Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (7/385)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

Whoever possesses this quality most perfectly is most honored in the sight of Allah and would therefore be (1) more beloved to Him. Numerous proofs have established that Abū Bakr attained the highest standing among the Companions in the rank of consummate truthfulness. After the prophets, the consummately truthful are the best of all creation, and whoever attains that rank most fully is the best.

It has also been established through authentic transmission that Alī said:

“The best members of this community after its Prophet are Abū Bakr and Umar.”

This report became widespread and was mass-transmitted from him (2). He also threatened to impose the flogging prescribed for a slanderer upon anyone who ranked Alī above Abū Bakr (3). It is also narrated from him that he heard this from the Prophet—blessings and peace be upon him—(4). There is no doubt that Alī would make so categorical an assertion only on the basis of knowledge.

Furthermore, the Companions unanimously agreed on giving precedence to Uthmān, although Umar is superior to him (5) and Abū Bakr is superior to both. This matter has been discussed at length elsewhere, and some of that discussion has already appeared. This (6) was mentioned, however, to demonstrate (7) that the Bird Hadith is among the fabricated reports.

[Ninth: What the majority narrated—that he instructed the Companions to greet Alī as Commander of the Faithful]

Section

The Rāfidī (8) said: “Ninth: What the majority narrate: ‘He instructed the Companions (9)

(1) N, M, and S read: “so that he may be.” (2) This report was cited previously at 1/12 and 2/72. (3) This report was cited previously at 1/308. (4) I have been unable to locate this hadith. (5) S reads: “that giving Uthmān precedence is better than him”; B reads: “that Uthmān is better than him.” (6) B reads: “here.” (7) S and B read: “so that he might explain.” (8) In K, pp. 171 (M)–172 (M). (9) K reads: “the majority’s report that he—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family—instructed his Companions…”

وَمَنْ كَانَ أَكْمَلَ فِي هَذَا الْوَصْفِ كَانَ أَكْرَمَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَيَكُونُ (١) أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ فَقَدْ ثَبَتَ بِالدَّلَائِلِ الْكَثِيرَةِ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ هُوَ أَكْرَمُ الصَّحَابَةِ فِي الصِّدِّيقِيَّةِ، وَأَفْضَلُ الْخَلْقِ بَعْدَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ الصِّدِّيقُونَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ أَكْمَلَ فِي ذَلِكَ كَانَ أَفْضَلَ. وَأَيْضًا فَقَدْ ثَبَتَ فِي النَّقْلِ الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: " خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ " وَاسْتَفَاضَ ذَلِكَ، وَتَوَاتَرَ عَنْهُ (٢) ، وَتَوَعَّدَ بِجَلْدِ الْمُفْتَرِي مَنْ يُفَضِّلُهُ عَلَيْهِ (٣) ، وَرُوِيَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (٤) ، وَلَا رَيْبَ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا لَا يَقْطَعُ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا عَنْ عِلْمٍ. وَأَيْضًا، فَإِنَّ الصَّحَابَةَ أَجْمَعُوا عَلَى تَقْدِيمِ عُثْمَانَ الَّذِي عُمَرُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ (٥) ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُمَا، وَهَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةُ مَبْسُوطَةٌ فِي غَيْرِ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ، وَتَقَدَّمَ بَعْضُ ذَلِكَ، وَلَكِنْ ذُكِرَ هَذَا (٦) لِنُبَيِّنَ (٧) أَنَّ حَدِيثَ الطَّيْرِ مِنَ الْمَوْضُوعَاتِ. [التاسع مَا رَوَاهُ الْجُمْهُورُ أَنَّهُ أَمَرَ الصَّحَابَةَ بِأَنْ يُسَلِّمُوا عَلَى عَلِيٍّ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] فَصْلٌ. قَالَ الرَّافِضِيُّ (٨) : " التَّاسِعُ: مَا رَوَاهُ الْجُمْهُورُ «أَنَّهُ أَمَرَ الصَّحَابَةَ (٩)

(١) ن، م، س: لِيَكُونَ (٢) سَبَقَ هَذَا الْأَثَرُ فِيمَا مَضَى ١/١٢، ٢/٧٢ (٣) سَبَقَ هَذَا الْأَثَرُ فِيمَا مَضَى ١/٣٠٨ (٤) لَمْ أَعْرِفْ مَكَانَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ (٥) س: عَلَى أَنَّ تَقْدِيمَ عُثْمَانَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ ; ب: عَلَى أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ (٦) ب: هُنَا (٧) س، ب: لِيُبَيِّنَ (٨) فِي (ك) ص ١٧١ (م) ـ ١٧٢ (م) (٩) ك: الْجُمْهُورُ مِنْ أَنَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَآلِهِ أَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ. . .