The Greatness of Maula Ali (AS)

After Rasullulah (SA) entered Mecca victorious, he decided to destroy the 300 idols that were installed on Baitullah by kuffar. Rasullulah (SA) asked Maulana Ali (AS) to hoist himself on to Baitullah by standing on his (Rasulullah 's) shoulders to perform this task.

Maulana Ali (AS) was hesitant: how could he step on Rasulullah's (SA) shoulders? Ali (AS) suggested that Rasullulah (SA) step on his shoulders instead. Rasullulah (SA) replied that all the people in the world put together would not be able to bear his weight and urged Maulana Ali (AS) to do as told.

Maulana Ali (AS) obeyed Rasullulah (SA) and climbed up. From atop Rasulullah's (SA) shoulders, it appeared as if the sky and earth were one!

Having destroyed the idols, Maulana Ali (AS) wanted to climb down, but hesitated to ask Rasulullah (SA) to help him. Hence he decided to jump down - and found that when he did, he was not hurt at all! Realizing this Maulana Ali (AS) smiled.

Rasullulah (SA) noticed the smile and said, "Ali, may Allah keep you smiling always, but why are you smiling now?" Maulana Ali (AS) explained that he was marveling at the fact that this jump did not hurt him at all. Rasullulah (SA) explained to Ali (AS) that Allah had sent Jibraeel to help him jump; Jibraeel had opened his wings and borne Ali (AS) back to the ground.

Such was the greatness of Maulana Ali (AS) that he climbed Baitullah on the shoulders of Rasullulah (SA) and was brought down on the wings of Gibrail!

When Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) was asked whether it was not disrespectful for Maulana Ali (AS) to step on Rasulullah's (SA) shoulders, Syedna (RA) drew a comparison saying that it was not disrespectful to place one Quran on top of another.