invitation of the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct, and they too, were well pleased with Allah. Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which, canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever. This is the Greatest Success.

Again, among the early reverts to Islam (the Muhajirs and the Ansaars) were such noble companions as Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, Umar, Talha, Zubair, Bilaal, etc. Allah Himself says that He is well pleased with them and has prepared for them Gardens in Paradise underneath which canals will be flowing and they will abide therein for ever!

In this indeed a pity that some people have chosen to invent lies and concoct enemities between these noble souls, whom Allah and His Messenger have chosen to Honor in this world, and in the Hereafter! There are some sects in Islam who have the audacity and courage to curse and revile some of the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), whom Allah Himself has honored collectively in the Holy Quran. And Allah has specifically mentioned that He is pleased with the early Muhajirs and the Ansaars and He Himself has called them the Truthful and has prepared eternal Gardens of Bliss for them.

Just to relate a few examples of the praises that the Messenger of Allah (saws) showered on some of his noble companions:

Hadrat Hassan ibn Thabit (r.a.):

This noble companion was a poet and used to answer the poetry of the disbelievers which they would make against Islam and the Messenger of Allah (saws). He was the only person whom the Messenger of Allah (saws) honored to stand along with him on his ‘mimbar’, and recite the answers to the disbelievers. This honor of standing together with the Prophet (saws) on his mimbar, was not given to any of the other companions.

Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah is the ‘ameen’ (most trustworthy) of this Ummah.”

Umar al Khattab (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, : “If there were to be a Prophet after me, it would have been Umar.”

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r.a.) :

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, : “There are eight gates to Paradise, and Abu Bakr can enter from any gate he pleases.”

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, : “All of you (his companions) who have done favors on me, I have repaid them, except to Abu Baqr as Siddiq.”

Zubair ibn al Awwam (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah said, : “Every Prophet has a ‘hawwaree’ (helper in the Cause of Allah), and my ‘hawwaree’ is Zubair ibn al Awwam.”

Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (r.a.):

During the battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (saws) told this brave fighter to shoot his arrows with the following words which he did not use for any of the other noble companions ever. He (saws) said to Hadrat Saad, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you……”

Bilaal ibn Rabah (r.a.):

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) went to the heavens on the night of Mairaaj, he came back and told the companions that he heard the footsteps of Hadrat Bilaal in the highest heavens.

Saad bin Muadh (r.a.):

When this noble companion died, the Messenger of Allah (saws) paid a tribute to this companion and said, “On the death of this companion of mine, the Magnificent Throne of Allah, has been shaken!”.

Uthman ibn Affan (r.a.):

During the preparations of the Battle of Tabuk, when Uthman donated a lot of money for this Cause and Jihad in the name of Allah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, : “Whatever Uthman does after this day, he will never incur a loss with Allah.”

Almost all the above were amongst the 313 companions who fought in the Battle of Badr, (except Uthman ibin Affan, who was nursing his wife and the daughter of the Prophet (saws) on her deathbed, Ruqaiyya bint Rasool Allah). In later years, the Prophet (saws) said of those who fought the Battle of Badr : “Allah has forgiven their past and their future sins!”

And there are countless other quotations related from the Messenger of Allah (saws) in praise of his noble companions. The Messenger of Allah (saws) knew the strength of each of his noble companions, and when the time and need arose, he gave the responsibility of the deed to that companion. These noble companions spent their whole lives and their possessions in the service and cause of Allah and the deen, and therefore deserved the praise bestowed upon them. And the ones who showered them with this praise were none other than those who spoke nothing but the Truth: Allah, the Most High, and His beloved Messenger (saws).

It is indeed a pity and cause of grief for the believers, that some mis-guided muslims today revile and abuse some of the noble companions, and even the chaste wives of the Messenger of Allah (saws). The All-Mighty Allah, and his beloved Messenger (saws) are pleased with these noble companions, but some mis-guided muslims today have the audacity and the courage to revile and abuse them! Maybe they should read and understand this aayah from the Holy Quran:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:

It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed into manifest error.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said : “Do not revile my companions! If one amongst you were to spend gold as much as (the mountain) of Uhud (in the cause of Allah), it would not be equivalent in the sight of Allah, to a ‘mudd’ (a measure of grain) spent by my companions.”

May Allah have Mercy on the Ummah of Islam and unite them and guide them all to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

Thus, brother, it is our duty to love those whom Allah and His Messenger have loved … and it is our duty to honor those Allah and His Messenger have honored! It is nothing but mis-guidance on our part if we respect and honor one, and curse and revile the others! They were all human beings, and whatever deeds they did, they will get their reward from the All Just Allah.

Your Question: What is your understanding of the episodes which occurred immediately after the Prophet Mohammed`s(saws) death?

Brother, the question of what happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is so vast to answer in one article. There are many things that happened simultaneously, and if you need a clarification on any of the incidents that took place after the death of the Prophet (saws), we would be more than happy to clarify those for you.

The deen of Islam was completed, the Quran revealed, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was established at the time of the death of the Prophet (saws). Whatever happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is the History of the Muslims, and this is in the knowledge of Allah Alone. Allah will not hold us accountable for the deeds of these people, nor ask us about them on the Day of Judgment. We will be asked about our deeds and what did we do for the cause of Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:

They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan