49/21. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3725 — Ali’s Leadership and Love
Chapter [Regarding Feelings Towards 'Ali]
Hadith About Ali’s Leadership and Love
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3725
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3725
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي زِيَادٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَحْوَصُ بْنُ جَوَّابٍ أَبُو الْجَوَّابِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَيْشَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَى أَحَدِهِمَا عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَعَلَى الآخَرِ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ وَقَالَ " إِذَا كَانَ الْقِتَالُ فَعَلِيٌّ " . قَالَ فَافْتَتَحَ عَلِيٌّ حِصْنًا فَأَخَذَ مِنْهُ جَارِيَةً فَكَتَبَ مَعِي خَالِدٌ كِتَابًا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَشِي بِهِ . قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَ الْكِتَابَ فَتَغَيَّرَ لَوْنُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَا تَرَى فِي رَجُلٍ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَ مِنْ غَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولٌ فَسَكَتَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Al-Bara Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Dispatched Two Armies And Put 'Ali Bin Abi Talib In Charge Of One Of Them, And Khalid Bin Al-Walid In Charge Of The Other. He Said: "When There Is Fighting, Then (The Leader Is) 'Ali."He Said: "So 'Ali Conquered A Fortress And Took A Slave Girl. So Khalid Sent Me With A Letter To The Prophet (ﷺ) Complaining About Him. So I Came To The Prophet (ﷺ) And He Read The Letter And His Color Changed, Then He Said: 'What Is Your View Concerning One Who Loves Allah And His Messenger, And Allah And His Messenger Love Him.'" He Said: "I Said: 'I Seek Refuge In Allah From The Wrath Of Allah And The Anger Of His Messenger, And I Am But A Messenger.' So He Became Silent."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3725In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 122English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3725
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3725
This hadith about Ali describes two armies sent by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Ali bin Abi Talib led one, and Khalid bin Al-Walid led the other. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that when fighting took place, Ali would be the leader. After Ali conquered a fortress, Khalid sent a complaint letter through Al-Bara. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم read the letter, his color changed, and he asked what should be thought of a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love. The main lesson is not to rush into harsh judgment about someone honored in the hadith text. It also shows Ali’s role in leadership during that expedition.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ali was placed in command when fighting occurred.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم responded to the complaint by mentioning Ali’s love for Allah and His Messenger.
- The messenger carrying the letter sought refuge from Allah’s wrath and the Messenger’s anger.
- The report teaches care before speaking against someone praised in a narration.
