Ali The Guide To Siratul Mustaqim [1:6]

There is a famous hadith in Sunni works that proves that Imam Ali is a guide to the straight path:

From Ali (as): It was said to the prophet (saw). “Who shall lead after you?” He (saw) replied. “If you make Abu Bakr your leader, you will find him truthful and an ascetic in this world, and cautious and wary of the hereafter. If you make Umar your leader, you will find him truthful and strong and one who does not fear the blame of a critic. And if you make Ali (as) your leader, although I know you will not. You will find him a guided one who guides, and he shall take you to the straight path!

Source 1: [Al Musnad, Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (d.240H), Vol 2, Pg 214, Narration 859.]

The narration is considered Mursal (disconnected) to many yet the chain of narrators is trustworthy. It can still be considered reliable if supplemented with corroborating reports as we’ll see.

Source 2: [Imam Ahmad, Fad'ail Al Sahaba, Pg 231, Narration 284.]

This hadith is graded Hasan (good)

Source 3: [Imam Abdullah ibn Ahmed bin Hanbal, Al Sunna, Pg 541.] 

The hadith is graded Hasan (good)

Source 4: [Imam Hakim (d.405H), Mustadrak Ala Sahihayn, Vol 3, Pg 73-74, Narration 4434 and 4435.]

The chain is graded Sahih by Imam Hakim

Source 5: [Imam Abu Nuaym Al Isfahani, Hilyat Al Awliya, Vol 1, Pg 64]

Source 6: [Imam Alauddin Al Muttaqi, Kanz ul Ammal, Vol 11, pg 612, Narration no: 32966 and Pg 630, Narration no: 33070, 33071, 33072]

All are graded Hasan

Source 8: [Ibn Kathir, Al Bidaya Wan Nihaya, Vol 11, Pg 99]

This tradition and the underlined portion specifically is in line with the shia understanding of the Tafsir of verse 1:6 of Surah Fatiha of the Holy Quran as stated in Tafsir Al Ayyashi.

These Ahadith were mentioned in a lecture by Sayed Ammar Nakshawani as can be seen in the below clip: