A) Unjust Persecution Of Ali

The Persecution Suffered By ‘Ali After The Demise Of The Prophet

999) The narrator says that Imam ‘Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha (‘a) reported that the Prophet (S) told ‘Ali (‘a):
O Ali, after me, you would be persecuted unjustly. Pity on him who chooses to fight you. Fortunate is the one who chooses to fight alongside you. You are the one who would speak in my words and in my tongue after me. Fie upon him who refuses to listen to your words. Fortunate is the one who listens to your words and obeys you. O Ali, after me you are the leader commander and my heir over this community. One who abandons you shall find that I abandon him on the Judgment Day. Those who adhere to you shall find themselves in my company on the Judgment Day.1

بِالإِسْنَادِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَىٰ الرِّضَا، عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قَـالَ رَسُـولُ االلهِ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا عَلِيُّ! أَنْتَ الْمَظْلُومُ بَعْدِي. فَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ قَاتَلَكَ، وَطُوبَىٰ لِمَنْ قَاتَلَ مَعَـكَ. يَـا عَلِيُّ! أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَنْطِقُ بِكَلاَمِي وَتَتَكَلَّمُ بِلِسَانِي بَعْدِي. فَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ رَدَّ عَلَيْكَ، وَطُوبَىٰ لِمَـنْ قَبِـلَ كَلاَمَكَ. يَا عَلِيُّ! أَنْتَ سَيِّدُ هٰذهِ الأَمَّةِ بَعْدِي، وَأَنْتَ إِمَامُهَا وَخَلِيفَتِي عَلَيْهَا. وَمَنْ فَارَقَكَ فَارَقَنِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ. وَمَنْ كَانَ مَعَكَ كَانَ مَعِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ...

1000) The Prophet (S) told ‘Ali (‘a):
O Ali, you would be persecuted after me [my death]. Whoever persecutes you, in fact, persecutes me. Whoever does justice to you is just to me. Whoever refutes you, refutes me. Your friend is my friend. Whoever is inimical to you is my enemy. Whoever obeys you, it is as if he has obeyed me. Whoever disobeys you, in effect disobeys me.2

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِعَلِيٍّ: يَا عَلِيُّ! أَنْتَ الْمَظْلُومُ بَعْدِي. مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَنِـي، وَمَنْ أَنْصَفَكَ فَقَدْ أَنْصَفَنِي، وَمَنْ جَحَدَكَ فَقَدْ جَحَدَنِي، وَمَنْ وَالاَكَ فَقَدْ وَالاَنِي، وَمَنْ عَادَاكَ فَقَـدْ عَادَانِي، وَمَنْ أَطَاعَكَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي، وَمَنْ عَصَاكَ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي.

1001) The Prophet (S) said:
After me, if anyone who persecutes my successor Ali, it would amount to denying my Messengership and the Messengership of the Prophets of yore.3

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَنْ ظَلَمَ عَلِيّاً مَقْعَدِي هٰذَا بَعْدَ وَفَاتِي فَكَأَنَّما جَحَـدَ نُبُـوَّتِي وَنُبُوَّةَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ قَبْلِي.

1002) Imam ‘Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha (‘a) quoted his ancestors as saying that the Prophet (S) said:
O Ali, after me, you will be persecuted and prosecuted. Fie upon him who persecutes you denying your rights. Fortunate is he who obeys you.4

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَىٰ الرِّضَا، عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ االلهِ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا عَليُّ! أَنْتَ مَظْلُومٌ بَعْدِي. وَوَيْلٌ لِمَنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَاعْتَدَىٰ عَلَيْكَ. وَطُوبَىٰ لِمَـنْ تَبِعَـكَ وَلَـمْ يَجْتَـرِى عَلَيْكَ...

Ali’s Conversation With A Well

1003) Maytham narrates:
One night, Amir Al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (‘a) left Kufah and arriving at the mosque of Ju’fi he faced the Qibla and performed four Rak’ahs of prayer. After completing the prayers, he lifted his hands sky-wards and said, “O God! How dare I call you when I am guilty of disobeying you!?”

‘Ali (‘a) then came out of the mosque and I followed him until we reached the desert. ‘Ali (‘a) then drew a circle on the ground around me and left after warning me that at no cost should I step out of the boundaries of the circle. It was a pitch dark night and ‘Ali (‘a) has left alone knowing that he has many enemies who thirst for his blood. The fear for his safety made me to follow him, even though my action might be considered as disobedience to him. I saw that ‘Ali (‘a) has thrust his head into a well and appeared to converse with someone.

