Imamology, Lesson 72-75: The narratives of the Sunnite about the verse of Guardianship and the story of the ring

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The narratives of the Sunnite about the verse of Guardianship and the story of the ring

7- From Muhammad bin Ya‘qub Kolaini by his chains documents from Zerarat quoting the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace:

Zerarat says: ‘I asked that Holiness about the noble verse that Allah states:

 وَ مَا ظَلَمُونَا وَ لَكِنْ كَانُوا أنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُون‏

‘…and, they did not wrong Us, but they wronged themselves, (Qur’an: 2/57).’

And he answered:

إنَّ اللَهَ أعْظَمُ وَ أعَزُّوَ أجَلُّ مِنْ أنْ يُظْلَمَ وَ لَكِنَّهُ خَلَّطَنَا بِنَفْسِهِ فَجَعَلَ ظُلْمَنَا ظُلْمَهُ؛ وَ وَلَايَتَنَا وَلَايَتَهُ حَيْثُ يَقُولُ: «إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا» يَعْنِى الْأئِمَّة مِنَّا. ثُمَّ قَالَ فِى مَوْضعٍ آخَرَ: «وَ مَا ظَلُمُونَا وَ لَكِنْ كَانُوا أنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُون»  ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَه. ^[46]

Surely Allah is Greater, Mightier, more Majestic than that to be oppressed, however, He has added us to Himself and considers any oppression to us as an oppression to Him, and He has assigned our Guardian as His Own Guardian; where He states: إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا , here, the meaning of وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا refers to us, the Imams. And he has also brought this verse in another place, and draws the same meaning out of it.

8- All the relaters, such as Muhammad bin Ya‘qub, Ali bin Ibrahim, his father, ibn Abi Amir, Omar bin Ozaina, Zorarat, Fozail bin Yasar, Bokar bin A‘ayun, Muhammad bin Muslim, Yazid bin Mua‘wiyah, Abul Jarud have related from the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, saying: ‘Allah, the Honourable and Exalted, has commanded the Guardianship of Ali, the Commander of the believers, for His Messenger, and He has sent this verse:

 إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون.‏

‘… Your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who have believed, establish prayer, and, pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray], (Qur’an: 5/55).’

for him. And He has also made the Guardianship of those in authority indispensible; however people did not know what the Guardianship was. Therefore, Allah commanded Muhammad, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, to explain them the meaning of the Guardianship – similar to the prayer, the fast and the Hajj that he had already translated and explained to them.

When this command of Allah came, the breast of the Messenger grew weak; he was afraid that the people might forsake their religion and become infidel. Therefore, he beseeched Allah, the Honourable and Exalted and He too sent a revelation:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رَسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاس.

‘… O Prophet, announce what has been revealed to you by your Lord; for if you do not do so you have not conveyed His message. Allah protects you from people, (Qur’an: 5/67).’ ‏

And then, following this command, the Messenger of Allah began publicizing the command openly, and he announced for Ali’s Guardianship in Ghadir-e-Khum, conveyed the voice of the society to the world – and he asked those present to carry the news to those who were not present.

Omar ibn Ozainah, who is the relater of this narrative, says: All the relaters, except Abu-al-Jarood, said that:

The Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, stated: ‘… and every injunction and the duty after any injunction, and also other duties kept revealing one after another; the injunction of the Guardianship was the last injunction and duty that Allah, the Honourable and Exalted , sent this verse for:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى.

‘… Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and completed My favour upon you, (Qur’an: 5/3).’ ‏

Namely, Allah states: “After this injunction and duty, I will send you no more injunction or duty; because by this Guardianship I have completed everything for you.” ^[47]

9- It has been related from Muhammad bin Ya‘qūb that he, bey means of his documents quoted from Ahmad bin Muhammad, who has quoted Ali bin Hakam, and he too quoted Hussein bin Abu-al-A‘la has related: I asked the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, concerning the bequests of the Messenger of Allah that if it was necessary to follow them. The Holiness answered: ‘Yes, it is they about whom Allah, the Exalted, has stated:

أطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولُ وَ أُولِى الْامْرِ مِنْكُم.‏

‘… Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you, (Qur’an: 4/59).’

