Introduction

God is One and Only

Abandoning the Present to Attain the Promised

Oppressive Characteristics

Characteristics Rooted in Love for Religion

One Characteristic for Five Characteristics

A Characteristic for a Characteristic

A Saving Characteristic

The Loftiest Characteristic of the Religion

No Two Things Combined which are Better than the Combination of Two Characteristics

A Characteristic that is the Honor of This World and the Hereafter

The Most Knowledgeable Person Is One who Combines One Characteristic with Another One

There Is One True Prosperity And One True Misery

A Characteristic for Which the People Deserve to be Rewarded or Punished

A Characteristic that Is the Noblest Holy War

The Hardest Thing is One Characteristic that Cannot Be Avoided Unless We Abandon Another Characteristic

A Believer’s Honor Is in One Characteristic and His Glory Is In Another Characteristic

One Characteristic Is the Key to All Evil

A Characteristic Due to Justice

A Characteristic Due to Which We Are Interested in How Others Judge About Us

Seek Nearness to God with One Characteristic

God Has Not Tested the Servants with Anything Harder Than One Characteristic

A Characteristic that Is the Result of Being Kind

A Characteristic that Stabilizes One’s Faith and One that Makes Him Lose His Faith

A Characteristic that Destroys a Believer’s Dignity

A Good Characteristic Which No Other Characteristic Is Better Than, and a Bad Characteristic That No Other Characteristic Is Worse Than

A Characteristic That Guarantees Who Will Not Become Poor

The Form of Chivalry of the Members of the Holy Household

A Characteristic Due to One’s Chivalry

A Characteristic that Is Not Good for a Dignified Man

God Loves One Characteristic and Despises One Characteristic

One Who has This Characteristic Would Not Be Thankful for Blessings

A Characteristic Due to Humbleness

A Characteristic that Is Close to Blasphemy and A Characteristic that Might Change Destiny

A Characteristic that Destroyed Previous Nations

Martyrdom Is Expiation for Every Sin Except for One’s Debt

God the Almighty Has Sent Muhammad (sw) and His Nation a Gift That He Has Not Given to Any Other Nation

A Characteristic that One Should Have If He Wants to Increase Goodness in His House

God Will Look at Whom He Likes. Once He Looks at Him, He Shall Grant Him One of Three Gifts

The Hereafter is the Wedding of the Pious Ones

A Characteristic That is Like its Opposite

The Most Wicked People Are Those Who Are Respected for Possessing One Characteristic

A Characteristic in This World is Abstinence, and a Characteristic That is Gratitude for all Blessings

Nothing Deserves to Be Restrained More Than the Tongue

Whoever Raises his Aspirations Does Wrong

Good Deeds Are Recorded for a Muslim as Long as He Remains Quiet

A Characteristic Having Which Will Result in God Saving You From the Fear of the Hereafter

The Most Intelligent Characteristic

The Most Pious, the Best Worshipping, the Most Ascetic and the Most Hard-Working People

Becoming Sorry Is the Same as Repenting

Whoever Earns More Than His Meals fom This World

A Characteristic That Deserves to Be Willed

A Characteristic That Causes One to Be Thrown Out and a Characteristic That Causes One to Be Joined

Lofty Characteristics and Bad Characteristics for the People of the World

There Is No Honor Except Through One Characteristic. There Is No Nobility Except Through Another Characteristic

When God Loves a Servant He Will Make Him Suffer from a Great Calamity

A Characteristic That Leads to Hemorrhoids

A Hand on Which There Is an Iron Ring Is Not Clean

Do Not Respond to Whoever Talks Before He Greets You

A Characteristic That if Practiced Implies Despise for Muhammad’s Religion

Only One of the Proverbs of the Prophets Has Remained

When God Wishes a Servant Well, He Will Expedite His Punishment in This World, and When He Wishes Someone Bad, He Will Procrastinate His Punishment

