Imamology, Lessons 94-97: The narrative of Feiz bin Mokhtar, on the occasions of revelation of the Propaganda Verse

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The narrative of Feiz bin Mokhtar, on the occasions of revelation of the Propaganda Verse

It has been related of Sheikh Sadouq, by means of his series of documents from Muhammad bin Faiz bin Mokhtar, quoting his father, and he too quoting the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, that: Once the Messenger of Allah left home while riding on his animal and the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace, left walking. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘O Ali, you must either ride on the animal or give up going anywhere! Allah, the Honorable and Exalted has commanded me that whenever I am riding you too must ride on an animal back. Whoever, when I am walking, you too must walk along with me! Each time I am sitting, you too must sit beside me! But the exception is that when you are carrying a certain command of Allah.’

Allah has not honored me greatness unless He has honored you the same greatness! Allah has assigned me as a Prophet and the Messenger while Ha has appointed you as a Successor to me; has risen you at the state of the Prophet-hood. He has assigned you to be responsible in the most difficult situation! By One Who has selected Muhammad with the truth, whoever rejects you, he has not believed me! He who rejects you, he has not confess to my prophet-hood! Whoever, disbelieve you, he has not believed in me! Your grace and nobleness is by me, and my grace is from Allah. And this is the statement of Allah:

قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُون ^[64]

‘…say, ‘Let [the believers] rejoice in the bounty and mercy of Allah – for it is better than what they are collecting, (Qur’an: 10/58).’

The meaning of the grace of Allah is the prophet-hood of your Messenger! And the meaning of the mercy of Allah is the Guardianship of Ali bin Abī Tālib. Therefore, the Shiite must be happy by the Messenger-hood and the Guardianship. It is much better than that the opponent of the Shiite collect for themselves as well as for their children and families in this world! O Ali, by Allah! Allah has created you to worship just Him! And the religion to be known through you! And all the crocked roads to be mended by you! He who has cut friendship with you has fallen far behind! And whoever cannot find a way to reach you, he never finds a way to reach Allah! And he who does not enter your Guardianship, has no benefits from Allah; and Allah has stated:

وَ إنَّى لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَ آمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدَى ^[65]

‘…and I am indeed All-forgiving to those who repent and believe and do honourable deeds; and at last will be guided, (Qur’an: 20/82).’

That means: one must find his way to your guidance and Guardianship.

‏And Allah, the Exalted, has enjoined my rights towards the people, and I also command your rights to be incumbent towards the people; your rights are incumbent upon those who have believed in me. If you did not exist the party of Allah would not be recognized; the enemies of Allah are known through you.

One can visit Allah only through you; so one who does not visit Allah through your Guardianship, he actually does not visit Him! Allah, the Honorable and Exalted has revealed:

"يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ"

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord.

This means: O Ali, in your Guardianship, if you do not propagate that which is concerning the Guardianship, you have never fulfilled your mission.

And if I do not propagate that which concerning your Guardianship that Allah has sent down to me, all my action about the Islam will be wiped away. And every one who visits Allah, but without your Guardianship, his actions will be ruined.

Allah is loyal to his word that has promised me. And whatever I say is the direct statement of the Honorable and Exalted Allah; and whatever I have said so far, is the straight word of Allah revealed to me.^[66]

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The narrative of Ayyashi , on the occasions of revelation of the Propaganda Verse

And Ayashi has quoted Mofazzal bin Salih, quoting some of the companions, who quote the Holiness Imam Bāqir, or the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Them be Peace, that when the verse:

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمْ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاة وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاة وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُون ^[67]

‘…your protector is only Allah, and His Messenger and those who believe, establish prayer, and, [like Ali, upon him be peace,] pay the due welfare tax when bowing down [to pray], (Qur’an: 5/55).’ was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, it was hard to him to tolerate, he was afraid that the Quraish would reject him.

For that occasion, Allah sent this verse:

"يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ" 

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord.

Therefore, on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum, he acted upon the command of Allah and introduced Ali, Upon Him be Peace, to the people. ^[68]

And also Ayashi has related Safwan Jamal saying that the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, has sated: ‘When this verse of Guardianship was sent down, the Messenger of Allah commanded his men to clean under the “Douhat” trees of the Ghadir-e-Khum, (Douhat is the plural form for the Douha, and it what the largest trees are called, here in means the same “Samora” trees), and when under the trees were cleaned, he commanded all the people to come together. When they gathered, he stated: 

أيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَ لَسْتُ أوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنيَن مِنْ أنْفُسِهِمْ؟

 “O people! Am I not in priority upon the believers than their souls are?”