And they are those about them Allah states:

إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون.‏ ^[48]

‘… Your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who have believed, establish prayer, and, pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray], (Qur’an: 5/55).’”

10- It has been related in “Ali bin Ibrahim’s Commentary”, from his father, from Safwan, from Aban bin Othman, and from Abu Hamzah Thomali that the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, that he has related: ‘Once the Messenger of Allah was sitting, and Abdullah bin Salam was also sitting among the Jews sitting about the Messenger. At that moment the verse of Guardian was revealed; the Messenger of Allah set out for the mosque, and close to the mosque, a beggar came to him. The Holiness asked him: ‘Has anyone given you anything at all?’ He answered, yes, that man who is saying his prayer there.

The Holiness Messenger, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, stepped into the mosque and saw that man was Ali bin Abī Tālib. ^[49]

Majlisi has put this narrative in “Behar” from the “Commentary of Ali bin Ibrahim”.^[50] And Bahrani has also put it in “The Commentary of Borhan”,from Ali bin Ibrahim. ^[51]

11- In “The Commentary of Ayyashi”, it has been related of ibn Abi Ya’fur that has said: I asked the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace: Can I present you my belief and which religion I believe in? The Holiness said: Present it and let us know, I said:

أشْهَدُ أنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَهُ، وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَه.‏

‘I bear witness that the is no God except Allah, and bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And I also believe in what Muhammad has brought with him from Allah.’

Ibn Abi Yafur says: Then, I counted those Imams one after another for the Holiness, and confessed their Guardianships until I came to the name of the Holiness Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, I paused a short while, and then told the Holiness Sādiq:

‘Concerning your Guardianship, I confess what I did about the other Imams.’

The Holiness stated: “I prohibit you mentioning my name and case among the people.”

A‘ban, the relater of the narrative says: ‘Ibn Abi Ya‘fur said: ‘In the beginning, I said to the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, that he was among those whom Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:

 أطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولُ وَ أُولِى الْامْرِ مِنْكُم.‏

‘… Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you, (Qur’an: 4/59).’

The Holiness said: “There is also another verse, do you want me to read it?”

I said: ‘May I be made sacrifice to you, which verse if that?’

The Holiness said:

 إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون.‏

‘… Your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who have believed, establish prayer, and, pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray], (Qur’an: 5/55).’

Then he said to ibn Abi Ya‘fur: “May Allah have mercy upon you!”

I asked: ‘Do you pray Allah to have mercy upon me for my confession?’

The Holiness stated: “Yes, Allah may have mercy upon you for your confessing.” ^[52]

And Majlisi, may Allah be pleased with, has brought this narrative: إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ without continuation in the “Commentary of Ay’yashi”. ^[53]

12- In “The Commentary of Ay’yashi”, by means of his documents from Mafazzal Bin Salih, some of the companions have related that either Bāqir or Imam Sādiq, Upon Them be Peace, has related that:

 لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الايَة: «إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا» شُقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْه وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ وَ خَشِىَ أنْ يُكَذِّبَهُ قُرَيْشٌ فَأنْزَلَ اللَهُ:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ. فَقَامَ بِذَلِكَ يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُم.‏ ^[54]

‘When the verse for the Guardianship revealed, it seemed to be difficult for the Messenger to announce it to the people, he was afraid that the Quraish would reject him [by saying: you have chosen Ali for the Guardianship on your own will]; on that occasion, Allah sent this verse: “O Messenger, announce whatever has come to you from your Lord! If you do not do so, then you have not propagated Allah’s command for the prophet-hood.” Therefore, the Messenger of Allah rose up on the Day of Ghadir Khum and announced it to the people.

