The True Khalifah of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s)

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Imam al-Nisai records that the Prophet ( said to Imam Ali :

أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنك لست بنبي ثم قال أنت خليفتي يعني في كل مؤمن من بعدي 

Are you not pleased to be to me what Harun was to Musa (i.e. Khalifah, brother, helper, partner) except that you are not a prophet? YOU ARE MY KHALIFAH OVER EVERY BELIEVER AFTER ME.

Source:

1. Imam an-Nisai, al-Sunan al-Kubra, vol. 5, p. 112, Number 8409 
2. Shaykh Ahmad Shakir, Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 3, p. 331, Hadeeth # 3062 and 3063
3. Shaykh Muhammad Nasir ad-Din al-Albani, Zilal al-Jannah, Number 1188 and 1351
4. Shaykh Abu Ishaq al-Huwayni, al-Jili bi Takhrij Khasais ‘Ali, p. 44, Hadith # 23
5. Dr. Wasi’ullah ibn Muhammad ‘Abbas, Fadail as-Sahabah, vol. 2, p. 684, Hadith # 1168
6. Al-Hafiz Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak ‘ala as-Sahihayn, vol. 4, p. 229 

Grading:

1. This Hadith is Sahih, and has been so declared by SEVERAL top-ranking Sunni Hadith scholars! The Salafi scholar, Shaykh Ahmad Shakir, in his tahqiq (authentication) of Musnad Ahmad, states about the above Hadith:

       إسناده صحيح

         Its chain is Sahih. 
         Shaykh Ahmad Shakir, Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 3, p. 331, Hadeeth # 3062 and 3063

     2.  Shaykh al-Albani too says about this Hadith:

       إسناده حسن

         Its chain is Hasan. 
         Shaykh Muhammad Nasir ad-Din al-Albani, Zilal al-Jannah, Number 1188 and 1351

    3.  Yet another Salafi Hadith scholar, currently based in Saudi Arabia, Abu Ishaq al-Huwayni, also states                                                                      

         about the Hadith:

        إسناده حسن

         Its chain is Hasan. 
         Shaykh Abu Ishaq al-Huwayni, al-Jili bi Takhrij Khasais ‘Ali, p. 44, Hadith # 23

     4. Again, another Salafi Hadith scholar, Dr. Wasi’ullah ibn Muhammad ‘Abbas, states about the Hadith:
        إسناده صحيح

         Its chain is Sahih. 
         Dr. Wasi’ullah ibn Muhammad ‘Abbas, Fadail as-Sahabah, vol. 2, p. 682, Hadith # 1168

    5. The classical Sunni Hadith master, Al-Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, states about the chain of the Hadith:

        هذا اسناد لا مطعن فيه لأحد لصحته وثقة نقله

          This chain is not attacked by anyone because of its authenticity and the 

          trustworthiness of its narrators.                        

          Al-Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, al-Isti’ab, vol. 3, p. 1092

    6. Al-Hakim, another classical Sunni Hadith scholar states:

       هذا حديث صحيح الإٍسناد

         This Hadith has a Sahih chain. 
         Al-Hafiz Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak ‘ala as-Sahihayn, vol. 4, p. 229 

    7.  Al-Hafiz ad-Dhahabi also states about the Hadith

        صحيح

         Sahih. 
        Al-Hafiz Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak ‘ala as-Sahihayn, vol. 3, p. 132 (with talkhis of adh-Dhahabi)