Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (7/353)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

Everyone whom Allah describes in the Quran as a successor is a successor to a created being who preceded him. This is exemplified by His words:

“Then We made you successors upon the earth after them.”

(Surah Yūnus: 14)

“And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah.”

(Surah al-A'rāf: 69)

“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors upon the earth, just as He made those before them successors.”

(Surah al-Nūr: 55)

Likewise, His words:

“Indeed, I am placing a successor upon the earth.”

(Surah al-Baqara: 30)

That is, a successor to created beings who had previously inhabited the earth, as stated (1) by the Quran commentators and others (2).

As for the belief held by some Ittihādīs (proponents of divine union) and others that man is Allah’s successor, this is ignorance and misguidance.

[The fifth hadith: “You are my brother, my executor, and my successor after me”]

Section.

The Rāfidī said: (3)

“Fifth: What the majority (4) narrated from the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—namely, that he said to the Commander of the Faithful (5): ‘You are my brother (6)

(1) B: “mentioned it.” (2) See: *Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr*, 1/99–103; *Zād al-Masīr*, 1/58–60. (3) In K, p. 169 (M). (4) K: “the entire majority.” (5) K: “may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family—that he said to the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him.” (6) S and B: “You are to me as my brother.”

وَكُلُّ مَنْ وَصَفَهُ اللَّهُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَهُوَ خَلِيفَةٌ عَنْ مَخْلُوقٍ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ. كَقَوْلِهِ: {ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ} (سُورَةُ يُونُسَ: ١٤) {وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ} (سُورَةُ الْأَعْرَافِ: ٦٩) {وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ} (سُورَةُ النُّورِ: ٥٥) . وَكَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ: {إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً} (سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ: ٣٠) أَيْ: عَنْ خَلْقٍ كَانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ، كَمَا ذَكَرَ (١) الْمُفَسِّرُونَ، وَغَيْرُهُمْ (٢) . وَأَمَّا مَا يَظُنُّهُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنَ الِاتِّحَادِيَّةِ، وَغَيْرُهُمْ أَنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ فَهَذَا جَهْلٌ وَضَلَالٌ. [الخامس حديث أنت أخي ووصيي وخليفتي من بعدي] فَصْلٌ. قَالَ الرَّافِضِيُّ: : (٣) " الْخَامِسُ: مَا رَوَاهُ الْجُمْهُورُ (٤) عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (٥) : «أَنْتَ أَخِي (٦)

(١) ب: ذَكَرَهُ (٢) انْظُرْ: تَفْسِيرَ ابْنِ كَثِيرٍ ١/٩٩ ـ ١٠٣ ; زَادَ الْمَسِيرِ ١/٥٨ ـ ٦٠ (٣) فِي (ك) ص ١٦٩ (م) (٤) ك: الْجُمْهُورُ بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ (٥) ك: صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَآلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ (٦) س، ب: أَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَخِي