Looking at Imam Ali is Ibadah

Part One : Hadith of Abd-Allah Ibn Ma’sud
Part Two: Sunni Scholars who considered this Hadith Sahih
Part Three : Chronicle in Mustadarak of al-Haakim
Part Four : Additional Asaneed from other companions

Welcome to our Blog! Allah ﷻ says in the Qu’ran :

تَرَىٰهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًاۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ

You see them bowing and prostrating in prayers, seeking Allah’s favour and acceptance. Their sign are in their faces from the effect of prostration.

~Surah al-Fath 48:29

Part One : Hadith of Abd-Allah Ibn Ma’sud –

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺜﻤﺎﻥ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺷﻴﺒﺔ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺑﺪﻳﻞ اﻟﻴﺎﻣﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻴﺴﻰ، ﻋﻦ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ، ﻋﻦ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﻠﻘﻤﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ، ﻋﻦ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ﻗﺎﻝ: «اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Narrated from Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah who narrated from Ahmad ibn Badyl al-Yami who narrated from Yahya ibn Eesa on the authority of al-Amash from Ibrahim an-Nakhai’i on the authority of Alqamah ibn Qays from Abd-Allah Ibn Masud that

The Prophet ﷺ said : “Looking at the face of Ali is worship.”

~al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer al-Tabarani 10006.

The Sanad is Sahih and the part from al-A’mash to Ibn Masud is the sanad of Sahihayn (Bukhari & Muslim), However the Nawasibs & their likes try to make it weak by citing criticism on Ahmad ibn Badyl & Yahya ibn Eesa even tho both of them are reliable.

• Yahya ibn Eesa al-Ramli :

1) Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani wrote :

‌يحيى ‌ابن ‌عيسى التميمي… صدوق يخطىء

He is Sudooq (sincere) but makes mistakes

~Taqrib al-Tahdheeb 1063

2) Imam Muslim took his narrations upon Shawaidh in his Sahih Muslim vol 7:287

3) al-Ijli and others mentioned him as Thiqat vol 1:475

• Ahmad ibn Badyl al-Yami :

1) Allamah adh-Dhabhi wrote about him :

قاضي الكوفة ثم همذان، الحافظ، عالم دين

He was a Qadhi (Judge) of al-Kufah then Hamedan. He was al-Hafidh (Memorizer of Hadith), a Scholar of the religion.

~Siyar Alam an-Nubala vol 12:331

2) We also have the praises from Hafidh ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, Ibn Hibban, al-Mizzi, an-Nisai’i and etc on him, There are many more references but we will not exert our resources on that now.

• We also have this hadith from al-Amash to Ibn Masud from other than this Sanad 👇

ﻧﺎ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ اﻟﺤﺠﺎﺝ، ﻭﻫﻮ اﺑﻦ اﻟﺼﻠﺖ، ﻧﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ اﻟﻤﺒﺎﺭﻙ، ﻧﺎ ﻣﻨﺼﻮﺭ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ اﻷﺳﻮﺩ، ﻋﻦ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ، ﻋﻦ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ , ﻋﻦ ﻋﻠﻘﻤﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ: «اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ»

It was narrated by Ahmad ibn al-Hajjaj ibn al-Salt who narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Mubarak who narrated from Mansour ibn Abi al-Aswad on the authority of al-Amash.

~Hadith Abu al-Hasan al-Sukary 34

This is a Hasan Sanad till al-A’mash post that the sanad it the same of al-Tabarani

• Another sanad to al-Amash :

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ اﻟﺤﺴﻴﻦ ﺑﻦ ﺣﻤﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ اﻟﺮﺑﻴﻊ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺘﺒﺔ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﺳﺎﻟﻢ اﻟﻘﺰاﺯ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻴﺴﻰ اﻟﺮﻣﻠﻲ، ﻋﻦ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ، ﻋﻦ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﻋﻦ ﻋﻠﻘﻤﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ، ﻗﺎﻝ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﷺ: «اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ» ﺗﻔﺮﺩ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻬﺬﻩ اﻟﻔﻀﻴﻠﺔ، ﻟﻢ ﻳﺸﺮﻛﻪ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺃﺣﺪ

It was narrated by Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Humayd who narrated from Muhammad ibn Ubayd ibn Utbah who narrated from Abdullah Ibn Salim al-Qazzaz who narrated from Yahya ibn Eesa al-Ramli on the authority of al-Amash from Ibrahim an-Nakhai’i on the authority of Alqamah ibn Qays that Abd-Allah Ibn Masud said that :

Rasulullah ﷺ said : “Looking at Ali’s face is worship.”

