The best of people are those of my era, then those after, then those after them

The Second Debate and the Triumph of the Truth

I performed fajr salah and went to work. I came back after zuhr salah and slept until the time of ‘asr salah. As I was extremely tired on account of the lack of sleep of the last night. I performed ‘asr salah and slept again until the maghrib salah. I then performed the maghrib salah and ‘isha salah, and waited for my friend who failed to turn up. I concluded that they had decided to cancel the debate.

On the following night after coming back from ‘isha salah, my friend arrived and informed me that the Shia were waiting for me.

I got up and went with him to their gathering. When we arrived there, I realised that those who were present were almost the same people who were there two nights before. When I noticed that their leader was not there, I inquired about him and I was told that he asked to be excused and requested them to go on with the debate promising that he would meet me soon. So we started the debate.

I said: All praise is due to Allah, Rabb of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, and upon members of his household and his Companions.

To proceed, the last discussion was characterised by you asking while I answered the questions. I would like you to allow me in this session to ask questions while you answer. I hope that the answers you are going to give will be frank and clear and not based on taqiyyah, so that the debate can be fruitful.

One of them: We have been frank with you from the beginning in order to let the truth manifest.

I said: What is your belief concerning the Qur’an?

One of them: It is the Book of Allah.

I said: I know that. Do you believe that there are alterations in the Qur’an?

The speaker: The Qur’an is divinely protected against any alteration.

I said: Is there any addition or omission in the Qur’an.

The speaker: There is no any addition or omission in the Qur’an.

I said: Is this the standard belief of all the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers)?

The speaker: Yes, that is the consensus among us.

I said: What then is the rule concerning a person who claims that there is alteration in the Qur’an, or that there are additions or omissions in it or that a verse thereof is written in contradiction to what was revealed?

The speaker: Such a person is a disbeliever.

I said (pointing to all those who were there): Do you all concur with the brother in what he said?

The audience: Yes, we and all the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) concur with him. All that is attributed to us that we believe that the Qur’an is altered is untrue and false.

I said: Then, let us keep this testimony in our minds, as we will need it later. Now tell me, what is your view about a Shia scholar who authored a book in which he quoted hundreds of narrations that support a claim the Qur’an was altered. The book’s name is Fasl al Khitab fi Ithbat Tahrif Kitab Rabb al Arbab (the definitive conclusion in proving the distortion of the book of the absolute Lord of the lords). What is your view about this book and its author?

The speaker: The book is fake. It was rejected by the scholars of the Imami Shia.

I said: What about the author?

The speaker: I do not know that. You can ask the Sayyid (their leader) when you meet him.

I said: The matter is clear! The man claims that the Qur’an is altered. And to support this claim, he wrote a book in which he tried – albeit unsuccessfully- to establish this claim. Moments earlier, all of you agreed that whoever claims that the Qur’an is altered or that there is an addition or omission in it is a kafir. Therefore, this man must be a disbeliever.

The speaker and the entire audience: This question can only be answered by the Sayyid.

I said: Do you know who this scholar is? He is Mirza Hussain ibn Muhammad al Nuri al Tabrasi. Do you know the reward he got for authoring this book? He got buried in your holiest site on the earth; Najaf.

This deed clearly indicates that the belief that the Qur’an was altered is inherently rooted in your religion. If not, you would have declared him an apostate who should be executed and who did not deserve to be buried in Muslim cemeteries.

A man from the audience: We told you in no uncertain terms that the Qur’an is protected against any alteration. This should be sufficient for you. The man died a long time ago and was buried. We do not need to revive issues that are not in the interest of the Muslims.

I said: We are not talking about political matters. We are rather seeking the truth within the framework of the Shari’ah, and as long as all of us adhere to the truth, our search will definitely be fruitful.

I would therefore return to the issue of the Qur’an and say: the problem is not in a book that Tabrasi authored. It lies in the fact that the book contains narrations directly quoted from your most authentic books such as al Kafi by al Kulayni, which is your best, most ancient, and most authentic book – whose author you greatly revere and call Thiqat al Islam and whom you regard as the reformer of the Imamiyyah Ithnaa ‘Ashariyyah in the third century.

This al Kulayni filled his above-mentioned book with narrations that claim that alterations, additions and omissions had occurred in the Qur’an, that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum removed a third of the Qur’an revealed in reference to members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam family, that there is what is called a Mushaf Fatimah and that the real Qur’an – which does not include even a single word from the present Qur’an – will be brought by the ‘Absent Imam’.

It is very clear that al Kulayni would not quote narrations he did not believe in. Can you then reject al Kulayni’s book, al Kafi, which is your most essential reference book, as you have rejected Fasl al Khitab by Tabrasi? Would you dare to call him an apostate in line with your claim that whoever says that the Qur’an is altered is an apostate?

Someone from the audience (angrily): All these narrations are weak and unreliable. We are here in front of you declaring that the Qur’an is not altered. What then is the problem?

I said: We who are present here are not the problem. We are here searching for the truth. I am going to show you the stand of the scholars of the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) regarding the Qur’an. The opinion of a sect is represented only by the declarations of its leaders and recognised scholars, and not by the view of ordinary members like me and you.

Let us leave aside al Kulayni and his book, al Kafi which is the greatest Shia work. Let us rather look at al Qummi (who is ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim al Qummi) and his famous tafsir (Tafsir al Qummi).

Al Qummi does not need any introduction. He was your most prominent sheikh in Tafsir and hadith, and his Tafsir is the most recognised Shia tafsir. In the introduction of this Tafsir, he claims that the Qur’an was altered. He said: “There are in the Qur’an things that are contrary to what Allah had revealed.”

He then filled the book with narrations that claim that the Qur’an was altered. An example of this -though there are many others- is when he commented on verse: 110 of Surah Al ‘Imran where Allah says:

كُنْتُمْ خَیْرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ

You are the best of nations ever raised for mankind.[1]

Al Qummi quoted some of your ‘infallible’ Imams saying: “How could they be the best people since they had killed the leader of the faithful ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his son Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu? The correct version of the verse rather is: “You are the best Imams – referring to the twelve Imams of the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) – ever raised up for mankind.” Therefore, the verse is one of the verses altered in the Qur’an.

Would you then reject al Qummi and his Tafsir, as you have rejected Fasl al Khitab by Tabrasi? And if you reject al Kafi and you reject al Qummi and his Tafsir, you will then not have any book to cite as your authority, for these are the men who are the authorities in the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) school.

Hence, you have two options: to follow these scholars in their opinion and agree with them that the Qur’an has been altered or to renounce the entire Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) system of belief, because their scholars claim that the Qur’an had been altered.

One of them: Look, debate is not done in this manner! We are telling you that our belief is that the Qur’an is not altered and you are insisting that our belief is the opposite. I will bring you a book that will clarify our belief to you.

(He then asked the youngest person in the gathering to bring a book from the library. When the book was brought, he turned to me and said). This is the book of Creeds by Ibn Babuwayh al Qummi[2]. It confirms our opinion that the Qur’an was not altered.

(He then opened a page and started reading) “Our belief is that the Qur’an which Allah revealed to our Prophet Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and which is in the hands of the people is as it was revealed… Whoever claims that we have a belief that is contrary to this is a liar.”

This is the belief of all of us. Why then do we need to stir up controversies and arguments that are detrimental to Islam?

I responded: No! These arguments are detrimental to the Imami Shia alone as they are the ones who claim that there are alterations, omissions and additions in the Qur’an.

Another person from the audience: After we have read our belief to you, you are still saying this? You are definitely interested only in argument and not in the truth.

I said: The matter is not that simple. The belief that the Qur’an was altered is the fundamental principle according to the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers). All your scholars of tafsir quote sayings from your ‘infallible Imams’ that the Qur’an was indeed altered. Your erudite scholar, al Jaza’iri also affirmed this in his book, Al Anwar, that there are abundant and successive reports that there are alterations in the Qur’an.

