THE BEST CREATURES

Surah al-Bayyinah (The Testimony) is the 98^th Surah of the Glorious Qur’an, revealed in Madinah. It contains 8 Ayahs. Ayah 7 defines as to who are the “Best Creatures”. Ayah 7 says, “Surely those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of all creatures.”

The Noble Messenger (a.s.a.p.) said, “There will be no servant who recites it at night but that Allah (s.w.t.) sends angels who protect him in his faith and his present life and that seeks forgiveness and mercy for him; and when on the day he recites it, he will be rewarded as much as what the day sheds light upon and what the night darkens.” (Majma’ al Bayan volume 10, page 521)

The rewards for the Best Creatures have been stated in Ayah 8, “Their reward with their Lord will be Gardens of eternity, beneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever; Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. That is for him who fears Lord and Cherisher.”  

Paradise for man’s body, is the eternal Gardens of the next world, but the Paradise for his soul is the Lord’s pleasure! Fear of his Lord Cherisher is the motivation of all obedience, piety, and righteous deeds.

There are great many narrations both from Shi’ite and Sunnite sources in which the Ayah “…they are the best creatures” is rendered to mean the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) and his followers. Hakim Haskani Neyshapuri, one of the famous Sunnite scholars in the fifth century A.H., have cited narrations with more than 20 different references in his book; Shawahid- but -Tamil:

1.Ibne Abbas says, when this Ayah was revealed, the Noble Messenger (saw’s.) told Imam Ali (ads.), “It is you and your followers who will come on the Day of Reckoning when you and your followers are well-pleased (yourselves) and well-pleasing Him and your enemy will come angrily pushed (into Hell)” (volume 2, page 357 # 1126)

2.Abu Barazah has narrated a tradition from the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) referring the above Ayah said, “They are you and your followers. O Ali! The appointment for you and I is beside Pool of Kauthar” (volume 2 page 359 # 1130)

3.Jabir ibne Abdullah Ansari narrates, “We were sitting with the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), when Imam Ali came in his presence, he said, “By the Lord of Ka’ba, this man and his followers will be triumphant on the Day of Judgment” At that time the above Ayah was revealed and from that time on, whenever the companions saw Imam Ali (a.s.) coming, they will say, “The best of all creatures next to the Messenger of Allah.” (volume 2 page 362 # 1139)

Some of these traditions were cited by Ibne Hajar-e-Makki in Sawaiq-e-Muhriqa and Muhammad Shablanji in Nur-ulu-Absar. Also, Jalal-ud-Din Suyuti in Durr-ul-Manthur. (volume 6 page 379)

4.Ibne Murduyah narrates from Imam Ali (a.s.) that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said to him “Have you not heard the word of Allah: Surely those who believe and do righteous deeds, they are the best of all creatures? You and your followers are those and the appointment place of mine will be at the Pool of Abundance. When I come for the account of nations you will be invited while your foreheads are white”

The other Sunnite scholars who have cited the same meanings are: Khatib Kharazami in Manaqib, Abu Na’im Isphahani in Kifayat-ul-Khisam, Allam Tabard in Tabari, Ibne Shabbaq Maliki in Fusul-ul- Muhammad, Allana Shoukani in Fath-ul-Qadir, Shaykh Suleyman Qanduzi in Yanabi-ul-Muwaddah, Alois in Ruh-ul-Ma’ani and some others.

It is worth -mentioning here that the term “Shi’a” was already in use even during the life-time of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Also, Shi’a means followers in deeds not only by verbal repetition!

               Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation) (Tafsir-e-Namounah) by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi