The Brother of The Prophet Mohammad: Maula Ali (a.s)

By: Abbas Shahid Baqir

Preface DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Table of Contents DONORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR TABLE OF CONTENTS 15 PART I THE IMAM ALI DURING THE ERA OF THE PROPHETHOOD 1. THE HOUSE OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD Is the Honor Due to the Relationship?, The Record Attests to their Merit, Why Were They so Meritorious? 2. MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF MOHAMMAD Descriptive Hadiths, The Specific Hadiths 3. THE INDISPENSABLE PEOPLE Abu Talib, Islam of Abu Talib, Imam Ali 4. THE FIRST MUSLIMS 5. BROTHER AND MINISTER Gonflicting Hadiths, The Offered Reward, The Outcome of the Gonference of the House of the Prophet 6. THE REDEEMERS The Magnitude of the Mission 7. ALI'S ROLE IN BUILDING THE ISLAM STATE Thesis Versus Antithesis 8. ATBADR 9. AT OHOD Who Remained with the Prophet? 10. THE MOAT Ali's Response, The Magnitude of Ali's Contribution 11. AT KHEIBAR The Prophet Besieged Kheibar, Indispensable Man, The Natural Ministry 12. ANNOUNCED BROTHERHOOD The Significance of the Brotherhood, The Son-in-Law of the Prophet 13. ALl'S PLACE FROM THE PROPHET IN THE QUR'AN Why Was Ali Included?, 14. THE MOULA OF THE MUSLIMS 15. UNFULFILLED WILL OF THE PROPHET The Prophet Was Prevented from Writing a Will, The Unusual Event Raises Many Questions, What Did the Prophet Want to Write?, How Gould He Defy the Prophet?, Why Did the Prophet Not Insist on Writing His Directive?, How Could the Directive of the Messenger he a Security to the Nation Against Straying? PART II THE IMAM DURING THE ERA OF THE THREE CALIPHS, 16 ABU BAKR SUCCEEDS Legal and Historical Questions, Did the Messenger of God Desire to Appoint Abu Bakr as His Successor?, Was the Election of Abu Bakr Legal?, Quraish and the Caliphate 17. ALI VIEWS THE SUCCESSION 18. ABU BAKR NAMES A SUCCESSOR 19. OMAR SUCCEEDS Dialogues About the Caliphate, The Dimensions of Omar's Policy, Prearranged the Future of the Muslims, Subversive Elements in the Caliph's Regime 20. THE ELECTORAL CONVENTION Observations, Unwarranted Stipulation, Ali's Unique Dedication, Motives and Consequences 21. Othman's Reign Early Opposition, Implementation of the Omayad's Plan, The Third Caliph and His Two Predecessors, The Growth of Opposition, Opposition Outside Medina, Now People Remembered Ali, The Caliph is Besieged, Observation BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INTRODUCTION PART III THE IMAM IN HIS OWN ERA 22. THE ELECTION OF THE IMAM ALI An Early Opposition Were Talhah and Al-Zubeir Forced to Elect the Imam? 23. THE BATTLE OF BASSRAH The Imam's Journey Abu Musa Al-Ashaari The Imam's Effort for Peace The Beginning of the Battle The Responsibility of the Three Leaders 24. THE ALLEGED CONSPIRACY Did Abdullah Ibn Saba Exist? To Discredit Abu Tharr and Ammar Is to Discredit the Prophet The Source of the Legend 25. THE BATTLE OF SIFFEEN Idealist Versus Opportunist New Efforts for Peace Martyrdom of Ammar Ibn Yasir The Big Conspiracy The Two Arbiters 26. AL-KHAWARIJ (THE SECEDERS) Violent Extremism Prophecies 27. MARTYRDOM The Fulfilled Promise 28. THE IMAM'S POLICY CONCERNING PUBLIC FUNDS Was It Politically Sound? 29. WAS THE WAR OF SIFFEEN INEVITABLE? Mugheerah and Ibn Abbas Was Omayad's Rule Inevitable? 30. DID THE IMAM EXERCISE HIS RULE AS A PREACHER? Why Did the Imam Bind Himself With a Document Which Was Forced Upon Him? 31. WHY DID THE REIGN OF THE IMAM NOT LAST LONG? Ali Did Not Have the Two Elements The Growth of the Qureshite's Influence and the Obscurity of the Imam The Electoral Convention Put the Caliphate in the Hands of the Omayads New Competitors Qureshites, Hostile or Deserter? Conclusions PART IV THE CALIPHATE IN THE ISLAMIC LAW 32. SHOULD THE FIRST CALIPHATE HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY INHERITANCE, POPULAR ELECTION, OR BY THE PROPHET'S SELECTION The Nature of the Islamic Principle is Consonant with Selection More than Election The Dangers Which Were About to Face the Nation The Need for an Authority in Interpretation of the Qur'an and Communication of the Prophet's Instructions 33. HAD WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE BEEN DONE? Ali Is the Gate of the City of Knowledge 34. THE HOME CONFERENCE 35. THE HADITH OF THE ANALOGY "YOU ARE TO ME LIKE AARON TO MOSES" 36. THE HADITH OF PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY 37. HADITH AL-THAQALAIN (THE TWO VALUABLES) Abu Zuhrah's Argument Against Hadith No.1 The Shi-ites Do Not Believe In the Inheritance of the Caliphate The Sunnis Are Closer Than the Shi-ites to the Opinion of Leadership by Inheritance Political and Jurisprudential Leadership 38. THE HADITH OF THE WILAYAH The Meaning of Hadith Al-Ghadeer The Verse of Proclamation Why Did the Prophet Not Say: "Ali Is Your Ameer, or My Caliph, or Your Imam?" The Conclusion Let Us Find Our Way Agreeable Points The Shi-ite Companions of the Prophet Legitimacy and Negative Aspects of Elective Caliphate The House of the Prophet Is to Be Followed Unjustifiable Bias My Humble Effort GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY