It is very important to recognize the central figures of Islam after the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh&hf), Once we have recognized those personalities we can easily resolve the Shia-Sunni issues. The Muslim Ummah could be easily saved from divisions and sects..
We will provide a clear guidance and important points from Quran and Hadith. If somebody will focus on these points, he can easily understand the Shia Sunni issues. There will be no choice left but to choose the Ahlulbayt after the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).
We would like to mention the verse of the holy Quran to show clearly if who really are the central figures of Islam after the Prophet (pbuh).
"Wherefore those who contend with thee therein after that which hath come unto thee of the knowledge - say thou: come! Let us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then let us humbly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars." (Quran 3: 61)
Both Shias and Sunnis are in agreement that the verse revealed was about Mubahala. The Prophet brought with him Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein alone in Mubahala.
The verse of Mubahala was revealed on 24th of Dhul-Hijja 9 Hijri, the Holy Prophet’s own son baby Ibrahim was still alive by that time. The verse says bring your children; the holy Prophet brought only Imam Hassan and Hussain only. It is important to note that he did not even bring his own son Ibrahim. The Prophet's action only proves that wanted to show the special status of Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain to the world.
We are providing the link of Wikipedia having the information on the birth date and date of Hazrat Ibrahim the son of The Holy Prophet please find the link.
The continuation of the verse says let us call our women and your women. The Prophet brought only Lady Fatima(as) with him. The Arabic word of this verse, NISSA is used, this is a plural word which is used for women in Arabic gramer. This word is also used for the wives of prophet in the other verse (33:32). But the holy Prophet did not bring along any other lady than Lady Fatima, the Prophet showed to the world the special status of Lady Fatima (as) amongst all the women of Islam.
The verse says call ourselves and yourselves. In the verse Arabic word (AN FO SA NA) is being used which means ourselves. The Prophet (pbuh) brought Imam Ali(as) with him. Does our Sunni fellow have any explanation regarding on which position the Holy Prophet brought Imam Ali in Mubahala?
We have to accept that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) brought Imam Ali(as) as part of him; we have to accept this reality that there is no one else deserving for the same status as Imam Ali had, that is to represent Islam after the demise of the messenger of Allah(swt). By doing this the Holy Prophet also wanted to show the world who really is the successor after him!
The Prophet brought Imam Ali(as) in Mubahala on the position of the word "ourselves". Imam Ali(as) is part of the Prophet who represents him during his life time and even after he died. As the other Ahadith testify this reality.
We would like to mention one Hadith from Tirmidhi Chapter Virtues of Imam Ali.
Please find the Hadith in Tirmidhi and also the same Hadith in Nissaie.
The Holy Prophet said:
"Ali is from me and I am from Ali, No one can convey on my behalf except myself or Ali."
We also find this hadith in Bukhari, Chapter Virtues of Imam Ali that the Prophet said:
“O Ali you are from me and I am from you.”
We are posting the link from Saudi official website, Ministry of religious affairs.
Please find the link also the screen shot.
Read another proven authentic Hadith from Sunni source that the Holy Prophet said:
“Ali you are to me like Aaron to Moses but there will be no prophet after me."
Please read the Hadith from Bukhari
We would like to mention one more hadith from Tirmidhi and Nisaaie, this is not a weak hadith, (this hadith is Hassan in Chapter of virtues of Imam Ali).
Please find the hadith from Nissaie and also same hadith in Tirmidhi.
The Prophet(pbuh) said:
“Ali is from me I am from Ali; Ali is the master of all believers after me.”
We can easily understand from the following words of the Holy Prophet that Imam Ali(as) is the true picture of Prophet(pbuh).
“O Ali you are from me and I am from you.”
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) speaks through Imam Ali and Imam Ali is the original successor of the Prophet(pbuh).
Please read the hadith from Nissaie narrating about the Prophet sending everyone out from the room on the last moment of his life and conducted 1-on-1 confidential talk with Imam Ali. It shows how Imam Ali was the most trustworthy person for the Holy Prophet.
Please read the narration in Nissaie.
We can also clearly see how special the status of Imam Ali was, the Prophet ordered to close all the doors of the houses where the entrance is facing towards the mosque of the Prophet except Imam Ali's door and his own door. Proof in Tirmidhi and also proof in Nissaie.
This is a well proven hadith from Sunni sources that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Loving Imam is the symbol of faith and enemity of Imam Ali is the symbol of hypocricy.”
Please find the hadith from Sahih al Muslim.
We can find the same wordings of the Prophet(pbuh) about Imam Hussein(as) in Tirmidhi and other books. It has exactly the same meaning as above that Imam Hussein is also the successor of the Prophet and his teachings are preserved through Imam Hussein(as).
Some of our Sunni fellows say that what the Holy Prophet said was for Imam Ali and Imam Hussein because they had spiritual relation with the Prophet. We would like to remind them that all the companions of the Prophet and the whole nation of Islam have spiritual relation with Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). Could anyone be able to show such wordings of the Prophet(pbuh) referring to somebody else?
We do not wish to mention all those verses and Sahih Ahadith narrated in Sunni books about the successorship of Imam Ali. We just want to say that if someone would pay attention on this verse of Mubahala, it could resolve the matter on the issue of successorship of the Prophet (pbuh).
This verse clearly proves that Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein are the symbols of righteousness in during and after Prophet's life. The purpose of Mubahala is "curse of Allah upon the liars" as the last part of the verse says. That’s why prophet selected only those individual who are purified and infallibles.
The Prophet again told and showed to his nation who who are the ahlalbait at the event of Mubahala by bringing these personalities under the cloth and said "O Allah these are my family (Ahlalbait)" (Sahih Muslim - Chapter Virtues of Imam Ali, narration by Saad bin Abi Waqas).
Please read another hadith narrated that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) used to love most Imam Ali among men and Lady Fatima among women, the narrator of this hadith is Ayesha (wife) of the Holy Prophet.
Here is the link from Tirmidhi Please also read this hadith in Nissaie.
The Holy Prophet once again made it clear for the people that these personalities are the only Ahlalbait for whom Allah revealed the verse 33:33 wherein Allah wants to purify the family of prophet.
Please find the hadith in Sahih Muslim.
The Holy Prophet one more time made it clear for the people that these are the Ahlalbait for whom he mentioned "I am leaving two weighty things among you the book Allah and my Ahlalbait". Here is the hadith in Sahih Muslim the same hadith in can be found in Trimdhi.
Also find the same hadith in Nissaie by Zaid bin Arqam(ra) wherein the Prophet announced it at the place of Ghadir.
Not everyone can be mentioned together with the Quran. These are the special chosen and purified people who are equally valuable as the Quran. Quran always leads to guidance it means that there is no chance for it to misguide the humanity.
Same thing the Ahlalbait are officially appointed for the translation and interpretation of the Quran. Ahlalbait are infallibles like Quran, always guide the Muslim Ummah towards truth.
The verse of Mubahala also proves that anybody who becomes the opponent of Prophet Mohammad, Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein is a liar. Anybody who fights with these righteous and holy personalities surely he/she becomes the cursed one.
We would like to mention another hadith from Tarmidhi, Chapter Virtues of Lady Fatima, narration by Zaid bin Arqam(ra):
"The holy Prophet said to Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein I am in war with that person who is war with you, I am at peace with that person who is peace with you." (Hassan Hadith) Click here to check the hadtih
How come the companions of the Prophet can be equal to the Ahlalbait? The holy Prophet appointed the Ahlalbait and Quran as the guidance for his companions. The Prophet used the Arabic words (FEE KUM) which means among you.
Are those people who are supposed to get guidance can be equal to those who are appointed for them to be their guide? If those people who were supposed to get guidance from the Ahlalbait take charge and push the Ahlalbait in the corner, then guess what will happen?