They answered: ‘Yes, you are.’ Then, he stated:

فَمنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ رَبِّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاه.‏

“So whomsoever I master to then this Ali is his Master! O my Lord, be friend of him who is friend with him, and be enemy to one who is enemy to him.”

Then he commanded the people to allegiance to the Commander of the believers, Upon Him be Peace. All the people present there, paid allegiance to him; there remained no man to reject it. Then, the Messenger said something that Abu Bakr got closer to him and the Messenger said to him: “O Abu Bakr, pay allegiance to Ali!”

Abu Bakr said: مِنَ اللَهِ (أ) و مِنْ رَسُولِه‏ ‘Is it by the command of Allah or His Messenger?’

The Messenger stated: مِنَ اللَهِ و مِنْ رَسُولِه‏ “It is by Allah and His Messenger.”

Omar objected it and when later on he visited Abu Bakr, he told him: لَشَدَّ مَا يَرْفَعُ بِضَبْعَىْ ابْن عَمَّه‏ ‘How severe he was in lifting up his cousin’s hand with such a determination!’

Here, the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, explains Omar’s meeting that bright in face and sweet man, and then he says: ‘On the Day of Ghadir, there were twelve thousand people present and they all paid allegiance to the Guardianship of Ali bin Abī Tālib, however, Ali could not get his right! If one of you has only two witnesses, you can surely get your right! But know that:  

فَأنَّ حِزْبَ اللهِ هُمْ الْغَالِبُون ^[69]  في عليّ عليهِ السّلام ^[70]

‘But indeed, concerning the Guardianship of Ali, Upon Him be Peace, Allah’s party is the victorious.’

And Ayashi has quoted ibn Abbas and jabir bin Abdullah that those two companions have said: Allah, the Honorable and Exalted commanded His Messenger, Muhammad, to introduce Ali as the main sign and the pioneer among the people – to let the people know of his Guardianship. The Messenger of Allah was afraid that the people would say: ‘He has defended his cousin,’ and then, they might rebel against him. Allah inspired him:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاس.‏

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord; for if you do not do so you have not conveyed His message. Allah protects you from people, (Qur’an: 5/67).’ It was why the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, fulfilled his duty concerning the Guardianship of Ali in the Ghadir-e-Khum.^[71]

And also Ayashi relates Hannan bin Saeer, quoting his father who also quoting the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, saying that: ‘At the Farewell Pilgrimage, Gabriel descended to the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, and informed the Holiness to announce the Guardianship of Ali bin Abī Tālib, by reciting the verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك...‏

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you,’

The Holiness Messenger delayed for three days until he reached Johfa but still he did not introduce him for the fright of the people.

In the end, on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum, at Johfa, he stood at a place called Mahya’a and called up the people: الصّلاة جامعه‏ ‘O people, come together!’ The people came together and the Messenger of Allah stated من اولى بكم من انفسكم‏ ‘Who is better for you than your souls to you?’ All of them said unanimously: الله و رسوله‏ ‘Allah and His Messenger.’

For the second time, the Messenger repeated his word, and they said the same thing as: الله و رسوله‏ ‘Allah and His Messenger.’

Then Messenger of Allah held Ali on the hand and said:

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ! وَ انْصَرْ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ، وَ اخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ، فَإنَّهُ مِنَّى وَ أنَا مِنْهُ، وَ هُوَ مِنَّى بِمَنْزِلَهِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إلَّا أنَّهُ لَا نَبِىَّ بَعْدِى.‏ ^[72]

“So whomsoever I master to then this Ali is his Master! O my Lord, be friend of him who is friend with him, and be enemy to one who is enemy to him. O Allah, help him who helps Ali, and humiliate him who humiliates Ali. And he with me and so am I with him. For me, he is as Aaron to Moses except that there is not a messenger after me,”

And also Ayashi relates Omar bin Yazid that he has quoted the Holiness Imam Sādiq, Upon Him be Peace, that without being questioned, he had stated: ‘O Abu Hafs, it is very strange what happened to Ali bin Abī Tālib. While the Holiness had ten thousand witnesses he could not get his right; however, one by having two witnesses can get his own right.’

