56. Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe!

Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect. [Al-Ahzab (33:56)]

Monday, May 14, 2007

Caliph Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu)

Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) narrates that he held a silent misconception about Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu).

The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is narrated to have said of Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu): “La fata illa Ali (there is no brave man except Ali).

Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) used to believe that if Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) had been truly brave, he would have transferred power to Muawia although Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) was rightly guided and Muawia was wrongly guided. Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) thought that transferring power to Muawia would have at least saved many lives.

Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) narrates that his residence was in between the Safa and the Marwah Mountains.

One night, Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) was blessed with the vision of the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in a dream. The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was accompanied by the four rightly-guided Caliphs. In the dream, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) hugged Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe). Afterwards, the Beloved Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) pointed to Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allah unhu) and asked: “Who is he?” Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) replied: “This is Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allah unhu).” The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) then pointed to Hazrat Omar (radi Allah unhu) and asked: “Who is he?” Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) replied: “This is Hazrat Omar (radi Allah unhu).” After this, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) pointed to Hazrat Osman (radi Allah unhu) and asked: “Who is he?” Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) replied: “This is Hazrat Osman (radi Allah unhu).”

The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) then turned to Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) and asked a similar question. At this, Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) remembered his opinion about Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) and became very ashamed. Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) could no longer say anything. The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) called Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) as the brother of Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe). After hearing this, Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) and Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) hugged each other in the dream.

In the dream, everyone left except Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu). Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) said: “Let us go to the Abu Kobais Mountain.” Afterwards, both Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu) and Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) came to the top of the mountain and saw the view of the Holy Kaba from there.

Upon awakening, Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) found that he was in fact on the Abu Kobais Mountain as he had been in the dream. At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr Katani (rahmatullahi alaihe) was completely free of any misconception about Hazrat Ali (radi Allah unhu).