Then as soon as he stood up...

Then as soon as he stood up, his face turned white out of leprosy, after which he began to lament himself, weeping and saying: I am inflicted with the curse of the upright man because I concealed the witness to his benefit.

This episode is widely known, and was reported by Ibn Qutaybah in the book al-Marif, in which he counted Anas among the cripple persons under bab al-baras (leprosy), and also by al-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad when he said: They all stood up except three, who didn’t rise up, so they were afflicted with his imprecation.

It is noteworthy to mention here that these three men were referred to by Imam Ahmad as reported by al-Baladhuri when saying: After citing Imam Ali’s appeal to witness, Anas ibn Malik, al-Bar ibn Azib and Jarir ibn Abd Allah al-Bajali were sitting near the pulpit. Imam repeated his appeal but received no response from any of them, whereat he (PBUH) said: My Lord, whoever hides this witness while knowing it.

You should never let him die and leave the world without branding him with a sign distinguishing him from all people. After that, Anas ibn Malik was affected with leprosy, al-Bar ibn Azib turned blind, and Jarir was converted to a bedouin after his migration, and on coming to al-Shurt he died inside his mother’s house. This story is famous and reported by a large number of historians. So learn a lesson, O ye who have eyes.

Any truth-seeker can recognize, out of this incident, that was revived by Imam Ali after elapse of twenty-five years and was about to be obliterated, the real value, greatness, sublimity and self-serenity of Imam Ali (PBUH).

While he showed extreme forbearance, being a true counsellor to Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman as long as knowing that advising them being for the interest of Islam and Muslims, nevertheless he kept on holding in mind the Incident of al-Ghadir with all its denotations, besides its being remembered in his conscience throughout all of his life moments.

As soon as finding an opportune time to resurrect and revive it, he would immediately embark on compelling others to give witness to it publicly and before all people. Anyone can contemplate the way of reviving this blessed memory and its implied extreme wisdom for establishing the proof against all Muslims, whether those who attended the incident or others.