Imam Ali – The gate to the city of knowledge

Part 1 : Introduction

Part 2 : Sunni Scholars who authenticated the Hadith and used it as evidence

Part 3 : Abu al-Salt al-Harravi

Part 4 : Chains of transmission other than Abu al-Salt

Part 5 : Witness to the knowledge of Imam Ali

Part 1 : Introduction –

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

وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰۗ وَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبِهَاۚ

And it is not right to enter the house from the back but righteousness is in who fears Allah and enters the house from its door.

~Surah al-Baqarah 2:189

In this article, we will comprehensively discuss the Hadith, wherein the Holy Prophet ﷺ said : ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate and and none enters the city except thru its gate.’

P.s : If you want to skip to the main content, go to part two or click here

We also see in the methodology of the Ahl al-Sunnah that the one highest in knowledge deserves to be the Khalifah and Imam of the time. As mentioned by Allamah Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah :

أَنَّ الْمُسْتَحِقَّ لِإِمْرَةِ الْقَوْمِ وَإِمَامَتِهِمْ أَفْضَلُهُمْ وَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَأَفْقَهُهُمْ فِي دِينِهِ.

And the most worthy of leadership amongst people is the one who is most virtuous amongst them and who is most knowledgeable about the Book of Allah and the most learned about the religion.

~Zaad al-Ma’ad vol 3:526

Further, we see during the appointment of the six council committee, someone adviced Umar to make his son Abd-Allah a successor after him but Umar denied the plea based that Ibn Umar was unlearned about the basics, according to Umar –

Allamah al-Baladhuri mentioned :

عن ﻭﻛﻴﻊ، ﺛﻨﺎ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ ﻋﻦ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ ﻋﻤﺮ : ﻟﻮ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺃﺑﻮ ﻋﺒﻴﺪﺓ ﺑﻦ اﻟﺠﺮاﺡ ﺣﻴﺎ ﻻﺳﺘﺨﻠﻔﺘﻪ، ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﺭﺟﻞ: ﻳﺎ ﺃﻣﻴﺮ اﻟﻤﺆﻣﻨﻴﻦ ﻓﺄﻳﻦ ﺃﻥﺗ ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ؟
ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﻋﻤﺮ: ﻗﺎﺗﻠﻚ اﻟﻠﻪ، ﻭاﻟﻠﻪ ﻣﺎ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﺭﺩﺕ ﺑﻬﺬا اﻟﻘﻮﻝ، ﺃﺳﺘﺨﻠﻒ ﺭﺟﻼ ﻟﻢ ﻳﺤﺴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻄﻠﻖ اﻣﺮﺃﺗﻪ؟

Umar said ‘If Abu Ubaidah Ibn al-Jarrah was alive I would’ve made him a Caliph after me.’ So a man said ‘What do you think about your son, Abd-Allah?’

Umar replied : ‘May Allah kill you, should I appoint someone as a Caliph who doesn’t even know how to divorce women?’

~Ansab al-Ashraf vol 11:70

Here, Umar claims an unlearned person about the Shariah should not be considered for the office of the Caliphate; ironically, Umar himself did not know about Tayammum, a very basic instruction in the Quran yet he gladly took the oath for allegiance.

Imam an-Nisai’i narrated :

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَتَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَجْنَبْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدِ الْمَاءَ ‏قَالَ عُمَرُ لاَ تُصَلِّ فَقَالَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمَا تَذْكُرُ إِذْ أَنَا وَأَنْتَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَأَجْنَبْنَا فَلَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ فَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَمْ تُصَلِّ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَتَمَعَّكْتُ فِي التُّرَابِ فَصَلَّيْتُ فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ فَضَرَبَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ نَفَخَ فِيهِمَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ

A man came to Umar and said : ‘I have become Junub and I do not have any water.’ Umar replied ‘Do not pray.’

Then Ammar said to Umar : Don’t you remember we are on a campaign and we became Junub, you didn’t pray but I rolled over the dust and the Prophet ﷺ told me this is sufficient for you and then He ﷺ taught us the Tayammum?

~Sunan an-Nasa’i 313

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an about Tayammum :

وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُۚ

But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it.