Be Patient with the Enemies of the Blessings

The Prophet (sw) and Ali Ibn Abi Talib Were Created from the Same Root

A Characteristic That is Gratitude for All Blessings

Religion Is the Same as Love

When Two Believers Shake Hands They Shall Depart from Each Other Void of Any Sins

A Characteristic That Revives the Hearts

A Characteristic That Revives the Affairs of the Almighty God’s Proofs

God the Almighty Has Not Created Anything More Delightful Than This Characteristic

A Characteristic That Constitutes Nine-Tenths of Religion

Whoever is Pleased with His Destiny or is Displeased with it

A Characteristic for Which Even Red-Haired Camels Are Not Loved

A Characteristic That Increases the Daily Bread

A Characteristic That Leads to Hypocrisy and Poverty

The First Gift Given to a Believer Due to a Characteristic

A Characteristic for Which One Who Has No Good Deeds is Forgiven on the Resurrection Day

A Characteristic That is the Root of All Sins

How Awkward It Is If a Man Enters Heaven Having Lost His Honor

A Characteristic Doing Which Will Cause the Almighty God to Have Mercy Upon You

A Characteristic Doing Which Will Cause Increased Good for One’s House

On Him Whose Health Has Overcome His Illness but He Treats Himself and Dies

A Characteristic Which a Believer Avoids

Nothing Ruins Faith as Much as One Characteristic Does

One Who Lives to See his Successor Is Prosperous

A Believer’s Honor is More Than That of the Ka’ba

It Suffices for a Believer to See God’s Aid in the Form of His Enemies Engaged in the Almighty God’s Disobedience

A Gift Will Eliminate Animosities

Prosperous Be the One Who is Indifferent

A Characteristic That Will Make One Poor in the Hereafter

A Group of People Who Are the Masters of Heaven

God’s Prophet Made His Ablutions One Organ at a Time

The Characteristic That Is the Best Goodness

The Prophet Put off His Special Prayer for One Characteristic

A Characteristic That is the Best Form of Worshipping and a Characteristic That is the Noblest Form of Being Religious