And Majlisi, may Allah be pleased with, has related the whole narrative.^[55]

13- It is in “Ay‘yashi’s Commentary”, from Abu Jamilah, quoting some of the companions, they are also quoting one of the two Imams that the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, has stated:

 إنَّ اللَهَ أوْحَى إلَىَّ أن احِبَّ أرْبَعَة: عَلِيًّا وَ أبَا ذَرٍّ وَ سَلْمَانَ وَ مِقْدَادَ؛ فَقُلْتُ: ألَا فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ كَثْرَة النَّاسِ؟ أَمَا كَانَ أحَدٌ يَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْامْرَ؟ فَقَالَ: بَلَى ثَلاثَة!

قُلْتُ: هَذِهِ الْأيَاتُ الَّتِى انْزِلَتْ: إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا، وَ قَوْلُهُ: أَطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِى الْأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ، أمَا كَانَ احَدٌ يَسْأَلُ فِيمَ نَزَلَتْ؟!

فَقَالَ: مِنْ ثَمَّ أَتَاهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَسْألُون.‏ ^[56]

“Allah has inspired me to love four persons: Ali, Salman, Abudhar and Miqdad.” The relater says, I asked one of the two Imams: ‘Among such great majority of the people why one did not get to know the event of the Guardianship?’ The Holiness answered: “Why! There were three.”

I said: ‘There have been revealed some verses as:  

إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ و آيه: أَطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِى الْأمْرِ مِنْكُم.‏

then, was there not one to ask about whom they have been revealed!’

The Holiness stated: “That is why upon them befell the consequence of what they had not ask about.”

Majlisi has wholly explained this narrative in “Behar”. ^[57]

14- In “Ay‘yashi’s Commentary”, it has been related by Fazil Quoting the Holiness Abu Ja‘far Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, concerning the comment of the verse: إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا has said: ‘They are the Imams, ^[58]Upon Them be Peace, هُمُ الْائِمَّة عَلَيْهم السّلام‏.

Majlisi has also explained this narrative. ^[59]

15- It is from ibn Babweia, by means of his documents, quoted Abu Saeed Warraq, quoting his father, quoting Ja‘far bin Muhammad, quoting his father and he too quoting his grandfather in the narrative: مُناشَده أمِيرُالمُؤمِنينِ عَلَيْه السّلام‏ with Abu Bakr, when Abu Bakr had usurped the Caliphate, has been related that: the Holiness counted out his virtues to Abu Bakr. And clearly explained him the vivid text of the Guardianship that had been sent down to the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, and he also pointed out the narrative:

أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَهِ أ لِىَ الْوَلَايَة مِنَ اللَهَ مَعَ وَلَايَة رَسُولِ اللَهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فِى آيَة زَكَاة الْخَاتَمِ، أَمْ لَكَ؟ قَالَ: بَلْ لَكَ.!^[60]

‘I take you for an oath to Allah, [to tell the truth] whether in the case of that ring’s donation: the command of the Guardianship with the Messenger of Allah was assigned for you or me by Allah?’ He answered: ‘Yes, it was for you.’

16- It is from Sheikh Tousi, in the book of “Majalis” that by his documents from Abuzar quoting the narrative of the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, in the council with Othman, Zubair, Abdur-Rahman bin Auf and Sa‘d bin Abi Waq‘qas that the Holiness carried out his argument by the clear texts of the Messenger of Allah and all the gathering approved it and unanimously signed it. And of the arguments of the Holiness was that:

فَهَلْ فِيكُمْ أحَدٌ أتىَ الزَّكَاة وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ فَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِ: «إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُونَ» غَيرِى؟ قَالُوا: لا. ^[61]

‘I take you for an oath to Allah [telling me] that: Is there one among you, except me, to pay his Zakat while bowing down to pray, and then, a verse to be sent down for his own case?!

All of them said: ‘No’.

