The Nonexistent Wasiyyah (Will) Regarding Succession

We often see the Shia's argue that the Prophet (pbuh) explicitly mentioned the succession of Imam Ali (as) at Ghadir Khumm. However, this idea of hereditary succession was not supported by any explicit text. 

Sharif Murtadha in his book Al-Shafi:
Abbas bin Abd al-Muttalib spoke to Amir Al-Muminin (Ali bin Abi Talib) during the illness of the Prophet (peace be upon him), so that he asks the Prophet, who will be in charge of affairs after him, and that if it is for us (Ahl al-Bayt) he should reveal it; and if it is for some other people, he entrust it to us. The leader of the faithful (Ali) said, we went to the Messenger of Allah when his illness became serious and we said O Messenger of Allah, choose a successor for us, He said. “No, I fear that you will be divided regarding him, as the children of Israel became divided over Harun, but if Allah knows any goodness in you, He will choose for you (a leader).

Further, another version of the hadith which supports Imam Ali's (as) belief in Shura during the process:

“No, we did go to the Prophet of Allah and said,” Appoint (for us a leader), and he said” No, I fear that you will be divided on his affairs, as Harun, but if Allah finds any good in your hearts, he will choose for you’ They requested him to point to someone, but he did not . They then said to him,” If we lost you, we will not lose giving our oath of allegiance to Hassan. He said, “I do not command, nor prevent you, you can discern better”. 
Murtada: Al-Shafi, vol. 3 p. 295, Tathbit Dala'il al-Nubuwwah, vol.1 p. 212

This was  during the process of the Caliphate of Imam Hassan (as) when the Muslims came to him after the strike of Abdul Rahman bin Muljan on him, and requested him to appoint his son Hassan after him (as the leader).

We even have similar narrations in our books stating:

"They said to caliph Ali: Will you not appoint a successor? he said: No, but I leave you as the apostle of Allah left you. "
-Haythami in Mujama’a al Zawa’ed; "Sahih"

"They said to Ali: Will you not appoint a successor? He said: The Prophet PBUH did not appoint a successor  so that I may do so, If Allah wishes that something good happens to you  then he will make you all gather around the best (Man) amongst you just  like he made them gather around the best Man (i.e Abu bakr) after their  prophet PBUH."

-Al haythami in Mujama’a al Zawa’ed; "Sahih"

Narrated by Ibn Abbas:

 `Ali bin Abi Talib came out of the house of the Prophet (S.A.W.) during his fatal ailment. The people asked (`Ali), "O Abu Hasan! How is the health of Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) this morning?" `Ali said, "This morning he is better, with the grace of Allah." Al-`Abbas held `Ali by the hand and said, "Don't you see him (about to die)? By Allah, within three days you will be the slave of the stick (i.e., under the command of another ruler). By Allah, I think that Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) will die from his present ailment, for I know the signs of death on the faces of the offspring of `Abdul Muttalib. So let us go to Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) to ask him who will take over the Caliphate. If the authority is given to us, we will know it, and if it is given to somebody else we will request him to recommend us to him. " `Ali said, "By Allah! If we ask Allah's Messenger (S.A.W) for the rulership and he refuses, then the people will never give it to us. Besides, I will never ask Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) for it."-Bukhari

But wait, I thought Imam Ali (as) was already the appointed successor at Ghadeer? Why is he asking the Prophet (S.A.W.) for rulership if the Prophet (S.A.W.) had already appointed him? 

In fact, Sharif Murtadha goes even further and states that the event of Ghadir itself is unclear about succession:

“We do not claim absolute knowledge in the text (above), neither for ourselves nor against our opponents, and we do not know of any of our people who claim that." (Murtada: Al-Shafi, vol 2 p. 128)


Another proof regarding Imam Ali's (as) acceptance of the Shura and the right of the Ummah to elect its leader:
“What is obligatory in the laws of Allah and Islam is that the Muslims, of if their leader dies or is killed, they should not perform any act nor innovate something, nor move in order to do something new, unless they choose for themselves a chaste leader, who is learned, scrupulous, and well-versed in the legal and traditional matters.”

-Majlisi: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 8 p. 555 

Even in the Sermon of Shaqshaqiya, Imam Ali (as) does describe himself the most deserving of the caliphate based on his closeness to the Prophet (pbuh), but never does he (as) point to any existence of any wasiyyah from the Prophet (pbuh) or even mentions the event of Ghadir in regard to the Prophet (pbuh) specifying him as the successor. If the event of Ghadir was so important which the Shia's claim, Imam Ali (as) would have referred to it in clear terms. In fact, here's a narration from Al-Hasan ibn Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Talib (as) regarding this:

 "Hadn't the messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Whoever's mawla I am, then Ali is his mawla"? He said, "Yes, but by Allah, the Messenger did not intend by that the position of leadership and power. If he wanted that, he would have said it outright. Allah's messenger (PBUH) was more straightforward and the best adviser to the Muslims, if he wanted to say this, he would have said, "This is the one who will administer your affairs and look after you after me, so listen to him and obey." By Allah, if Allah and His messenger had picked Ali, Allah would have facilitated his position for him. If Ali did not step up to that position, Ali would have been the first one to disobey Allah and His messenger."

-Ibn Katheer in al-Bidayah wal Nihayah 9/178 and al-Haythami in al-Sawa’eq al-Muhriqa p346:

al-Mezzi said in Tahtheeb al-Kamal 6/88: “And this is from the highest and most authentic Isnads."

 “Did not the Messenger of Allah say to Ali: ‘If i am Mawla of someone, Ali is his Mawla?’” He (Al Hasan) replied, “By Allah, if he meant by that Amirate and rulership, he would have been more explicit to you in expressing that, just as he was explicit to you about the Salah, Zakat and Hajj to the House. He would have said to you, ‘Oh people! This is your leader after me.’ The Messenger of Allah gave the best good counsel to the people (i.e. clear in meaning). “If it is like what you say, that Ali was chosen for this after the Prophet (pbuh), then he would be the most flawed from all the people, because he didn't do as the Prophet (pbuh) commanded.”
(Source: Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Volume 5) Similar is present in Ibn `Asakir (volume 4, page 166) and (awaasim min qawaasim page 115).

Ibn  Sa’d:
In a discussion between a Rafidhi and supposedly Hasan ibn Al-Hasan:
فقال له الرافضي ألم يقل رسول الله عليه السلام لعلي من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه؟ فقال أما والله أن لو يعني بذلك الامرة والسلطان لأفصح لهم بذلك كما أفصح لهم بالصلاة والزكاة وصيام رمضان وحج البيت ولقال لهم أيها الناس هذا وليكم من بعدي 
The Rafidhi said: ‘Did not the Messenger of Allah (saw) say to Alee (a.s): “Whomever I am his Master (Mawla) then Alee is his Master (Mawla)?”‘ He said: ‘By Allah (swt), if he meant by that the leadership, then he should have clarified that, like he clarified the issue of Salat and Zakat and fasting in Ramadan and the Hajj of the House. He should have rather said: “O people this is your Master (Wali) after me”‘.
Source: Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d. Vol. 7, Pg. # 314.

Al-Baqi

A rare picture of the shrine at Al-Baqi before it was destroyed by the Wahabi regime. Where is the love for the Pure Family of the Prophet (pbuh)? Now, all we have is this:

One word: despicable

Shiachat Members Already Respond To My Blog

I have just recently started this blog a few days ago, and it already seems it is gaining notice within the Shiachat community. The title of the topic at Shiachat: "Another Sunni Claims They Love Ahlulbayt (as) More."

The 12rs like to monopolize the term "Ahlulbayt" for themselves. They encourage us to love the Ahl Al Bayt  (as), but the reality is, there is a condition. We have to become 12r Shias and separate the love of some of the closest companions of the Prophet (pbuh), Abu Bakr (ra), Umar (ra), and Uthman (ra). If you do not convert into 12r Shiaism, they become irritated and claim you follow the enemies of the Ahl Al Bayt (as) and will brand you with the term "nasibi."If we take a look at a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Al Khoei, he goes on to say that all non-12rs (even including other shia sects) are Muslims in the Dunya and kaffirs in the Akhira:

"We had already spoke about The Najasah(uncleanliness) of all the teams who differ with the Twelver Shias and their Tahara. And in brief that denying the Wilayah for ''all'' the Imams PBUT or ''some of them'''' is like denying the message and it brings Kufr and Najasah? Or that Denying The Wilayah necessarily means leaving Iman (Belief) with the Hukm of his Islam and Tahara. What is popular amongst the scholars Is the Tahara of those who differ with us Although the author of the book "Al Hada'eq" May Allah sanctify his secret has attributed to the modern scholars like al Sayyed al murtada that it was popular amongst them That those who differ are Kouffar and Najis even the ''other'' Shia teams(1). What we can use to prove the Najasah of those who differ with us is divided into three parts, Firstly what we Read in Countless and plenty of Narrations that those who differ with the Imams are Kouffar."

"And thus Other Shia teams like Zaidiyah, Kisaniyah, Ismaliyah and others their ruling is the same as that of those who differ with us because there is no difference between denying Wilayah of the Imams altogether and between accepting it for ''some ''Imams and denying it for other Imams, and it was mentioned that he who denies'' one'' denies'' all'', and I know that Denying this Wilayah does not mean Kufr or Najasah nor does denying Wilayah for some of the Imams, What is correct is The Tahara of all those who differ with the Twelver Shia and their Islam Based on what is ''Apparent'' Although ÍN REALITY They are All Kouffar and we have called them Muslims in The Dunyah and Kaffirs on The Day of judgement."

