Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) Refuting the Belief of the Shi’ah

The Shi’ah regard Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen, ‘Ali bin Husain (rahimahullah), the great-grandson of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), to be one of their twelve Imaams. However, he was from the Ahlus-Sunnah-Wal-Jamaa’ah and did not subscribe to any of the deviated beliefs of the Shi’ah.

In the following incident, we will understand how Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) responded to a Shi’ah who disliked Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and bore hatred for him. Similarly, we will understand the belief of Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) regarding the Shi’ah who consider the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to be out of the fold of Islam:

On one occasion, a person came to Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen, ‘Ali bin Husain (rahimahullah), and asked, “O grandson of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! What is your opinion regarding (Hazrat) ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)?” Noticing the person’s resentment for Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) explained to him that in total, there are three groups of Muslims which are mentioned in the Qur’aan Majeed (the Muhaajireen, the Ansaar and those who came later on and followed the Muhaajireen and Ansaar in righteous actions). He then asked him, “My brother, are you from the first category of people (the Muhaajireen), whom Allah Ta‘ala speaks about in the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ الۡمُهٰجِرِیۡنَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُخۡرِجُوۡا مِنۡ دِیَارِهِمۡ وَاَمۡوَالِهِمۡ یَبۡتَغُوۡنَ فَضۡلًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرِضۡوَانًا وَّیَنۡصُرُوۡنَ اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوۡلَه ؕ اُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الصّٰدِقُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۸﴾

(There is a share of the wealth) for the poor Muhaajireen who were expelled from their homes and their properties, (who performed hijrah to Madinah for the sake of) seeking bounty from Allah and (His) pleasure and supporting (the deen of) Allah and His Messenger. Those are the truthful.”

The man replied, “No! I am not from the Muhaajireen!” Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) then said, “If you are not from the first group mentioned in the aayah, then are you from the second group (the Ansaar) whom Allah Ta‘ala speaks about in the following verse:

وَالَّذِیۡنَ تَبَوَّءُوۡ الدَّارَ وَالۡاِیۡمَانَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهِمۡ یُحِبُّوۡنَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ اِلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا یَجِدُوۡنَ فِیۡ صُدُوۡرِهِمۡ حَاجَةً مِّمَّاۤ اُوۡتُوۡا وَیُؤۡثِرُوۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ کَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٌ ؕ وَمَنۡ یُّوۡقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِه فَاُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾

And (there is also a share of the wealth for) those who settled in Madinah and brought Imaan before them (the Muhaajireen who made hijrah to Madinah). They love those who made hijrah to them (the Muhaajireen) and they do not feel any jealousy in their hearts for the wealth which the Muhaajireen were given but rather they give them (the Muhaajireen) preference over themselves, even though poverty be their lot. And whoever is protected from the greed of his soul – it is those who are the successful.”

The man replied, “No! I am neither from among the Ansaar!” Hazrat Zainul ‘Aabideen (rahimahullah) then said, “By Allah! If you are not from the third group whom Allah Ta‘ala speaks about in the following aayah, then you will most definitely be out of the fold of Islam (as you will not belong to any of the three groups of Islam). The third group are those regarding whom Allah Ta‘ala says:

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ جَآءُوۡ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ رَبَّنَا اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ لِاِخۡوَانِنَا الَّذِیۡنَ سَبَقُوۡنَا بِالۡاِیۡمَانِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّكَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰﴾

And those who came after them (the Muhaajireen and Ansaar) say (while making du‘aa for the Muhaajireen and Ansaar), “Our Rabb! Forgive us, and our brethren who brought Imaan before us, and leave not, in our hearts, any malice for the believers. Our Rabb! You are indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful.”

(Tafseer Qurtubi 18/31)