One of the attributes of Allah, is that He is the al-Muizz, The Bestower of Honor. We, as mu’mins, are commanded to believe every word of Allah in the Holy Qur’an and believe and follow every word of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who spoke nothing but the absolute truth. Thus the best way to realize the position and maqaam of Ameer ul Mu’mineen Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) is to see what our Prophet (pbuh) had to say about him and his qualities.
When the Prophet (pbuh) arranged brotherhoods among his companions (between the muhajireen from Makkah and ansaar of Madinatul Munawwara), Ali (ra) came weeping to him and said, “You have arranged brotherhoods among your companions, but you have arranged no brotherhood between me and anyone.” The Prophet (pbuh) replied, “You are my brother in this world and the next.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said in one of the battles: “Tomorrow, I will give the banner (make commander of the army) to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.” The Prophet (pbuh) gave the banner to Ali (ra) the following day.
Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “Paradise is desirous (waiting anxiously) of three people: Ali (ibn Abu Talib), Ammar (bin Yassir) and Salman (al Faarsi).”
When Allah’s Messenger (saws) alighted at the pool of Khumm, he took Ali by the hand and asked those present, “Do you not know that I am closer to the believers than they themselves?” They replied, “Certainly.”He then asked, “Do you not know that I am nearer to every believer than he himself?” They replied, “Certainly.” He then said, ” O Allah, he whose ‘maula’ I am, has Ali as his ‘maula’. O Allah, be friendly to those who are friendly to him and hostile to those who are hostile to him.”
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “O Allah, show mercy to Ali! O Allah, cause the truth to accompany him wherever he goes!”
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The most learned in legal matters, is Ali.”
Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “Ali, verily I like for thee what I like for myself, and I disapprove for thee what I disapprove for myself.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said to Ali (ra), “Will you not be pleased from this, that you are to me, like Haroon was to Moosa?”
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “He who reviles Ali has reviled me.”
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “A hypocrite does not love Ali and a believer does not hate him.”
Ali (ra) said: “By Him Who split up the seed and created something living (Allah), the Prophet (saws) gave me a promise that no one but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would nurse grudge against me.”
It is evident from the above authentic narrations of the Prophet (saws) what position and maqaam did Ali bin Abi Talib (ra) hold in Islam. He was one of the most noble companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). It has been reported that he was between 10-13 years old and one of the first ones to embrace Islam when the Prophet (saws) announced his mission. He migrated from Makkah to Medina for Islam. He was known for his courage and bravery, and fought all the major battles of Islam with the Prophet (pbuh). He was, without a doubt, one of the most noblest companions of the Prophet (pbuh).
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam amongst whom Ali (ra) was there:
They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succour Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100:
Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaar who were the first to respond to the invitation of the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct, and they too, were well pleased with Allah. Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which, canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever. This is the greatest success.
Ali (ra) is definitely amongst the first of the muhajirs to accept Islam. Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) have themselves praised Ali (ra) and his ‘maqaam‘ in Islam.
This ‘maqaam‘ was given because Ali (ra) loved Allah and His Messenger (pbuh), feared Allah Alone, and spent his whole life, and gave unlimited sacrifices with the Prophet (pbuh) in the propagation and for the victory of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) himself, gave the good news of paradise to Ali (ra) during his own lifetime. This honor was given only to ten companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), who were told in their life time that Allah has granted them Paradise. And our beloved Prophet (pbuh) never spoke anything from himself, but it was revealed to him by Allah, the All Wise, All Knowing.
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said to Ali (ra): “You have a resemblance to Jesus, whom the Jews hated so much that they slandered his mother, and whom the Christians loved so much that they placed him in a position not rightly his.” Ali said afterwards, “Two people will perish on my account, one who loves me so excessively that he praises me for what I do not possess, and one who hates me so much that he will be impelled by his hatred to slander me.”
During his reign there rose a band of misguided so called Muslims who were later termed khawaarij. They were extremists in religion and labeled most of the companions of the Holy Prophets (pbuh) as renegades and disbelievers or kuffar.
On the other hand, there also rose a band of people, who loved Ali (ra) so much, that they began to revere him as god, and took him to a position in reverence which did not rightly belong to him. They revered him so much, that in their love, they positioned him equal to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and even gave him some of the attributes that belong to none other than Allah alone.
Today Ismailis perfectly trace their origin to this misguided group who are made to believe by their so called missionaries that Ali is Allah and by nass i.e., designation, Aga Khan is the present-day imam and possessor of all power that Ali (ra) possessed. It is clear misguidance, extreme exaggeration and complete shirk and open kufr which has been forbidden by the Qur’an in various instances.
Ismailis invoke Ali (ra) like they invoke Allah, and give him names such as ‘mushkil kusha’ (The Reliever of Peril), and ‘haajat rawaa’ (The Provider or Fulfiller), Aliyuallah (Ali is Allah) and invoke Aga Khan in same manner considering him imam from his progeny. Ismailis call out his name in invocation by saying “Ya Ali Madad” (Oh Ali Help) whilst sitting, standing and lying down, and in salutation when meeting and greeting each other.
Allah Alone is the Reliever of all Peril and the Provider and Fulfiller of the believers’ prayers. Ismailis in their reverence and love of Ali (ra) have become misguided just like the Christians who elevated Jesus to a position which did not belong to him, and thus earned Allah’s wrath. It has been reported from the traditions of Ali (ra), that during his reign, some people who loved and revered him as a demigod, came to him and expressed their opinion and wanted to bow down in prostration (sujood) to Ali (ra). Ali (ra) warned them that no one had the right to be bowed down to except Allah Alone, but they did not pay heed to his warnings. It has been reported that Ali (ra) then sentenced them to death.
How can the Ismaili invocation be justified when Ali (ra) himself denied and condemn it? False stories are circulated of nusayris to brainwashed Ismailis, Please visit below link to read :
http://www.ismaili.net/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1335&start=0
Here is a screen capture from the above link:
Ismaili propaganda on Ali (ra) being Allah. (Source: Ismaili.net)
This misguided Ismailis not only revered and invoked Ali (ra) but also worship and invoke him and Aga Khan as his progeny. Ismailis thus have elevated him to the position of a demigod, which is absolutely against the principles of the Holy Qur’an, and Islam.
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:
They were a people who passed away.They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.
The correct view should be that Ali (ra) was an obedient slave of Allah. He was one of the most ardent followers of the Prophet (pbuh). He was a soldier of Islam, and spent his life in the service of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). He always kept his mission of Paradise and the Mercy of Allah in view, and never cared much for the luxuries and wealth of this world. He used to earn his meager livelihood as a water drawer and lead a very simple life, even when he was elected the Leader of the Faithful or Ameer ul Mu’mineen, and had half of the then known world under his leadership. That was the noble character of our leader and Imam, Ameer ul Mu’mineen, Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him). We should love him for what he was and what he did in the service of Allah, His Messenger, and the propagation and victory of Islam.
May Allah reward Ali (ra) with the highest degree in Paradise. May Allah make us to follow the traditions of noble companions of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) like Ali (ra). May Allah guide us to the Straight Path of Islam, as followed by our Prophet (pbuh), and his noble companions like Ali (ra). Ameen.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s assistance and guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah alone knows best and He is the only source of strength.
Inside Ismailism 