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Ali is left in charge of the Prophet's family

استخلاف علي على أهل النبي وقول النبي له

October 630 CE · Rajab 9 AH

al-Jurf

The Prophet left Ali in charge of his family and ordered him to stay with them. The hypocrites spread the rumour that he had found Ali a burden, so Ali took up his weapons and caught up with the Prophet at al-Jurf. The Prophet told him he had left him behind for what he had left behind him, and asked: are you not content to be to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me? Ali returned to Medina.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Arabia
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

In time

620630640

Summary

The Prophet left Ali in charge of his family and ordered him to stay with them. The hypocrites spread the rumour that he had found Ali a burden, so Ali took up his weapons and caught up with the Prophet at al-Jurf. The Prophet told him he had left him behind for what he had left behind him, and asked: are you not content to be to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me? Ali returned to Medina. 1

The account

The Prophet left Ali ibn Abi Talib in charge of his family and ordered him to stay with them; the hypocrites spread their rumour about him, saying he had left him behind only because he found him a burden and wanted relief from him. 1

So Ali took up his weapons and went out until he reached the Prophet, who was halting at al-Jurf, and told him that the hypocrites claimed he had found him a burden and wanted relief from him. 1

The Prophet said: they lied. I left you behind only for what I left behind me — go back and be my deputy over my family and yours. "Are you not content, Ali, to be to me in the position of Aaron to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me?" Ali returned to Medina and the Prophet went on his journey. 1

Ibn Ishaq relates, from Muhammad ibn Talha ibn Yazid ibn Rukana, from Ibrahim ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, from his father Sa'd, that he heard the Prophet say these words to Ali. 1

Markers of weakness and doubt

  • The "position of Aaron" hadith admits multiple interpretations; the museum records Ibn Ishaq's account with its chain, then the three views in order — Sunni, academic, Twelver Shia — and does not adjudicate.
  • Ibn Ishaq's chain: Muhammad ibn Talha ibn Yazid ibn Rukana from Ibrahim ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas from his father Sa'd (p. 163).

Opinions on the question

The question: What did the Prophet mean by telling Ali he was to him as Harun was to Musa when he left him in charge of his family?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Ibn Ishaq relates it as an answer to the hypocrites' rumour that the Prophet had found Ali a burden; Sunni commentators therefore usually read the saying as deputising Ali over the household for the duration of the campaign, likened to Aaron deputising for Moses in his absence — not a declaration of succession after the Prophet; this summary needs a second witness from hadith commentaries (needs_source).
More opinions (2)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

Researchers note that the report is transmitted in Sunni and Shi'i sources alike and that the disagreement is over its significance, not its occurrence; the summary needs a specific academic reference (needs_source).

Shia (Twelver) viewOther opinion

The Imami (Twelver) view sees in the phrase 'in the position of Aaron to Moses' proof that Ali holds Aaron's position to Moses in the succession after the Prophet; the summary needs a specific Shi'i source (needs_source).

Connections

Occurred at
al-Jurf
Had participant
MuhammadAli ibn Abi Talib
Part of
The expedition to Tabuk

People and things also explored

Abu Dharr lags behind and follows on footAbu Khaythama catches up with the ProphetAbu Ruhm and the stragglers of Ghifar and AslamAbu Sufyan's mission to MedinaThe three years of the secret callal-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behindAli's expedition to destroy al-Fuls, the idol of Tayy'The Battle of Badr

Sources

  1. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/163
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Ali is left in charge of the Prophet's family”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/ali-left-with-the-prophets-family/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.

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Abu Dharr lags behind and follows on foot

Man after man fell behind the Prophet on the march, and he would say: leave him; if there is good in him, God will bring him up to you. Then Abu Dharr was reported to have fallen behind, his camel slowing him, so he took his baggage on his back and set out on foot following the Prophet's tracks. When a watcher saw him the Prophet said: let it be Abu Dharr; and it was he. The Prophet prayed for him and said that he walks alone, dies alone and is raised alone.