Do you know what “successive” and “abundant” mean? It means: beyond any doubt. Al Jazairi claimed that there are more than two thousand narrations and authentic reports indicating that there are alterations in the Qur’an. Another of your eminent scholars, al Majlisi also made the same claim, asserting that rejection of these narrations would necessitate the rejection of all narrations about Imamah.

And it is quite clear to everyone that rejection of all narrations about Imamah is tantamount to rejection of the Shia religion in its entirety, especially the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers). I am not cooking all this up. It is there in your books. I can show it to you if you like.

Now tell me, is it possible to reject all these – more than two thousand ‘successive’ and ‘abundant’ – narrations reported by your reliable and infallible Imams?

Is it possible to abandon these narrations for the opinion of some ‘fallible’ scholar such as Ibn Babuwayh? Indeed, what Ibn Babuwayh wrote is nothing more than another method of taqiyyah invented to deceive the Ahlus Sunnah. And according to your belief, taqiyyah is a principle that represents nine-tenth of your religion.

Therefore, you can never abandon the saying of your ‘infallible Imams’ for the opinion of a scholar who is vulnerable to errors. This word is not from me. It is rather from the seal of your erudite scholars, buried in your holiest Najaf: al Nuri al Tabrasi.

Al Tabrasi had rejected Ibn Babuwayh’s claim and asserted that rejection of his opinion is easier than the rejection of the sayings of the ‘infallible Imams’. He then added that Ibn Babuwayh and others made this claim as a way of practicing taqiyyah to deceive the common people. Al Jaza’iri also concurred with al Tabrasi.[3]

By Allah, I wish I could believe that you do not claim that the Qur’an was altered. Since doubting the authenticity of a single word from the Qur’an removes one from the fold of Islam.

But, believe me, there are many factors that convince our scholars that you – the Imamiyyah Shia – certainly believe that there are alterations in the Qur’an, however much you try to hide this belief. Some of these factors are:

The many texts from your books that clearly state that there are alterations in the Qur’an.

Your ill opinion of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum though they are the ones who compiled the Qur’an and whom Allah praised in the Qur’an. How could you then claim that you believe the Qur’an to be intact and still assert that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum who compiled the Qur’an and conveyed it to us had apostatised?

You must either believe in the trustworthiness and praiseworthiness of the Companions. radiya Llahu ‘anhum and the intactness of the Qur’an or disbelieve in both. For, it is unacceptable to distinguish between the two intertwined issues.

(There was a loud uproar in the gathering, and most of those present disagreed with this statement.)

One of them volunteered to speak: We (the Shia) are not the only ones to claim that the Qur’an was altered, there are also some among you (the Ahlus Sunnah) who believe that there are alterations in the Qur’an. Your books confirm this.

I said: Subhan Allah! At the beginning of this debate, all of you unanimously claimed that you did not believe that the Qur’an was altered, but after I showed you quotations from your books that contradict your claim, you are now alleging that we also believe in the alteration?

For your information, you will never find in the books of Ahlus Sunnah, in their vast multitude, the least indication that there is any alteration in the Qur’an. This is because, the Ahlus Sunnah are the custodians of the Qur’an. They harmonise with the Qur’an and the Qur’an also harmonises with them. The Qur’an praises the Companions. radiya Llahu ‘anhum and they also praise them; the Qur’an commands them to love the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the members of his household and they carry out this commandment; the Qur’an praises the mothers of the faithful and they also ask Allah to be pleased with them. So they are with the Qur’an wherever they are.

The speaker: There are reports in your authorised books that ‘Umar, used to erase Surah al Falaq and Surah al Nas from the Qur’an saying that they were not part of the Qur’an.

(The audience applauded and breathed a sigh of relief.)

A pretentious speaker among them: We have earlier on warned you that we should not delve into this matter that is harmful to you and us and detrimental to Islam. But you insisted on delving into it.

(He then ostentatiously said): I suggest that we close this chapter completely and take up more important issues that can benefit us all.

I said: No, by Allah, I am not going to leave this issue until it is clarified completely. When you failed to free yourselves from the belief that the Qur’an was altered – a belief that most of your scholars hold – you now intend to attribute the same belief to us so that we could have a share in that insult. How preposterous!

All the Muslims who are the followers of the Sunnah unanimously agree that all that is in the Qur’an is Allah’s word with no addition or omission. They hold that anyone – whoever he or she may be – who claims that there is any alteration, addition or omission in the Qur’an, even if it is a single letter, is an apostate who has removed himself or herself from the fold of Islam.

You have access to books of belief written by our unique and sagacious scholars that do not in any way contradict this belief.

What then would make us claim that the Qur’an is altered?! It was our Khalifah Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who compiled the Qur’an in consultation with ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu. It was our Khalifah ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu who produced copies therefrom (and sent them to the regions). All these men are our guides and the rightly guided leaders. What would then make us claim that there are alterations in the Qur’an?

As for you, you have every reason to hold a belief that there are alterations in the Qur’an because you regard Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhum, who compiled the Qur’an as apostates; and your religion is based upon cursing and denouncing them.

We – the Ahlus Sunnah – on the other hand, regard the Qur’an as ours. It is our Book. So it is impossible for us to claim that there is any alteration in it.

Let me go back to the claim of the brother that ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu would erase Surah al Falaq and Surah al Nas from the Qur’an script. I would like to give him correct information in this regard. The narration he referred to did not mention ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu, for ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu is too knowledgeable not to know that the two Surahs were part of the Qur’an. It is rather narrated from Ibn Mas’ud radiya Llahu ‘anhu, and this refutation from him was an individual judgment that no other companion concurred with him in.

The reason for this is that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to recite supplications for protection against evil eye and other harmful things, but when the two Surahs were revealed, he abandoned all other supplications and recited them only. So ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiya Llahu ‘anhu thought that the two Surahs were part of those supplications and not part of the Qur’an.

This assumption was strengthened by the fact that he did not have an opportunity to hear the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam recite any of these two Surahs in prayer.

Above all, there are authentic reports that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiya Llahu ‘anhu later abandoned his opinion for that of the rest of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Therefore, it is the consensus of all the Muslims – with the exception of the Imamiyyah Shia – that the entire Qur’an, including Surah al Falaq and Surah al Nas, is intact, and that it is divinely protected against any alteration, addition or omission. ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiya Llahu ‘anhu only disputed it being part of the Qur’an for the reasons given above, and he had abandoned his previous opinion when the truth became clear to him. There are occasions in which a companion would act contrary to the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam injunction because he was unaware of that injunction but when informed of it, would immediately abide by it.

(At this point, members of the audience started talking among themselves, then one of them addressed me): Doctor, engaging in debate with you is fruitless. You are not seeking the truth. You only came here to impose your opinion. Therefore, we need to bring this discussion to end. Thank you for your visit. We ask Allah to guide us all to the truth and to the love of and respect for members of the Prophet’s household.

I responded: You are rather the ones who do not want to accept the truth. Engaging in debate with you is fruitless. For, you do not want the truth. You only want people to embrace your wrong belief blindly.

As for me, I praise Allah for guiding me to the love of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the entire members of his household starting with his pure wives, mothers of the faithful, and ending with families of ‘Abbas, ‘Aqil, Jafar and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

I ask Allah to guide us and you to the love of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum starting with the four rightly guided caliphs, the ten who were given glad tiding of Paradise, veterans of the Battle of Badr, participants in the Pledge of Ridwan (Bay’at al Ridwan), all the Muhajirin and Ansar radiya Llahu ‘anhum, and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Resurrection.

I thought you were looking for the truth, and I had many truths to tell you but you do not want to listen.

