Superiority of Imam Ali to other companions

One of narrations that proves the absolute superiority of Amir Momenan (peace be upon him) to other companions and the three caliphs is the famous narration ''Ana Medina Al-Elm and Ala Baha''.
It also proves that the Muslims oblige to learn the tradition of the prophet (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) through Amir Momenan (peace be upon him). Only the way of guidance is related to this house and only way to this house is Amir Momenan (peace be upon him).
This narration has been narrated through Amir Al-Momenin (peace be upon him), Abdullah Ben Abbas and Jaber Ben Abdullah Al-Ansari about ten Sunni books with different interpretations
«أنا مدینة العلم وعلی بابها»؛ «أنا مدینة الحكمة وعلی بابها» و «أنا دار الحكمة وعلی بابها»
Some of their documents are valid, some are good and some of them are weak.
Unfortunately, some persons that deny the virtues of Amir Momenan (peace be upon him) mention only narrations are weak when they want to analyze the narration. Then they rule that this narration does not have valid or good document and it is faked.
Therefore, we have decided to analyze documents whose narrators are reliable and acceptable and then we mention the martyrdom of Sunni dignitaries related to the validity of the narration.
 

*Abu Taher Selfi

(48)- [48 ] حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِیمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْكَشِّیُّ، نَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الدَّوْسِیُّ، نَا شَرِیكٌ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَیْلٍ، عَنِ الصُّنَابِحِیِّ، عَنْ عَلِیِّ بْنِ أَبِی طَالِبٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَیْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " أَنَا دَارُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَعَلِیٌّ بَابُهَا "
Al-Selfi , Abu Taher ( died in 576) Al-Joz Al-Sales Men Al-Mashikhe Al-Baghdaie Labi Taher Al-Selfi p 16 v 48; Masdar Al-Makhlut; Masdar Al-Makhlut : Ala Sakurial according to the program of Javame Al-Kom

You can download this book the following address
http://shamela.ws/index.php/book/30621

Analyzing the document of the narration

Ibrahim Ben Abdullah Ben Mosalam Al-Kashi

Zahabi has said about him
الكجی. الشیخ الإمام الحافظ المعمر شیخ العصر أبو مسلم إبراهیم بن عبدالله بن مسلم بن ماعز بن مهاجر البصری الكجی صاحب السنن
ولد سنة نیف وتسعین ومئة وثقة الدارقطنی وغیره وكان سریا نبیلا متمولا عالما بالحدیث وطرقه عالی الإسناد.
Ibrahim Kaji was Sheikh, Imam and Hafez (he has memorized over a hundred thousand narrations). He had a long life span and he was a master in his era. Dar Ghatani and others have Tosikh him. He was the head of his tribe and he was honorable, great and rich man. He knew the science of Hadith and its narration was with short documents.

Muhammad Ben Abdullah Ben Al-Zobeir Al-Dusi

Ibn Hajar has written about his biography

6017 محمد بن عبد الله بن الزبیر بن عمر بن درهم الأسدی أبو أحمد الزبیری الكوفی ثقة ثبت إلا أنه قد یخطىء فی حدیث الثوری.
Muhammad Ben Abdullah Ben Zobeiri was reliable and permanent. Exceptionally, he has narrated a narration from Sofyan Suri and he has made a mistake.

His mistake in narrating a narration from Suri is the reason his weakness and the weakness of this narration because he has not narrated this narration from Suri.
Shams Al-Din Zahabi has extolled him in this way
محمد بن عبد الله بن الزبیر بن عمر بن درهم الحافظ الكبیر المجود أبو أحمد الزبیری الكوفی مولى بنی أسد.
Muhammad Ben Abdullah is a great Hafez and a person that recites narrations very well.

Sharik Ben Abdullah Ben Al-Hares Ben Sharik Ben Abdullah

One of narrators of Bokhari, Mosalam and other Sehah Sete, Zahabi has said about him
2276 شریك بن عبد الله أبو عبد الله النخعی القاضی أحد الأعلام عن زیاد بن علاقة وسلمة بن كهیل وعلی بن الأقمر وعنه أبو بكر بن أبی شیبة وعلی بن حجر وثقه بن معین وقال غیره سیء الحفظ وقال النسائی لیس به بأس هو أعلم بحدیث الكوفیین من الثوری قاله بن المبارك توفی 177 عاش اثنتین وثمانین سنة خت 4 م متابعة.
The companion of Ben Abdullah Nakhaei was one of famous persons. Ibn Moein has tosikh him and has said '' he has a good memory. Nasaee has said '' there is no fault in him he is the wisest person in the Hadith of Kufi from Suri.
Al-Zahabi Al-Shafei, Shams Al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ahmad IbnUsman (died in 748 Hegira) Al-Kashef Fi Marefat Min LahRevayat Fi Al-Kotob Al-Sette; v 1 p 485; researched by: Muhammad Avame; published by: Dar Al-GhebleSeghafatIslamie; Olov Institute; Jeda; First Edition; 1413 Hegira; 1992

