A Challenge to All Shias Around the World

By the end of the 5^th century, it was evident that the number of circulated fabrications by the Shia regarding the virtues of ‘Ali had were in the hundreds of thousands. The great muhaddith, Abu Ya’la Al-Khalili (d. 446), quotes a hadith critic saying:

“I have observed the reports that were fabricated by the Kufans regarding the virtues of ‘Ali and his family, and they were more than 300,000 fabricated reports.” (Al-Khalili 419)

Ibn al-Jawzi said:

“The Rafida’s extreme love of Ali led them to fabricate many reports demonstrating his virtues. Most of these reports actually ended up harming him and depicting him in a negative manner. I have listed some of those reports in my book, al-Mawdu’aat.” (Ibn Al-Jawzi 89)

Thus, it should not be a surprise for the reader to encounter a variety of bizarre and extremely exaggerated reports regarding the virtues of ‘Ali b. Abi Taleb in Shi’ite literature. In this article, we shall present a collection of similar reports deemed “authentic” by Shi’ite scholarship, and we shall then challenge every single Shi’ite on this planet to substantiate the claims made in these reports.

A Prelude to the Challenge

The collection of reports that shall be presented today is a slew of strange reports mostly found in Basa’ir Al-Darajat by Al-Saffar (d. 290). In his book, Al-Saffar lists a series of reports stating that the Wilayah of ‘Ali b. Abi Taleb was enforced and upheld by ALL past prophets of God.

Here are some of those reports:

1. Al-Saffar, from Muhammad b. Al-Husayn, from Wahib b. Hafs, from Abu Basir, who said: Abu Ja’far (as) said: Our Wilayah is the Wilayah of Allah, which no prophet has been sent except by it. (Al-Saffar 95)
2. Al-Saffar, from Ahmed b. Muhammad, from ‘Ali b. Al-Hakam, from Sayf b. ‘Umayrah, from Abu Bakr Al-Hadhrami, from Hudhayfah b. Usayd, from the Messenger of Allah: “The prophethood of a prophet was never complete until my Wilayah and the Wilayah of my Ahlulbait was presented forth to him and he then submits to their obedience and (Al-Saffar 93)
3. Al-Saffar, from Al-Sindi b. Muhammad, from Yunus b. Ya’qub, from ‘Abdul’A’la, who said: Abu ‘Abdullah said: No prophet has ever become a prophet until he recognizes our rights and our superiority over everyone else. (Al-Saffar 94)
4. Al-Saffar, from Al-‘Abbas b. Ma’ruf, from Hammad b. ‘Isa, from Rab’i, from Muhammad b. Muslim, from Abu Ja’far (as) regarding the ayah, “Had they upheld the Torah, Injil and what had been revealed to them from their Lord,” he said: “[It is] the Wilayah.” (Al-Saffar 96)

Note: All of these reports are authentic (according to Shi’i standards).

Al-Saffar, in this context, lists tens of other reports that corroborate and demonstrate the same theme; however, these examples shall suffice.

The Challenge

It is quite bizarre how such reports elevate Ali way beyond the status of a mere political and religious successor of Prophet Muhammad, as believed by the initial Shias. Rather, his Wilayah is now presented as a pillar of faith that EVERY single prophet from Adam till Muhammad ~ was sent by and obliged to acknowledge.

These fabrications, which are purely the result of cumulative ghuluww, were eventually adopted and believed by the Twelver community.

What is the challenge?

It is very simple:

Since these reports claim that the Wilayah of Ali b. Abi Taleb was upheld by ALL prophets of God such that they only became prophets after acknowledging the Wilayah and that it was fundamental to their prophethood, we challenge the Shia to produce the following:

• A single explicit verse from the Old Testament, New Testament, or the Quran where any Prophet of God is quoted upholding, emphasizing, preaching or believing in the Wilayah of ‘Ali b. Abi Taleb.

Hint: Twenty-five prophets are mentioned in the Quran, along with many of their core teachings. It would, indeed, be bizarre (in light of these reports) if none of them were ever mentioned in the context of the Wilayah of Ali. If the Shi’i polemicist is not capable of presenting a single instance in the Quran where a prophet is sent by the Wilayah of ‘Ali or commanded to uphold it, then we are gracious enough to expand the scope of this challenge to the Old and New Testament.

If the Shi’ite is not able to find a single verse to substantiate these various claims, then perhaps this is a good opportunity to cast doubt on this narrative, and question the actual reliability of such bizarre and exaggerated fabrications that have been authenticated and ascribed to the Imams by the Shia.

“So if they fail to respond to you, then know that they only follow their desires. And who could be more astray than those who follow their desires with no guidance from Allah? Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” [Quran 28:50]

And Allah is the best of witnesses,

Abu Al-‘Abbas Al-Shami

Sources

Al-Saffar, Muhammad. Basa’ir Al-Darajat Al-Kubra. Edited by Mirza Mohsen Kojeh Baghi, vol. 1, Matba’at Al-Ahmedi, 1404.

Al-Khalili, Abu Ya’la. Al-Irshad Fi Ma’rifati ‘Ulamaa’ Al-Hadith. Edited by Muhammad Idris, 1st ed., vol. 1 3, Maktabat Al-Rushd, 1409.

Ibn Al-Jawzi, Abu Al-Faraj. Talbis Iblis. 1st ed., vol. 1 1, Dar Al-Fikr Lil-Tiba’a Wal-Nashr, 2001.