Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of al-Hassan ibn Ali’s 
Divine Authority over the people after Amir al-Mu’minin Ali
7 Aḥadīth
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani and ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Sulaym ibn Qays who has said the following. “I witnessed Amir al-Mu’minin Ali’s will made before me in which he appointed his son, al-Hassan as the executor. He called al-Husayn , Muhammad (Ibn Al Hanafiyya) and all his other sons, all the leaders among his followers and his whole family to bear testimony to his will. He then delivered the Book and the Armament to his son al-Hassan and said, ‘My son, the Messenger of Allah commanded me to appoint you as the executor of my will. (He commanded me) to deliver to you my books and my Armament just as the Messenger of Allah did. He made his will in which he appointed me as the executor, delivered to me his books and his Armament and commanded me to command you to deliver them to al-Husayn when you will be about to leave this world. Then he turned to his son, al-Husayn and said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has commanded you to deliver them to your son, this one. Then he held with his hand Ali ibn al-Husayn and said to him, ‘The Messenger of Allah has commanded you to deliver them to your son, Muhammad ibn Ali and convey to him the Islamic greeting of the Messenger of Allah and my Islamic greeting.’
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ وَعُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ قَالَ شَهِدْتُ وَصِيَّةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حِينَ أَوْصَى إِلَى ابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ وَأَشْهَدَ عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ الْحُسَيْنَ وَمُحَمَّداً وَجَمِيعَ وُلْدِهِ وَرُؤَسَاءَ شِيعَتِهِ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَالسِّلاحَ وَقَالَ لابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ يَا بُنَيَّ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَنْ أُوصِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنْ أَدْفَعَ إِلَيْكَ كُتُبِي وَسِلاحِي كَمَا أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ وَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كُتُبَهُ وَسِلاحَهُ وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آمُرَكَ إِذَا حَضَرَكَ الْمَوْتُ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى أَخِيكَ الْحُسَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى ابْنِهِ الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ وَأَمَرَكَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى ابْنِكَ هَذَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) ثُمَّ قَالَ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَأَمَرَكَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى ابْنِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَمِنِّي السَّلامَ.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir from Abu al-Jarud from Abu Ja‘far who has said the following: “When Amir al-Mu’minin was about to leave this world, he called his son, al-Hasan saying, ‘Come very close to me so I can speak to you secretly just as the Messenger of Allah did to me and entrust you with all that he entrusted me with.’ and he did so.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر قَالَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﷺ لَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الَّذِي حَضَرَهُ قَالَ لابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ ادْنُ مِنِّي حَتَّى أُسِرَّ إِلَيْكَ مَا أَسَرَّ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ إِلَيَّ وَأَئْتَمِنَكَ عَلَى مَا ائْتَمَنَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَفَعَلَ.
A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amayra from Abu Bakr al-Hadrami who has said that al-Ajlah, Salamah ibn Kuhayl, Dawud ibn Abu Yazid and Zayd al-Yamami all narrated from Shahr ibn Hawshab who has said the following: “When Ali was about to leave for Kufa he left in Umm Salama’s trust his books and his will. When al-Hassan returned to Medina she delivered all of them to him.”
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الاجْلَحُ وَسَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ وَدَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي يَزِيدَ وَزَيْدٌ الْيَمَامِيُّ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا شَهْرُ بْنُ حَوْشَبٍ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً حِينَ سَارَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ اسْتَوْدَعَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ كُتُبَهُ وَالْوَصِيَّةَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ الْحَسَنُ دَفَعَتْهَا إِلَيْهِ.
Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf from Abu Bakr from Abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following: “When Ali was about to leave for Kufa he left in ’Umm Salama’s trust his books and his will. When al-Hasan returned to Medina she delivered all of them to him.”
وَفِي نُسْخَةِ الصَّفْوَانِيِّ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله أَنَّ عَلِيّاً صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ حِينَ سَارَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ اسْتَوْدَعَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ كُتُبَهُ وَالْوَصِيَّةَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ الْحَسَنُ دَفَعَتْهَا إِلَيْهِ.
A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Amr ibn Shemr from Jabir from Abu Ja‘far who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali made his directive will to al-Hassan and asked al-Husayn , Muhammad, all his sons, the leaders among his followers and the whole of his family to bear testimony. He then delivered to him the Book and the Armament. He then said to his son, al-Hassan , ‘My son, the Messenger of Allah commanded me to entrust you with my directive will. (He commanded me) to deliver to you my books, and my armament just as the Messenger of Allah entrusted me with his directive will and delivered his books and armament to me. He commanded me to command you to deliver them all to your brother, al-Husayn when time for you to leave this world will come. Then he turned to his son, al-Husayn and said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has commanded you to deliver it all to your son, this one. He then held with his hand Ali ibn al-Husayn and said to him, ‘My son, the Messenger of Allah has commanded you to deliver it all to your son, Muhammad ibn Ali and convey to him the Islamic greeting of the Messenger of Allah and my Islamic greeting.’ He then turned to his son, al-Hassan and said, ‘My son, you are the Leader with Divine Authority and the authority in the matter of the spilled blood. (This refers to the fact that if a person is murdered his next of kin decides whether to forgive or enact vengeance) Were you to forgive it would be for you. Were you to retaliate then one strike for an strike you would not be in sin.’”