What Is A Lot but Its Doers Are A Few

A Characteristic That Constitutes Half of the Religion

A Characteristic That is the Best Thing Given to a Muslim

The Prophet and Ali Ibn Abi Talib Were Created from One Light

A Servant’s Well-Being Depends Upon the Well-Being of One of His Organs

22-30 حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان قال: حدثنا عبدالرحمن بن محمد الحسني قال: حدثنا أبوجعفر محمد بن حفص الخثعمي قال: حدثنا الحسن بن عبدالواحد قال: حدثني أحمد بن التغلبي قال: حدثني أحمد بن عبدالحميد قال: حدثني حفص ابن منصور العطار قال: حدثنا أبوسعيد الوراق، عن أبيه، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام قال: لما كان من أمر أبي بكر وبيعة الناس له وفعلهم بعلي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام ما كان لم يزل أبوبكر يظهر له الانبساط ويرى منه انقباضا فكبر ذلك على أبي بكر فأحب لقاءه واستخراج ما عنده والمعذرة إليهلما اجتمع الناس عليه وتقليدهم إياه أمر الامة وقلة رغبته في ذلك وزهده فيه، أتاه في وقت غفلة وطلب منه الخلوة، وقال له: والله يا أبا الحسن ما كان هذا الامر مواطاة مني، ولا رغبة فيما وقعت فيه، ولا حرصا عليه ولا ثقة بنفسي في ما تحتاج إليه الامة ولا قوة لي لمال ولا كثرة العشيرة ولا ابتزاز له دون غيري فمالك تضمر علي ما لم أستحقه منك وتظهر لي الكراهة فيما صرت إليه وتنظر إلي بعين السأمة منيقال: فقال له عليه السلام: فما حملك عليه إذا لم ترغب فيه ولا حرصت لعيه ولا وثقت بنفسك في القيام به، وبما يحتاج منك فيه؟فقال أبوبكر: حديث سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله "إن الله لا يجمع امتي على ضلال." ولما رأيت اجتماعهم اتبعت حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وأحلت أن يكون اجتماعهم على خلاف الهدى وأعطيتهم قود الاجابة ولو علمت أن أحدا يتخلف لامتنعتقال: فقال علي عليه السلام: أما ما ذكرت من حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وآله "إن الله لا يجمع امتي على ضلال" أفكنت من الامة أو لم أكن؟قال: بلىقال: وكذلك العصابة الممتنعة عليك من سلمان وعمار وأبي ذر والمقداد وابن عبادة ومن معه من الانصار؟قال: كل من الامةفقال علي عليه السلام: فكيف تحتج بحديث النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وأمثال هؤلاء قد تخلفوا عنك وليس للامة فيهم طعن ولا في صحبة الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله ونصيحته منهم تقصير؟قال: ما علمت بتخلفهم إلا من بعد إبرام الامر وخفت إن دفعت عني الامر أن يتفاقم إلى أن يرجع الناس مرتدين عن الدين وكان ممارستكم إلي إن أجبتم أهون مؤونة على الدين وأبقى له من ضرب الناس بعضهم ببعض فيرجعوا كفارا، وعلمت أنك لست بدوني في الابقاء عليهم وعلى أديانهمقال علي عليه السلام: أجل ولكن أخبرني عن الذي يستحق هذا الامر بما يستحقه؟فقال أبو بكر: بالنصيحة، والوفاء، ورفع المداهنة والمحاباة، وحسن السيرة، وإظهار العدل، والعلم بالكتاب والسنة وفصل الخطاب، مع الزهد في الدنيا وقلة الرغبة فيها وانصاف المظلوم من الظالم القريب والبعيد. ثم سكتفقال علي عليه السلام: أنشدك بالله يا أبا بكر أفي نفسك تجد هذه الخصال أم في؟قال: بل فيك يا أبا الحسنقال: أنشدك بالله أنا المجيب لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قبل ذكران المسلمين أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الاذان لاهل الموسم ولجميع الامة بسورة براءة أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا وقيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله بنفسي يوم الغار أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: أنشدك بالله ألي الولاية من الله مع ولاية رسول الله في آية زكاة الخاتم أم لك؟قال: بل لكقال: أنشدك بالله أنا المولى لك ولكل مسلم بحديث النبي صلى الله عليه وآله يوم الغدير أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: أنشدك بالله ألي الوزارة من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله والمثل من هارون من موسى أم لك؟قال: بل لكقال فأنشدك بالله أبي برز رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، وبأهل بيتي وولدي في مباهلة المشركين من النصارى أم بك وبأهلك وولدك؟قال: بل بكمقال: فأنشدك بالله ألي ولاهلي وولدي آية التطهير من الرجس أم لك ولاهل بيتك؟قال: بل لك ولاهل بيتكقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا صاحب دعوة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وأهلي وولدي يوم الكساء "اللهم هؤلاء أهلي إليك لا إلى النار" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنت وأهلك وولدكقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا صاحب الآية "يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الفتى الذي نودي من السماء "لا سيف إلا ذو الفقار ولا فتى إلا علي" أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي ردت له الشمس لوقت صلاته فصلاها ثم توارت أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي حباك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله برايته يوم خيبر ففتح الله له أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي نفست عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله كربته وعن المسلمين بقتل عمرو بن عبد ود أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي ائتمنك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله رسالته إلى الجن فأجابت أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: أنشدك بالله أنت الذي طهرك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله من السفاح من آدم إلى أبيك بقوله: "أنا وأنت من نكاح لا من سفاح من آدم إلى عبد المطلب" أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي اختارني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وزوجني ابنته فاطمة وقال: "الله زوجك" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله وأنا والد الحسن والحسين ريحانتيه اللذين قال فيهما: "هذان سيدا شباب أهل الجنة وأبوهما خير منهما" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أخوك المزين بجناحين في الجنة ليطير بهما مع الملائكة أم أخي؟قال: بل أخوكقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا ضمنت دين رسول الله وناديت في الموسم بانجاز موعده أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي دعاه رسول الله لطير عنده يريد أكله فقال: "اللهم ائتني بأحب خلقك إليك بعدي" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي بشرني رسول الله بقتال الناكثين والقاسطين والمارقين على تأويل القرآن أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي شهدت آخر كلام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ووليت غسله ودفنه أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي دل عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله بعلم القضاء بقوله: " علي أقضاكم" أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنا الذي أمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله أصحابه بالسلام عليه بالامرة في حياته أم أنت؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي سبقت له القرابة من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي حباك الله عز وجل بدينار عند حاجته وباعك جبرئيل وأضفت محمدا صلى الله عليه وآله وأطعمت ولده؟قال: فبكى أبو بكر وقال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي حملك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله على كتفيه في طرح صنم الكعبة وكسره حتى لو شاء أن ينال افق السماء لنالها أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي قال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: "أنت صاحب لوائي في الدنيا والآخرة" أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي أمر رسول الله بفتح بابه في مسجده حين أمر بسد جميع أبواب أصحابه وأهل بيته وأحل له فيه ما أحله الله له أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك الله أنت الذي قدم بين يدي نجوى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله صدقة فناجاه أم أنا إذا عاتب الله عز وجل قوما فقال: أَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَنْ تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَاتٍ فَإِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَتَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ؟قال: بل أنتقال: فأنشدك بالله أنت الذي قال فيه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله لفاطمة عليها السلام: "زوجتك أول الناس إيمانا وأرجحهم إسلاما" في كلام له أم أنا؟قال: بل أنتفلم يزل عليه السلام يعد عليه مناقبه التي جعل الله عز وجل له دونه ودون غيره ويقول له أبو بكر: بل أنتقال: فبهذا وشبهه يستحق القيام بأمور امة محمد صلى الله عليه وآلهفقال له علي عليه السلام: فما الذي غرك عن الله وعن رسوله وعن دينه وأنت خلو مما يحتاج إليه أهل دينه؟قال: فبكى أبو بكر وقال: صدقت يا أبا الحسن، أنظرني يومي هذا، فادبر ما أنا فيه وما سمعت منكقال: فقال له علي عليه السلام: لك ذلك يا أبا بكرفرجع من عنده وخلا بنفسه يومه ولم يأذن لاحد إلى الليل، وعمر يتردد في الناس لما بلغه من خلوته بعلي عليه السلام فبات في ليلته فرأى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله في منامه متمثلا له في مجلسه فقام إليه أبو بكر ليسلم عليه فولى وجهه فقال أبو بكر:يا رسول الله هل أمرت بأمر فلم أفعل؟فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: أرد السلام عليك وقد عاديت الله ورسوله؟! وعاديت من والى الله ورسوله؟! رد الحق إلى أهلهقال: فقلت: من أهله؟قال: من عاتبك عليه وهو عليقال: فقد رددت عليه يا رسول الله بأمركقال: فأصبح وبكى وقال لعلي عليه السلام: ابسط يدك فبايعه وسلم إليه الامر. وقال له: اخرج إلى مسجد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فاخبر الناس بما رأيت في ليلتي وما جرى بيني وبينك فاخرج نفسي من هذا الامر واسلم عليك بالامرةقال: فقال له علي عليه السلام: نعمفخرج من عنده متغيرا لونه، فصادفه عمر وهو في طلبه فقال له: ما حالك يا خليفة رسول الله؟فأخبره بما كان منه وما رأى وما جرى بينه وبين علي عليه السلام. فقال له عمر: أنشدك بالله يا خليفة رسول الله أن تغتر بسحر بني هاشم، فليس هذا بأول سحر منهم فما زال به حتى رده عن رأيه وصرفه عن عزمه ورغبه فيما هو فيه وأمره بالثبات عليه والقيام بهقال: فأتى علي عليه السلام المسجد للميعاد فلم ير فيه منهم أحد فأحس بالشر منهم، فقعد إلى قبر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله فمر به عمر فقال: يا علي، دون ما تروم خرط القتاد. فعلم بالامر وقام ورجع إلى بيته