My friend who came with me: No, by Allah! You cannot go until after saying all that you want to say. They are obliged to listen to you as you had listened to them and they have right to criticise you if they have knowledge. If not, they should admit their ignorance and leave the religion alone for those who are knowledgeable.

I said: They are not interested in debate.

One of them: It is not that we do not want debate. The problem is that we keep telling you that we believe in the intactness of the Qur’an but you insist on forcing a contradicting view on us.

I responded: No, I am not forcing any view on you. I am only showing you the sayings of your scholars, who are your indisputable authority whom you trust. Anyway, I am not going to attribute to you what you reject. Allah knows all that is concealed, and your reckoning is with Him.

One of them: Since we have reached this agreement, we can now go on with the debate.

Another one (attempting to calm the tense atmosphere): My brother, issues concerning the Qur’an are very expansive and the scholars have many opinions about that. You can only discuss these sensitive matters with the Sayyid because he alone has the knowledge and he certainly has responses that we do not have.

(After we had decided to continue with the debate) I said: All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, members of his family and his Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

One of them: You had better not add “and his Companions”. By the way, where did you get this addition from?

I said: This is what we are going to discuss now. But before we start, I would like to mention the result of our discussion concerning the Qur’an in summary.

One of them: Concerning the Qur’an again?

I responded: In line with our agreement, I will not go back to the topic. However, there is something in my mind that I must say, and it is going to be brief, Allah willing.

We concluded that many – if not most – of the Shia scholars, the earlier and the latter ones, are of the opinion that there are alterations in the Qur’an and there are thousands of texts from your authorised books that support this belief. There are however some of your scholars who rejected these texts and affirmed that the Qur’an is intact, though we do not know whether they did so in line with your principle of taqiyyah.

Nevertheless, my personal view is that your claim that there is no alteration in the Qur’an disagrees with the fundamental principle of the Imami Shia. As according to this fundamental principle, the Prophet’s Companions who compiled the Qur’an were apostates. The implication is: how could apostates be trusted in any matter, let alone in compilation of the Qur’an?

Anyway, all of us here agreed that there is no alteration, addition or omission in the Qur’an and that anyone who makes any contrary claim is a disbeliever and apostate. Is there any opposition to this conclusion?

The audience: No opposition,

I continued: Allah says in His glorious Book:

كُنْتُمْ خَیْرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ

You are the best of nations ever raised for mankind.[4] 

Concerning the above verse, al Qummi quoted one of your ‘infallible’ Imams as saying: “How could they be the best people since they had killed the leader of the faithful ‘Ali and his son, Hussain? The correct version of the verse rather is: “You are the best Imams – meaning the twelve Imams of the Ithna ‘Ashariyyah (Twelvers) – ever raised up for mankind.

Since you do not concur with him in the authenticity of this narration, what then is your view?

One of them: But we have told you that only the Sayyid could answer this question. By Allah, engaging in debate with you is useless!

I said: I do not want to go back to the issue of the Qur’an. We all agreed on its intactness. Therefore, we should reject all those fake narrations. Do we all agree on this?

(There was silence)

I said: We all agreed that the verse: 3 of Surah Al ‘Imran is intact as it was revealed?

(Silence)

I continued: Have we not agreed on the intactness of the Qur’an without any alteration, addition or omission?

One of them: Yes. We said that!

I said: All praise belongs to Allah! Then is this verse not the greatest proof of the merit of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and Allah’s praise for them, describing them as the best people ever raised up for the entire mankind?

Is it reasonable to believe that a people praised in such glowing terms would, all of a sudden, apostatise with the exception of only some ten persons, according to the best estimate?

Is it reasonable to believe that an entire community that numbered one hundred thousand during the farewell pilgrimage and among whom were more than two thousand eminent Companions from among the Muhajirin and Ansar, would discard the truth except for only a few men who could be counted on fingers? Does a community such as this then deserve to be called:

The best people ever raised up for mankind?

Therefore, dear brothers, you should either agree with al Qummi in his interpretation of the above verse, in which case we will be upon a religion and you upon another and not share the religion of Islam that is based upon the Qur’an with us. Or in accordance with your claim that the Qur’an is free from any alteration, agree with the verse as it is: “You are the best of all people”, which refers to the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum unto whom he recited the verse when it was revealed to him.

The Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum are rightly and deservedly called the best of all people; for all those who came after them are indebted to them. Allah says:

وَ الَّذِیْنَ جَآءُوْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْلَنَا وَ لِاِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِیْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْاِیْمَانِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ فِیْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَآ اِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ

And those who came after them say: “O our Rabb! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in iman, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Rabb! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.”[5] 

The Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum indeed were the foremost in righteousness, intelligence and faith. They are the best of the best in the light of Allah’s word:

كُنْتُمْ خَیْرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ

You are the best of nations ever raised for mankind.[6]

Therefore, you should either agree with al Qummi and become disbelievers or agree with me that the verse is intact and refers to the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and be saved.

[1] Surah Al ‘Imran: 110

[2] This Qummi is different from the Qummi mentioned earlier, this is Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Babuwayh al Qummi.

[3] Fasl al Khitab by Tabrasi and al Anwar al Nu’maniyyah by al Jaza’iri vol. 2 pg. 357,358

[4] Surah Al ‘Imran: 110

[5] Surah al Hashr: 10

[6] Surah Al ‘Imran: 110

One of them: Maybe, the Companions were the best of mankind when the verse was revealed and later they apostatised, changed the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructions, denied ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu his right and attempted to kill him and harm members of his household after the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death.

There are ahadith reported by al Bukhari – and according to you all the ahadith of Bukhari are authentic – in which the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentioned that the Companions would apostatise after his death and that they would be prevented from coming to his howd (pond) on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam will then say: “O Rabb, my Companions!” It will be said: “You do not know what they did after you had left. They had turned back on their heels.” The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam will then say: “Far removed, far removed (from mercy), those who changed (their religion) after me.” The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then added: “So I did not see anyone of them escaping except a few who were like camels without a shepherd.”

The above hadith indicated that the Companions changed their religion after the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death and that none of them remained upon the truth but a few who were like camels without a shepherd, i.e. those who supported ‘Ali and members of his household radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Another man from among them (supporting the previous speaker): Yes. May Allah bless you! All of the Companions apostatised after the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death. (He then started saying in a sad tone and weeping): They perpetrated injustice against Imam ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, they deprived him of his right, they wanted to kill him and set his house ablaze while the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam daughter radiya Llahu ‘anha was there. When she came out, they flogged her so mercilessly that she had miscarriage and later died. They killed Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu, the Prophet’s grandson and smashed his head…”

I interrupted: Brothers, when are we going to stop repeating these fables and lies against the Prophet’s Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, the best Companions any Prophet could have and the best of all people after the Prophets? When are we going to stop these fairy-tales that go against the Qur’an which we claim to believe in?

Brothers, use your senses to ponder over these tales and lies that are insulting to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu before any of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum. There was nothing between the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and members of his family but love. He had named his sons after Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He married his daughter from his wife Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha to ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He was the judge of Madinah during the caliphate of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu and never hesitated to advise him sincerely.

He was always full of praise for the Muhajirin and Ansar, and would criticise his followers for not emulating the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in their sincerity, worship and support for their religion.

He recognised the consensus of the Muhajirin and Ansar and believed that they held the right of allegiance. He believed that Allah would be pleased with whoever they pledged allegiance to.

Brothers, all that is narrated concerning disputes between the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and ‘Ali and his family radiya Llahu ‘anhum was not worth the paper which it was written on. It is detrimental to Islam and the Muslims and the majority of it is error, disbelief and transgression against the honour of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum who are sincere and righteous believers.

Fear Allah concerning the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and friends who believed in him, supported him and sacrificed their lives and wealth seeking nothing but Allah’s pleasure.

