Deputation of Amirul Momineen Ali (A.S.) to Yemen

Hayat Al-Qulub Vol. 1,
By: Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi
Shaykh Mufeed and Shaykh Tabarsi have narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S) now sent Khalid bin Walid to the people of Yemen in order to invite them to Islam; and a group of Muslims also accompanied him, in which Baraa bin Azib was also included. In spite of staying there for six months they could not convert a single person there. The Prophet now sent Ali to Yemen and asked him to send back Khalid with his army saying: “And if any of his companions wants to remain there with you, allow him.”
Baraa bin Azib says that he remained behind with Amirul Momineen (a.s.). He says: When we reached the Yemenite borders and the people were informed of our arrival, they gathered there. Amirul Momineen (a.s.) prayed the Morning Prayer with us and standing before us addressed those people and after praise and glorification of the Almighty Allah read out Prophet Muhammad’s letter to them, and in one day, the tribe of Hamadan became Muslims. Ali communicated this news to the Prophet, who was greatly rejoiced and fell in adoration and thanksgiving to God, and on rising said: “The mercy of God be on the tribe of Hamadan.” The conversion of all Yemen followed that of this tribe.

Amr bin Shas complains about Amirul Momineen (a.s.)
Shaykh Tabarsi has narrated that the Holy Prophet (S) sent Ali to Yemen in order to call the people to Islam and collect religious taxes from him and teach the laws of Islam and what is lawful and what is prohibited. He was also commissioned to collect tribute from Christians of Najran. Moreover, Shaykh Tabarsi and all Shia and Sunni tradition scholars like Bukhari and Muslim etc. have narrated from Amr bin Shas that he said that he was with a group of people in the company of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.).
Ali did something which we did not like and I was angry at him. When I came to Medina, I complained to the Prophet and some people who were with him. Again one day, I came to the Prophet when he was in the mosque. He looked me and I sat down with him. The Holy Prophet (S) said: O Amr bin Shas you have hurt me. I said: Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. I seek Allah’s refuge from the fact that I should hurt the Messenger of Allah (S). The Prophet said: One who hurts Ali has hurt me.
Kulaini has narrated through reliable chains from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: The Messenger of Allah (S) sent me to Yemen and told me not to fight anyone before inviting him to Islam. By Allah, if Allah guides a single person through you, it would be better for him than the possession of all the things in the world, and you are the heir of one who has no heir. Even if people make allegations against you.
It is mentioned in Basairud Darajat that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: The Messenger of Allah (S) summoned me and sent me to Yemen so that I may guide them. I said that they were in large numbers and I was a young man. The Holy Prophet (S) said that when I reached the mountain pass of Afiq, I should say aloud: O trees, rocks and lands, the Holy Prophet (S) have conveyed his salutations to you. So when I reached Yemen, I found the people ready to attack me. I called out aloud as the Prophet had advised. All those addressed by me responded by trembling and said in a united voice: Peace be upon the Holy Prophet (S) and upon you, O Amirul Momineen (a.s.)! The Yemenites were terrified at the miracle and they received him with great respect and embraced Islam. So I conveyed the message of Islam to them and returned from there.

The Prophet prays for Imam Ali (a.s.)
Shaykh Tabarsi has narrated from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) through a reliable chain of narrators that he said: When the Messenger of Allah (S) ordered me to go to Yemen, I declined saying I was young and did not know how to judge. The Prophet passed his hand over my chest saying, “O Allah, guide his heart and make his tongue speak the truth. By the one in whose hand is my life, after that I never had any doubt in any judgment that I pronounced.

Complaint against a judgment of Ali (a.s.)
Qutub Rawandi has narrated through authentic chains of narrators that when Amirul Momineen (a.s.) went to Yemen, it so happened that a horse ran away from its owner and trampled a man to death. His heirs caught hold of the owner and brought him to Amirul Momineen (a.s.) demanding revenge. The horse owners said that the horse had run away and it was no fault of his. Imam Ali (a.s.) did not make him liable for blood money.
Heirs of deceased came to the Holy Prophet (S) and complained that Imam Ali (a.s.) has not given the right decision. The Holy Prophet (S) said that Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) is never unjust and after me he is the Imam and guide. His decision is right and his statement is correct, his judgment is not rejected by anyone except a disbeliever and only the believer is satisfied with his decision. When the people of Yemen heard this they said: We are satisfied with the judgment of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). The Prophet said: This statement of yours will serve as your repentance to what you claimed previously.

Obedient Horses
Kulaini has narrated through reliable chains of narrators from Imam Ali Reza (a.s.) that when Amirul Momineen (a.s.) returned from Yemen, he brought as gift for the Messenger of Allah (S) four horses. The Holy Prophet (S) asked him to explain the qualities of those horses. Imam Ali (a.s.) said that they were of different colors. The Prophet asked if there was one with some white? He replied: Yes, there is a red horse with some white on it.
So the Holy Prophet (S) told that it should be kept aside for him. Two horses are pure red and also have whiteness. The Messenger of Allah (S) said that they should be given to Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s.) said that one was black. The Prophet said that he should be sold and the cash obtained through it must be used for his household expenses, since the auspiciousness of the horses is in the whiteness on its mane and legs.