Imamat 2 - Chp 13

Imamat 2 - Chp 13

Real Meaning of Ulul-Amr

Homework from previous session​

Memorize the verse in Sura 4, no. 59​

​Summary of previous lesson

• Allah (swt) has spoken about obedience to Ulul Amr same as the obedience to Holy Prophet (sawa), as the word "Ate'ee" has not been used thrice

• It is also logical in this regard that the Ulul Amr must be Ma'soom as the people are being directly ordered to obey

• ​The Ahle Tasannun scholars interpret the meaning of Ulul Amr to be either the Kings, Rulers, Commanders of the army, or the learned people of the nation

• ​Since there are clear narrations of sinful acts committed by all the above groups of people, following them would be going against another order of Allah (swt) to 'not obey a sinner'

​The Shia view point

​Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari says: I inquired about this verse (4:59) from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying: “We have known Allah and His Messenger, but who are these Ulil Amr?” The Holy Prophet (sawa) replied: “O Jabir! They are my Caliphs and the Imams of Muslims after me. Among them the first is Ali Ibn Abi Talib, then Hasan, after him Husain, and after him Ali bin Husain, then Muhammad bin Ali, who has been called Baqir in Torah. O Jabir! You will meet him. Convey my Salam (greeting) to him. Thereafter Ja’far bin Muhammad Sadiq then Moosa bin Ja’far then Ali bin Moosa then Muhammad bin Ali then Ali bin Muhammad then Hasan bin Ali (a.s.). His son will have my name and my agnomen. All of them will be Allah’s proofs on the earth and will be among His slaves. The son of Hasan bin Ali is the one whom Allah will make him victorious in the east and the west of the earth. He will be the one who will go out of sight of his Shias as is the right of becoming invisible. Only those people will remain believers in his Imamate whose inner faith has been tested by Allah.

The Shia point of view (Cont'd) ​

The great Sunni traditionalist of the 5th century Hakim Haskani in his book Shawaahedut Tanzil (vol. 1, pg. 149) narrates that Imam Baqir (a.s.) said that this verse was revealed about Hazrat Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.). Upon hearing this, someone asked the Imam (a.s.): people say, why did Allah not mention the names of Ali and his family in His Book?​

​The response

​The Imam (a.s.) answered: Tell them that there came the command of Salaat (Prayer), but Allah did not mention whether three or four rakat (to be performed); it was the Apostle of Allah who explained all the details. And (the command of) Zakaat was revealed but Allah did not say that it is one in every forty dirham; it was the Apostle of Allah who explained it; and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) was ordered, but Allah did not say to perform Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Kaabah) seven times, the Apostle of Allah explained it. Likewise, this verse was revealed about Imam Ali (a.s.) and Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.) - Tafseer-e-Ayyashi, vol. 2, pg 249-250, Tehran Edition, Tafseer-e-Saafi,Mulla Mohsin Faiz Kashani, vol. 1, pg 364, Tehran Edition.

​Summary

• ​As per traditions from both the sources, the real meaning of Ulul Amr are the holy infallible Imams (as)

• ​There are traditions where Holy Prophet (sawa) has named of all the aimmah (as) to avoid any confusions

• There are also similar narrations from ​other aimmah (as) wherein they (as) have explained that Allah (swt) is referring to the Ahle Bait (as) as the Ulul Amr in this verse

• ​Muslims are not required in this verse to obey rulers who may be unjust, tyrannical, ignorant, selfish and sunk in debauchery.They are in fact ordered to obey the specified Twelve Imams (a.s.),all of whom were sinless and free from evil thoughts and deeds

Homework for next session​

Memorize the ayat in Sura 4, ver 59​