Ibn Shaheen said “This virtue is for Ali alone, none shares it with him.”

~Sharah Madhab Ahle Sunnah 103, Ibn Shaheen (D.385 H)

Second part : Sunni Scholars who considered this Hadith Sahih –

1) Allamah Jalal ad-Deen al-Suyuti (D.911 H) mentions :

ﻭﺃﺧﺮﺝ اﻟﻄﺒﺮاﻧﻲ ﻭاﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻣﺴﻌﻮﺩ -ﺭﺿﻲ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻬﻤﺎ- ﺃﻥ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ -ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ- ﻗﺎﻝ: “اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ” . ﺇﺳﻨﺎﺩﻩ ﺣﺴﻦ

وأخرجه ابن عساكر من حديث أبي بكر الصديق، وعثمان بن عفان، ومعاذ بن جبل، وأنس، وثوبان، وجابر بن عبد الله، وعائشة

And it was reported by al-Tabarani & al-Haakim from Ibn Masud that the Prophet ﷺ said “Looking at Ali is worship.” And its chain is HASAN (good)

Ibn Asakir also narrated the same narration from Abu Bakr, Uthman Ibn Affan, Mu’adh Ibn Jabal, Anas Ibn Malik, Thawban Mawla Rasul-Allah ﷺ, Jaabir Ibn Abd-Allah & A’isha Bint Abi Bakr.

~Taarikh al-Khulafa page 291

2) Ibn Hajr al-Makki al-Haythami (d.984 H) said it’s Sanad is Hasan (Good)

~al-Sawaiq al-Muhariqah page 366

3) Allamah Nur ad-Deen al-Haythami (D.807 H) mentioned :

ﺭﻭاﻩ اﻟﻄﺒﺮاﻧﻲ، ﻭﻓﻴﻪ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺑﺪﻳﻞ اﻟﻴﺎﻣﻲ، ﻭﺛﻘﻪ اﺑﻦ ﺣﺒﺎﻥ، ﻭﻗﺎﻝ: ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ، ﻭاﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺣﺎﺗﻢ ﻭﻓﻴﻪ ﺿﻌﻒ، ﻭﺑﻘﻴﺔ ﺭﺟﺎﻟﻪ ﺭﺟﺎﻝ اﻟﺼﺤﻴﺢ

It was narrated by al-Tabarani and in it is Ahmad Ibn Badyl al-Yami, Ibn Hibban considered him trustworthy and said he is established in hadith and Ibn Abi Haatim considered him weak and the rest of the narrators are the narrators of SAHIH.

~Majmaa’ al-Zawaid Vol 9:119

Hafidh al-Haythami said all of the narrators are the narrators of Sahih except Ahmad Ibn Badyl al-Yami, Ibn Abi Haatim al-Raazi considered him weak but that is not true as Ibn Abi Haatim in his own book al-Jarh wa al-Ta’deel vol 2:43 said Ahmad Ibn Badyl al-Yami is Sudooq and we have many more references on his ta’deel, an example from Allamah adh-Dhabhi was posted above, Here is the reference for Ibn Abi Haatim al-Raazi :

4) Hafidh Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani (D.430 H) mentioned this narration in his book Fadhail al-Khulafa al-Rashideen’ page 56 advocating the authenticity of this narration

5) Allamah al-Maghazili (D.483) mentioned this with many Asaneed in his book Manaqib Ahl al-Bayt page 283 and the methodology of al-Maghazili for quoting it in his book :

ﻓﺠﻤﻌﺖ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻀﺎﺋﻠﻬﻢ ﻣﺎ اﻧﺘﻬﺖ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻣﻌﺮﻓﺘﻲ، ﻭﺑﻠﻐﻪ ﺟﻬﺪﻱ ﻭﻃﺎﻗﺘﻲ، ﻣﻤﺎ ﺃﻧﺰﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﻓﻴﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ اﻵﻳﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮﺭاﺕ، ﻭﻣﺎ ﺟﺮﻯ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻟﻔﻆ اﻟﺮﺳﻮﻝ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪﻻﻻﺕ، ﻭﻣﺎ ﻇﻬﺮ ﻣﻨﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻌﺠﺰاﺕ، ﻣﺎ ﻻ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ اﻟﻤﻨﺼﻒ ﺑﻌﻘﻠﻪ ﺇﻧﻜﺎﺭﻩ

I have collected in this book the Fadhail of the Ahlul Bait of what was well known to me, about what Allah ﷻ revealed about them in the Qur’an and what was reported from the words of Rasul-Allah ﷺ and their apparent miracles, what a FAIR-MINDED person cannot deny.

