Ali came back victorious with Safiyya bint Huyay [al-Akhtab] among his captives.
Ali came back victorious with Safiyya bint Huyay [al-Akhtab] among his captives.'" Ibn Abbas proceeded to say, "Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sent someone with surat al-Tawbah, but he had to send Ali after him to discharge the responsibility, saying: Nobody can discharge it except a man who is of me, and I am of him.'" Ibn Abbas also said, "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), with Ali sitting beside him, asked his cousins once: Who among you elects to be my wali in this life and the life hereafter?' They all declined, but Ali said: I would like to be your wali in this life and the life to come,' whereupon he (pbuh) responded by saying: You are, indeed, my wali in this life and the life hereafter.'" Ibn Abbas continues to say that Ali was the first person to accept Islam after Khadija, and that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took his own robe and put it over Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husayn, then recited the verse saying: "Allah wishes to remove all abomination from you, O [people of my household] and purify you with a perfect purification (Qur'an, 33:33)." He has also said: "Ali bought his own soul.
He put on the Prophet's garment and slept in his bed when the infidels sought to murder him," till he says: "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went on Tabuk expedition accompanied by many people. Ali asked him: May I join you?' The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) refused, whereupon Ali wept. The Prophet (pbuh) then asked him: Does it not please you that your status to me is similar to that of Aaron's to Moses, except there is no Prophet after me?
It is not proper for me to leave this place before assigning you as my vicegerent.' The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has also said the following to him: You are the wali of every believing man and woman.'" Ibn Abbas has said: "The Messenger of Allah closed down all doors leading to his mosque except that of Ali who used to enter the mosque on his way out even while in the state of janaba.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has also said: Whoever accepts me as the wali, let him/her take Ali as the wali, too.'" أخبرنا أبو بكر أحمد بن جعفر بن حمدان القطيعي ببغداد، من أصل كتابه، حدثنا عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل، حدثني أبي، حدثنا يحيى بن حماد، حدثنا أبو عوانة، حدثنا أبو بلج، حدثنا عمرو بن ميمون قال: إني لجالس عند ابن عباس، إذ أتاه تسعة رهط، فقالوا: يا ابن عباس، إما أن تقوم معنا، وإما أن تخلو بنا من بين هؤلاء. قال: فقال ابن عباس: بل أنا أقوم معكم. قال: وهو يومئذ صحيح، قبل أن يعمى.
قال: فابتدؤوا، فتحدثوا، فلا ندري ما قالوا.