these occasions)...

these occasions), he appointed khalifahs and there used to be several men in Madinah (on all these occasions) over whom the khalifah was given authority. However, during the battle of Tabuk, he (the Prophet) did not permit anyone to stay behind from it (i.e. the battle). It was his last battle, peace be upon him, and he never conscripted (for any battle) as he conscripted for it (i.e. Tabuk).

Therefore, none was left (in Madinah) except women, children, those who were exempted due to inability, hypocrites, and three men who (later) repented . There were no believing men in Madinah over whom to appoint a khalifah (during Tabuk), unlike the case on all other occasions.

Rather, this appointment (of ‘Ali) as khalifah was inferior to the other, several khilafah appointments , because there were no strong believing men in Madinah (during Tabuk) over whom he (the Prophet) could have placed (‘Ali as) a khalifah , unlike the case in all his (the Prophet’s) other battles.[^6] Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah obviously interprets the hadith as referring solely to Amir al-Muminin’s khilafah over Madinah during the battle of Tabuk.

So, he was like Harun to Musa only for the duration of the battle. Once the battle ended, and the Messenger took over control of Madinah once again, ‘Ali ceased to be his Harun. In the simplest terms, in the view of our Shaykh, the status of Imam ‘Ali as the Harun of was temporary and shortlived and never extended beyond the Battle of Tabuk. Moreover, it was limited exclusively to ‘Ali’s governorate of Madinah while the battle lasted.

It is very apparent that our Shaykh considers Hadith al-Manzilah to be specifically linked with the words of Musa in this verse: وقال موسى لأخيه هارون اخلفني في قومي Musa said to his brother, Harun: “ Be my khalifah over my people .”[^7] Explaining the connection, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah says: و قيل أن بعض المنافقين طعن فيه و قال أنما خلفه لانه يبغضه فبين له النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم اني إنما استخلفتك لأمانتك عندي و أن الاستخلاف ليس بنقص و لا غض فإن موسى استخلف هارون على قومه فكيف يكون نقصا و موسى ليفعله بهارون فطيب بذلك قلب علي It is said that some hypocrites condemned him (i.e.

‘Ali), and said that he (the Prophet) only made him (i.e. ‘Ali) a khalifah because he (the Prophet) hated him (i.e. ‘Ali).