~Manaqib Ahl al-Bayt page 52

6) Allamah al-Khattabi (D.388 H) explains this Hadith considering it Sahih, writes :

ﺃﻥ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻬﻪ ﻳﺪﻋﻮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺫﻛﺮ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﻮﺳﻢ ﻓﻴﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻧﻮﺭ اﻹﺳﻼﻡ ﻭﻳﺮﻯ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺑﻬﺠﺔ اﻹﻳﻤﺎﻥ ﻭﻟﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﺒﻴﻦ ﻓﻴﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺛﺮ اﻟﺴﺠﻮﺩ ﻭﺳﻴﻤﺎ اﻟﺨﺸﻮﻉ ﻭﺑﺬﻟﻚ ﻧﻌﺘﻪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻓﻴﻤﻦ ﻣﻌﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺻﺤﺎﺑﺔ اﻟﺮﺳﻮﻝ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ اﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﻓﻘﺎﻝ {ﺳﻴﻤﺎﻫﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺛﺮ اﻟﺴﺠﻮﺩ}

Looking at Imam Ali’s face calls for the remembrance of Allah ﷻ, because of the Noor of Islam that one perceives from it and the effect of frequent prostration, especially humility, that is evident in his face and thus Allah described them {mark on their faces are signs of their prostration}

~Ghareeb al-Hadith vol 2:182

7) Qadhi al-Shawkani (D.1250 H) wrote :

ﻓﻈﻬﺮ ﺑﻬﺬا ﺃﻥ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﻣﻨﻘﺴﻢ اﻟﺤﺴﻦ ﻟﻐﻴﺮﻩ ﻻ ﺻﺤﻴﺤﺎ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻗﺎﻝ اﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ، ﻭﻻ ﻣﻮﺿﻮﻋﺎ، ﻛﻤﺎ ﻗﺎﻝ اﺑﻦ اﻟﺠﻮﺯﻱ

This Hadith is on the category of ‘Hasan li-Gairihi (Hasan through evidences)’ and not Sahih as al-Haakim said nor Maudu (fabricated) as Ibn al-Jawzi said.

~al-Fa’waid al-Majmua’a page 361

8) Muhammad al-Kattani (D.1345 H) wrote :

ﺣﺪﻳﺚ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ ﻭﺭﺩ ﻣﻦ ﺭﻭاﻳﺔ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻋﺸﺮ ﺻﺤﺎﺑﻴﺎ ﺑﻌﺪﺓ ﻃﺮﻕ ﻗﺎﻝ اﻟﺴﻴﻮﻃﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﻌﻘﺒﺎﺕ ﻭﺗﻠﻚ ﻋﺪﺓ اﻟﺘﻮاﺗﺮ ﻓﻲ ﺭﺃﻱ ﺟﻤﺎﻋﺔ.

The Hadith ‘Looking at Imam Ali is Ibadah’ This is narrated from eleven Sahabah in several ways.

al-Suyuti said : This is Tawattur (mass transmission) according to the opinion of the Jama’ah.

