The merits of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه

Narrated Sahl bin Sad:

Allah's Apostle ﷺ said, "Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man with whose leadership Allah will grant (the Muslim) victory." So the people kept on thinking the whole night as to who would be given the flag. The next morning the people went to Allah's Apostle and every one of them hoped that he would be given the flag. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Where is Ali bin Abi Talib?" The people replied, "He is suffering from eye trouble, O Allah's Apostle." He said, "Send for him and bring him to me." So when 'Ali came, the Prophet spat in his eyes and invoked good on him, and he became alright as if he had no ailment. The Prophet then gave him the flag. 'Ali said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall I fight them (i.e. enemy) till they become like us?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Proceed to them steadily till you approach near to them and then invite them to Islam and inform them of their duties towards Allah which Islam prescribes for them, for by Allah, if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels."

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ " قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ، غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ " أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ". فَقَالُوا يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ " فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَيْهِ فَأْتُونِي بِهِ ". فَلَمَّا جَاءَ بَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ، وَدَعَا لَهُ، فَبَرَأَ حَتَّى كَأَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ وَجَعٌ، فَأَعْطَاهُ الرَّايَةَ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُقَاتِلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مِثْلَنَا فَقَالَ " انْفُذْ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ، ثُمَّ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ، وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ فِيهِ، فَوَاللَّهِ لأَنْ يَهْدِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ رَجُلاً وَاحِدًا خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَكَ حُمْرُ النَّعَمِ ".

Narrated Salama:

Ali happened to stay behind the Prophet and (did not join him) during the battle of Khaibar for he was having eye trouble. Then he said, "How could I remain behind Allah's Apostle?" So 'Ali set out following the Prophet , When it was the eve of the day in the morning of which Allah helped (the Muslims) to conquer it, Allah's Apostle ﷺ said, "I will give the flag (to a man), or tomorrow a man whom Allah and His Apostle love will take the flag," or said, "A man who loves Allah and His Apostle;
and Allah will grant victory under his leadership." Suddenly came 'Ali whom we did not expect. The people said, "This is 'Ali." Allah's Apostle gave him the flag and Allah granted victory under his leadership.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ قَدْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي خَيْبَرَ وَكَانَ بِهِ رَمَدٌ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَخَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ فَلَحِقَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ مَسَاءُ اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي فَتَحَهَا اللَّهُ فِي صَبَاحِهَا، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ ـ أَوْ لَيَأْخُذَنَّ الرَّايَةَ ـ غَدًا رَجُلاً يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ـ أَوْ قَالَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ـ يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ". فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِعَلِيٍّ وَمَا نَرْجُوهُ، فَقَالُوا هَذَا عَلِيٌّ. فَأَعْطَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ.

Narrated Abu Hazim:

A man came to Sahl bin Sad and said, "This is so-and-so," meaning the Governor of Medina, "He is calling 'Ali bad names near the pulpit." Sahl asked, "What is he saying?" He (i.e. the man) replied, "He calls him (i.e. 'Ali) Abu Turab." Sahl laughed and said, "By Allah, none but the Prophet called him by this name and no name was dearer to 'Ali than this." So I asked Sahl to tell me more, saying, "O Abu 'Abbas! How (was this name given to 'Ali)?" Sahl said, "'Ali went to Fatima and then came out and slept in the Mosque. The Prophet asked Fatima, "Where is your cousin?" She said, "In the Mosque." The Prophet went to him and found that his (i.e. Ali's) covering sheet had slipped of his back and dust had soiled his back. The Prophet started wiping the dust off his back and said twice, "Get up! O Abu Turab (i.e. O. man with the dust)."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَ إِلَى سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ فَقَالَ هَذَا فُلاَنٌ ـ لأَمِيرِ الْمَدِينَةِ ـ يَدْعُو عَلِيًّا عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ. قَالَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا قَالَ يَقُولُ لَهُ أَبُو تُرَابٍ. فَضَحِكَ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا سَمَّاهُ إِلاَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ، وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ اسْمٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهُ. فَاسْتَطْعَمْتُ الْحَدِيثَ سَهْلاً، وَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا عَبَّاسٍ كَيْفَ قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَاضْطَجَعَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " أَيْنَ ابْنُ عَمِّكِ ". قَالَتْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ. فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدَ رِدَاءَهُ قَدْ سَقَطَ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ، وَخَلَصَ التُّرَابُ إِلَى ظَهْرِهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَمْسَحُ التُّرَابَ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ فَيَقُولُ " اجْلِسْ يَا أَبَا تُرَابٍ ". مَرَّتَيْنِ.

Narrated Sad bin 'Ubaida:

A man came to Ibn 'Umar and asked about 'Uthman and Ibn 'Umar mentioned his good deeds and said to the questioner. "Perhaps these facts annoy you?" The other said, "Yes." Ibn 'Umar said, "May Allah stick your nose in the dust (i.e. degrade you)!' Then the man asked him about 'Ali. Ibn 'Umar mentioned his good deeds and said, "It is all true, and that is his house in the midst of the houses of the Prophet. Perhaps these facts have hurt you?" The questioner said, "Yes." Ibn 'Umar said, "May Allah stick your nose in the dust (i.e. degrade you or make you do things which you hate) ! Go away and do whatever you can against me."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ،، فَذَكَرَ عَنْ مَحَاسِنِ، عَمَلِهِ، قَالَ لَعَلَّ ذَاكَ يَسُوؤُكَ. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ فَأَرْغَمَ اللَّهُ بِأَنْفِكَ. ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، فَذَكَرَ مَحَاسِنَ عَمَلِهِ قَالَ هُوَ ذَاكَ، بَيْتُهُ أَوْسَطُ بُيُوتِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ. ثُمَّ قَالَ لَعَلَّ ذَاكَ يَسُوؤُكَ. قَالَ أَجَلْ. قَالَ فَأَرْغَمَ اللَّهُ بِأَنْفِكَ، انْطَلِقْ فَاجْهَدْ عَلَىَّ جَهْدَكَ.

Narrated 'Ali:

Fatima complained of the suffering caused to her by the hand mill. Some Captives were brought to the Prophet, she came to him but did not find him at home 'Aisha was present there to whom she told (of her desire for a servant). When the Prophet came, Aisha informed him about Fatima's visit. Ali added "So the Prophet came to us, while we had gone to our bed I wanted to get up but the Prophet ﷺ said, "Remain at your place". Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, "Shall I teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say, 'Allahu-Akbar' thirty-four times, and 'Subhan Allah thirty-three times, and 'Alhamdu-lillah thirty-three times for that is better for you both than a servant."

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ، عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ شَكَتْ مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّحَا، فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَبْىٌ، فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَلَمْ تَجِدْهُ، فَوَجَدَتْ عَائِشَةَ، فَأَخْبَرَتْهَا، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ بِمَجِيءِ فَاطِمَةَ، فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا، وَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا مَضَاجِعَنَا، فَذَهَبْتُ لأَقُومَ فَقَالَ " عَلَى مَكَانِكُمَا ". فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَنَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ قَدَمَيْهِ عَلَى صَدْرِي وَقَالَ " أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكُمَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا سَأَلْتُمَانِي إِذَا أَخَذْتُمَا مَضَاجِعَكُمَا تُكَبِّرَا أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتُسَبِّحَا ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتَحْمَدَا ثَلاَثَةً وَثَلاَثِينَ، فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمَا مِنْ خَادِمٍ ".