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر قَالَ أَوْصَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ وَأَشْهَدَ عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ الْحُسَيْنَ وَمُحَمَّداً وَجَمِيعَ وُلْدِهِ وَرُؤَسَاءَ شِيعَتِهِ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ وَالسِّلاحَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ يَا بُنَيَّ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ الله أَنْ أُوصِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنْ أَدْفَعَ إِلَيْكَ كُتُبِي وَسِلاحِي كَمَا أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ الله وَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كُتُبَهُ وَسِلاحَهُ وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آمُرَكَ إِذَا حَضَرَكَ الْمَوْتُ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى أَخِيكَ الْحُسَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى ابْنِهِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَقَالَ أَمَرَكَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِكَ هَذَا ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ ابْنِ ابْنِهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ يَا بُنَيَّ وَأَمَرَكَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى ابْنِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَمِنِّي السَّلامَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى ابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَنْتَ وَلِيُّ الامْرِ وَوَلِيُّ الدَّمِ فَإِنْ عَفَوْتَ فَلَكَ وَإِنْ قَتَلْتَ فَضَرْبَةٌ مَكَانَ ضَرْبَةٍ وَلا تَأْثَمْ.
Al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan al-Hassani has narrated in a Marfu‘ manner, rafa‘ahu, and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmari has narrated in a marfu‘ manner, (rafa‘ahu) the following: “When Amir al-Mu’minin Ali was injured the visitors crowded around him saying, “O Amir al-Mu’minin Ali , (please, grant us) your directive will.’ The Imam then said, ‘You must fold the pillow for me (to help me sit so I can speak).’ He then said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, as He is worthy of it. We follow (obey) His commands. I praise Him just as He has loved it. No one deserves to be worshipped and obeyed except Allah, Who is One, the only One. The Self-sufficient is His own description of His Ownself. O people, every man, in his running away, comes face to face with the very thing from which he runs away so badly (namely his death). The appointed time (to die) is the driver of the soul to such time. In other words, running away from death is rushing to find it. How many days have come and gone in which I searched for the secret in this matter, however, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, disdains to do anything else, but to keep it secret. It certainly is beyond comprehension; it is hidden knowledge. Of my directive will to you is that you must not consider anything similar to Allah, Great is Whose praise. You must not disregard the Sunnah (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Keep these two pillars straight and light up these two beacons. You will not face any blame as long as you do not disperse (but remain united). Every man is held responsible for what he assiduously gains. Ignorant, (the lay) people’s burden is held light and reduced. The Lord is Merciful, the Imam is knowledgeable and religion is a constructive system. Yesterday I was your companion, today (I am) a lesson (one’s death is the best lesson) for you to learn and tomorrow I will depart from you. If one’s feet can remain firm at this slippery position (despite the fragility of life) then that is the goal. However, if the feet wavered (and failed to hang on to life) it is because we live under the short-lived shadows of the branches, in the blowing winds, under the thin cover of dissipating clouds in the air and disappearing traces (shrinking resources) on the land. “I was your neighbor that lived along with you with my body for a number of days. You will soon escort my dead body (to the grave). It will be a motionless body that once moved, and a silent one that once spoke (so sweetly). My silence, my closed eyes and my motionless limbs must be thought of as the best preachers. They are far better preachers to you than an eloquent orator is. I have said farewell to you as the one who expects reunion. Tomorrow you will see my days and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, will reveal my secrets. You will know me better when you find my place vacant and see others holding my position. If I survive I will be the authority for my own self but if I die then death is my destination. If I forgive (my assassin) then forgiveness is a means of getting closer (to Allah) and for you it is a good deed. You must forgive and ignore. Do you not like it that Allah will forgive you? How great is the sorrow for the neglectful one, whose life will be testimony for his own condemnation or his days lead him to misfortune. May Allah place you and us among those who do not fall short in life in matters of obedience to Allah due to their desire (to obey Him) or for fear of suffering after death. We are only for Him and with Him.’ Then he turned to al-Hassan and said, ‘My son, one strike for one strike, you will not be in sin.’”