22-30 Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Qat’tan narrated that Abdul Rahman ibn Muhammad al-Hassani quoted Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Hafs al-Khas’ami, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Abdul Vahid, on the authority of Ahmad ibn al-Taqlabi, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abdul Hameed, on the authority of Hafs ibn Mansoor al-At’tar, on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Var’raq, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (MGB), on the authority of his father (MGB), on the authority of his grandfather (MGB), “When Abu Bakr became the Caliph and the people pledged allegiance to him and abandoned Ali (MGB), Abu Bakr treated Ali (MGB) pleasantly and with a smiling face, but Ali (MGB) did not show happiness. This was hard on Abu Bakr. Therefore, he wanted to visit Ali (MGB) in private, ask him the reason for this, apologize to him for the people having gathered around him and having delegated the task ofCaliphate for him. He wanted to tell Ali (MGB) that he had just obeyed them in accepting the rule over the nation, and that he was not that eager to do so. Thus, Abu Bakr went to see Ali (MGB) in private and said, ‘O Abal-Hassan! I swear by God that I had no plans for the Caliphate nor did I have any desires for it. I am not eager for that position and do not trust myself to be able to fulfill the needs of this nation. I have no wealth or power; do not have a supporter; and I did not want to get it from someone by force. Why are you upset with me? Why do you look upon me with disdain?’ Then Ali (MGB) told him, ‘If you had no desire for the position of Caliphate and you were not sure whether you could carry it out, then why did you accept the responsibility for being the Caliph?’Abu Bakr said, ‘The reason for this was a narration which I had heard from the Prophet (MGB) who said, ‘Indeed God would not let all my nation unite on an issue that opposes guidance’ I accepted the call of the nation. Had I known that there was someone who opposed me, I would not have accepted.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘You cited a narration from the Prophet (MGB) stating ‘Indeed God would not let all my nation unite on an issue that opposes guidance’. But wasn’t I one of the members of this nation or not?’Abu Bakr said, ‘Yes, you were.’Ali (MGB) added, ‘What about the others who opposed you such as Salman, Ammar, Abuzar, Al-Miqdad, Ibn Ebada and those of the Helpers (Ansar) who were with him?’Abu Bakr said, ‘Yes. They were all members of the nation.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘Then how could you rely on that narration from the Prophet (MGB) and the like, while you knew well that the people who opposed you were all of the great companions of the Prophet (MGB)? They are recognized by the nation and have never neglected in wishing well for the cause of the Prophet (MGB).’Abu Bakr said, ‘I did not know at the beginning that they are opposed to me. Later on, after I took charge of the affairs I realized that they are opposed to me. However, I feared that the people might turn back from the religion if I resign. I thought that it would be easier to change your mind and bring you in line with me, rather than have an outbreak of a civil war and some of the people return to atheism. I knew that you are not any less interested in protecting the Muslims and their religion than I am.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘Fine. Can you tell me what attributes should the person who is worthy of the position of Caliphate have?’Abu Bakr said, ‘He should be a well-wisher and loyal person, and he should not be unduly generous. He should be polite, just, knowledgeable of the Book, the traditions and the Divine Decrees. He should abstain from the world with little interest in it. He should take the rights of the oppressed from the oppressors, whether they be his relatives or strangers.’Then Abu Bakr remained silent.Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Do I possess these attributes or do you?’Abu Bakr said, ‘O Abal-Hassan (Ali)! Certainly you possess them.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was it I who accepted the Prophet’s invitation to Islam before anyone else considered Islam or was it you who did this?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was it you who accepted God’s Prophet’s (MGB) call to Islam before any other men or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was it you who recited the Bara’at Chapter (Declaration of Immunity) for the pilgrims and the whole nation during the Hajj season, or was it you who did it?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was it I who sacrificed myself to protect the life of God’s Prophet (MGB) when he (MGB) took refuge in a cave, or was it you who did it?