The Divine Command to Love Imam Ali (Peace Be Upon Him)
The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“The Almighty commanded me regarding Ali. I asked, ‘My Lord, reveal it to me.’
He said, ‘Listen, O Muhammad. Ali is the standard-bearer of guidance, the Imam of My friends, and the light of those who obey Me. He is the word I have enjoined upon the righteous. Whoever loves him loves Me, and whoever shows enmity toward him has shown enmity toward Me.’”
The Prophet Describes Imam Ali’s Parallels with the Prophets
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“In the seventh heaven, Ali shines like the sun does on earth, and in the lowest heaven, he glows like the full moon in the night sky. God has bestowed upon Ali such virtue that even a small portion of it would suffice for all creation.
His compassion is like that of Prophet Lot, his morality like that of Prophet John, his patience like that of Prophet Job, his generosity like that of Prophet Abraham, his majesty like that of Prophet Solomon, and his strength like that of Prophet David. His name is inscribed upon every gate of Paradise.”
The Straight Path Is Where Ali Stands
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) narrates from his forefathers that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“Whoever desires to cross the Bridge (Ṣiraṭ) with ease and enter Paradise without reckoning should believe in the guardianship (wilayah) of my successor and vicegerent, Ali ibn Abi Talib.
By the might and majesty of God, he is the Gate of God (Bab Allah), through whom none may reach the Almighty except by his guidance. He is the Straight Path about which we shall be questioned on the Day of Judgment.”
The People of Paradise
A man once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family):
“Who are the people of Paradise?”
He replied, “Those who obey me and, after me, accept the guardianship of Ali.”Then the Prophet took Ali’s hand and said:
“Ali is from me, and I am from Ali. Whoever bears enmity toward him bears enmity toward me, and whoever opposes me has defied God.
O Ali, peace and war with you is peace and war with me. You are the banner between me and my nation.”
The Oppressed Imam
Ibn ʿAbbas narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“As long as you remain under the banner of Ali’s guardianship, you shall never go astray nor perish. But if you turn away from him, you will be led into ruin and confusion.
Fear God, for Ali is the oppressed Imam — the one connected directly to the Divine.”
The Prophet’s Final Counsel Regarding Imam Ali (Peace Be Upon Him)
Near the end of his life, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“O people, my departure is near. I have conveyed the truth to you. I leave among you the Book of God and my family, my Ahl al-Bayt.”
Then he took Ali’s hand and declared:
“Ali is with the Qur’an, and the Qur’an is with Ali. They shall never be separated until they return to me at the Pond of Kawthar.”
The Title ‘Commander of the Faithful’
Ḥudhayfah narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“If people knew when the title Amir al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful) was bestowed upon Ali, they would never cease to revere him.
He was granted this name when Adam was still in clay and water. At that time, God said: ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They replied: ‘Yes, indeed.’ Then He said: ‘I am your Lord, Muhammad is your Prophet, and Ali is your Wali and Commander.’”
Those Deprived of the Prophet’s Intercession
Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“Whoever wishes his life and death to be like mine and to enter Paradise, let him follow Ali after me and be loyal to him and my family — for they are my kin, my blood, and the heirs of my knowledge.
Woe to those who deny and oppose them, for they shall dwell in misguidance and will have no share in my intercession.”
The True Sign of Faith
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“O Lord, whoever believes in me must also accept the guardianship of Ali ibn Abi Talib—for his authority is My authority, and My authority is Yours.”
And he said:
“Whoever wishes his life and death to mirror mine and to enter the highest Paradise should submit to the guardianship of Ali and his family.”
The Prophet’s Tears Upon Seeing Imam Ali (Peace Be Upon Him)
Ibn Abbas narrated:
When the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) saw Imam Ali approaching, he began to weep and said,
“Come near, my brother.”
Then he took Ali’s hand and said:
“He is my brother, my companion, and my successor in this world and the next. He is the bearer of my standard, the owner of the Pond of Kawthar, and the intercessor for my nation.
Through his guardianship, my community receives mercy, and through enmity toward him, they incur the wrath of God.
I wept because I foresaw how my nation will betray him, deny his right, and strike his blessed head until his beard is dyed with his blood — in the best of months, the month of Ramadan, when the Qur’an descended as guidance for mankind.”
The Revelation of Imam Ali’s Virtues During the Prophet’s Ascension
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“During my Ascension to the heavens, when I reached the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntaha), God Almighty said:
‘O Muhammad! Whom among My servants have you found to be most righteous and obedient to you?’
I said: ‘O Lord, Ali.’
He said: ‘You have spoken the truth, O Muhammad. I have chosen him as your successor, your trustee, and the bearer of your knowledge.
I have granted him from My wisdom and My forbearance. He is the Commander of the Faithful — none bore that title before him, nor shall any after him.
Ali is the standard-bearer of guidance, the Imam of My servants, and the light of My friends. Whoever loves him, loves Me; and whoever hates him, hates Me. So, convey this glad tiding to him, O Muhammad.’”
The Prophet’s Warning of Coming Discord
In his final days, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) warned:
“After me, tribulations will arise. When they do, hold fast to Ali ibn Abi Talib.
He will be the first to meet me on the Day of Resurrection, and his hand shall be in mine. He is the great truthful one (al-Ṣiddiq al-Akbar), the distinguisher of truth from falsehood, and the leader of the believers.”