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْحَسَنِيُّ رَفَعَهُ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الاحْمَرِيِّ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَفَّ بِهِ الْعُوَّادُ وَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَوْصِ فَقَالَ اثْنُوا لِي وِسَادَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لله حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ مُتَّبِعِينَ أَمْرَهُ وَأَحْمَدُهُ كَمَا أَحَبَّ وَلا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الْوَاحِدُ الاحَدُ الصَّمَدُ كَمَا انْتَسَبَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ لاقٍ فِي فِرَارِهِ مَا مِنْهُ يَفِرُّ وَالاجَلُ مَسَاقُ النَّفْسِ إِلَيْهِ وَالْهَرَبَ مِنْهُ مُوَافَاتُهُ كَمْ أَطْرَدْتُ الايَّامَ أَبْحَثُهَا عَنْ مَكْنُونِ هَذَا الامْرِ فَأَبَى الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ إِلا إِخْفَاءَهُ هَيْهَاتَ عِلْمٌ مَكْنُونٌ أَمَّا وَصِيَّتِي فَأَنْ لا تُشْرِكُوا بِالله جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ شَيْئاً وَمُحَمَّداً ﷺ فَلا تُضَيِّعُوا سُنَّتَهُ أَقِيمُوا هَذَيْنِ الْعَمُودَيْنِ وَأَوْقِدُوا هَذَيْنِ الْمِصْبَاحَيْنِ وَخَلاكُمْ ذَمٌّ مَا لَمْ تَشْرُدُوا حُمِّلَ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مَجْهُودَهُ وَخُفِّفَ عَنِ الْجَهَلَةِ رَبٌّ رَحِيمٌ وَإِمَامٌ عَلِيمٌ وَدِينٌ قَوِيمٌ أَنَا بِالامْسِ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ عِبْرَةٌ لَكُمْ وَغَداً مُفَارِقُكُمْ إِنْ تَثْبُتِ الْوَطْأَةُ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَزَلَّةِ فَذَاكَ الْمُرَادُ وَإِنْ تَدْحَضِ الْقَدَمُ فَإِنَّا كُنَّا فِي أَفْيَاءِ أَغْصَانٍ وَذَرَى رِيَاحٍ وَتَحْتَ ظِلِّ غَمَامَةٍ اضْمَحَلَّ فِي الْجَوِّ مُتَلَفِّقُهَا وَعَفَا فِي الارْضِ مَحَطُّهَا وَإِنَّمَا كُنْتُ جَاراً جَاوَرَكُمْ بَدَنِي أَيَّاماً وَسَتُعْقَبُونَ مِنِّي جُثَّةً خَلاءً سَاكِنَةً بَعْدَ حَرَكَةٍ وَكَاظِمَةً بَعْدَ نُطْقٍ لِيَعِظَكُمْ هُدُوِّي وَخُفُوتُ إِطْرَاقِي وَسُكُونُ أَطْرَافِي فَإِنَّهُ أَوْعَظُ لَكُمْ مِنَ النَّاطِقِ الْبَلِيغِ وَدَّعْتُكُمْ وَدَاعَ مُرْصِدٍ لِلتَّلاقِي غَداً تَرَوْنَ أَيَّامِي وَيَكْشِفُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْ سَرَائِرِي وَتَعْرِفُونِّي بَعْدَ خُلُوِّ مَكَانِي وَقِيَامِ غَيْرِي مَقَامِي إِنْ أَبْقَ فَأَنَا وَلِيُّ دَمِي وَإِنْ أَفْنَ فَالْفَنَاءُ مِيعَادِي وَإِنْ أَعْفُ فَالْعَفْوُ لِي قُرْبَةٌ وَلَكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ فَاعْفُوا وَاصْفَحُوا أَ لا تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ الله لَكُمْ فَيَا لَهَا حَسْرَةً عَلَى كُلِّ ذِي غَفْلَةٍ أَنْ يَكُونَ عُمُرُهُ عَلَيْهِ حُجَّةً أَوْ تُؤَدِّيَهُ أَيَّامُهُ إِلَى شِقْوَةٍ جَعَلَنَا الله وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِمَّنْ لا يَقْصُرُ بِهِ عَنْ طَاعَةِ الله رَغْبَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ نَقِمَةٌ فَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ لَهُ وَبِهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ ضَرْبَةً مَكَانَ ضَرْبَةٍ وَلا تَأْثَمْ.
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Ibrahim al-‘Aqili, in a marfu‘ manner, (yarfa‘uhu) has said the following: “When Ibn Muljam injured Amir al-Mu’minin Ali he (Ali) said to al-Hassan , ‘My son, If I will die, kill Ibn Muljam, dig the ground for him in al-Kunasa (name of a place) and throw him therein. (According to ‘Aqili’s description al-Kunasa is at the gate called ‘Taq al-Mahamil’ where people cook animals’ legs and heads for food) It is a valley of the valleys of Hell.”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْعَقِيلِيِّ يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ قَالَ لَمَّا ضَرَبَ ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ لِلْحَسَنِ يَا بُنَيَّ إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَاقْتُلِ ابْنَ مُلْجَمٍ وَاحْفِرْ لَهُ فِي الْكُنَاسَةِ وَوَصَفَ الْعَقِيلِيُّ الْمَوْضِعَ عَلَى بَابِ طَاقِ الْمَحَامِلِ مَوْضِعُ الشُّوَّاءِ وَالرُّؤَّاسِ ثُمَّ ارْمِ بِهِ فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ وَادٍ مِنْ أَوْدِيَةِ جَهَنَّمَ.