إهلاك الخوارج، وإفساد بني أمية، وسعة علمه

[2] After the Holy Prophet, no one save Amīr al-mu’minīn could utter the challenge “Ask whatever you want to.” Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in Jāmi‘ bayān al-‘ilm wa faḍlihī, vol. l, p. 58 and in al-Istī‘āb, vol. 3, p. 1103; Ibn al-Athīr in Usd al ghābah, vo. 4, p. 22; Ibn Abi’l-Ḥadīd in Sharḥ Nahj al-balāghah, vol. 7, p. 46; as-Suyūṭī in Tārīkh al-khulafā’, p. 171 and Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī in aṣ-Ṣawā‘iq al-muḥriqah, p.76 have written that “None among the companions of the Holy Prophet ever said ‘Ask me whatever you want to’ except `Ali ibn Abi Tālib.” However, among other than the companions a few names do appear in history who did utter such a challenge, such as Ibrāhīm ibn Hishām al-Makhzūmī, Muqātil ibn Sulaymān, Muqātil ibn Sulaymān, ‘Abd ar-Raḥmān (Ibn al-Jawzi) and Muhammad ibn Idrīs, ash-Shāfi‘ī etc. but everyone of them had to face disgrace and was forced to take back his challenge. This challenge can be urged only by him who know the realities of the Universe and is aware of the happenings of the future. Amīr al-mu’minīn the opener of the door of the Prophet’s knowledge as he was, was the only person who was never seen being unable to answer any question on any occasion, so much so that even Caliph ‘Umar had to say that “I seek Allāh’s protection from the difficulty for the solution of which ‘Alī would not be available.” Similarly, the prophesies of Amīr al-mu’minīn made about the future proved true word by word and served as an index to his vast knowledge, whether they be about the devastation of Banū Umayyah or the risings of the Kharijites, the wars and destruction by the Tatars or the attacks of the English, the floods of Baṣrah or the ruination of Kūfah. In short when these events are historical realities there is no reason why this challenge of Amīr al-mu’minīn should be wondered at.