The Messenger of Allah left Medina for the Hajj pilgrimage, there were also five thousand people with him; and when he was leaving Mecca, five thousand people saw him off. When he arrived at Johfa, Gabriel descended for the announcement of the Guardianship. Ali’s Guardianship by Allah was revealed at Mina, however, for the sake of the people’s rebel, the Messenger of Allah avoided it.

 يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاس.‏

  ‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord; for if you do not do so you have not conveyed His message. Allah protects you from people.’

And concerning that which you abominated at Mina, Allah will protect you against the people. So, the Messenger of Allah commanded the aria under the Samour trees to be cleaned. Right then, a man said: ‘By Allah, he will bring forward a great disaster to us!’

I asked the narrator of this narrative: ‘Who was that man?’ He just said: “Abyssinia.” ^[73]

And it is in: Ghayat-al-Maram”: الْحَبَشِىُّ يَعْنِى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّاب‏ thatis the word “Abyssinia” means “Omar bin Khattab”, that is: “Abyssinia” means “Omar bin Khattab”^{. [74]}

And in the book of “Behar-al-Anwar”, it is put under this narrative:

الْحَبَشِىُّ هُوَ عُمَرُ لِانْتِسَابِهِ إلَى الصَّهَّاكَهِ الْحَبَشِيَّه‏ ^[75]

the meaning of “Abyssinia” means “Omar bin Khattab”, for it is related to “Sahha” which belongs to “Abyssinia”.

And Ayashi has related Abul Jaroud, who has quoted the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, saying: ‘Allah sent down to His Messenger this verse:

 يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاس‏

Then, the Messenger of Allah held Ali on his hand and said: “O people, there was not any of the Messengers before me but they leaved for a certain period of time, and then, Allah took them towards Himself. And I am too prepared to be taken away, so I am responsible and so are you responsible! So, what are you going to answer Allah?”

They said: ‘We are going to declare you have carried out your duty properly, and advised us in the best way! You carried out your responsibility! May Allah honor you the best rewards of the messengers.’

The Messenger of Allah had the honor to say: اللّهم اشهد “O Allah, bear witness!” And then, he stated: يا معشر المسلمين‏ “O you the company of the believers! Those who are present here, must announce it to those who are absent that Allah has commanded me that:

 ‘Whoever has confirmed and believed me, he must be under the Guardianship of Ali. O people, be aware that Ali’s Guardianship is just my Guardianship; (and my Guardianship is Allah’s Guardianship). And you know not that this is a covenant that my Allah has made with me, and He has commanded me to announce it to you.”

Then, he stated three times: هَلْ سَمِعْتُمْ؟! ثَلَاثَ مَرَّات‏ “Did you hear me?” ^[76]

One among the audience said: ‘We heard it O the Messenger of Allah, Bless be upon You and Your Descendants.

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The narrative of the Sheikhs of Sunnite, on the occasions of revelation of the Propaganda Verse

Anyhow, these narratives were some out of many we related so far; now, we relate some of the narratives that have been narrated by their sheikhs and scholars.

There is a narrative by Asakar Shaiee, who has borrowed it from Abu Saeed Khodri, saying that the verse: يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك‏ has been revealed for the sake of Ali bin Abī Tālib, in the Ghadir-e-Khum.^[77] Hafiz Hakim Haskani Hanafi, in the book of “Shawahid at-Tanzil”, has related eight narratives by the means of eight different documents from Abu Horaira and Abu Ishaq Hamidi Khodri, and ibn Abbas, Habri and Ghais bin Masir from Abdullah bin Abi Aufi, and Zeiad bin Monzar Abul-Jaroud, and Jabir bin Abdullah that the verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك‏

has been revealed for the sake of Ali bin Abī Tālib, in the Ghadir-e-Khum. And it is related in some of them that the Messenger of Allah raised Ali’s hand so high that everyone could clearly see him, and the Messenger sated:

الا مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: الَّلُهمَّ اشْهَد.

“So whomsoever I master to then this Ali is his Master! O my Lord, be friend of him who is friend with him, and be enemy to one who is enemy to him.” Then he said: “O Allah! Be witness to it!”

