Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Saaegh al-Adl narrated to us that Isa Ibn Muhammad al-Alawi narrates from Abu ‘Awaanah from Muhammad Ibn Sulaimaan Ibn Bazee’ al-Khazzaaz from Ismail Ibn Abaan from Salaam Ibn Abi ‘Amrah al-Khorasani from Ma’roof Ibn Kharrabooz al-Makki from Abi al-Tufail ‘Aamir Ibn Waaselah from Huzaifah Ibn Aseed al-Ghifaari from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) who said:
“O Huzaifah! Surely the proof of Allah upon you after me is Ali Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon both of them). Disbelieving in him is disbelief in Allah, associating anyone with him is (equal to) associating partners with Allah (i.e. polytheism), doubting in him is doubting Allah, rebelling against him is rebellion against Allah, denying him is denying Allah and believing in him is believing in Allah because he is the brother of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny), his successor, the leader (Imam) of his nation (Ummah) and their master. He is the strong rope of Allah and the firmest handle which shall not break off. Two types of people will be destroyed concerning him – while there is no fault of his in it – a lover who exaggerates (Ghaali) and a person who falls short in knowing him (Muqassir). O Huzaifah! Never separate from Ali (peace be upon him) else you would separate from me. Don’t oppose Ali (peace be upon him) else you would have opposed me. Surely Ali (peace be upon him) is from me and I am from him. Whoever makes him angry has indeed angered me and the one who pleases him has certainly pleased me.”
Conclusion:
- Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has clearly stated that the divine proof after him is Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
- Whoever accepts anyone else as a divine proof then he has disobeyed the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny)
- Mastership (Wilaayah) of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has been likened to the belief in Divine Monotheism (Tauheed)
- Just like the one who does not believe in Allah is an apostate, so is the one who does not believe in Imam Ali (peace be upon him) being the immediate successor of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny)
- Believing in someone else to be the rightful successor is tantamount to polytheism, just like believing in gods other than Allah
- Anyone who has rebelled or fought against Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has waged a war against Allah and of course the destination of such a person will be the Hell-fire
- Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the strong rope of Allah and hence anyone who holds on to his mastership shall never deviate
- Exaggerating (Ghuluv) regarding him means ascribing godhood and divinity to him
- Such a person is known as an exaggerator (Ghaali) and is a polytheist
- Falling short in recognizing and confessing to his virtues and divine position is known as Taqseer and whoever is guilty of this crime is called a Muqassir
- Among the signs of a Muqassir are
- Considering the opponents of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to be virtuous
- Praising and respecting his enemies and considering them to be Muslims in the true sense
- Befriending the friends of his opponents and expressing enmity towards his lovers
- Ghaali and Muqassir, both, will be destroyed on the Day of Resurrection
- Such beliefs and actions are a cause of displeasure of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny)
- Every virtue of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is applicable to every divinely appointed Imam (peace be on him) after him
- Hence, giving preference to anyone over the Imam of the time will also be considered as Taqseer.
References:
- Al-Amaali of Shaikh Saduq (may Allah have mercy upon him), Majlis 36, p. 197, H. 2
- Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 38, p. 97, H. 14