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The narrative and statement of the Holiness Imam Hadi, upon them be Peace, in the verse of Guardianship

17- It is related by Ahmad bin Ali bin Abī Tālib Tabarsi, in the book of “EHTIJAJ” concerning the letter that the Holiness Imam Abu-al-Hassan, the third, Ali bin Muhammad Hadi, Upon Him be Peace, wrote to the people of Ahwaz, as they had asked the Holiness about the necessity and submission the Holiness stated: All the Islamic nations, without exception, unanimously agree the rightfulness of the Qur’an and there exists no doubt in it! All different tribes and sections are united on this subject and whatever has been put in the Qur’an; and the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, has stated: لَا تَجْتَمِعُ امَّتِى عَلَى ضَلَالَة ‘My nation do not agree on error and straying.’ Therefore, the Holiness has informed the common that: ‘Upon that which my nation comes to an agreement and has no differences on it, then that is right.’

This is the real meaning of the narrative, but not that the ignorance have interpreted, but the opponents have said: by following the commands of the invented narratives, and wrapped up in sheer lies, and annulling the commands of the Book of Allah, and also following the mean destructive verdicts which are against the clear texts of Allah’s Book, we ask Allah, the Exalted, to assist us to say our prayer and to lead us towards the progress and perfection.

And when Allah’s Book confirms the rightfulness of a piece of news and singles it out as to be certain, but a group among the nation take that rightful news as the faked narrative and mix it up with the invented narratives, and by that means cover the right, then, they have certainly fallen far away from the straight path!

And the most correct news whose truth has been declared by the Book of Allah is the one that being accepted by the majority; such as that the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, has stated:

 إِنِّى مُسْتَخْلِفٌ فِيكُمْ خَلِيفَتَيْنِ: كِتَابَ اللَهِ وَ عِتْرتِى مَا إنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدِى وَ انَّهُمَا لَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَىَّ الْحَوْض‏.

‘I leave two things with you as my Caliphs; one is the Book of Allah and the next one my Household. As long as you gripe them, you will never go astray after me; and those two will never separate from each other until they join me by the Kow‘thar [river in Paradise].’

And concerning this narrative, there is another statement from the Messenger of Allah with different dialect that the Holiness states:   

إنِّى تَارِكٌ فِيكُمُ الثَّقَلِيْنِ: كِتَابَ اللَهِ وَ عِتْرَتِى: أهْلَ بَيْتِى، وَ إِنَّهُمَا لَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ مَا إنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا.

‘I leave two precious things with you: one is the Book of Allah and the next one my Household; as long as you gripe them, you will never go astray after me; and those two will never separate from each other until they join me by the Kow‘thar [river in Paradise].’

We find some very clear witnesses concerning the truth of this narrative in the Book of Allah, such as:

إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون.‏ 

‘… Your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who have believed, establish prayer, and, pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray].’

It is because all the narrative experts believe that this verse has been revealed to honour the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, for his donating his ring at the position of bowing down to pray; Allah approved and praised this timely act of the Holiness and sent down this verse.

We also find out that the Messenger of Allah has chosen him as his deputy among the companion and has stated that:

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِىُّ مَوْلَاهُ؛ اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ! ^[62]

‘Whomsoever I am Guardian and Master so is this Ali his Guardian and Master. O Creator, be the Master of one who takes Ali as his Master, and be opponent to him who is the enemy of him.’

And also he has stated:

عَلِىُّ يَقضِى دَيْنى وَ يُنْجِزُ مَوْعِدِى وَ هُوَ خَلِيفَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدِى.‏

‘Ali is to repay my obligation and fulfill my promise, and he is my Successor upon you after me.’

And after the Messenger of Allah assigning him as his Successor in Medina, and when he was going war, Ali told the Holiness:

يَا رَسُولَ اللَهِ! أ تُخَلِّفُنِى عَلَى النِّسآءِ وَ الصِّبْيَان.‏

 ‘O Messenger of Allah! Do you assign me as your Successor to protect the women and children?’

To his question, the Messenger of Allah answered:

أَمَا تَرْضَى أنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّى بِمَنْزِلَة هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إلَّا أنَّهُ لَا نَبِىَّ بَعْدِى.‏

‘Are you not pleased that your relation with me to be as the relation of Aaron to Moses; the only exception is that there is not a messenger after me.’

So, according to what is said we get to know that Allah’s Book bears witness to this event and it approves the truth of the case. Therefore, people too must accept that which agrees with the texts of the Qur’an.