~Surah al-Ma’idah 5:6

Part 2 : Sunni Scholars who authenticated the Hadith and used it as evidence

1) Imam al-Haakim narrated :

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ الْهَرَوِيُّ، بِالرَّمْلَةِ، ثنا أَبُو الصَّلْتِ عَبْدُ السَّلَامِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، ثنا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «أَنَا مَدِينَةُ الْعِلْمِ وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا، فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَلْيَأْتِ الْبَابَ»

Abu al-Abbas Muhammad Ibn Ya’qoub narrated from Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Rahim al-Harravi who narrated from Abu al-Salt al-Harravi who narrated from Abu Mu’awiyyah on the authority of al-A’mash from Mujahid who narrated from Ibn Abbas that Rasul-Allah ﷺ said :

‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate and none enters the city except through its gate.’

Imam al-Haakim said :

ﻫﺬا ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ اﻹﺳﻨﺎﺩ، ﻭﻟﻢ ﻳﺨﺮﺟﺎﻩ

This hadith is Sahih in its chain, but they (Bukhari & Muslim) didn’t record it.

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn, 4637

2) Allamah al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi mentioned :

ﻗﺎﻝ اﻟﻘﺎﺳﻢ: ﺳﺄﻟﺖ ﻳﺤﻴﻰ ﺑﻦ ﻣﻌﻴﻦ، ﻋﻦ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ، ﻓﻘﺎﻝ: ﻫﻮ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ

al-Qasim said “I asked Yahya Ibn Ma’in about this narration, he said it’s Sahih.”

~Taarikh Baghdad, vol 12:320

3) Allamah Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Jarir at-Tabari wrote :

ﻭﻫﺬا ﺧﺒﺮ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ ﺳﻨﺪﻩ

and this report is with Sahih Chain.

~Tahdheeb al-Athar, Musnad Ali page 104

4) Allamah Muhib al-Deen al-Tabari wrote :

ﺫﻛﺮ اﺧﺘﺼﺎﺻﻪ ﺑﺄﻧﻪ ﺑﺎﺏ ﺩاﺭ اﻟﺤﻜﻤﺔ….ﺃﺧﺮﺟﻪ اﻟﺘﺮﻣﺬﻱ ﻭﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺴﻦ ﻏﺮﻳﺐ

The Prophet ﷺ mentioned specially that Ali is the door to the house of wisdom. at-Tirmidhi quoted it and said it’s Hasan Ghareeb.

~al-Riyadh al-Nadrah vol 3:159

5) Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani writes under the introduction of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib that He is the gate of the city of knowledge

(ﺑﺎﺏ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ اﻟﻌﻠﻢ)

~Hilayat Al-Awliya, vol 1:104

6) Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani wrote :

ﻭﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﻟﻪ ﻃﺮﻕ ﻛﺜﻴﺮﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺘﺪﺭﻙ اﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ ﺃﻗﻞ ﺃﺣﻮاﻟﻬﺎ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﻟﻠﺤﺪﻳﺚ ﺃﺻﻞ ﻓﻼ ﻳﻨﺒﻐﻲ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻄﻠﻖ اﻟﻘﻮﻝ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﺑﺎﻟﻮﺿﻊ

And this narration has many paths like in Mustadarak, the least we could say is that it has a reality and it’s not a fabrication.

~Lisan al-Meezan, vol 2:465

• in another place he said :

وأن الحديث منقسم الحسن

This hadith is in the category of Hasan

~al-Fawaid al-Majmua’, al-Shawkani, page 349.

7) Allamah Jalal ad-Deen al-Suyuti wrote :

ﻫﺬا ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﺣﺴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺼﻮاﺏ، ﻻ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻗﺎﻝ اﻟﺤﺎﻛﻢ، ﻭﻻ ﻣﻮﺿﻮﻉ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻗﺎﻟﻪ ﺟﻤﺎﻋﺔ ﻣﻨﻬﻢ اﺑﻦ اﻟﺠﻮﺯﻱ ﻭاﻟﻨﻮﻭﻱ

This hadith is Hasan (good) on its correctness, it’s not sahih as al-Haakim mentioned it nor a fabrication like a group said, which includes Ibn al-Jawzi & al-Nawawi

~Taarikh al-Khulafa 1:133

• Strange that Allamah al-Suyuti calls it Hasan and not Sahih, considering that he was aware of the excess of transmission for this Hadith. Anyways for Allamah al-Suyuti and his likes, a Hasan Hadith is like a Sahih Hadith –

Allamah al-Suyuti said :

الحسن كالصحيح في الاحتجاج

The Hasan Hadith is like Sahih in it’s authority.

~Tadrib al-Rawi vol 1:173

8) Allamah al-Zarkashi wrote :

ان الحَدِيث يَنْتَهِي لمجموع طريقي ابي مُعَاوِيَة وَشريك الى دَرَجَة الْحسن المحتج بِهِ وَلَا يكون ضَعِيفا فضلا عَن ان يكون مَوْضُوعا

This narration has many paths from Abu Mu’awiyyah & Sharik and its category is Hasan and it’s not weak, let alone being fabricated.

~at-Tadhkirah fee al-Ahadith, 1:165

9) Hafidh al-Sakhawi wrote :

ﻭﺃﺣﺴﻨﻬﺎ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ، ﺑﻞ ﻫﻮ ﺣﺴﻦ

& The best way it has been narrated is through Ibn Abbas and it is Hasan.

~al-Maqasid al-Hasanah, 170.

10) Allamah al-Manawi mentioned :

الحافظ العلائي فقال: من حكم بوضعه فقد أخطأ والصواب أنه حسن باعتبار طرقه

Hafidh al-Ala’ee said : And whoever says it’s fabricated, it’s a mistake rather it is Hasan on its correctness.

~Faydh al-Qadir vol 3:46

11) Hafidh Ibn al-Jazari wrote in the introduction of his book :

ﻓﻬﺬﻩ ﺃﺣﺎﺩﻳﺚ ﻣﺴﻨﺪﺓ ﻣﻤﺎ ﺗﻮاﺗﺮ ﻭﺻﺢ ﻭﺣﺴﻦ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺳﻨﻰ ﻣﻨﺎﻗﺐ…. ﺃﻣﻴﺮ اﻟﻤﺆﻣﻨﻴﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ اﻟﺤﺴﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ

In this book are authentic hadiths that have been transmitted in tawattur; these are authentic and good, and they are among the most sublime virtues of Emir al-Mu’meenin Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Abi Talib.

~Manaqib al-Asad al-Ghalib page 11

Then Ibn al-Jazari mentioned this narration on page 31

12) Qadhi Thana-Allah Panipati wrote :

رواه الترمذي بسند صحيح عن على- وانا مدينة العلم وعلىّ بابها فمن أراد

at-Tirmidhi narrated it with a Sahih Chain from Ali (quoting the Hadith)

~Tafsir al-Mazhari vol 4:384

13) Muhammad Ibn Ya’qoub al-Junadi wrote :

وَكَانَ من أجلاء فُقَهَاء الصَّحَابَة وَكفى شَاهدا لَهُ قَوْله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم أَنا مَدِينَة الْعلم وَعلي بَابهَا

And Ali was the most learned amongst the companions and enough for a witness is that the Prophet ﷺ said ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is it’s gate.’

~al-Suluk fee Tabqat al-Ullama wa al-Muluk vol 1:80

14) al-Sameen al-Halabi wrote :

وقال عليه الصلاة والسلام في حق ابن عمه أمير المؤمنين علي رضي الله عنه: “أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها”، وذلك لما أخذ عنه وأودعه إياه لاسيما من علوم القرآن

And the Prophet ﷺ said in favour of his cousin, Emir al-Mu’meenin Ali, ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is it’s gate.’ This is because the knowledge he took from the Prophet, especially the Uloom of al-Qu’ran.

~Tafsir Ashraf al-Alfadh vol 1:242

15) Hafidh Kamal ad-Deen al-Damiri wrote :

ومناقبه رضي الله تعالى عنه كثيرة جدا ويكفي منها قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم «أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها

The virtues of Ali are many and sufficient is that the Prophet ﷺ said ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.’

~Hayat al-Hayawaan al-Kubra vol 1:77

16) Imam al-Raghib al-Isfahani said :

ﻭﻗﻮﻝ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ : ﺃﻧﺎ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ اﻟﻌﻠﻢ ﻭﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﺎﺑﻬﺎ “، ﺃﻱ ﺑﻪ ﻳﺘﻮاﺻﻞ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺣﻘﺎﺋﻖ اﻟﻌﻠﻮﻡ ﻭﻋﻠﻲ ﻭﺇﻥ ﺷﺎﺭﻛﻪ ﻓﻴﻪ ﻏﻴﺮﻩ، ﻓﺘﺨﺼﻴﺼﻪ ﻟﻜﻮﻧﻪ ﺃﺭﻓﻊ ﻣﻨﺰﻟﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺑﺎﺏ اﻟﻌﻠﻢ

And the saying of the Prophet ﷺ ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.’

This is because Ali is the means to reach the depth of knowledge, and it is dedicated to him for his high status in the field of knowledge.