Brothers, if not for the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum – after Allah that is- we would not have known Islam!

The first speaker: Leave that aside. Do you believe in Bukhari or not?

I responded: The most authentic book after the Book of Allah is Sahih al Bukhari. The ummah accepts its authenticity, and its ahadith are accepted.

The same speaker: There are ahadith in Sahih al Bukhari which declared the Companions as disbelievers and apostates and you are saying all its ahadith are authentic.

(He went to the library and brought Sahih al Bukhari)

I said: Brothers, fear Allah concerning Imam al Bukhari. He served the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Far be it from him that he should regard the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum as infidels while he had filled his collection with ahadith on the merits of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

The same speaker opened the book and offered that I read. I insisted that he should read. He then read: Listen to the first narration. The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “There will come to me some people whom I will recognise, and they will recognise me, but a barrier will be placed between me and them. I will say: “They are of me.” It will be said: “You do not know what they innovated in the religion after you left.” I will say: “Far removed, far removed (from mercy), those who changed (their religion) after me.”

I said: Did the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam say: “They are my Companions.”?

The speaker (after looking into the book): He said: “They are of me.”

I said: This hadith is a proof against you. You insist on misconstruing the hadith. It is known to you that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anha and ‘Ali: “You are of me.”, and he said the same thing about their sons.

So, if you insist on your misconstruing of the hadith, his word: “they are of me” applied to members of his household more than his Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

But we – the Ahlus Sunnah – do not subscribe to this misconstrual because we love and respect the members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household and we invoke Allah’s pleasure on all of them. You on the other hand exaggerate in your love for some of them and you shamelessly disrespect others.

Nevertheless, the hadith in question neither refers to the noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum nor to pure members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household. Rather, the standard belief according to the Ahlus-Sunnah including Imam al Bukhari is that all the leaders of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, including ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu shall be in Paradise, and that members of the Prophet’s household, especially his wives who are mothers of the faithful and his daughters and grandsons, shall also be in Paradise.

The hadith does not, in any way, diminish the status of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum or members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household. It is only meant to warn and exhort them not be distracted away from righteous deeds by the materials of this world.

If the hadith has to be avoidably referred to any group, it should definitely not be the eminent ten (‘Asharah Mubasharah) nor the veterans of Badr nor the participants in the Pledge of Ridwan nor the Muhajirin, whose sincerity Allah has attested to, nor the Ansar, whom Allah calls the successful, nor even those who emigrated before the Conquest of Makkah and fought and those who emigrated thereafter. As Allah has promised great reward for all of them.

The same speaker: Leave that one. There is another hadith in which the Companions were explicitly mentioned. (He then read): The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “On the Day of Resurrection a group of my Companions will come to me, but will be driven away from the howd, and I will say: “O Rabb (those are) my Companions!” It will be said: “You have no knowledge as to what they innovated after you left; they regressed (i.e. reverted from Islam).”

I think this hadith is clear about the Companions that they apostatised. The hadith, as you can see, is self-explanatory. And it is a proof against you.

(Those who are present supported their man but I was able to compose myself having full confidence in Allah.)

I said: What do you understand from the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying: “they regressed”?

The speaker: It means: they apostatised and reverted from Islam to disbelief.

I said: Who are the “Companions” who reverted from Islam after the Prophet’s death?

The speaker: All the Companions except Imam ‘Ali and his supporters.

I said: How many were they?

He said: They were many but I do not know their exact number.

I said: You lied! Narrations from your authorised books indicate that they were only three: al Miqdad, Abu Dhar and Salman radiya Llahu ‘anhum and that ‘Ammar radiya Llahu ‘anhu initially turned away and then came back and that the fifth of them was ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself. After researching your books, I found out that the Companions whom your narrations did not regard as apostates were some ten, at most.

The speaker: I do not know what that has to do with the hadith!

I said: You will come to know now. Tell me, who are the leaders of the apostates?

He said: They are: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, Talhah and Muawiyah.

I said: Is that what you understood from the hadith of Bukhari?

He said: Yes!

I then said: What you understood is then different from what Imam al Bukhari himself understood. He has recorded in the same book many ahadith about the merits of all these Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and many others.

He has recorded the Prophet’s saying about his Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum : “The best people are my generation followed by those who came after them.” This hadith is confirmed by the verse:

كُنْتُمْ خَیْرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ

You are the best of nations ever raised for mankind.[1]

And the verse:

وَکَذٰلكَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّسَطًا

Thus We have made you a just nation.[2]

The hadith is also supported by many verses in which the noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum were praised and regarded as sincere and successful.

Not only that, Imam al Bukhari recorded ahadith in which Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu – whom you malign – is regarded as a truthful, righteous and pious leader. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “If I had to choose an intimate friend, I would have appointed Abu Bakr as my intimate friend, but he is my brother and companion.”

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also commanded that Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu be asked to lead the people in prayer when he was on his last illness. It was on this same occasion that he commanded ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha: “Call for me Abu Bakr and your brother that I may write a document. For, I fear that a covetous person might come forward and say: “I deserve (the leadership)”, but Allah and the believers would prefer only Abu Bakr.”

And about ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu Imam al Bukhari reported: “There are men among the children of Israel who were given inspiration though they were not Prophets. If there were to be such a person among my ummah, it would certainly be ‘Umar.”

And he reported another hadith on the merits of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu . The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “While I was sleeping, I saw myself drinking (i.e. milk), and I was so contented that I saw the milk flowing through my nails. Then I gave (the milk) to ‘Umar.” They (i.e. the Companions) asked: “What do you interpret it as?” He said: “Knowledge.”

Imam al Bukhari recorded in his collection many ahadith on the merits of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and he would invoke Allah’s pleasure on them all. Therefore, his understanding of this ahadith is absolutely different from yours.

The speaker: We are not obliged to follow the ahadith collected by al Bukhari, for we do not regard him as an authority. We are only citing his ahadith as proofs against you because you regard him as an authority.

I said: Subhan Allah! You people are just like Jews who believed in a section of the scripture and disbelieved in others. So, you should believe in Bukhari as a whole or reject it as a whole, if not you are among those Allah refers to in His saying:

اَفَتُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِبَعْضِ الْکِتٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُوْنَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ یَّفْعَلُ ذٰلِكَ مِنْكُمْ اِلَّا خِزْیٌ فِی الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا ۚ وَیَوْمَ الْقِیٰمَةِ یُرَدُّوْنَ اِلٰٓی اَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ؕ وَمَا اللّٰهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُوْنَ

Do you believe in a part of the scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment.[3]

The same speaker: We have our own narrations and Ahadith which we believe in and which were reported by our own scholars and taken from the knowledge of the members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam family. They are all recorded in our authorised books.

I said: Where are your so-called ‘authorized books’ in which more than two thousand narrations attribute lies to the Qur’an? Is it then farfetched to accept that similar spurious narrations might have been recorded concerning the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, pure wives and commander of the faithful ‘Ali, and the members of his household radiya Llahu ‘anhum?

Brothers, the one who could tell lies about the Qur’an could definitely do so about just anything. If you are not ashamed to tell lies about the Qur’an, then you can tell lies about any other thing with greater brazenness! The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had said: “If you have no shame then you can do whatever you like.”

One of them (feeling rather incensed): Look! We have been tolerant with you, considering that you are our guest, but you are not acknowledging this and you are not using the proper method of debate.

I said: What happened? We are not in a quarrel! We are in a scholarly debate seeking for the truth and everyone is defending what he regards as the truth!

We are not here to flatter ourselves. We are here to show the truth through debate and presentation of proofs. Your colleague would cite al Bukhari as a proof on one occasion and on another he would claim that he is not obliged to accept the hadith of al Bukhari. He would accept some and reject some as if Islam is based upon his whims and desires. Then which of the two of us is not using the proper methodology of debate?

