Ibn Muslim narrates that I went with al-Hasan al-Basri and Anas Ibn Maalik until we reached the door of Umm Salamah (peace be upon her). Anas sat at the door whereas I entered (inside) along with al-Hasan al-Basri. I heard Hasan call out “Salutations, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you O Mother (of believers)!”
She replied: “Peace be upon you too! Who are you, my son?” He said: “I’m al-Hasan al-Basri.” She asked: “Why have you come, O Hasan?” He replied: “I have come so that you narrate to me a tradition which you have heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) regarding Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (peace be upon them both).”
Her Eminence Umm Salamah (peace be upon her) said: “By Allah! I will most certainly narrate to you a tradition which both my ears have heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) and if it is not so then may they (both my ears) become deaf, both my eyes have seen him (peace be upon him and his progeny) and if it is not so then may they (my eyes) become blind, (a tradition which) my heart has retained and if it is not so then may Allah put a seal over it and may my tongue become dumb if I have not heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) inform Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (peace be upon them both) that,
يَا عَلِيُّ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ لَقِيَ اللهَ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ جَاحِداً لِوَلَايَتِكَ إِلَّا لَقِيَ اللهَ بِعِبَادَةِ صَنَمٍ أَوْ وَثَنٍ
“O Ali! There is no servant who will meet Allah on the day of meeting Him (Qiyaamah) denying your mastership (Wilaayah) except that he would meet Allah with the worship of an idol or an image.”
Ibn Muslim says that I heard al-Hasan al-Basri exclaim “Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). I bear witness that Ali is my master and the master of believers.”
When he came out, Anas Ibn Maalik asked him, “What happened? I heard you reciting Takbeer.”
He replied, “I asked our mother Umm Salamah to narrate to me a tradition which she heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) regarding Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (peace be upon them both). So she told me such and such a thing. Hence, I said Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). I bear witness that Ali is my master and the master of believers.”
Ibn Muslim said that I heard Anas Ibn Maalik exclaim at that time, “I swear by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) that he has uttered this statement (at least) thrice or four times.”
Notes
- Al-Hasan al-Basri was such a strong opponent of Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) that he refrained from supporting and joining him against Muawiyah during the battle of Siffeen
- Due to this, Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) called al-Hasan al-Basri as the Saamari of this nation
- Apparently, this incident seems to be after the martyrdom of Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) because narrating traditions of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) especially about the virtues of Ahle Bait (peace be upon them) were banned by the usurpers of caliphate and tyrannical rulers like Muawiyah
- Interestingly, the Mother of Believers Umm Salamah (peace be upon her) chose to narrate this specific tradition to al-Hasan al-Basri in which she is swearing by her eyes, ears and heart
- The surprise and amazement of al-Hasan al-Basri is also evident when he recited Takbeer (Allah-o-Akbar) upon hearing that the one who denies the mastership of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) will be treated as an idol-worshipper
- This tradition has serious consequences for anyone who performs acts of devotion and worship
- One might think that he has worshipped Allah but if he does not accept the mastership (Wilaayah) of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) then it is as if he has performed idol-worship
- The quantity of acts of worship have no significance if they are not accompanied with the mastership of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
- Accepting the mastership of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) means accepting none but him as the immediate successor of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) and accepting the Imams (peace be upon them) from his progeny
References
- Al-Amaali of Shaikh Saduq (may Allah have mercy upon him), p. 190
- Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 38, pp. 100-101, H. 21