Meaning of 'I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God'

Question

In this Q&A, the meaning of the phrase 'I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God' is explored, along with its implications in Islamic belief and practice. [AR_ID:4613]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

To explain the meaning of the phrase: (I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God), we first need to clarify some of the terms used in this statement.

Meaning of the word (I bear witness)

To bear witness means to affirm or declare something. It involves a sense of certainty and acknowledgment.

Meaning of the term (friend of God)

In language, a believer is a friend of God, meaning one who is obedient to Him. In a more specific sense, it refers to someone who has a special connection with God, which obligates us to support and follow them as we do with God. This person has reached a high status and is considered a leader among believers.

By saying (I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God), we are acknowledging and affirming the leadership of Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him.

It is important to note that bearing witness does not necessarily require direct observation; one can attain certainty through reason or reliable reports. This is similar to how we say (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah) based on our understanding of God through reason.

Returning to our topic, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, explicitly stated Ali's leadership on multiple occasions, including at Ghadir Khumm, where he said: (Whoever I am his master, then Ali is his master). This is recorded in the books of both Sunni and Shia scholars.

Thus, the statement (I bear witness that Ali is the friend of God) is a statement of truth that all Muslims should affirm. If it is a statement of truth, how can it lead to disbelief? The accusations of disbelief against some Shia do not stem solely from their acknowledgment of Ali's leadership, but rather from other disagreements that cannot be elaborated upon here.

All praise is due to God, the Lord of the worlds.