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was it I who is the subject of the following verse regarding giving my ring in charity ‘your real friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship)’ or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was revealed regarding you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Am I the Master of you and all the Muslims according to what God’s Prophet (MGB) said on the Day of Qadir Khum, or you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Am I the Prophet’s vizier and do I have the same rank as Aaron had to Moses (MGB) in relation to the Prophet (MGB), or do you have it?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course for you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Did the Prophet (MGB) take me, my family and my children out for the imprecation of the Christian unbelievers, or did he take you and your family out for the imprecation of the unbelievers?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then, Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was the verse of purity from all abominations ‘…And God only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless’ revealed for me, my family and children, or was it revealed for you and your family?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was revealed for you and the members of your family.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! On the Kasa assembly day did the Prophet (MGB) supplicate for me, my family and my children and say, ‘O God! These are the members of my Family! Please keep them far away from the fire’ or did he supplicate for you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course the Prophet (MGB) supplicated for you, your family and children.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Does the following Quranic verse refer to me ‘They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide’ or does it refer to you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it refers to you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Are you the knight about whom the following was announced from the Heavens ‘There is no sword like Zulfaqar and there is no true knight but Ali’, or me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it refers to you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person who missed his prayer so the sun was returned for you to pray, and then it set, or was it me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person to whom God’s Prophet (MGB) handed his flag on the day of the Battle of the Trench and by whom God brought victory in that Battle, or was I that person?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person who relieved the Prophet’s sorrow by killing Amr ibn ‘Abd Wudd , or was I that person?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person whose leadership of the genies God’s Prophet (MGB) acknowledged and the genies accepted it, or was I that person?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person whose legitimacy the Prophet praised from Adam to his own father by saying ‘Your lineage and mine starting from Adam to Abdul Mutalib and are all the result of wedlock’, or was I that person?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was I the person who was chosen by God’s Prophet (MGB) to whom he (MGB) married off his daughter Fatimah and said, ‘God married you off’, or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Am I the father of Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein who are the two sweet basils of the Prophet (MGB) about whom he (MGB) said, ‘These two are the Masters of the Youth in Paradise. Their father is better than them’, or are you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Is the person who is adorned with two wings with which he flies in Paradise along with the other angels your brother or my brother?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course he is your brother.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was it I who pledged to pay off the Prophet’s obligations and declared that during the Hajj pilgrimage season or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was I the person about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) prayed to ‘O my Lord! Please send me your most beloved creature to share this bird with me’ when he (MGB) wanted to eat a roasted bird, or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was I the person about whom the Prophet (MGB) brought the good news of killing the perfidious party (Nakiseen), the deviators, and the apostates according to the interpretations of the Quran, or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, it was you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was it you who heard the last words of God’s Prophet (MGB), performed his ritual ablutions (wuzu) for the dead, and buried him (MGB) or was it me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Were you the person about whom God’s Prophet said, ‘Ali is the best of the judges amongst you’, or did that refer to me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Was I the person about whom the Prophet (MGB) ordered his companions to call as the Commander of the Faithful during his own lifetime, or was it you?