From al-Suddi, from Abd Khayr, from Ali (AS): At the death of the Messenger of God (PBUH) he saw in the people signs of ill omen and folly, so he swore that he would not place a cloak upon his back until he had gathered the Qur'an. He sat in his house until he had gathered the Qur'an. It was thus the first codex in which the Qur'an was collected; he gathered it from his heart. And it remained with the family of Ja'far. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 1, p. 36)
The narrator says: When Ali (AS), after the passing of the Prophet (PBUH), observed light-mindedness and willful obstinacy in some people of the age, he swore an oath that until he had gathered the Qur'an he would not place a cloak upon his shoulders (that is, he would not leave the house except for some essential matter). So he sat at home and compiled the Qur'an. Thus he was the first to collect the Qur'an in a codex, writing it down in the codex from his heart (his memory). And the codex of Ali is preserved to this day with the family of Ja'far.
From Ibn Abbas, who said: When God Most High sent down His words, "For the poor who have been confined in the way of God" [Qur'an 2:273], Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf sent a great many dinars to the People of the Suffa, and Ali ibn Abi Talib sent, in the depth of night, a load of dates. And the dearer of the two charities to God, the Mighty and Majestic, was the charity of Ali ibn Abi Talib—given at night, in secret. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 1, p. 148)
The narrator says: When the verse "For the poor who have been confined in the way of God" [Qur'an 2:273] was revealed concerning the People of the Suffa, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf sent them a great many dinars, and Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) likewise, in the depth of night, sent a quantity of dates. The more beloved of these two charities to God was the charity of Ali (AS), because it was given in secret.
(We note: "Suffa" means a large shelter or bower roofed over with palm branches. The People of the Suffa were poor Emigrants who, having no kin in Medina, were lodged by the Messenger of God (PBUH) in a large roofed area on the northern side of his mosque, called the "Suffa." They numbered four hundred, and their occupation consisted of attending the prayers, learning the religion, and jihad. Some well-known Companions were of this group, such as Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Salman, Bilal, Wathila, Ammar, Miqdad, Ibn Mas'ud, Khabbab ibn al-Aratt, Suhayb al-Rumi, Jabir ibn Abdillah, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Hanzala "he whom the angels washed," Abu Ubayda Amir, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, and Abu Hurayra. The Companions of the Suffa became exemplars of renouncing this world and turning toward the hereafter. The Prophet (PBUH) kept the Companions of the Suffa under his protection, and by keeping their company, sitting with them, and calling them "the guests of Islam," he encouraged the Muslims to honor them and recognize their merit.
In the 4th and 5th centuries AH, ascetic groups, and especially the Sufis, traced themselves back to the Companions of the Suffa—going so far as to derive even the title "Sufi" from "Suffa," striving to present this link as deep-rooted and strong; a derivation that is largely conceptual in nature and is incorrect from the standpoint of morphology.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, who is mentioned in the hadith, was one of the wealthy and generous Companions of the Messenger of God (PBUH), and on the Day of the Shura he was the cause of Uthman's accession to the caliphate. Later, however, he repented of that deed, an account of which appears elsewhere in this book.)
Nu'aym ibn Abi Hind said: Rib'i ibn Hirash related to me: I was sitting with Ali when the son of Talha came in and greeted Ali, and he welcomed him. He said, "You welcome me, O Commander of the Faithful, when you have killed my father and taken my property?!" He said, "As for your property, it is set aside in the treasury—go tomorrow to your property and take it. As for your saying that I killed your father: I hope that I and your father are among those of whom God said, 'And We shall remove whatever rancor is in their breasts—brothers, upon couches, facing one another' [Qur'an 15:47]." A man of Hamdan said, "God is more just than that!" And he cried out at him with a shout that made the palace shake, saying, "Then who, if we are not those very ones?" (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 1, p. 415)
The narrator says: After the Battle of the Camel we were sitting in the presence of Ali (AS) when the son of Talha entered. He greeted the Commander of the Faithful (AS). Ali (AS), after returning the greeting, bade him welcome. The son of Talha replied: O Ali! You killed my father and confiscated my property! Ali (AS) said: Your property I have placed in the treasury; rise, go, and take it back. But as for the killing of your father, there was no choice. I hope that the Merciful God will make me and your father among those of whom this verse speaks: "And We shall remove whatever rancor is in their breasts..." [Qur'an 15:47]. At this point a man of the tribe of Hamdan said: O Ali! God is more just than to make you an instance of this verse! Ali (AS) let out such a shout at him that the governor's palace trembled. Then he said: Woe to you! If we are not those from whose breasts rancor is removed, then who are they?!
