VersesofGhadirAl-MustafaIslamicResearches-XKP

Published:2014Tag(s):islamghadireidwilayatalimaulamawla"mankunomaula"prophetrisalatimammatexkp

1ChapterIntroduction

میحرلا نمحرلا هللا مسب

IntheNameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMercifulAllPraisebelongstoAllahalone,andhonorableandperfectblessingsbeuponMuhammadandhisinfallible,immaculateProgeny.Unfortunately,scholarshavenotregardedadequatelythreequestionsconcerningtheProphets’missions.ThefirstquestionistheconveyanceoftheLord’smessagebeingtheoriginalmissionoftheProphets.ThispointisinfactthepivotonwhichtheProphets’missionsandactionsaregrounded,andispurposedforsubstantiatingtheLord’sclaimonHisservants.AProphetisthenaconveyorofanepistle;hefearstheLordandworksforevadingHisireandtormentincaseheviolatestheinstructions.Forthisreason,theProphetswerewonttocallpeopletowitnessontheperfectionoftheirconveyance.Inaddition,theyarenotaskedtoenforcepeopletoadmitandaccepttheirpromulgationsand,similarly,notadmittedtosubmitpeopletotheirmissions.Asasecondrule,coercioninmattersofthedivinereligionisrejected.Itisobligatorytopreservepeople’sfreedomofbelievingorrefutation.Theyare,likewise,freetocommitthemselvestothereligionortodeviate.Thisistheverymeaningofopeningtheschooloflifeinthisworldandtestingpeopleinguidanceordeviationbygivingthemtheabilitytodogoodandevil,andtheresultwillbedeclaredonanotherstageandinanotherworld.Drawingpeopletothereligionbyforceiscontrarytotheprinciplesofthisdivinetestaswellastothefreedomofchoice.ThesecondquestionistheProphets’goalsbeingtoministertothegrandissuesofpeopleandsocieties.AmessengerofAllahiscomparedtoanengineerspecializedintheconstructionofcultures,societiesandhistory.TheProphets’missionsshouldthusbelookeduponfromtheseangles.Ascholarmustaskhimselfhowpeople’sculturesandhistoryshouldhavebeenifacertainProphet(S)hadnotbeengiventheDivineMission,andwhatchangeshadbeenmadewhenthatProphet(S)conveyedtheLord’sMessage.Inotherwords,weshouldwonderhowpaganismwouldhavelookedlikenowadaysifProphetAbrahamhadnotbeenchosenforconveyingtheDivineMissionorifhehadnotestablishedtheprinciplesofmonotheism.WeshouldalsowonderwhatthesituationintheArablandsinparticularandthewholeworldingeneralwouldhavebeenifProphetMuhammad(S)[1]hadnotbeenchosenfortheDivineMissionandwhatwouldhaveoccurredhadhenotperfectedthebeliefofmonotheismgivingititscurrentform.TheHolyProphet(S)’smissionwastoestablishanationandtoleadittooccupyanadvanced,ifnotpioneer,positionamongstothernations,andthisformationhasbeenprovedthebestincontentandstructure.ItisundeniablethattheHolyProphet(S)waskeenongivingtheleadershipoftheUmmah[2]tohisAhlal-Bayt[3](a.s.)[4]astheyhavebeenthechoiceofAllahWhopurifiedthemthoroughly[5]andgavethemHisBookinheritageexclusively.[6]IfpeoplerejecttheAhlal-Bayt’sdivinelycommissionedImamate,[7]itwillthenmakenodifferenceforanyone

toholdit,inorderthatAllahmightbringaboutamatterthatwastobedone,whichistheadventoftheConcealedImam(al-MahditheExpected).ThethirdquestionisthattheHolyProphet(S)’spersonalityisindisputablypresentandeffective,yetlimitedandminute,intheprocessoftheconveyance.NonecandenythefactthattheHolyProphet(S)wasintelligent,genius,worthyofleadershipandfreetoactaswellasdivinelyselected,thoughhisownidentityisrestrictedduringthepromulgationoftheMission.Whatismeantbyidentityisnottheoppositeofmechanism,sincetheHolyProphet(S)’sobediencetowhatwasrevealedtohimwastheresultofperfectsatisfaction,faithandobservance.TheareainwhichtheHolyProphet(S)wasallowedtopracticehispersonalinferenceformedanarrowpointinproportiontothelargeareaofhispractices.Hence,hewasjustlikeanengineerwhosemanagerbindshimwithgivingeffectstoalargeproject.Thisengineerissatisfiedthatheshouldcontacthismanagerfrequentlysoastoevadeanymistakeand,meanwhile,heworks,thinksandcarriesonworking;stillhecontactsthecentersothathereceivesthestrategiesandconsultssavingfromproblems.Thisexampleis,however,ahighlymicroscopicviewoftheHolyProphet(S)’smission.RegardingtheCenteroftheHolyProphet(S),AlmightyAllahisunparalleledinentityanddeeds.Dependingupontheprevious,anystudyoftheHolyProphet(S)’slifeaccountshouldregardthreematters;(1)theHolyProphet(S)’smissionwastocarrywhatwasrevealedtohim,(2)histaskwastobuildanationandhelpitfinditswayinhistoryand,(3)heoughttofollowtheLord’sinstructionsineachandeveryaction.AdeeplookattheHolyProphet(S)’slifeprovesthethreeaforementionedpoints.AlmightyAllahhasobviouslymanagedtheHolyProphet(S)’saffairsfromstarttofinish,andtheHolyProphet(S)obeyedhisLord’sinstructionssubmissively.Therefore,theresultsofhisdeedsachievedanextraordinaryattainmentthatexceededalltheintellectualitiesandsensesofsociologists.TheHolyProphet(S)createdaninternational,civilizedandideologicalextensioninarelativeperiodwiththeleastmaterialandhumanecasualties.DespitethetruculenceoftheHolyProphet(S)’sfoesthatwagedfiercewarsagainsthim,thecasualtiesofbothsidesdidnotattaintwothousandvictims,sinceitwastheLordwhosupervisedtheHolyProphet(S)’smanagement.TheHolyQur ’anwasuninterruptedlyrevealedtotheHolyProphetsincethefirstdayofhisMissionuptoafewdaysbeforehisdecease.ArchangelGabrielvisitedhimfrequentlywithQur ’anicVerses,revelation,instructions,directives,answersandlikethings.ThereareinnumerableexamplesontheDivinepresenceandinterventiontosaveasituationinthelifeoftheHolyProphet(S)provingthathewouldnothavebehavedpersonallyexceptwhenheappliedthegenerallinesandcarriedonthedetailedcommandmentsdrawnbytheDivineRevelation.Onmanyoccasions,theHolyProphet(S),havingwaitedfortheRevelation,wouldnotactpersonally.Heisreportedtohavesaid,‘IhavebeengiventheBookanditslike.’‘Itslike’standsfortheinstructionscarriedbyArchangelGabrielthatlaterontooktheformofHadith.[8]Thismeansthathistraditionswerealsorevealedtohim,justliketheHolyQur ’an.[9]Besides,theseinstructionsincludedhispersonalaffairssuchasmarriage,divorce,dress,eating,sleeping,ablutionandevenbrushingtheteeth.TheHolyProphet(S)’sendowment,detriment,cherishing,malice,residence,touring,satisfactionandrage;allweredeterminedbyrevealedinstructions.Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.)toldthestoryofanatheistwhodisputed,belied,harmedandthreatenedtheHolyProphet(S)facetoface.TheHolyProphet(S)becamesoangrythattheveinofirewasclearlyseenbetweenhiseyes.Ashenoddedhisheaddown,ArchangelGabrielcametohimand

revealed,‘YourLordaskedmetocarryHiscomplimentstoyouandtoinformyouthatthemaninfrontofyouisgenerousandheusedtoservefoodtopeople.’Atonce,theHolyProphet(S)’sangervanished;hespoketotheman,‘IwouldhavebanishedyouandmadeyouanexamplehadnotArchangelGabrielcametomeandtold,onbehalfofmyLord,thatyouhavebeengenerousasyouusedtoservepeoplewithfood.’‘DoesyourLordfavorgenerosity?’askedtheman.‘Yes,Hedoes,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).‘InowdeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllahandthatyouaretheMessengerofAllah.IswearbyHimWhosendsyouwiththetruth,Ihaveneverrejectedabeggar ’srequest,’declaredtheman.[10]Oneday,amanaskedImamal-Baqir(a.s.)whethertheHolyProphet(S)’snominationofImam`AliashissuccessorandtheMuslims’nextleaderhadbeenapersonalconductoradivinedirective.‘Woeisyou!’Imamal-Baqirsaidangrily,‘TheHolyProphet(S)wastooreverenttosaywhatAllahdidnotorderhimtosay.Liketheprayers,zakat,[11]fastingandHajj,[12]theHolyProphet(S)’snominatingImam`Aliforhisvicegerenceywasadivineorder.’[13]

TheHolyProphet(S)’sSuccessionBeingaSimpleTheme

The question of holding the Holy Prophet (S)’s position after his decease is simple, not

complicated.TheAhlal-BaytandtheirShi`ah–followers-claimtheHolyProphet(S)’snominatingImam`Ali(a.s.)asMuslims’nextleaderanditisthusunacceptableforpeopleofQuraysh,[14]oranyothers,tochooseanyoneelsesincetheHolyProphet(S)’snominationwasonlytheconveyanceoftheLord’s instruction. People ofQuraysh, unfortunately, denied this nomination a few hours after theHolyProphet(S)’sdemise[15]claimingthattheHolyProphet(S)’s‘authority’shouldbedistributedamong the twenty-three clans ofQuraysh.Therefore, they selectedAbu-Bakrwho belonged to theQurayshiteclanofTaymibnMurrahfor the leadership.Thismannominated`Umar ibnal-KhattabwhobelongedtotheQurayshiteclanof`Adiashissuccessor.Bytheso-calledShura(theAdvisoryCouncil),`UmarnominatedanotherQurayshitemanwhobelongedtotheclanofUmayyahibn`Abd-Shams,namely`Uthmanibn`Affan,ashissuccessor.TheyneitherelectedanyofAnsar,[16]becausetheywerenotfromQurayshandthushadnoright

in theauthorityof theQurayshiteProphet (S),noranyof theHashimites[17] though theywere theworthiestofthisposition,becausetheywere,intheviewoftheconspiratorsagainsttheleadershipofIslam,justliketheotherQurayshiteclansmostofwhomdidnotwantfortheHashimitestowinthepositionofleadershipaftertheyhadwonthe‘positionofProphethood’!Thus, the matter is very simple; did the Holy Prophet (S) nominate a successor or not?

Nevertheless, it is very complicated that people of Quraysh and their fans do not want to discussbecause it demolishes their structure and legality.Furthermore, theyhavewarned all peoplenot todiscussthismatterclaimingitsbeingarduous,complicatedandevenharam[18]tobediscussed!TheVersesofGhadir[19]areonlyapartoftheQur ’anictextsthatdeclaredImam`AliandtheAhl

al-BaytasthedivinelycommissionedleadersoftheUmmah.LateandcurrentSunniandShiiteauthorsandexegeteshavebeenauthoringbooksdiscussingtheVersesandHadithsabouttheAhlal-BaytandtheirrolesintheUmmah.Inthisregard,letusrefertotwowell-knownandavailablereferences:(1)Al-HafizAbu-Na`imal-Isfahani:MaNazalafi`AliMinal-Qur ’an(Qur ’anicVersesrespecting

`Ali)(2)Al-Nassa`i:Khasa`isAmiral-Mu`minin`Ali(Peculiaritiesof`AliAmiral-Mu`minin).[20]

TheThreeVersesofGhadir

“OMessenger!DeliverwhatbasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,then

youhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.”[Surahal-Ma`idah5:67]“ThisdayhaveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenfor

youIslamasareligion.”[Surahal-Ma`idah5:3]“Onedemanding,demandedthechastisementwhichmustbefall.”[Surahal-Maarij70:1]ThroughoutourdiscussionsofthesethreeVersesofGhadir,wewillattractattentionstotheirfirm

relationtotheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsduringtheFarewellHajj.[21]Ithenceseemsnecessarytodiscussthesesixsermonsaswell,sincetheycontaintheHolyProphet(S)’sinstructinghispeopletofollowthetwoweighty(precious)things—theQur ’anandtheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.).[22]Healsocarriedthegoodtidingstohispeople,intheSermonof`Arafat,thatAlmightyAllahhassolvedthequestionof the vicegerencey and has thus chosen the twelve divinely commissioned Imams. Moreover, itseems essential to discuss the relationship between theHolyProphet (S) and theQurayshite chiefspertainingtotheleadershipoftheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.).We hope these would be useful discussions by which Almighty Allah may reward us in the

Hereafterandincludeuswiththeintercession(Shafa`ah)ofMuhammadandhisimmaculateprogeny,peacebeuponthemall.Al-MustafaCenterforIslamicResearches

13/Rajab/1419A.H[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

2ChapterTheThreeVersesOfGhadir

AlmightyAllahhasinstructedtheHolyProphet(S)toguidehispeopletotheritesoftheritualHajj

after he had guided them to the ritual prayer, fasting and zakat. That was just before starting theFarewellHajj.He,theExalted,alsoinstructedhisProphet(S)toshowthempubliclythenextleader.Throughoutthehistoryofhumankind,theAlmightydidthesamethingwithallofHisProphetswhohaddepartedthisworldonlyaftertheyhadperfectedthereligionanddeliveredthedivineMissiontotheirnominatedheirswhomtheymusthavedesignatedpublicly.TheHolyProphet (S) carried theLord’s instructionwhenhe summonedpeople toparticipate in

thatfinalHajjsothathewouldteachthemtheritesandwouldnominateImam`Aliashisvicegerentand people’s leader. Nevertheless, he anticipated that people of Quraysh would object to such anominationfortheyhadalreadybornenvyandmalicetotheHashimites.HealsoexpectedthattheywouldcriticizehisdivineProphethoodandaccusehimofestablishingamonarchyforhishouseholdsimilar to these ofKhosrow (king of Persia) orCaesar (king of theRomans). If that happened, itwouldcreateamovementofapostasyamongMuslims.Atanyrate,theHolyProphet(S)performedtheFarewellHajjandaddressedfivesermonsinMakkah,`ArafatandMinainwhichheguidedpeopleto the rites and regulations of the religion, foretold about the coming Twelve Imams out of hisprogenyandemphasizedthatpeoplewouldnotbesavedagainstdeviationunlesstheywouldholdfasttothetwoweightythings;theQur ’anandtheAhlal-Bayt.Healsowarnedagainstthedeviousleadersandagainst[someof]hiscompanionswhowouldavertand,asaresult,theLordshoulddeprivethemofjoiningtheHolyProphet(S)attheDivinePoolontheResurrectionDay.BecauseofpeopleofQuraysh’sirritablesituation,theHolyProphet(S)didnotemphasizeonthe

comingleadershipofhisprogenyofficially.Hetriedtopassuporderingthemtopayhomageto`AliduringtheceremoniesoftheFarewellHajj.Duringthejourneybacktoal-Madinah,ArchangelGabrielcarriedtotheHolyProphet(S)AlmightyAllah’ssaying,“OMessenger!DeliverwhatbasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,then

youhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.”[Surahal-Ma`idah5:67]Immediately,theHolyProphet(S)orderedthecaravanstohaltatGhadirKhummanddeliveredthe

Lord’smessage.Heraised`Alitotheminbarlikeheightmadeofsaddles,tookhimupfromthearmanddeclaredhimas thenext leader.Healsoordered toestablisha tent inwhich`AliwouldsitandMuslims would congratulate him on this leading position. The attendant Muslims offeredcongratulationsandpaidhimhomage.Onthatoccasion,AlmightyAllahrevealed,“ThisdayhaveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenfor

youIslamasareligion.”[Surahal-Ma`idah5:3]ThatwasontheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah.Before and after his arrival at al-Madinah, people of Quraysh and the hypocrites started their

activitiesagainsttheHolyProphet(S).AlloftheirplotswerefoiledbytheLordWhoprotectedHis

Messengeragainstanymovementofmutinyorapostasyduringhislifetime.Variousmeanswereusedforthispurpose.Oneofthesewastheheavenlychastisementinflicteduponthosewhoobjectedandprotested against him. Jabir ibn al-Nadr ibn al-Harith al-`Abdariwhose fatherwas the chief of the[tribeof]`Abdal-Darandthecommanderofthepolytheists’armyagainstMuslimsduringtheBattleofBadrwasoneofthoseobjectors:Abu-`Ubaydal-Harawi,inGharibal-Qur ’an,recordsthefollowing:After the Holy Prophet (S)’s conveyance of the Lord’s commission in Ghadir Khumm had beenwidely known, al-Harith ibn al-Nu`man al-Fihri (or Jabir ibn al-Nadr ibn al-Harith ibnKildah al-`Abdari,accordingtoAbu-`Ubayd’sreport)cametotheHolyProphet(S)andsaid,“OMuhammad!Youhaveorderedus,onbehalfofAllah,todeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllahandthatMuhammadbeing the Messenger of Allah, perform the prayers, observe fasting in the month of Ramadan,undertake the [obligatory]Hajj and defray the zakat; andwe have admitted.Nevertheless, all thesehavenotsufficedyouuntilyouraisedyourcousinfromthearmandprecededhimtoussaying,‘`Aliwillnowbe themasterofhimwhosevermasterwasme.’ Is thisyourowndirectiveor is itdue toAllah’s?”TheHolyProphet(S)answered,“ByAllahthereisnogodbutWhomItaketheoath,itissurelyAlmightyAllah’sdirective.”Jabirturnedhisfacetowardshisridinganimalsaying,“OAllah!IfMuhammad’swordsare true, then rainuswithaheavenlystoneor inflictapainfulchastisementuponus.”BeforeJabircouldreachhisanimal,theLordrainedhimwithastonethatfellontheheadandwentoutfromtheanus.Hence,hewaskilledand,consequently,Allahrevealed,“Onedemanding,demandedthechastisementwhichmustbefall.”[Surahal-Maarij70:1]DespitethefactthatagoodnumberofSunnireferencebooksofTafsirandHadithhaveadoptedthe

same exegeses of the threeVerses revealed for the event ofGhadir Khumm, others have adoptedotheropinionsmostofwhicharecontradictory.Thefollowingdiscussionsareintroducedaspreliminaryintroductionstotheexegesisofthethree

VersesofGhadir.

(1)TheHolyProphet(S)’sSuccessionWasRaisedDuringHisLifetime(2)TheProphet(S)ForetellsAboutTheTwelveImams(a.s.)(3)TheIslamicPrinciplesintheSermonsoftheFarewellHajj

3ChapterTheHolyProphet(S)’sSuccessionWasRaisedDuringHisLifetime

Clear evidences and logic prove that theHolyProphet (S) raised the question of his succession

since the first stages of his Divine Mission until the last sparks of his life. This point was alsoacceptable and normal, yet it stands out against Sunni reference books claiming that he did notnominateanyforhissuccessionand thatMuslimsneverdiscussedorput forthsuchan ideabeforehim.Anyhow,numerousHadithshaveshownthattheHolyProphet(S)referredtotheImamateoftheAhlal-Bayt.Letusrefertosomeoftheseevidences.FirstEvidenceManytextsbearoutthattheHolyProphet(S)invitedthetribestothenewreligionatthebeginning

ofhisDivineMissionandaskedthemtoprotecthimduringthepromulgationofhisLord’sepistle.Someofthesetribesacceptedthisinvitationprovidedthattheywouldhavetheleadershipafterhim.TheHolyProphet(S)’sanswerwasthathewasnomorethanamessengerwhohadnochoiceintheaffairforwhichtheywereasking.ItwasAlmightyAllahonlyWhomaynominateanyoneHedesires.Themostevidentpointsinthisregardarethestoryofthetribeof`AmiribnSa`sa`ahandthatofthetribeofKindahbothofwhichhadoccurredonthefirstdaysoftheHolyProphet(S)’spromulgation,whilethestoryof`Amiribnal-TufayloccurredonthelastdaysoftheHolyProphet(S)’slifetime.StoryoftheTribeof`AmirIbnSa`sa`ahThefollowingisquotedfromIbnHusham,al-Sirah2/289:

The Holy Prophet (S) came to the [tribe of] `Amir ibn Sa`sa`ah and invited them to the “new”religion.AmancalledBaiharahibnFirasaddressedtohim,‘ByAllahIswear,IwillovercometheArabsifIonlyassenttothisQurayshiteyoungman.IfwewillsupportyouinthismatterandAllahwillgiveyouvictoryoveryouropponents,willyouholdusyourpositionthereafter?’‘ThismatterisdecidedbyAllahonly,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S),‘HeholdsittowhomeverHedesires.’Hence,they rejected saying, ‘Wewillmakeournecks the targetofwhatsoever is thrownatyouandwhenAllahgivesyoutriumphitgoestoothers?Nay,wearenotinneedforyou.’AftertheyhadreturnedfromthatseasonofHajj,theytoldamanwhowastoooldtoaccompanythemandtowhomtheyusedtoreferalltheiraffairsaboutthestoryoftheHolyProphet(S)andtheirrejectiontohiscall.Theoldmanstruckhisheadwithbothhandsandshouted,‘Ohforthe`Amir!Canyoucatchhimandchangeyoursituation?IswearbyHimWhoprevailsonmysoul,nosinglesonof[Prophet(S)]Ishmaelcanlieinthisaffair.Itistheverytruth.Wherewereyourmindswhenyourejectedhisoffer?”[1]StoryoftheTribeofKindahThisisthestoryasquotedfromIbnKathir,al-Sirah2/159:

`Abdullahibnal-Ajlahsaidthathisfather,relatingthestoryofthetribeofKindahtohischiefs,said:As theHolyProphetsought the tribe ofKindah’s support in the promulgation of hisMission, theystipulatedthatheshouldholdthemthepositionofauthorityafterhisdeath.‘AuthorityisAllah’s,’he

answered,‘HehandsitovertowhomeverHedesires.’Therefore,theyrejectedhisrequest.StoryoftheTribeof`AmirIbnal-TufaylIbnKathir,inal-Sirah4/114,recordsthefollowing:

[`Abdullah] Ibn `Abbas reported thatArbad ibnQays ibn Juz` ibnKhalid ibn Ja`far ibnKalab and`Amir ibnal-Tufayl ibnMalikcame toal-Madinahand satbefore theHolyProphet (S) asking, ‘OMuhammad!WhatwillyougivemeifweacceptIslam?’‘YouwillbegivenwhatMuslimsaregivenandforbiddenfromwhatMuslimsareforbidden,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).‘Willyouholdmeyourpositionafteryou?’asked`Amir.‘Thispositionisneitheryoursnoryourpeople’s.Imaygiveyou the commandments of the army,’ said theHolyProphet (S). ‘I amnow the commander of thearmies ofNajd.Youmaygiveme the leadershipof theBedouins exclusively,’ `Amir said, but theHolyProphet(S)rejected.‘Iwillfill inyourareawithhorsesandfighters,’`Amirthreatenedashewentout.‘Allahwillprotectagainstyou,’commentedtheHolyProphet(S).SecondEvidenceThesecondevidenceisthatAnsarpaidhomagetotheHolyProphet(S)onthreeterms,

(1)toprotecthimagainstanythingtheyprotectthemselvesagainst,(2)toprotecthispeopleandprogenyassameastheyprotecttheirpeoplesandprogeniesand(3)nottocontendonmattersofleadershipwiththeworthy,becauseMuslimsarenotgiventherighttochoosepersonallyforthisposition.Inotherwords,theymustcomplywiththeoneselectedbytheLordforthisposition.Thethirdtermshowsobviouslythat theprincipleof thedivineselectionof theImamsfollowing

the Holy Prophet (S) was admissibly settled since the first stages of theMission. Ansar howeverfulfilled the first termcompletelybutunfortunately theybreached the twoothersverybadly.ThesethreetermshavebeenmentionedinthemostreliablereferencebooksofHadith.Letusrefertosomeofsuchnarrationshereinafter:Al-Bukhari,inal-Sahih8/122,recordsthefollowing:

It hasbeennarrated that `Abadah ibn al-Samit said:Wepaidhomage to theMessengerofAllah tolistentoandobeyhimingoodandbadconditions,nottocontendedwiththeworthyofleadership,topracticeandsaythetruthwhereverweareandtoscornanyblameforsakeofAllah.[2]Al-Bukhari,in8/88,records:…TheHolyProphet(S)askedustopayhomage,andwedid.Wesubmittedtohisstipulationsthatweshould listen and complywith him in auspicious andmisfortunate situations, should prefer him toourselvesandshouldnotcontendfortheleadershipunlessweseeanotoriousevidentialatheism.[3]Ahmad(ibnHanbal),inal-Musnad5/321,recordsthefollowing:`AbadahibnAl-SamitnarratedthattheHolyProphetstated,“Youshouldlistenandobeyinauspiciousand misfortunate situations, prefer me to yourself and avoid contending against the people ofleadershipevenifyouconceiveitasyourright.”These two additions are suspicious since homage occurred before the Holy Prophet (S)’s

immigrationwhen therewas no single exception from obedience. The question of the priority ofpeopleofQurayshcametoexistenceonlyafter thecompulsorydeclarationof loyalty toAbu-BakrandtheobjectionofSa`dibn`Abadah.ThisdemonstratesthatthetwoadditionsweretheresultofthenewrelationshipbetweenAnsarandtheQurayshite leadershipafter theHolyProphet(S)’sdecease.Moreover, no single narration refers to the Holy Prophet (S)’s stipulating the term of avoidingcontendingagainstthepeopleofleadership.InMajma`al-Zawa`id6/49,thefollowingisrecorded:`Abadahibnal-SamitnarratedthatAs`adibnZurarahshouted,“Opeople!Doyourealizewhatyou

are giving Muhammad? You are swearing that you will wage wars against the Arabs and theforeigners and the jinn and mankind.” However, Ansar declared, “We are rivals of his foes andfriends of his adherents.” Then they asked the Holy Prophet (S) to speak out his stipulations. Hespoke,“YoushoulddeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllahandthatIbeHismessenger,andyoushouldperformprayers,defraythezakat,listenandobey,avoidcontendingagainstthepeopleofleadershipandprotectmeassameasyouprotectyoursoulsandpeople.”Husaynibn`Alinarratedthat inal-`Aqabah,AnsarcametopayhomagetotheMessengerofAllah.`Aliwasordered toacknowledge theirhomage:“Whatshould theyswearfor,Allah’smessenger?”asked `Ali. The Holy Prophet (S) instructed, “You should stipulate obedience to the Lord andprotectionoftheHolyProphet(S)andhishouseholdandprogenyassameastheyprotecttheirsoulsandprogenies.”Thepro-QurayshitebooksofHadithhaveconcentratedonthepointofavoidingcontendingagainst

thepeopleofleadershipsoastouseitasaproofondeprivingAnsarofpositionsofleadership.Onthe other hand, they have avoided recording the term of protecting the Holy Prophet (S), hishousehold and progeny as same as they protect their souls, households and progenies since thisstipulationdisagreeswiththebenefitsoftheQurayshiteleaderswhoattackedandsetfireonthehouseofFatimahand`AlibecausetheyhadobjectedagainsttheillegalleadershipofAbu-Bakr.ThirdEvidenceThethirdevidenceisthefamousnarrationof‘al-Dar.’ReferencebooksofTafsirandhistoryrefer

tothisnarrationastheypassthroughAllah’ssaying,‘Andwarnyournearestrelations.(26:214)’This holy verse indicates that the Lord ordered the Holy Prophet (S) to invite the Hashimites

exclusivelytothereligionatthefirststagesoftheMission.So,whatproceduresdidtheHolyProphet(S) take in this stage?[4]How long did this private invitation last?Was it a number ofmonths oryears,untiladivinecommandmentofexpandingtheMissionwasrevealed?Whatwasthepurportofthe divine commandment of dedicatingMuhammad’s Prophethood to theHashimites before itwasextended to includepeopleofQuraysh, theArabsandallhumankind?Whatwas thepurportof theQurayshite’sdecisionoflayingsiegetotheHashimiteswho,aftertheenforcementofthisdecision,surrounded the Holy Prophet (S) and tolerated that six-year siege? The Hashimites, despite theirvariousclassesoffaithfulness,showednoweaknessatall.WhatwasthepurportofthefactthatexcepttheHashimites,nonecouldendurethemisfortunesthatMuslimshadsuffered?DuringtheBattleofUhud,allMuslimsabsconded,buttheHashimitestruggledalone.

During theBattleofal-Khandaq,no singleMuslimhad thecourage to face thechampionwhohadchallengedthem,excepttheHashimitehero—Imam`Ali(a.s.).DuringtheBattleofHunayn,tenthousandMuslimsabscondedwhiletheHashimitesalonestoodfirm.These factsandeventssuggestasatisfactoryexplanation for theHadiths related inShiite referencebooks quoting theHolyProphet (S)’s saying, ‘I have been sent tomyhousehold in private and topeopleingeneral.’TheaforementionedholyVersepointsoutthatwarningtheHashimiteswasamatteroutlinedbytheLord.ItalsoreferstothefactthattheHolyProphet(S)’snominatinghissuccessorfromamongthemwasastepwithinthatdivineplan.Al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur5/97,recordsthefollowing:… `Ali narrated that when the Verse, ‘And warn your nearest relations,’ was revealed, the HolyProphetsummonedmeandsaid,‘`Ali:AlmightyAllahorderedmetowarnmynearestrelations,butIwasdepressed since Ihad realized that theywouldanswermedisgracefullywhenever Iwouldcallthemtothismatter.Hence,ItriedtoevadeituntilArchangelGabrielcameandthreatenedmyLord’s

chastisementifIwouldnotcarryout.Now,Iaskyoutopreparesomefoodonwhichyoushouldcookalegofasheepandmakeusaskinofmilk.Then,youshouldinvitesonsof`Abdal-MuttalibsothatIwillspeaktothemandconveythismission.’IcarriedouttheHolyProphet(S)’sorderscompletelyandinvitedsonsof`Abdal-Muttalibwhowereaboutfortymen.Abu-Talib,Hamzah,al-`AbbasandAbu-Lahabwerealsoinvited.Astheyallwerepresent,theHolyProphet(S)askedmetoservethemthefoodIhadprepared.Withhisteeth,heincisedthatpieceofmeat,threwitspartsontheedgesofthattrencherandsaid,‘Hereyouare,bytheNameofAllah.’Theyallatetoexcess.ByAllahIswear,eachoneateasmuchasIhadcookedforthemall.Then,theHolyProphet(S)askedmetoservethemwiththatmilk.Theyalldrankfromthatskin.IswearbyAllah,eachonedrankfullskinofmilk.AssoonastheHolyProphet(S)triedtospeak,Abu-Lahabinterruptedandsaid,‘Seehowyourmancastwitchcraftonyou.’Therefore,theyleftbeforehecouldspeaktothem.Thenextday,theHolyProphetsaidtome,‘Yousawhowthatmaninterruptedme.Today,youshouldpreparefoodassameasyoudidyesterdayandinvitethemagain.’Ididthesameandinvitedthem,andtheycame,ateanddrank.TheHolyProphet(S)thenspoke,‘Osonsof`Abdal-Muttalib!ByAllah,IdonotknowanArabmanwhocanbringtohispeopleamatterbetterthanwhatIambearingtoyou.IamconveyingtoyouthewelfareofthisworldaswellastheHereafter.AlmightyAllahhasorderedmetoinviteyoutothismatter.Whowillsupportmeinthisaffair?’IwastheyoungestamongthemwhenIshouted,‘Iwill,’buttheybegantolaughatmeandlefttheplace.Relatingthesamereporttoanotherseriesofnarrators,al-Suyutisays:…Al-Barra`ibn`AzibnarratedthatwhentheVerse,‘Andwarnyournearestrelations’wasrevealed,theHolyProphet(S)invitedsonsof`Abdal-Muttalibwhowereaboutfortymen…etc.Hence,al-SuyutiinterruptsthereportatthispointsothathewouldnotmentiontherestoftheHoly

Prophet(S)’swords.Thisstyleiscommonlyfollowedbythepro-Qurayshitereportersastheyreferto theNarration of al-Dar,which shows that the Lord and theHoly Prophetselected the successorfromamongthenearestclansincethatday.Al-Amini,inal-Ghadir1/207recordsthefollowing:The following is a literal quotation of al-Tabari’s narration that distinguishes the right from thewrong.InTarikh2/217(firstedition),herecords:…‘Whowillsupportmeinthisregardandhewillbemybrother, successor and inheritor amongstyou?’ said theHolyProphet (S).Theyall stoppedtalkingwhenI,theyoungestamongthem,said,‘Iwill,Prophet(S)ofAllah!Iwillbeyourbackerinthis affair.’ Hence, the Holy Prophet (S) took me from the neck and stated, ‘This is my brother,successorandinheritor.Youshouldlistentoandobeyhim.’TheyallwentoutlaughingandsayingtoAbu-Talib,‘Well,heordersyoutolistentoandobeyyourson.’[Al-Amini,al-Ghadir;2/279]Inthisveryform,Abu-Ja`faral-Iskafi,aMu`tazilite[5]theologistwhodiedin240,recordsthesame

report inNaqd al-`Uthmaniyyah confirming its authenticity: It is also recorded inBurhan al-Din’sAnba`Nujaba`al-Abna`46-8, Ibnal-Athir ’sal-Kamil fi’l-Tarikh2/24,Abu’l-Fida `Imadal-Dinal-Dimashqi’sTarikh1/116,Shihabal-Dinal-Khafaji’sSharhal-Shifa3/37(thoughheinterruptsthelastsentences of the narration and says: It is recorded in al-Bayhaqi’sDala`il al-Nubuwwah and otherreferencebooksinauthenticdocumentation),andAla`al-Dinal-Baghdadi’sTafsiral-Khazin390,andal-Suyuti’s Jam` al-Jawami` 6/392. On page 397, he also relates the narration to the six famousHadithists—Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abu-Hatam, IbnMardawayh, Abu-Na`im and Al-Bayhaqi. IbnAbi’l-Hadid,inSharhNahjal-Balaghah3/254,recordsthesamereport.Al-Amini then protests against those who have distorted this narration for sake of seeking the

satisfactionofpeopleofQuraysh.ThoughherecordsthenarrationinhisTafsir,al-Tabari,inTarikh,confuses the lastwordsof theHolyProphet (S) regarding`Ali (a.s.):“…he thensaid, ‘This ismybrother…’andsoon.”Imitatingal-Tabari,IbnKathirmentionsthenarrationinthesameform.[6]FromthemarginofBiharal-Anwar32/272,thefollowingisquoted:

Thebondof fraternity between `Ali and theHolyProphet (S)—thatwas concluded according to adivinecommandmentinthebeginningofIslamwhenAlmightyAllahrevealedtheVerse‘Andwarnyour nearest relations’[7]—was fallen in a form of a covenant. The Holy Prophet (S) would notbetake a brother, representative, associate and successor other than `Ali. Likewise, `Aliwould notshowanyblemishinsupporting,backingandadvisingfortheHolyProphet(S)andthereligion.ItisassameasProphet(S)Aaron’ssupporttoProphet(S)MosesmentionedintheHolyQur ’an.WhentheHoly Prophet (S) held bonds of fraternity between each couple of his companions, he took inconsiderationtherelationshiplinkingeachtwo.He fraternized `Umar and Abu-Bakr, `Uthman and `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Awf, al-Zubayr and

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, `Ubaydah ibn al-Harith and Bilal, Mus`ab ibn `Umayr and Sa`d ibn Abu-Waqqas,Abu-`Ubaydahibnal-JarrahandSalimtheslaveofAbu-HudhayfahandHamzahibn`Abdal-MuttalibandZaydibnHarithahal-Kalbi.[8]Atthesemoments,hesaidto`Ali,“IswearbyHimWhohassentmewiththetruththatIdelayedyousothatyouwillbededicatedtome.Forme,yourstandingisassameasAaron’stoMosesis.Yet,noProphet(S)willcomeafterme.Youaremybrotherandsuccessor.YouwillbewithmeinmypalaceinParadise.Ifanydisputesyou,say:IamtheservantofAllah and the brother of His Messenger. Except fabricators and liars, none should claim it afteryou.”[9]Likewise, when the Holy Prophet (S) invited the tribes to accept his Mission, none admitted himexcept the tribeof `Amir ibnSa`sa`ah.Their spokesman,Bayhara, stated, ‘ByAllah I swear, IwillovercometheArabsifIassenttothisQurayshiteyoungman.Providingwewillpayhomagetoyouinthis matter and Allah will give you victory over your opponents, will you hold us your positionthereafter?’ The Holy Prophet (S) answered, ‘This is Allah’s affair. He holds it to whomever Hedesires.’‘WewillmakeournecksthetargetofwhateveristhrownatyouandwhenAllahgivesyoutriumphitgoestoothers?Nay,wearenotinneedforyourpromulgation,’theyanswered.[10]Asaresult,supposingtheHolyProphet(S)hadnotconcludedthatbondoffraternityandinheritancewith`Aliaccordingtoadivinecommandment,hewouldnothavewastedthisopportunityandrefutedtheminsuchdespairingwordswhilehewasinurgentneedforthesupportofsuchtribes.Al-Nu`manal-Maghribi,inDaa`imal-Islam1/15,writesdownthefollowing:

Wehavealreadyrecordedthefollowingnarrationof`Ali:WhenAlmightyAllahrevealedtheVerse(Andwarnyournearestrelations),theHolyProphet(S)invitedsonsof`Abdal-Muttalibtoalegofasheepandacupofmilk.Theyweremorethanfortymen.Amongthem,therewereatleasttenmenwhousedtohaveawholeslaughteredanimalanddrinkalargepotofdrink.Theyateanddranktoexcess.Afterthat,theHolyProphetspoke,‘Osonsof`Abdal-Muttalib!Complywithmeandyouwillbe kings and rulers of the lands. TheLord selected a successor, vicegerent, inheritor, brother andsupporterforeachProphet(S) thatHesent.Whichoneofyoushouldbemysuccessor,vicegerent,inheritor,brotherandsupporter?’Theyallstoppedtalking.Hepassedbythemindividually,buttheyallrejected.IwastheyoungestamongthemwhenIansweredhim,‘ItisI,Allah’smessenger!’‘Yes,itisyou,`Ali!’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).Whentheyleft,Abu-Lahabsaidtothem,‘Heservedyouwithasinglelegofasheepandacupofmilkandyouhadtoexcess.Thisisanenoughproofonhissorcery.’TheyalsolaughedatAbu-Talibsaying,‘Seehowhepreferredyoursontoyou.’Withoutdoubt,thenewsoftheHolyProphet(S)’sinvitationwasspreadamongpeopleofQuraysh

as well as the Arabs. They for sure told each other that the ‘new’ Prophet (S) had gathered hisrelativesandwarnedthemasheinvitedthemtothenewreligion.Healsoaskedforasupporterandsuccessor, but none accepted except his young cousin; therefore, he betook him as supporter andsuccessor.The previous three evidences assert that theHoly Prophet (S)’s successionwas amatterwidely

commonforpeoplesincetheearlieststagesofhisDivineMissionuptothelastmomentsofhislife.

Furthermore,everybodyrecognizedthatMuhammad’sProphethoodwasapracticalcontrivanceofaformationof a state governedbyhimandneed for a successor.Hence, all tribes, fromamaterialviewpoint, conceivedhismission as a desirableplan that they should take a part in bygaininghispromiseofhandinghisleadershipovertothem.This leads to thesuppositionthatwithin theforemostMuslimstherewerehypocritesattractedby

that contrivance, which seemed to be achieving victory in the future. Each of them might lookforward to obtaining a leading position in that state. This is the onlyway bywhichwe can find asuitableinterpretationofAllah’ssayingrevealedinMakkah:“AndWe have not made the wardens of the Fire other than angels, andWe have not made theirnumber but as a trial for thosewho disbelieve, that thosewho have been given theBookmay becertain and those who believe may increase in faith, and those who have been the Book and thebelieversmaynotdoubt,andthatthoseinwhoseheartsisadiseaseandtheunbelieversmaysay:WhatdoesAllahmeanbythisparable?ThusdoesAllahmakeserrwhomHepleases,andHeguideswhomHepleases,andnoneknowsthehostsofyourLordbutHeHimself;andthisisnaughtbutaremindertothemortals.74/31”Fromtheabove,itishardtobelievethechieftainsofQurayshwhoclaimedthatMuslimshadnot

discussed thequestionof theHolyProphet (S)’s successionduringhis lifetime, even in a formoflawfulorunlawful.Correspondingly,itisunacceptabletoconcludethatMuslims,whoaskedtheHolyProphet(S)frequentlyabouttheirfutureandnarratedseveralreportsinthisregard,didnotaskhimabouttheirnextleader.

[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

4ChapterTheProphet(S)ForetellsAboutTheTwelveImams(a.s.)

WebelievethatthenextleadershipoftheUmmahwasanunquestionablematterintheviewofthe

HolyProphet(S),sincetheLordhasgivenhimtheorderstoconveytheleadershipofhisprogenytopeople.ThisistheLord’straditionwithalltheProphetswhoseprogeniesinheritedtheDivineBooks,judgmentsandProphethood.Muhammad,ourProphet(S),isindisputablythebestandthesealoftheProphets.Afterhim,noProphetshouldcome.Hence,theImamateandtheinheritanceoftheDivineBook should follow. In like manner, his household and progeny are the best of the Prophets’progenies.TheLordhaspurifiedthemthoroughlyandhasgiventhemthejudgmentandtheDivineBookexclusively.ThisisclearinHissayings:“Surely,Allah choseAdamandNuh (Noah) and the descendants of Ibrahim (Abraham) and thedescendants of `Imran above the nations. Offspring one of the other; and Allah is Hearing,Knowing.3:34”“ThenWegave theBook for an inheritance to thosewhomWechose fromamongOur servants.35:32”AsherealizedthatpeopleofQurayshhadenviedtheHashimitesandplannedfortakingthemaway

fromthepositionofleadershipafterhim,theHolyProphet(S)usedstylesofwisdomandgradualityin his frequent announcements of the Progeny’s leadership. When they used rude practices andsayingsagainsttheHashimites,heusedastyleofaPropheticireagainstthem.TheFarewellHajjwasanexcellentopportunity forhimtocarry thedivinecommandment regardinghisHousehold’snextleadershiptohisUmmahinamassivescope.Aftertheconveyanceofthepreceptsandrulings,theexpansionoftheIslamicstate,thereductionof

dangersandthedeclarationoftheHolyProphet(S)’simminentdeparture,nothingremainedsavethedeclarationofthenextleadership.Inadditiontoauthentictexts,logicprovesthattheHolyProphet(S)paidthegreatestattentiontothisquestionduringtheFarewellHajj.PeopleofQurayshrecognizedtheHolyProphet (S)’s intention; therefore, theyaugmentedall their activities and sparednoefforts tostopsuchadeclaration.Althoughthereisagooddealofproofsoneachpointpreviouslymentioned,thisdiscussionistoonarrowtocoverthemall.WeshouldstopsufficientlyattheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsintheFarewellHajj.Abreastofthe

SermonofGhadir,referencebookshaveproventhattheHolyProphet(S)deliveredspeechesonfiveoccasions in that period. Historians should have reported these Prophetic sermons so completelysince thousands of Muslims listened to them but, unfortunately, a few parts of them have beenexcerpted,especiallyinthereferencebooksauthorizedbytheQurayshitecaliphate.Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Sirahal-Halabiyyah3/333:DuringtheHajj,theHolyProphet(S)addressedfivesermons;thefirstwasinMakkahontheseventhofDhu’l-Hijjah,thesecondonDayof`Arafat,thethirdonDayofSlaughteringinMina,thefourthonDayoftheSettlementinMinaandthefiveonDayoftheFirstReturninMina.Byreviewingatthetextsofthesesermonsasrecordedinmorethanonehundredreferencebooks

ofHadith,onecanevidentlynotice thatpeopleofQurayshput theirhands in these textsproducing

clearcontrasts.ThatwasbecausethesesermonsnarratedtheHolyProphet(S)’sinstructingMuslimstocomplywithhisprogenyafterhimandwarningthemagainstbeingengagedindiscrepanciesoutof envy after they had received the knowledge. Finally, the Holy Prophetsubmitted them to animpeccable and thorough proof. Despite theQurayshite blackout, we could receive some of thesetextsfromreferencebooksauthorizedbytherulingauthoritiesthemselves.However,thesetextsareadequateforrecognizingtheHolyProphet(S)’sinstructionsandaffirmationonthecommitmenttotheleadershipofhisimmaculateprogenyafterhim.HadithoftheTwelveImamsAllMuslimshaveunanimously agreedupon the fact that theHolyProphet (S) hadpredicted the

coming of the Twelve Imams during the Farewell Hajj.[1] They comprise the Hadith of the TwoWeightyThings—theQur ’anandtheAhlal-Bayt,HadithoftheHolyProphet(S)’sParadisiacalPoolandtheSahabah[2]whomwillbesenttoHellfireandwillbedeprivedofthewaterofthatPool.Al-Bukhari,inal-Sahih8/127,recordsthefollowing:JabiribnSamarahnarrated:IheardtheHolyProphetsaying,“Therewillbetwelveprinces…”Then,hesaidawordthatIcouldnotperceive.So,Iaskedmyfatheraboutit.“AllwillbefromQuraysh,”assertedmyfather.Muslim,inal-Sahih6/3records:JabiribnSamarahnarrated:IheardtheHolyProphetsaying,“Islamwillbefortifiedforaperiodoftwelvesuccessors…”Then,hesaidawordthatIcouldnotperceive.Iaskedmyfatheraboutit.“AllwillbefromQuraysh,”assertedmyfather.Muslim recordsa similarnarration inwhichhe states “Then,he said something that I couldnot

conceive,”insteadof“Then,hesaidawordthatIcouldnotperceive.”AccordingtoathirdnarrationrecordedbyMuslim,thefollowingformismentioned:“Thisreligionwillbekeptinefficacyandpowerforaperiodoftwelvesuccessors…”Then,hesaidaword that Icouldnotheardue to thenoiseofpeople. Iaskedmyfatherabout it.“AllwillbefromQuraysh,”assertedmyfather.Imitated by themajority of reference books ofHadith, al-Bukhari has not referred to even one

point indicating that the incident had happened during the sermon of the Farewell Hajj onMount`Arafat.Anumberofbooks,however,havereferredtothispoint.ThefollowingiswrittendowninAhmad ibn Hanbal’s al-Musnad 5/93, 36 and 99: “Jabir ibn Samarah narrated the following: OnMount `Arafat, the Holy Prophetsermonized…” On page 87, “The Holy Prophet said during theFarewellHajj…”andonpage99,“al-Muqaddaminarrated:DuringhissermoninMina,IheardtheHolyProphet(S)…”Lateron,wewillprovethatthisremarkablematterhadbeenrepeatedlyaffirmedonMount`Arafat,

Minaandal-KhayfMasjidbeforeitwasdeclaredinaformal,obligatoryanddecisiveforminGhadirKhumm.WhatisthestoryofthoseTwelveImams?WhatfordidtheHolyProphet(S)providetheirquestion

beforethegreatestmassofMuslimswholistenedtotheirProphet(S)whilehewasbiddingfarewell?Al-Bukharianswers:ThosearenotImamstofollowtheHolyProphet(S)inleadershipobligatorily;rathertheyareonlyvirtuousprinceswhowillbeinthisnationatacertainperiodoftime.TheHolyProphet(S)onlyconveyedhisLord’sfuturenewstohisnation.Indeed,theywillbefromQuraysh,notonlyHashim.TheywillbefromthetwentytribesofQuraysh.NoneofAnsar,theArabtribesorthenon-Arabpeoplewillbeamongthem.Thisisthewholematter.What fordid theHolyProphet (S) convey thismatter tohispeopleduring theFarewellHajjon

Mount`Arafat?Whatwasthepracticalaffairensuedfromthat?Al-Bukharianswers:Itisamatterofapredictiononly.TheHolyProphet(S)wantedtoforetellhis

peoplesothattheywouldbecheerful.Itisonly“journalistic”newsemptyofanypracticalelement.Concisely,savingthatsolenarration,whichcannotbeperceived,al-Bukharihasnotreferredtothistopic at all. On the other hand, he has recorded numerous clear-cut narrations respecting themenstruation of `A`ishah during the Farewell Hajj! He gives in details how the Holy Prophet (S)reveredherandsentanurseforhelpingherperformtheritesof`Umrah.Muslim –the Hadithist- is a little bit fairer that al-Bukhari in this regard. He has opted for a

narration leading to the fact that those twelve successorswill be rulingafter theHolyProphet (S).This narration should recuperate Muslims since it settles the problem of the Holy Prophet (S)’ssuccession.ThoseareImamsnominatedbytheExaltedLordandtheHolyProphet(S).Theirlegalityis derived from this divine nomination. Hence, the matter will not require a secret meeting ordiscrepanciesresultinginabloodycombatonpowerfromthefirstdaysofIslamuntilnowcausingmillionsofvictimsaswellasdissensionsthatledtotheaccumulationoftheUmmah’sweaknessuntilitwascompletelycollapsedonthehandsoftheOttomans.Muslim,however,adds,‘No,thisproblemwasnotsolved.TheHolyProphet(S)hadjustreferred

to those successors generally. He did not identify their names and personalities. Any of the tenthousandsbeforewhomthisseriousmatterwasaddresseddidnotaskforanexplanationandnoneofthemasked theHolyProphet (S)whom theywouldbe.Had theHolyProphet (S) referred to theirnames,oronlythenameofthefirstoneofthem,alltheclansofQurayshwouldhaveacceptedandsubmitted,sincetheyweretoopioustodisobeytheLordandHisMessenger!’Muslimthusrepeatsthesamewordsofal-Bukhari,‘No!TheyareonlygodlypeoplebywhomIslamwillbefortified.TheyarefromQuraysh—Qurayshonly!’Thus and so, al-Bukhari andMuslimwouldnever lead to an acceptable effect in thequestionof

thoseTwelve Imams.They lockalldoors and repeat the samewordsofpeopleofQuraysh, ‘YourProphet(S)onlyreferredtothesmellofthosetwelveonesduringtheFarewellHajj.Youshouldonlysmellandkeeppeace!’Atanyrate,otherreferencebooksofHadithhavepaidanattention,lessthanthatofMuslimandal-Bukhari, topolicyandpoliticiansduring reporting theHolyProphet (S)’snews.Thesebookshavereferredtoworkingmattersinthequestioninvolved.Theyhavethusrelatedthephrase‘afterme’inaformreferringtothefactthatthosepredictedImamsshouldberulingdirectlyaftertheHolyProphet(S).Inal-Musnad5/92,AhmadrelatesthesamenarrationtoJabiral-Siwa`iinthefollowingform:IheardtheHolyProphetsaying,“Afterme,therewillbe…”Onthesamepage,hereferstoanotherform:JabiribnSamarahnarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,“Afterme,therewillbetwelvesuccessors.Allwill be fromQuraysh.”When the Holy Prophet (S) returned home, people of Quraysh came andaskedabout theage following those successors. “Then, commotionwillbebefalling,” asserted theHolyProphet(S).Thephrase,‘Afterme’,whichreferstothedirectstageaftertheHolyProphet(S),ismentionedin

bothnarrations.Thesecond, likewise, revealspeopleofQuraysh’scare for thequestion regardingthosetwelvegodlyImams.Italsoaversthatthestoryhappenedinal-Madinah,notduringtheFarewellHajj.Thephrasewasrepeatedinvariousnarrationsmentionedinotherreferencebooks:

Jabir ibn Samarah narrated that the Prophet said, “Afterme, therewill be twelve princes…”As Icouldnotperceivethenextsentence,Iaskedsomepeople…(Ahmad:al-Musnad5/94.)Jabir al-Siwa`inarrated that theHolyProphet said, “Afterme therewillbe twelveprinces…”As Icouldnothearthenextsentence,Iaskedthemannexttome.“AllwillbefromQuraysh,”clarifiedhe.(Ahmad:al-Musnad5/99,108)

TheHolyProphetsaid,“Followingme,therewillbetwelveprinces.”AsIcouldnotunderstandthenext sentence, I asked the one next tome. “All will be fromQuraysh,” said he. (Al-Tirmidhi: al-Sunan;3/340)Jabir ibn Samarah narrated: I heard the Holy Prophetsaying, “After me, there will be twelvesuccessors…(al-Bukhari:Tarikh1/446No.1426)Abu’l-Qasim al-Baghawi narrated that `Abdullah ibn `Umar said: I heard theHoly Prophetsaying,“Afterme,therewillbetwelvesuccessors.”(IbnHajar:al-Sawa`iqal-Muhriqah20)All the previous reports prove that the Holy Prophet (S) discussed the question of the next

leadership during the Farewell Hajj and conveyed the Lord’s commandment of those twelve onesbeing the legal leaders of theUmmah. This fact cites a number of questions to be answered by thepeopleofQurayshandtheirreporters:First: Why are the narrations of this question almost restricted to a single narrator -Jabir ibn

Samarahal-Siwa`i-whowasatenyearoldboy,maybe,duringtheFarewellHajj?Isitreasonablethatany other individual could not hear these narrations except this boy? What for did the othercompanionsattendingthereavoidnarratingthisoccurrence?Jabir ’swayofnarrationmighthavebeenattainingsatisfactionoftheQurayshitecaliphateasitwas

provedasthemostsuitable.Therefore,itsformswererecordedandadmittedunderthesupervisionof the ruling authorities. Most surely, other individuals conveyed this occurrence, but in a wayinappropriatetobepublicized!Second:MuslimswerewonttoasktheHolyProphet(S)aboutthemostdiminutivefeaturesofeach

matter. They even interrupted his speeches for addressing indicative questions. The narrationsinvolvedhaverelatedtheHolyProphet(S)’sdiscussingamatterofahighimportance—aforetellingaboutadoctrinal,practical,momentousandfuturisticmatter.ThesenarrationshaveclaimedtheHolyProphet(S)’sobscuringthismostimportantpointoftheissue.Finally,theyhaveclaimedthatnoneofMuslimsaskedorwonderedaboutthoseImamsorpeople’sobligationtowardsthem!How can one believe that people ofQuraysh,who knocked the door of theHoly Prophet (S)’s

houseinal-Madinah,foraskingaboutthoseTwelveImams,asthenarratorhimselfreported,didnotaskhimabout these Imam’s identities andages?Does theword ‘Quraysh’ stand forAbu-Bakrand`Umar exclusively, in al-Madinah? Likewise, how can one believe thatMuslims who attended theFarewell Hajj did not ask the Holy Prophet (S) about those Imams, their ages and people’s roletowardsthem?Third:why could the narrator not perceive the very importantword that defined the identity of

thosetwelveones;hethereforeheaskedthemannexttohim?ThesamewordcouldnotbeperceivedbythenarratorwhoreportedtheHolyProphet(S)’saddressingthesamesermoninal-Madinah.WhydoreferencebooksofHadithauthorizedbytheQurayshitecaliphaterestrictSamarahand`Umaribnal-KhattabastheonlypersonswhocarriedthemissedwordoftheHolyProphet(S)?Moreover,variousquestionsinsistonrevealingthehiddensofthisnarrationandurgescholarsto

checkinbooksofHadithandhistory.Hereinafter,weaimatfocusinglightsonthemissedwordbyprovidinganumberofnotesandquestions.(A)TheOriginoftheWordIs‘Allwillbefrommyhousehold,’theoriginof‘AllwillbefromQuraysh?’Whatisthereason

beyond the absence of themost important statement?Whowas thatmanwhom the narrator askedaboutthatword?Ahmad, in al-Musnad 5/100 and 107, records that the narrator himself could not perceive the

statement;therefore,heaskedaboutit:As I couldnotperceive thenext statement, I askedmy father. “Hesaid: allwillbe fromQuraysh,”

assertedmyfather.…HethensaidawordthatIcouldnotperceive.MyfatherwasnearertotheHolyProphet(S)thanIwas.Iaskedhimaboutthatword.Heanswered,“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh.”(Al-Hakim’sal-Mustadrak;3/617)Ahmad,inal-Musnad5/90and98,recordsthattheHolyProphet(S)himselfintendedtohidethat

word:…Hethensaidawordtoosilenttobeheard.“Whatdidhesay?”Iaskedmyfather.“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh,”answeredmyfather.…Hethensaidawordwithasilentvoice.Iaskedmyunclewhowassittingbeforemeaboutit.“Oson!Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh,”answeredmyuncle.(al-Hakim,al-Mustadrak3/618)JabiribnSamarahnarratedthattheProphetsaid,“Forthisnation,therewillbetwelvecustodianswhowillneverbeinfluencedbythosewhofrustratethem.”ThenhesaidawordwithasilentvoicethatIcouldnotperceive.“WhatwasthatwordthattheHolyProphet(S)hadspokenquietly?”Iaskedmyfather. “It was: All will be from Quraysh,” asserted my father. (Al-Tabarani: al-Mu`jam al-Kabir2/213-4No.1794)Accordingtoothernarrations,itwaspeople,notthenarratorortheHolyProphet(S),whocaused

thewordtodisappear.Thismeansthatpeople-whowereconsecratingfortheirLordon`Arafat,livingthelastmomentsoftheirProphet(S)’slifeandwaitingforanywordhewouldspeakof-werenoisyasiftheywereinanauctionandsomeofthemdisturbedandshoutedwhiletheHolyProphet(S)wasarticulatingthemostsensitive word so that the faithful believers would not perceive! People were crying, shouting,speaking loudly,makingnoise, standingand sittingwhile theHolyProphet (S)wasaddressinghissermon:… People began to shout ‘Allahu Akbar ’ and make noise. Meanwhile, the Holy Prophet (S)pronouncedawordIcouldnotcatch.“Whatdidhesay,father?”Iasked.“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh,”answeredmyfather.(Abu-Dawud’sal-Sunan2/309andAhmad’sal-Musnad5/98)…Then, he pronounced aword that I could not hear because of people’s noise. “What did he say,father?”Iasked.“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh,”answeredmyfather.(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/98)…Peoplebegantoshout…(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/93)…People thenbegan tomakenoiseandspeakaloud. Icouldnotunderstand thewordafter“All…”(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/99)…“This religionwillbekept inefficacyandpower foraperiodof twelvesuccessorswhowillbegiven victory over their opponents…”Then people began to stand and sit… (Ahmad’s al-Musnad5/99)RegardingthosewhomJabiraskedaboutthemissedword,mostofnarrationsaffirmthatheasked

hisfatherSamarah.Hence,thetestimonyofincludingalltheclansofQurayshwiththeHashimitesinthequestionof thenextTwelve Imamsdependsupon theauthenticityofSamarah.Samarah’sbeingMuslimcouldnot beproved; numerousnarrations authenticatedbyMuslim, al-Bukhari andothersrefertothisfact.However,otherformsofthenarrationproveotherthings:…AsIaskedallpeople,theyanswered,“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh.”(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/92,90)…Iaskedpeople,orthemannexttome,“What…”(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/108)…AsIcouldnotperceivethatword,Iaskedtheonenexttome…(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/99,108)Al-Tabarani,however,emphasizesthatJabirconfirmedthatpeoplesaidthattheHolyProphetsaid,