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you closer in ties of kinship to God’s Prophet (MGB), or was I?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person who gave a Dinar to the Prophet (MGB) when he (MGB) needed it and Gabriel pledged allegiance to you? Were you the one who kept the Prophet (MGB) and his family as guests, or was that me?’ Then Abu Bakr cried and said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person whom the Prophet (MGB) put on his shoulders to bring down and break the idols of the Ka’ba and could even extend his hands to the heavens if he willed, or was it me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the one about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘You are the one to uphold my flag in this world and the Hereafter’, or was it me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the one whose door was left open from the mosque when all the other doors of the companions of family members of the Prophet were shut and the Prophet (MGB) allowed what God had allowed for him, or was it me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Ali (MGB) said, ‘I swear to you by God! Was it you who gave charity before having a private consultation with God’s Prophet (MGB), or was it me? It was at that time that the Honorable the Exalted God blamed a group of people and revealed the following verse, ‘Is it that ye are afraid of spending sums in charity before your private consultation (with him)? If, then, ye do not so, and God forgives you, then (at least) establish regular prayer; practise regular charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.’ ’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! I swear to you by God! Were you the person about whom God’s Prophet (MGB) explicitly referred to in what he (MGB) told Fatimah, ‘I married you off to the first person to have believed and his faith is the most superior of all’, or did that refer to me?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Of course, you.’Then Ali (MGB) kept on mentioning the characteristics which the Honorable the Exalted God had given to him and no one else and Abu Bakr kept on saying, ‘Of course, you.’Abu Bakr said, ‘That is right. Such are the required characteristics for one to be in charge of the affairs of the nation of Muhammad (MGB)!’Then Ali (MGB) told him, ‘Then what fooled you so much that you turned away from God, His Prophet (MGB) and His religion? You lack what those who abide by His religion need.’Then Abu Bakr cried and said, ‘O Abal-Hassan!. You are right. Give me today to think about my affairs and what you said.’ Then Ali (MGB) told him, ‘O Abu Bakr! Fine. Do as you wish.’Then Abu Bakr left Ali’s presence. He went home and closed the doors upon himself and did not let anyone come in until night time. Umar kept walking amongst the people, since he had heard that Abu Bakr and Ali had held a private meeting.When Abu Bakr slept he dreamed of the Prophet (MGB) who was sitting in his own place. Abu Bakr rushed to the Prophet (MGB) to greet him, but the Prophet (MGB) turned his face away from him. Abu Bakr asked, ‘O Prophet of God! Have you issued any orders which I have not followed?’ God’s Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘You want me to greet you back even though you act against God and His Prophet? And even though you act against the one who is the friend of God and His Prophet? Return the right to its possessor!’ Abu Bakr asked, ‘Who is its possessor?’ The Prophet (MGB) answered, ‘It is the same person who blamed you. It is Ali.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘O Prophet of God! I shall entrust the Caliphate to him according to your orders.’Then when the morning came Abu Bakr cried and told Ali (MGB), ‘Give me your hand.’ Then Abu Bakr pledged allegiance to him and entrusted the Caliphate to him and told him (MGB), ‘I shall go to the Prophet’s mosque, inform the people about the dream I had last night and tell them what was exchanged between me and the Prophet (MGB) in my dream. I shall resign from the position of the Caliphate in the presence of the people and submit the affairs to you.’ Then Ali (MGB) told him, ‘Fine.’Abu Bakr left while he was pale and ran into Umar who was looking for him. Umar told him, ‘O Caliph of God’s Prophet! How are you?’ Then Abu Bakr informed him of what had been exchanged between him and Ali (MGB). Then Umar said, ‘O Caliph of God’s Prophet (MGB)! I swear to you by God not to be deceived by the Hashemites witchcraft! This is not the first time which they have used witchcraft.’ Umar kept tempting him until he changed his mind, gave up his decision, and became inclined to rule. Umar forced him to return and keep his previous position. When Ali (MGB) went to the mosque at the appointed time he (MGB) did not see either one of them and realized their wicked plans. Then he (MGB) went and sat at the grave of God’s Prophet (MGB). Umar passed by and said, ‘O Ali! You will never get what you want.’ Thus, Ali (MGB) realized what he had done. He (MGB) got up and returned home.”

Al-Khiṣāl

Book 23, Chapter 15