(We note: In describing this Haydari roar, the same scene has also been related thus: "He shouted at him such a shout that I thought the palace would come tumbling down because of it." That is, Ali (AS) let out such a roar at him that we thought the palace of the seat of rule was about to collapse.)
Kadih, from al-Sadiq Ja'far [ibn Muhammad], from his father, from his fathers, from Ali (AS), concerning His words "Peace be upon Al Yasin" [Qur'an 37:130]: He said: Yasin is Muhammad, and we are the Family of Yasin. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 167)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: In the phrase "Peace be upon Al Yasin," Yasin is Muhammad (PBUH), and we are the Family of Yasin!
From Zadhan, from Ali, who said: My likeness in this community is the likeness of Jesus son of Mary: one group loved him and went to excess in their love of him, and they perished; another group hated him and went to excess in their hatred of him, and they perished; and another group loved him with moderation in their love, and they were saved. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 235)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: My likeness in this community is the likeness of Jesus son of Mary: one group loved him and went to excess in their love of him and perished; another group hated him and went to excess in their enmity toward him and perished; and another group loved him and kept to moderation, and they were saved.
From Ibn Abbas, who said: Two great she-camels were presented as a gift to the Messenger of God (PBUH). He looked at his companions and said: "Is there anyone among you who will pray two rak'as without concerning himself in them with anything of this world's affairs, and without letting his heart entertain any thought of the world? If so, I will give him one of the two camels." Ali rose and entered into the prayer. When he had said the final salutation, Gabriel descended and said, "Give him one of them." The Messenger of God said, "He paused in the tashahhud and pondered which of the two he should take." Gabriel said, "He pondered taking the fatter of the two—in order to slaughter it and give it away as charity for the sake of God. His reflection was for God, not for himself nor for the world." So [the Messenger of God] gave him both of them, and God sent down: "Surely in that"—that is, in the prayer of Ali—"is a reminder for whoever has a heart"—that is, understanding—"or gives ear"—meaning, listens with his ears to what his tongue recites—"while he is a witness" [Qur'an 50:37]—meaning, with his heart present before God, the Mighty and Majestic. The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: "No servant prays two rak'as for God without thinking in them of anything of this world's affairs, but that God is pleased with him and forgives him his sins." (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 266)
The narrator says: One day two great she-camels were given as a gift to the Messenger of God (PBUH). He turned to his companions and said: Is there anyone among you who will perform two rak'as of prayer purely for God, with his heart attentive to God alone, letting nothing of worldly affairs pass through his heart or enter his mind? If so, I will give him one of the two camels! Ali (AS) rose and stood in prayer. When he finished the prayer, Gabriel said to the Messenger of God: Give him one of the two camels! The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: He paused briefly in the tashahhud and thought about which one to choose! Gabriel said: His reflection was about choosing whichever was fatter, so as to slaughter it in the way of God and give it as charity; his thought was for the sake of God, not for himself or his own worldly benefit. So the Messenger of God (PBUH) gave both camels to Ali (AS). It was then that God the Glorified revealed the verse: "Surely in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart, or gives ear while he is a witness" [Qur'an 50:37]. That is: the prayer of Ali (AS) is a lesson and admonition for whoever has a sound heart, or whoever in prayer hears with his ears what he utters with his tongue; such a person is called "witness"—present of heart.
The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: Whoever prays two rak'as with such purity that nothing of this world passes through his heart and mind during that prayer, God Most High is pleased with him and forgives all his sins.