‘Ali (‘a) realized that I have come behind him and looking at me he asked, “Who are you?” I replied, “I am Maytham.”

‘Ali (‘a) said, “Did I not warn you not to come out of the circle that I drew around you?” I replied, “My master. The fear that finding you alone your enemies might harm you did not allow me to stay in peace.”

‘Ali (‘a) asked, “Did you overhear my conversation?” I said, “No my Lord. I did not comprehend anything.”

‘Ali (‘a) said, “O Maytham. There are matters that swell my heart. I shall dig a pit and pour out my secrets and the tree that would sprout would be from that seed which I sowed.”5

بِالإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مَيْثَمٍ قَالَ: أَصْحَرَ بِي مَوْلاَيَ أَميرُ الْمُؤمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ لَيْلَةٌ مِنَ اللَّيَالِي. قَدْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْكُوفةِ وَانْتَهَىٰ إِلَىٰ مَسْجِدِ جُعْفِيٍّ، تَوَجَّه إِلَىٰ القِبْلَةِ وَصَلَّىٰ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ. فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ وَسَبَّحَ بَسَـط كَفَّيهِ وَقَالَ: «إِلٰهِي! كَيْفَ أَدْعوكَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتُكَ...» إِلَىٰ آخِرِ الدُّعَاءِ. ثُمَّ قَامَ وَخَرَجَ. فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ حَتَّـىٰ خَرَجَ إِلَىٰ الصَّحْرَاءِ وَخَطَّ لِي خَطَّةً وَقَالَ: «إيَّاكَ أَنْ تَجَاوَزَ هٰذِهِ الْخَطَّةَ.» وَمَضَىٰ عَنِّي، وَكَانَت لَيْلَةً مُدْلَهِمَّةٌ، فَقُلْتُ: «يَا نَفْسِي! أَسْلَمْتِ مَوْلاَيَ وَلَهُ أَعْدَاءً كَثِيرةٌ؟! أَيُّ عُذْرٍ يَكُونُ لَكِ عِنْـدَ االلهِ وَعِنْـدَ رَسُولِه؟ وَااللهِ، لأَقْفُوَنَّ أَثَرَهُ وَلأَعْلَمَنَّ خَبَرهُ وَإنْ كُنْتُ قَدْ خَالَفْتُ أَمْرَهْ.»

وَجَعَلْتُ أَتَّبِعُ أَثَرَهَ فَوَجدْتُـهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ مُطَّلِعاً فِي الْبِئْرِ إِلَىٰ نِصْفِه، يُخَاطِبُ البِئْرَ وَالبِئْرُ تُخَاطِبهُ. فَحَسَّ بِي وَالْتَفَتَ عَلَيْهِ السَّـلاَمُ وَقَالَ: «مَنْ؟» قُلْتُ: «مَيْثَمُ.» قَالَ: «يَا مَيْثَمُ! أَلَمْ آمُرْكَ أَنْ لاَ تَتَجَاوَزَ الْخَطَّةَ؟» قُلْتُ: «يَا مَـوْلاَيَ! خَشِيتُ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الأَعْدَاءِ، فَلَمْ يَصْبِرْ لِذٰلِكَ قَلْبِي.» فَقَالَ: «أَسَمِعْتَ مِمَّا قُلْتُ شَيْئاً؟» قُلْتُ: «لاَ يَـا مَوْلاَي.»

فَقَالَ: «يَا مَيْثَمُ!

وَفِــي الصَّــدْرِ لُبَانَــاتٌ………………إِذَا ضَــاقَ لَهَــا صَــدْرِي

نَكَــتُّ الأَرْضَ بِــالكَفِّ……………….وَأَبْــدَيْتُ لَهَــا سِــرِّي

فَمَهْمــا تَنْبُــتُ الأَرْضُ……………….فَذَاكَ النَّبْتُ مِـنْ بَـذْرِي»

B) Ali’s Will

Excerpt From Ali’s Will

1004) When the accursed Ibn Muljam had fatally struck ‘Ali (‘a) on the head, ‘Ali (‘a) told his sons Imam al-Hasan (‘a) and Imam Husayn (‘a):
“I adjure you to fear God and not to bother about the persecution meted out to you. Do not grieve over what is already lost. Speak the truth. All your deeds should be to earn Divine reward. Be an enemy to an oppressor and a friend to the persecuted. I am making this will to my sons, daughters, and members of my family adjuring all of you to fear God.

Systematize your works and sort out differences because I have heard your grandfather say: ‘To resolve the disputes between two persons is much better than a year’s prayer and fasting.’

For God’s sake, be mindful of orphans. See that they do not have to ask for bread. For God’s sake, be mindful of your neighbors, for the Prophet (S) was so mindful of them that we suspected that he would declare them to be his heirs.

For God’s sake, be mindful of the Qur’an. Let not others take precedence over you in the matter of the Qur’an. Be mindful of prayer, for it is the pillar on which your religion rests. Be mindful of the House of God [Ka’bah]. Do not desert it, for then you would be given no chance [to repent]

For God’s sake, fight in the way of Allah with your word, wealth, and life. It is imperative that you should fight against [undue influence of] relationship or power. Be kind and generous to one another. Beware of neglecting and severing connection between one another. Invite people to do good and warn them against practicing what is prohibited, for otherwise, tyrants will rule over you. Now it is too late to pray [for my recovery].”

He then looked towards the children of Abd al-Muttallib and said, “Do not indulge in bloodshed [in retribution]. Nor should you spread the news that Amir Al-Mu’minin was assassinated. Beware that only my assassin should be executed for my murder. When I die of the single blow that the assassin delivered, his punishment should also be only a single, similar blow and nothing more. Do not trample his body, for I have heard the Prophet (S) say:
‘Do not trample anybody, even though it may be a rabid mad dog.’”6

وَمِنْ وَصِيَّةٍ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ لِلْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ لَمَّا ضَرَبَهُ ابْنُ مُلَجْـمٍ لَعَنَـهُ االلهُ: أُوصِيكُمَا بِتَقْوَىٰ االلهِ، وَأَنْ لاَ تَبْغِيَا الدُّنْيَا وَإِنْ بَغَتْكُمَا، وَلاَ تَأْسَفَا عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِنْهَا زُوِيَ عَنْكُمَا، وَقُولاَ بِالْحَقِّ، وَاعْمَلاَ لِلأَجْرِ، وَكُونَا لِلظَّالِمِ خَصْماً وَلِلْمَظْلومِ عَوْناً. أُوصِيكُمَا وَجَمِيعَ وُلْدِي وَأَهْلِي وَمَنْ بَلَغَهُ كِتَابِي بِتَقْوَىٰ االلهِ، وَنَظْمِ أَمْرِكُمْ، وَصَلاَحِ ذَاتِ بَيْنِكُمْ. فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ جَدَّكُما صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْـهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: «صَلاَحُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عَامَّةِ الصَّلاَةِ وَالصِّيَامِ.»

االلهَ االلهَ فِي الأَيْتَامِ، فَلاَ تَغُبُّـوا أَفْوَاهَهُمْ، وَلاَ يَضِيعُوا بِحَضْرَتِكُمْ. وَااللهَ االلهَ فِي جِيرَانِكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ وَصِيَّةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ، مَا زَالَ يُوصِي بِهِـمْ حَتَّىٰ ظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُمْ. وَااللهَ االلهَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ، لاَ يَسْبِقْكُمْ بِالْعَمَلِ بِهِ غَيْرُكُم.

وَااللهَ االلهَ فِي الصَّـلاَةِ، فَإِنَّهَا عَمُودُ دِينِكُمْ.

وَااللهَ االلهَ فِي بَيْتِ رَبِّكُمْ، لاَ تُخَلُّوهُ مَا بَقِيتُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ تُرِكَ لَمْ تُناظَرُوا.

وَااللهَ االلهَ فِي الْجِهَادِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ االلهِ. وَعَلَيكُمْ بِالتَّوَاصُلِ وَالتَّبَـاذُلِ، وَإيَّـاكُمْ وَالتَّدَابُرَ وَالتَّقَاطُعَ. وَلاَ تَتْرُكُوا الأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ فَيُوَلَّىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ شِـرَارُكُمْ، ثُـمَّ تَدْعُونَ فَلاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَكُمْ.ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِب! لاَ أَلْفَيَنَّكُمْ تَخُوضُونَ دِمَاءَ الْمُسلِمِينَ خَوْضاً؛ تَقُولُونَ: قُتِـلَ أَمِـيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَلاَ لاَ يُقْتَلَنَّ بِي إِلاَّ قَاتِلِي.

