1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

126 Questions

Why did Khidhr (as) kill a child for his future crimes whereas Imam Ali (as) did not kill Ibn Muljim despite knowing that he would be his potential assassin on the basis that he had not yet committed that grievous crime?
Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The Prophets (as) and the Imams (as) are commanded to abide by the outward nature of the divine law and for that reason they cannot punish someone before a crime even if they know that crime will be committed.

On the other hand, as is clear from the verses concerning Khidhr, he is not ordered to conform to the same rules and so his responsibility differs from that of the Imams (as). Khidrs actions were not independent of the Will of God and that is why he is not blamed in the Qur'an.

May you always be successful
Did Imam Ali (a) pay allegiance to Abu Bakar at any stage? If so, then what was the reason behind it?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

This question deals with one of the issues which were fabricated to adjust a political agenda to justify the conspiracy of Saqeefah which was a big blunder immediately after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). Even Omar ibn al-Khattab who was the partner of Abu Bakr in Saqeefah called the allegiance to Abu Bakr as a dangerous blunder from its evil Allah Has protected the Muslims, and any one tries to do like it must be killed. ( Saheeh al- Bukhari , Hadeeth 6830, and Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal; 7:431 Hadeeth 37031 and 37032).

It is a well known fact that Imam Ali (AS) rejected the outcome of Saqeefah and refused to give allegiance to Abu Bakr. ( Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim). Some narrations in Sunni books claim that imam Ali (AS) has given allegiance to Abu Bakr after six months. Such narrations are fabricated politically oriented. Imam Ali (AS) has never given allegiance to Abu Bakr despite the tremendous pressure and threatening which he faced from the group of Saqeefah which reached to burning the house on him and his wife Fatimah and all his family if he refuses to give allegiance to Abu Bakr. ( Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah;Hadeeth 36383, and Tareekh al-Tabari;V.2, P. 443, and Ansaari al-Ashraf by al-Balathuri; V.1, P.586 and al-Soyooti in Musnad Fatimah, page 36, and Ibn Qutaiba al-Dinori in Al-Imamah wal Siyaasah , V.1, P.19.and many other Sunni books.

Al-Shaikh al-Mufeed refuted the claim of the opponents that Imam Ali (AS) gave allegiance to Abu Bakr saying: The refusal of Imam Ali to give allegiance to Abu Bakr is undisputed fact among all the scholars, while the claim that he gave allegiance is disputed. His refusal was based on his responsibility to refuse wrong, and this responsibility remained with him always and there is no evidence that wrong has turned to be right. Al-Shaikh Al-Mufeed and our authentic great Ulama has stated that Imam Ali has never given allegiance to Abu Bakr. Obviously, the real leader of all the Faithful can never be a follower of Saqeefah imposed rulers.

Well known Sunni scholar Al-Dhahabi has stated : Ali did not attend any Friday prayer nor congregational prayer with any of the three Caliphs. ( Siyar A'laam al-Nubalaa' 9: 284).

Wassalam.
It is mentioned in a Hadith that Ali is to Muhammad as Aaron was to Moses. But I have heard that actually the successor of Moses was Joshua ibn Nun. Is that correct? If so, how can this be explained?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

When Prophet Haroon (AS) was alive, he was the deputy of Prophet Musa (AS),  and was the partner of Musa in his responsibility and real helper and supporter of Musa, but he passed away during the life of Musa (AS). Had he lived after the passing away of Musa, no one was entitled to succeed Musa but Haroon.

The status of Haroon from Musa is similar to the status of Ali (AS) from Muhammad (SAWA). (Saheeh al-Bukhari; Hadeeth numbers 3430 and 4064.) and Saheeh Muslim; Hadeeth numbers 4416, and 4419 and 4420 and 4421.

Thise understand Quran can obviously see the status Ali (AS) from the Prophet (SAWA) which is superior to all Muslim Ummah.

Wassalam.
 
Were there any similarities in the facts of history between the life and experiences of Prophet Haroon and Ali ibn Abi Talib?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

There are many similarities between Prophet Haroon (AS) and Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS).

1. Prophet Haroon (AS) was the brother of Prophet Musa (AS) while Ali (AS) was the cousin brother and spiritual brother of Prophet Muhammad ( (SAWA) who said to Ali : O Ali, You are my brother in this life (Dunham) and hereafter (Aakhirah). (Al-Mustadrak 'Ala al-Saheehain by al-Haakim al-Nisabori, Hadeeth number 4345).

2. Prophet Haroon (AS) was the partner of Prophet Musa (AS) وأشركه في أمري)( Make him my partner in my responsibilities) in conveying the message of Allah to people and facing the hardships from the enemies, while Ali (AS) was the partner of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in his responsibilities in conveying the message and protecting it.

3. Prophet Haroon (AS) was the main helper of Prophet Musa ( AS) وزيرا, while Ali (AS) was the main helper of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

4. Prophet Haroon was the leader of the followers of Musa when used to leave them, اخلفني في قومي ( Be my deputy in my followers) while Ali (AS) was the deputy of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) who declared : من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه For whom so ever I am the leader, Ali is his leader (al-Tareekh al-Kabeer by al-Bukhari, V. 1, P. 375 and V. 4, P. 193) also ( Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Musnad al-Asharah al-Mubashshareen, Hadeeth numbers 606 and 633 and 906 and 915 and 918 and 1242.

5. Prophet Haroon (AS) suffered from deviation of many of the community of Prophet Musa (AS) when he left them, while Imam Ali (AS) suffered the same and more from those Muslims who deviated from the teachings of the Prophet (SAWA) immediately after him.

6. Prophet Haroon had three sons; Shubbar, Shabbir and Mushabbar while Ali ( AS) had from Lady Fatimah (AS) three sons; Hasan, Husain and Mohsin. These names is similar in Arabic to the names of the sons of Prophet Haroon.

7. Prophet Haroon was tortured by some of the community of Prophet Musa (AS) وكادوا يقتلونني while Imam Ali (AS) was tortured and was near to be killed  by the Saqeefa gang to force him to give allegiance to them. He was ultimately killed by Ibn Muljam.

'Wassalam.