ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Great Companion of the Prophet (s) Abu Dharr (ra) Chapter 8 Narration of traditions (ahadith) is a thing of paramount importance. Neither every Tom, Dick and Harry are allowed to narrate, nor their narrations can be listened to. The knowledge of narrators is a touchstone for it. Abu Dharr is one of those trustworthy, reliable and authentic narrators whose narrations cannot be doubted or rejected.

He has remained in the company of the Holy Prophet most of the time. Hence his narrations are too many; out of them a few are given here: About the verses of the Holy Qur'an 'O believers! Obey Allah, His Messenger and the "Ulil amr-i minkum", Imam Fakhruddin Razi has explained in Tafsirul Kabir that it refers to the infallibles and Saiyid Ali Hamadani has mentioned it in “Mawaddatul Kurba”, and referred to the twelve infallibles.

But it needs confirmation by some dignified companion of the Prophet that the Prophet (s) himself has told it. Abu Dharr narrates from the Prophet that when the above mentioned verse was revealed he requested the Holy Prophet to tell him the names of the Ulil Amr (in charge of affairs). He mentioned the twelve Imams. After specifying the names Abu Dharr summarizes it that the first appointee is Ali and the last is Imam Mahdi[^1].

Abu Ishaq Tha'labi writes in his commentary: One day Ibn Abbas was narrating the traditions of the Holy Prophet while sitting near the well of Zamzam when a man with a veiled face came by Ibn Abbas paused in his narration. That person started narrating the hadith of the Prophet. Ibn Abbas said, "O man! I ask you in the name of Allah to tell me truly who you are". He unveiled his face and said, "O people!

He who knows me, knows me, but he who does not know me, should recognize me that I am Abu Dharr Ghifari. I have heard from the Holy Prophet with these two ears which may become deaf if I am wrong, and I have seen with these two eyes which may become blind, if I tell a lie that the Prophet said about Ali that he is the leader of the righteous people and a killer of evil doers. He who helped him became victorious and he who forsook him was forsaken”.

According to the narration of Abu Dharr Ghifari the Prophet of Allah said: "Ali is the gate of my knowledge and a guide to my followers of the purpose for which I have been sent. Love for him is faith and enmity with him is hypocricy and friendship with him is worship[^2].