‘AllwillbefromQuraysh.’…Icouldnotunderstandwhathesaidnext;therefore,Iaskedpeople.Theyclaimedthathesaid,“AllwillbefromQuraysh.”(al-Tabarani’sal-Mu`jamal-Kabir;2/249,Hadith2044)

IsitcrediblethatthemostimportantwordidentifyingtheTwelveImamswhomtheHolyProphet(S) foretold couldbevanished in that quite silent circumstanceon `Arafat andnonewould ask theHolyProphet(S)about?AscholarmayapproachthefactwhenhelooksattheothernarrationsrelatedbyJabiribnSamarahhimself, regarding the Holy Prophet (S)’s having been riding on his animal and declaring thesewords.ThissupportsthefactthattheHolyProphet(S)triedtomakealltheattendantshearandlisten:…Then,theHolyProphet(S)’svoicevanished.IaskedmyfatherwhowasnearertotheHolyProphet(S)’sanimal…(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/87)Theyhavealso related that theHolyProphet (S)orderedamanof sonorousvoice to repeathis

wordsasaloudaspossiblesothatpeoplewouldhear:…Rabi`ahibnKhalafal-Jamhiwasofsonorousvoice;theHolyProphet(S)orderedhimtorepeathiswordsaloudonDayof`Arafat.HewasstandingbeforetheHolyProphet(S)’sshe-camel.“Opeople!Do you realize thismonth?” said theHoly Prophet (S) and orderedRabi`ah to declare aloud, andRabi`ahdid.“Yes,it isthesacredmonth,”peopleansweredaffirmatively.“Allahhassurelydeemedyour blood and assets amongst you as sacred as thismonth until the day onwhich youwillmeetHim,”saidtheHolyProphet(S)andorderedRabi`ahtodeclarealoud…Ibn`Abbassaid:…Whenhehaltedon`Arafat,theHolyProphet(S)orderedRabi`ahibnUmayyahibnKhalaf,amanwithasonorousvoice,tostandjustbeforehisshe-camelandrepeathiswordsaloud…Al-Tabaranirelatesthisreporttoauthenticnarrators.[3]Althoughtheyrelatethesamenarrationtothesamereporterinvariousforms,themissedword,in

allforms,isinvariablythesame.Thissupportstheclaimthatthestatementwas‘Allwillbefrommyprogeny’or‘Allwillbefrommyhousehold’,not‘AllwillbefromQuraysh.’TheyalsonarratethatthenarratorassertedthattheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonwasinal-Madinah,not`Arafat,yet,themissedwordwasthesame—theidentityofthoseTwelveImams:Jabir ibnSamarah narrated:My father and I came to theHolyProphet (S)whowas saying, “Thisaffairwillbekeptinexcellenceuntiltherewillbetwelveprinces…”Then,hesaidawordIcouldnotperceive.“Whatdidhesay?”Iaskedmyfather.“Hesaid:AllwillbefromQuraysh,”saidmyfather.(Ahmad’sal-Musnad5/97,107)The same narration ismoved to the smallmosque of al-Madinah and, nevertheless, themissed

wordisinvariablythesame.JabiribnSamarahcouldnotunderstandituntilheasked`Umaribnal-Khattab,theQurayshitecaliph,and`Umaranswered!TheHoly Prophet (S)was on theminbar[4]when he addressed, “Therewill be twelve custodiansfrompeopleofQuraysh.Theywillnotbeinfluencedbytheiropponents.”`Umaribnal-Khattab,mayAllahpleasehim,andmyfatherwereamongpeople.TheyallassertedthesayingassameasIcouldperceive.(al-Tabarani’sal-Mu`jamal-Kabir2/256,No2073).Al-BazzarrelatesthisnarrationtoJabiribnSamarahalone.Headds:

When theHolyProphet (S) returned home, I followed him to ask about the stage following thosetwelveones.“Commotionwillbecomingnext,”saidtheHolyProphet(S).[5]Thetextbecame:‘Twelvecustodiansopposedbypeople.’Agroupamongwhomwas`Umaribnal-

Khattabandthenarrator ’sfatherbecamethesupportersofthetext.Hence,place,timeandpersonsoftheoccurrencewerechanged.Yet;themissedwordisinvariablythesame.AmoreunfamiliarmatteristhatwhiletheyrelatethenarrationtoAbu-Juhayfah,themissedwordisstillinvariablythesame!Yet,thenarrator,here,askshisuncle,notfather:`AwnibnAbu-Juhayfahnarratedthefollowingontheauthorityofhisfather:IwasaccompanyingmyuncletotheHolyProphet(S)whenhespoke,“Theaffairsofthisnationwillbekeptinrectitudeuntiltwelve successors go on…” He then pronounced a word I could not perceive. “What did he say,uncle? I asked. “He said:Allwill be fromQuraysh,” assertedmyuncle. (Al-Hakim’s al-Mustadrak

3/618)[6]Eventually,wefindourselvesfacinganunprecedentedphenomenoninalltraditions.Itreferstoa

highlyexceptionalmatterthatishiddenbeyondthestatement,‘AllwillbefromQuraysh.’Itisalsosupposablethattheoriginalnarratoris`Umarhimself;itwashewhoaffirmedandcorrectedtotheboyJabiribnSamarah.Al-Khazzazal-Qummi,inKifayatal-Athar90,relatesthesamereportto`Umaronly,withoutreferringtoSamarah,orhisson,orAbu-Juhayfah,orhisuncle:…`Umaribnal-Khattabnarratedthefollowing:IheardtheHolyProphetsaying,“Afterme,theImamswillbe twelve…”He thenpronouncedaword so silently that I couldhardlyperceive. I heardhimsaying,“AllwillbefromQuraysh.”Depending on this narration, which is themost authentic in our view, the generalization of the

identityofthoseTwelveImamstoincludealltheclansofQuraysh,nottheHashimitesinparticular,was invented by `Umar. In addition, it coincides his saying, “People of Quraysh reject that theHashimitesjoinleadershiptoProphethood,”whichhefrequentlyaddressedtotheHashimitesduringandaftertheHolyProphet(S)’slifetime.(B)TheDivinePromiseofUnknownLeadershipisImpracticableThepromiseoftheadventofTwelveImamsisadivinewordoftheAll-wiseLord.Itisatraditional

promiseofImamstofollowaProphet(S).Itwasgivento thepreviousnations,aswell.Besides, itrepresentsamercytothisnationbywhichpeoplecansettletheproblemsthattheywillcertainlyfaceafter their Prophet (S). How is it, then, practicable for the Lord to promise His Messenger ofunknownleaders?TheExaltedLordpromisedthepreviousnationsoftheadventofamessengernamed‘Ahmad’after

five centuries. This was conveyed by Jesus revealing the impracticability to admit that the Lordpromisedthesealofnationsofgodlycustodians,withoutnamingtheirleadingoneatleastornamingtheirclan.ItisunacceptableforHimtopromiseofmencomingamongsttwenty-threeclansthathavedisagreedwith each other on themost trivialworldly affairs.To give credence to such a lie is toimputeimprudencetotheGlorifiedLordandHisMessenger,andsuchaclaimisimpossiblystatedbyanyMuslimorevenanyfairOrientalist!IthappenedsometimesthattheHolyProphet(S)addressedageneralideaorforetellingtopeople,

expecting their inquiry, so thathisanswerwouldbemoreeffective.But, inourquestion,Muslims’inquiries, as well as the Holy Prophet (S)’s answer, are nonexistent. They are found in ShiitereferencebooksofHadithonly.(C)TheImamsarefromQuraysh,butfromtheAhlal-BaytSupposingtheproblematicpointsofthenarrationinvolvedaredisregardedandtheHolyProphet

(S)’snominatingthosetwelvegodlyQurayshitecustodiansisacceptable,aquestionwillbearoused:Which tribe of Quraysh is intended? The clans of Quraysh are more than twenty. According toauthenticnarrationsrecordedinthemajorreferencebooksofHadith,AlmightyAllahhaspreferredpeopleofQurayshtotheArabsandhaspreferredtheHashimitestoQuraysh.IsitthenacceptablethatHe chooses those Twelve Imams succeeding the Holy Prophet (S) from a clan other than theHashimites?ThefollowingnarrationisrecordedbyMuslim:al-Sahih7/58:Wathilah ibn al-Asqa` narrated: I heard the Holy Prophetsaying, “Allah has chosen the tribe ofKinanahamongstsonsofIshmaelandchosenthetribeofQurayshamongsttheKinanahandchosentheHashimitesamongsttheQurayshandchosenmeamongtheHashimites.Ashe relates the samenarration, al-Tirmidhi, inal-Sunan5/245,decides it asone-wayqualified

narration.Onpage243,hedecidesitasauthenticallyqualified.Followingthis,herecordsanumber

ofnarrationsofthesamesupposition:Al-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalibnarrated:ItoldtheHolyProphet(S)thatpeopleofQurayshdiscussedtheir lineages and when they mentioned him, they likened him to a date palm tree planting in ajunkyard.TheHolyProphet(S)commented,“WhenAlmightyAllahcreatedthings,Hemademewiththebestparty.Then,Hemademeinthebesttribe.Then,Hemademeinthebesthouse.Hence,Iamthebestparty,tribeandhouse.(Thisisaqualifiednarration.)Followingthis,al-Tirmidhiwritesasimilarnarrationwithanotherseriesofnarratorsdecidingit

asone-wayauthenticnarration:Ibn `Abbasnarrated:Thedescendantsof `Imran,mentioned inAllah’s saying, “SurelyAllah choseAdamandNoahandthedescendantsofAbrahamandthedescendantsof`Imranabovethenations,”are the believers among sons of Abraham, `Imran, Yasin and Muhammad. (Al-Bukhari, al-Sahih4/138)Qur ’anictextsandHadithsrespectingselecting,preferring,favoringandprecedingtheHashimites

totheUmmaharetoomanytobecoveredinthisdiscussion.ThispreferenceisbythereasonthattheAhl al-Bayt being part of him, as well as being the diamond of the Hashimites and their best.Generally,theyarethediamondofsonsofAdam.Taking al-Bukhari’s testimony, a scholar can conclude, by processing a simple equation, those

twelvemenbeingtheprogenyofProphet(S)Muhammad.Intheearliestnarration, it isprovedthattheTwelveImamsarechosenamongstpeopleofQuraysh.Inthelatter,itisprovedthatMuhammad’sprogeny, like Abraham’s, are chosen. Hence, the twelve expected Imams should be Muhammad’sprogeny whom are selected by the Lord. At a least criterion, those twelve men should be fromMuhammad’sprogeny.Thisisalsoadvocatedbyal-Bukhari’snarrationthattells`Ali’sbeingthefirstcomplainant on the Resurrection Day. This means that Imam `Ali will bear an important issuepreferredtoallotherissuesofthisnation.Thisissue,however,canbeunderstoodfromImam`Ali’sfollowingsayingrecordedinNahjal-Balaghah1/82:“ByAllah I swear, people ofQuraysh bearmalice against us for one and only reason—the Lordprefersustothem.Then,wepermittedthemtogainentryintoourgroup.Hence,theyareapplicabletothepoet’ssaying:ItiswewhoendowedyouthiselevationandyouwerenotElevatedandweencompassedyouwithswordsandspears.”[7]Qaysibn`Abadahnarrated:`AliibnAbi-Talib,mayAllahpleasehim,said,“IwillbethefirsttokneelbeforetheBeneficentLordforlitigationontheResurrectionDay.”(D)HadithsExplainingtheNarrationoftheTwelveImamsItisunanimouslyagreeablethattheHolyProphet(S)’stexts,liketheQur ’an,explicateeachother.

Thisisaperceptualprinciple.Naturally,anynationshouldscrutinizetheotherpracticalandarticulatetextsoftheirProphet(S)forrecognizingtheTwelveImamsofwhomhehadforetold.AdeeplookatourProphet(S)’swordsabouthisprogeny(Namely`Ali,Fatimah,al-Hasanandal-Husayn)removesanydoubtthatthosepersons,whomwerefrequentlypraisedandacclaimedbytheHolyProphet(S)who never speaks out of desire, are the very intendeds in the text involved. As a matter of fact,Muslims agree that those persons were frequently praised by the Holy Prophet (S) on variousoccasions; hedeclared that theywerepurified thoroughlyby theLord.This fact is recorded in anevidentQur ’anictext.HealsoorderedMuslimstocherishandblessthemduringtheirdailyprayers.Hedeemedunlawfulforthemtoreceivealmsand,instead,helegislatedtheirenjoyingashareoftheone-fifthrate(khums)imposeduponMuslims.Finally,theHolyProphet(S)’swillwastoadheretothembesidestheQur ’an.HenamedthemastheminorweightythingaftertheQur ’an—themajoroneasprovenbyauthenticreportsmentionedinthemajorreferencebooksofHadith.TheHolyProphet

(S)’swordsofpraisinghisprogenyandwarningagainstwrongingandopposingthemaretoomanytobecoveredinthisdiscussion.Atanyrate,thesewordshavebeengoodexamplesforthemindfulandfact-finders.(E)TwelveImamsandTwelveMonthsNarrationsappertainedto theHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsduringtheFarewellHajjhaveasserted

that he referred to the rotation of time to its first creationwhen hementioned the Twelve Imams.Thereafter,herecitedAlmightyAllah’ssaying:“Surely, thenumberofmonthswithAllah is twelvemonths inAllah’sordinance since theday

whenHecreatedtheheavensandtheearth,ofthesefourbeingsacred.9:36”Al-Bukhari,al-Sahih5/126,204and6/235,recordsthefollowing:

Abu-BakrahnarratedthattheHolyProphetstated,“Timehasrotatedtothefirstcreationoftheheavensandearth.Ayearistwelvemonthsamongwhichtherearefoursacredones—Dhu’l-Qa`dah,Dhu’l-Hijjah,MuharramandRajab.Thefirstthreearesuccessive.[8]InMajma` al-Zawa`id 3/265, the same narration is related in a style more accordant to the HolyProphet(S)’seloquencethanal-Bukhari’s:…Time has rotated as same as the first day onwhich the Lord created the heavens and the earth.“SurelythenumberofmonthswithAllahistwelvemonthsinAllah’sordinancesincethedaywhenHe created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred. That is the right reckoning;therefore,benotunjust toyourselves.”Donotapostatize fromyour religionaftermekillingeachother…Sunnischolarshavecitedthecustomofpostponingthesacredmonthsasthemeaningsuggestedby

theHolyProphet (S) in thisnarration.Hence,hesuggestsanewbeginningof time,which leads tocanceling that custom. As a matter of fact, this exegesis is unconvincing since the custom ofpostponingthesacredmonthleavesnoeffectontimeorontheuniversethatitscancellationleadstocreatinganewbeginningtotime.Secondly,thereisnosingleindicationtoanyrelationshipbetweentherotationoftimeandthecustomofpostponingthesacredmonths.Eachisanindependenttopic.Hence,scholarsaremistakenwhentheyestablishsucharelationship.AstheHolyProphet(S)was

in a situation of bidding his people farewell and providing the next stage of guidance, aberrance,rulings,beliefsandpathstoParadiseandHellfire,itismostlikelythatheintendedtosaythatanewstageofthedivineguidanceandaberrancewouldbebeginningonthatday.Healsointendedtosaythat thematerialmovementoftimeisbaseduponthetwelvemonths,whilethementalmovementisbasedupontheconsenttotheTwelveImams.MaterialandmentalexistenceofthoseImamscoincideswiththesystemofthetwelvemonths,whichiseffectiveinthemovementofthisuniverse.ThisviewissupportedbythesacrednessandconsecrationofnumbertwelveintheHolyQur ’an.The Lord identifies twelve chieftains for the Israelites and twelve apostles for Jesus Christ.

Similarly, theHoly Prophet (S) askedAnsar to elect twelve chieftains in the earlier stage of theirhomage.Healsoforetoldhispeopleabout theadventofTwelveImams.Moreover,holy textshaveasserted that thedeviationof thisnation isoriginatedby twelvemisleadingmenfrom theSahabah.Consequently, in the faceof each Imam, there shouldbeamisleadingmanand in the faceof eachProphet (S), there should be a nefarious enemy purposing for inveigling people. Almighty Allahsays,‘Andthedaywhentheunjustonewillbitehishands,saying:O!WouldthatIhadtakenawaywiththeApostle.WoeisI!WouldthatIhadnot takensuchaoneforafriend!Certainly,he ledmeastray from the reminder after it had come tome; and theSatan fails to aidman.And theApostlecriedout:“OmyLord!MypeoplehavetreatedthisQur’anasaforsakenthing.AndthushaveWemadefor

everyProphet(S)anenemyfromamongthesinners,andsufficientisyourLordasaGuideanda

Helper.25:27-28”Muslim,inal-Sahih8/122-3,writesdown:

TheProphetstated:“Therearetwelvehypocritesamongmycompanions.EightofthemwillneverseeParadiseuntilacamelpassesthroughtheeyeofaneedle.Eightofthemwillbekilledbyanepidemic.Andfourwill…”Icouldnotmemorizetherest.The Prophetstated: “There are twelve hypocrites among my companions. They will never see orsmellParadiseuntilacamelpassesthroughtheeyeofaneedle.Eightofthemwillbeperishedbyanepidemic.Aflaminglampwillbeemergingbetweentheirshouldersandflowingoutoftheirchests.”Abual-Tufaylnarrated:AsortofinconsistencyarousebetweenHudhayfahandoneofthepeopleofal-`AqabahPlot.“IadjureyoubyAllahtoanswermeaboutthenumberofthepeopleofal-`AqabahPlot,” themanaskedHudhayfah.“Youshouldanswerhim,”peopleurged.Hudhayfahspoke,“Well,wewere told that theyhadbeen fourteenmen.Theyshouldbe fifteen ifyouwereoneof them.ByAllahIswear,twelveofthemarethefoesoftheLordandHisMessengerinthisworldandonthatdaywhenwitnesseswillbearising.”[9]It is thusnot unacceptable to say that theHolyProphet (S)’s intentionwas to tell people that the

ExaltedLord has established humankind on laws of guidance and aberrance since the first dayHecreated theheavensand theearth.These lawsareexecutedbyelementsofprovidingevidencesandrelievingpeopletochooseeitherguidanceoraberrance.Likepositiveandnegative,theelementsofguidanceandaberranceshouldbefalltogether.TheLordthenhasinspiredhumansoulstodistinguishtherightfromthewrong.AsHecausedAdamtodescendtothisearth,theLordcausedSatantodescendwithhim.Witheach

Prophet(S), therewasasingleoranumberofmisleadingpeople.Inthisnation, thenumberoftheleadingImamsisequaltothatofthemisleadinghypocrites;whichistwelve.Hence,anewrotationofguidance and aberrance has begun in the sameway as it beganwithAdam and Satan. This is themeaning of the new beginning of time that leads to the extinction of an age and the beginning ofanother.ThisideaissupportedbytheexegesisoftheQur ’anicVerse,“SurelythenumberofmonthswithAllahistwelvemonthsinAllah’sordinancesincethedaywhenHecreatedtheheavensandtheearth,”thattheAhlal-Baytadopts.(F)Jabiral-Siwa`i;theReporteroftheNarrationAs Sunni major reference books of Hadith have related the narration of the Twelve Imams to

`Abdullah ibnMas`ud,Abu-Juhayfah and Jabir ibn Samarah al-Siwa`i, they have dependedmainlyuponJabiribnSamarahibnJanadah.Ithasbeensaidthathewassonof`AmribnJundabibnHujayribnRiabibnHabibibnSaw`ahibn`AmiribnSa`sa`ahal-Siwa`i.Othershavesaidthathebelongedtothe tribe of `Amir ibn Sa`sa`ah.[10] Jabir and his fatherwere confederates of the tribe of Zuhrah.[11]ThisstrengthensthedoubtthatJabirdidnotbelongtoQuraysh.Ifhehadbelongedtothetribeof`Amir ibnSa`sa`ah,hewouldnothaveconfederated the tribeofZuhrah. Imyself readal-Dhahbi’ssayingthatJabirdiedduringthereignof`Abdal-Malik(ibnMarwanthefifthUmayyadcaliph)andthatibnSa`dallegedthatSamarah,thefather,hadbecomeMuslimonlyontheDayoftheConquestofMakkah and none else has mentioned anything about his death.[12]This takes us to the fact thatSamarahwasoneof theTulaqa` ‘ReleasedOnes’[13]and thatal-Dhahbi suspectswhetherSamarahembracedIslamornot.Therefore,hesays,“IbnSa`dallegesthat…”Al-Bukhari,inal-Tarikhal-Kabir4/177,hasclaimed

Samarah’sbeingoneoftheSahabah.Jabiristhechildofa‘releasedone.’HewasaninfantduringtheconquestofMakkah.Hedied inAH76.Henarrated thatafter theDayofConquestofMakkah, theHolyProphet(S)passedhishandoverthefacesofthesmallboyswhowereperformingprayerinal-Madinah.Hewasoneofthosesmallboys.[14]JabirmighthavelivedinthecustodyofSa`dibnAbu-

Waqqas;hismaternaluncle,inal-Madinah.Ithasbeenrelatedthathehadparticipatedintheconquestofal-Mada`inbeforehemovedinKufahwherehebuiltahouseforhimself.All the aboveproves that Jabirwas a teenageduring theFarewellHajj.Hence, theonly reliable

narratorofthisnarrationisateenagesonofa‘releasedone’whowasaconfederateofQuraysh.HowstrangethechiefsofthisnationandthechiefsoftheSahabahwere!Theyhadnotpossessedeventheintellectualityof that teenage ‘released’boywhocared for the futureofhisnationand thecominggodly Imams! In more accurate words, how firm the Qurayshite ruling authorities who had fullcontrolonHadithswere!TheydisallowedSunnistorecordandpublicizethenarrationsappertainedto thecomingTwelve ImamswhomtheHolyProphet (S)hadforetold,except thenarrationof thisteenage!(G)MarksofAuthenticityGiventotheThreeNarrationsThreeformsandthreenarratorsofthereportoftheTwelveImamsarefoundinSunnireference

booksofHadith.TheyhaveagreeduponauthenticatingJabiribnSamarah’snarration;someofthemhavedecidedtheauthenticityofAbu-Juhayfah’snarrationwhilethemajoritydecideditasaqualifiedwith a rather doubtful narrator. Regarding IbnMas`ud, they give opposite marks to his narrationsince,astheyclaim,MujalidibnSa`id,whomisdecidedastrustfulbyal-Nassa`iandafewspecialistscholarswhileothershadjudgedhimasdoubtful,iswithintheseriesofnarrators.Samarah;Jabir ’sfather, and `Umar ibn al-Khattab should be added to the three previous narrators.Themajority ofnarrationsaffirmthatthosetwomeninformedJabiraboutthemissedword.Moreover,`Umaribnal-Khattab should be regarded as a main narrator according to the foresaid narration recorded inKifayatal-Athar.Thefollowingisanumberofscholars’opinionsaboutIbnMas`ud’snarration:Majma`al-Zawa`id5/190:TheTwelveSuccessors:MasruqnarratedthatIbnMas`udwasteachingusHolyQur ’anwhenamanaskedwhethertheyhadaskedtheHolyProphet(S)aboutthenumberofthesuccessorswhowouldberulingthisUmmah.‘IhaveneverbeenaskedsuchaquestionsinceIwasinIraq,’assertedIbnMas`ud,‘Itisyes.WehaveaskedtheHolyProphet(S)thisquestionandheansweredthattheywouldbetwelve,likethenumberoftheIsraelites’chieftains.’[Commentonthenarration]ThisnarrationisreportedbyAhmad,Abu-Ya`liandal-Bazzar.Oneofitsnarrators isMujalid ibnSa`id.Except al-Nassa`i,majority ofHadithists decides him as unreliable.Theothernarratorsaretrustworthy.The same is recorded in al-Hakim’s al-Mustadrak 4/501who adds, ‘I am too short to givemy

opinionaboutthenarrationsofMujalidandhislikes.’Ibn Hajar, in al-Sawa`iq al-Muhriqah 20, decides the eligibility of the narration. He records, ‘IbnMas`udrelates,inaqualifieddocumentation…etcAl-Suyuti,inTarikhal-Khulafa`13,decidestheeligibilityofthenarration,too.Herecords,‘Ahmadandal-BazzarrecordsthequalifiednarrationofibnMas`ud…etcAl-Busiri, as quoted from Kanz al-`Ummal 6/89, decides the narrations as eligible. He says:Musaddad, IbnRahawayh, IbnAbu-Shaybah,Abu-Ya`liandAhmad relate thisqualifiednarration…etc.[15]IfthereasonofdistrustingIbnMas`ud’snarrationistheexistenceofMujalidwithintheseriesof

thenarrators,thesamenarrationhasbeenrelated,inanumberofShiitereferencebooksofHadith,toaseriesofothernarrators.[16]Nevertheless,thismattermakesnochangeforthejudgmentissuedbySunni scholars. The narration is given the degree of ‘Hasan—qualified with a rather doubtfulnarrator ’whateverisproved!Further, thisdegreeseemstobeobscureforSunnischolarssincetheoriginal problem of Ibn Mas`ud’s narration is to avoid adding ‘All will be from Quraysh.’ The

erasure of this statement makes the readers understand that those coming godly Imams wouldobligatorily be rulers succeeding the Holy Prophet (S). This fact draws a big red circle on theproceduresofal-SaqifahfromwhichtheHashimiteswereabsentandbusyinpreparingthefuneraloftheHolyProphet(S)!(H)ContradictionoftheContentsofTheThreeNarrationsSunnireferencebooksofHadithrecordJabiribnSamarah’snarrationintwodifferentformsone

