The Prophet said...

The Prophet said: No but I am commanded that either I should deliver it or a man from the members of my House.[^3] Al-Tirmidhi recorded through his channel to Anas Ibn Malik that Anas reported: The Prophet sent Bara-ah with Abu Bakr then he called him and said: No one ought to deliver this except a man from the members of my House He called ‘Ali and gave him the chapter."[^4] Ibn Hisham in his Biography of the Prophet recorded that Muhammad Al-Baqir reported the following: "When Bara-ah was revealed to the Messenger he sent Abu Bakr to lead the people in pilgrimage.

The Prophet was told: Messenger of God it would be good if you send Bara-ah with Abu Bakr so that he will announce it. The Prophet said: No one should deliver for me but a man from the members of my House. Then he called upon ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib and said to him: Take the verses at the beginning of Bara-ah... ‘Ali went on riding the camel of the Messenger "Al-Adba " until he reached Abu Bakr on the road. Abu Bakr said: Are you a commander or commanded?

‘Ali said: I am commanded and they went on and Abu Bakr led the people in the Hajj Pilgrimage. When the Day of Arafat came ‘Ali stood up and announced to the people what the Messenger ordered him to announce..."[^5] It seems that this event was well known. ‘Umar did not deny it when Ibn Abbas reminded him of it. Ibn Abbas reported the following: "... ‘Umar said to me: Ibn Abbas I see your man (‘Ali) is treated unjustly... I said: Ameer Al-Mumineen give him his right.

He pulled his hand from my hand and went on speaking to himself then he stood waiting for me. When I came to him; he said: Ibn Abbas I think they (the Qureshites) did not give him the leadership only because they thought he was too young for that... I said: By God neither God nor His Messenger considered him too young when they ordered him to take the chapter of Bara-ah from your man.

He (‘Umar) turned his face away from me and sped up and I went back."[^6] Al-Hafith Al-Kanji Al-Shafi-i in his book Kifayat Al- Talib page 151 recorded that Al-Harith Ibn Malik reported the following: "I came to Mecca and met Saad Ibn Abu Waqas I asked him: "Did you hear any recommendation for ‘Ali?" He said: I witnessed four for him if one of them were for me I would prefer it to having the whole world living in it as long as Noah lived.

The Messenger sent Abu Bakr with Bara-ah to the pagans of Quraish.