All Muslims agree that Ali, the Prophet's cousin whom the Prophet "brothered and his wife Fatimah (the Lady of Light), the dearest child of the Messenger, and their two children, Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein, are fiom the chosen members of the House of Mohammad and that they are included in our prayers for him. The high qualifications of the chosen relatives of Mohammad is the main reason for the very unique honor bestowed upon them.
Imam Ali stood above all others, after the Prophet. He was the strongest supporter of the Messenger of God. He never hesitated to give his life for the promotion of Islam. The readers of history can easily know that Imam Au was the top defender of Islam and the most adherent to its rules.
Imam Ali,s attitude towards personal power and prestige was unique. Whenever he had to choose between adherence to his ideals and the pleasures of the earthly life, he unhesitatingly chose the former. History testifies that he preferred to lose the leadership of the Muslim World rather than to accept a condition in which he did not believe. lie was offered this leadership contingent on his pledge to follow the Book of God, the instructions of the Messenger, and the traditions of the first two Caliphs in the absence of the Quranic and the Messenger's instructions. He replied:
(I shall follow the Book of God and the instructions of His Messenger; and in the absence of specific teachings of the two sources,) I shall endeavor to the best of my knowledge and ability.1
His knowledge was amazing in its depth and extensiveness. His sermons, lectures, and the words contained in NahjulBalaghah (Path of Eloquence) testify to the authenticity of the reported statement of the Messenger:
"I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate; so, whoever wants to enter the city should come through the gate".2
The record of the other three distinguished members of the House of Mohammad, Fatimah and her two children AlHassan and Al-Hussein, shows that they were the most sincere servants of Islam.
The authentic hadiths spoke of their distinctions and qualifications as permanent allies of justice and truth. Zeid Ibn Arqam reported that the Messenger of God said to Ali, Fatimah, Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein:
"I am at peace with whomever you are at peace; and I am at war with whomever you are at war. 3
Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of God said:
"Whoever loves Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein loves me; and whoever hates them hates me. 4
Hubshi Ibn Janadah said that he heard the Messenger saying:
"Ali is from me and I am from Ali and no one represents me but Ali". 5
The Messenger did not intend to distinguish Ali simply because he was related to him. Al-Abbas (his uncle) and the rest of the Hashimites, including Jaafar (the brother of Ali) are all related to the Messenger. All of them would have been qualifed to represent him. But he said, "No one represents me but Ali."
At one time Muaweyah was criticizing Ali in the presence of Saad Ibn Abu Waqass. Saad said to him: "I heard the Messenger of God saying to Ali: You are to me like Aaron to Moses. But there shall be no Prophet (of God) after me. 6 "Thus, the Messenger gave Ali a position next to his own, for the position of Aaron was next to that of Moses
Al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih that the Messenger said: "Fatimah is the leader of the women of Paradise. 7
No one enters Paradise but through righteousness, and whoever enters Paradise is noble in the sight of God. If Eatimah is the leader of the women of Paradise, she must be the most righteous and the noblest woman in God's view.
Al-Hakim recorded in his Mustadrak, that Abu Than (a famous companion of Mohammad whose truthfulness is known to the Muslims) said that the Messenger said:
"The example of the members of my House is like that of Noah's ark. Whoever embarked on it was safe, and whoever failed to embark was drowned. 8
The Messenger of God commanded the Muslims to follow his chosen relatives. Therefore, the relatives of Mohammad are considered to be the party of truth, distinguished because of their merit and work as they rank among the most righteous servants of God.
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1. Ibn-Athetr, Al-Kamil (the complete history), Part 3., p. 35
2. A1-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak, Part 3, p. 26.
3. Ibn Majah, Sunan Lbn Majah, hadith No. 145.
4. ibid., hadith No. 143.
5. ibid., hadith No. 119.
6. Ibn Majah, hadith No. 121.
7. Al-Bukhari, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Pan 5, (Chapter of distinction of relatives of the Messenger) p. 25.
8. A1-Hakim, Sahih Al-Mustadrak, Part 3, p. 151.
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