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Islam from the Western Scholars' Viewpoints (2) - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief Islam from the Western Scholars’ Viewpoints (2) 2021-11-03 497 Views Washington Irving ‘O children of Abd al-Muttalib,’ cried he (Mohammed) with enthusiasm, ‘to you, of all men, has Allah vouchsafed these most precious gifts. In his name I offer you the blessings of this world, and endless joys hereafter. Who among you will share the burden of my offer?

Who will be my brother, my lieutenant, my vizir?’ All remained silent; some wondering; others smiling with incredulity and derision. At length Ali, starting up with youthful zeal, offered himself to the service of the Prophet though modestly acknowledging his youth and physical weakness. Mohammed threw up his arms around the generous youth, and pressed him to his bosom.

‘Behold my brother, my vizir, my vicegerent,’ exclaimed he, “Let all listen to his words, and obey him.”(1) Contents Washington Irving Sir Richard Burton Sir William Muir Sir Richard Burton After a long course of meditation, fired with anger by the absurd fanaticism of the Jews, the superstitions of the Syrian and Arab Christians, and the horrid idolatries of his unbelieving countrymen, an enthusiast too – and what great soul has not been an enthusiast?

●He (Mohammad) determined to reform those abuses which rendered revelation contemptible to the learned and prejudicial to the vulgar. He introduced himself as one inspired to a body of his relations and fellow-clansmen. The step was a failure, except that it won for him a proselyte worth a thousand sabers in the person of Ali, son of Abu Talib. (2) Ali had offered his services to Muhammad, the Messenger of God, and the latter had accepted them.

To the elders of the tribe, Ali’s conduct might have appeared rash and brazen but he soon proved that he had the grit to accomplish far more than others had the courage even to dream. The Messenger of God, on his part, accepted the offer not only with expressions of gratitude and joy but also declared that Ali was, from that moment, his vicegerent. Muhammad’s declaration was forthright and unequivocal.

It is foolish to quibble, as some people do, that Ali’s vicegerency of Muhammad, was confined to the tribe of Banu Hashim. But Muhammad himself did not restrict Ali’s vicegerency to Banu Hashim. Ali was his vicegerent for all Muslims and for all time.

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