Imamat 1 - Chp 9

Imamat 1 - Chp 9

Ayat e Wilayat

Open Ended

Summarize your understanding from the lesson "Appointment of Imam Ali (as)"

Revision of the Previous Lesson

• First of the many occasions when Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) announced the Imamate, Caliphate and successorship of Hazrat Imam Ali (a.s.) was Dawat e Zul Asheera.

• Almost all tafaseer have mentioned this incident in exegesis of the verse 26:214.

• Holy Prophet (sawa) had very clearly mentioned in his khutba about successorship of Imam Ali (as).

• Some Ahle Tasannun scholars have tried to alter the history but have not been successful in their attempts completely.

Sura e Maidah (5): Verse 55

Shan e Nuzool

Abu Dharr Ghaffari (r.a.) says that one day he was praying with Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) when a beggar came to the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) Mosque. No one responded to his plea. The beggar raised his hands towards heavens and said, ‘Allah! Be a witness that I came to the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) Mosque and no one gave me anything.

Hazrat Ali (a.s.) was bowed in ruku at that time. He pointed his little finger, which had a ring, towards the beggar, who advanced and took

the ring.

Holy Prophet's (s.a.w.a.) prayer

‘O Lord! My brother Moosa had begged of Thee to open his chest to make his work easy for him, to loosen the knot of his tongue so that people might understand him and to appoint from among his relations his brother, as his vizier, and to strengthen his back with Harun and to make Harun his partner in his work. O Allah! You said to Moosa, We will strengthen your arms with your brother. No one with an evil intention will now have an access to either of you! O Allah! I am Muhammad and You have given me distinction. Open my chest for me, make my work easy for me and from my family appoint my brother Ali as my vizier. Strengthen my back with him.’

In response to the prayer

The Prophet had not yet finished his prayers when Jibraeel brought the above quoted verse.

References: As-Suyuti: Ad-Durrul Mansur, vol. 2, pg. 293-294, Ar-Raazi: At-Tafsirul Kabir, vol. 12, pg. 26 Az-Zamakhshari: At-Tafsir (Al-Kashshaaf), vol.1, pg. 649, Nurul Absaar by Shiblanji

Some objections

Objection 1:

Doubt raised is ( الَّ ِذين ) is about plural. How it can be said to be referred to one person , Ali (a.s.)?

Reply

Allama Amini has brought 20 such ayats where Seegha of plural is used while referring to a single person.

Objection 2:

Regarding the word Wali, Sunni say Wali means “friend.”

Reply

According to Dictionary Wali means “Awlaa bit tasarroof”. Example of Wali is Slave vis a vis Master. Wali means one who has got authority over other. Allah has such authority, then Prophet, then Imams.

Conclusion

• Sura e Maedah Ver 55 is a clear verse about mastership of Ali (as) & Aimmah (as)

• The narrator of this incident is J Abu Zarr Ghaffari (ra) whose honesty has been vouched for by Holy Prophet (sawa)

• The enemies of those days also tried to repeat this incident but not even once was a verse revealed

• Ahle Tasannun have tried to raise objections against this clear incident also, but our scholars have responded in detail

Assignment for next week

Memorize Ayat e Wilayat (5:55)