ofwhichisaccordanttoAbu-Juhayfah’s.IbnMas`udhadhisownform.Onthataccount,thenarrationhasbeeninthreedifferentforms.Thefirstforeordainsthatthosepromisedmenwillbecomingafterthe Holy Prophet (S) and all will belong to Quraysh. This text occurs in the majority of Jabir ’snarrations.Sunnischolarshavedecidedtheauthenticityofthisform.Al-Albani,likewise,hasdecidedtheauthenticityofthisformandrecordeditunderNo.1075ofhisseriesoftheauthenticHadiths.ThesecondformforetellsthatthosetwelvemenwillberulingaftertheHolyProphet(S)andallwillbefromQuraysh. Italso tells that Islamwillbekept inpowerandprotectionas longas thosemenrule.Afterthat,itwillbeweakandhumbleand,finally,collapse.ThisformismentionedbyanumberofJabir ’snarrationsandallofAbu-Juhayfah’s.MostofSunnischolarshavedecideditsauthenticity.Al-Albani has affixed the form narrated by Jabir ibn Samarah under number 376 of his series ofauthenticHadiths.Abu-Juhayfah’snarrationhasbeendecidedasqualified.IbnMas`ud’snarrationhasbeencitedaswitnessontheauthenticityoftheprevious.Finally,al-AlbanihasrefutedAbu-Dawud’sadditionalwordinginwhichhe,aswellasotherscholars,affirmsthatallpeopleofthisnationwillbeloyaltothosecomingImams,andregardsitasdeniable.ThethirdformestablishesthatthoseImamswillcomeaftertheHolyProphet(S)inawaysimilar

tothesituationofthedisciplesofProphetsMosesandJesus.Thisformishoweveremptyof‘AllwillbefromQuraysh.’MostofIbnMas`ud’snarrationsdependuponthisform.Divergenceandcontrastarethemostremarkablenotestoberecordedonthevariousformsofthenarrationsinvolved.Thisisnotaneasyoracceptablematter,especially insuchasortofnarrations. Inaddition, thiscontrast ishardlyanswerablesinceitexistsinthedifferentformsofthereportsofthesamenarrator.Distortionin such reports, even saidbyanordinarychiefof agroup, isdecisivelyconsidered; therefore,weshouldneveracceptsuchreportsthatasserttheHolyProphet(S)’sforetellingthecomingofunknownmen,especiallyifwetakeinconsiderationthestageandplaceofaddressingthatprediction.ThemainaccusationisthedistortionoftheidentityofthoseTwelveImams.Theaccusedisnone

other than thosewhomaygainadvantage fromhiding thenamesanddescriptionsof thepromisedones.ItistherulingauthoritieswhocametopowerjustaftertheHolyProphet(S)andbanishedhisprogeny from the field of competition by holding a secret meeting while the Holy Prophet (S)’sfamily were engaged in his funeral. A fair searcher may approach the fact by conceiving thatdivergenceandcontrastintheformsofthesenarrationsarefocusedonadefinitepoint,whichisthedescriptions,identity,divinestanding,lineage,ageandperiodofthosepromisedImams.ThismatterincitesdoubtfulnessofalltheformsofthenarrationsdependedbySunnireferencebooksofHadith.Ontheotherhand,itinvolvestheauthenticationoftheconcordantunanimousformsofthenarrationaccreditedbyShiitereferencebooksofHadith.Alltheseformshaveassertedthesamematter;thoseTwelveImamswillbehisprogeny,andmoredefinitely,theyare`Ali,al-Hasan,al-Husaynandninemenfromal-Husayn’soffspring.(I)TheTwelveImamsarenotNominatedAccordingtoMeansofElectionandHomageThisfactisindisputable;sincetheLordhaschosenthemforleadership,people’sobligationshould

be only to comply with them. Allah says, “And it behooves not a believing man and a believingwomanthattheyshouldhaveanychoiceintheirmatterwhenAllahandHisMessengerhavedecideda

matter.”Those Imamsacquire their legality from theLord—theAll-wise and theAll-awareofHisservants’good.Positively, theLord’schoice ismoreprosperousandobligatory thanHis servants’are.LiketheselectionofProphetsthathasnotnecessitatedelectionorhomage,theTwelveImamsareselectedbytheLordand,accordingly,toobeythemisadivineduty.Similarly,evenifpeopleignore,injure or kill a Prophet (S), this should never harm his being divinely chosen and obligatorilyconformed.People’sgeneralcompliancewithaProphet(S)isnomorethananacknowledgmentofthe obligatory obedience to him, which is divinely commissioned, and is a declaration ofcorrespondingtotheLord’sinstructions.Onthataccount,people’shomagetotheProphetsandtheirsuccessorsisaprocessofsubmission

and obligation to those persons’ right of adherence. People should confirm that right only. Theyneverconstitute it.This is themainreasonbeyondtheHolyProphet(S)’sorderingMuslimstopayhomage to him in themost important curve in his nation’s history so that hewould confirm theirobligatory obedience to him in good and bad, war and peace, and favorable and detrimentalcircumstances.For the same reason, theHolyProphet (S), having conveyed the divine commandment of `Ali’s

comingleadershipinGhadirKhumm,orderedtoestablishatentunderwhich`AliwouldreceiveallMuslimswhoshouldofferhimcongratulationsonthisdivineleadership,beforetheypayhomagetohim.The divine choice has fallen and it does not require a public consultancy or homage. It onlyrequiresadmissionandcongratulations.However,suchhomagewouldbeobligatoryuponpeopleiftheHoly Prophet (S) or `Ali asked them to do. For this cause, it is pointless to say that theHolyProphet (S)askedMuslimsonly tooffercongratulations,nothomage,since the issueof thedivinecommandment of nominating `Ali for the next leadership evacuated the public homage from itseffectivepowerand,inthesametime,restricteditsvaluetoadmittingandcommittingtothatdivinecommandmentwhenevertheHolyProphet(S)orhissuccessoraskedforit.Thegeneralruleinthisregardisthatpeoplemayhavetheoptiontochoosetheirleadersandrulers

-according to the boundaries of the Islamic legislation- only in case there is no previous divinecommandmentappertainedtothispoint.IncasetheLordhaselectedaleader,thenthewholematterissettled and none has the authority to change or alter. In other words, the choice of the publics ismeaningless unless they intend to philosophize before their Glorified Lord or oppose Hisinstructions.(J)TheNarration’sDedicationtoQurayshhasbeenThrownAwayby`UmarThereisanimportantnoticeinthisregard;`Umaribnal-Khattabwasthebearerofthesloganthat

the Holy Prophet (S)’s succession should be dedicated to Quraysh exclusively. In Saqifah, `UmardisputedAnsarthatpeopleofQuraysh,theHolyProphet(S)’stribe,weretheworthiestofholdinghisposition and authority. He aimed at intercepting Ansar, in whose land and hospitality MuslimQurayshiteslived,fromclaimingtheirbeingtheworthiestofholdingtheHolyProphet(S)’spositionand power since they were his supporters. By such a tribal disputation, `Umar took the round ofSaqifah,duetoAnsar ’sdiscorddespitetheheavyprotestationofSa`dibn`Abadah,theirchief.Itwas`Umarhimselfwhoabandonedand threwawaytheveryprinciple throughwhichhecould

obtaintheleadershipofMuslims.Inhisfinalhours,`UmarassertedthathewouldhavedeliveredtheleadershiptoSalim;thePersianslaveofAbu-Hudhayfah,hadthismanbeenalive!ThefollowingisquotedfromTarikhal-Madinah3/140:`Abdullah ibn Buraydah reported that people advised `Umar, while he was in his final hours, tonominate his successor. He said, ‘Had one of those two men been alive, I would have certainlydelivered him this positionwith quite tranquility and satisfaction—Abu-`Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah orSalimtheslaveofAbu-Hudhayfah!’[17]

`Umar thus opened the door to Abu-Hanifah and others to cancel the term that a leader of theIslamicState shouldbelong to the tribeofQuraysh.SaljukiansandMamluksused suchverdicts tocometopower.Fortheveryreason, theOttomansadoptedandpublicizedAbu-Hanifah’sschoolofjurisprudenceand,asaresult,namedthemselvesas‘caliphs’-successorsoftheHolyProphet(S)-.WahhabismandtheConditionofBelongingtoQurayshWe—the Shi`ah Imamiyyah[18] specify being one the Ahl al-Bayt as a term of holding the

leadershipof the IslamicState.Many authenticatedHadiths about thenames, aswell as number, ofthose leadershaveproven this term.Forus, the leadershipshouldbeprovedbyaDivine textonly.Hence,theTwelveImamsaretestifiedbytheHolyQur ’anandSunnah.SincethesealoftheImams,al-MahditheExpected,isnowabsent,yetbyappearanceonly,theleadershipofMuslimsinthisstageshould be determined by his commitment. The Imam’s representative should enjoy a number ofqualifications,suchasknowledge,justiceandothers.However, it isnotaconditionthat therepresentativebeingadescendantofQuraysh.Inthispoint

only,we agree practically, not hypothetically,with thosewho cancel the condition that a leader oftheUmmahshouldbelongtoQuraysh.Shi`ahZaydiyyah[19]donotdedicateImamatetothoseTwelveImams.theyextendittoincludeanyscholarbelonging,inlineage,toImam`AliandLadyFatimahal-Zahra`. They hence specify being a Qurayshite and Alawid as a term of holding the position ofleadershipoftheUmmah.AmongSunniMuslims,somescholarshaveagreedwithusonthispointdependinguponverdicts

of`UmarandAbu-Hanifah.Othernon-ArabSunnisaremorefanatictoQurayshthan`Umarhimself.TheyarethemastersofWahhabism,suchasal-Albaniwhodecidestheauthenticityofthenarrationreporting the condition that a leader of the Ummah must belong to Quraysh. He numbers thisnarrationas1552andcommentsonitin5/70:IfMuslimsarehonestenoughtoworkforrevivingthegloriesoftheIslamicState,theyshouldrepentto theirLordandkeepholdon their religionand follow the rulingsof theShari`ah.Among theserulings is the condition that a leader of the Ummah must belong to Quraysh. This condition isfamiliarlyunanimousinbooksofHadithandfiqh–Islamicjurisprudence-.In 3/7, he decides the authenticity of a report telling that it is obligatory for a leader of

theUmmahtobelongtoQuraysh.Henumbersthisreportas1006andthencomments:Theseauthenticnarrationsrefute,clearly,theclaimsoftheolddeviateparties,aswellasthepresentauthorsandIslamicpoliticians,who invalidate the termthata leaderof theUmmahmustbelong toQurayshandtheArabs.Moreover,aradicalscholar,inathesisentitled‘TheIslamicState’beginswithspecifyingtheterms

ofacaliph.HeignorestotallythetermthataleadermustbelongtoQurayshandtheArabsandthustakesnonoticeofallHadithsandverdictsthatauthenticallyemphasizeonthisterm.WhenIremindedhimofthisflaw,hejustsmiledandescapedanydiscussion.Iwonderifheisoneofthosepreviouslycitedorlackinganysubjectiveknowledgeinthisrespect.Atanyrate,eachwriterisrequiredtoseekthe right in his writings without being influenced by any political trend. A writer also shoulddisregardtheaccordancewiththepublics.Under number 1851, al-Albani decides the authenticity of another report telling that, ‘Caliphate

mustexclusivelybetopeopleofQuraysh,judiciarymustbetoAnsarandpropagationmustbetotheAbyssinians.’Accordingtothisverdict,theleadersoftheMuslimgovernmentsshouldbelongtoanyclanofQuraysh,andtheirministersshouldbethedescendantsofAnsarandtheministersofreligiousaffairs and information should be fromAfrica or, more specifically, from Ethiopia! The ‘musts’mentionedinthepreviousnarration,duetowhichal-Albaniissuestheverdictthatrulersmustbelongto Quraysh, treat the positions of leadership, ministration and propagations equally. Al-Albani,

however,misses the fact that jurisprudenceofanarration ismore important than thecontents.TheHoly Prophet (S) is too elevated to issue such illogic laws. This narration and its likes, ifauthenticated,revealsadefinitepreviousstageofIslam.Itisnotaperpetuallawatall.(K)ExegetesBlunderintheinterpretationoftheTwelveImamsTobehonest to theHadith, it is necessary to say that theseTwelve Imams should comedirectly

after theHolyProphet (S)’s decease.Thisnecessitation comes from theHolyProphet (S)’s phrase‘afterme.’However,theHadithdoesnotincludeanyindicationthatthoseTwelvewouldruleaftertheHolyProphet(S)directly;itonlyforetellsabouttheircoming,whetherleadersornot.Furthermore,the aforementioned forms of Jabir and IbnMas`ud’s narrations claim that those Imamswould bedisappointedandopposedbypeopleastheywouldbetakenawayfromtheirpositions.Thismatter,astextsdivulge,wouldnotinjurethem.Inal-Tabarani’sal-Mu`jamal-Kabir,thefollowingformsarecited:

‘For this nation, therewill beTwelveCustodianswhowill never be influenced by thosewhowillfrustratethem.’‘FromQuraysh, therewill beTwelveCustodianswhowill neverbe injuredby the enmityof theiropposites.’ThisinvolvesthatnothingstopsagainstapplyingtheseformstotheTwelveImamsoftheAhlal-

Bayt,eveniftheycouldnotcometopower.However,Imam`AliandImamal-Hasancouldcometopower.Eventually,Imamal-Mahdi;theExpected,willberuling,aspredictedbytheHolyProphet(S)—al-Mahdi’s forefather.Furthermore,manynarrationshavepredicted theevents to takeplaceafterthe ages of those Imams indicating that they would last for long ages. Some narrations havementioned that confusion, bafflement and hypocrisy, which would lead to general collapse oftheUmmah,wouldtakeplaceaftertheirages.Othershaveconfirmedthattheirageshouldlastaslongas this earth exists and that with their termination, the earth would founder with its creatures.HypothesesoftheextensionoftheImams’agetotheterminationofthisearthconfirmthepreviouspredictions,accordingtoanumberofShiitenarrations.Abu-Salahal-Halabi,inTaqribal-Maarif/173,relatesthefollowing:…Anas ibnMaliknarratedthat theHolyProphetstated,‘Thisreligionwillprevailas longas therewillbeTwelveMenfromQuraysh.Iftheypassaway,theearthwillperishwithitsinhabitants.’[20]This is also accordant to the narrations recorded in our reference books of Hadith regarding thespecialimportanceoftheexistenceoftheLord’sRepresentativesonthisearthinallages.Listentothefollowingreports:Al-Kafi;1/179and534:Abu-Hamzahnarratedthefollowing:IaskedAbu-`Abdullah[ImamJa`faral-Sadiq]iftheearthmightproceed to exist without the existence of one of the Imams. ‘If the earth may stand without theexistenceofoneoftheImams,itwillcertainlyperish,’answeredAbu-`Abdullah.Correspondingly, theHoly Prophet (S)’s aim beyond providing the question of the next Twelve

Imams in the most remarkable congruity of Muslims attending the Farewell Hajj was to attractpeople’sattentionstowardsthoseImams,hadtheyonlybeenluckyandfollowedthem!Furthermore,itismostlikelytorefertotheTwelveImamsoftheAhlal-BaytastheonlyonesintendedbytheHolyProphet(S)’sprediction.Anyotherreferenceisunacceptableformanyrefutingquestions.Al-Kinji,inYanabi`al-Mawaddah/446,recordsthefollowing:Anumberof scholarshavesaid that theHolyProphet (S)’spredictionof theTwelveSuccessors isprovedbynumerouswaysofrelation.Byidentifyingtheagesandinvestigatingtheplace, theHolyProphet(S)’spredictionreferstotheTwelveImamsofhishousehold.Itisimpracticabletorefertothe rulerswho came to power as being intended in the prediction, since their number is less than

twelve. In addition, it is impossible to refer to the Umayyad rulers because they were more thantwelveandtheywereexcessiveunjustandtyrantssaving`Umaribn`Abdal-Aziz.Besides,theywerenotHashimites.Accordingto`Abdal-Malik’snarration,whichisrelatedtoJabir, theHolyProphet(S)foretoldthatthoseImamswouldbelongtoHashim.The Holy Prophet (S)’s lowering his voice gives greater weight to this narration since the

UmayyadrulersweretooshorttoresembletheHashimitesinleadership.Atlength,itisimpracticabletoidentifythe`Abbasidkingsastherulersintended.Theirnumberexceedstwelve.Secondly,theydidnotrevereAlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘Say:Idonotaskofyouanyrewardforitbutloveformynearrelatives,’ and theHolyProphet (S)’sHadithofKisa` -the cloak-.Likewise, to refer to theTwelveImamsoftheAhlal-BaytastheintendedinthatPropheticpredictionis themostsuitablesincetheyhavebeen themostknowledgeable, themost religious, thegodliest and themostpious.Moreover,theyhavebeenofthebestlineageandthebestfamily.TheyarethemostfavorabletotheLord…TheHadithoftheTwoWeightyThingsaswellastheinnumerableHadithsregardingtheirmerits

support thismeaning. InNahjal-Balaghah, `Ali,Allahmayhonorhis face, says, ‘Whereare thosewhoclaimedbeingexclusivelyrootedinknowledge?It iswewhoarefirmlyrootedinknowledge.Theyclaimsuchafabricationduetotheirenvyingus,sinceAllahhasraisedusandhumiliatedthem,andendowedusandwithheldthem,andadmittedusanddismissedthem…Byus,theguidanceissoughtandbyus,blindnessisdischarged.Afterme,therewillcometoyou

anageduringwhichnothingwillbemorehiddenthantherightandnothingwillbemoreevidentthanthewrongandnothinggreaterthanforgingliesagainstAllahandHisMessenger.Forpeopleofthatage,therewillbenothingmoreslumpingthantheDivineBookwhenwritteninthemostappropriateform,andtherewillbenothingmoreprofitablethandistortingit.Inthelands,therewillbenothingmoreforbiddenthanthegoodandnothingmoreacceptablethanevil.Beitknowntoyouthatyouwillnotrealizetherightguidanceunlessyourealizeitsneglectersand

youwillnotkeepthecovenantoftheDivineBookunlessyourealizeitsviolatorsandyouwillnotadheretoitunlessyourealizeitsscorners.Therefore,lookforthatwithitsrealpeople.Theyarethelifeofknowledgeandthedeathofignorance.Itistheywhosewisdomtellsoftheirknowledge,whosesilencetellsoftheireloquenceandwhoseappearancetellsoftheirhidden.Theynevertransgressthereligion nor do they engage themselves in discrepancies about it.Among them, the religion is anincessant,honestwitnessandsilentandspeaking.’Unfortunately, majority of Sunni scholars have rejected this explanation and warned their

followers against being convincedbyShi`ah’s claiming that the intendedmen in theHolyProphet(S)’s prediction are theTwelve Imamsof his progeny.They confessbefore their partisans that theprediction is wholly authentic, but you should never accept Shi`ah’s explanation since we, Allahwilling, will find an authentic one day! Up to now, Sunnis could not provide any persuasiveexplanation to theHolyProphet (S)’sprediction.Theyattempted toapply theTwelve Imams to thecaliphswho ruled after theHolyProphet (S).They referred to the fourRashidite caliphs (namely,Abu-Bakr,`Umar,`Uthman,and`Ali),`Abdullahibnal-Zubayr,andseriesofkingsofthedescendantsofAbu-Sufyan,Marwanandthe`Abbasids…etc.Theymayrefer to theUmayyadrulerswhoruledAndalusia,Saljukians,MamluksandOttomans…etc.Whentheyfeelthatthenumberexceededtheintendedone,theyturntheirfacestowardshypotheses

andpickupthebestoftheUmayyadand`AbbasidcaliphsforgivingthemthecharacteristicsoftheHoly Imams.Theydecidesomenamesand rejectothers insuchapersonalwaypurposedonly forbefittingthenumberpredicted.Asotherscouldnotattainthenumberinvolved,theyclaimofcomingrulers.Mostsurely,suchapplicationswouldneverstoporrelyuponaground,andtoadoptthemisimpossiblebecauseitistrivialtohavethecompetencyofchoosingtwelveleadersamongtensandtoclaimtheirbeinggodlyleadersselectedbytheExaltedLordandpredictedbytheHolyProphet(S).

Forthefollowingreasons,Sunnischolarsshouldhavenotbornsuchanunattainabletask:First,inviewofthefactthatthosepromisedHolyImamsareselectedbytheLord,theyshouldbe

havingthesamepathandgoal.TheyshouldleadtothesamepathsupportedbytheguidanceoftheLordandHisMessenger.TheleaderschosenbySunnischolarsweresodiscordantthattheyfoughteachother.ItiscompletelyimpossibleforProphetsordivinelyselectedleaderstofighteachotherortoassail,ruleofaberranceoratheism,slayorcutthelimbsofeachother.AviewatthehistoryofthestruggleforpowerbetweentheUmayyadandthe`AbbasidrulersrefutestheSunnipresuppositions.Second, Sunni scholars have to ascribe some qualities to the rulers, while those rulers did not

ascribesuchqualities to themselves. Inotherwords,noneof therulerswhomSunnischolars listedunderthetitleofbeingintendedbytheHolyProphet(S)’spredictionhaveeverclaimedbeingholyordivinely selected for leadership.Hadanyof thembeenaholy Imamand selectedby theLord as arepresentative or ruler, they themselveswould have referred to this elevated standing for, at least,havingprideinit.Itisimpossibleforanyonetobeholyandselectedwhilehedoesnotknow!NoneofthosecaliphsclaimedbeingselectedbytheLord,whiletheImamsoftheAhlal-Baythavealwaysconfirmedthattheyareholyanddivinelyselected.Third,wehavealreadyreferredtothepointthattheHolyProphet(S)didnotmentionthatthose

Imamsshould ruleorcome topowerafterhim.Therefore, it isunnecessary forSunni scholars tocommit themselves to opting for theTwelve Promised Imams from among the rulers only.Beingboundbyanunnecessaryquestionwillleadtoengagementinanunanswerablematter.Fourth, most of those recorded in the list of the divinely selected –and predicted- Imams are

actuallyaccursedbytheHolyProphet(S).HowisitthenadmissiblefortheLordtoberepresentedbyindividualsthatHisMessengeraccursedonmanyoccasions?Similarly,howisitacceptablefortheExaltedLordtocurseindividualsanddismissthemfromHismercy,fortheirwickedness,andthenHe selects themor their sons as holy Imamswhosemission is to guideHis servants and ruleHislands?InSunnireferencebooksofHadith,itisauthenticallynarratedthattheHolyProphet(S)cursedal-

Hakamandhisson,Marwan,andbanished themoutofal-Madinahuntil the reignof `Uthmanwhoviolated theHolyProphet (S)’sdecision. It is also recorded that theHolyProphet (S) cursedAbu-Sufyanandhistwosonswhenhesawthemdrivingacamel.[21]Infact,thisisalongmaterialfullofwitnesses and evidences.Yet, the partisans of theUmayyadState cannot stand it and, therefore,wewouldbetterleaveit.Forthepreviousreasons,SunnischolarshadmorethanthirtycontrarysayingsabouttheidentificationoftheTwelveHolyImamspredictedbytheHolyProphet(S).Itseemsthattheforemost saying in this regard is that of Abu-Hatam ibn Habban, which is recorded in `Awn al-Ma`bud fiSharhSunanAbiDawud11/361.ThisUmayyadscholar is repealedby the scholarswhohaveworshippedthe`AbbasidState.Theyhaveaddedsomeofthe`AbbasidcaliphstothePromisedImamsanddeletedsome,ifnotall,

oftheUmayyadrulers.Thissayingnoticeablyerasesthenameofal-MahdifromthelistwhileheispromisedbymanyHadithsauthenticatedbySunnischolarsthemselves.Besides,al-MahdiisincludedintheHolyProphet(S)’sfamoussaying,‘Afterme,therewillcomeTwelveImams.’Theyhavealsoerased the name of Imam al-Hasan who ruled for six months and allMuslims, except the Syrianpeople, paid homage to him. The later scholars, however, have added his name to the list of theTwelveImams.Since theHolyProphet said that al-Hasan and al-Husaynhave been Imamswhether theydeclare

jihadorchoosepeace,thosescholarsshouldhaveaddedtheirnamestothelist.Ontheotherhand,ibnHabban’s supposition adds the name ofYazid ibnMuawiyah in the list and considers him as holyImamaboutwhomtheHolyProphet(S)foretold!ThisstandingisnotexpectedbyYazidhimselforeven his sane adorerswho, incessantly, have spared no effort to prove his beingMuslim and not

apostate, though he himself confessed of apostasy onmany occasions. They have also exerted alleffortstoconvincepeoplethatYazidwasnotdeviant,sincehehadcommittedthoseawfulcrimesatKarbala`, abused al-Madinah and its people and gave orders to demolish the Ka`bah—the SacredHouseofAllah.TheyhavealsoincludedthenameofMuawiyahibnYazid(MuawiyahII)whomwasgiventheleadershipafterhisfather.Thismanaddressedonlyauniquesermoninwhichheacquittedhimselffromtheevildoingsofhis

father and grandfather and declared that leadership had been a legal right of Imam `Ali, and thatMuawiyahhadwrongedhimandusurpedhisright.Finally,hedeclaredabdicationand,asaresult,theUmayyadindividualsassassinatedhim.HadthismanrealizedhisbeingoneoftheTwelvePromisedImams,hewouldnothaveabdicatedpowerandexposedhimselftobeassassinatedbyhisthetyrantroyalfamily.Likewise,thissuppositioniscontrarytoSafinah’snarrationaboutrestrictingtheHolyProphet (S)’s succession (i.e. caliphate) to thirtyyears thatwouldbe followedbydespotkingships.Scholarshaveauthenticatedthisnarration.Tofollowupthescholars’wordsaboutthisHadithtakesverymuch time;yet, the similarityof theirwordsmakes it easier.Allof theirwords, in fact,havebeen going round the pivot of the pro-Umayyad interpretation.The following aremodels of theirwordsandanswers:Al-Suyuti’sTarikhal-Khulafa`/10:`Ayyadthejudgesays:Probably,theTwelveMenmentionedinHadithsareonlythoseduringwhosereignsauthorityhasbeenwellpreserved,Islamwellprotectedandcongruitywellkept.Hence,theseaffairswereachieveduntilthedisorderandseditionthattookplaceinthereignofal-WalidibnYazidthatcontinuedtotherevolutionofthe`AbbasidswhokilledtheUmayyads.IbnHajarcomments:Thewordsof`Ayyadarethebestandthemostpreferableinthisregard.Theyare supported by theHoly Prophet (S)’s saying, ‘All –of those TwelveMen-will be unanimouslyadmittedbypeople.’Thisnarrationisrelatedtosomeauthenticseriesofnarrators.(Al-Suyuticomments)Accordingly,theTwelveSuccessorsareidentified—thefourRashiditecaliphs,al-Hasan, Muawiyah, `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, and `Umar ibn `Abd al-Aziz. These are eight.Probably,al-Muhtadi,thejust`Abbasidcaliph,isincludedsincehewasassameas`Umaribn`Abdal-`Aziz.ThetwoExpectedmenremain.Oneofthemisal-Mahdi,theoffspringofMuhammad.Al-SuyutiandibnHajarhavedependeduponthestatement,‘Allwillbeunanimouslyadmittedby

people,’thoughitisadditionalandunprovenremark.Al-AlbanitheWahhabistandmanyothershavedecidedthestatementasdoubtful.Besides,theyhaveviolatedSafinah’snarration,whichiscompletelyauthenticintheirview.Inthisnarration,theHolyProphet(S)definestheperiodofthirtyyearsashissuccession.Accordingly,elevenrulersinaperiodofthirtyyearswillbetherequiredandtheprocessof selecting among the Umayyad and the `Abbasid rulers will be void. Furthermore, al-Suyuti’sreference to thewords of Ibn `Ayyad and IbnHajar have been not accurate. IbnHajar ’swords inwhichhenamedthefirsttwelveUmayyadrulersastheholyImamshavebeenneglected.‘TheTwelfthoneisal-WalidibnYazidibn`Abdal-Malik,’ibnHajardecides.Meanwhile,al-SuyutistopsateightUmayyadrulersonlyandaddstwo`Abbasidones.Theerrorscommittedbyal-SuyutiinthefieldofhisdishonestexcerptofibnHajar ’swordsareevidentlyshowninthefollowingsectionsquotedfromFathal-Bari:IbnBattal,ontheauthorityofibnal-Muhallab,says:No single scholar could ever give a definite opinion in this regard. Some scholars however haveclaimedthat theTwelvePromisedSuccessorswouldcomeinsuccessionwhileothershaveclaimedthat theywouldbe in thesametime,eachproclaiming leadership.Themostacceptedsaying in thisregardisthattheHolyProphet(S)onlywantedtorefertothecomingvicissitudeswhenpeoplewouldfollowtwelvemen,eachclaimingleadership,inthesametime.SupportingthissuppositionisthattheHolyProphet(S)didnotmentionanyofthesetwelveleaders’actions.