The same person: All right! Do not forget that you have not responded to the hadith in which it is explicitly mentioned that the Companions have altered (the religion) and become apostates.

I said: Yes, we are back at the scholarly debate. Go back to the hadith. Did the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam say: “Most of my Companions would come to me” or he said: “A raht of my Companions would come to me”?

He looked up at the book and said: He said: “A raht.”

I said: Do you know what a “raht” means?

He said: No.

I said: In the Arabic language, a “raht” means a number of people from three to ten. This indicates the fewness of those who would be prevented from reaching the howd. This contradicts your claim that most of the Companions. radiya Llahu ‘anhum apostatised after the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam death and that only a few of them remained upon Islam.

This is in spite of the fact that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum numbered approximately one hundred thousand during the Farewell Pilgrimage of whom more than ten thousand are prominent and two thousand are senior Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Therefore, the Hadith explains that a “raht” would be prevented from reaching the howd and you are claiming that it is only a ‘raht’ that will reach it. What a contradiction! You have categorically misrepresented the hadith!

The speaker: Now listen to the third hadith, which is the clearest proof that all the Companions apostatised but only a few.

I said: Go on reading the hadith, though I believe that it is impossible that the authentic narrations of Bukhari would contradict clear verses of the Qur’an.

The speaker: Al Bukhari reported that the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “While I was sleeping, a group (of my followers were brought close to me), and when I recognised them, someone (an angel) came out and said (to them): “Come along.” I asked: “Where?” He said: “To the Fire, by Allah!” I asked: “What is wrong with them?” He said: “They turned apostate after you left.” Then behold! Another group (of my followers) were brought close to me, and when I recognised them, someone (an angel) came out and he said (to them): “Come along.” I asked: “Where?” He said: “To the Fire, by Allah.” I asked: “What is wrong with them?” He said: “They turned apostate after you left.” So I did not see anyone of them escaping except a few who were like camels without a shepherd.”

So the Prophet’s saying: “So I did not see anyone of them escaping except a few who were like camels without a shepherd”, indicates that very few of them shall be saved and they are ‘Ali and his supporters.

I said: There is no power of might except with Allah! Evil circulates in the people of whims and desires as the blood circulates in the veins. This leads them to twist every proof that does not agree with their desire. Allah says:

اَفَرَءَیْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ اِلٰـهَه هَوٰىهُ وَ اَضَلَّهُ اللّٰهُ عَلٰی عِلْمٍ وَّ خَتَمَ عَلٰی سَمْعِه وَ قَلْبِه وَ جَعَلَ عَلٰی بَصَرِه غِشٰوَةً ؕ فَمَنْ یَّهْدِیْهِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ اللّٰهِ ؕ اَفَلَا تَذَکَّرُوْنَ

Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilah (god), and Allah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight? Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember?[4]

Brothers, the clear verses of the Qur’an testifies to the sincerity and success of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum that they would have the reward, that they would be given authority in this world and that they would have Allah’s pleasure on the Day of Resurrection.

Listen to Allah’s words:

وَالسّٰبِقُوْنَ الْاَوَّلُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُهٰجِرِیْنَ وَالْاَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِیْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُمْ بِاِحْسَانٍ ۙ رَّضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْهُ وَ اَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنّٰتٍ تَجْرِیْ تَحْتَهَا الْاَنْهٰرُ خٰلِدِیْنَ فِیْهَآ اَبَدًا ؕ ذٰلِکَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِیْمُ

And the forerunners of the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirin) and also those who followed them exactly in virtue. Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.[5]

Who are the foremost to embrace Islam if not Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, Talhah, Abu ‘Ubaidah, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Sa’id ibn Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhum?

Who are the foremost to embrace Islam if they are not the earlier emigrants to Abyssinia? Who are they if they are not the Muhajirin to Madinah, the veterans of Badr and the participants in the Pledge of Ridwan?

Who are they if not the Ansar about whom Allah says:

وَ الَّذِیْنَ تَبَوَّؤُا الدَّارَ وَ الْاِیْمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ یُحِبُّوْنَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ اِلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا یَجِدُوْنَ فِیْ صُدُوْرِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّآ اُوْتُوْا وَ یُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلٰٓی اَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ کَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ

And (it is also for) those who, before them, had homes (in Madinah) and had adopted iman, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them (the Muhajirin) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.[6] 

Brothers, an unbiased reflection on these verses will allow us to realise that they attest to the faith and righteousness of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in general and that Allah is pleased with them and has promised them Paradise and great victory.

Brothers, is it then reasonable – in the light of the clear verses above – to think that all the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum with the exception of only five apostatised?

Then, is this outrageous belief a suitable reward for a people who fought in the way of Allah, conquered lands for Islam and hoisted up the standard of Tauhid? Or should their reward be to love them, make invocations for them and ask Allah to forgive us and them and to make us join them in the Gardens of Bliss?

Listen to how Allah describes the Muhajirin and Ansar among them:

لِلْفُقَرَآءِ الْمُهٰجِرِیْنَ الَّذِیْنَ اُخْرِجُوْا مِنْ دِیَارِهِمْ وَ اَمْوَالِهِمْ یَبْتَغُوْنَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ رِضْوَانًا وَّ یَنْصُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَه ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الصّٰدِقُوْنَ﴿٨﴾ وَ الَّذِیْنَ تَبَوَّؤُا الدَّارَ وَ الْاِیْمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ یُحِبُّوْنَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ اِلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا یَجِدُوْنَ فِیْ صُدُوْرِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّآ اُوْتُوْا وَ یُؤْثِرُوْنَ عَلٰٓی اَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ کَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ؕ وَ مَنْ یُّوْقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِه فَاُولٰٓئِکَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ ﴿٩﴾ وَ الَّذِیْنَ جَآءُوْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهِمْ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْلَنَا وَ لِاِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِیْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْاِیْمَانِ وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ فِیْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا رَبَّنَآ اِنَّکَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ

(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor Muhajirin, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him, and helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say).

And (it is also for) those who, before them, had homes (in Madinah) and had adopted the iman, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them (Muhajirin) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.

And those who came after them say: “O our Rabb! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in iman, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.[7]

In the first verse, Allah describes the generality of the Muhajirin as truthful. Is it then reasonable to think that a people whom Allah describes as truthful would be liars, traitors or apostates – considering the fact that Allah knows all that is hidden and apparent and has the knowledge of the unseen?

In the second verse, Allah describes the Ansar as successful; and the real success is to die in the state of being a Muslim. Is it then reasonable to think that Allah would testify to the success of a people who would later renounce Islam and die as apostates?

In the third verse, Allah praises the Ahlus Sunnah who seek forgiveness for themselves and for those who preceded them in faith and denounce those who insult and curse the Muhajirin and the Ansar and regard them as infidels.

Brothers, listen again to Allah’s words in which He promises all the Companions. radiya Llahu ‘anhum an excellent reward:

وَ مَا لَكُمْ اَلَّا تُنْفِقُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَ لِلّٰهِ مِیْرَاثُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ ؕ لَا یَسْتَوِیْ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ اَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَ قٰتَلَ ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ اَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْفَقُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدُ وَ قٰتَلُوْا ؕ وَكُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللّٰهُ الْحُسْنٰی ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِیْرٌ

And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the Cause of Allah? And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah, with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allah has promised the best (reward). And Allah is well aware of what you do.[8]

In the above verse, Allah promised all the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, those who spent their wealth and fought in the way of Allah before and after the conquest of Makkah, an excellent reward.

Now tell me: how could Allah promise these Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum an excellent reward, and yet you base your religion upon insulting and cursing these Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and regarding them as apostates? Are you claiming that you know better than Allah?