This is what happened to Islam and Muslim Ummah when they did not get the guidance and interpretation of Islam from the Ahlalbait. We can see the end product in the shape of terrorism, extremism, Wahhabism and Talibanization.
Ahlalbait are the key to understand the true Islam. Only those people who know this reality are the attached with Ahlalbait.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) told his companions to send SALAWAT on his (aal-ahlalbait) along with him. This hadith is also written in both Bukhari and Muslim please find from Bukhari.
If somebody prayed and does not send (SALAWAT) blessings on Prophet Mohammad and Ahlalbait his prayer is not acceptable. The prophet ordered to his companion to send salawat on him and on his progeny.
How could the companions be equal to Ahlalbait if the companions will need to send salawat on Prophet and his Ahlalbait on their prayer otherwise their prayer will be invalid.
We know the famous poetry of Imam Shafi (Imam of Sunni school of thought) in Arabic
“O Ahlalbait, loving you is obligatory in Quran, Anybody who does not send salawat on you, his prayer is invalid.”
The Quranic verse (42:23) says:
"(O prophet), say, "I do not ask you for any payment for my preaching to you except (your) love of (my near) relatives."
This verse was revealed for Ahlalbait. Allah(swt) wants people to show their love to Prophet's Ahlalbait because He appointed the Prophet's progeny for the guidance of Muslim Ummah.
Anybody who does not show his love to Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein that person does not give the reward of the Prophet.
We want to mention here another verse from Holy Quran (34:47)
"Whatever reward I ask you (for my preaching) will be for your own good. No one can reward me except God. He is the Witness over all things."
We are easily able to understand from the above verse of Holy Quran the philosophy for loving Ahlalbait. It is for our own benifit. Because Allah and the Messenger of Allah appointed Ahlalbait for our guidance. As we have discussed earlier that if we love Ahlalbait and we are attached with Ahlalbait after the Holy Prophet (pbuh), there is guarantee and surity that we won't astray from the right path.
How come some Muslims announced their love for Imam Ali, Lady Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein but at the same time they also love the enemies of the Ahlulbait?
Do our Muslim brothers not know that Moawiya bin Abu Sufyan fought with Imam Ali (battle of safeen) wherein thousands of Muslims got killed? Moawiya started openly showing hatred and cursing on Imam Ali (Sahih Muslim Chapter Virtues of Imam Ali narration by Saad bin Abbi Waqas). Please find the narration.
The Prophet said: "Anybody who will curse on Ali, he curses me" Khasis al Nisaie.
Why Muslim Ummah forgot all those lessons of Quran and Hadiths? Why are we having double standards?
Sometimes our Sunni brothers get surprised when Shias use ALAYHI SALAM with the names of the Ahlalbait. We want to show from Bukhari that Imam Bukhari used ALAYHI SALAM with the names of Ahlalbait. But those people who translate Bukhari from Arabic to different languages, they cannot digest it, they do not write alayhi salam with the names of the Ahlalbait. There are many examples from Bukhari Please find an example here.
Please find more virtues of Ahlalbait in our research work about NIssaie and also in Trimdhi.
At the end we would like to mention some saying and sermon of Imam Ali from Nahjul Balagha
“We are the tree of prophethood, staying place of (Divine) Message, descending place of angels, mines of knowledge and the sources of wisdom. Our supporter and lover await mercy while our enemy and he who hates us awaits wrath". – Nahjul Balagha Sermon 108
“We, Ahlul Bayt (chosen descendants of the Holy Prophet), hold such central and balancing position in religion that those who are deficient in understanding and acting upon its principles, will have to come to us for reformation, and those who are overdoing it have got to learn moderation from us.” – Nahjul Balagha Saying No. 108
May Allah (swt) guide those who seek for truth and send your blessings to Holy Prophet Mohammad(pbuh) and his Ahlalbait.