Question:
Assalam u alayekum Syedi Sheikh Hisham!
I was reading the munajat of Syedna Imam Zain Ul Abideen alaye hi salam in which he mentioned a phrase of “Wasiyye Muhammad Salla’l la ho alaye hi wasallam” in munajat e mudhtareen. I am confused after reading this because we ahl-as-sunnat believe that Prophet Salla’l la ho alaye he wasallam didn’t nominate anyone as caliph. On the other hand Syedna Imam Zain Ul Abideen is also very respectable personality to us.
So, please explain why is this apparent contradiction.
Shukran ya syyedi.
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
The massive majority of Muslims and the consensus of Ahl as-Sunnah agree that there was no Prophetic wasiyya (testament) of caliphate to anyone, however, there are countless allusions and signs given by the Holy Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) pointing to Abu Bakr and `Umar, Allah be well-pleased with them, which is where the agreement of the Companions and the succeeding generations – including Zayn al-`Abidin – formed. Therefore, you should not be confused but rather follow the advice of the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) as stated in the forty Hadiths collected by Imam al-Nawawi: “Leave what causes you doubt and stick to what does not cause you any doubt.” (Tirmidhi, Nasa’i)
Hajj Gibril Haddad