~Nadhm al-Mutanathir page 243

Part Three : Chronicle in Mustadarak of al-Haakim –

Imam al-Haakim al-Nishapuri mentioned few asaneed for this Hadith, the first one

The Sanad to Imran Ibn Hossain :

ﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﺑﻦ ﻣﻌﺎﻭﻳﺔ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﺑﻦ ﺇﺳﺤﺎﻕ اﻟﺠﻌﻔﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ ﺭﺑﻪ اﻟﻌﺠﻠﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﺷﻌﺒﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻗﺘﺎﺩﺓ، ﻋﻦ ﺣﻤﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ، ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ اﻟﺨﺪﺭﻱ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﻤﺮاﻥ ﺑﻦ ﺣﺼﻴﻦ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ص اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Ali Ibn Abd al-Aziz narrated from Ibrahim Ibn Ishaq al-Jawfi who narrated from al-Ijli who narrated from Shubah Ibn al-Hajjaj on the authority of Qatadah from Hamid Ibn Abd al-Rahman Ibn Awf on the authority Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri who narrated from Imran Ibn Hossain :

Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘Looking at Ali is Ibadah’

Imam al-Haakim commented :

ﻫﺬا ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ اﻹﺳﻨﺎﺩ ﻭﺷﻮاﻫﺪﻩ ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺴﻌﻮﺩ ﺻﺤﻴﺤﺔ

This hadith is Sahih in its chain and it’s collaborative evidence from Abdullah Ibn Masud is Sahih too.

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 4681

Another sanad :

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ اﻟﺒﺼﺮﻱ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﻤﺮاﻥ ﺑﻦ ﺧﺎﻟﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻃﻠﻴﻖ، ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻴﻪ، ﻋﻦ ﺟﺪﻩ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﻤﺮاﻥ ﺑﻦ ﺣﺼﻴﻦ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ: اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Ibrahim Ibn Abd-Allah al-Basri narrated from Imran Ibn Khalid who narrated from his father Khalid Ibn Taliq who narrated from Taliq Ibn Imran who narrated from his father Imran Ibn Hossain and the narration is the same.

~al-Thani min al-Fa’waid al-Muntaqat, Ibn al-Sammak page 15

Second Sanad from Mustadarak :

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﺑﻜﺮ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ اﻟﻘﺎﺭﻱ، ﺛﻨﺎ اﻟﻤﺴﻴﺐ ﺑﻦ ﺯﻫﻴﺮ اﻟﻀﺒﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﺎﺻﻢ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ، ﺛﻨﺎ اﻟﻤﺴﻌﻮﺩﻱ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﻤﺮﻭ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺮﺓ، ﻋﻦ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﻠﻘﻤﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺴﻌﻮﺩ ﺭﺿﻲ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ص اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Abu Bakr al-Qari narrated from al-Musayyib Ibn Zuhayr who narrated from Aasim Ibn Ali who narrated from al-Masoodi on the authority of Amr Ibn Murrah from Ibrahim al-Nakhai’i on the authority of Alqamah Ibn Qays that Abd-Allah Ibn Mas’ud said that :

Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘Looking at Ali is Ibadah’

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 4683.

All of it’s narrator are the narrators of al-Bukhari or Muslim except al-Musayyib Ibn Zuhayr, Criticism has been posted that he is Majhool (unknown) however Allamah adh-Dhabhi took his Hadith as Sahih (refer Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 7042)

And just for information he was the chief head cop of the Abbassid Empire as Abu Faraj Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned :

اﻟﻤﺴﻴﺐ ﺑﻦ ﺯﻫﻴﺮ…. ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻣﻦ ﺭﺟﺎﻻﺕ اﻟﺪﻭﻟﺔ اﻟﻌﺒﺎﺳﻴﺔ، ﻭﻭﻟﻲ ﺷﺮﻃﺔ ﺑﻐﺪاﺩ ﻓﻲ ﺃﻳﺎﻡ اﻟﻤﻨﺼﻮﺭ، ﻭاﻟﻤﻬﺪﻱ، ﻭاﻟﺮﺷﻴﺪ، ﻭﻗﺪ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺗﻮﻟﻰ ﺧﺮاﺳﺎﻥ ﺃﻳﺎﻡ اﻟﻤﻬﺪﻱ

al-Musayyib Ibn Zuhayr, He was from the men working for the state of al-Abbassiyyah, He was the chief of the police in Baghdad during the reign of the caliphs : al-Mansoor, al-Mahdi & al-Rasheed and he became the governor of Khurassan during the reign of al-Mahdi.

~al-Muntazam fee Taarikh al-Muluk wa al-Umam vol 9:28

Imam al-Haakim also mentions the same sanad from al-Amash as we discussed before from the book of al-Tabarani, additionally al-Haakim said instead of al-Amash, Amr Ibn Murrah also narrated this hadith from Ibrahim al-Nakhai’i all the way to Abd-Allah Ibn Masud

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 4682

Part Four : Additional Asaneed from other companions –

1) Sanad to Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Quhafa & A’isha Bint Abi Bakr.