Salame Ben Kahil

2046 سلمة بن كهیل أبو یحیى الحضرمی من علماء الكوفة رأى زید بن أرقم وروى عن أبی جحیفة وعلقمة وعنه سفیان وشعبة ثقة له مائتا حدیث وخمسون حدیثا مات 121 ع
Salame Ben Kahil is a reliable person his two hundred fifty Hadiths have been narrated in Sehah Sete.
Al-Kashef v 1 p 454

Abu Abdullah Al-Sanabehi

3952 عبد الرحمن بن عسیلة بمهملتین مصغر المرادی أبو عبد الله الصنابحی ثقة من كبار التابعین قدم المدینة بعد موت النبی صلى الله علیه وسلم بخمسة أیام.
Al-Asghalani Al-Shafei, Ahmad Ibn Ali HajarAbolfazl (died in 852 Hegira) Tahzib Al-Tahzib v 1 p 346; published by: Dar Al-Fekr Beirut; First Edition; 1404 Hegira; 1984

The biography of Abu Taher Selfi

Since some persons may make excuses that we do not know Abu Taher Selfiand his book, in this part, we would like to introduce him and his book briefly.
Shams Al-Din Zahabi has said about him in the book '' Alam Al-Nobla'' about thirty pages. We mention some remarks in the book '' Sayayesh '' of Abu Taher Selfi
السلفی . هو الإمام العلامة المحدث الحافظ المفتی شیخ الإسلام شرف المعمرین أبو طاهر أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد بن محمد بن إبراهیم الأصبهانی الجروانی ...
قال الحافظ المنذری سمعت الحافظ بن المفضل یقول عدة شیوخ الحافظ السلفی بأصبهان تزید على ست مئة نفس ومشیخته البغدادیة خمسة وثلاثون جزءا ...
وكان أوحد زمانه فی علم الحدیث وأعرفهم بقوانین الروایة والتحدیث... وقال أبو سعد السمعانی فی ذیله السلفی ثقة ورع متقن متثبت فهم حافظ ... .
Selfi is a leader, Alame, Mohades, Hafez (he has memorized over a hundred thousand Hadiths), fatwa, Sheikh Al-Eslam and the honor of Moamerin (the grace of persons that have lived for a long time).
Hafez Monzeri has said that he has heard that Hafez Ben Mafzal has said '' the number of masters of Hafez Selfi was over six hundred thousand persons and this book ( Mashikh Al-Baghdadie) had thirty sections.
He was unique about the science of Hadith and the rules of narration and narrating Hadith. Abu Sad Samani has said about the biography of Saflafi '' he is reliable, pious, permanent and intelligent and he strong understanding and memory.
Al-Zahabi Al-Shafei, Shams Al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ahmad IbnUsman (died in 748 Hegira) SiarAlam Al-Nobala v 21 p 5-24; researched by: Shoaib Al-Arnowt; Muhammad Naeem Al-Arghasusi; published by: Al-Resalat Institute; Beirut; ninth edition; 1414 Hegira
Haji Khalife has written about the book '' Mashikhe Al-Baghdadie''
المشیخة البغدادیة للشیخ الامام أبى طاهر أحمد بن محمد السلفی الأصبهانی المتوفى 576 ست وسبعین وخمسمائة جمع فیها الجمع الغفیر مع فوائد مالا توصف مالا تحصى جملتها تزید على مائة جزء
Mashikhe Baghdadie has collected a lot of matters along with a lot of benefits from Sheikh and Imam (Abu Taher Selfi). They are over one hundred sections.
Kashf Al-Zonun v 2 p 1696
Consequently, the document of this narration is completely valid.

Khisame Ben Soleiman

(176)- [1: 200] حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَحْفُوظُ بْنُ بَحْرٍ الأَنْطَاكِیُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الأَنْصَارِیُّ الْكُوفِیُّ، عَنْ أَبِی مُعَاوِیَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، رَضِیَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا مَرْفُوعًا "أَنَا مَدِینَةُ الْحِكْمَةِ، وَعَلِیُّ بَابُهَا"
Ibn Abbas has narrated that the messenger of God (peace of Allah be upon him and his descendants) has bade '' I am the city of wisdom and I am its gate''.
Al-Terablosi, KheisameIbnSoleiman (died in 343 Hegira) Min Hadith KheisameIbnSoleiman p 754 hadith 176; researched by: Ghasm Al-Makhtutat; published by: OfoghBarmajiat; Egypt; First Edition; 2004

Analyzing the document of the narration

Muhammad Ben Uf Ben Sofyan

6202 محمد بن عوف بن سفیان الطائی أبو جعفر الحمصی ثقة حافظ من الحادیة عشرة مات سنة اثنتین أو ثلاث وسبعین دعس.
Muhammad Ben Uf has been a reliable person and Hafez.
Taghrib Al-Tahzib v 1 p 500

Mahfuz Ben Bahr

Ibn Haban Bastani has mentioned Shafei as one of
مستقیم الحدیث.
He has valid Hadiths.

