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Imam Ali AS is the most virtuous person, after Prophet Muhammad PBUH - in the light of Quran and Hadith

 

As Salaam o Alaikum,

Friends, if we talk about the prominent personalities of the Islamic era, then undoubtedly the first person is, our master and the Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he is accepted by both the two major sects of Islam, Shia and Sunni. But if any Shia is asked who is the most virtuous after Prophet Muhammad, then he will say that Hazrat Imam Ali - May Allah peace on him is the most virtuous. But if a Sunni is asked, then most of the Sunnis will name the first Caliph among the Khulafa-e-Rashidin, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique RA. Although Sunnis also consider Hazrat Ali RA as the fourth Caliph. Hazrat Ali (RA) was not only the son-in-law of Rasul (SA) but he was also the cousin of Rasulallah (SA) i.e. he was one of the Ahlebait (Blood relative Family Member).

 

Let us now know who is the person whom Allah and his Messenger PBUH have described as the best after Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through the Quran and Hadith?

 

First of all we read verse number 253 of Surah Baqarah of Quran Sharif:

The Cow (2:253)

 

ۜ دُرَجَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وُــعـتُيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مُرْيَمُ ٱلْبُيِّنُـٰتِ وُارــٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلّوْ شُعــــــــــــٰتِ ? and

 

 

"These are the Messengers, we have given some of them superiority over others. Some of them are those to whom Allah spoke, and some of them He has elevated. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him through the Ruh al-Qudus. And had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought among themselves after the clear signs had come to them. But they differed, so among them there was one who believed and among them there was one who disbelieved. And had Allah willed, they would not have fought among themselves, but Allah does what He wills."

 

Now in the beginning of this verse Allah has said that some of the Prophets sent to the world have been given more importance than others. This verse shows that the one who has the most importance will be the most Superior.

 

Now we will know the importance of Imam Ali which has been described by Prophet PBUH himself.

 

Prophet Peace be upon him said, "Ali, your status with me is the same as Sayyidna Haroon (Alaihis Salam) had with Sayyidna Musa (Alaihis Salam) except that there is no Prophet after me". That is, if there was any Prophet after Prophet Muhammad, then it would have been Hazrat Ali. 

(Sahih Bukhari: Hadith no. 3706, Sahih Muslim Hadith no. 6217, 6221/2404)

"Whoever I am the master of, Ali is his master" (Jaame Tirmizi Hadith no. 3713, Mustabrak al-Hakim Hadith 4576, Mishkat: Hadith no. 6013)

"The believers will love Hazrat Ali and the hypocrites will hate Hazrat Ali". (Sahih Muslim Hadith no. 240/78)

"Prophet PBUH went to Sayyedna Ali (RA). He was lying down and the sheet had got separated from his side and there was mud on his body. Prophet PBUH started wiping off the mud and said, "O Abu Turab! Get up. O Abu Turab! Get up." Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 6229/2409 )

"Rasul Allah (peace be upon him) said "There is a man amongst you who will fight over the interpretation of the Qur'an just as I fought over its revelation, and he is Ali." (Mustabrak al-Hakim Hadith 4621 )

Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) says "The first person to offer Namaaz was Hazrat Ali (RA)." (Jaame Tirmizi Hadith No. 3734 )

The first person to accept Islam was Hazrat Ali (RA). (Jame-Tirmizi Hadith No. 3735)

 

Prophet PBUH said, "Ali is from me and I am from Ali. (Bukhari - 4251, Jame-Tirmizi Hadith No. 3719, 3716 and Ibn Majah Hadith No. 119)

 

Prophet PBUH said, "Ali is Siddiq-e-Akbar". (Ibn Majah Hadith No. 120)

 

Prophet PBUH said, "Whoever is a friend of Ali is a friend of Prophet PBUH." (Ibn Majah Hadith No. 121)

 

Prophet PBUH said, "Ali is a friend of Ali. is with the Quran and the Quran is with Ali". (Mustabrak al Hakim Hadith 4628)

 

Rasulallah (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever abuses Ali is as if he has abused me". (Mishkat - 6101, Musnad Ahmad - 27284)

 

Rasulallah (peace be upon him) said, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate". (Jaame Tirmizi Hadith no. 3723)

 

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In the above Hadiths, Prophet PBUH has described the virtues of Imam Ali. Now we will know about some important characteristics of Hazrat Ali in different events:

 

1. Bravery - All the wars fought under the leadership of Prophet PBUH, whether it is the war of Badr, the war of Uhud, the war of Khandaq or the war of Khaiber, all these wars have been won due to the bravery and courage of Hazrat Ali. Hazrat Ali is also called Sher-e-Khuda i.e. the lion of God.

 

2. Gentlemanly - If we talk about gentlemanliness, then there is no example of Hazrat Ali, who, staying hungry himself, would give his food to a complainant and stay hungry himself.

 

3. Knowledge and wisdom - What can we say about the knowledge and wisdom of Imam Ali? Rasul Allah (peace be upon him) himself said, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate." Whether it is religious knowledge or worldly knowledge, Imam Ali had knowledge of every kind and used to tell people that as long as I am amongst you, ask me whatever you want, I know that which you can see and that which you cannot see". Even the Khulafa-e-Rashidin used to take advice from Hazrat Ali if they got stuck in any matter during their Caliphate.

 

4. Justice and fairness - Every decision of Hazrat Ali was based on justice, whatever case came to him, he always gave the right justice on the scale of justice.

 

5. Honesty and simplicity - Even his enemies liked the honesty of Hazrat Ali, there is not a single incident of his life where anyone has ever raised a finger on his honesty. His life was full of simplicity and despite being such a great Caliph, he lived the life of a Sufi and a faqir.

 

6. Belief in Tawheed (One God / Allah) - Hazrat Ali was a staunch believer in one God or Allah. In his entire life, he never bowed his head in front of anyone except Allah. He was the first among men to have faith in Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him).

 

Imam Ali is the first and the greatest Wali / Saint (friend of Allah) among all the Walis (Saints).

 

On the occasion of Ghadir-e-Khum, Prophet PBUH had said, "Mankunt Maula Fahza Ali Un Maula" and "Ali Un Wali Ullah" i.e. whoseever I am his Maula, Ali is his Maula and whoseever I am his Wali, Ali is his Wali". After this statement, it becomes clear that after Prophet PBUH, Prophethood ends but Wilayat (Sainthood) begins and the first Wali of Wilayat and the greatest Wali among all Walis is Imam Ali Alaihis Salam. Till date and till the Day of Judgment, whatever Walis will be there, the Wali of all Walis is Imam Ali Alaihis Salam. And he cannot be a Wali who does not accept Maula-e-Kainaat, Imam Ali Alaihis Salam as his Wali. Imam Ali Alaihis Salam has lived his entire life in a very simple, Sufi, faqir kind of life, till date there is no Sufi like him.

 

Difference between Imam Ali and the rest of the Companions

Except Imam Ali, all the Companions, whether it is Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) or Hazrat Umar (RA) or Hazrat Usman (RA), all of them have been polytheists at one time or another and they used to worship other gods except Allah. But Hazrat Ali had faith in Allah when he was a minor of 7 years and he has never bowed his head in front of anyone except Allah.

 

Conclusion - From the above Quranic verses and Prophetic Hadiths, it is clear that after Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the best person is only Imam Ali (May Allah peace on him). We respect the rest of the Companions, especially the Khulafa-e-Rashidin (Rashidun Caliphate), but whoever had enmity with Maula Ali - Karam Allahu Wajahul Kareem, cannot be a companion. As Rasulallah - Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam said, "Whoever is the enemy of Ali is my enemy".