Hadith al-Tashbih (explanations from "Pishawar Nights" book)

THE MIRROR OF ALL THE PROPHETS AS SHOWN BY THE HADITH OF SIMILITUDE
(HADITH-E-TASHBIH)
(Source)

It is also recorded in the books of your ulema that Ali was the mirror of the high qualities of all the prophets. Ibn Abi'l-Hadid Mu'tazali in his Sharhe Nahju'l-Balagha, Volume XI, page 449, Hafiz Abu Bakr Faqih Shafi'i, Ahmad Bin Husain Baihaqi in Manaqib, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal in Musnad, Imam Fakhru'd-Din Razi in Tafsir-e-Kabir in connection with the verse of Mubahala, Muhyi'd-Din Ibn Arabi in Yawaqit-o-Jawahir, Issue 32, page 172; Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, the beginning of Chapter 40 on the authority of Musnad of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Sahih of Baihaqi, and Sharhi'l-Mawaqif wa't-Tariqati'l-Muhammadiyya, Nuru'd-Din Maliki in Fusuli'l-Muhimma, page 120; from Baihaqi; Muhammad bin Talha Shafi'i in Matalibu's-Su'ul, page 22; and Muhammad bin Yusuf Ganji Shafi'i in Kifayatu't-Talib, Chapter 23, have narrated from the holy Prophet with slight differences of words here and there, saying: "Whoever wishes to see the knowledge of Adam, the piety of Noah, the submission of Abraham, the sublimity of Moses, or the devotion of Jesus, may look upon Ali Bin Abu Talib."

Mir Seyyed Ali Hamadani has narrated the same hadith with some additions, in his Mawaddatu'l-Qurba, Mawadda VIII. He narrates from Jabir that the Prophet said: "Verily, Allah has combined ninety qualities of the prophets in Ali, which He has not given to anyone else." The great Hafiz Muhammad Bin Yusuf Ganji Shafi'i, after quoting this hadith, makes this comment: "Ali was similar to Adam in knowledge in that Allah taught Adam everything, as He says in the Holy Qur'an, 'And He taught Adam All the names....'" (2:31)

Similarly, Ali had knowledge of all things. Because of knowledge which came directly from Allah, Adam was granted the vicegerency of Allah, as the Holy Qur'an says: "...I am going to place in the earth a Caliph...." (2:30) Since Adam's knowledge led to his superiority, so that even the angels prostrated themselves in obeisance to him, Ali was also most exalted of the whole creation and the caliph after the Prophet. Ali's knowledge is similar to Noah's in that Ali was vehement against the infidels and compassionate toward the believers. Allah praised him in the Holy Qur'an: "...And those who are with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves." (48:29) This is another proof that this verse was revealed in praise of Ali, as I have said earlier. Noah was very harsh towards the infidels, as the Holy Qur'an says: "And Noah said: 'My Lord! Leave not upon the land any dweller from among the unbelievers.'" (71:26)

Ali was similar to Abraham in tenderness of heart. The Holy Qur'an says of Abraham: "Most surely, Abraham was very tender-hearted." (9:114)

Ali possessed all the qualities and attributes, which the other prophets possessed individually. This unanimously acknowledged hadith proves that Ali possessed the highest virtues, each of which was equivalent to the most exalted qualities of the prophets. Obviously, one who possessed the highest virtues of all the prophets excelled all others in rank. Sheikh Sulayman Balkhi Hanafi in his Yanabiu'l-Mawadda, Chapter 40, quotes from Manaqib of Khawarizmi through Muhammad Bin Mansur, who said that he heard Ahmad Ibn Hanbal say, "There were no such praises for any of the companions of the Prophet, as there were for Ali Bin Abu Talib." Muhammad Bin Yusuf Ganji Shafi'i also narrates words to the same effect. Ibn Abi'l-Hadid Mu'tazali in his Sharhe-Nahju'l Balagha, Volume I, page 46, says: "Ali was the most fitting person for the position of Wilaya (guardianship) by virtue of his excellence. With the exception of the Prophet of Allah, he was the most deserving person for the office of caliph."

Ali was certainly most deserving of the caliphate, but he was cast aside by the political maneuvering of lesser men. At least they should have informed Ali that they were convening a meeting at Saqifa Bani Sa'da to deliberate on the important issue of electing a Caliph. They did not do so in order to deprive him of his right of succession.