[IbnHajar commenting]Thepreviouswords show that thewriterhas ignored thevariouswaysofnarration and stopped on the briefed form recorded in al-Bukhari’s (al-Sahih).We have formerlyreferredtothedifferentformsofthenarrationasrecordedbyMuslimandothers,inwhichitissaidthat Islamwouldbefortifiedandmighty. Inotherforms, it issaid thatpeople,unanimously,wouldobeythosesuccessors.Abu-DawudrecordsthefollowingonauthorityofJabiribnSamarah:(TheHolyProphetsaid)‘ThisreligionwillbeperpetuallykeptuntiltheendoftherulingofTwelveLeaderswhomwillbefollowedbypeopleunanimously.’[IbnHajarcommenting]al-Tabaranirecordsthisform,too,andrelatesittoal-AswadibnSa`idontheauthority of Jabir ibn Samarah, with the following addition: ‘They will not be injured by themalicious ones.’ `Ayyad summarizes this perplexity. Two questions are arisen from the numberdefinedintheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying:First, the saying is contradicted by the extrinsic meaning of Safinah’s narration admitted andauthenticatedbygrandHadithists,suchasIbnHabbanandothers.Thenarrationsays,‘Forthirtyyearsafterme,therewillbemysuccession.Itwillbefollowedbymonarchy.’ThesethirtyyearswereruledbythefourRashiditecaliphsandal-Hasanibn`Ali.Second,morethantwelverulerscametopoweraftertheHolyProphet(S).Asananswertothefirstquestion,itmaybesaidthatthesuccessionintendedinSafinah’snarrationistheHolyProphet(S)’s,whileinJabiribnSamarah’snarration,thisisnotproposed.Aboutthesecond,theHolyProphet(S)’sformdoesnotstandoutagainstthefactthatmorethantwelvemenwouldberuling,sincethenumbermentionedleadstopeculiarityofpersons,lesttheintendedonesarethejustrulers who are the worthiest of this position. Four of them have passed away. The others willindisputablycomebeforetheJudgmentDay.OtherformssaythatthoseTwelvewillcomeandeachwillbefollowedbyagroupofpeople.ThisthingtookplaceinAndalusiainthefifthcentury(afterHijra)when sixmen, each claimed leadership, rose in the same time and,meanwhile, the ruler ofEgypt, the `Abbasid ruler inBaghdad, the other `Alawid andKharijite leaders—allwere claimingleadershipoftheUmmah.Thisexplanation isalsosupportedbyMuslim’snarration, ‘Therewillbenumerousleaders.’Atany rate, it isprobable that theTwelveOnes intendedwould rule in thegoldenperiodof Islam.ThismeaningissupportedbysomeformsoftheHadith,suchas,‘Allwillbeunanimouslyfollowedbypeople.’Uptoal-WalidibnYazid’sreignwhenpeoplewereengagedinseditiousmatters,peoplefollowed the caliphsunanimously.Thedisorder however lasteduntil the `Abbasids came topowerandmassacredtheUmayyadsand,correspondingly,thenumberwasattained.Afterall,thereareotherprobabilities.[IbnHajar]Al-Muhallaboptsforthesecondprobability—theTwelveRulerswouldcomeatthesametime. Previously, we have answered this question. Their coming in the same time is sufficientlyenough to prove their animosity; therefore, their unanimity would not be active. The followingnarrationopposesAbu-Dawud’sinaccuracy:Ahmadandal-BazzarrelatethefollowingontheauthorityofibnMas`ud:WeaskedtheHolyProphet(S)aboutthenumberofhissuccessors,andheanswered,‘Theywillbetwelve,justliketheIsraeliteleaders.’[ThisisaqualifiedHadithwitharatherdoubtfulnarrator.]InKashfal-Mushkil,Ibnal-Jawzisays:‘Isparednoeffortstoscrutinizethisvarious-formedHadith,but,unfortunately,Icouldnotattainaconvincinganswer.Undoubtedly,thenarratorshavecausedthisconfusion.Lateron, I noticedal-Khattabi refer to anopinion that I have recentlydecided.Besides,Abual-Hasanibnal-Munadiandothershadtheirownopinions.’ThisreferstotheincidentsthattookplaceafterthereignoftheHolyProphet(S)andhiscompanions,sincebothareinterrelated.ThisisasignaltothenumberoftheUmayyadcaliphs.Thisisthemeaning

ofhissaying,‘ThisreligionwillbekeptfortifieduntiltheendoftherulingofTwelveSuccessors.’Then,hemovestoamorerigorouscharacteristic.TheUmayyadsbeginwithYazidibnMuawiyahandendwithMarwanal-Himar(thedonkey).Theyarethirteen.`Uthman,MuawiyahandIbnal-ZubayrareomittedsincetheywereSahabah.Marwanibnal-HakamisalsoomittedsinceitisdoubtfulwhetherhewasSahabahornot,orsinceheovercameafterpeople had been unanimously following `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr. On that account, the number isconcordant.As theUmayyads lost their control over power, seditiousmatters andmassacres tookplaceuntilthe`Abbasidscouldrule.Thus,mannerscameintoanewstage.Thisopinionissupportedby thenarration recordedbyAbu-Dawudand related to IbnMas`ud: ‘Thehand-millsof Islamwillcomearoundforthirtyfive-orsixorseven-years.Ifpeopleperish,theywillpursuetheirformers.Iftheir religion is constituted, this will last for no more than seven years.’[22] This opinion isrepudiatedbythefactthatthestabilityoftheUmayyadreignlastedformorethanninetyyears,sinceitbeganinAH41whenMuawiyahcametopowerunanimouslyuntil thebeginningsofAH132whenMarwanibnMuhammadwasassassinated.Inthevolume(ofhisbook)inwhichhecompilesreportsregardingal-Mahdi,Abual-Husaynibnal-Munadi supposes that theTwelve Imamswouldcomeafter the rulingofal-Mahdi.Headds, ‘In thebookofProphet (S)Daniel, Icould find the following:Whenal-Mahdiwillbedeceased, fivemenfrom the offspring of the elder grandsonwill rule after him.Theywill be succeededby fivemenfromtheoffspringoftheyoungergrandson.Theirlastwillnominateamanfromtheoffspringoftheeldergrandsonashis successor.Hissonwillcome topowerafterhim.Theywillbe twelvekings,eachal-Mahdi.’Abu-Salihrelatesthefollowingnarrationtoibn`Abbas:‘Al-Mahdi’snameisMuhammadibn`Abdullah.Hewillbeagiantreddishman.Byhim,AllahwillrelieveeverymisfortunefromthisUmmah.Hisjusticewilldismisseverywrong.Afterhim,twelvemenwillrule;sixfromal-Hasan’soffspringandfivefromal-Husayn’s.Thelastwillbefromanotherlineage.Whenheisdeceased,matterswillbecorrupted.’Ka`bal-Ahbarsays,“TherewillbeTwelveMahdis.Afterwards, theSpiritofAllah(i.e.Prophet(S)Jesus)willdescendtokilltheAnti-Mahdi.”[23]AnotherprobabilityisthattheintendedonesaretwelvejustrulerswhowillcomealongtheperiodofIslam, nomatter their reignswill be successive or not. This opinion is supported byAbu’l-Jald’snarrationrelatedbyAbu-BahrandrecordedinMusaddad’sal-Musnadal-Kabir:“ThisUmmahwillnotbeperishedbeforetherulingofTwelveSuccessorswhowillactbytheDivineguidanceandtherightbelief.Twoof themwillbefromMuhammad’shousehold,onewill liveforfortyyearswhiletheotherforthirty.”Likewise, the disorder intended to prevail thereafter is the incidents to precede the JudgmentDay,suchas thecomingof theAnti-MahdiandGogandMagoguntil theendof thisworld.ThesehavebeenthewordsofIbnal-Jawziinbrief.(IbnHajar states) The first and last opinions have been previously discussed by `Ayyad, though itseemsthatIbnal-Jawzihasnotreviewedthem.Fromthepreviousdiscussion,anumberofopinionscanbenoticed.Thethird,however,isthemostacceptablesinceitissupportedbytheauthenticformsofthenarrationcontainingthephrase,‘Allwillbeunanimouslyfollowedbypeople.’Unanimity,inthepreviousphrase,meansthateverybodywouldsubmittotheleadershipofthoseTwelveImams.People,infact,obeyedtheleadershipofAbu-Bakr,`Umar, `Uthman and `Ali respectively, until the incident of the two arbiters in Siffin. As a result,Muawiyahwasnominatedasthecaliph.Afterthearmisticeofal-Hasan,peoplefollowedMuawiyah.They followedYazid afterwards.Al-Husayn could not attain leadership since hewas killed beforethat.AfterYazid,disorderemergedandlasteduntiltheassassinationofIbnal-Zubayrandtherulingof`Abdal-MalikibnMarwan.Hisfoursons(namely,al-Walid,Sulayman,YazidandHusham)were

followedbypeopleunanimously.`Umaribn`Abdal-AzizcouldcometopowerafterSulaymanandbeforeYazid. Those are seven rulers after the four Rashidite Caliphs. The twelfth is al-Walid ibnYazid ibn `Abd al-Malikwhowasunanimously followedbypeople after the death ofHusham, hisuncle. He ruled for about four years. Then, peoplemutinied and killed him. Since then, seditiousmatterscameforth.Peopledidnotfollowasinglecaliphafterthat.Yazidibnal-Walidwhorebelledagainst al-Walid ibn Yazid could not control leadership for a considerable time. Marwan ibnMuhammad ibn Marwan revolted against Yazid. Ibrahim, who came to power after Yazid, wasdefeatedbyMarwan.finally,the`AbbasidsrevoltedandcouldkillMarwan.InadditiontothegreatnumberofthegroupswhomutiniedagainstAbu’l-`Abbasal-Saffahthefirst`Abbasidcaliph,hecouldnotcontrolpowerfor long.Al-Mansur,hisbrother,graspedpowerforalongtimedespitethathelostthefurthestwestofhiskingdomasitwascontrolledbytheoffspringofMarwaninAndalusia.Theycontrolledtheseterritoriesuntiltheywereformallynominatedascaliphs.Thiswasfollowedbyadisorderalloverthekingdomwhenthecaliphbecamenomorethananamein some territories. This is quite opposite to the reign of `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan when hecontrolledallthelandsconqueredbyMuslims.Alookattheirhistoryprovesthesefacts.Induecourse, thedisorder intended in theHadith stands for themassacres committeddue to theseseditiousincidentsand,unfortunately,wereincreasing.Al-Husayn ibn al-Munadi’s opinion is, indeed, not that clear since it is opposite to al-Tabarani’sfollowingnarrationrelatedtoQaysibnJabiral-Sudafiontheauthorityofhisfather:“Afterme,therewillbesuccessorsfollowedbyrulers.Thoserulerswillbefollowedbykingswhomwillbefollowedbytyrants.Thereafter,amanfrommyhouseholdwillapproach.Hewillfillinthelandswithjusticeastheywerefilledinwithinequity.Then,sonofQahtanwillbegiventheorders.IswearbyHimWhosentmewiththerightthathewillnotbelessthanhim.”This narration refutes Ibn al-Munadi’s narration quoted from the Book of Prophet (S) Daniel.Likewise,Abu-SalihandKa`b’sopinionsareextremelyuntrue.Themostappropriatematterinthisregardistoconsidertheactualmeaningof‘after ’mentionedintheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying:“Afterme,therewillbeTwelveSuccessors.”Thus,alltherulerswhosucceededtheHolyProphet(S)werefourteen,beginningwithal-Siddiq(i.e.Abu-Bakr)andendingwith `Umar ibn `Abd al-Aziz. Two of themwere of illegal leadership and short reign. TheywereMuawiyahibnYazidandMarwanibnal-Hakam.Theothersweretwelve,astheHolyProphet(S)hadpredicted. `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz died in AH 101. After him, the affairs of the Ummah wereconfused.Hence,thefirstcentury,whichwasthebest,cametoitsend.TheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,‘Theywillbeunanimouslyfollowedbypeople,’doesnotcontrovertthisopinion,since it fits themajority.Excludingal-Hasanibn`Aliand`Abdullahibnal-Zubayr,allthecaliphsmet thesequalifications.The leadershipof these twomenwas legal.Theworthiness(ofleadership)ofthosewhodissentedthemwasstillinvaliduntilal-Hasandelivereditand`Abdullahibnal-Zubayrwasassassinated.Allah,however,isthemostknowledgeable.Almost,theaffairsoftheStatewerenormalduringthereignsofthesetwelveleadersdespitethefactthatsomeirregularincidentshadoccurred.Theseirregularincidents,however,arerareifmeasuredtothenormal.Ibn Habban, discussing the meaning of the narration that ‘The handmills of Islam will comearound…,’ states: “The narration refers to the Umayyads’ leadership. The first point at which theUmayyadsgrasped the leadershipofMuslimswasduringMuawiyah’smutinyagainst `Ali inSiffinandthearrangementsofthearbitration.Sincethen,theUmayyadscametopowerforseventyyears.InAH106,thefirstwavesofthe`AbbasidsappearedinKhurasan…IbnHabbandiscussesthispointinsuchfurtherdetailsthathecommittedmanyerrors.First,heclaimstheoccurrenceofthearbitrationin the last days ofAH36.This is unlikewhat historians have agreed upon. In fact, the arbitration

occurredafewmonthsaftertheBattleofSiffin.ThatwasinAH37…etc.Fromtheabove,wecanobviouslynoticethatIbnHajaroptsforanopiniondifferentfromthatal-

Suyutiascribedtohim.Therewith,weshouldunderstandthatal-SuyutihadnotreadallthewordsofIbnHajar;orweshoulddecidethatal-Suyutihadforgedlies.Wehavealsonoticedtheperplexityandgreat number of contrary probabilities they have shown during discussing theHoly Prophet (S)’swords about theTwelve comingSuccessors.Mostof themhavebetaken the addition, ‘theywill beunanimously followed by people,’ as an axis for their discussions. This addition, however, is notauthentic.Agooddealofscholarsdeniedit. `Ayyaddecidesnothing.Heuses theidioms‘it issaid’and‘itisprobable’inreferringtothedifferentprobabilitiesofinterpretingtheHadith.IbnHajaroptsforthethirdprobability.Hesays,‘Thethirdprobabilitydiscussedby`Ayyadisthemostacceptable…’Inabstract,scholarshaveledthereaderstonowherewhiletheyhavedonetheirbeststoexplainthe

Prophet(S)’sprediction,whichis,forthem,authenticandcarryingthegoodtidingsoftheadventoftwelveholyImams,guidesandcustodiansinthisnation.Theyhavealsoinsistedonsuitingthesayingto the Umayyad rulers, mixing it to an additional inauthentic and doubtful statement. Besides, theadditionismeaninglessandfarawayfromtheHolyProphet(S)’srhetoric.Formoreexampleson theirmisguidance infindinganacceptableexegesisfor theHolyProphet

(S)’sprediction,readerscankindlynoticethebookentitled`Awnal-Ma`bud11/362-4.SomescholarshavestatedthatfouroftheTwelveSuccessorspassedaway.BeforetheJudgmentDay,thenumberwillbeperfected.OthershaveclaimedthatthoseTwelveImamswouldcomeinthesametimeandthateachwouldbefollowedbyagroupofpeople.Al-Turbashtistatesthattheonlywaytointerpret this prediction and its likes is to consider the just leaders only, since those are the onlypersonswhodeserve tobenamedascaliphs. It isnotnecessary for them tobe successive, lest themetaphorical meaning should be taken in consideration. The previous words are quoted from al-Mirqat.InQurratal-`AynaynfiTafdilal-Shaykhayn,Waliyullah,amasterscholar,records:Aperplexityoccurredduringexplaining theHolyProphet (S)’s saying, ‘This religionwillbekepttriumpheduntilAlmightyAllahconveysTwelveSuccessorsfromQuraysh.’TheproblemisthatthesayingisconcordanttotheTwelvers[24]whodecideTwelveImamsastheirleaders.Indisputably,theHolyProphet(S)’swordsaresimilartotheQur ’anictextsthatinterpreteachother.IbnMas`ud,authentically,narrates,‘ThehandmillsofIslamwillbecomingaroundforthirtyfive-orsixorseven-years. Ifpeopleperish, theywillpursue their formers. If their religion isconstituted,thiswilllastfornomorethansevenyears.’Manymistakeshavebeencommittedduringexplaining thisPropheticsaying.Thefollowing isourinferentialconclusion:This period begins with the second year of Hijra, which is the year of jihad. Accordingly, hisprediction came true. In the thirty-fifth years of jihad, `Uthman’s assassination befell andMuslimswere engaged in discrepancies. Allah the Exalted arrangedMuslims’ affairs afterwards and jihadcontinueduntilthecomingofthe`AbbasidStateandtheeradicationoftheUmayyads…Once,theHolyProphet(S)foretellsaboutthesuccessionoftheprophecy,hededicatesthirtyyears.The next years are named ‘despoticmonarchy.’ Oncemore, he foretells about his succession andnamesit‘theTwelveSuccessors’…Forattainingtheresultinthisquestion,itisadvisabletoconsiderMuawiyah,`Abdal-Malik,hisfoursons, `Umar ibn `Abd al-Aziz and al-Walid ibn Yazid ibn `Abd al-Malik after the four Rashiditecaliph.ItissaidthatMalik;themasterscholar,considers`Abdullahibnal-Zubayrasworthierofleadershipthanothers.Wehaveourownopinioninthisconcern.`Umaribnal-Khattaband`UthmanibnAffan(Allah please them)mentioned that `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr ’s revolution and violation against the

HolyPrecinctshouldbeoneofthecatastrophesintheUmmah.AhmadreportsthissayingfromQaysibnAbi-Hazim:As`Abdullahibnal-Zubayrasked`Umaribnal-Khattab’spermittinghimtoparticipateinthebattle,the lattersaid,“Sit inyourhouse!Youhaveparticipated in theHolyProphet (S)’scampaigns.”But`Abdullahinsisteduntil`Umarsaid,“Youshouldkeepyourselfinyourhouse!ByAllahIswear,Iseecoming that your companions and you revolt in the boarders of al-Madinah and you will injureMuhammad’scompanions.”Thisnarrationisrecordedbyal-Hakim.WecanconceivethattheBattleoftheCamelisnotintendedin`Umar ’ssayingsincehesignified‘intheboardersofal-Madinah.’Thisverymeaningwas clarified in `Ali’swords addressed in the storyof the answerof al-Hasan.Hence,hecouldnotmanagetheaffairsofthestate.For the unsettlement of his reign and his illmanners,Yazid ibnMuawiyah cannot be added to theTwelveSuccessors.DespitethefactthattheauthorofQurratal-`AynaynconfessesthattheUmayyadreignwasdespotic

monarchy and their state was not the Holy Prophet (S)’s succession, he gives them a role in hisinterpretation of the saying. He applies the prediction of the Twelve Holy Imams who are divinecustodiansontheUmmahtotheUmayyadtyrants.Secondly,heerasesthenamesofal-Hasanibn`Aliand al-Mahdi from the list. He also erases the name of `Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr whileMalik, themasterscholar,andothershaveregisteredhim.At any rate, the man criticizes those who committed mistakes in interpreting the Hadith. As he

promisespeopletosolvetheproblem,hemakesitworse!Hereinafter,wequoteibnKathir ’swordsasrecordedinal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/248:The Twelve expected Successors who will be from Quraysh are not those claimed by Rafidites.[25]Exceptfor`AliibnAbi-Talibandal-Hasan,noneofthoserulerscouldattainMuslims’homage.Thelastofthemis,astheyclaim,al-MahditheExpectedwhoishidinginavaultinSamarra`.Hehasneitherexistencenortracenorpace.Infact,theTwelvepredictedSuccessorsarethefourImams;Abu-Bakr,`Umar,`Uthmanand`Aliand`Umaribn`Abdal-Azizonwhomthetwopartiesofscholarsagree.Probably, IbnKathir aims at the two opinions about the consecutive ruling of those successors.

However,eachpartyhasmanyopinionsandhehasreferredtosomeofthem.Thereafter,hereferstotheprobabilitiesandfocuseslightsonal-Bayhaqi’sdiscussionsinthisregard.Al-Bayhaqi, supported by a group of scholars, adopts the opinion that the Twelve Successors arethosewhosuccessivelycametopoweraftertheHolyProphet(S).Theirsealisal-WalidibnYazidibn`Abdal-Malikthevillainouswhosebadmannershavebeenalreadydiscussed.Thisisproblematic.Todiscussit,weshouldsaythattherulingofthefirstfourcaliphs;Abu-Bakr,`Umar,`Uthmanand`AliareundiscussibleonaccountofSafinah’snarration,“Mysuccessionwilllastforthirtyyears.”Afterthem comes al-Hasan ibn `Aliwho nominated him as his successor. People of Iraq declared theirloyaltytohimandaccompaniedhiminthefightingagainstpeopleofSyriauntilhesignedthetrucewithMuawiyah.TheseincidentsareprovenbythenarrationofAbu-Bakrahinal-Bukhari’sal-Sahih.Muawiyahcomesnext.Yazid ibnMuawiyah,Muawiyah ibnYazid,Marwan ibnal-Hakam, `Abdal-MalikibnMarwanandal-Walidibn`Abdal-Malikcomenextsuccessively.Thesearefifteenpersons.Finallycomesal-WalidibnYazidibn`Abdal-Malik.Supposing`Abdullahibnal-Zubayr ’speriodofrulingbefore`Abdal-Malikisconsidered,theywillbesixteenpersons.Anyhow,before`Umaribn`Abdal-Aziz,theyaretwelve.Accordingly,YazidibnMuawiyahisaddedand`Umaristakenout.AllMuslims, includingRafidites,agreeon thefact that `Umar ibn`Abdal-Aziz’s reignwas thebest injustice.TheypraisedhimeminentlyandaddedhimtotheRashiditecaliphs.Providingtheleadersfollowedbypeopleunanimouslyareconsidered,`AliibnAbi-Talibandhisson

shouldbetakenout.TheSyrianrefusedtopayhomagetothesetwomen.Similarly,Muawiyah,YazidibnMuawiyah,MuawiyahibnYazid,Marwanand`Abdullahibnal-Zubayrshouldnotbeconsideredfor thesamereason.On thataccount,Abu-Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman,Muawiyah,Yazid ibnMuawiyah,`Abdal-Malik,al-WalidibnSulayman,`Umaribn`Abdal-Aziz,YazidandHushamshouldbeadded.These are ten. They are followed by al-Walid ibnYazid ibn `Abd al-Malik the villainous. This ishoweverunacceptablesinceitleadstotaking`Aliandal-Hasan,hisson,outofthosetwelvepredictedsuccessorssinceitiscontrarytoSunniaswellasShiitetexts.Furthermore,itiscontrarytoSafinah’snarration,“Forthirtyyearsafterme,therewillbemysuccession.Itwillbefollowedbymonarchy.”Safinah, besides,mentions in detail these thirty years. He defines the reigns of the four Rashiditecaliphs.Thesix-monthperiodofal-Hasan’sreignisconsidered,too.Afterthat,Muawiyahbeganthemonarchywhenal-Hasan ibn `Alidelivered the leadership tohim.Thisnarrationconfirms the factthatMuawiyah should not be described as caliph and that caliphatewas sealed after the thirty yearperiod. This does not deny the existence of the Rashidite caliphs thereafter. Jabir ibn Samarah’snarrationtestifiesthisfact.…Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman stated, “After `Uthman, there will be twelve kings from the sons ofUmayyah.”“Theyarecaliphs,aretheynot?”theyasked.“No,theyarekings,”answeredHudhayfah.…Abu’l-Jaldstates,“ThisUmmahwillnotbeperishedbeforetherulingofTwelveSuccessorswhowill act by the divine guidance and the right belief. Two of them will be from the household ofMuhammad,onelivingforfortyyearswhiletheotherforthirty.”Al-BayhaqithenrefutesAbu’l-Jald’swordsinunacceptablewayandwords.Thisisstrangefromal-Bayhaqi.AgooddealofscholarsagreeswithAbu’l-Jald.Hissayingseemstobethemostpreferableamongouropinions.Themanwaswonttoreadtheancientbooks.ThemeaninghasbeenrecordedintheTorah:“AllahtheExaltedforetoldAbrahamaboutthebirthofIshmael.HeforetoldthatHewouldgrowandincreasehisprogenyandwouldchoosetwelvegreatpersonsfromhisoffspring.”[26]IbnKathirreferstowhatisinscribedintherealTorah:17:18AndAbrahamsaidtoAlmightyAllah,OhthatIshmaelmightlivebeforethee!17:19AndAlmightyAllah said,Sarah thywifewill indeedbear theea son; and thou shalt callhisnameIsaac;andIwillestablishmycovenantwithhim,foraneverlastingcovenantforhisseedafterhim.17:20AndforIshmaelIhaveheardthee:behold,Iwillblesshim,andwillmakehimfruitful,andwillverygreatlymultiplyhim;twelveprinceswillhebeget,andIwillmakehimagreatnation.17:21ButmycovenantwillIestablishwithIsaac,whomSarahwillbeartotheeatthisappointedtimeinthenextyear.Instead of ‘chief,’ Ka`b al-Ahbar translated the word into ‘custodian.’ Others translated it into

‘Imams.’Hence,thetextisintheTorah,Sunni’sbooksandShi`ah’sbooks.ItsupportsthegoodtidingsofourProphet(S).Atanyrate,itdoesnotsettletheproblemofSunniexegetes.Onthecontrary,itmakesitmorecomplicated.Ibn al-`Arabi, theMalikite, died in AH 543, is regarded as the smartest and fairest among Sunniexegetes.In`Aridatal-AhwadhifiSharhSahihal-Tirmidhi,headmitsthatanyapplicationoftheHolyProphet (S)’sprediction takes toadead-endway.Hence,heconfesses that theremusthavebeenanadditiontothesayingsincethepresenttextismeaningless.JabiribnSamarahnarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,“Afterme,therewillcometwelveprinces;allwillbe fromQuraysh.”This isanauthenticHadith.Asweconsider the leaderswhoruledafter theHoly Prophet (S), we find the following: Abu-Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, `Ali, al-Hasan, Muawiyah,Yazid,MuawiyahibnYazid,Marwan,`Abdal-Malik,MarwanibnMuhammadibnMarwan,al-Saffah,al-Mansur, al-Mahdi, al-Hadi, al-Rashid, al-Amin, al-Ma`mun, al-Mu`tasim, al-Wathiq, al-

Mutawakkil, al-Muntasir, al-Musta`in, al-Mu`tazz, al-Muhtadi, al-Mu`tadid, al-Muktafi, al-Muqtadir,al-Qahir,al-Radi,al-Muttaqi,al-Mustakfi,al-Muti`,al-Ta`i`,al-Qadir,al-Qa`imandal-MuqtadiwhomIcaughtintheyear484.Henominatedal-Mustadhirashisheirapparent.HediedinMuharram,486.al-Mustadhir,however,nominatedhisson,Abu-Mansural-Fadlashisheirapparent.ThatwasinAH495.Supposing twelve of them are intended, the number will stop at Sulayman ibn `Abd al-Malik.Regardingthemeaning,wehaveonlyfivepersons;thefourRashiditecaliphsand`Umaribn`Abdal-`Aziz.Hence,IcannotperceiveadefinitemeaningfortheHadith.Probably,itisapartofaHadith.Fromtheabove,wecanconcludethatSunnischolarshavesparednoeffortsforsakeofapplying

thetwelvemenwhomarepromisedintheTorahbyProphetAbrahamandpredictedbyourProphet(S)totheUmayyadrulers.Asamatteroffact,theyfacedthreeprincipleunsolvedproblems:First,thenumberofthose(successors)ismorethantwelve.However,theyconfessthatthosemen

arenottheHolyProphet(S)’ssuccessors.Hence,theyhadtofacethewavesofoptionandselectiondependingonnoobjectivecriterion.Second, they feel that the divine apparel never fits their acquaintances and that their attempts to

defendtheacresofthoserulerswhoarenotrealsuccessorsoftheHolyProphet(S)andcoveringuptheirdeedsarenonsensesincesomeofthemcommittedfatal,hideousmistakesandilldeeds.Thus,itis impracticable to consider suchpersons asholy leaders andgreat custodianson thisUmmah thatAlmightyAllahhasforetoldabouttheiradventbythesealofHisProphets.Third,bythisclaim,scholarsplacethoserulersinadivinepositiontheythemselvesdidnotclaim.