~Tafsir al-Raghib al-Isfahani vol 1:402

17) Hafidh Abu Bakr al-Ajuri mentioned :

بَابُ ذِكْرِ مَا أُعْطَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ وَتَوْفِيقِ الصَّوَابِ فِي الْقَضَاءِ , وَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَهُ بِالسَّدَادِ وَالتَّوْفِيقِ

This is a chapter on what was given to Ali Ibn Abi Talib from knowledge and wisdom and the success in judgement and the dua’a The Prophet ﷺ made for him.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَا دَارُ الْحِكْمَةِ , وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا , فَمَنْ أَرَادَهَا آتَاهَا مِنْ بَابِهَا»

On the authority of Ali that Rasul-Allah ﷺ said ‘I am the house of wisdom and Ali is it’s gate and whoever intends to enter the house must enter through it’s gate.’

وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ بَيْنَ أَضْلَاعِي لَعِلْمًا كَثِيرًا

And Ali would say : ‘My heart is a containment of a lot of knowledge.’

~al-Shariah vol 4:2068-69

18) Allamah Ismail Haqqi al-Hanafi wrote :

والعلم الباطني بمنزلة الباب من البيت ومن أراد دخول البيت فليأت من باب وبيت العلم ومدينته هو النبي عليه السلام وباب هذا البيت والمدينة هو على رضى الله عنه كمال قال عليه السلام انا مدينة العلم وعلىّ بابها

And the knowledge of Baatin is like the door of a house and whoever intends to enter the house, must do so from the door. And the house of knowledge is The Prophet ﷺ and the door is Ali as the Prophet ﷺ said in the Hadith.

~Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan vol 5:272

19) Allamah Ibn al-Maghazili mentioned in the introduction of 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 Emir al-Mu’meenin Ali page 52

• He mentioned this Hadith on page no 154

20) Hafidh Ahmad Ibn Ali al-Qalqashandi wrote :

وعلى أخيه وابن عمّه ، القائم مقامه بفصل حكمه وفضل علمه.. وميّزه على الكافة بقوله : أنا مدينة العلم وعليّ بابها

And Ali, the brother of Rasul-Allah, He was in his position due to his virtue in wisdom and knowledge and the Prophet ﷺ distinguished him above others by saying ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.’

~Subh al-A’sha fee Sina’at al-Insha vol 10:433

21) Allamah al-Alusi wrote :

ومودتهم يعود نفعها إلى من يودهم لأنها سبب للفيض وهم رضي الله تعالى عنهم أبوابه وفي قوله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم «أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها»

Love of the Ahlul Bait benefits those who loves them because it is a cause of abundance of blessings and they are the gate to the Prophet ﷺ and He ﷺ said

‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is it’s gate.’

~Tafsir Ruh al-Ma’ani vol 13:60

22) Allamah Ibn Hajr al-Haythami said :

وَأما حَدِيث أَنا مَدِينَة الْعلم وعَلى بَابهَا فَهُوَ حَدِيث حسن

And as for the Hadith, ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.’ It is Hasan.

~Fatawa al-Hadithiyyah page 530

Part 3 : Abu al-Salt al-Harravi

Those who criticized this Hadith did so due to the narrator Abu al-Salt al-Harravi not because he was weak but because he was a companion of Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha. The Jarah upon him are Ghayr Mufassar. He is a trustworthy narrator according to –

1) al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi mentioned :

سألت يحيى بن معين عن أبي الصلت الهروي فقال ثقة صدوق إلا أنه يتشيع

Yahya Ibn Ma’in was asked about Abu al-Salt al-Haravi, He said ‘He is Trustworthy, Sincere except he was a Shia’a.’

~Taarikh Baghdad vol 11:50

• al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi also mentioned –

عن العباس بن محمد الدوري يقول سمعت يحيى بن معين يوثق أبا الصلت عبد السلام بن صالح فقلت أو قيل له إنه حدث عن أبي معاوية عن الاعمش أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها فقال ما تريدون من هذا المسكين أليس قد حدث به محمد بن جعفر الفيدي عن أبي معاوية هذا أو نحوه

al-Abbas al-Dawri said : I heard Yahya Ibn Ma’in testifying Abu al-Salt trustworthiness or it was said to him that Abu al-Salt narrates from Abu Mu’awiyyah the Hadith ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is it’s gate’

Yahya Ibn Ma’in Replied – What do you want from this Poor fellow? Didn’t Muhammad Ibn Ja’far also narrate the same Hadith from Abu Mu’awiyyah?

