" 2 - There is no doubt that the Prophet dearly loved Fatimah...

" 2 - There is no doubt that the Prophet dearly loved Fatimah, and he said: `Fatimah is a part of my body; what harms her harms me.' he also loved 'Ali and the Hasanayn (Hasan and Husayn), since a great number of mutawatir traditions (those which are narrated by so many as to make doubt impossible) have reached us on this subject. Thus friendship of them is obligatory on all the community, [^37] because the Qur'an commands: And follow him (the Prophet), haply you will be guided.

(al-A'raf, 7:158) "It also commands: You have a good example in Allah's Messenger. (al-Ahzab, 33:21) "These (considerations) prove that love for the Family of Muhammad - who are `Ali, Fatimah and the Hasanayn -is obligatory on all Muslims.

" [^38] There are also many traditions from the Prophet concerning love and friendship for `Ali: 1: Ibn al-Athir narrates that the Prophet spoke to `Ali and said: "O `Ali, God has embellished you with things, no dearer embellishment than which exists before his slaves: resignation from the world has been ;appointed for you in such a way that neither do you profit from the world, nor it from you.

On you has been bestowed the love of the wretched; they are proud of your leadership, and you also of their following you. Content is he who loves you, and is a true friend to you.

And woe betide he who shows enmity towards you, and lies about you." [^39] 2: as-Suyuti relates that the Prophet said: "Love of `Ali is faith, and enmity towards him is sedition." [^40] 3: Abu Na'im narrates that the Prophet addressed the Ansar and said: "Shall I guide you to something which, if you grasp it after me, you will never go astray?" They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah !

" He said: "It is 'Ali: love him with the love (you have) for me, and respect him with the respect (you have) for me. For God has ordered me through Gabriel to tell you this." [^41] The Sunnis have also narrated traditions from the Prophet in which observing `Ali's face and talking of his virtues is counted as a form of worship. 1: Muhibb at-Tabari narrates from `A'ishah that she said: "I saw my father (Abu Bakr) gazing often at 'Ali's face. I said: `O my father!