Hence,theybecameassameasthatwhoclaimssomebody’sProphethoodwhilethatsomebodydeniesit.Lastly,SunnischolarswarntheirfollowersnottoregardtheShiitescholars.Theypromisethemto

find,soonerorlater,anexegesismoresuitablethantheShi`ah’s.Previously,wehaveseenhowSunnischolarscouldnotforwardasinglestepforfindingaconvincingexegesisfortheHolyProphet(S)’spredictionoftheTwelveImams.SunnishavetherighttoasktheirscholarsforapersuasiveinterpretationfortheHolyProphet(S)’s

authenticpredictionofthecomingoftwelveholyImamswhowillbedivinelydirectedanduniqueinknowledge,characterandbehavior,andwillbecustodiansofthesameguidanceandtrend.In like manner, we are also rightful to depend on our own interpretation, which defines theImmaculate Imamsof theAhlal-Baytas thepersons intended in theHolyProphet (S)’sprediction.ThoseImamsbeginwith`Aliandendwithal-MahditheAwaited.TheHolyProphetsaid,“WithustheLordbeginsandwithusHeseals.”MosttruthfularethewordsofAllahandHisMessenger.Scholars’InvolvementinSafinah’sNarrationSafinahistheservantofUmm-Salamah,theHolyProphet(S)’swife.Scholarshavedecidedhimas

trustworthy in communicating the Holy Prophet (S)’s sayings. Like al-Bukhari, a manyHadithistsdependonhisnarrationsespeciallythoserelatedtothetopicinvolved.Thefollowingisrecordedbyal-Tirmidhiinal-Sunan3/341:Sa`idnarratedon theauthorityofSafinah that theHolyProphetsaid,“Inmynation, thesuccessionwilllastforthirtyyearsandwillbefollowedbydespoticmonarchy.”Safinahcommented,“IfyouaccountthereignofAbu-Bakr,`Umar,`Uthmanand`Ali,theyarethirtyyears.”Sa`idcommented,“TheUmayyadrulersclaimthattheyarethesuccessorsoftheHolyProphet(S).”Safinahanswered,“LiarsarethesonsofthatZarqa`-bluelady-.Theyarekings,themostevilkings.”Underthesametitle,al-Tirmidhirecordsthefollowing:

`Umar and `Ali said, “The Holy Prophet (S) did not will anything about his succession (next

leadership.)”This narration is qualified butwith a rather doubtful narrator. It is related by other thanSa`id ibnJamhan,butwerecognizeitfromthiswayonly.Ahmad, in al-Musnad 5/220-1, records this narration although he cuts off the last two sentences

regarding the Umayyads’ reigns. Al-Hakim, in al-Mustadrak 3/71, decides its authenticdocumentation.Asherelatesitinal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/198,IbnKathirrecordsthefollowingnarrationafterit:`Abd al-Rahman ibnAbi-Bakrah narrated that he heard theHoly Prophetsaying, “For thirty years,there will be the succession of Prophethood. After it, Almighty Allah will give his monarchy towhomeverHedesires.”Muawiyahcommented,“Weyieldtothemonarchy.”SupposingSafinah’snarrationisauthentic,theHolyProphet(S)’spredictionshouldberegardedas

foretellingabout thisnation’sdeviationandillegalityafter thirtyyears.Aslongas therulers in theperiodofthirtyyearswerenotmorethanfivepersons,weunderstandthattheTwelveImamsshouldbe others or, at least, they would not come to power. In other words, Safinah’s narration decidesevidently the inaccuracyofconsidering the rulersas the twelveexpectedcustodians.Unfortunately,majorityofexegeteshavebeensickofcherishingtheUmayyadrulers;therefore,theycommiteverycontrasting act for sakeof changing theUmayyaddespoticmonarchy into holy custody.Likewise,theyhaveattemptedtomaketheUmayyadtyrantandcriminalrulersasdivineImamspredictedbytheHolyProphet(S).Asa support forouropinion,wesay thatSunnisadmitSafinah’snarrationofdefining theHoly

Prophet (S)’s succession to thirty years. Safinah himself explains the narration. He denies theUmayyads’beingtheHolyProphet(S)’ssuccessors.Hedescribesthemaskings;themostevilkings.He also accuses them of bastardy. He accuses them of being the illegitimate sons of a Romanprostitute(sonsofthatZarqa`;thebluelady).Despite,exegeteshavedecidedtheUmayyadrulersasholyleaderschosenbytheExaltedLordfor

leadingthisnation.Somescholars,suchasal-Albani,aimsatdenyingSafinah’sexplanationofthenarration.Theydecideitasaninauthenticredundancy.Inthesamemanner,alltheUmayyadrulers’savagedeedsthatfilledthepagesofhistoryarenotauthenticintheviewofsuchscholars.In`Umdatal-Qari16/74,al-`Aynirecordsthefollowing:Providing somemay claims that Safinah’sHadith opposes Jabir ibnSamarah’s (TheProphet said,“This religion will be kept in efficacy and power to twelve successors from Quraysh…”) that isrecordedbyMuslim,wesaythatthisreferstothesuccessionofprophesy.Itdoesnotmeanthattherearenoothers.Others say that this prediction of the coming of twelve just Qurayshite rulers does not guaranteeconsecution.InthirtyyearsaftertheHolyProphet(S),thisjustleadershipfell.Manyageslater,justcaliphs, such as `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz and al-Muhtadi, could take leadership. Al-Mahdi theExpectediswithinthosepromisedsuccessors.FornothingmorethandefendingtheUmayyads,scholarshavedonetheirbestinplayingonwords.

Theydivide the legal succession into two types.The first is the successionofProphethood,whichlasted for thirty years. The second is not a succession of Prophethood, though legal. This non-PropheticsuccessionwaspromisedbytheHolyProphet(S)whenhepredictedthecomingoftwelvesuccessorsorImams!The pro-Umayyad exegetes find their lost in this fabrication; therefore, they adhere to it since itenablesthemtoplayonthewordsoftheHadithandmakeitapplicabletotheirrulers!IbnKathir,inal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/198,says:

Asananswer for thequestionabout thewayof admittingSafinah’snarrationand thatof Jabir ibnSamarahinthesametime,wesay:Somepeopleclaimthatthisreligioniskeptinefficacyandpoweruntil Twelve Successorswhowill hold the leadership. After that, confusion took place during theUmayyads’reigns.OtherscontradicttheprevioussayingandallegethattheHadithwasapredictionofthecomingoftwelvejustQurayshiterulers,nomatter theyaresuccessiveornot.Inaperiodofthirty years only, the consecutive succession of the Holy Prophet (S) took place. After that, faircaliphs,suchas`Umaribn`Abdal-`Aziz,couldcometopower.Anumberofmasterscholarsdecidethe decency of thisman to the degree that they reckon himwith theRashidite caliphs.Ahmad ibnHanbal says, “Except for `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz, the opinion of none of Sahabah’s followers isadmitted.”Al-Mahdi,the`Abbasidruler,isoneofthosepredictedsuccessors.Al-MahditheExpectedisalsooneofthem,sincehewillbefromtheAhlal-Bayt.HeisnamedMuhammadibn`Abdullah.HeisnotthatoneexpectedinavaultinSamarra`.Thisoneisoriginallynotexisted.Onlytheill-mindedRafiditesareawaitinghim.Hence, ibnKathir lacksany logicalanswer for theproblemofSafinah’snarration.Heascribes theopinionsto‘some’or‘others.’HadheonlyrecordedSafinah’snarrationcompletelyasitisfoundintheirreferencebooksofHadith!Hispraisefor`Umaribn`Abdal-`Azizanda-Mahdi,the`Abbasidruler,cannotbetakenasevidenceontheirbeingwithintheexpectedholysuccessors,lesteachpraisedmancanberegarded.ToregardapersonwiththepredictedandpromisedmennecessitatesevidentcredentialsprovinghisbeingoneofthosedivinepersonschosenbytheLordandgivenexclusivelyastandingunattainablebyordinarypeople.TherepetitionoftheShi`ah’swaitingforal-Mahdi,theExpected,inavaultinSamarra`isaforged

lie.Likehim,wetheShi`ahexpectal-MahditocomeforthinMakkah.ThevaultofSamarra` isnomorethanhisgrandfathers, fathersandhishouse,whichisablessedplacewherewepraytoAllahandseekblessings.IbnKathir,however,isblabbermouth!Thefollowingtextisquotedfromthefootnoteof`Awnal-Ma`bud11/361:Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim says: As an answer for the question about the way of admitting Safinah’snarration, ‘Afterme, the successionwill last for thirtyyears,’ and thepredictionof the comingofTwelveImams,wesaythatthetwonarrationsarenotoppositesincethethirtyyearsofsuccessionisthesuccessionofProphethood.ThisissupportedbyAbu-Bakrah’snarration.NeitherIbnal-QayyimnorcouldanyoneelsedefinethesuccessionotherthanthatofProphethood.

Then, what a sort of succession was that? How should such a ruling carry a holy Islamiccharacteristic after the Holy Prophet (S) had described it as a despotic monarchy? The author ofQurratal-`Aynaynandothershaveadmittedthis;theiradmittingthefactthattheUmayyadreignwasnomore thanadespoticmonarchyand that itwasnot Islamic in anymeans is anadmissionof itsbeing anon-Islamicdespoticdominion.How is it then applicable for any sane toperceive that theExaltedLord andHisMessenger (a.s.) carry thegood tidingsof the comingof non-Islamic rulerswhowillinjuretheUmmahbytheirdespoticactions?HadibnHabban,ibnHajar,Ibnal-QayyimandtheirlikesstoppedtheirfanaticismfortheUmayyad

rulers,thematterwouldhavebeeneasier.Unfortunately,theyinsistedonusingthePropheticsayingsfortheirsupportandaimedatapplyingtheHolyProphet(S)’sgoodtidingstotheirdespotickings.Al-Albani decides the authenticity of a good deal of Hadiths respecting the deviation of rulers

comingtopowerafter theHolyProphet(S).Undernumber2982,hedecides theauthenticityof theHadiththat‘Someofmycompanions(Sahabah)willneverseemeagainaftermydeparture.’Undernumber2864, al-Albanidecides the authenticityof theHadith that ‘Afterme,your affairs

willbeinthehandsofmenwhowillextinguishmytraditionsandinjectheresies.’TheHadith, ‘Iamholdingyoufromthenecksso thatyouwillnot fall inHellfireyouarepushing

yourselvesinlikebutterfliesandlocust.Iamabouttoflingyournecks,’isgivennumber2865.TheHadith, ‘Aman from sonsofUmayyahwill be taking initiative in changingmy traditions,’ isauthenticated by al-Albani who lists it under number 1749 of title, ‘The Holy Prophet (S)’sPrediction.’Al-Albanicommentates:ThisHadithstandsforthechangethatoccurredtotheIslamicsystemfromelectionsintomonarchy.Allah,however,isthemostknowledgeable.Undernumber744,al-AlbanidecidestheauthenticityoftheHadiththat“Assoonassonsofal-As

attainthirty,theywillbetaketheLord’sreligionasaninstrumentandtheLord’sservantsasslavesandtheLord’sfortunesaspersonaltreasures.”Ashedecides theauthenticityofSafinah’snarration,al-Albaninumbers it459under the title,“TheSuccessionofProphesy.”Nevertheless,hedefendstheUmayyads,saying:This does not oppose the coming of other caliphs since they are not the Holy Prophet (S)’ssuccessors. Evidently, those only are intended by the Hadith involved. This is supported by thefollowingwords of Shaykh al-Islam, ‘It is acceptable to call thosewho came -to power- after theRashiditecaliphsascaliphs,thoughtheywerekings.’Pursuing Ibn Taymiyah, al-Albani rules that the Twelve holy Custodians about whom the Holy

Prophet(S)foretoldareMuawiyah,Yazidandsonsofal-HakamibnAbual-Asatwhomtensoffrank,decisiveandauthenticsayingsofcensurewereaddressed!SeehowfanaticismincherishingtheUmayyadsincitesthismantoputhimselfinapositiondeservingtheExaltedLord’scensureandHisMessenger ’scurse.Such a personwill not find an answer if anOrientalist addresses him thatMuslims confess that

theirLordandHisMessengerareoffluctuatingtempers!Theycurse,censureandcondemnpersonsand thenplease themanddeclare beforeMuslims that thosepreviously accursedpersons and theiroffspringwillbethechoiceamongpeopleandwillbethedivinelysinlesscustodiansofthisnation!ThewickedOrientalists,SalmanRushdi,andhislikesfoundthemselvesaholeforrevilingatIslamthroughsuchfalsenarrationsrespectingfanaticismtoQuraysh,theUmayyadsandKa`bal-Ahbar.(L)ModelsofournarrationsAbouttheTwelveImamsInal-Khisal,Shaykhal-Saduqrecordsthefollowingonpages466-7:

IbnMas`ud’snarration is related indifferentwaysofnarration,all related toMujalid ibnSa`id.Atanyrate,insomeways,MujalidibnSa`idisnotmentioned.…Qaysibn`Abdnarrated:Weweresittingaround`AbdullahibnMas`udwhenaBedouincameandaskedabouthim.“Iam`Abdullah,”answeredhe.“DidyourProphet(S)tellyouaboutthenumberofhis successors?” asked theBedouin. “Yes, hedid.They are twelve, like thenumberof the Israelitedisciples,”answered`Abdullah.Inthesamedocumentation,thenarrationsarerecordedinKamalal-DinwaItmamal-Ni`mah,271.

Amongthecomparativeobjectivewritings,IcanrecognizethepreciousbookofKifayatal-AtharAlaal-A`immahal-Ithny`Ashar,compiledbythemastscholar`AliibnMuhammadibn`Alial-Khazzazal-Qummi al-Razi; one of the scholars of the fourth century. This work is considered as the mostremarkableinthefieldofHadiths.Intheintroductoryofthebook,thecompilerdefineshiscourse.Onpage7,herecords:

Themainreasonthaturgedmetocompile thenarratorsof theSahabahandtheHolyProphet(S)’struthful progeny about the texts dealingwith the Immaculate Imams is that I found some ordinarypeople of the Shi`ah perplexed in this regard. They doubted due to the firmness of theanthropomorphistsand theMu`tazilitewhoaimedat confusing theircredits.Thematterattained itsclimaxwhenthosepeopledeniedthedivinetextsregardingImamate.Someexceededdenyingallthe

traditionsoftheSahabahinthisregard…Therefore,Icommittedmyselftosearchingandpresentingwhatever evidences I can obtain. I intended to repeal the antagonists’ heresies. Finally, I seek theLord’srewardingandthesatisfactionoftheHolyProphet(S)andtheImams.First,letmementionthenarrationsdealingwiththistopicthatarerelatedtothefamousSahabah,suchas`Abdullahibn`Abbas,`AbdullahibnMas`ud,Abu-Sa`idal-Khidri,Abu-Dharral-Ghifari,Salmanal-Farisi, Jabir ibn Samarah, Jabir ibn `Abdullah, Anas ibn Malik, Abu-Hurayrah, `Umar ibn al-Khattab, Zayd ibn Thabit, Zayd ibn Arqam, Abu-Umamah, Wathilah ibn Al-Asqa, Abu-Ayyub al-Ansari,`AmmaribnYasir,HudhayfahibnAsyad,`Imranibnal-Husayn,Sa`dibnMalik,Hudhayfahibnal-Yaman,Abu-Qatadahal-Ansari,`AliibnAbu-Talibandhistwosons;al-Hasanandal-Husayn(a.s.).Amongwomen,IcompiledthetextsrelatedbyUmm-Salamah,`A`ishahandFatimahdaughteroftheHolyProphet(S).Thereafter,IrecordtheImams’reportsconcordanttothereportsoftheSahabah.IwillmentioneachImam’snominatinghissuccessor.Thisworkispurposedformakingpeoplerealizethetruthandtakeitastheirreligion,evadingbeinglikethosedescribedinAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“Andthosedidnotshowoppositionbutafterknowledgehadcometothem,outofenvyamongthem.”Such narrations remove doubt and hesitancy and repeal every excuse. In fact, the matter is moregenuinethanwhattheythought.Thecompilercollatesthenarrationofeachcompanionhehasalreadymentionedunderadefinite

title. He also records the narration and its documentation and series of narrators up to the HolyProphet(S).Thisworksavedagreatdealofnarrationsthathavebeen,totallyorpartially,lostinthereferencebooksofourSunnibrothers.Thefollowingaremodelsfromthebook:Onpage23,Title:Narrationsof`AbdullahibnMas`ud,thewriterrecords:

…`AbdullahibnMas`udnarratedthathehadheardtheHolyProphetsaying:TheImamsaftermewillbetwelve.Nineofthemwillbefromal-Husayn’soffspring.TheirninthistheirMahdi.Onpage37,Title:NarrationsofAnasibnMalik,thewriterrecords:

…AnasibnMaliknarratedthefollowing:Afterleadingacollectiveprayer,theHolyProphetsaid,“Omy companions!Whoever lovesmy household will be groupedwith us.Whoever adheres tomycomingsuccessorswillhaveadheredtotheFirmestHandle.”Abu-Dharrstoodandasked,“OAllah’sMessenger! How many will the Imams be after you?” “Their number is the like of the Israeliteleaders’,”answeredtheHolyProphet(S).“Allwillbefromyourhousehold?”askedAbu-Dharr.“Allwill be frommy household. Ninewill be from al-Husayn’s offspring. Al-Mahdi is one of them,”answeredtheHolyProphet(S).Onpage133,Title:NarrationsofAbu-Ayyubal-AnsariKhalidibnZayd,thewriterrecords:

… Abu-Ayyub al-Ansari said that he had heard the Holy Prophetsaying, “I am the master of theProphets. `Ali is themasterof theProphets’ successors.Mygrandsonsare thebestgrandsons.TheImmaculate Imams belong to us. They are from al-Husayn’s offspring.Al-Mahdi of this nation isfrom us.” A Bedouin stood up and asked about their number. “Their number is the like of thegrandsons of Abraham and the Disciples of Jesus and the Israelite leaders,” answered the HolyProphet(S).Onpage120,Title:Narrationsof`AmmaribnYasir,thewriterrecords:

… `Ammar narrated the following: Iwaswith theHolyProphet (S) during a campaignwhen `Ali(a.s.)couldkillthestandard-bearers;`Amribn`Abdullahal-JumjumiandShaybahibnNafi`.IcametotheHolyProphet(S)andexpressedthat`AlihadfoughtforsakeofAllahintheveryproperway.“ThisisbecauseheisapartofmeandIamapartofhim,”answeredtheHolyProphet(S),“Heistheheirofmyknowledgeand thesettlerofmydebtsand thekeeperonmypromises.He is the leaderafterme.Withouthim,thepurebelieversareneverrecognized.Toconfronthimistoconfrontme,

and to confrontme is to confrontAlmightyAllah. To consent to him is to consent tome, and toconsenttomeistoconsenttoAlmightyAllah.Heisthefatherofmytwograndsons.TheImamsarefrom his offspring. From him, Allah the Exalted will bring the Prudent Imams. Al-Mahdi of thisnationwillbeoneofthem.”Iwondered,“Maymyfatherandmotherbesacrificedforyou,Allah’sMessenger!Whoisal-Mahdi?”TheHolyProphet(S)answered,“O`Ammar!AllahtheBlessedandElevatedhasgivenmeacovenantthatHewillcreateninepersonsfromal-Husayn’soffspring.Theirninth will be invisible for them. This is Allah’s saying, ‘Say: Have you considered if your watershouldgodown,whois it thenthatwillbringyouflowingwater?’Hisoccultationwill takealongtimethatsomepeoplewillapostatizewhileotherswillbefirm.Inthelastage(oftheearth),hewillcomeforthtofillinthisworldwithjusticeandequity.Hewillfightforsakeoftheinterpretation(oftheHolyQur ’an)inthesamewayasIfoughtforsakeoftherevelation(ofit).Hewillhavemyname.Hewillbethemostsimilartome.O`Ammar!Afterme,therewillcomeaheresy.Whenthatoccurs,youshouldfollow`Aliandhisparty.Heiswiththerightandtherightiswithhim.O`Ammar!Afterme,youwillbefightingwith`Alitwocategoriesofpeople—thebreachersandthedeviants.Then,thedespoticpartywillkillyou.”Iasked,“OAllah’sMessenger!WillthatsatisfyAllahandyou?”TheProphet (S)answered,“Yes, thatwill satisfyAllahandme.The lastmealyouwillhave in thisworldwillbeadrinkofmilk.”…etc.Onpage180,Title:NarrationsofUmmu-Salamah,thewriterrecords:

…SaddadibnAwsnarrated:OntheBattleoftheCamel,Idecidednottojoinanyofthetwoparties.Tothemidday,Ididnotparticipateinthefighting.Thatafternoon,theLordinspiredmyhearttofightwith`Ali.Therefore,Ifoughtinhislinesuntiltheendofthebattle.WhenIwasbackinal-Madinah,IvisitedUmm-Salamah.“Fromwherehaveyoucome?”askedshe.“FromBasrah,”Ianswered.“Whichpartydidyoujoin?”sheasked.“OUmmal-Mu`minin!”Iexpressed,“Iretiredthefightingforhalfaday.Then,theLordinspiredmetofightwith`Ali.”“Youhavedonetheveryrightthing,”shepraised,andadded,“IheardtheHolyProphetstating:Tofightagainst`Aliistofightagainstme,andtofightagainstmeistofightagainsttheLord.”“Youseethat`Aliistheright,doyounot?”Iasked.“Yes,byAllah,”sheaffirmed,“`Aliiswiththerightandtherightiswithhim.ByAllahI

swear,Muhammad’speopleviolatedtheirProphet(S)whentheychosethosewhomaredisregardedby the Lord and His Messenger and disregarded those whom are chosen by the Lord and HisMessenger.Theykept theirwomen in theirhouses and tookout theHolyProphet (S)’s lady to thedeserts.ByAllahIswearthatIheardtheHolyProphetsaying:MyUmmahwillbeinaconcordanceandindiscrepancy.Youshouldjointhemwhentheyareconcordant.Andyoushouldchooseforthemiddlesituationwhentheyareengagedindiscrepancy.Youshouldfocusyoureyesonmyhousehold.Iftheyfight,youshouldfightwiththem.Iftheyoptforpeace,youshouldfollowthem.Therightisbeingwiththemwhenevertheyare.”I asked, “Who are his household?” Umm-Salamah answered, “It is they to whom we arecommissioned to adhere. They are the Imams after him. Their number is as same as the Israeliteleaders’number.Theyare`Aliandhistwosonsandninepersonsfromal-Husayn’soffspring.Theyare the immaculate and the sinless Imams.” I said, “What a pity! People are perishing, then!” Shecommented,“Everysectrejoicingwhattheyhadwiththem.”

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5ChapterTheIslamicPrinciplesintheSermonsoftheFarewellHajj

Wehavepreviouslyproved that theHolyProphet (S)’sSermonof `Arafat, in theFarewellHajj,

includedhispredictionof thecomingof theTwelveImamsaswellashis recommendations in thisregard.Letusnowdiscussthecontentsoftheotherfivesermons;SermonofMakkahontheDayofTarwiyah,SermonoftheSecondDay,Sermonofal-KhayfMasjidontheDayofNahrandSermonofGhadir.Although narrations have communicated, confusedly, a few reports about the contents of these

sermons, it is possible to infer that theHoly Prophet (S), through these sermons, provided all theaffairsneededbyhispeopleafterhim.Thesesermonsincludedstatementsdealingwiththefollowingfivebases:1.Thebasisofthehumanitarianequity:- The principle of the humanitarian unity among humankind and the eradication of the racial

discrimination.-Theprincipleofgoodtreatmentofwomenandtheavoidanceofwrongingthem.2.ThebasisoftheunityoftheUmmah:-Theprincipleoferadicatingthetraces,practicesandregulationsofthepre-Islamicerathatarein

violationoftheIslamiclaws.-TheprincipleofMuslims’fraternityandequity.- The principle of the respect for private ownership and the illegality of violating Muslims’properties.-TheprincipleofregardingMuslims’soulsandtheillegalityofsheddingtheirblood.-TheprincipleofrespectingMuslims’honorsanddignityandtheillegalityofabusingeachother.- The principle of maintaining properties and souls of those who speak out the creed of Islam(shahadah).- The principle of sealing Prophethood with the Holy Prophet (S) and sealing the nations withhisUmmah.-Theprincipleof theHolyProphet(S)’sbeingthewitnessonhispeopleintheHereafterandtheirjoininghimontheDivinePool.-Theprincipleofthenecessityoftheaccuracyinactingandtheadmonishingagainstcommittingtheinsignificantactionsthatleadtodeviation.-Theprinciple ofwarning against forging lies against theHolyProphet (S) and the insistenceoninvestigatingwhateverisascribedtohim.3.ThebasisoftheunityoftheIslamiclaw-Shari`ah-andtheMuslims’culture.-Theprincipleoffulfillingthetrusts.