When we learn that these narratives agree with the Book of Allah, we see clearly that the Book of Allah too agrees with these narratives – that is a good reason for their rightfulness. Therefore, accepting and following these narratives is necessary; no one exceeds it except he is a stubborn enemy. ^[63]

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The reasoning of the Commander of the believers, upon them be Peace, with the hypocrites concerning the verse of Guardianship

18- It is put in the “Ih’tijaj” of Tabarsi, and also in the narrative of the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, that: The hypocrites asked the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, ‘Are there any more commands and duties for us to carry out, apart from what has been revealed by your Creator – such commands and duties that by fulfilling them we feel tranquility in our souls; though we know there is no more religious duty!’

It was then Allah sent down this verse:

 قُلْ إنَّمَا أَعِظُكُمْ بِوَاحِدَة» يَعْنِى الْوَلَايَة، فَأنْزَلَ اللَه‏ إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون». و لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الْامَّة خِلَافٌ أنَّهُ لَمْ يُؤْتِ الزَّكَوة يَومَئِذٍ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ غَيْرُ رَجُلٍ واحِدٍ لَوْ ذَكِرَ اسْمُهُ فِى الْكِتَابِ لَا سُقِطَ مَعَ مَا اسْقِطَ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِ؛ وَ هَذَا وَ مَا أشْبَهَهُ مِنَ الرُّمُوزِ الَّتِى ذَكَرْتُ لَكَ ثُبُوتَهَا فِى الْكِتَابِ لِيَجْهَلَ مَعْنَاهَا الْمُحَرِّفُونَ فَيَبْلُغَ إلَيْكَ وَ إلَى أمْثَالِكَ؛ وَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَهُ عَزّ وَ جَلَّ:

 «الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَ رَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإسْلَامُ دِيناً». ^[64]

(O Messenger!) Say: ‘I advise you and draw your attention to one thing – that is the Guardianship – and Allah sent the verse of Guardianship إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُه.

And there is no disagreement among the whole nation that, apart from a certain man, no one has given alms in the middle of his prayer when he was bowing down. However, if his name were mentioned in the Qur’an, then his mentioning would be disregarded – as the other things have been disregarded.

And this subject that I mentioned is of those mysterious ones in the Book of Allah [and these subjects have been mysteriously put in the Qur’an] so that when those who tamper with and try to change the meaning of the verses from their right course not to succeed. In that case, the facts and events reach you as they are, and here, Allah, the Honourable and Exalted has stated:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَ رَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإسْلَامَ دِينا.

‘Today, I completed your religion for you and concluded my blessing for you, and I approved Islam to be your religion.’

On this subject, Sayyid Hshim Bahrani has said: ‘The importance of this subject is that the Holiness Imam Ali a-Hadi, Upon Him be Peace, has gathered all together by saying this verse is revealed for the position of the Commander of believers, Upon Him be Peace, and his saying is a good proof and there is no need to clarify it. ^[65]

Any the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, as well the other Imams, Upon Them be Peace, have many a time argued on the Guardianship and the case of donation of the ring, and while having dispute with the enemies they have mentioned it as a good proof. So far, no one has denied the verse not to about the Commander of the believers.

One of them is Tabarsi, who has said that: On the day of Council, the Holiness Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, along with the members of the Council, (Zubair, Talha, Othman, Sa’d and Abd-ur-Rahman), after a long discussion, in the end, they argued about the verse of the Guardian:

قَالَ: نَشَدْتُكُمْ بِاللَهِ: هَلْ فِيكُمْ أحَدٌ نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ هَذِهِ الْآيَة: إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون» غَيْرِى؟! قَالُوا: لا.^[66]

[The Holiness] said: ‘I take you for an oath, is there one among you, except me, about whom the verse of the Guardianship to be sent down?’ They said: ‘No.’