Ali ibn Alqama, from Ali ibn Abi Talib, who said: When the verse was revealed, "When you consult the Messenger privately, offer a charity before your private consultation" [Qur'an 58:12], the Messenger of God (PBUH) said: "What do you say—would a dinar suffice?" I said, "They could not bear it." He said, "Then how much?" I said, "A barleycorn." He said, "You are indeed abstemious." Then was revealed: "Are you afraid to offer charities before your private consultation..." [Qur'an 58:13] to the end of the verse. Ali said: "Through me this community was granted relief; it was not revealed concerning anyone before me, nor will it be revealed concerning anyone after me." (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 315)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: When the verse "If you would speak privately with the Messenger of God, offer a charity beforehand" was revealed, the Messenger of God (PBUH) summoned me and said: O Ali! Is one dinar enough for the charity of private converse? I said: O Messenger of God! It is too much, and no one has the means for that amount. He said: How much would suffice? I said: A barleycorn's weight. He said: "You are indeed abstemious" (how very austere you are!). Immediately the verse "Are you afraid to offer charities before your private consultation?" [Qur'an 58:13] was revealed, and the ruling of speaking upon payment of charity was abrogated. Then Ali (AS) said: Through me, relief was granted to this community. Such a verse was never revealed for anyone before me, nor will it ever be revealed for anyone after me.
(We note: The only one who acted upon the verse of the charity of private converse was Ali (AS). He himself has said elsewhere in this book: I had one dinar. I changed it into ten dirhams, and whenever I wished to speak with the Prophet, or to converse privately with him or ask him something, I would give a dirham in charity—until the dirhams were spent and the verse "But if you do not find the means, then God is Forgiving, Merciful" [Qur'an 58:12] was revealed and abrogated that ruling. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari says: At the time when all the Muslims hid away in corners for fear of having to give, Ali (AS) conversed privately with the Messenger of God (PBUH) ten times, and at each private converse he spent a sum in the way of God. The "barleycorn" (sha'ira) mentioned in the narration is the weight of one grain of barley, in gold or silver; approximately seventy-two barleycorns make one mithqal.)
From Abdullah ibn Abbas, who said: I was with Ali ibn Abi Talib when he passed by a group of people who were supplicating. He said: Pray for me, for you have been commanded to pray for me. God, the Mighty and Majestic, said: "And those who came after them say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith" [Qur'an 59:10]—and I am the first of the believers in faith. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 336)
The narrator says: We were passing somewhere in the company of Ali (AS) when a group of people were engaged in supplication. Ali (AS) said: Pray for me and ask forgiveness for me, for you are commanded to do so; God has said: "And those who came after them say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith" [Qur'an 59:10]. I am the first to have believed in the Messenger of God (PBUH), and the foremost in precedence of faith.
From Mujahid, from Ibn Abbas, concerning the words of God Most High, "They fulfill the vow" [Qur'an 76:7]: He said: Hasan and Husayn fell ill, and the Messenger of God visited them, and the elders of the Arabs visited them too. They said, "O Abu al-Hasan, if only you would make a vow for your two sons." So Ali said, "If they recover, I will fast three days in thanksgiving." Fatima said the same, and a Nubian slave girl of theirs called Fidda said the same. God clothed the two boys in health, while the family of Muhammad had nothing, little or much. So Ali went to Sham'un al-Khaybari, who was a Jew, and borrowed from him three measures of barley and brought them home. Fatima took one measure, ground it, and baked it. Ali prayed with the Prophet (PBUH) and then came home, and the food was set before him—when a poor man came to them, and they gave him the food. On the second day she took another measure, ground it, and baked it; Ali prayed with the Prophet (PBUH), then came home, and the food was set before him—when an orphan came to them. And on the third day, as they drew near to eat, a captive stood at the door and said, "Peace be upon you, O People of the House of Prophethood. Feed us, may God feed you." So they gave him their loaves. Thus they passed three days and nights tasting nothing but plain water. On the fourth day, Ali set out—with Hasan and Husayn trembling like chicks, and Fatima and Fidda with them, unable to walk from weakness—and they came to the Messenger of God. He said, "My God, these are the people of my house, dying of hunger. Have mercy on them, O Lord, and forgive them. [My God,] these are the people of my house; preserve them and do not forget them." Then Gabriel descended and said, "O Muhammad, God sends you greetings of peace and says: I have answered your prayer for them, I have thanked them, and I am pleased with them." And he recited: "Surely the righteous drink of a cup whose mixture is camphor" [Qur'an 76:5], up to His words: "Surely this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been thanked" [Qur'an 76:22]. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 398)
The narrator says: Hasan and Husayn (AS) fell ill. The Messenger of God (PBUH) came to visit them. Their illness dragged on and the news spread, so many of the companions also came to visit them. At last the Prophet (PBUH) said: O Abu al-Hasan! Make a vow for the recovery of your children! Ali (AS) said: I vow that when they are well, I will fast three days in thanksgiving. Fatima (AS) made the same vow, and their maidservant Fidda made the same vow as well. Hasan and Husayn (AS) recovered. Ali (AS) went to Sham'un the Jew and borrowed three measures of barley, and they fasted and prepared food for breaking the fast. At the hour of iftar a poor man came, and they gave their food to him. The next day they baked another portion of the barley for iftar, but at the time of breaking the fast an orphan came to them; so that night too they gave away their iftar and slept hungry. On the third night a captive came, and again they gave the iftar to the captive and broke their fast with nothing but water. On the fourth day, Hasan and Husayn (AS) and Fatima (AS) were trembling with weakness and could not walk, so they all came to the Prophet (PBUH). When the Prophet (PBUH) saw them thus, he raised his hands in prayer and said: O God, the people of my house are dying of hunger! Have mercy on them! Grant them forgiveness, preserve them, and do not forget them! At that moment Gabriel (AS) descended and said: O Muhammad! God sends greetings of peace and says: Your prayer has been answered! I thank them and I am pleased with them. Then the verses of Surat al-Insan were revealed: "Surely the righteous drink of a cup..." up to the verses: "Surely this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been thanked."
