ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-Nass Wal-Ijtihad, Text and Interpretation Conclusion We end our book with the same subject that we have begun with; the imamate after the Prophet (S) because of its importance near Allah and His Messenger and because of its necessity to the umma in its religion and life and because of that the Prophet (S) has spared no effort to fix it for the sake of Allah the Almighty and for the sake of his umma.

He, who has been aware of the way of the Prophet (S) in establishing the state of Islam since the first step, would find that Imam ‘Ali (as) was his vizier, his partner in his affairs, his supporter against his enemies, the container of his knowledge, the heir of his wisdom, his guardian and the caliph after him.

He who has pondered on the Prophet’s sayings and doings in his travel and residing, would find that many of them have declared these matters since the advent of the mission until the last day of his holy life. The Prophet (S) continued to declare these meanings in his wise manner throughout the twenty-three years he had been sent as a prophet until he left to the better world. He praised the virtues of Imam ‘Ali (as), mentioned his high position and glorified his personality on every occasion.

The Prophet (S) declared the important position of Imam ‘Ali (as) in a clear text since the first days of prophethood and before the mission has been spread openly in Mecca when he warned his close relatives at the time of his uncle Sheikh al-Bat~ha’ Abu Talib. He had said to them in the house of Abu Talib while putting his hand on the neck of Imam ‘Ali (as), who was the youngest one among the relatives then: “This (Ali) is my brother, my guardian and my caliph among you.

You are to listen to him and to obey him…” [^1] Since then the Prophet (S) kept on referring to the caliphate of Imam ‘Ali (as) after him sometimes in clear texts like his saying to Imam ‘Ali (as) when he had left him on Medina during the battle of Tabook “I should not go unless you remain as my caliph” [^2] and sometimes in more special meanings like his saying when Burayda has complained against Imam ‘Ali (as) “Do not get involved with Ali!

He is from me and I am from him and he will be your guardian after me.” It has been mentioned by Ahmad bin Hanbal in this way. An-Nassa’iy has mentioned the tradition in this way: “O Burayda, do not offend Ali!