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The reasoning of the Commander of the believers, upon them be Peace, with the Immigrants and the Assistance concerning the verse of Guardianship

And of the Tabarsi, he has related it on the argument of the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, with the MOHAJERIN and ANSAR when the Holiness says:

 قَالَ: فَانْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَهِ: أَ تَعْلَمُونَ حَيْثُ نَزَلَتْ: «يَا أيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِى الْأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ، وَ حَيْثُ نَزَلَتْ: إِنَّمَا وَليُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون، وَ حَيْثُ نَزَلَتْ: وَ لَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَهِ وَ لَا رَسُولِهِ وَ لَا الْمؤمِنِينَ وَلِيجَة. (Surah 9, Verse 16)

قَالَ النَّاسُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَهِ! أَخَاصَّة فِى بَعْضِ الْمُؤمِنينَ أمْ عَامَّة لِجَميعِهِمْ؟

فَأَمَرَ اللَهُ نَبِيَّهُ أنْ يُعْلِمَهُمْ وُلَاة أمْرِهِمْ وَ أنْ يُفَسِّرَ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْوَلَايَة مَا فَسَّرَ لَهُمْ مِنَ صَلَاتِهِمْ وَ زَكَاتِهِمْ وَ صَوْمِهِمْ وَ حَجِّهِمْ، فَنَصَبَنِى لِلنَّاسِ عَلَماً بِغَدِيرِ خُم. ^[67]

[The Holiness] said: ‘I take you for an oath, do you know that when the verses of ‘obeying Allah and His Messenger and those in authority were sent down?

And when the verse of إِنَّمَا وَليُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا revealed? And also the verse of وَلِيجَة where Allah sates: “And they have not picked the others as the shelter and companion the others" except Allah, His Messenger and the believers.’

People said: ‘O the Messenger of Allah! Do these verses mean a specified kind of the believers or all of them?’

At that moment Allah commanded His Messenger that: Let them know those in authorities, and similarly, let them know the Guardianship as they have been explained the prayer, the fast, the Hajj and how to fulfill them, and to show them how to become familiar with.

And it was on this base that the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, assigned me as the Caliph on the day of Ghadir.

And among them is that Tabarsi, along with explaining the discussion of the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, with the MOHAJERIN and ANSAR, he relates a narrative from Solaim bin Ghais that he has said: While I was clearly hearing it, a man said to Ali bin Abī Tālib, Upon Him be Peace, ‘Do inform me of your best virtues!’

The Holiness said: ‘Would you like me to inform you of those virtues that Allah has sent down in His Book?’

The man answered: ‘Yes, of those virtues that Allah has sent down concerning your position.’

The Holiness stated:

أَفَمَنْ كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَة مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَ يَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِنْه‏

What about one who stands upon a clear explanation (the Messenger of Allah) from his Lord and to whom is a witness (as Ali, the Guardian of Allah) – thus, I am a witness fro from the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants.

And the verse:

وَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا قُلْ كَفَى بِاللَهِ شَهِيداً بَيْنِى وَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَاب‏

‏ ‘…and (O Messenger) those who disbelieve, say, ‘You are not a Messenger.’ Say, ‘Allah is sufficient as a Witness between you and I, and so is one who has the knowledge of the Book, (Qur’an: 13/43).’

Allah has appointed me of those who have the knowledge of the Book.

Then, the Commander of the believers counted one by one the verses of the Qur’an were sent down about him. Such as the verse:

‏ إنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون.

‘… Your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who have believed, establish prayer, and, pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray].’

And the verse:

 أَطِيعُوا اللَهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِى الْأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ. ^[68]

‘Follow Allah and follow the Messenger and those in authority among you.’

Bahrani says: Ammar Sabati quotes the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, has related that the ring which the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, had donated was four ‘mәθghal’ made of silver . And its stone weighed five mәθghal of red ruby, it costs some about the annual tax of Sham, and tax of Sham was three hundred loads of silver and four loads of gold. And that ring belonged to Maran bin tough whom the Commander of the believers had killed in the battle and took away the ring from on his finger. As the spoils of war, he brought the ring to the Messenger, and the Holiness told the Commander of the believers he could take it for now it belonged to him.^[69] The Commander took the ring and wore it on his finger. Then, he went to the mosque and a beggar asked him for something; the Holiness donated it to him when he was following the Messenger in the prayer.