Musa Ben Muhammad Al-Ansari

Ibn Abi Razi has written about him in the book '' Al-Jarh and Al-Tadil''
711 موسى بن محمد الأنصاری یعد فی الكوفیین... سمعت أبى یقول ذلك نا عبد الرحمن نا أبو سعید بن یحیى بن سعید القطان نا محمد بن الصلت أبو جعفر نا موسى بن محمد الأنصاری الثقة والله... عن یحیى بن معین انه قال موسى بن محمد الأنصاری ثقة. نا عبد الرحمن قال سألت أبى عن موسى بن محمد الأنصاری فقال لا بأس به.
My father said '' I swear God that he is reliable''. It has been narrated from Yahya Ben Moein '' he is reliable'' and it has been narrated with another document '' there is no fault in him''.

Ibn Abi Hatam Al-Razi Al-Tamimi, Abu Muhammad Abd Al-RahmanIbnAbiHatam Muhammad IbnEdris; (died in 327 Hegira) Al-Jarh Al-Tadil; v 8 p 711; published by: Dar Al-EhyaToras Al-Arabi; Beirut; First Edition
Ibn Haban has mentioned his name as one of reliable narrators in the book '' Al-Saghat'' (v 7/p 456/ no 10908).

Abu Moavie , Muhammad Ben Khazem

Ibn Hajar has said about him
5841 محمد بن خازم بمعجمتین أبو معاویة الضریر الكوفی عمی وهو صغیر ثقة أحفظ الناس لحدیث الأعمش وقد یهم فی حدیث غیره.
Muhammad Ben Khazem is the mosr reliable and the best person in memorizing narrations, but he sometimes mistake about the Hadith realted to other narrators.
Taghrib Al-Tahzib v 1 p 475

Soleiman Ben Mahran

Ibn Hajar has written about him
2615 سلیمان بن مهران الأسدی الكاهلی أبو محمد الكوفی الأعمش ثقة حافظ عارف بالقراءات ورع لكنه یدلس.
Soleiman Ben Mahran was a reliable person, Hafez (a person that has memorized a hundred thousand Hadiths) and he knew different recitations and was a pious person, but he cheated.
Of course, his cheating does not have influence on his reliability because the Sunni dignitaries, such as: Bokhari, Mosalam and …, were Modlesin and according to the remark of Shoabe Ben Al-Hojaj, all of Sunni narrators cheated except Umarv Ben Mare and Muhammad Ben Un.
عن شعبة قال: ما رأیت أحدا من أصحاب الحدیث إلا یدلس إلا عمرو بن مرة، وابن عون.
It has been narrated from Shoabe '' I did not see that companions cheated any Hadiths except Umarv Ben Mare and Ibn Un.
Ibn Hajar has mentioned the name of Bokhari as as Modlesin in the book '' Modlesin''
محمد بن إسماعیل بن المغیرة البخاری الإمام، وصفه بذلك أبو عبد الله بن مندة فی كلام له، فقال فیه: أخرج البخاری، قال: فلان، وقال: أخبرنا فلان، وهو تدلیس.
Al-Asghalani Al-Shafei, Ahmad IbnaliIbnHajarAbolfazl (Died in 852 Hegira) Tabaghat Al-Modalesin; p 24; no 23; published by: Maktabat Al-Menar; Jordan
Sabt Ben Al-Ajmi has mentioned his name in the famous book '' Asma Al-Modlein''
Al-Tabeen Al-Asma Al-Modalesin; SebtIbn Al-Ajmi; p 177; no 64; Dar Al-Kotob Al-Elmie
Zahabi has written about the translation of Zhili in the book '' Seir Alam Al-Nobla''
روى عنه خلائق، منهم:... ومحمد بن إسماعیل البخاری ویدلسه كثیراً، لا یقول محمد بن یحیى، بل یقول محمد فقط، أو محمد بن خالد، أو محمد بن عبد الله وینسبه إلى الجد، ویعمی اسمه، لمكان الواقع بینهما، غفر الله لهما.
A lot of people have narrated from Muhammad Yahya Zehili such as Muhammad Ben Ismaeil Bokhari. However, Bokhari always cheated him and he never said Muhammad Ben Yahya, but he used the name '' Muhammad'' '' Muhammad Ben Khaled'' or Muhammad Ben Abdullah'' for naming him and he related him to his grandfather and hid his name because he had disagreement with him and they had struggled with each other.
Siar Alam Al-Nobala v 12 p 275
Consequently, if the cheating of Soleiman Ben Mahran is related to the weakness of the narration, all of the narrations of Sunni scientists, such as the narrations of Sahih Bokhrai, do not have validity.