-Source: kitab al tahara, Khoei, 2/87.
sheikh Muhammad Hassan Jawahiri in his book "Jawahir al-kalam" 6/67 quoted hadith:

ان الزيدية والواقفة والنصاب بمنزلة واحدة
"Zaydiya, Waqifiyah and Nawaseeb are at the same level".


This is hardly a surprising reaction. This makes me think of a verse in the Holy Quran:

"And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper." (2:120)

As Muslims, we believe in the Prophets Isa (as) and Musa (as) and love them as one of the major Prophets (as) of Allah (swt). Just because we claim that Isa (as) isn't the Son of God, does this take our love away from him (as)? Absolutely not. So how come the Shia's claim that we are enemies of  the Ahl Al Bayt (as) just because we don't follow 12r Shiaism or because we love the companions? 

MashAllah, Sheikh Ninowy (May Allah Preserve Him) has said it beautifully in his speech (5:40 in the video):

"We Ahl Al Sunnah Wal Jammah do not see any difference between loving the Sahaba (ra) and loving the Ahl Al Bayt (as). For a Sahaba (ra) and Ahl Al Bayt (as) love each other so dearly."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Cl4TRQJ6r0M


Update:

After doing more research on some of the claims that they made regarding letter 6 in Nahjul Balagha where  Imam Ali (as) says to Muawiyah that the 3 calipahs were legit rulers, and their supporters gave him bayah.

Al Khoei a major 12er dismisses this sermon by saying
نصر: عمر بن سعد، عن نمير بن وعلة، عن عامر الشعبي

Two of narrators in chain are Mahjool (Unknown)

1st narrator in the chain is Amr as-Sha'abi and he is liar and enemy of Imam Ali
http://www.al-khoei.us/books/index.php?id=7469

Now if Al Khoei says that this sermon contains the enemy of Imam Ali (as) then what about sermon of ash-Shiqshiqiyyah which they supposedly claim dismisses the 3 calipahs. In fact it was Shaykh Saduq who presented this chain for ash-Shiqshiqiyyah

Muhammad ibn `Ali Majilawayh related this sermon to us and he took it from his uncle Muhammad ibn Abi'l-Qasim and he from Ahmad ibn Abi `Abdillah (Muhammad ibn Khalid) al-Barqi and he from his father and he from (Muhammad) Ibn Abi `Umayr and he from Aban ibn `Uthman and he from Aban ibn Taghlib and he from `Ikrimah and he from Ibn `Abbas. (`Ilal ash-shara'i`, vol.1, chap.122, p.l46; Ma`ani al-akhbar, chap.22, p.361)

Now the narrator Ikramah is also an enemy of Imam Ali (as). He too was a Nasibi so why the double standards ?

In sermon 92 Imam Ali (as) recommends the Muslims to appoint another Calipah and he in fact say to I will obey him.

This sermon disturbs the 12er/Dozeners because they believe a Calipah can only be among the 12 and the term obey is only used for the 12. They further go and dismiss the sermon by saying..

This sermon is taken from Sunni sources and it is weak - History of Tabari 3/456 (Does not exist in Shia sources)

Sayf bin Umar is in the chain!

كتب إلي السري عن شعيب عن سيف عن محمد وطلحة قالا

Now the 12er say this is weak because of Saif bin Umar. On the contrary, when they claim that Umar (ra) made threats to burn down the house of Bibi Fatima (sa) they have no issues with the narrator in the chain who is Sayf bin Umar. How ironic!

12 Caliphs & The Caliphate Will Last For 30 Years

We often see the Shia's use the hadith of the twelve caliphs in order to prove the imamate of the 12 Imams (as):

Narrated Jabir bin Samura: I heard Muhammad saying, "There will be twelve Muslim rulers." He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, "All of them (those rulers) will be from Quraish.-Bukhari

It has been reported on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said: I went with my father to the Messenger of Allah (may peeace be upon him) and I heard him say: This religion would continue to remain powerful and dominant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then he added something which I couldn't catch on account of the noise of the people. I asked my father: What did he say? My father said: He has said that all of them will be from the Quraish.-Muslim

The Prophet said: "There will be after me twelve Amir (Prince/Ruler), all of them from Quraysh."-Tirmidhi

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "The affairs of people will continue to be conducted (well) as long as they are governed by the twelve men."-Muslim

“Verily this matter [of rule] shall [remain] in Quraysh so long as when they are asked for mercy, they show mercy, when they rule, they are just, and when they distribute, they are equitable, so whoever from them does not do this, then upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels and all of humankind, and compulsory acts and voluntary acts will not be accepted from him.” (Ahmad, al-Bazzar and al-Tabrani narrated and the narrators of Ahmad are trustworthy as [mentioned] in Majma’ al-Zawa’id (5:193))

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: People are the followers of Quraish in good as well as evil (i. e. in the customs of Islamic as well as pre-Islamic times).