Then listen to another verse:

لَقَدْ رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ اِذْ یُبَایِعُوْنَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِیْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ فَاَنْزَلَ السَّکِیْنَةَ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ اَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِیْبًا

Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bay’ah (pledge) to you (O Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a close victory.[9]

Do you know the name given to this “pledge”? It was called Bay’at al Ridwan (the Pledge of Pleasure) because Allah was pleased with those who participated in it and they were 1,400 Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

How could Allah express His pleasure with a people and you still choose to regard them as apostates? Are you claiming to know better than Allah? Will you not listen to reason?

Listen to another verse:

وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَیَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِی الْاَرْضِ کَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ۪ وَ لَیُمَکِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِیْنَهُمُ الَّذِی ارْتَضٰی لَهُمْ وَ لَیُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ اَمْنًا یَعْبُدُوْنَنِیْ لَا یُشْرِكُوْنَ بِیْ شَیْئًا ؕ وَ مَنْ کَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الْفٰسِقُوْنَ

Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous deeds that He will certainly grant them leadership on the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to establish the religion that He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely change their state of fear to a state of security, they will worship Me and not associate anything (in worship) with Me. And whoever displays ingratitude thereafter then they are open transgressors.[10]

This verse shows that Allah promised the righteous believers – with whose religion He is pleased – authority on the earth.

A keen observer of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum would realise that Allah gave them great authority on the earth. They spread Islam to all the corners of the earth and they ruled the land with the teachings of Islam. They worshipped Allah alone and hoisted high the banner of Tauhid. All this indicates that Allah was pleased with their religion, faith and righteous deeds. That is why he gave them authority in the land.

Brothers, many are the verses that start with “O you who have believed”. When these verses were being revealed, their first addressees were the Prophet’s Companions. This implies that Allah attested to them being believers, then how could Allah call them believers and you call them disbelievers, relying on superstitious and spurious narrations?

As regard the hadith of Bukhari quoted above, I would like to add that understanding of a hadith should be in the light of the general texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The Qur’anic texts clearly indicate that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum are the truthful and the successful ones, and that they were the ones whom Allah promised excellent reward and authority. Imam al Bukhari also reported ahadith on the merits of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum both the Muhajirin and the Ansar- and their excellences. A quick glance at the Book of the Merits of the Companions in Sahih al Bukhari would show us the status of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in the estimation of Allah and His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.[11]

This general belief concerning the uprightness and excellence of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum is the only basis through which all other apparently contradicting texts should be viewed. And when a deep study is undertaken, it becomes clear that there is no contradiction at all.

Someone may ask: What then is the meaning of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying: “So I did not see anyone of them escaping except a few who were like camels without a shepherd”?

The answer is very easy. It is in many ways, the most significant of which is the following:

At the closer study of the clause “of them” and the entire context, we will realise that it refers to those who reneged. It follows then that those who reneged are a few individuals from among a large multitude of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, and that from these renegades; only a very few will be forgiven and saved.

And if one asks: who are those who “would renounce their religion”, according to the hadith?

The answer is: They are definitely not the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum whom the Qur’an and the Sunnah has commended as pure, righteous and successful and who were promised excellent reward and Allah’s pleasure. They are rather Musaylamah the Liar and his cohorts who renounced Islam after the death of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and whom Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu fought.

This is in addition to the fact that there were some individuals who pretended to be Muslims during the lifetime of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but were actually hypocrites unknown to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This clause might also apply to them.

(After I finished this clarification, their speaker closed Sahih al Bukhari, feeling dejected and sad. A sense of defeat could be vividly seen on the faces of his colleagues who were there.) And Allah’s word fit them exactly,

وَ قُلْ جَآءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ؕ اِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ کَانَ زَهُوْقًا

And say: “The truth has come and falsehood has perished. Surely, falsehood is ever bound to perish.”[12]

This reminded me of another verse of the Qur’an:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْاٰنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَّ رَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ ۙ وَ لَا یُزِیْدُ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ اِلَّا خَسَارًا

And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers, and it increases the oppressors nothing but loss.[13]

(Their speaker then rose up to return the Bukhari into the library while the others remained silent.)

[1] Surah Al ‘Imran: 110

[2] Surah al Baqarah: 143

[3] Surah al Baqarah: 85

[4] Surah al Jathiyah: 23

[5] Surah al Taubah: 100

[6]Surah al Hashr: 9

[7] Surah al Hashr: 8-10

[8] Surah al Hadid: 10

[9] Surah al Fath: 18

[10] Surah al Nur: 55

[11]  There are many ahadith that describe the excellent qualities of the Companions. A prominent hadith in this regard is the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying: “The stars are a source of security for the sky and when the stars disappear the sky will meet its promised fate. I am a source of safety and security to my Companions and when I depart, my Companions will meet their promised fate. My Companions are a source of security for the ummah and when they depart, my ummah will meet its promised fate.” (Muslim)

[12] Surah al Isra: 81

[13] Surah al Isra: 82

A commoner from among them suddenly broke the silence and mockingly said: Allah is pleased with all the Companions including even Muawiyah?

I said: I would like to ask you a question.

The commoner: What is the question?

I said: Will you be pleased if your father is insulted?

The commoner: No.

I said: Will you be pleased if your paternal uncle is insulted?

The commoner: No.

I said: Will you be pleased if your maternal uncle, your mother’s brother is insulted?

The commoner: No.

I then faced the audience and said: None of us would be pleased to hear his maternal uncle being insulted, and Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who this man is mocking is the maternal uncle of the believers because he is the brother of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wife, mother of the faithful, Umm Habibah Ramlah radiya Llahu ‘anha.

In addition to this, Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu was one of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam scribes. He was famous for his deliberateness, magnanimity, intelligence and resoluteness. He is deservedly the best of all of the Muslim kings.

It was during his reign that Allah gave honour and power to this ummah. He established the first Muslim navy, Allah’s Word prevailed and the religion of Islam triumphed over other religions.

The commoner (angrily): We cannot keep quiet while Allah’s pleasure is being invoked on Muawiyah! (He faced me). You can then invoke Allah’s pleasure upon Yazeed (son of Muawiyah) also! Invoke Allah’s pleasure upon Yazeed now!

I said: The truth must be followed.

The commoner: Which truth? You have actually rejected the truth!

I said: Wait a minute and let me finish my word. You can thereafter contradict me with your proofs if you have any. The truth must be followed.

As regards the row that happened between ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the nearest of the two parties to the truth and he was supported by the truth. There were, however, some unclear issues that led to opposition from Talhah radiya Llahu ‘anhu , Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu and the mother of the faithful ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha If not for the evil machinations of the vicious crisis-mongers, no Companion would have raised his sword against another Companion.

I am saying this to affirm some facts:

One: The fourth khalifah after ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu was ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He was supported by the Islamic rules and he was on the correct side in the conflict.[1] If the crisis were to repeat itself today, I would proudly be on the side of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

This does not necessarily mean that those who opposed him among the Companions. radiya Llahu ‘anhum were absolutely wrong. There were strong unclear issues that make the opposition of some Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum to him – in some way – justified. But we do not malign them for that or disparage them, for their actions were due to some ijtihad they made. And if a Muslim makes Ijtihad (jurisprudential deduction) and arrives at a wrong decision, he would still have a reward.

Two: The strongest of all these unclear matters was the existence of the leaders of evil and mischief who endeavoured to create crisis in ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu camp. They were the masterminds of murders and dissension.

‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was excused for their existence in his camp because they were so powerful and resilient. They did not give him time to deal with them.

Three: All those who opposed ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu-from among the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum only exercised their ijtihad, though they were mistaken. We therefore beseech Allah to give them their reward and to give ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu his double reward, in accordance with the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying.