And the meaning of the narrative which he relates from Zeiad bin Monzar (Abul Jaroud), is similar to that narrative that we quoted of “Ayashi’s Commentary”. And the narrative that he has related is the same narrative from A‘mash, quoting Ebada bin Robee, from ibn Abbas, relates of the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, that is the narrative of Ascension where Allah states:

وَ إنَّى لَمْ أبْعَثْ نَبِياً إلَّا جَعَلْتُ لَهُ وَزِيراً، وَ إنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللهِ وَ إنَّ عَليَّاً وَزِيرُك‏

“I did not send a messenger unless a minister was alongside him; and indeed you are the Messenger of Allah and indeed Ali is your Minister!”

Ibn Abbas says: ‘The Messenger of Allah descended and he disliked relating this event to the people, because they had still inclination towards the ignorance. However, six days after the event, Allah sent down this verse: فَلَعَلَّك تَارِكٌ بَعْضَ مَا يُوحَى إلَيْك‏ “It might be that you forget something that We are sending to you!”

The Messenger tolerated this as well until the day eighteenth approached and Allah sent down this verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك.

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord; so the Messenger of Allah said to Belal to announce the people to gather in the territory of Ghadir-e-Khum the next day – all of them. So, the next day, the Messenger of Allah and all the people went to Ghadir-e-Khum, and the Messenger said: “O people! Allah has trusted me with a mission concerning my worry that you may accuse and reject me; I am so tired and weary of you that Allah has commanded me time and again to fulfill my duty.” Then, he held Ali bin Abī Tālib on his hand and raised it so high that the entire gathering saw him, and he stated:

    ايها الناس! الله مولاى و انا مولاكم! فمن مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ! و انصر من نصره! و اخذل من خذله!

“O people! Allah is my Protector and I am your Guardian! And whomsoever I am Guardian to so is Ali his Guardian. O Allah! Be kind to one who is Ali’s friend, and be enemy to him who is Ali’s enemy; and assist him who assist Ali, and humiliate one who humiliates Ali.” Then, Allah revealed this verse:

 ِ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دينَكُمْ ^[78]

“Today I perfected for you your religion,”

Hakim Haskani, while relating Hibri, says: ‘I have explained this narrative in details in my series of ten-booklets called: دُعاةُ الهُداةِ إلى أداءِ حَقِّ المُوالاة which is about Ali bin Abī Tālib.’ ^[79]

And the Late Sayyid ibn Tawous says: ‘Among those who have written books on the Ghadir-e-Khum, is Hakim Haskani, who has called his book^[80] دُعاة الهُداة إلى أداء حقِّ المُوالاة.

In the book of “Tafsir-e-ad-Durr al-Manthor” Jalaladdin Soyu:ti Shafiee says: ‘The Almighty Allah has stated:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك.‏

 “O Messenger! Announce that which revealed to you from your Lord.”

Abu ash-Sheikh had extracted it from Hassan that: the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, has stated: ‘Allah, the Highest, has trusted a mission to me that I am afraid to announce it. I knew that, by hearing what I say, the people would reject me. Thus, He warned me that I had to announce it or He would chastise me for my negligence, and He sent down this verse:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك.‏

 “O Messenger! Announce that which revealed to you from your Lord.”

And Abd bin Hamid, ibn Jarir, ibn Abi Hatam and Abu Ash-Sheikh have extracted from Mojahid saying that: ‘When the verse: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك‏  was revealed, the Messenger of Allah said: “O my Creator! I am single handed and quite lonely! If all the people rise against me then, what should I do?” Soon after this verse was revealed:

و ان لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته.‏

So, if you do not do it, then you have not fulfilled your mission!

And ibn Abi Hatam, ibn Madoweiia and ibn Asakar have extracted it from Abu Saeed Khodri that this verse: 

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك.‏

 “O Messenger! Announce that which revealed to you from your Lord,” was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib, on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.

And ibn Madoweiia has taken it from ibn Masood saying that: ‘At the time of the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, we used to recite it as:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ (ان عليا مولى المؤمنين) وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاس.‏^[81]

“O Messenger! Announce that which revealed to you from your Lord, (that Ali is indeed the Guardian of the believers), for if you do not do so you have not conveyed His message. Allah protects you from people.”

Imam Fakhr RAzi has related it in his commentary that: ‘the tenth form of the occasions of revelation of the verse is that it has been revealed on the virtue of Ali bin Abī Tālib. When this verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah held Ali on his hand and said:

 مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ!

“Whomsoever I am Guardian to so is Ali his Guardian. O Allah! Be kind to one who is Ali’s friend, and be enemy to him who is Ali’s enemy.”