~Taarikh Baghdad vol 11:51

• Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Ja’far al-Faydi is Thiqah and a narrator of Sahih al-Bukhari (Check Bukhari 2613)

2) Imam al-Haakim said about him :

أبو الصلت ثقة مأمون

Abu al-Salt is trustworthy and reliable.

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 4637

P.s : Its scan has already been uploaded when quoting the Hadith

3) Allamah al-Ijli mentioned :

عبد ‌السَّلَام بن صَالح بصرى ثِقَة

Abd al-Salam Ibn Saleh Basri, Trustworthy

~Taarikh al-Thiqat page 303

P.s : Abd al-Salam Ibn Saleh is his name, while Abu al-Salt is his Kunyah

4) Allamah Ibn Shaheen said :

ﺃﺑﻮ اﻟﺼﻠﺖ اﻟﻬﺮﻭﻱ ﺛﻘﺔ ﺻﺪﻭﻕ ﺇﻻ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻳﺘﺸﻴﻊ

Abu al-Salt al-Harravi, Trustworthy, Truthful, except he was a Shia’a.

~Taarikh Asma al-Thiqat page 156

5) Allamah al-Mizzi said :

أبو الصلت الهروي….أديب فقيه، عالم

Abu al-Salt al-Harravi, A jurist and a scholar.

~Tahdheeb al-Kamal fee Asma al-Rijal vol 18:73

6) Allamah adh-Dhabhi said :

أبو الصلت الهروي الرجل الصالح، إلا أنه شيعي جلد.

Abu al-Salt al-Harravi, was a righteous person, except that he was a staunch Shia’a.’

~Meezan al-Aetidal vol 2:616

• He mentioned in another place :

أبو الصلت الشيخ العالم العابد ، شيخ الشيعة…له فضل وجلالة..وكان زاهدا متعبدا

Abu al-Salt, The Shaykh of knowledge and worship. A Shaykh of Shia’a, He was virtuous and majestic. He was an ascetic and devout person.

أبوالصلت…حدث عنه ..عبد الله بن أحمد

Abu al-Salt and the one who narrated from him : Abd-Allah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.

~Siyar Alam an-Nubala vol 11:446-47

• Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani mentioned :

ان عبد الله كَانَ لَا يكْتب الا عَن ثِقَة عِنْد أَبِيه

Abd-Allah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal would only write from a narrator if he was trustworthy insight of his father, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.

~Ta’jeel al-Manfah vol 1:265

7) al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi mentioned :

أخبرنا البرقاني .. قال لي دعلج انه سمع أبا سعد الهروي وقيل له ما تقول في عبد السلام بن صالح فقال نعيم بن الهيصم ثقة

Reported by al-Burqani that Da’laj told me that he heard Abu Sa’ad al-Harrawi and he was asked : What do you say about Abd al-Salam ibn Salih (Abu al-Salt)? He replied Na’eem ibn al-Haysam said ‘He is trustworthy.’

~Taarikh Baghdad vol 11:52

Part 4 : Chains of transmission other than Abu al-Salt

There are chains to this Hadith that does not include Abu al-Salt –

1) Allamah Abu Ja’far at-Tabari mentioned :

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﻲ ﺇﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﺑﻦ ﻣﻮﺳﻰ اﻟﺮاﺯﻱ – ﻭﻟﻴﺲ ﺑﺎﻟﻔﺮاء – ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﻣﻌﺎﻭﻳﺔ، ﺑﺈﺳﻨﺎﺩﻩ، ﻣﺜﻠﻪ

Ibrahim Ibn Musa al-Raazi narrated the same Hadith to me from Abu Mu’awiyyah who narrated from al-A’mash on the authority of Mujahid from Ibn Abbas.

~Tahdheeb al-Athar vol 3:105

• Ibrahim Ibn Musa al-Raazi is a narrator of Sahihayn – al-Bukhari and Muslim.

2) Hafidh Khaithama Ibn Sulayman mentioned :

ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ اﺑﻦ ﻋﻮﻑ , ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﺤﻔﻮﻅ ﺑﻦ ﺑﺤﺮ اﻷﻧﻄﺎﻛﻲ , ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻣﻮﺳﻰ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ اﻷﻧﺼﺎﺭﻱ اﻟﻜﻮﻓﻲ , ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻣﻌﺎﻭﻳﺔ , ﻋﻦ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ , ﻋﻦ ﻣﺠﺎﻫﺪ , ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ

Ibn Awf narrated from Ibn Bahr al-Antaky who narrated from Musa Ibn Muhammad al-Kufi on the authority of Abu Mu’awiyyah from al-A’mash on the authority of Mujahid who narrated from Ibn Abbas.

