From God’s boasting of the existence of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) before the angels, to the testimonies of the Imams regarding the greatness of their father, all point to a status that the human intellect and tongue are incapable of fully describing.
The Pride of God and the Final Messenger in Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
God takes pride in the existence of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) before His close angels, a sign of his supreme servitude and sincerity.
The Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“Indeed, God Almighty boasts to His close angels every day because of Ali ibn Abi Talib, to the point that He says: ‘Bravo, bravo! May it be pleasant for you, O Ali.'” [1]
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) introduced Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as the “Master of the Successors” (Sayyid al-Awsiya’) and the source of his own pride. He said: “I have been honored through Ali, the Master of the Successors.” [2]
The Pride of the Infallibles in Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) and Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), in their speeches, consider Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as the source of faith, jihad, and generosity.
Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) said:
“O father! I am al-Hussain, son of Ali ibn Abi Talib. My mother is Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her), the lady who is the mistress of all the women of the world. And my grandfather is Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his family), the best of Adam’s children and the foremost of all humanity, without any doubt.
O Ali! My mother is superior to your mother before God and in the eyes of the people, and my grandfather is higher and more honorable than your grandfather before God and among the people. When I was still in the cradle, Gabriel spoke to me and Israfel would visit me.
O Ali! You are superior to me before Almighty God, but I take pride over you in my father, mother, and pure, honorable ancestors.” [3]
The Magnificent Introduction of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in the Court of Yazid
Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain, Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), said in the court of Yazid:
“I am the son of Ali al-Murtada; the son of the one who humiliated the arrogant ones to the dust until they confessed to ‘La ilaha illallah’ (There is no god but God). I am the son of the one who fought alongside the Messenger of God with two swords and two spears; he migrated twice, gave allegiance twice, and prayed towards two qiblas. He was present at Badr and al-Hussain and did not disbelieve in God even for the blink of an eye.
I am the son of the chosen one of the believers and the inheritor of the prophets; the son of the one who uprooted the atheists, the leader of the Muslims, and the light of the warriors. He is the adornment of the worshippers, the forefront of those who shed tears, the most patient of the patient, and the best of those who rose up from the family of Yaseen and the messenger of the Lord of the Worlds.
I am the son of the one who, with the confirmation of Gabriel and the help of Michael, was the guardian of the sanctity of the Muslims; he fought against the breakers of covenants, the oppressors, and those who deviated from the religion; he waged jihad against the staunch enemies of God and was the best person from Quraysh to set foot on the earth.
He was the first person to believe in God and accept His call; the forerunner of the forerunners, the crusher of the oppressors, and the destroyer of the polytheists; an arrow from God’s arrows aimed at the hearts of the hypocrites; the tongue of wisdom and the supporter of God’s religion; the guardian of God’s command and the treasury of the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.
He was generous, noble, pure-natured, brave, steadfast, forbearing, one who fasted often, spent nights in prayer, courageous, and strong; in battles, he would crush enemies like a millstone and scatter them like the wind.He is the lion of Hijaz and the possessor of miraculous gifts; the great one of Iraq; an Imam by divine text and merit; a Meccan, Medinan, and Tihami; the inheritor of the two sacred sites (Mecca and Arafat); the father of Hasan and al-Hussain; the revealer of wonders, the scatterer of armies, the brilliant star, and the everlasting light. He is the invincible lion of God; every seeker pursues him, and he overcomes every victor. This is my grandfather, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).” [4]
Pride in the Wilayah of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) describes the Wilayah (guardianship) of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as a divine obligation superior to lineage.
It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him):
“Accepting the Wilayah of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) is more beloved to me than being his son; because his Wilayah is a divine obligation, but being his son is merely a virtue.” [5]
Distinguished Statuses
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) introduced Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as the first person to enter Paradise—an indication of his eternal, foremost status among the righteous.
Muhammad ibn Abbas narrated from Jabir al-Ansari who said:
“Paradise was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). He said: ‘The first person to enter Paradise is Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).’
Abu Dujanah asked:
“O Messenger of God, is Paradise forbidden to the Prophet until Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) enters it before him?”
The Prophet said:
“Yes. Do you not know that God created a flag and a pillar of light two thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth, and inscribed upon it: There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God; the family of Muhammad are the best of creation; and Ali is the owner of the banner and the leader of the people).”
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) said:
“All praise is due to God who, through you, O Messenger of God, guided us, and through you, honored us…”
The Prophet said:
“O Ali, give glad tidings to your friends that there is no one who loves you except that God will resurrect him with us on the Day of Judgment.” [6]
Loving Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)
Lady Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) said:
“Indeed, the truly complete and perfect fortunate one is he who loves Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) during his life and after his death.” [7]
[1] Al-Firdaws, Daylami, p. 152: 1/552
[2] Tafsir al-Imam al-Askari, p. 511
[3] Al-Fada’il, Ibn Shadhan, vol. 1, p. 85
[4] Maqtal al-Husayn (peace be upon him), Khwarazmi, p. 224
[5] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 39, p. 299
[6] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 8, p. 6
[7] Majma’ al-Zawa’id, Allama Haythami, vol. 9, p. 132