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The Specifications and Value of the Donated Ring

And in his book “Sir-ul-Aalamin”, (The Secrets of the Worlds), Ghazzali says: ‘The ring that the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, donated, was the very ring of Solomon the son of David;’ and Sheikh Tousi has said: ‘The donation of this ring was on the 24^th Dhi-Hajj,’ and the owner of the book of “Masar-rul-Shiite” has mentioned this subject; he has also related that the dispute had taken place on this day.^[70] And Al‘lāma Amini has put it in his commentary book “Al-Ghadir”, volume 3, pages 156-162, quoted by 66 of the Qur’an memorizers and the great Sheikhs of the Sunnite; they have all known that the position of this verse to be for the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace. In this case, the enmity of ibn Teimeiia against the Shiite, and on the other hand, his propaganda for Amawis has no use.

The Holiness Master of us,  Al‘lāma Tabatabaee, may Allah be pleased with, after his fluent discussion on the verse of the Guardianship has mentioned any selected narratives in this field, and finally he has said:

There are great many narratives concerning the revelation of these two verses in the story of the ring donation, and Bahrani has mentioned some of them in the book of “Ghayet-ul-Maram”; thus, all these narrative are correctly recorded there. We too have referred to those references and wrote then down in the same way as they are.  

And in relating these narratives, many of the companions of the Messenger of Allah have take part, such as: Abuzar Ghaffari, Abdullah bin Abbas, Anas bin Malik, Ammar bin Yasir, Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari, Salamat bin Kohail, Abu Rafi, Amru bin Aas, Ali bin Abī Tālib, and al-Hussein ibn-e-Ali; and also some other than the companions like the Holiness Imam Sajjad, the Holiness Imam Bāqir, the Holiness Imam Sādiq and the other Imams of narratives. And the Imams of the ‘Commentaries”, without any objection have agree their statements: like Ahmad bin Hanbal, Nasaee, Tabari, Tabarani and Abd bin Hamid, and apart from the Imams of the ‘Commentaries”, are the reciters of the Qur’an and the Imams of the narratives. Imams of the ‘Commentaries”,

And also the orators have confirmed their issuing from the Messenger of Allah, and the jurisprudents have many a time referred to them in their prayer, and also in mentioning every subject of donation and Zakat. And no one in Arabic literatures like Zamakhshari has disputed about the Commander of the believers Ali bin Abī Tālib, Upon Him be Peace, as he did in his commentary “Kashshaf” and “Abu Hayyan”. However, the narrators of these narratives without objection have accepted the truth of them and mentioned – though all of them are Arabs.

Therefore, it must not be taken serious that which some of the Sunnite and opponent s have mentioned that the story of the ring is invented. And some of those opponents, like ibn Teimeiiah, have claimed behalf of the scholars that the story is fake, but this a strange claim, and we did our best to mention its truthfulness.^[71]

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References

[46]  "غایة المرام", page 107, 3rd narrative, from the Shiite.  
[47]  "غاية المرام‏", page 107, the 5th narrative by the Shiite and in the Commentary of Borhan, page 293, the old-set printing has been related similarly.
[48] And in "تفسیر المیزان", The commentary of Almizan, volume 6, page 14, has been narrated from Kafi, "کافی"; and in "کافی اصول", volume 1, page 289, this has been narrated.
[49] "غاية المرام‏", pages 107 & 108, the 7th narrative four from the Shiite; and the commentary of Ali ibn Ibrahim, "تفسیر علی بن ابراهیم", page 158; and the commentary of Almizan, "تفسیر المیزان", volume 6, page 15.
[50] " بحار الانوار" Kompany's printing, volume 9, page 34.
[51] The commentary of Borhan, "تفسیر برهان", old-set printing, page 293, and also the Fakhr Razi has brougt the Abdullah ibn Salam's narrative in this commentary (in the eight volume printing, volume 3, page 618, "دارالطباعة العامرة", publication).

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