~Min Hadith Khaithama Ibn Sulayman vol 1:200

• Musa Ibn Muhammad al-Kufi was authenticated by the likes of Yahya Ibn Sa’eed al-Qattan, Yahya Ibn Ma’in, Ibn Hibban and etc.

3) We mentioned a point in the previous part where Yahya Ibn Ma’in said Muhammad Ibn Ja’far al-Faydi also narrates the same Hadith from Abu Mu’awiyyah and Muhammad Ibn Ja’far is a narrator of Sahih al-Bukhari.

~Taarikh Baghdad vol 11:51

4) Khateeb al-Baghdadi mentioned :

ﺃﺧﺒﺮﻧﻲ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ اﻟﻌﺘﻴﻘﻲ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ اﻟﺸﺎﻫﺪ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﺑﻜﺮ اﻟﻄﺤﺎﻥ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻳﺰﻳﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺳﻠﻴﻢ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﻲ ﺭﺟﺎء ﺑﻦ ﺳﻠﻤﺔ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺣﺪﺛﻨﺎ ﺃﺑﻮ ﻣﻌﺎﻭﻳﺔ اﻟﻀﺮﻳﺮ، ﻋﻦ اﻷﻋﻤﺶ، ﻋﻦ ﻣﺠﺎﻫﺪ، ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ،

Ahmad Ibn Muhammad al-Autaqiue narrated from Abd-Allah Ibn Muhammad al-Shaheed who narrated from Abu Bakr al-Tahan who narrated from Ahmad Ibn Yazid Ibn Sulaym who narrated from Raja’ Ibn Salamah who narrated from Abu Mu’awiyyah on the authority of al-A’mash from Mujahid who narrated from Ibn Abbas.

~Taarikh Baghdad vol 5:571

• It is said Raja’ Ibn Salamah is Majhool but he has been authenticated by Allamah Ibn Hibban and others.

5) Allamah Ibn al-Asakir mentioned :

from al-Daraqutni who narrated from Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim ibn Firous who narrated from al-Husayn ibn Ubayd-Allah al-Taimimi who narrated from Hubayb ibn al-Nu’man on the authority of Ja’far al-Sadiq who narrated from Muhammad al-Baqir from Zayn al-Abideen from Jaabir Ibn Abd-Allah that the Prophet ﷺ said …

~Taarikh Damishq vol 42:382

6) Imam at-Tirmidhi mentioned :

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ الرُّومِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ سُوَيْدِ بْنِ غَفَلَةَ، عَنِ الصُّنَابِحِيِّ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَنَا دَارُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا ‏”

Ismail Ibn Musa narrated from Muhammad Ibn Umar al-Rumi who narrated from Shaarik al-Qaadhi on the authority of Salamah Ibn Kuhayl from Suwayd Ibn Gafalah on the authority of al-Sunabihi who narrated from Imam Ali that the Prophet ﷺ said :

‘I am the house of wisdom and Ali is its gate.’

~Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, 3723

• This chain is Sahih and all of it’s narrator are Thiqah until the Haatib al-Layl who says that Shaarik Ibn Abd-Allah was a Mudallis and his mu’an’an here is rejected, a reply to that –

Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani wrote :

اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ اﺣﺘﻤﻞ اﻻﺋﻤﺔ ﺗﺪﻟﻴﺴﻪ ﻭﺃﺧﺮﺟﻮا ﻟﻪ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺼﺤﻴﺢ ﻻﻣﺎﻣﺘﻪ ﻭﻗﻠﺔ ﺗﺪﻟﻴﺴﻪ

And the second category in this book are those narrators to whom Tadlis was ascribed but their narrations are ACCEPTED because they would do very less tadlis.

~Tabqat al-Mudalliseen vol 1:13

And then Hafidh Ibn Hajr mentioned Shaarikh al-Qaadhi in the second category and said

ﺷﺮﻳﻚ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ اﻟﻨﺨﻌﻲ اﻟﻘﺎﺿﻲ ﻣﺸﻬﻮﺭ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻣﻦ اﻻﺛﺒﺎﺕ……ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻳﺘﺒﺮﺃ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﺪﻟﻴﺲ

Shaarikh Ibn Abd-Allah al-Qaadhi, He was an established, proven narrator and he was FREE from the defect of Tadlis.