Abu Yunus, the client of Abu Hurayra, heard Abu Hurayra say: I was sitting with the Prophet (PBUH) when Ali came and gave greetings, and the Messenger of God (PBUH) seated him at his side. He said, "O Ali, who is the most wretched of the first peoples?" He said, "God and His Messenger know best." He said, "The hamstringer of the she-camel." [Then] he said, "And who is the most wretched of the last peoples?" He said, "God and His Messenger know best." He said: Then he reached with his hand toward Ali's beard and said, "O Ali—the one who will dye this from this," and he placed his hand upon the crown of his head. Abu Hurayra said: By God, [the blow] did not miss the very spot on which the Messenger of God had placed his hand. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 440)
The narrator says: We were sitting with the Prophet (PBUH) when Ali came and gave greetings. The Prophet (PBUH) seated him at his side and said: O Ali! Who is the most wretched of the first peoples? He said: God and His Messenger know best. He said: The hamstringer of the she-camel of Salih. Then he said: Who is the most wretched of the last peoples? He said: God and His Messenger know best. The Prophet (PBUH) pointed with his hand to Ali's beard and said: O Ali! He is the one who will dye this with this—and he placed his hand upon Ali's head. The narrator said: By God, the blade of Ibn Muljam did not miss the very spot where the Prophet (PBUH) had laid his hand!
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali said: My uncle Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya related to me, from his father Ali ibn Abi Talib, who said: The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: "I shall intercede for my community until my Lord calls out, 'Are you satisfied, O Muhammad?' and I shall say, 'My Lord, I am satisfied.'" Then he said: "You people of Iraq say that the most hope-inspiring verse in the Qur'an is: 'O My servants who have transgressed against your own souls, do not despair of the mercy of God' [Qur'an 39:53]." I said, "Indeed, we do say that." He said, "But we, the People of the House, say that the most hope-inspiring verse in the Book of God is [His words]: 'And surely your Lord will give to you, and you will be satisfied' [Qur'an 93:5]—and that is the intercession." (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 446)
Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya related from his father Ali (AS): The Messenger of God (PBUH) said one day: I shall intercede for my community until the herald calls out: O Muhammad! Are you satisfied?! And I shall say: O Lord! I am satisfied, and I give You thanks. Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya says: Then Ali (AS) turned to the people of Iraq and said: You people of Iraq say that you place your hope in the verse "O My servants who have transgressed against your own souls, do not despair of the mercy of God" [Qur'an 39:53]. But we, the People of the House, place still greater hope in the verse "And surely your Lord will give to you, and you will be satisfied" [Qur'an 93:5], for in it intercession has been appointed for the community of Muhammad (PBUH).
Ibn Jurayj, from Ata, from Ibn Abbas: Muhammad enjoined upon Ali patience regarding this world, and enjoined upon him the gathering of the Qur'an after his death, the settlement of his debt, his washing after his death, and that he build a wall around his grave—so that the women would not trouble him by sitting upon his grave. (Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 2, p. 483)
Ibn Abbas says: The Messenger of God (PBUH) enjoined upon Ali (AS) patience with regard to this world; and he enjoined him to gather the Qur'an after his passing, to settle his debt, to wash his body, and to build a wall around his grave so that the sitting of women at his grave would not trouble his spirit.