Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

KITAB AL-IRSHAD 1:

The book of Guidence

By Shaykh al-Mufid

THE LIFE OF

THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL

'ALI B. ABI TALIB

www.alhassanain.org/english

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I: VIRTUES, QUALITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL: 5

Introduction 5

Reports of him, Peace be on him, Mentioning and Knowing about the Event (of his Death) before its Occurrence 9

Reports which have come down of the Motive for his Murder and how the Event occurred 12

Reports about the Place of the Grave of the Commander of the Faithful, Peace be on him, and an Explanation of the Circumstances of his Burial 15

NOTES 17

CHAPTER II: BACKGROUND TO THE LIFE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL: 18

Reports of his Priority in Belief in God and His Apostle and of his Being the First of all Responsible Men in (Faith) 18

Reports of his Outstanding Merit, Peace be on him, over Everybody in Religious Knowledge (Ilm) 19

Reports of his Outstanding Merit, the Blessing of God be on him 21

Reports of Love for him, Peace be on him, Being a Sign of Faith (in a Person) and Hatred of him Being a Sign of Hypocrisy (in a Person) 22

Reports of him, Peace be on him, and his Shi'a Being the Successful Ones 23

Reports of Friendship to him, Peace be on him, Being a Sign of Good Birth and Enmity to him, Being a Sign of Disgraceful Birth 24

His Qualities 26

1. The Meeting of the Banu 'Abd al-Muttalib 26

2. The Circumstances of the Prophet's Emigration from Mecca 28

3. The Commander of the Faithful fulfils the Prophet's Obligations in Mecca 29

4. The Commander of the Faithful puts right Crimes committed by Khalid b. al-Walid 29

5. Keeping the Conquest of Mecca Secret 30

6. The Carrying of the Standard at the Conquest of Mecca 33

7. The Conversion of Yemen 33

8. Taking up the Standard at Khaybar 34

9. Delivery of the Verses of Renunciation in Mecca 35

NOTES 36

CHAPTER III: THE MILITARY EXPLOITS OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL: 38

The Battle of Badr 38

The Battle of Uhud 43

The Campaign against the Banu al-Nadir 50

The Campaign against the Allies (Ahzab) 51

The Campaign against the Bang Qurayza 59

(The Campaign of Dhat al-Salasil) 61

The Campaign against the Banu al-Mustaliq 63

(The Expedition to al-Hudaybiyya) 64

The Campaign against Khaybar 67

The Conquest of Mecca 70

The Campaign against Hunayn 76

Expeditions to Awtas and al-Ta'if 82

The Expedition to Tabuk and the Commander of the Faithful's Deputising for the Prophet at Medina 84

(The Campaign against 'Amr b. Ma'dikarib) 86

(The Campaign of (Dhat) al-Silsila) 89

NOTES 91

CHAPTER IV: THE ROLE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE PROPHET'S LIFE: 93

(The Deputation of Christians from Najran and the Contest of Prayer) 93

The Circumstances of the Last Illness and Death of the Prophet 101

NOTES 109

CHAPTER V: LEGAL DECISIONS OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL 110

A. (Judgements of the Commander of the Faithful during the Lifetime of the Prophet) 110

1. His Judgements in Yemen 111

2. A Case outside Yemen during the Life of the Prophet 113

B. Judgements of the Commander of the Faithful during the Rule of Abu Bakr 114

C. Reports of the Judgements of (the Commander of the faithful) during the Rule of 'Umar b. al-Khattab 115

D. Reports of the Judgements of the Commander of the Faithful during the Rule of 'Uthman b. 'Affan 120

E. Reports of the Judgements of (the Commander of the Faithful), peace be on him, after the Pledge of Allegiance of the General Populace to him and the Death of 'Uthman 122

NOTES 129

CHAPTER VI: MEMORABLE WORDS AND SPEECHES OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL 130

His Words about God 130

His Words about Knowledge ('Ilm) 132

His Words about this World and the Next 136

His Words about Companions, Ascetics and his Shi'a 137

His Words concerning Death 138

Speeches Urging Men to Himself and his Family 138

His Words before and after the Battle of the Camel 146

His Words about the Campaign against Mu'awiya and the Battle of Siffin 150

His Words about the Truce and the Revolt of the Kharijites 154

His Words concerning the Syrian Raids after the Truce 155

His Words about the Succession and Men's Desertion of him 162

Some of his Words of Wisdom and Warning, Peace be on him 167

NOTES 172

CHAPTER VII: SOME OF THE MIRACLES OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL 173

The Miracle of his Wisdom while still a Boy 173

The Miracle of his Military Prowess 174

The Miracle of the Survival of his Reputation and his Family despite Suppression and Oppression 175

The Prophecies and Inner Knowledge of the Commander of the Faithful 177

His Miraculous Strength at Khaybar 189

The Miracle of Moving the Rock and the Water under it 190

His Miraculous Victory over the Jinn 193

His Sending back the Sun 196

The Miracle of Speaking to the Fish 197

The Commander of the Faithful and the Jinn 198

Some other Miracles of the Commander of the Faithful 199

NOTES 201

CHAPTER VIII: THE CHILDREN OF THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL 202