(36:78-79) Those who belittle the idea of Raj'a of the...

(36:78-79) Those who belittle the idea of Raj'a of the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and mock the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (AS) for their belief, should also know that their master Umar was one of those who claim a similar idea according to the historical evidences. Muslim historians agree that: Umar stood at the Mosque of the Prophet when the Prophet passed away, and said: "There are hypocrites who allege that the Messenger of God has died.

Certainly the Messenger of God did not die, but he went to his Lord, as Moses, son of Imran, went to his Lord (for receiving the heavenly commandments).

By God, Muhammad will return as Moses returned, and he shall cut off the hands and legs of those who alleged that the Messenger of Allah has died." Sunni Reference: al-Sira al-Nabawiyya, by Ibn Hisham, v2, p655 Although Umar's motives in this regard was different and his opinion was not completely identical to the notion of al-Raj'a, yet we can not say that Umar took this idea from Abdullah Ibn Saba.

Ibn Saba did not exist at that time, not even in the imagination of Saif Ibn Umar al- Tamimi who invented this character. Saif wrote that Ibn Saba came to Medina and became Muslim during the reign of Uthman, which is far after the death of Prophet (PBUH&HF). The Doctrine of Ali's Executorship Sayf further alleged that Ibn Saba is the one who propagated the idea that Ali Ibn Abi Talib is the executor and the successor of the Messenger of God.

He said that there were a thousand prophets before Muhammad, each of which had an executor after him, and that Ali is the executor of the Prophet. Furthermore, Sayf alleged that Ibn Saba said that the three caliphs who ruled after the Prophet were usurpers of the Islamic rule. Sayf and his disciples forgot that they mentioned in their fiction that Abdullah Ibn Saba came to Medina and adopted Islam during the reign of Uthman. This is long after the death of the Messenger of Allah.

On the other hand, Sunni history testifies that the Messenger of God himself is the one who declared that Ali would be his executor right at the *beginning of his mission*. Here is the tradition concerning the first open preach the prophet (PBUH&HF): Ali (AS) narrated: When the verse: "And warn your closest tribe" was revealed, the Messenger of God called me and said:" Ali, certainly Allah commanded me to warn my closest tribe, and I feel the difficulty of this mission.