Then, when Omar, May Allah be pleased with, saw Ali, told him:

 هَنِيئاً لَكَ يا ابْنَ أَبِى طَالِبٍ! أصْبَحْتَ مَوْلَاىَ وَ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤمِنَه‏!

‘Congratulation to you, o son of Abī Tālib; you have become a Master, the Master of all the believing men and women!’ ^[82]

And this statement in the “Tafsir Mafatih-al-Ghaib”, volume 3, page 636, is from ibn Abbas, Bera’ bin Aazeb and Muhammad bin Ali.

Nizam-ud-Din Ghomi Nishabori relates it in his commentary that: ‘And then, Allah commanded to His Messenger: “Do not care of the excess of the enemies or the shortage of the believers, and do not be afraid of the hostility of the opponent. And He revealed this verse (‏ يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ...).’

Abu Saeed Khodri has related that this verse has been revealed on the virtue of Ali bin Abī Tālib on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.

The Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, held Ali on his hand and said:

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ!

“Whomsoever I am Guardian to so is Ali his Guardian. O Allah! Be kind to one who is Ali’s friend, and be enemy to him who is Ali’s enemy.”

And then, when Omar met Ali, said:

هَنِيئاً لَكَ يا ابْنَ أَبِى طَالِبٍ! أصْبَحْتَ مَوْلَاىَ وَ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤمِنَه‏!

‘Congratulation to you, o son of Abī Tālib; you have become a Master, the Master of all the believing men and women!’ And this statement is by Abdullah bin Abbas, Bera’ bin Aazib and Muhammad Ali.^[83]

In this narrative, they have put the phrase فهذا على مولاه‏; and the word هذا which points the third person refers to the specific person. And there are two narratives from Abu Ishaq Tha’labi Nishbori in his commentary “Al-Kashf wal Bayan” which the first one refers to the Holiness Abu Ja‘far Muhammad bin Ali Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, that the meaning of بَلِّغْ is بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فِى فَضْلِ عَلى‏ “Announce that which revealed to you from your Lord concerning the virtue of Ali.” And when this verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, held Ali on his hand, and while raising it up, he said: مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاه‏ “Whomsoever I am Master, so is this Ali his Master!”

The second is by his series of documents from ibn Abbas concerning the statement of Allah: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ‘O Messenger! Announce that which has been revealed by your Lord;’ and he said: ‘This verse has been revealed about Ali bin Abī Tālib.

Allah commanded His Messenger to propagate about the Guardianship of Ali, therefore, the Messenger of Allah held Ali on his hand and said:

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ!

“Whomsoever I am Guardian to so is Ali his Guardian. O Allah! Be kind to one who is Ali’s friend, and be enemy to him who is Ali’s enemy.”

He has related these two narratives from Tha’labi in “Al-Ghadir”, volume 1, page 217 and 218. Its source goes back to ibn Betriq in “Omdat”, page 49, and Sayyid ibn Tawous in “Taraif”, and Erbili in “Kashf-ul-Ghamma”, page 94. And it is related by Tabarsi in “Maj‘ma‘-ul-Bayan”, volume 2, page 223 which the second narrative is from the commentary of “Al-Kash‘shaf and al-Bayan”.

He has brought the first narrative from ibn Shahr Aashub, in “Manaqib”, volume 1, page 526; and our Master, Al‘lāma Tabatabaee – May Allah be pleased with – has related three narratives from the “Commentary of Tha‘labi” – two of them are from the Holiness Imam Bāqir, Upon Him be Peace, and the third one from ibn Abbas; (Al-Mizan, volume 6, page 56).

Shahab-ad-Din Sayyid Mahmood Aalusi Shafiee Baghdadi has brought it in his commentary that: Shiite believes that the verse: … مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَrefers to Ali, Upon Him be Peace; to emphasize his statement, he refers to the documents of Abu Ja‘far and Abu Abdullah, May Allah be pleased of them both, who say: Allah, the Honorable and Exalted revealed it to His Messenger, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, that to assign Ali, Upon Him be Peace, as his own Caliph, but the Messenger of Allah was worried that it might disappoint some of his companions, so, to encourage him to fulfill his duty, Allah, the Honorable and Exalted, sent down this verse.