~Tabqat al-Mudalliseen vol 1:33

Part 5 : Witness to the knowledge of Imam Ali

1) Allamah Nur ad-Deen al-Haythami mentioned –

ﺃﻥ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ﻗﺎﻝ ﻟﻔﺎﻃﻤﺔ: ﺃﻣﺎ ﺗﺮﺿﻴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﺯﻭﺟﺘﻚ ﺃﻗﺪﻡ ﺃﻣﺘﻲ ﺳﻠﻤﺎ، ﻭﺃﻛﺜﺮﻫﻢ ﻋﻠﻤﺎ، ﻭﺃﻋﻈﻤﻬﻢ ﺣﻠﻤﺎ»؟

The Prophet ﷺ said to Fatimah al-Zahra :

‘Aren’t you happy that I married you to one, who preceded in Islam and is the most knowledgeable and greatest in forbearing.’

ﺭﻭاﻩ ﺃﺣﻤﺪ ﻭاﻟﻄﺒﺮاﻧﻲ ﺑﺮﺟﺎﻝ ﻭﺛﻘﻮا

Ahmad Ibn Hanbal & at-Tabarani narrated with trustworthy narrators.

~Majmaa’ al-Zawa’id vol 9:114.

2) Imam Abd al-Razzaq al-Sinani narrated :

ﻋﻦ ﻣﻌﻤﺮ , ﻋﻦ ﻭﻫﺐ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ , ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ اﻟﻄﻔﻴﻞ , ﻗﺎﻝ ﺷﻬﺪﺕ ﻋﻠﻴﺎ ﻭﻫﻮ ﻳﺨﻄﺐ ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ: ﺳﻠﻮﻧﻲ ﻓﻮاﻟﻠﻪ ﻻ ﺗﺴﺄﻟﻮﻧﻲ ﻋﻦ ﺷﻲء ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻳﻮﻡ اﻟﻘﻴﺎﻣﺔ ﺇﻻ ﺣﺪﺛﺘﻜﻢ ﺑﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻮﻧﻲ ﻋﻦ ﻛﺘﺎﺏ اﻟﻠﻪ , ﻓﻮاﻟﻠﻪ ﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺁﻳﺔ ﺇﻻ ﻭﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﻋﻠﻢ

Abu Tufayl said : I witnessed Ali on the sermon saying – ‘Ask me, I swear by Allah, you won’t ask me about anything that will happen until the day of Qiyamah but I will tell you about it and ask me about the Book of Allah for I swear by Allah, there is nothing in it, I am unknown to.’

~Tafsir Abd al-Razzaq vol 3:234

3) Allamah Ibn Abd al-Barr mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ اﻟﻤﺴﻴﺐ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻣﺎ ﻛﺎﻥ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﻳﻘﻮﻝ: ﺳﻠﻮﻧﻲ ﻏﻴﺮ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ

Sa’eed Ibn al-Musayyib said : “None amongst the people would say ‘Ask me‘ except Ali Ibn Abi Talib.”

~Jami’ Bayan al-Ilm vol 1:463

4) Allamah Ibn Abd al-Barr mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﻣﻄﺮﻑ، ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺇﺳﺤﺎﻕ، ﻋﻦ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ ﺑﻦ ﻭﻫﺐ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ: ﺃﻋﻠﻢ ﺃﻫﻞ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻔﺮاﺋﺾ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ.

Abd-Allah Ibn Mas’ud said : ‘The most knowledgeable amongst the Ahlul Madinah about the obligations is Ali Ibn Abi Talib.’

~al-Isti’ab fee Ma’arifat al-Ashab vol 5:330

5) Allamah Ibn Abd al-Barr mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﻣﻐﻴﺮﺓ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻟﻴﺲ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻣﻨﻬﻢ ﺃﻗﻮﻯ ﻗﻮﻻ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻔﺮاﺋﺾ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ.

Mugheera said : ‘No one had a stronger say on the Farai’dh than Ali Ibn Abi Talib.’

~al-Isti’ab fee Ma’arifat al-Ashab vol 5:330

6) Allamah Ibn Abd al-Barr mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﺳﻔﻴﺎﻥ، ﻋﻦ ﻗﻠﻴﺐ، ﻋﻦ ﺟﺒﻴﺮ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﻋﺎﺋﺸﺔ..: ﺃﻣﺎ ﺇﻧﻪ ﻷﻋﻠﻢ اﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻨﺔ

A’isha said : Indeed Ali was the most knowledgeable about the Sunnah amongst the people.