Firstly, the hadiths are talking about caliphs/amirs, which equates to rulers over the Muslim world. None of the twelve Imams (as) but Imam Ali (as) and Imam Hassan (as) were actual rulers. So already, we can  deduce that this hadith is not talking about the 12 Imams of the Shias. Secondly, the hadith does not state that these rulers will be infallible, divinely appointed, will come successively, or from the Ahl Al Bayt (as). All it states is that they will be from the tribe of Quraish and that Islam will be dominant and powerful during their rule. Was Islam strong during the time of the Imams? Is Islam strong right now in the absence of the 12th Imam? Moreover, if this is the hadith that the Shia's are trying to deduce their concept of imamate from, how come the Prophet (pbuh) never hinted about this hadith at the event of Ghadeer? How come he (pbuh) didn't say that Ali (as) was the first of the twelve if the hadith is talking about them? Furthermore, there are more than 12 Imams from the Ahl Al Bayt (as), and I do not see why the Shia only limit it to twelve. There were many great Imams from the Ahl Al Bayt (as) such as Imam Zayd (as), Imam Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya (as), Imam Ismael bin Jaffar (as), and Imam Esa bin Zayd (as) only to name a few. Lastly, if this hadith is referring to the 12 Imams (as), how come the Prophet (pbuh) never named them? It would be only fitting to tell the ummah, especially at Ghadeer or the Farewell Sermon on who their rulers would be in order to avoid confusion. If this is a matter of usul/foundations of deen which is supposedly HIGHER than Prophethood (which the shia's claim), the Prophet (pbuh) would have named all the Imams in explicit and great detail. Yet, we see in the history of the Shia, after the death of each Imam, a number of  sects and sub sects arose just over the confusion on who the next Imam would be. Lastly, how come Imam Ali (as) or any of the other Imams (as) never used this hadith to justify their right to the caliphate? 

Nonetheless, Alhamdulillah, we have hadiths where the Prophet (pbuh) himself PROPHESIED the caliphate of the Khulafa al-Rashidun (ra):

"The Prophetic khilaafah will last for thirty years. Then Allaah will give the dominion to whomever He wills."-Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, reported by Abu Dawud and Al-Haakim; declared "Sahih" by Imam al-Albaani (ra)

"The khilaafah after me in my Ummah will last for thirty years. Then there will be kingship after that."Reported in the Musnad Imaam Ahmad, by at-Tirmidhi, Musnad Abi Ya'laa, and Ibn Hibbaan;  "Saheeh"by Imaam al-Albaani (ra)

"The Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wills it to be. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be the khilaafah upon the Prophetic methodology. And it will last for as long as Allaah wills it to last. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be biting kingship, and it will remain for as long as Allaah wills it to remain. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be tyrannical (forceful) kingship and it will remain for as long as Allaah wills it to remain. Then He will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be a khilaafah upon the Prophetic methodology."-Silsilah as-Saheehah of Imaam al-Albani; "Sahih"

"Al-Nauman ibn Basheer told us: The Prophet PBUH said: ‘Prophethood will remain in you for as long as God decides for it to remain and then God will remove it when He decides to remove it. After Prophet hood, there will be a Caliphate on the style of prophethood and it will exist for as long as God decides for it to exist, then He will remove it when He decides to remove it. Then there will be a kingdom in which people will face trials and tribulations and it will continue to exist for as long as God decides for it to exist. Then He will remove it, when He decides to remove it. After this, there will be an oppressive kingdom and it will continue to exist for as long as God decides for it to exist. Then He will remove it, when He decides to remove it. Then there will once again be a rule on the style of prophet hood. After saying this, the Prophet (pbuh) was silent."Takhreej Mishat al Masabih #5306; Sahih

Hudhayfah son of Al-Yaman reported that the Messenger of Allah sallalluhu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Prophethood (meaning himself) will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain, then Allah will raise it up whenever he wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood remaining with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, he will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a reign of oppressive (The reign of Muslim kings who are partially unjust) rule and it will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, there will be a reign of tyrannical rule and it will remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, Allah will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Then, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood." Then Hudhayfah said, "The Prophet stopped speaking."-As-Sililah As Sahihah

If we have a look at the caliphate of Abu Bakr (ra), Umar (ra), Uthman (ra), Ali (as), and if you add Imam Hassan's (as) rule of 6 months, you will clearly see that it becomes 30 years. These narrations show that there is no such thing as 12 divinely appointed Imams (as) after the Prophet (pbuh) ruling over the ummah. If there were, the Prophet (S.A.W.) would have mentioned them.