Anf it has been related ibn Abbas – May Allah be pleased with him – has said: This verse has been revealed concerning Ali, Upon Him be Peace; Allah, the Honorable and Exalted, commanded His Messenger to let the people know of his Guardianship, but the Messenger of Allah was afraid that they would object him by saying: ‘He is defending his own cousin, and he does not care what is going on about him.’ Thus, they reproached the Messenger and kept on irritating him until Allah sent down this verse. Therefore, the Holiness Messenger, on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum, got ready to announce his Guardianship; he held him on his hand and stated to the gathering:

ايها الناس! الله مولاى و انا مولاكم! فمن مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ!

“O people! Allah is my Protector and I am your Guardian! And whomsoever I am Guardian to so is Ali his Guardian. O Allah! Be kind to one who is Ali’s friend, and be enemy to him who is Ali’s enemy.”

And Siyu:ti, in”Addur-ul-Mansour” relates it from Abu Hatam and ibn Mardoweiia, and ibn Askar that they have quoted Abu Saeed Khodri saying that: ‘This verse, concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib, Upon Him be Peace, has been revealed to the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.’ And ibn Mardoweiia has extracted it from ibn Masoud that saying: ‘At the time of the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, we recited this verse as:   

 يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ (ان عليا مولى المؤمنين) وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَه. ^[84]

‘…O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord (that Ali is the Guardian of the believers); for if you do not do so you have not conveyed His message.’

Sheikh-ul-Islam Ebrahim bin Muhammad bin Moayyid Ham‘mu’ee has related it through four sources: Borhan-ad-Din Abu-al-Wafa, Ebrahim bin Omar, Majd-ad-Din Abdullah bin Mahmood bin Maudoud Mosali, and Badr ad-Din Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Asad Bokhari, by getting permission in narrative, and Abdul Hafiz bin Badran by reciting the narrative all with the authentic documents from Abu Horaira relate that:

The Messenger of Allah, Bless be to Him and his Descendants, stated: “At that Night when, for my ascension, they were passing me through the heavens, I heard a call under the Firmament of Allah that:   

 إنَّ عَليَّا رَايَةُ الْهُدَى، وَ حَبِيبُ مَنْ يُؤمنُ بِى؛ بَلِّغْ عَلِيًّا (ذَلِكَ). فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ النَّبِىُّ انْسِىَ ذَلِكَ، فَأنْزَلَ اللهُ جَلً و علا عليه: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْكافِرين. ^[85]‏

Verily Ali is the sign and banner of the guidance; and the beloved is one who believe in Me: convey [this point] to Ali. However, when the Messenger descended the heaven, he cast it into oblivion, so, Allah sent down this verse:

 يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْكافِرين.‏

Ash-Sheikh Nour ad-Din Ali bin Muhammad ibn Sabbaq Maleki says: Imam Abu-al-Hassan Wahidi  has written in his book “Asbab-un-Nozol” that, with authentic documents, it has been related by Abu Saeed Khodri that this verse: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك was sent down concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.

Then, he adds: ‘Sheikh Mohi-ad-Din noawi has said: ‘the term: “Ghadir-e-Khum”, with the ‘O’ sound, as the ‘o’ in ‘order’ over the first letter of Khum in Arabic, means ‘the reed-bed’, where the reeds grown in foliage; and it is in a place about three miles away from Johfa. There is a pond there called ‘Ghaizah’, and the term Ghadir-e-Khum is drown from it^.’^[86]

Muhammad bin Talha Shafiee says: ‘Imam Abu-al-Hassan Wahidi has said in his book called “Asbab-un-Nozol”, which is by means of his authentic documents from Abu Saeed Khodri, that this verse: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك was sent down concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.

Abu-al-Hassan Wahidi Nishabori, by means of his documents from A‘mash, and abu-Jahaf from Ateiah and abu Saeed Khodri have related that this verse: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك was sent down concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.

In his commentary, Sheikh Soleiman Ghandouzi Hanafi has said that he has extracted this verse:

يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك ^[87]

From Tha‘labi Abu Salih, ibn Abbas, Muhammad bin Alial-Baqir, may Allah be pleased with. And those two have said: ‘The verse has been revealed on the occasion of Ali bin Abī Tālib. ^[88]

And also Ham‘mu’ee in “al-Faraeed-al-Semtain” has quoted Bbu Horairah.

