Musnad Ahmad

‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said, when he finished with the people of Basrah: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and after Abu Bakr it is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), then we got involved in matters which Allah will judge as He wills.

`Ali (رضي الله عنه) stood up and said: The best of this ummah; after its Prophet (ﷺ) is Abu Bakr, and ‘Umar, then we got involved in matters which Allah will judge as He wills.

`Ammar came and asked permission to enter upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: `Let him in; welcome to the good one, the purified one.”

Someone who heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) told me that he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called war deceit.

My father told me that `Ali (رضي الله عنه) said to al-Miqdad: Ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about a man who gets close to a woman and emits madhi, for I am too shy to ask him because his daughter is married to me. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Let him wash his private part and testicles, and do wudoo`.

They distracted us on the day of al-Ahzab from `Asr prayer, until I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: `They distracted us from the middle prayer, ‘Asr prayer. May Allah fill their graves and houses or stomachs with fire.”

We have nothing except the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, and this document from the Prophet (ﷺ). Madinah is a sanctuary from `A`ir to Thawr; whoever commits an offence in it or gives refuge to an offender, may the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people be upon him and no obligatory or nafl act of worship will be accepted from him.` And he said: `Protection given by any Muslim is binding upon all of them. Whoever transgresses protection given by a Muslim, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and Allah will not accept from him any nafl or obligatory act of worship. Whoever takes people as mawla without the permission of the ones who set him free, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and Allah will not accept from him any nafl or obligatory act of worship.”

I said: O Messenger of Allah, why do I see you marrying from Quraish and you do not marry from among us? He said: “Do you have someone?` I said: The daughter of Hamzah. He said: `She is the daughter of my brother through breastfeeding.”

`Ali said: If I tell you a hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then think of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the best, the most guided and the most pious manner.

Shall I not tell you of the best of this ummah after its Prophet (ﷺ)? Abu Bakr, then ʻUmar (رضي الله عنهما).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The warner and the guide is a man from Banu Hashim.`

When the fighting grew intense on the day of Badr, we sought shelter by drawing close to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who was one of the strongest of the people, and no one was closer to the mushrikeen than him.

It was narrated from `Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade garments made from a blend of linen and silk, or garments dyed with safflower, wearing gold rings and reciting Qur`an whilst bowing.

‘Ali said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to wear garments dyed with safflower, or garments made from a blend of linen and silk, or gold rings, and reciting Qur`an whilst bowing.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told me to sell two slaves who were brothers, so I sold them and separated them, I mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: `Go and take them back, and only sell them together; do not separate them.”

I saw ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) doing wudoo`. He washed his hands until they were clean, then he rinsed his mouth three times, then he rinsed his nose three times; he washed his face three times and his forearms three times; he wiped his head and washed his feet up to the ankles. And he took the leftover water and drank it whilst standing. Then he said: I wanted to show you how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did wudoo` ‘Abd Khair narrated a hadeeth like that of Abu Hayyah from `Ali, except that ’Abd Khair said: When he finished his wudoo’, he took some of the leftover water in his hand and drank it.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade sacrificing an animal that has lost most of its horn or ear. Qatadah said: I mentioned that to Sa’eed bin al-Musayyab and he said. one that has lost half or more (of its horn or ear).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to wear gold rings, to wear garments made from a blend of linen and silk, and to use red saddlecloths.

I saw ‘Ali urinate in ar-Rahbah. (Then) he called for water and did wudoo’. He washed his hands three times, rinsed his mouth and nose three times, washed his face three times, washed his forearms three times each, wiped his head and washed his feet three times each. Then he stood up and drank from the leftover water, then he said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do what you have seen me do, and I wanted to show it to you.

`Alqamah bin Qais struck this minbar and said: ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) addressed us from this minbar, he praised and glorified Allah, and said what Allah willed that he should say, and he said:The best of this ummah after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both. Then we got involved in events and Allah will decide concerning that.

I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was neither short not tall; he had a large head and beard, large hands and feet, large joints, a reddish face, and a long line of hair from his chest to his navel. When he walked he walked energetically, as if lifting his feet from a rock. I have never seen anyone like him before or since, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.

I thought that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) was the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)... and he quoted the hadeeth. I said: No by Allah, O Ameer al-Mu`mineen, I did not think that any of the Muslims after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was better than you. He said: Shall I not tell you of the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah? I said: Yes. He said: Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). Then he said: Shall I not tell you of the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah and Abu Bakr? I said: Yes. He said: `Umar (رضي الله عنه).

from ‘Abd Khair. I heard him say: `Ali (رضي الله عنه) stood on the minbar and mentioned the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died and Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was appointed as his successor, and he did what he had done and followed in his footsteps, and persisted in doing so until Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, took his soul in death. Then ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) was appointed as his successor and he did what they had done and followed in their footsteps, and persisted in doing so until Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, took his soul in death.

Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on his mount, he said: Al-Hamdu Lillah. `Glory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny` went back to the hadeeth of Wakee’ and said: Glory be to You, I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You. Then he smiled, and I said: What made you smile? He said: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he did what you have seen me do, then he smiled and I said: What made you smile, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? He said: `Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, says: How remarkable is My slave; He knows that no one forgives sin except Me.`

l fell sick and the Prophet (ﷺ) came to me when I was saying: O Allah, if my time has come then grant me relief; if it has not yet come then heal me or grant me well being, and if this is a trial then grant me patience. He said: `What did you say?` I repeated it to him, then he touched me with his hand and said: `O Allah, heal him” or “grant him well being.” And I never suffered that sickness again after that.

It was narrated from ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to wake his family up during the last ten (nights of Ramadan).

I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: Allah took His Prophet in the best way any Prophet was ever taken, then Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was appointed as his successor and he did what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had done and followed the Sunnah of his Prophet, and `Umar (رضي الله عنه) was appointed and did likewise.

I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) saying on the minbar: The best of this ummah after its Prophet are Abu Bakr and ʻUmar, and if l wanted to name the third one, I would name him. A man said to Abu lshaq: They are saying that you say they were the best in evil. He said: Are you a Haroori (i.e.Khariji)?`

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed us to check the eyes and ears, and not to sacrifice any animal whose ears are slit in two lengthwise, any animal that has a round hole in its ear as a distinguishing mark, any animal that has the edge of its ears cut, or any animal whose ears were slit from the back.

The Prophet (ﷺ) promised me, no one would love me except a believer and no one would hate me except a hypocrite.

Would you kill two hundred for four? Rather I shall judge among you and if you accept it, all well and good. For the first one, one quarter of the diyah; for the second one, one third of the diyah; for the third one, half of the diyah, and for the fourth one, the (entire) diyah. They did not accept his verdict, so they went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: I shall judge among you. He was told about the verdict of ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) and he approved of it.

`Ali (رضي الله عنه) said to me - and ‘Abdur-Rahman said: `Ali (رضي الله عنه) said to Abul-Hayyaj: I am sending you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me: do not leave any raised grave without levelling it or any image without erasing it.

`There is no obedience to any human being if it involves disobedience to Allah.`

I heard Jurayy bin Kulaib narrate that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade is missing.

We were at a funeral in Baqee’ al-Gharqad, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us. He sat down and we sat down around him. He had a stick and he started to hit the ground with it, then he lifted his gaze and said: `There is no one among you, no living soul, but Allah has decreed its place in Paradise or Hell, and it has been decreed whether it is doomed or blessed.” The people said. O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), shouldn`t we rely on our destiny and stop striving? Then whoever is one of the blessed, will end up blessed, and whoever is one of the doomed, will end up doomed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Rather you should strive, for everyone is helped (to do their deeds): the doomed are helped to do the deeds of the doomed and the blessed are helped to do the deeds of the blessed.` Then he recited: `As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, And believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And belies Al-Husna We will make smooth for him the path for evil` . (Al-Husna: The Best (i.e. either La ilaha illAllaah: none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) or a reward from Allah (i.e. Allah will compensate him for what he will spend in Allah`s way or bless him with Paradise) Footnote from Hilali/Khan Translation of Meanings) It was narrated that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: We were at a funeral in Baqee` al-Gharqad - and he narrated a similar report

It was narrated from `Ali (رضي الله عنه) that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast on the day of `Ashoora’ and enjoined others to do so.

“Whoever tells a lie about his eyes (i.e., claims to have seen something in his dream that he did not see) will be commanded to tie the two ends of a grain of barley on the Day of Resurrection.”

I was a man who emitted a great deal of madhi but I felt too shy to ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it because his daughter was married to me, so I told a man to ask him and he said: `For that, do wudoo’.`

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The key to prayer is wudoo’, entering it is takbeer and exiting it is tasleem.`

“Do not pray after ‘Asr unless you pray when the sun is still high.`

When Abu Talib died, I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Your paternal uncle, the old man, has died. He said: “Go and bury him, then do not do anything about his affairs until you come to me.” So I went and buried him, then I came to him and he said: `Go and do ghusl, then do not do anything until you come to me.” So I did ghusl, then I came to him and he offered du`a` for me, and I would not be happy if I had red and black camels instead of that. Ibn Bakkar said in his Hadeeth: as-Suddi said: And ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) used to do ghusl when he had washed a deceased person.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever tells a lie about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.”

“Do not pray after ‘Asr unless you pray when the sun is still high.” Sufyan said: I do not know whether he meant in Makkah or anywhere close.

Divide it among the women for head covers.

I heard `Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: Verily this (his beard) will be soaked from this (his head, i.e., from blood flowing from a wound to the head). What is this wretch waiting for? They said: O Ameer al-Mu`mineen, tell us who he is so that we can annihilate his family. He said: By Allah, then you would be killing because of me people who are not involved in my killing. They said: Appoint a successor for us. He said: No, but I will leave you as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) left you. They said: What will you say to your Lord when you come to Him? - on one occasion, Wakee` said: When you meet Him - He said: I will say: O Allah, You left me with them as long as You wanted, then You took me to Yourself and You are still with them; if You will You can cause their affairs to be sound and if You will You can cause their affairs to be corrupt.

We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) when `Ammar came and asked for permission to enter. He said: “Let him in, welcome to the good one and purified one.`

If I tell you a hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then think of him in the best manner, the most guided manner and the most pious manner. A similar report was narrated from Abu ’Abdur-Rahman as-Sulami from `Ali (رضي الله عنه)

If you are told a hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then think of him in the most guided manner, the most pious manner and the best manner.

I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Abu Marthad, az-Zubair bin al-`Awwam and me on a mission, and we were all horsemen. He said: “Go out until you come to Rawdat Khakh.` This is how Ibn Abu Shaibah said it “Khakh.” Ibn Numair said in his Hadeeth: `Rawdat such and such.” And Ibn Numair said: `Affan told us: Khalid told us: from Husain... a similar report. He said “Rawdat Khakh.`