~al-Isti’ab fee Ma’arifat al-Ashab vol 5:328

7) Imam al-Haakim narrated :

ﻋﻦ اﻷﺳﻮﺩ ﺑﻦ ﻳﺰﻳﺪ ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻟﻤﺎ ﺑﻮﻳﻊ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ ﻗﺎﻝ ﺧﺰﻳﻤﺔ ﺑﻦ ﺛﺎﺑﺖ ﻭﻫﻮ ﻭاﻗﻒ ﺑﻴﻦ ﻳﺪﻱ اﻟﻤﻨﺒﺮ: ﺇﺫا ﻧﺤﻦ ﺑﺎﻳﻌﻨﺎ ﻋﻠﻴﺎ ﻓﺤﺴﺒﻨﺎ … ﻭﺟﺪﻧﺎﻩ ﺃﻭﻟﻰ اﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺃﻧﻪ … ﺃﻃﺐ ﻗﺮﻳﺶا ﺑﺎﻟﻜﺘﺎﺏ ﻭﺑﺎﻟﺴﻨﻦ

al-Aswad Ibn Yazid said ‘When the pledge to Ali was taken, Khuzayma Ibn Thabit went to the Mimbar and said :

The pledge to Ali is sufficient for us, We found him the best amongst the people, the most knowledgeable about the Qur’an & the Sunnah amongst the Quraysh.’

~Mustadarak ala al-Sahihayn 4595

8) Imam Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺻﺎﻟﺢ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﺩﺧﻞ ﺿﺮاﺭ ﺑﻦ ﺿﻤﺮﺓ اﻟﻜﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻌﺎﻭﻳﺔ، ﻓﻘﺎﻝ ﻟﻪ: ﺻﻒ ﻟﻲ ﻋﻠﻴﺎ، ﻓﻘﺎﻝ… ﺃﻣﺎ ﺇﺫ ﻻ ﺑﺪ، ﻓﺈﻧﻪ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻭاﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻌﻴﺪ اﻟﻤﺪﻯ، ﺷﺪﻳﺪ اﻟﻘﻮﻯ، ﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﻓﺼﻼ ﻭﻳﺤﻜﻢ ﻋﺪﻻ، ﻳﺘﻔﺠﺮ اﻟﻌﻠﻢ ﻣﻦ ﺟﻮاﻧﺒﻪ، ﻭﺗﻨﻄﻖ اﻟﺤﻜﻤﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻧﻮاﺣﻴﻪ

Abu Saleh narrated : Dirar bin Damrah al-Kinani visited to Muawiyah and Mu’awiyyah said to him: Describe Ali to me.

He said: By Allah, Ali was far-reaching, very strong, he spoke decisively and ruled justly, knowledge flourished from his sides, and wisdom spoke from it.

~Hilayat al-Awliyah vol 1:133

P.s : The entire description of Imam Ali by Dirar Ibn Damrah is beautiful and heart-melting. Whoever would like to read the entire narration, I’d pin it in the comments.

9) Allamah Ibn Abd al-Barr mentioned :

ﻋﻦ اﻟﻀﺤﺎﻙ ﺑﻦ ﻣﺰاﺣﻢ. ﻋﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ، ﻗﺎﻝ: ﻭاﻟﻠﻪ ﻟﻘﺪ ﺃﻋﻄﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ اﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﻃﺎﻟﺐ ﺗﺴﻌﺔ ﺃﻋﺸﺎﺭ اﻟﻌﻠﻢ

Abd-Allah Ibn Abbas said : Allah has granted Ali Ibn Abi Talib 9/10th of knowledge.

~al-Isti’ab fee Ma’arifat al-Ashab vol 5:329

10) Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah mentioned :

ﻋﻦ ﺑﻦ ﺃﺑﻲ ﺳﻠﻴﻤﺎﻥ ﻗﺎﻝ ﻗﻠﺖ ﻟﻌﻄﺎء ﻛﺎﻥ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺻﺤﺎﺏ ﺭﺳﻮﻝ اﻟﻠﻪ ﷺ ﺃﺣﺪ ﺃﻋﻠﻢ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ؟ ﻗﺎﻝ ﻻ ﻭاﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﻋﻠﻤﻪ

It was asked to Aata Ibn Abi Rabah ‘Is there anyone more knowledgeable amongst the companions than Ali?’ He replied ‘I swear by Allah, there is none.’

~Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah 32109

• Allamah adh-Dhabhi mentioned :

عطاء بن أبي رباح….أخذ عنه أبو حنيفة وقال: ما رأيت مثله

Abu Hanifa would say about Aata Ibne Abi Rabah that ‘He has never seen anyone like him.’

~al-Meezan al-Aetidal vol 5:90

Thank you for reading! May Allah SWT make us visit the Bab e Dar al-Uloom.