Amir al-Mu'minin: Difference between revisions

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Shiites believe that the title was used for [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] in the period of [[the Prophet (s)]] too, appealing to [[hadiths]] cited in Shiite and Sunni sources. For example, [[Ibn 'Asakir]] is quoted [[Abu Burayda Aslami]] as saying that "the Prophet (s) ordered that we greet 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as Amir al-Mu'minin".

In another hadith, Abu Burayda is also quoted as saying that "[[Abu Bakr]] came to the Prophet (s). The Prophet told him: 'Go and greet Amir al-Mu'minin.' Abu Bakr said: 'even now that you are still alive?' The Prophet (s) said: 'Yes.' Then [['Umar b. Khattab]] came and the Prophet (s) said the same to him."

However, Sunni Muslims believe that after the demise of the Prophet (s), 'Umar was the first [[Caliph]] who used the title of "Amir al-Mu'minin" for himself. [[Ibn Khaldun]] took [['Abdullah b. Jahsh]] to be the first person who gave the title to 'Umar, but some others took [['Amr b. 'As]] or [[Mughira b. Shu'ba]] to be the first people who gave the title to 'Umar. However, 'Abdullah b. Jahsh died before the [[caliphate]] of 'Umar, and so he cannot be the one who gave the title to 'Umar.

According to Shiite hadiths, however, "Amir al-Mu'minin" is considered as a privileged, specific title of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. In these hadiths, the word has a particular meaning that implies an immediate succession or [[khilafa]] of [[the Prophet (s)]], and such a position is specific to Imam 'Ali (a), since according to Shiites, he was the only one who truly deserved the position. According to some hadiths, even at the time of the Prophet (s), the title was used for [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]]. The specification of the title to Imam 'Ali (a) can only be grounded in the idea that the title implies the immediate succession of the Prophet (s), that is, the idea that he should have been the ruler of Muslims immediately after the demise of the Prophet (s). This is perhaps why the Prophet (s) is quoted as saying that:

: If people knew when 'Ali was given this title, they would not deny his virtues; he was given the title when [[Adam]] was between the soul and the body, when God said: "Am I not your Lord?" And people said: "Yes". He said: "I am your Lord, [[Muhammad]] is your prophet, and 'Ali is your Amir.