Four: The Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum never wanted to fight one another. They were too great to do that. They rather maintained cordial relationship among themselves. However, the mischief-makers and the killers of ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu would not allow them to cordiality abide. The Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum were as innocent in that crisis as the wolf was in the blood of Prophet Yusuf ‘alayh al Salam. This is the reality which we believe in.

Five: The foundations of evil and mischief in this crisis were the followers of ‘Abdullah ibn Saba’, who started the crisis by murdering ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu and after him Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu and Talhah radiya Llahu ‘anhu. They then sowed two poisonous seeds:

Tashayyu’ (Partisanship) and Khuruj (Revolt). The Shi’ah (who claim to be ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu supporters) exaggerated in their respect for ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, while the Khawarij (those who revolted against the authority of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu) killed him.

Six: The Ahlus Sunnah believe that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the nearest to the truth of the two warring sides and that his disagreement with some of his fellow Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum did not make them impious – as opposed to the opinions of the erroneous groups.

Seven: The Ahlus Sunnah invoke Allah’s pleasure on all the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum with no exception. They believe that they are all excellent and noble people and that they will be forgiven and shown mercy on the Day of Resurrection. All the followers of the Sunnah bear no ill-feeling against any of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum. We beseech Allah to resurrect us in their group.

The commoner: What do you have to say about Yazid ibn Muawiyah? Invoke Allah’s pleasure upon him so that we can know your true picture!

I said: I can neither wade into the issue of Yazid nor endorse him being insulted. The scholars of his time had different opinions about him. Some of them like Ibn ‘Abbas and Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (Ibn al Hanafiyyah) praised him. Some scholars attested to his uprightness and refuted all the injustices attributed to him. And some others did not say anything about him, adhering to Allah’s saying:

تِلْكَ اُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۚ لَهَا مَا کَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَّا کَسَبْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُوْنَ عَمَّا کَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ

That was a nation which has passed, they shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn, and you will not be asked of what they used to do.[2]

As far as I know, none of those who criticised him did endorse him being insulted or cursed,

The same man: I don’t know how I can endure this. This man (Yazid) killed Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu!

I said: Allah honoured Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu with martyrdom. But who killed him? His killers were those who deceived him and invited him to come to the so-called well-armed army. They sent him tens of thousands of letters. They then killed him for a paltry sum.

As for Yazid, he did not order the killing of Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu, as far as I know. Rather, he was very distressed by his murder. It was a criminal called ‘Ibn Joushan’ who killed him because he hated members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam family. He killed him in order to gain the favour of ‘Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad, Yazid’s governor in Kufah.

Those who set out to fight Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu did so in their own interpretation of the saying of his grandfather salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “Different evils will make their appearance in the near future. Anyone who tries to disrupt the affairs of this ummah while they are united you should strike him with the sword whoever he be.”[3]

And his salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying: “When oath of allegiance has been taken for two caliphs; kill the one for whom the oath was taken later.”[4]

So they set out to prevent him from claiming the Caliphate, though in his own estimation, that was an act of martyrdom. He shall, therefore, be with his grandfather in Paradise as one of the two leaders of the youth.

What I can only say regarding the crisis of that time is Allah’s word:

تِلْكَ اُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۚ لَهَا مَا کَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَّا کَسَبْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُوْنَ عَمَّا کَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ

That was a nation who has passed away, they shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn, and you will not be asked of what they used to do.[5]

Allah knows better about them and their intentions. It is only the people of desire and error who live off lies woven around these crises and regard them as the fundamentals of their belief.

Brothers, let me ask you a question: What is the benefit of recalling those pains and crises that we did not witness? Allah did not command us to delve into them. He only commanded us to worship Him alone, obey His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and follow the path of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum And He commanded us to love members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household. Couldn’t we allow ourselves to be united by these commandments instead of delving in differences and crises that brings us no good?

One of them: This is not correct! Allegiance to members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam family necessitates renouncing their enemies, and their enemies are the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions upon whom you are invoking Allah’s pleasure!

I said: Do you know their real enemies? They are those who exaggerate in their respect for them; they were those who inconvenienced ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu; they were those who set a trap for Hussain radiya Llahu ‘anhu and invited him to come and then sold him off for a paltry sum.

Do you know their enemies? They are those who abuse the most favourite members of the Prophet’s family: ‘Aisha and Hafsah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma, who are his wives. They are those who insult the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum who, together with members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household, built the glory of Islam.

These are their real enemies; and I am absolve myself from these enemies who pretend to love members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam household while they engage in vices such as deception, hypocrisy, abuse and cursing.

One of them: We have arrived at a closed way at which there is no more benefit in the debate. We can endure anything from you except your invoking pleasure

on Muawiyah, Yazid and Bani Umayyah. The matters have now become clear. There is no further need for debate!

I said (after noticing that the time for Fajr prayer was close): The issue is not about Yazid, but your stand in respect to the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum makes me doubt your adherence to Islam as a religion.

What is successively narrated according to your authority and ours is that the Qur’an was collected by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, yet you regard these men as leaders of disbelief and misguidance. We now have before us two absolute issues:

One: Our stand concerning the Companions.

Two: Our stand concerning the Qur’an.

The two are intertwined. We should either declare that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum apostatised and – at the same time – believe that the Qur’an had been altered because it was compiled by the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, and apostates could not be entrusted with preserving the Book of Allah; or we should clearly state that the Qur’an was intact and guarded against any alteration, thereby showing gratitude to those who compiled it and acknowledging their due honour and leadership, especially since the Qur’an itself has praised them. That is how we can find a sound harmony that all people of intellect would agree to.

Therefore, you should make one of the above two declarations. If you make the first declaration, then it becomes clear that you have nothing to do with our religion, as it is clear to every sensible person.

And if you make the second declaration, then you are among the Muslims, and consequently, that erroneous foundation – including regarding the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum as disbelievers and apostates – upon which your predecessors built the religion of the Imamiyyah, is then destroyed.

One of them (who appeared to be on the verge of exhaustion): There is no correlation between the two things. Allah has undertaken the protection of the Qur’an by Himself. The Companions had done nothing in this regard. They rather apostatised after the Qur’an had been revealed after the death of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

The Qur’an had been compiled during the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam life. It is narrated in the hadith that the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam raised up the Qur’an at Ghadir al Khum and said: “I am leaving for you two things; you will never go astray as long as you hold unto them- The Book of Allah and my family.”

I said: The speaker’s statement reminds me of the saying of one our righteous predecessors: If I engage in debate with one thousand scholars, I would defeat them, but if one ignorant person argues with me, he will exhaust me.” He said this because you will be at your wits end in finding intellectual means to convince an ignorant person but he will understand nothing.

I am really sad that our debate can descend to this level of triviality and ignorance.

Be that as it may, I would like to tell the speaker in unequivocal terms: The successive, and indisputable narrations in your books and ours indicate that the Qur’an was compiled by the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

It is also indisputably reported, according to our sources and yours, that it was Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu who compiled it following the advice of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu, and that it was compiled on objects such as palm leaves, planks and stone plates.

During the Caliphate of ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, he ordered that it be written in a book form. He then made four copies thereof and sent each to major Muslim regions. He ordered that whatever was left in people’s hand should be burnt so that there would no discrepancies in the Qur’an.

Thus did the three leaders of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum compile the Qur’an and get their reward in doing so.

It is also indisputable according to your sources and ours that the Qur’an that we have today is the complete one compiled by ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu . We believe that no letter is added or omitted. And it is also a copy that all the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum agreed upon.

And back to the brother who spoke without knowledge, none of the authentic narrations of the hadith you quoted ever mentioned that Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam held the Qur’an, that was still being revealed, up in his hand.