Similarly, Maliki has quoted it in the “Fosul-al-Mohemma” from Abu Saeed Khodri that he has said: ‘This verse is about Ali, and it has been revealed at the Ghadir-e-Khum. Sheikh Mohiad-Din has also related the same. ^[89]

Sayyid Ali bin Shahab Hamedani has said in his book, the “Fifth Mawaddat”, which is after his calling it “Mawaddat-ul-Ghorba”, There is a narrative from Bara’ bin Aazib that he has said: ‘When we, in the presence of the Messenger, were returning to Medina from the Farewell Pilgrimage, on the way, when we reached the territory of Ghadir-e-Khum, the Messenger called the people to come together. Almost all the people did so, and they cleaned a piece of land under the shade of the trees, then the Messenger of Allah went there and held Ali on his hand and called:

 أَ لَسْتُ أوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنينَ مِنْ أنْفُسِهِم؟!‏

Am I not the Master and Guardian to the believers?

They answered: ‘Yes, you are, O the Messenger of Allah!’

Then, the Holiness said: مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلَىٌّ مَوْلُاهُ؛ ‘whomsoever I am Master, so is this Ali his Master.’ Then, he asked Allah: اللهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ! وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاه‏ ‘O Allah, be friend of those who are friends of Ali!

And be enemy to those who are opponent to him!’ Next, Omar bin Khattab met Ali saying:

هَنِيئاً لَكَ يا ابْنَ أَبِى طَالِبٍ! أصْبَحْتَ مَوْلَاىَ وَ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤمِنَه‏!

‘Congratulation to you, o son of Abī Tālib; you have become a Master, the Master of all the believing men and women!’

Then, this verse revealed:

 يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك ^[90]

O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord.

Gheiasat-ad-Din bin Homam has related it in “Habib-as-Seiar” from “Kashf-ul-Ghamma” that: when ‘the Holiness, Intercessor of the people, reached the territory of the Ghadir-e-Khum, and he knew that after leaving that place, the people would go on their own, and above all, it was already decided the news to be announced to the people, this verse was sent down that: Then, this verse revealed: يَا أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك ‏

O Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you by your [Creator and Nurturer] Lord.

It was clearly for Ali’s assignment for the Guardianship and the Imamate, which it continues:

وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاسِ^[91]

‘…and if you do not do so, you have not conveyed His message, and Allah protects you from people!’

Sheikh Muhammad Abd’ho Misri, the Chief Principal of al-Azhar University says:

‘Ibn Abi Hatam, ibn Mardoweiia and ibn Asakarhave quoted abu Saee Khodri that he has related: أيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا انْزِلَ إلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّك was sent down concerning Ali bin Abī Tālib on the Day of Ghadir-e-Khum.^[92]

Nevertheless, this was a discussion that we explained from the authentic sources of the Shiite and Sunnite concerning the occasions of revelation of the verse “Announcement”.

As well as what Al‘lāma Amini has related from the authentic sources of the great Sheikhs of the Sunnite concerning the occasions of revelation.^[93]

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References

[86]  "الفصول المهمة", lithography printing, page 27, Najaf publication, pages 24 and 25. It is said in "مراصد الاطّلاع‏", volume 1, page 482 that:

 "خم، قيل: رجل و قيل: غيضهأ و قيل: موضع تصب فيه. عين. و قيل: بئر قريب من الميثب، حفرها مره بن كعب، نسب الى ذلك غدير خم و هو بين مكه و المدينه، قيل على ثلاثه اميال من الجحفه. و قيل على ميل. و هناك مسجد النبى (ص)".

[87] "مطالب السئوال فی مناقب آل الرّسول", page 16.

[88] "اسباب النزول", page 150, and "فصول المهمه‏", of ibn Sabbagh, page 27, and "الميزان‏", volume 6, page 60.

[89] "ینابیع الموده", Istanbul printing, 1301, volume 1, page 120.

[90] The book of "مودّة القربى‏", which all parts of it have been put in the volume 1 of "ينابيع الموده‏", the fifth cordiality, page 249.

[91] "حبیب السّیر", Heidary's printing, with the introduction of Homaee, v0lume 1, page 411. It must be known that the history of "حبيب السّير" is of the authentic books. Also Hisam ad-Din has called of the greatest books in the book of "مرافض الروافض‏". And Abu-al-Hasanat Hanafi in the book "الفوائد البهيه‏", has repetitively explained it and he too has called it to be of the authentic books.

[92] "تفسیر المنار", volume 6, page 463.

[93] "الغدیر", volume 1, page 214-223.

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