Shia, Sunni, differences- part 2
Caliphate and succession of Imam Ali in Quran
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوةَ وَهُمْ رَ كِعُونَ
“Verily, your guardians [after] Allah are his messenger [Muhammad] and the believers. [The believers are:] those who establish the prayer and pay alms [even] while they are bowing down [in prayer].” (Surah Ma’idah, verse 55)
Tabari (Sunni scholar) is written in his interpretation:
{إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ} الآية. نزلت في علي بن أبي طالب تصدق وهو راكع.
“This verse was revealed about Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (PBUH) and he gave alms when he was bowing (he was in Rukou)”
(Tabari interpretation, volume6, page 390)
Also Ibn Abi Hatam has quoted the same interpretation from Atabat Ibn Abi Hakim (Ibn Abi Hatam interpretation, volume4, page 1162)
In addition, Ibn Teimieh has confirmed Tabari and Ibn Abi Hatam interpretations in the book Menhaj-o-Sonah, volume7, page 179.
Even Alousi has mentioned it (Rouh-o-l-ma’ani, volume 6, page 167). Also he has said:
والآية عند معظم المحدثين نزلت في علي.
“This verse is revealed about Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (PBUH), in the most scholars’ point of view.”
(Rouh Al -ma’ani, volume 6, page 186)
أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمْ الاِْسْلاَمَ دِيناً
“Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 3)
Preacher of Baghdad has quoted according to the valid document that this verse was revealed after introducing of Ali in Ghadir Khum.( the history of Baghdad, volume 8, page 284)
Ibn Kasir has quoted, Omar Ibn Khatab said to Imam Ali (PBUH), in Ghadir day:
أصبحت اليوم ولي كل مؤمن.
“Since now, you became the “Vali” (Imam, leader) of all Muslims.”
(Albedaye Valnahayeh, volume 7, page 350)
Caliphate and succession of Imam Ali in Sunni Hadith
Sunni scholars have quoted according to valid documents that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
إنّ عليّا منّي وأنا منه وهو وليّ كلّ مؤمن بعدي.
“Certainly, Ali is from me and I am from him and he is the “Vali” (Imam, leader) of all faithful Muslims after me.”
After this quote, Hakem Neishabouri (Sunni scholar) has said:
صحيح على شرط مسلم.
“This quote is correct and it has the condition of Sahih-e- Moslem.”
(Almostadrak Hakeme Neishabouri, volume3, page 110)
For Shia Muslims, the word “Vali” means “leader”, “successor” or “Imam”. However, some Sunni Muslims say the word “Vali” which is used for Ali (PBUH) by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), means “friend”
But if we look at the terms of Sunni Caliphs, we see their opinion.
Ibm Kasir has written in Albedaye Valnahayeh:
قال ابوبكر: قد وُلِّيتُ أمركم ولست بخيركم. إسناد صحيح.
“Caliph Abu-Bakr, in his first speech after being Caliph, said: I became your governor (Vali) while I am not better than you.”
(Albedaye Valnahayeh, volume6, page333)
Moslem is written in his book, Sahih, that Omar Khatab said:
فلمّا توفّي رسول اللّه قال أبو بكر: أنا وليّ رسول اللّه (ص)… ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو بَكْر وَأَنَا وَلِيُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (ص) وَوَلِيُّ أَبِي بَكْر.
“When the messenger of Allah passed away, Abu-Bakr said: I am the successor (Vali) of Allah’s messenger …..Then Abu-Bakr passed away and I became the successor (Vali) of the Prophet and Abu-Bakr.”
(Sahih-e-Moslem, volume5, page 152, Hadith 4468)
It’s clear by narratives that “Vali” cannot be defined as “friend”, it only means “succession”. If we accept “friend” instead of “succession”, so Abu-Bakr and Omar have said that, as the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was alive, we were not friend with you but now we became friend!
Caliphate Hadith
Ibn Abi Asem has written in the book Alsonnah, the messenger of Allah (PBUH) turned to Ali and said:
وأنت خليفتي في كلّ مؤمن من بعدي
“After me you are my successor through all faithful Muslims.”
Albani has said about the validation of this narrative:
إسناده حسن.
“Validation of this narrative is correct (Hassan, Sahih) “
(Alsonnah, page 551)
Hakem Neishabouri has quoted this narrative in this way:
the messenger of Allah (PBUH) turned to Imam Ali (PBUH) and said:
إِنَّهُ لا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ أَذْهَبَ إِلا وَأَنْتَ خَلِيفَتِي.
“It’s not proper that I go away through you (Muslims), unless you(Ali) be my successor.”
(Almostadrak, volume 3, page 133)
Al Baani who is Wahhabis, has said about validation of this narrative:
صحّحه الحاكم والذهبي وهو كما قالا.
“This narrative has been corrected by ZAhabi and Hakem and it is correct just as Hakem and Zahabi have said.”
(Al Selselat Al Sahiheh, volume 5, page 222)
To be continued…