By making the claim you just made now, you are destroying a very significant part of the narrations and beliefs of the Imamiyyah Ithna ‘Ashariyyah which you follow. As your books were filled with narrations which claim that after the death of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu spent six months in seclusion compiling the Qur’an in Fatimah’s radiya Llahu ‘anha room.

There were other narrations also from your books that claim that once he completed it, he presented it to Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu for endorsement and both of them refused. He then vowed that it would never be seen again until the advent of ‘Al Qa’im’ – who shall be one of the descendants of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu– at the end of time. That is what your books claim.

Which claim then shall we accept?

Shall we accept the clearly mischievous claim of your scholars which casts a great doubt on the authenticity and divine protection of the Qur’an and cancels the wisdom for which it was revealed or the obviously ignorant and spurious claim of this brother that contradicts all the authentic narrations from our sources and yours?

Or we shall follow the clear truth that those who compiled the Qur’an were the

Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam noble, pious, righteous and successful Companions led by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman, radiya Llahu ‘anhum?

In short, we are at crossroads: the road of Islam, which is the path of guidance and truth; and the road of disbelief, which is the path of falsehood

With all praise due to Allah, I have explained to you the two opposing paths. It is now up to you to take the one you like.

The path of the truth and guidance is clearly defined and the path of falsehood and error is also clearly defined so that those who were to be destroyed for rejecting the truth might be destroyed after clear evidence has been shown to them; and those who were to live as believers might live after clear evidence has been shown to them.

After saying this, I got up to leave because the time of the commencement of the fajr salah was near. It was then that my friend who convinced me to come, rose up and said: May Allah reward you with good, Abu ‘Abdullah (that is my nickname). All praise is due to Allah who revealed the truth and made the falsehood vanish through you.

He then faced the gathering and said: I have been with you for four months and listened to you throughout that period. You also should listen to me now:

For these months that I had been with you, I discovered that you are devils in human skin, who create misgivings in a person mind concerning his religion. Your way is to remove ones certainty of his belief in Allah, His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and his Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum and replace it with uncertainty.

I know you as a group who removes a person from a good opinion about the sincere servants of Allah into having ill-feelings about them. I know you as a group who changes a well-mannered individual into a person whose main character is to curse and abuse others.

Throughout the period in which I was with you- and I wish I had never met you- I wished I was never born to this world because of the doubt, confusion and error you made me live in. But now, that heavy darkness has been removed from my heart and eyes and I have realised your true colours.

I feel obliged to tell you this:

Our religion is about worship and good manners, and not cursing and abusing others.

Our religion is about clarity and transparency and not falsehood, hypocrisy and deception.

Our religion is about worship, courage and gallantry and not cowardice and deceit.

Our religion is about the Qur’an and the Sunnah and not myths, superstitions and spurious narrations.

The place where you are now is the farthest place from the guidance of Allah’s houses, in which He permits that His Name should be remembered and elevated. You have filled it with images, thereby making it look like churches.

(He then turned to one of those sitting there and said): Allah has removed all my doubts and replaced them with certainty and iman. I wish for you the same of Allah’s favour that I wish for myself. So save your soul and come with us, and do not stay with the disbelievers.

(He turned to them again and said): I do not know you and you do not know me. I will never stay with you and you should never stay with me!

(He then offered me his hand and said): O you through whom Allah resurrected me from death and saved me from an imminent destruction, let us leave this ‘church’.

(At the door, when he saw the sky he said): All praise is due to Allah Who removed me from darkness to light!

We went to the Masjid together and performed the fajr salah and after that he asked me: What is your view about these people? Are they disbelievers or apostates?

I replied: They are rather disbelievers whose disbelief is very complex. The Imamiyyah Shi’ah were keen to be a composite of all kinds of disbelief professed by all the disbelieving peoples, all kinds of polytheism of the polytheists, all kinds of exaggerations of the Jews and the Christians and all kinds of heresy and errors professed by all erroneous sects.

They emulate the Jews in their meanness and the Christians in their error and excessiveness. Most of their beliefs are borrowed from the Zoroastrians, and their taqiyyah and hypocrisy are ‘cloned’ from the heretics.

My brother, if you want me to give you a thousand proofs then each one of their teachings is enough to declare them as disbelievers, I can do so, with all praise due to Allah. However, it is enough for you to know that their disbelief revolves around the following fundamentals:

One: Their excessive veneration of their so-called Imams and their claim that these Imams have knowledge of the unseen and that they have the power to benefit and harm and to give life and death.

Your mere glancing through the table of contents of their books such as Al Kafi or Bihar al Anwar will convince you of this.

Two: Their disbelief that manifests in their polytheistic and pagan activities. Just observe them at their Mashads and at the graves of their Imams to see how they call on the dead and seek their help.

Three: Their disbelief that manifests in their having doubt about the Qur’an and their claim that there are alterations in it. Glance through their books of tafsir such as the ones written by al Qummi, al ‘Ayyashi, Al Safi and Al Burhan, and see how they are dead sure that the Qur’an had been altered, and how they changed and omitted words of the Qur’an and added their own words.

Four: They disbelieved by rejecting the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam authentic Sunnah. They proudly and publicly declare that they reject all the authentic Sunnah conveyed to us by the noble Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Five: They disbelieved by regarding the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum as disbelievers.

Six: They disbelieved by declaring some of the most favourite members of the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam family – ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha and Hafsah radiya Llahu ‘anha, who are our mothers, as disbelievers. They are disbelievers by every curse and abuse they utter against these pious women.

Seven: They disbelieved because of the wrong beliefs they hold about Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and the Pre-decree. It suffices you to know that they attribute weakness, ignorance and indecisiveness to Allah. They actually took this belief from their Jewish leaders. It also suffices you to know that they distorted the reality of the Day of Resurrection. And this they took from their Zoroastrian and Jewish leaders.

Eight: They disbelieved because they regard the entire Muslim ummah and the followers of the pure truth and the straight path – the Ahlus Sunnah wa l- Jama’ah as infidels. Therefore, they disbelieved with every Muslim they called infidel and with the blood, wealth and honour of every Muslim they violated.

At this point, my friend showed his consternation and said: Where do the advocates of reconciliation from among the Ahlus Sunnah stand in regard to these firmly-established facts?

I said: Do not say “advocates of reconciliation” but say “victims of deception” perfected by these liars and hypocrites.

He said: But knowledge is the weapon of these scholars. How strange that they could be entranced by these misguided people through ignorance?

I said: I think they should not be excused for failing to know about the reality of these people, but the hypocrites have perfected their taqiyyah. If not, hardly will you find a scholar or student of knowledge who would not declare them to be disbelievers.”

He said: How could they then be informed of the disbelieving ideologies that the Imamiyyah Shi’ah hold?

I said: It is your obligation and that of every Muslim who knows the truth to expose these people publicly and to show that they are disbelievers. This is one of the greatest acts of Jihad of our age and of the greatest acts of worship. It is also a way of spreading correct knowledge.

He said: I shall then proceed with Allah’s blessing, seeking His help.

I said: Go on. The sun has already risen.

He said (rather confidently): The sunrise of this world is not what is important. It is rather the sunrise of faith in our hearts and minds.

He then raised up his hands in supplication saying: All praise and thanks be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us!

(We then got up and hugged each other.)

He asked me where I was going and I said: I am going home to write this glorious and memorable battle, with Allah’s permission.

Compiled at the time of ‘asr on the day of Jumu‘ah, the 8th of Rabi‘ al-Akhir 1417, 22 August 1996.

[1]  The Ahlus Sunnah are of the view that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was on the right in this conflict, but many of the scholars believe that maintaining neutrality and not joining any of the two sides in fighting is the safest stand.

[2] Surah al Baqarah: 134

[3] Muslim

[4] Muslim

[5] Surah al Baqarah: 134