أُنْظُرُوا إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ مِنْ ضَرْبَتِهِ هٰذِهِ فَاضْرِبُوهُ ضَرْبَةً بِضَرْبَةٍ وَلاَ يُمَثَّلُ بِالرَّجُلِ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ االلهِ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: «إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْمُثْلَةَ وَلَـوْ بِالْكَلْـبِ الْعَقُورِ.»

Ali’s Compassion Towards His Killer

1005) It is reported that after the accursed Ibn Muljam had fatally struck him, ‘Ali (‘a) said:
Give him [the assassin] food and water. Relax his shackles. If I survive I am the one entitled either to pardon him or seek just punishment. If I do not survive, and if you choose to execute him, do not trample his body. 7

بِالإِسْنَادِ، أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ فِي ابْنِ مُلْجَمٍ بَعْدَ مَا ضَرَبَهُ: أَطْعِمُوهُ وَاسْقُوهُ وَأَحْسِـنُوا أَسَارَهُ، فَإِنْ عِشْتُ فَأَنا وَلِيُّ دَمِي؛ أَعْفُو إِنْ شِئْتُ وَإِنْ شِئْتُ اسْتَقَدْتُ. وَإِنْ مِتُّ فَقَتَلْتُمُـوهُ فَـلاَ تُمَثِّلوا.

1006) Imam ‘Ali (‘a) told his son Imam al-Hasan (‘a):
O Hasan, do not blindfold the assassin. Feed him from my food. Offer him the water which you had kept for me. I shall decide on the matter if I survive. If I die and you decide to execute him, then give a single similar blow. Do not trample his body [after execution], for I have heard the Prophet say: ‘Do not trample anybody, even though it may be an aggressive, rabid mad dog.’8

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ لِلْحَسَنِ: يَا حَسَنُ! أَبْصِرُوا ضَارِبِي؛ أَطْعِمُوهُ مِنْ طَعَامِي وَاسْقُوهُ مِـنْ شَرَابِي. فَإِنْ أَنَا عِشْتُ فَأَنَا أَوْلَىٰ بِحَقِّي، وَإِنْ مِتُّ فَاضْرِبُوهُ ضَرْبَةً. وَلاَ تُمَثِّلُوا بِهِ، فَـإِنِّي سَـمِعْتُ رَسُولَ االلهِ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: «إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْمُثْلَةَ وَلَوْ بِالْكَلْبِ الْعَقُورِ.»

1007). Imam ‘Ali (‘a) told his son Imam al-Hasan (‘a):
O son, kill my killer, but beware of trampling, because the Messenger of God (S) detested it even for rabid mad dogs.9

قَالَ لِلْحَسَنِ ابْنِهِ: يَا بُنَيَّ! أُقْتُلْ قَاتِلِي، وَإِيَّاَك وَالْمُثْلَةَ، فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ االلهِ صَلَّىٰ االلهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ كَرِهَهَا وَلَوْ بِالْكَلْبِ الْعَقُورِ.

• 1. Bisharat Al-Mustafa, p. 125; Ithabt al-Hudah, vol. 1, p. 483.
• 2. Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 61.
• 3. Bahj Al-Sibaghah, vol. 4, p. 542; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 2, p. 222; Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 60.
• 4. ‘Uyun Akhbar Al-Ridha, vol. 1, p. 303; Bisharat Al-Mustafa, p. 220; Ithbat al-Hudah, vol. 1, p. 265.
• 5. Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 40, p. 199; Al-Fusul Al-Mi’ah, vol. 5, p. 409.
• 6. Nahj al-Balagha, p. 968; Al-Saleh, p. 421; Rawdhat Al-Wa’izin, p. 136; Tuhaf al-‘Uqul, p. 135.
• 7. Ihqaq Al-Haqq, vol. 8, p. 569.
• 8. Al-Fusul Al-Mi’ah, vol. 5, p. 490; Al-Fusul Al-Muhimmah, p. 136.
• 9. This hadith doesn’t appear in the original Farsi text. [Note of the Al-Islam.org team].