Abu Bakr al-Dinawari al-Maliki (D.333 H) mentioned :

ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ، ﻧﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ اﻟﻘﺎﺿﻲ، ﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﺃﺳﺎﻣﺔ، ﻋﻦ ﻫﺸﺎﻡ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺮﻭﺓ، ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻴﻪ، ﻋﻦ ﻋﺎﺋﺸﺔ ﻗﺎﻟﺖ: ﻗﻠﺖ ﻷﺑﻲ: ﺇﻧﻲ ﺃﺭاﻙ ﺗﻄﻴﻞ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ ع. ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﻟﻲ: ﻳﺎ ﺑﻨﻴﺔ! ﺳﻤﻌﺖ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ص ﻳﻘﻮﻝ: اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻭﺟﻪﻫ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Ali Ibn Sa’eed narrated from Muhammad Ibn Abd-Allah al-Qadhi who narrated from Abu Osamah who narrates from Hisham Ibn Urwah narrating from his father Urwah Ibn al-Zubayr

A’isha asked her father Abu Bakr : “I see you staring at the face of Ali Ibn Abi Talib for long”

Abu Bakr replied : ‘O Daughter, I heard Rasul-Allah ﷺ say : “Looking at the face of Ali is Ibadah'”

~al-Mujalasah wa Jawahir al-Ilm vol 8:230.

• All of it’s narrator from Muhammad Ibn Abd-Allah al-Qadhi to Urwah Ibn al-Zubayr are narrators of al-Bukhari & Muslim except Ali Ibn Sa’eed al-Baghdadi, the Nawasib say he is Majhool al-Haal but he is accepted as both Imam al-Haakim & Zakariyyah Ibn Yahya al-Saaji narrated from him

• Another Sanad

ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ اﻟﺤﺴﻦ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺟﻌﻔﺮ اﻟﻬﻤﺪاﻧﻲ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﻃﺎﻫﺮ اﻟﺴﻠﻔﻲ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺮﺩﻙ ﺑﺎﻟﺮﻱ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺴﻤﺎﻥ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ اﻟﻌﺒﺎﺱ ﺑﻦ اﻟﺤﺎﺝ، ﻭﺃﺑﻮ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﻣﻬﺪﻱ اﻟﺮاﺯﻱ ﻗﺎﻻ: ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ اﻟﻔﻮاﺭﺱ اﺑﻦ اﻟﺴﻨﺪﻱ, ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺣﻤﺎﺩ اﻟﻄﻬﺮاﻧﻲ, ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺮﺯاﻕ, ﻋﻦ ﻣﻌﻤﺮ, ﻋﻦ اﻟﺰﻫﺮﻱ, ﻋﻦ ﻋﺮﻭﺓ, ﻋﻦ ﻋﺎﺋﺸﺔ, ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺑﻜﺮ -ﺭﺿﻲ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻨﻪ- ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺳﻤﻌﺖ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ -ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ- ﻳﻘﻮﻝ: “اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

It was reported by al-Hasan ibn Ali who reported it from Ja’far al-Hamidani who reported it from Abu Taahir al-Salafi who reported it from Ali ibn Mardak in Rayy who reported it from Abu Sa’ad al-Saman who reported it from Abul Abbas ibn al-Hajj and Abu Ali ibn Mahdi al-Raazi they reported from Ibn al-Sindi who narrated from Muhammad ibn Hammad al-Tahrani who reported it from Abd al-Razzaq al-Sinani from Ma’mar on the authority of al-Zuhri from Urwah on the authority of A’isha from her father Abu Bakr that he heard :

the Prophet ﷺ said : “Looking at the face of Ali is worship.”

~Siyar Alam an-Nubala vol 12:106

Sanad : This Sanad is Sahih & All of it’s narrators are Thiqah.

2) Sanad to Abd-Allah Ibn Abbas & Uthman Ibn Affan :

Hafidh Ibn Asakir mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﻳﻮﻧﺲ ﻣﻮﻟﻰ اﻟﺮﺷﻴﺪ ﻗﺎﻝ.. اﻟﻤﺄﻣﻮﻥ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ اﻟﺮﺷﻴﺪ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ اﻟﻤﻬﺪﻱ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ اﻟﻤﻨﺼﻮﺭ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ ﺟﺪﻱ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺭﺟﻊ ﻋﺜﻤﺎﻥ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻓﺴﺄﻟﻪ اﻟﻤﺼﻴﺮ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻓﺼﺎﺭ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻓﺠﻌﻞ ﻳﺤﺪ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﻟﻪ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻣﺎﻟﻚ ﻳﺎ ﻋﺜﻤﺎﻥ ﻣﺎﻟﻚ ﺗﺤﺪ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻲ ﻗﺎﻝ ﺳﻤﻌﺖ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ص ﻳﻘﻮﻝ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Yunus the Mawla of Harun al-Rashid narrates from al-Ma’mun who heard Harun al-Rashid say that al-Mahdi said that al-Mansoor said that his father Muhammad narrated that his grandfather Ali Ibn Abd-Allah heard Abd-Allah Ibn Abbas say :

Uthman Ibn Affan went to Imam Ali and kept staring at him, Imam Ali asked ‘O Uthman, what is the matter with you? Why do you stare at me.’

Uthman replied : “I heard Rasul-Allah ﷺ say ‘Looking at Ali is Ibadah.'”

~Taarikh Damishq vol 42:350.

This is a Sanad with the Abbasid Sunni Caliphs.

3) Sanad to Thawban Mawla Rasul-Allah ﷺ :

Hafidh Ibn Asakir mentioned :

ﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ اﻟﻘﺎﺳﻢ ﺃﻧﺎ ﺣﻤﺰﺓ ﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﻧﺎ ﺣﺎﺟﺐ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺎﻟﻚ ﻧﺎ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ اﻟﻤﺜﻨﻰ ﺣﺪﺛﻨﻲ اﻟﺤﺴﻦ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻄﻴﺔ اﻟﺒﺰاﺭ ﺣﺪﺛﻨﻲ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻠﻤﺔ ﺑﻦ ﻛﻬﻴﻞ ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻴﻪ ﻋﻦ ﺳﺎﻟﻢ ﻋﻦ ﺛﻮﺑﺎﻥ ﻗﺎﻝ ﻗﺎﻝ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ص اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻋﺒﺎﺩﺓ

Narrated by Abu al-Qasim who narrated from Hamzah who narrated from Abu Ahmad who narrated from Haajib Ibn Malik who narrated from al-Muthana who narrated from al-Hasan Ibn Attityyah al-Bazzar who narrated from Yahya Ibn Salmah Ibn Kuhyl on the authority of his father from Saalim on the authority of Thawban that :

Rasul-Allah ﷺ said “Looking towards the face of Ali is Ibadah.”

~Taarikh Damishq vol 42:355

• All of it’s narrators are trustworthy except Yahya Ibn Salmah who was called weak but it’s not a mufassar (explanatory) Jarah rather he was called weak only because he was a considered a Shia’a as al-Ijli said :

ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻠﻤﺔ: ﺿﻌﻴﻒ اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ، ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻳﻐﻠﻮ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﺸﻴﻊ

Yahya Ibn Salmah : Da’eef al-Hadith and he was extreme in Shiism.

~al-Thiqat page 472.

According to the scholars of rijal, an extreme Shia’a is merely someone who considers Imam Ali superior to Abu Bakr & Umar but doesn’t deny their virtuous as Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani mentioned :

ﻓﻤﻦ ﻗﺪﻣﻪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺑﻜﺮ ﻭﻋﻤﺮ ﻓﻬﻮ ﻏﺎﻝ ﻓﻲ ﺗﺸﻴﻌﻪ

Whoever considers Ali superior over Abu Bakr & Umar has gone extreme into Shiism.

~Fath al-Baari vol 1:459

• However it was the view of many early Muhajireen & many from the Ansar and the Hashimites and the Kufans and the Yemenites and many from the Tabi’un that they used to consider Imam Ali superior to everyone else, so were the all ‘Extreme into Shiism?’ and thus Da’eef al-Hadith?

(An article related to the superiority of Imam Ali shall be posted soon on this channel In Shaa Allah ta’ala)

Thank you for reading! May Allah ﷻ make our Mawla, Imam Ali ع visit us in our dreams so that we may see his honorific & glorious face and fulfill this act of worship.