Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (7/159)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

Third:

Even supposing that this distinction belonged to him alone, it would not be one of the qualities exclusive to the imamate, nor would it entail that he was superior in every respect. When Khidr knew three matters that Moses did not know, this did not make him superior to Moses in every respect. Likewise, when the hoopoe said to Solomon:

“I have learned what you have not learned,”

[Sūrat al-Naml: 22]

this did not make it more knowledgeable than Solomon in every respect.

Fourth:

Alī knew this matter, but how can it be known that none of the other Companions knew it? The claim that he alone knew it is false; thus, the claim of exclusivity is invalid under either supposition. Indeed, it is established by mass transmission that Abū Bakr’s striving with his wealth was greater than Alī’s, for Abū Bakr was a man of means. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said of him:

“No wealth has benefited me as much as Abū Bakr’s wealth.” (1)

Alī was poor, whereas Abū Bakr’s personal striving was also greater, as we shall mention—if Allah Most High wills (2).

[Section: The Eighteenth Proof—“O you who believe, when you consult the Messenger privately, give charity before your private consultation”—and the Response to It]

Section

The Rāfidi (3) said: “The eighteenth proof is the saying of Allah Most High:

‘O you who believe, when you consult the Messenger privately, give charity before your private consultation.’

(1) This hadith appeared previously at 5/21. These phrases occur within a hadith narrated from Abū Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, in *Sunan al-Tirmidhī*, 5/270–271 (Book of Virtues, “The Virtues of Abū Bakr…,” chapter 52). Its wording is: “No one has done us a favor without our having repaid him, except Abū Bakr. He has done us a favor for which Allah will recompense him on the Day of Resurrection. No wealth has ever benefited me as much as Abū Bakr’s wealth. If I were to take an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr as one. Indeed, your companion is Allah’s intimate friend.” Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a *hasan gharīb* hadith through this route of transmission.” (2) S and B: “If Allah wills; and Allah knows best.” (3) In K: 157 (M).

الثَّالِثُ: أَنَّهُ لَوْ قُدِّرَ أَنَّهُ اخْتَصَّ بِمَزِيَّةٍ فَهَذِهِ لَيْسَتْ مِنْ خَصَائِصِ الْإِمَامَةِ، وَلَا مُوجِبَةً لِأَنْ يَكُونَ أَفْضَلَ مُطْلَقًا. فَإِنَّ الْخَضِرَ لَمَّا عَلِمَ ثَلَاثَ مَسَائِلَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْهَا مُوسَى لَمْ يَكُنْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ مُوسَى مُطْلَقًا، وَالْهُدْهُدُ لَمَّا قَالَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ: {أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ} [سُورَةُ النَّمْلِ: ٢٢] لَمْ يَكُنْ أَعْلَمَ مِنْ سُلَيْمَانَ مُطْلَقًا. الرَّابِعُ: أَنَّ عَلِيًّا كَانَ يَعْلَمُ هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ، فَمِنْ أَيْنَ يُعْلَمُ أَنَّ غَيْرَهُ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ لَمْ يَعْلَمْهَا؟ فَدَعْوَى اخْتِصَاصِهِ بِعِلْمِهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَبَطَلَ الِاخْتِصَاصُ عَلَى التَّقْدِيرَيْنِ. بَلْ مِنَ الْمَعْلُومِ بِالتَّوَاتُرِ أَنَّ جِهَادَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِمَالِهِ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جِهَادِ عَلِيٍّ، فَإِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ كَانَ مُوسِرًا، قَالَ فِيهِ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: «مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالٌ كَمَالِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ» (١) وَعَلِيٌّ كَانَ فَقِيرًا، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْظَمُ جِهَادًا بِنَفْسِهِ، كَمَا سَنَذْكُرُهُ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى (٢) -. [فصل البرهان الثامن عشر " يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً " والجواب عليه] فَصْلٌ قَالَ الرَّافِضِيُّ (٣) : " الْبُرْهَانُ الثَّامِنَ عَشَرَ: قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً}

(١) سَبَقَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ فِيمَا مَضَى ٥/٢١ وَجَاءَتْ هَذِهِ الْعِبَارَاتُ ضِمْنَ حَدِيثٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي سُنَنِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ ٥/٢٧٠ - ٢٧١ (كِتَابُ الْمَنَاقِبِ مَنَاقِبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ. .، بَابُ ٥٢) وَنَصُّهُ: " مَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَنَا يَدٌ إِلَّا وَقَدْ كَافَيْنَاهُ، مَا خَلَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، فَإِنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَنَا يَدًا يُكَافِيهِ اللَّهُ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَا نَفَعَنِي مَالُ أَحَدٍ قَطُّ مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا، أَلَا وَإِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ ". قَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ. (٢) س، ب: إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. (٣) فِي (ك) ١٥٧ (م) .