-Thelawsoftheheritage.-Thelawsofthebloodmoneyandretaliation.-ThelawsoftheritesoftheHajj;“Fromme,youshouldlearntherites.”4.ThebasisofthepoliticalaffairsandtheleadershipaftertheHolyProphet(S):

-TheprincipleofthepredictionoftheadventofTwelveImamsfromtheAhlal-Bayt.- The principle of the importunate adherence to theQur ’an and theAhl al-Bayt—the twoweightythings.-TheprincipleofnominatingImam`Ali (a.s.)as thenext leaderof theUmmahand thefirstof theTwelveImams.-Theprincipleofkeepingonperformingtheobligatoryritesandthecompliancewiththeleaders.-TheprincipleofimmortalizingtheplotofQurayshandKinanahontheblockadeoftheHashimites.-Theprinciple ofwarningpeople ofQuraysh against playing the tyrant after the departure of theHolyProphet(S).-TheprincipleofwarningtheSahabahagainstbreakingfaithandstrugglingonpower.5.ThebasisofpunishmentofthedissentersagainsttheHolyProphet(S)’scourse:-Theprincipleofcursingthosewhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathersormasters.To present detailed discussions about these bases and principles is impossible; therefore, let us

refertosomemodelsoftheseholysermonsbeforewerefertothetopicsandexamplesrelated.It is quite clear that theHoly Prophet (S) referred to each of these bases and principles onmanyoccasionsbeforetheFarewellHajj.Asamatteroffact,they,togetherwiththesixsermons,formaninseparably coalescing topic. The Holy Prophet (S)’s wording is a revelation that completes andexplainseachother.Ineverytopic, thatwordingformulatesaperfectdoctrinalandlegislativeunitythatcontributesintheconstructingofthedivinecomprehensiveedificeofIslam.TheHumanitarianEquityThis basis is too evident to require any further discussion. Previously, we have referred to a

numberofrelatedtextsoftheHolyProphet(S)’ssermons.ModelsoftheHolyProphet(S)’sSermonsintheFarewellHajjIbnShu`bahal-Harrani-diedinAH350-recordsthefollowingonpage30ofTuhafal-`Uqul:TheHolyProphet(S)’sSermonintheFarewellHajjIntheFarewellHajj,TheProphetsaid:

AllpraiseisduetoAllah.WepraiseHim,seekHisaidandforgiveness,andrepenttoHim.WeseekHis guard against the evils of ourwrongdoings and ourselves.No onewill be able to lead astraythosewhomAllah guides and no onewill be able to guide thosewhomAllah causes to deviate. IdeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllahexclusivelywithoutanyassociate,anddeclarethatMuhammadisHisservantandmessenger.OslavesofAllah,IcommandyoutoadheretopietyandurgeyoutoobeyHim.IbeginwithAllahWhoisthesourceofeverythinggood.Opeople,listentowhatIwillsaytoyou.IdonotknowwhetherIwillmeetyouthenextyearinthissituationornot.Opeople,yoursoulsandhonorsareasholyasthisdayinthiscountryamongyouuptothedayonwhichyouwillmeetyourLord.HaveIconveyed?OAllah,bethewitness.Hewhomistrustedwithadepositshouldfulfillhistrust.TheusuryofJahiliyah(pre-Islamicera)isrevoked.ThefirstusurythatIwillrevokeisthatofal-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalib.The revenge of the Jahiliyah is revoked. The first revenge that Iwill revoke is that of `Amir ibnRabi`ahibnal-Harithibn`Abdal-Muttalib.Thewholetraditionsof theJahiliyaharecanceledexcept thecustody–of theHolyHouseofAllah-andthewatering(ofthepilgrims).Retaliationisthejudgeofthepremeditatedmurder.Therulingofquasi-murder,suchasthosewhom

arekilledbyastickorastoneunintentionally,isonehundredcamels–tobepaidasbloodmoney-.AnyadditionalnumberisapartofJahiliyah.Opeople,Satandespairedofbeingobeyedonthisland,butheacceptedtobeobeyedthroughyourinsignificantevildoings.Opeople, “Postponing (of the sacredmonth) isonlyanaddition inunbelief,wherewith thosewhodisbelieveareledastray,violatingitoneyearandkeepingitsacredanother,thattheymayagreeinthenumber (ofmonths) thatAllahhasmade sacred.9/37”The timehas rotatedas sameas thedayonwhichAllah created the heavens and the earth. “Surely the number ofmonthswithAllah is twelvemonthsinAllah’sordinancesincethedaywhenHecreatedtheheavensandtheearth,of thesefourbeing sacred; 9/36” three are consecutive and one is odd. They are Dhu’l-Qa`dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah,MuharramandRajab,which falls between Jumada andSha`ban.Have I conveyed?OAllah, be thewitness.Opeople,yourwomenenjoyobligationsthatareimposeduponyou,andyouenjoyobligationsthatareimposeduponthem.Theobligationsthatareimposeduponthemarethattheyshouldnevertakeanybodytoyourbeds,shouldneverletanybodythatyouhateenteryourhousesbeforetheytakeyourpermissionandshouldnevercommitanyevildoing.Iftheydoso,Allahhaspermittedyoutopreventthem,leavethemaloneinthesleeping-placesandbeatthem,butnotsoharmfully.Iftheydesistandobeyyou,youshouldassume their livelihoodandclothingadequately.Youhave taken themby thetrustofAllahand theyhavebeen lawful toyouby theBookofAllah.Therefore, fearAllah in thequestionsregardingwomenandadviseeachotherfortheirgood.O people, “the believers are each others’ brothers. 49/10” It is illicit for anyone to behave in(someone’s) money before he obtains the owner ’s permission. Have I conveyed? OAllah, be thewitness.Afterme,donotreturntoatheismbykillingeachother.Ihaveleftamongyouwhatwillprotectyouagainst deviation if you only adhere to. It is theBook ofAllah andmy family—myhousehold.OAllah,bethewitness.Opeople,yourLordisOneandyourfather isone.YouallarefromAdamandAdamwascreatedfromdust.“ThebestofyoutoAllahisthemostAlmightyAllah–fearing.49/13”Exceptbymeansofpiety,noArabpersonispreferredtoanon-Arab.HaveIconveyed?Theattendantmustconveythistotheabsent.Opeople,Allahhasconstitutedtheshareofeveryheir.Itisillicitforanytestatortowillmorethanonethirdoftheestate.Thebabyisfortheownerofthebed,andtheshareoftheprostituteisthestone.ThecurseofAllah,theangelsandallofpeoplebeuponthosewhoclaimofbeingthesonsofotherthantheirfathersandthosewhoclaimofbeingthesubjectsofotherthantheirmasters.[1]Allahwillnotacceptfromsuchindividualsanyexcuseorcompensation.PeaceandAllah’smercyandblessingsbeuponyou.Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Kafi1/403:

… A man from Quraysh related the following: With Sufyan al-Thawri, I went to Ja`far ibnMuhammadandfoundhimonhispackanimal.Sufyanaddressedtohim,“OAbu-`Abdullah!Wouldyouplease relate tous theHolyProphet (S)’sSermon inal-KhayfMasjid?”The Imamapologizedsincehehadalreadyridden,andpromisedhewouldanswerSufyan’squestionassoonashewouldbeback.“IadjureyoubyyourkinshiptotheMessengerofAllah(a.s.)torelateittome,”insistedSufyan.The Imamrodeoff.Sufyanasked forapenandapaper to record the Imam’swording.The Imamspoke,“IntheNameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful.ThisisthesermonoftheHolyProphet(S)addressedinal-KhayfMasjid:Allah may bloom the servants who will listen and understand my words and convey them to theabsent.

O people! The witness should carry this to the absent. A bearer of knowledge may happen to beilliterateandabearerofknowledgemayhappentocarryittothemoreknowledgeable.Hearts ofMuslims should never act unfaithfully in three matters; sincere performance of Allah’sduties, giving advice to Muslims’ Imams and committing to their congruity. Their congruity isbinding.Thebelieversarebrothersofequalblood.Theyareonehandagainsttheirenemies.Theleastamongthemcanbeartheirsituation.”Afterhehadrecordedthesestatements,SufyanrecitedthembeforetheImam.Hence,Abu-`Abdullahrodetheanimalandwent.Halfway, I toldSufyan thatAbu-`Abdullahhadboundhimwithaneverlastingduty.“What is that?”askedSufyan.“ItisthethreethingsinwhichaMuslimshouldneveractunfaithfully,”Isaid,“SincereperformanceofAllah’sdutiesisaclearmatter.RegardinggivingadvicetoMuslims`Imams,whoarethoseImams?Are theyMuawiyahibnAbi-Sufyan,Yazid ibnMuawiyah,Marwanibnal-Hakamandtheotherrulerswhileeventhecollectiveprayersledbythemareinvalid?Aboutcommittingtotheircongruity,whoarethosecongruouspeople?Aretheythedeferrerswhobelievethatpersonswhodidnot perform a single obligatory prayer and did not fast on a single day and did not perform theobligatorybathinganddemolishedtheKa`bahandmarriedtheirmothersarebearingthesamedegreeoffaithbornbyArchangelGabrielandArchangelMichael?OraretheythefatalistswhobelievethatSatan’sdesirecanbeactivewhileAllah’swillcannotbe?OraretheytheHaruriteswhodeny`AliibnAbi-Talib and decide his atheism?Or are they the Jahmiteswho claim that faith is to knowAllahonly?”Ashebecameperplexed,SufyanaskedmeanexplanationoftheHolyProphet(S)’ssayingreportedby Abu-`Abdullah (a.s.). “`Ali ibn Abi-Talib, by Allah, is the only Imam before whom we arecommissionedtogiveadvice.Andthecongruitystandsforhishousehold,”Ianswered.Sufyantorethepaperandaskedmetokeepitsecret.`AliibnIbrahim,inTafsir1/171,writesdownthefollowing:

TheHolyProphet (S)performed theFarewellHajj,whichwas the tenthsincehe immigrated toal-Madinah.InMina,hedeliveredthefollowingspeech:“All praise and thanks be toAllah.Opeople!Listen andunderstandmywords. I cannot guaranteewhether I will meet you the next year. Do you know which day is the holiest?” “It is this day,”answeredpeople.“Doyouknowwhichmonthistheholiest?”askedhe.“Itisthismonth,”answeredthey.“Doyouknowwhichlandistheholiest?”askedhe.“Itisthisland,”answeredthey.“Yoursouls,estateandhonorsareasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthislanduntilyoumeetyourLordWhowillexamineyourdeeds.Opeople!HaveIconveyed?”“Yes,youhave,”shoutedthey.“OAllah!Bethewitness,”commentedtheHolyProphet(S).Afterawhile,headded,“Everyregulation,heresy,revengeanddebtthatwasfoundedinJahiliyahisundermyfeet.Noneispreferabletoanotherexceptbycriteriaofpiety.HaveIconveyed?”“Yes,youhave,”declaredthey.“OAllah!Bethewitness,”saidtheHolyProphet(S)andthenadded,

“EveryusurythatwasconcludedintheJahiliyahisnowrevoked.ThefirstusuryIamtorevokeisal-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalib’s.EveryitemofrevengethatwasintheJahiliyahisnowrevoked.ThefirstrevengeIamtorevokeisRabi`ah’s.HaveIconveyed?”“Yes,youhave,”shoutedthey.“OAllah!Bethewitness,”saidtheHolyProphet(S)andthenadded,“Satandespairedofbeingobeyedonthisland,buthehasbeenpleasedtobeobeyedthroughyourinsignificantacts.IfSatanisobeyed,heisthenworshipped.Opeople!Muslimsarebrothersofeachother.Itisillicit

for a Muslim neither to shed the blood of another Muslim nor to have from his estate unlesssatisfactionisobtained.Iamorderedtofightpeopleuntiltheysay:ThereisnogodbutAllah.Astheyspeakthisstatementout,theywillprotecttheirsoulsandestateexceptintherightfulways.TheLord

will be their judge.O people!Have I conveyed?” “Yes, you have,” shouted they. “OAllah!Be thewitness,”saidtheHolyProphet(S)andadded,“Opeople!Keepmywordingandyouwillharvestitsbenefitslateron.Perceivemysayingsandyouwillbeprosperous.Breaknotyourfaithafterme,andbenotunbelieversbybeheadingeachotherforsakeofworldlyaffairs.Ifyoudoso,andyouwilldo it,youwill findme inaphalanxbetweenArchangelsGabrieland

Michaelstrikingyourfaceswiththesword(Forawhile,theHolyProphet(S)paused,turningtotheright. Then, he continued,) or `Ali ibnAbi-Talib, Allahwilling. I am leaving among you the twothingsthatwillenduringlyprotectyouagainstdeviation.TheyaretheBookofAllahandmypeople—myhousehold.TheKnowerof subtleties—theAwarehas informedme that these two thingswillnever separate until they joinme on theDivinePool.Whoever accedes to themwill be saved andwhoeveropposesthemwillperish.HaveIconveyed?”“Yes,youhave,”shoutedthey.“OAllah!Bethewitness,”saidtheHolyProphet(S)andadded,“SomemenamongyouwillbeprecludedfromjoiningmeontheDivinePool.Iwillthensaythattheyaremycompanions.Iwillbeanswered,‘Youdonotknowwhattheycommittedafteryou.’Iwillcomment:Faraway!Faraway!”On the last day of Tashriq, Allah revealed the Surah of al-Nasr (No. 110). The Holy Prophet (S)understoodthathewouldleavethislifeinashorttime.Hedeclaredthatpeopleshouldgatherinal-KhayfMasjid for the prayer.When people came there, he addressed, “All praise and thanks be toAllah.Allahmaybloomaservantwhowilllistentoandunderstandmywordsandconveythemtotheabsent.It happens that a bearer of knowledge be illiterate and a bearer of knowledgemay carry it to a

more knowledgeable one. Muslim’s hearts should never act unfaithfully in three matters; sincereperformanceofAllah’sduties,givingadvicetoMuslims’Imamsandcommittingtotheircongruity.Theircongruityisbinding.Thebelieversarebrothersofequalblood.Theleastamongthemcanbeartheirsituation.They are one hand against their enemies. O people! I am leaving among you the two weighty

things.”“Whatarethetwoweightythings,Allah’smessenger?”wonderedpeople.TheHolyProphet(S)explained,“TheyaretheBookofAllahandmypeople—myhousehold.TheKnowerofsubtleties—theAll-awarehasinformedmethatthesetwowillneverseparateuntiltheyjoinmeontheDivinePool.Theirjoiningwillbelikethejoiningoftheforefingersofmytwohands,notthejoiningoftheforefingerandthenextonesincealittlespacemaybeleft.”SomeoftheSahabahspoketoeachotherthatMuhammadintendedtodedicatetheleadershiptohishousehold. Four of them traveled to Makkah and entered the Ka`bah where they concluded anagreement on preventing the Ahl al-Bayt from holding any position of leadership as soon asMuhammadwouldbedeadorassassinated.Hence,AllahrevealedtoHisProphet(S),“Orhavetheysettled an affair?Then, surely,Weare the settlers.Ordo they think thatWedonothearwhat theyconcealandtheirsecretdiscourses?Aye!Andourmessengerswiththemwritedown.43/79-80”Al-Bukhariinal-Sahih5/126recordsthefollowing:

Abu-BakrahnarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,“TimehasrotatedassameasthefirstdayonwhichtheLordcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.Ayearisoftwelvemonthsfourofwhichareholy—threeare successive; Dhu’l-Qa`dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab, which fallsbetween Jumada and Sha`ban. Which month is this?” “Allah and His Messenger are the mostknowledgeable,”weanswered.TheHolyProphet(S)pausedforaconsiderablewhilethatwethoughthewouldcallanothernametothatmonth.“IsitnotDhu’l-Hijjah?”askedhe.“Yes,itis,”wereplied.“Whichlandisthis?”askedhe.“AllahandHisMessengerarethemostknowledgeable,”weanswered.TheProphet(S)pausedforaconsiderablewhilethatwethoughthewouldcallanothernametoit.“Isitnotal-Baldah?”askedtheHolyProphet(S).“Yes,itis,”wereplied.“Whatkindofdayistoday?”asked theHolyProphet (S).“AllahandHisMessengerare themostknowledgeable,”weanswered.

TheProphetstoppedtalkingforaconsiderablewhilethatwethoughthewouldcallanothernametoit.“Is itnot theNahr– immolation-Day?”asked theHolyProphet (S).“Yes, it is,”weanswered.TheProphetspoke,“Yoursoulsandestate(Muhammadaddedthat theHolyProphet(S)mightsaid,‘andyourhonor…’)areasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.YouwillmeetyourLordand He will examine your deeds. After me, return not to deviation by beheading each other. Thewitnessshouldinformtheabsent.Itmayhappenthatanindirectreceiverismorecommittedthanthedirect.”Itisnoticeablethatthenarratoruses‘deviation’insteadof‘unbelief’,whichwasmentionedinthe

otherwaysofnarration.Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Bukhari,al-Sahih1/24:…TheHolyProphetsatonthebackofhiscamelwhileamanwascatchingtoitsbridle.“Whatkindofdayis today?”askedhe.Westoppedtalkingforaconsiderablewhile thatwethought thathewouldcall another name to that day. “Is it not theNahrDay?” asked he. “Yes, it is,”we replied. “Whichmontharewein?”askedhe.Westoppedtalkingforaconsiderablewhile thatwethoughthewouldcallanothernametothatmonth.“IsitnotDhu’l-Hijjah?”askedhe.“Yes,itis,”wereplied.TheHolyProphet(S)added,“Yoursouls,estateandhonorareasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.Thewitnessshouldinformtheabsent.Awitnessmayconveytoamorecommittedone.”ThefollowingisquotedfromMuslim,al-Sahih4/41:

…TheHolyProphet (S)descended themountainandaddressed,“Yoursoulsandestateareasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.EveryaffairoftheJahiliyahisbeingundermyfeet.Revengeof the Jahiliyah is revoked.The first revenge that Iwill revoke isRabi`ah ibnal-Harith’srevengethatisours.HewassucklinginthequarterofBanu-Sa`dandthetribeofHudhaylkilledhim.UsuryofJahiliyahisrevoked.ThefirstusuryIwanttorevokeisours,whichisal-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalib’s.Watch your Lord during treating your women. You have taken them by the trust ofAllah.Andyou have consummated their privates by theword ofAllah.Your rights imposed uponthem are that they should not permit anyone you dislike to sit on your furniture (i.e. enter yourhouses).Iftheydoso,youarepermittedtobeatthemnotheavily.Theirrightsimposeduponyouarethat you save their alimony and clothing in an acceptableway. I am leaving among youwhatwillprotectyouagainstdeviationaslongasyoucommityourselvesto.ItistheBookofAllah.Youwillbeaskedaboutme.Whatwillyouanswer?”“Weconfessthatyouhaveconveyed,accomplishedandadvised,”shoutedpeople.Asheraisedhisforefingertotheheavensandshookittowardspeople,theHolyProphetsaidthreetimes,“OAllah!Bethewitness.”IbnMajahrecordsthesamepreviousnarrationwithanaddition.Thefollowingisrecordedbyal-

Hakiminal-Mustadrak1/77:TheHolyProphet(S)deliveredaspeechsaying,“OPeople!IwillprecedeyoutotheDivinePool.ItisapoolofadistanceassameasthatbetweenKufahandtheBlackStone-oftheKa`bah-.Hisvesselsareasmanyasstars.Assomepeoplefrommynationwillapproach,amanwillcomeoutandoccludethemfrombeingclosetome.Anothergroupwillbeoccluded,too.Nonewillescapebutafewgroupthatarelikescatteredanimalsinacattle.”“WillIbeoneofthem,Allah’sProphet(S)?”askedAbu-Bakr. “No, youwill not,” answered theHoly Prophet (S), “Theywill be people from the cominggenerationswhowillmovebackward.”[Al-Hakimcomments:]AccordingtothecriteriaofthetwoShaykhs-Muslimandal-Bukhari-,thisisanauthenticnarration.Yet,theydidnotrecordit.Al-HajjajibnMuhammadhasreporteditfromal-Layth.IbnMajah,inal-Sunan2/1016,recordsthefollowing:

…`AbdullahibnMas`udnarratedthatwhiletheHolyProphet(S)wasonthebackofhisshe-camelin`Arafat,hesaid,“Doyourealizewhichday,monthandlandarethese?”“Theseareholyday,month

andland,”answeredthey.“Yourestateandsoulsareasholyamongyouasthismonth,landandday,”said theHolyProphet (S) and thenwenton, “Iwillprecedeyou to theDivinePool and Iwill takeprideinyoubeforetheothernations.Blackennotmyface.Iwillsavesomepeopleandsomewillbetakenawayfromme.Iwillsay,‘OLord!Thosearemycompanions.’ButIwillbeanswered:Youdonotknowwhattheydidafteryou.”AccordingtoMajma`al-Zawa`id,thisisanauthenticreport.IbnMajah,too,recordsthefollowinginal-Sunan2/1300:

Title:AfterMe,ReturnNotToAtheismByBeheadingEachOther:Jariribn`AbdullahnarratedthatduringtheFarewellHajj,theHolyProphet(S)askedpeopletokeepsilent.Hethensaid,“Afterme,returnnottoatheismbybeheadingeachother.”Ibn `Umar narrated that the Holy Prophetstated, “Woe is you! After me, return not to atheism bybeheadingeachother.”Al-Sannajal-Ahmasinarrated that theHolyProphetstated,“Iwillprecedeyou to theDivinePool. Iwilltakeprideinyouamongtheothernations.Afterme,donotfighteachother.”AccordingtoMajma`al-Zawa`id,thisisanauthenticreportwithtrustfulnarrators.Thefollowingisrecordedbyal-Tirmidhiinal-Sunan2/62:

…Abu-UmamahnarratedthatduringtheFarewellHajj,IheardtheHolyProphetsaying,“BewareofyourdutytoAllahandperformthefive–obligatory-prayersandfastinthatmonth–ofRamadan-anddefraytheZakatandcomplywithyourleadersandyouwillbetakentotheParadiseofyourLord.”Abu-Umamahdeclared thathehadheard thissayingfromtheHolyProphet (S)whenhewas thirtyyearsold.Abu-`Isa decides this narration as qualifiedwith a rather doubtful narrator.Others, however, havedecideditasauthentic.Inal-MusnadbyAhmadibnHanbal5/412,thefollowingisrecorded:

…AmanfromtheSahabahnarratedthattheHolyProphet(S)wasonthebackofhisredshe-camelwhenheasked,‘Doyourealizewhatkindofdayistoday?’‘ItistheNahrDay,’answeredwe.‘Youare true,’ replied theHolyProphet (S), ‘It is theGrandHajjDay.Whichmonth is it?’ ‘It isDhu’l-Hijjah,’ answeredwe. ‘You are true,’ commented theHolyProphet (S), ‘It is the palatialmonth ofAllah.Doyouknowwhichlandisthis?’‘ItistheHolyPrecinct,’answeredwe.‘Youaretrue,’statedtheHolyProphet(S),‘Yoursoulsandestateareasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.(Or:assameasthesanctificationofthisday,monthandland.)IwillprecedeyoutotheDivinePool.Iwilllookatyoutakingprideamongtheothernations.Blackennotmyface.Youhaveseenandlistened tome.Youwill be asked aboutme.Hewho deliberately forges lies againstmewill havesoughthimselfaplaceinHellfire.Iwillsavesomepeopleandotherswillbetakenawayfromme.Iwillsay:OLord!Theyaremycompanions.ButIwillbeanswered:Youdonotknowwhattheydidafteryou.ThefollowingisquotedfromMajma`al-Zawa`id3/265:

Title:SermonsoftheHajj:Abu-Harrah al-Raqqashi narrated the following on the authority of his uncle: In themiddle of theTashriqdays,IwascatchingtheriddleoftheHolyProphet(S)’sshe-camel.Hethensaid,“Opeople!Doyourealizewhichday,monthandlandarethese?”“Theyareholyday,holymonthandholyland,”answeredpeople.“Yoursouls,estateandhonorsareasholyamongyouasthisdayinthismonthonthislanduntilthedayonwhichyouwillmeetyourLord.Listentomeandyouwilllive.Wrongnoteachother.Wrongnoteachother.Wrongnoteachother.ItisillicitforanyoneofyoutohavefromaMuslim’spropertyunlesssatisfactionisobtained.EverybloodandestateofJahiliyahshouldbeundermyfeetuntil theResurrectionDay.Thefirst revengeIwant to revoke isRabi`ah ibnAl-Harith ibn`Abdal-Muttalibwhobelongedtous.HewasababyatthetribeofLaythwhenthetribeofHudhaylkilledhim.EveryusurythatwasinJahiliyahisrevoked.TheExaltedLordhasorderedthatthefirst

usury toberevoked is thatofal-`Abbas ibn`Abdal-Muttalibwhobelongs tous.Youpossessyourcapitalneitherwrongingnorwronged.TimehasrotatedassameasthefirstdayonwhichtheLordcreated the heavens and the earth. ‘Surely, the number of months with Allah is twelve months inAllah’sordinancesincethedaywhenHecreatedtheheavensandtheearth,ofthesefourbeingsacred.That is the right reckoning; therefore,wrongnot eachother during them.’Afterme, returnnot toatheismbybeheadingeachother.Satanhasdespairedofbeingobeyedbytheperformersofprayers;butheisworkingoncreatingantagonismamongyou.FearAllahasyoutreatyourwomen.Theyarerestrainedatyou.Theyhaverightsimposeduponyouandyouhaverightsimposeduponthem.Therights imposeduponthemarethat theyshouldnotpermitanyoneto takeyourplaces inyourbedsandtheyarenotallowedtopermitanyoneyoudisliketoenteryourhouses.Ifyouexpectdesertionofawoman,youshouldadmonish,desertinthebedandthenbeatineffectively.Theirrightsarethatyoushould save their alimony and clothing. You have taken them by the trust of Allah and you haveconsummated their privates by the word of Allah. He who had a trust should deliver it to thedepositor.”The Holy Prophet (S) then opened his hand and said, “Have I conveyed? Have I conveyed? Thewitnessshouldinformtheabsent.Anindirectreceivermaybemorereceptivethanadirecthearer.”Relatingthisnarration,Abu-DawudmentionsthestatementsofbeatingwomenonlywhileAhmad

(ibn Hanbal) and Abu-Harrah al-Raqqashi record it completely. Abu-Dawud, however, decides itsauthenticityandIbnMu`inconsidersitasdoubtful.Oneofthenarratorsis`AliibnZaydaboutwhomexpertshavenotedmanypointsofweakness.Abu-Nadrah narrated the following on the authority of a man who heard the Holy Prophet (S)’ssermonaddressedinthemiddleoftheTashriqdays:TheHolyProphetstated,“Opeople!YourLordisOneandyourfatherisone,too.AnArabindividualshould not be preferred to a non-Arab and a black should not be preferred to a white except bycriteriaofpiety.Have I conveyed?”“Yes!TheMessengerofAllahhasconveyed,”people shouted.“Whatkindofdayistoday?”askedtheHolyProphet(S).“Itisaholyday,”peopleanswered.“Whichlandisthis?”askedtheHolyProphet(S).“Itisaholyland,”peopleshouted.“AllahtheExaltedhasmadeyoursoulsandestate—theHolyProphet(S)mighthaveadded‘andhonors’tohisstatement—asholyasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.HaveIconveyed?”saidtheHolyProphet(S).“Yes!ThemessengerofAllahhasconveyed,”peopleadmitted.“Thewitnessshouldinformtheabsent,”orderedtheHolyProphet(S).Toaseriesofauthenticnarrators,Ahmadrelatesthepreviousreportinal-Musnad5/72.

Ibn`UmarnarratedthatwhenthisSurahwasrevealedtotheHolyProphet(S)inMinainthemiddleoftheTashriqdays,herecognizedtheimminenceofhisdeath.Herodehisanimal,al-Qaswa`,andstoodamongpeopleinal-`Aqabah.AgreatnumberofMuslimsencompassedhim.Hethensaid,“AllpraiseandthanksbetoAllah.Opeople!AnyrevengethatwasinJahiliyahisannulled.ThefirstrevengetobeannulledisthebloodofRabi`ahibnal-Harithwhobelongedtous.ThetribeofHudhaylkilledhimwhenhewasababyatthetribeofLayth.Likewise,anyusurythatwasconcludedintheJahiliyahisrevoked.Thefirstusurytoberevokedisthatofal-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalibwhobelongstous.Opeople! Time has rotated as same as it waswhen the Lord created the heavens and the earth. ThenumberofmonthswithAllahistwelve,fourofwhichareholy.TheyareRajab,whichfallsbetweenJumada and Sha`ban, then come Dhu’l-Qa`dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram. That is the rightreckoning;therefore,wrongnoteachotherduringthem.‘Postponingofthesacredmonthsisonlyanadditioninunbelief,wherewiththosewhodisbelieveareledastray,violatingitoneyearandkeepingitsacredanother,thattheymayagreethenumberofmonthsthatAllahhasmadesacred.’TheywereviolatingSafarayearandkeepingMuharramsacredtheother.Thatisthepostponingofthesacredmonths.Opeople!Hewhohadatrustshoulddeliverittothedepositor.Opeople!Satandespairedof

beingobeyedonthislandinthelastoftimebuthehasbeenpleasedtobeobeyedinyourinsignificantdeeds. Take care of your religion against your insignificant deeds.O people!Women are in yourhands. You have taken them by the trust of Allah and consummated their privates by theword ofAllah.Youhaverightsimposeduponthemandtheyhaverightsimposeduponyou.Withinyourrightsisthattheyshouldnotletanyonetakeyourplacesinyourbedsandtheyshouldnotdisobeyyouinacceptable matters. If they do so, then you have no authority on them. They should enjoy theiralimonyandclothinginanacceptableway.Ifyoubeatthem,youshouldnotinjure.Itisillicitforanyofyoutohavefromhisbrother ’spropertyunlesssatisfactionisobtained.Opeople!Amongyou,Iam leavingwhatwill protect you against deviation if you adhere to. It is the Book ofAllah.Youshouldfollowit.Opeople!Whatkindofdayistoday?”“Itisasacredday,”answeredthey.“Whichlandisthis?”askedtheHolyProphet(S).“Itisasacredland,”answeredthey.“Whichmonthisthis?”asked theHolyProphet (S).“It isa sacredmonth,”answered they.“AlmightyAllahhasmadeyoursouls,estateandhonorsassacredasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.Thewitnessshouldinformtheabsent.TherewillbenoProphet(S)aftermeandtherewillbenonationafteryou.”TheProphet(S)thenraisedhishandstotheheavensandsaid,“OAllah!Bethewitness.”InthemajorreferencebooksofHadith,apartofthisreportisrecorded.Al-Bazzaralsorecordsthisnarration.However,Musaibn`Ubaydah,thedoubtful,iswithintheseriesofthenarrators.ThefollowingisrecordedinMajma`al-Zawa`id3/272:

…Al-`Adda`ibnKhalidibn`Amribn`AmirnarratedthatintheFarewellHajj,hewassittingundertheminbarfromwhichtheHolyProphetsaid,“AllpraiseandthanksbetoAllah.Allahsays,‘Oyoumen!Wehavecreatedyouofamaleanda female,andmadeyou tribesandfamilies thatyoumayknoweachother;surely,themosthonorableofyouwithAllahistheoneamongyoumostcarefulofhisduty.’AnArabshouldnotbepreferredtoanon-Arab,anon-ArabshouldnotbepreferredtoanArab,ablackshouldnotbepreferredtoawhiteandawhiteshouldnotbepreferredtoablackexceptoncriteriaofpiety.OpeopleofQuraysh!DonotshouldertheworldlyaffairswhilepeopleshouldertheHereafter.IwillnotavailyouintheleastbeforeAllah.”In al-Mu`jam al-Kabir, a-Tabarani relates this narration to doubtful narrators. Previously,we havereferredtoanauthenticdocumentationofthisreport.Abu-Qabilah narrated that in the Farewell Hajj, the Holy Prophet (S) delivered a sermon saying,“Therewill be no Prophet (S) afterme and therewill be no nation after you. Revere your Lord,performthefive–obligatory-prayers,fastinthemonth–ofRamadan-andcomplywiththeleadersandyouwillentertheParadiseofyourLord.”Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Darimi’sal-Sunan2/47:

…TheHolyProphetstated,“Yourbloodandestateareasholyasthisdayinthismonthonthisland.Everymatter thatwasregulated inJahiliyah isundermyfeet.TherevengeofJahiliyah is revoked.ThefirstrevengeIwillrevokeistheRabi`ahibnAl-Harith’s.ThetribeofHudhaylkilledhimwhenhewasababyatthequarterofBanu-Sa`d.UsuryofJahiliyahisrevoked.ThefirstusuryIwillrevokeisal-`Abbasibn`Abdal-Muttalib’s.WatchtheLordduringtreatingyourwomen.YouhavetakenthembythetrustofAllahandconsummatedtheirprivatesbyHisword.Yourrightsimposeduponthemarethat theyshouldnot letanyone takeyourplaces inyourbeds. If theydo,youshouldbeat them,yetineffectively.Theirrightsimposeduponyouarethatyoushouldsavetheiralimonyandclothinginanacceptableway.Youwillbeaskedaboutme,whatwillyouanswer?”“Weacknowledgeyouhaveconveyed,accomplishedandadvised,”shoutedpeople.TheProphet (S) raisedhis forefinger to theheavensandshookitatpeoplesayingthrice,“OAllah!Bethewitness.”…etc.Inal-Sunan2/67,thefollowingisrecorded:

`Abd al-Rahman ibnAbi-Bakrah narrated on the authority of his father that on that day, theHolyProphetsatonacamel,orshe-camelperhaps,whosebridlewasheldbyamanandasked,“Whatkind

ofdayistoday?”Wekeptsilentforaconsiderabletimethatwethoughthewouldcallanothernametoit.“IsitnottheNahrDay?”assertedtheHolyProphet(S).“Yes,itis,”answeredwe.“Whichmonthisthis?”askedhe…etc.FirstBasisTheHolyProphet (S)’s indications to thisbasisare tooclear to requireexplanations.Moreover,

manytextsregardingthetopichavebeenalreadydemonstrated.SecondBasisApreliminarysightatthetextsrelatingtheHolyProphet(S)’slastsermonsgivestheimpression

that the first five principles of this basis, namely the unity of the Ummah, have been the mostimportant, if not theonly, topicof the sermons.Muslims repeatedparagraphsof theHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsdealingwiththistopicsooveragain.ThisisbythereasonthatthesocietyinwhichtheHoly Prophet (S) lived was of an extreme racial discrimination. It was prevailed by laws ofpredominanceandpower.Thedominant,whetheraruler,atribe,aknightorevenavagrant,isalwaysthe right since he could overcome even if he used means of invasion, assassination, robbery,usurpationortrickery.The Islamic legislation repealedall these lawsanddeclaredequityofpeoplebefore the law.All

sortsofabusingtheprivaterightswereprohibitedandaconcentrationonrespectingsouls,estateanddignity of peoplewas legislated. This iswhy theymemorized thesewords in away distinguishedfrom the other topics and words. They were highly admired by these ethics and principles. ForfaithfulMuslims, these principles formed the radical solution of the issue of invasion andmurdersufferedinthepre-Islamicera.Theseinstructions,formedinahighlyeloquentdivineandPropheticstyle,hadagreatinfluenceon

the regulations of respecting personal character, estate and opinion after the Holy Prophet (S)’sdecease.Withouttheseinstructions,Muslimsocietywouldhavebeenengagedinasituationextremelyworse than what had actually occurred. In the same manner, the Jahiliyah regulations, regardingassociationwithhumanity,wouldhavefloatedtothesurfaceanew.ItisnoticeablethattheHolyProphet(S)’simmaculatehouseholdhaveprecededpeopleinthefield

of regarding the humankind and their legal freedom. Imam `Ali (a.s.)was the only ruler, after theHolyProphet(S),whodidnotusemartiallawsoranyexceptionallaw,evenwithhisrivalsandthosewhomutiniedagainsthim.Moreover,althoughhewasengagedinthreewarsthatcoveredtheentireperiodofhisruling,hedidnotresorttoviolenceoranyexceptionalpolicy.On the other hand, Abu-Bakr and `Umar reverted to means of power and surmounting against

AnsarinSaqifahofBanu-Sa`idah.TheywereabouttokillSa`dibn`Abadah.Lateron,theyattackedthegroupwhorefrainedfrompayinghomagetothem.ThegroupweregatheringintheHolyProphet(S)’shouseforprovidingtheirconsolationtohisfamilyand,meanwhile,theHolyProphet(S)’sbodyhadnotbeenputinthegraveyetwhenthebandthreatenedthemsettingthehouseonfireiftheywouldinsistonconfining themselves thereandevadeswearing loyalty to thenewleader.Whenthegroupwerelateingoingoutandleavingthehouse,thatbandencompassedthehousewithfirewoodandsetthedooronfire…etc.The sixthprincipleof thisbasis; theprincipleofmaintainingproperties and soulsof thosewho

speakoutthecreedofIslam(shahadah;ThereisnogodbutAllah),wasrelatedinthisform:Ihavebeenorderedtofightpeopleuntiltheysay‘ThereisnogodbutAllah.’Iftheyspeakitout,theywillprotecttheirsoulsandestateagainstmeexceptinlawfulstates.AllahthenwillbetheJudge.”[2]Asamatteroffact,thisprincipleisofthreedimensions:First,anyonewhospeaksoutthecreedsofIslam,apartfromreligionornationality,isconsidered

asMuslimwhose soul, estate and honormust be kept in sacredness.Under definite circumstancesdefinedbytheIslamiclaw,suchasfallingunderthetitleof‘thedespoticparty’,doinganevilintheland, committing amurder, apostatizing from Islam,perpetrating adulteryor the likeoffenses, thesoulwillbelawfullyviolated.Second,JewsandChristiansareexemptedfromthisrule.Theyenjoyspecialregulationsincaseof

peaceorwar.Third,theHolyProphet(S)informedhispeoplethathehadrestrictedhimselftothedivineorders

ofjihad-strugglingfortheLord’ssake-.Hismissionfromthisjihadwastocompletetherevelationof theHolyQur ’an and to activate the declaration of the two creeds of Islam. In otherwords, hiscallingwastoformthegeneralappearanceofthisnation.HewasnotgiventheordersoffightingthedeviateorthosewhomisleadMuslims,sincethissortoffightingisreckonedwiththejihadfortheinterpretationoftheHolyQur ’an.ThissortofjihadcameaftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdeparture.TheseventhprincipleissealingProphethoodwiththeHolyProphet(S)andsealingthenationswith

his nation. It is the principle of the prevalence ofMuhammad’s doctrine over the doctrines of thepreviousProphets.ItalsorefutesthemisclaimsofProphethoodapartofwhichemergedduringhisreignwhileotherscameforththereafter.Furthermore,thisprinciplegrantstheUmmahthehonorofsealingtheProphets’nations.Itconfines itwith theresponsibilityofguidingtheothernations.TheHoly Prophet (S) outlined the general strings of worshipping the Lord, performing the prayers,fastingandcomplyingwiththeleaders.ItisnotunlikelythatthereporterrelatedonlytheparagraphshecouldmemorizeandthathemissedtheHolyProphet(S)’sreferencetoothers,suchastheZakatandtheritualHajj.The most distinguishable point in this principle is that the Holy Prophet (S) refers to the

compliance with the rulers. When Almighty Allah commands us to comply with a personunconditionally,thiswilldefinitelymeanthatthepersonbesinless;inotherwords,heneitherwrongsanynorsaysbutthetruth.Sincethisinstructionisemptyofanyconditionsorqualifications,itismostsurelythathereferstotheTwelveImamswhomaredivinelynominatedandpredicted.Theeighthprinciple—theHolyProphet (S)being thewitnessonhispeople in theHereafterand

they will join him on the Divine Pool—is mentioned in various narrations. Some reporters havementioneditintheformof,“IwillprecedeyoutotheDivinePoolandIwilltakeprideinyoubeforetheothernations.Blackennotmyface.”Inothernarrations,thefollowingformisrecorded:“Iwilltakeprideinyouamongtheothernations.Afterme,donotfighteachother.”ThisisauniquestylepersistingthatpeoplewilljointheirProphet(S)beforetheirLordandeachwillbeinneedforadrinkfromtheKawtharPool.ThatdrinkwillsaveagainstanyfurtherthirstandmakethebodyfitenoughtoenterParadise.Thisinstructionissimilartoafather ’ssayingtohissons,“Fulfillmywill.Iamleavingyou.You

willjoinmewhenIwillbehavingagreatfortune.Youwillbelivinginpoverty.Iwillsurelyrealizethepersonsamongyouwhowillkeepmywilland,similarly,Iwillrealizethedissidents.”Theninthprinciple—thenecessityofaccuracyinactingandtheadmonishingagainstcommitting

the insignificant actions that lead to deviation—attracts attentions to a remarkable rule in theindividual and social behaviors. It is the rule that deviation beginswith an insignificant deed or agroupof simpledeeds seenasmeaninglessandunimportant.Thesedeedswill lead toothers,untilthey lead to the abyss of the worldly or the supernal devastation. This fact is practicable in bothindividualandcollectivesituations.AMuslimmaypermithimself togazeata foreign lady thathelikesandgiveshimselfthelicensetoexchangeconversationwithherandtoparticipateherinsomeactsand,finally,thiswillleadhimtoperpetratetheobscenity.A man may permit himself to befriend a bad man. He neglects the sounds of his religious

consciousnessandtheadviceofhisassociatesuntilhewillbeledtosinkintheoceanofwronging

people,deviationandcorruption.Anationmay overlook assails of their enemies in states of political, economic or cultural power.Thisconcernwillleadtheenemiestopredominateandprevailonthisnation.Asocietymayoverlookanaspectofcorruptionthatfirstoccursinacertainpointoramongacertaingroup.A society may overlook a law dictatorially issued by the ruler or his men. This will lead to acomprehensiveinjusticethatdrivesthesocietytowardsputrescence.Theinsignificantsinsarethoseunimportantsituationsandbehaviorsformingtheinvisibleseedsof

thegianttreesofevilonindividualandsociallevels.Consequently,referencebooksofbothsectsofMuslimshavereferredtotheHolyProphet(S)’smanyexamplesonthispoint:Inal-Kafi2/288,wereadthefollowing:Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: The Holy Prophet (S) resided in a wasteland and asked hiscompanionstofetchfirewood.Theyapologizedthatthelandhadbeenbarren.“Trytofindasmuchaspossible,”orderedtheHolyProphet(S).Theyfetchedagoodquantityandprovidedthesumbeforehim.Ashesawtheview,theHolyProphet(S)commented,“Thisisthewayhowsinsgather.Bewareoftheinsignificantsins.Everythinghasanobserver.Theobserverofthesesinsrecordswhatevertheyactedandtheirdeeds,andeverythingisregisteredinaclearrecording.”[3]Theprevioussayingdealswiththequantitativeaccumulationoftheinsignificantilldeedsandsins.

Theyshowhowthesedeedschangeintoagreatdangeragainstthelivesofindividualsandsocieties.Thefollowingsayingsdealwiththequalitativeaccumulationoftheinsignificantsinsinthecoreandpersonalityoftheindividualsandsocieties:Al-Kulayni,inal-Kafi2/287,recordsthefollowing:ImamJa`faral-Sadiq(a.s.)stated,“Bewareof the insignificantsins.Theyareunforgivable.”“Whataretheinsignificantsins?”askedthenarrator.TheImamexplained,“Amancommitsasinandwishesifhehadnotcommittedothers.”[4]One of the remarkable bases inferred form this instruction is that Satan, when despairs of

controlling a nation through misguiding them in the grand issues, takes the road of ruining anddeviating through the insignificant deeds. This is the meaning of the Holy Prophet (S)’s saying,“Satan despaired of being obeyed on this land, but hewill be obeyed in some sins that you deeminsignificant.Hewillbepleasedbythem.”[5]SatandespairedofdemolishingthefortifiedcastleandthehandsomestructureofIslamerectedby

theHolyProphet(S);therefore,hewenttowardsprevailingontheindividualstodragasinglebrickof that building incessantly. This process resulted in dragging all the constituents of that greatstructure.Another outstandingmatter, deduced from `Ali ibn Ibrahim’s narration, is that the obedience to

Satan in the insignificant sins is adoration to him.Thismeans that thosewho create deviance in asocietyareservingSatan,nottheLord.Asaresult,theyraisetheslogantochangingfromservingtheLord into serving Satan. This is the Holy Prophet (S)’s saying, “But he is pleased to be obeyedthroughyourinsignificantdeeds.IfSatanisobeyed,heisthenserved.”TheHolyProphet(S)’sdeclarationthatSatanispleasedtobeobeyedthroughtheinsignificantsins

is an information tellingSatan’s satisfaction for the success progressed in his project of deviatingpeople.ThisfactisinconformitywiththeexegesisofAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“And certainlySatan found truehis conjecture concerning them, so they followhim, except a

partyofthebelievers.34:20”TheAhlal-Baytregardedpeople’sstruggleonpoweraftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdepartureasthe

mostmenacinginsignificantsin.InBiharal-Anwar28/217,wereadthefollowing:Imamal-Baqir (a.s.), throughexplainingAlmightyAllah’s saying, “Corruptionhasappeared in the

landandtheseaonaccountofwhatthehandsofmenhavewrought,30/41”said:ByAllahIswear,thatcorruptionstartedwhenAnsarsuggestedtoelectaleaderfromthemandthepeopleofQurayshelectanotherfromthem.Thetenthprinciple—warningagainstforgingliesagainsttheHolyProphet(S)andtheinsistence

oninvestigatingwhateverisattributedtohim—hasbeenmentionedthroughthenarrationofAhmadibnHanbal.InSunniandShiitereferencebooksofHadith,thisquestionismentionedimportunatelymeaningthattheproblemofforgingliesagainsttheHolyProphet(S)existedduringhislifetime.Hetherefore insisted that this problemwould certainly find a larger scope after his departure and thenumberofthefabricatorswouldincreaseafterhim.A deep look in this problem leads to an abhorrent feeling towards such fabricators since their

satanic action defames and deforms Islam and precludes the next generations from receiving itsgenuineness.AmoreseriousmatteristhefactthattheHolyProphet(S)wasnotgiventheordersofunmasking and punishing such fabricators for their past or coming forgery. As an acceptabletreatmentof thisproblem, theprocedureofwarning themagainst forging liesandwarningpeopleagainstreceivingsuchfalsificationwastaken.Itisevidentthatsuchaprocedureaffectsonlyinaquantitativereductionoftheproblem.Hence,the

Holy Prophet (S)’s recognition of the problem’s existence and prediction of its continuity andincreaseafterhimareproofsonthefactthatheconstitutedasufficienttreatmentfortheproblem,bymeansofdivineinstructions.Thistreatmentwastheobligationofpresentingeverytextascribedtohimbeforethetwoweighty

things thathe left inhisnation—theBookofAllahandhishousehold.Any text thatcontradicts theBookofAllahmustbedecided asworthless since theHolyProphet (S)doesneverbelie theHolyQur ’an. Correspondingly, every text that contradictswhatever is asserted by his progenywho arebeing incessantlywith theHolyQur ’an isworthless, too.TheAhl al-Bayt are perpetuallywith theHolyQur ’ansincetheyaretheheirsoftheHolyProphet(S)andtheexplicatorsofhisknowledge.ThirdBasisThroughvariousparagraphsoftheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsoftheFarewellHajj,theprinciples

of thisbasearementioned.Previously,wehavereferred to thefulfillmentof trustsandthe lawsofheritage,bloodmoneyandtheHajj.Atanyrate,therewereotherlawsmentionedinthesermons.In spite of the opposite factors, the main element in the materialization of the cultural unity oftheUmmah,disregardingracialandnationaldifference,wastheunityoftheircreedandlegislation.ItisanundeniablefactthatIslamcouldachieveaunityofconceptionsandbehavioramongpeopleinaformunattainableforallstatesandcivilizations.FourthBasis-TheprincipleofthepredictionofTwelveImamsfromtheAhlal-Bayt.

- The principle of the importunate adherence to the Qur ’an and the Ahl al-Bayt; the twoweightythings.-Theprincipleofnominating`AliasthenextleaderofthisnationandthefirstoftheTwelveImams.-Theprincipleofkeepingonperformingtheobligatoryritesandthecompliancewiththeleaders.-TheprincipleofimmortalizingthetreatyofQurayshandKinanahonblockadingtheHashimites.-TheprincipleofwarningpeopleofQurayshagainstplayingthetyrantaftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdeparture.-TheprincipleofwarningtheSahabahagainstbreakingfaithandstrugglingonpower.Formerly,wehave referred to thisdiscussion through the renditionof theHadiths regarding the

Twelve Imams. During the Farewell Hajj sermons, the Holy Prophet (S) referred to this point

assuredly.ItisinadmissibleforthesanetoacceptthattheHolyProphet(S)hadconcealedtheidentityofthosedivinelynominatedImams,orthatheprovidedthismatterforpredictingtheircoming.TheseclaimshavebeenoriginatedbypeopleofQurayshandtheirhirelingnarrators.ShiitereferencebooksofHadithhaveattestedthatthesecondprincipleoftheHolyProphet(S)’s

persistingontheadherencetothetwoweightythings—theQur ’anandhisprogeny—relatesthathereferredtothismatterthroughtheSermonofGhadir,theal-KhayfMasjidSermonand,presumably,theothers.`AliibnIbrahim’snarrationassuresthisfact.Comprehensively,SunnireferencebooksofHadith have recorded theHolyProphet (S)’s assertion on the adherence to the twoweighty thingsduring the Sermon ofGhadir only. They have decided the authenticity of the reports relating thistopic. Al-Tabari compiled a two-volume book in this regard; he refers to the various series ofnarratorsandwaysofdocumentationofthesermoninvolved.RegardingtheothersermonsoftheFarewellHajj,al-Tirmidhi,inal-Sunan5/328,records:Jabiribn`AbdullahhasnarratedthathesawtheHolyProphet(S)onhisshe-camel;al-Qaswa`,ontheDay of `Arafat, addressing, “O people! I am leaving among youwhatwill constantly protect youagainstdeviationifonlyyouadhereto;theBookofAllahandmypeople;myhousehold.”[6]ItisalsonoticeablethatanumberofSunnireferencebookshaverecordedtheHolyProphet(S)’s

persistenceontheadherencetotheQur ’anonly,disregardinghishousehold.InMuslim’sal-Sahih4/41,wereadthefollowing:TheHolyProphetsaid:“…Iamleavingamongyouwhatwillprotectyouagainstdeviationaslongasyoucommityourselvesto.ItistheBookofAllah.”[7]ThefollowingformhasbeenrecordedinMajma`al-Zawa`id3/265:

The Holy Prophet said, “…O people! I am leaving among you what will perpetually protect youagainstdeviationifyouonlyadhereto.ItistheBookofAllah.Applyyourselvestoitsinstructions.”Throughascrutinizinglookatthenarrationsinvolved,itiseasilyunderstoodthatthementionof

theAhlal-Baythasbeendeletedinsuchreportsduetothenarrators’oblivionorthefirmsupervisionthat the people of Quraysh imposed upon Hadiths. This is evidenced by the fact that the samereference books have related the same text completely in other positions.As a rule, the imperfectshouldbecomparedtotheperfect.Muslim,al-Bayhaqi,IbnMajahandal-HaythamihaverecordedvariousnarrationsregardingtheHolyProphet (S)’s repetitive importunate recommendation of the adhering to the Holy Qur ’an and hisprogenytogether.InMuslim’sal-Sahih7/122,thefollowingisrecorded:Zayd ibnArqamhasnarrated that in aplace called ‘Khumm’and situatedbetweenMakkahand al-Madinah,theHolyProphet(S)addressedtous,“AllpraiseandthanksbetoAllah…Opeople!Iamnomorethanamortal.TheapostleofmyLord(theangelofdeath)isabouttocometomeandIwillrespond. I am leaving among you twoweighty things. First is theBook ofAllah that contains theguidance and the illumination. Hold fast on the Book of Allah and adhere to it. Second is myhousehold.IbindyouwiththeLordinthequestionofmyhousehold.”Herepeateditthrice.Husayn asked, “OZayd!Who are his household?Arehiswomen included?” “Yes, hiswomen areincludedwith his household,” answeredZayd, “But his household are exclusively thosewhom areprohibited from receiving alms.” “Who are they?”wonderedHusayn. “They are the sons of `Ali,`Aqil, Ja`far and `Abbas,” identified Zayd. “All those are prohibited from receiving alms?” askedHusayn.“Yes,theyallare,”repliedZayd.[8]InMajma`al-Zawa`id1/170,thefollowingisrecorded:

ZaydibnThabithasnarratedthattheHolyProphetstated,“Iamleavingamongyoutwosuccessors;theBook ofAllah andmy household. Theywill never leave each other until they joinme on the

DivinePool.”[9]He has also recorded it on page 162 of part 9 and commentated that Ahmad recorded it in an

acceptabledocumentation.Abu-Dawud has not referred to a clear narration respecting the twoweighty things; rather, he haswrittenanindependenttitle—‘al-Mahdi’inal-Sunan2/309,inwhichhehasrecordedtheHadithoftheTwelve Imamsand theHolyProphet (S)’spredictionof thecomingof Imamal-Mahdiwhowouldbelongtotheoffspringof`AliandFatimah(a.s.).HehasalsorelatedtheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,“Evenif therewillbeonlyasingledayfromtheageofthisearth,Allahwillsendamanfrommyhouseholdwhowillfillinitwithjusticeinthesamewayasitwouldbefilledinwithwrong.”The following point is provided as evidence on our claim that the Holy Prophet (S) ordered

people,duringtheFarewellHajjsermons,toadheretohishouseholdinadditiontotheHolyQur ’an.Hisstatementsarethemosteloquentsincetheyenjoyuniquespecificationsoneofwhichisthatthereare definite expressions dedicated to definite occasions. This point is common between the HolyQur ’anandtheHadiths.TheHolyProphet(S)’sexpression,‘…protectyouagainstdeviationifonlyyouadhereto…’isindividuallydedicatedtotheinstructionoftheadherencetotheHolyQur ’anandhishousehold.Hehadneverusedthisexpressiononanyoccasionexcepttherecentlyconcernedone.Inthesamemanner,theexpression,‘Iamleavingamongyouthetwoweightythings,’hadneverbeenusedinanysituationsavethis.WhentheHolyProphet(S)gavehisorders tofetchapenandapapersothathewouldrecorda

document ‘protecting perpetually against deviation,’ during his final ailment, people of Qurayshperceived that he had intended to commitMuslims to the compliancewith theHoly Imams of hisprogenyinawrittenform.So,theyrejectedthisorderveryfranklyandinsolently.Insixpositionsofal-Sahih,al-Bukharihasreferredtothisincident.Theotherreferencebooksof

Hadithhavereported`Umar ’stakingprideinplayingthegreatestroleintheprocessofdeprivingtheHolyProphet(S)ofrecordinghiswill.Atanyrate,weaimonlyatattractingtheattentionsto thepoint that the isolatingof theAhlal-Baytfrom theBookofAllah,during reporting somenarrations respecting the sermonsof theFarewellHajj, violates the Prophet (S)’s style and his unequaled expression during his reference to theadherence to theBookofAllahandhishousehold together.Al-Tirmidhi,moreover,hasrelated thetwotogether.Inabstract,nonecandenytheauthentictruththattheHolyProphet(S)predictedthecomingofthe

Twelve Imams and instructed people to adhere to the two weighty things and considered hisimmaculatehousehold—`Ali,Fatimah,al-Hasanandal-Husayn—astheequalsoftheHolyQur ’aninthe field of the compliance with them. All these matters were confirmed in the sermons of theFarewellHajj.TheyhowevermaybedeniedonlybythosewhointendtobefanatictothepeopleofQurayshinthefaceoftheExaltedLordandHisProphet(S).The third principle of this base, which is the declaration of `Ali’s religious and political

succession,isevidentthroughtheHadithofGhadir.Welackenoughscopetorefertothenumerousdocumentations and texts concerning this topic. A great deal of reference books of theology andHadith, beginning with al-Tabari’s al-Wilayah and ending with `Allamah al-Amini’s al-GhadirEncyclopedia,havediscussedthistopicthoroughly.The fourth principle, which is the keeping on the performance of the obligatory rites and the

compliance with the leaders, has been discussed during mentioning paragraphs about the secondbasis.Al-Fakhral-Razi,aswellasmanyothers,haveadmittedthatAlmightyAllahwillneverinstructustocomplywithotherthansinlesspeoplewithoutspecifyingconditions;otherwisethiswillbeaninstructionofdisobedience.ThisadmissioncomesthroughdiscussingAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“Oyewhobelieve!ObeyAllahandobey theApostleand those inauthorityfromamongyou.”Hence,

meninauthorityintendedintheHolyVersemustbesinlessand,similarly,thoseintendedintheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsoftheFarewellHajj,aswellasotheroccasions,mustbesinless.The fifth principle aims at immortalizing the treaty ofQuraysh andKinanah on blockading the

Hashimites.Thishasbeenrecordedinal-Bukhari’sal-Sahih5/92:Abu-HurayrahhasnarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,“Allahwilling,wewillresideinal-Khayf,theplacewheretheyconcludedthetreatyofatheismandsworeonit.”Onpages246and194ofparts4and8,al-Bukharirecordsnarrationsconcerningthesametopic.

Onpage158ofpart2,herecordsanarrationwithamoreevidentpoint:Abu-HurayrahhasnarratedthatontheNahrDay,theHolyProphet(S)wasinMinawhenhestated,“Tomorrow,wewillresideinal-KhayfofBanu-Kinanah,wheretheyconcludedthetreatyofatheismand swore on it.” Hemeant al-Muhassab. People of Quraysh and Kinanah had concluded a treatyagainsttheHashimites,sonsof`Abdal-Muttalibandsonsofal-Muttalib.TheyagreeduponabstainingfromgivinginmarriageormarryinganyindividualbelongingtothesehousesandabstainingfromsellingthemanythingunlesstheygiveuptheHolyProphet(S).Thesamenarrationhasbeenrecorded inMuslim’sal-Sahih4/86andAhmad’sal-Musnad2/322,

237,263,353and540.Ithasbeenalsorecordedinal-Bayhaqi’sal-Sunan5/160,yetinanotherform,inwhichhe comments, “This report is recorded in al-Bukhari’s al-Sahih andMuslim’swhere it isrelatedtoal-Awza`i.”Muslim has actually related it to al-Awza`i, while al-Bukhari to Abu-Hurayrah. It seems that al-Bayhaqihaserredinthispointorthereporthasnotbeenfoundinthecopyofal-Bukhari’sal-Sahihuponwhichwedepend. Inanyevent, thefollowingadditionexists inMuslim’sreport related toal-Awza`i:“…TheyshouldnotgiveinmarriageormarryanyindividualofthesehousesandnodealshouldbeconcludedbetweenthetwopartiesuntiltheygiveuptheHolyProphet(S).”Furthermore,inthetwoformsofthereport,thereisadifferenceintheplaceoftheHolyProphet

(S)’sresidence.Al-BukharimentionsthattheHolyProphet(S)declaredthatstatementwhilehewasinMina,afterperforming theritesof `Arafat,whileal-Tabaranimentions that itoccurred inMakkah,beforethecommencementoftheHajjrites.ThelatterishowevermoreacceptablesinceitaccountsfortheHolyProphet(S)’sconcerninthesubjectandhiscaringforconcentratingonitinMuslims’mentalities.Moreover,hehadresidedinthatplaceandpassedthenightbeforeperformingtheritesof`Arafattherewhenhewasinhiswaytothatmountain.This matter has been previously mentioned during discussing al-Darimi’s narration. All the

Tashriqdays,theHolyProphet(S)residedinthatplace.InMajma`al-Zawa`id3/250,thefollowingisrecorded:

Ibn`AbbashasnarratedthatonedaybeforetheTarwiyahDay,theHolyProphetstated,“Allahwilling,wewillresideinal-Khayf,theplacewheretheatheistsconcludedtheirtreatyandsworeonit.”[10]ThemostremarkablepointinthisdiscussionistheHolyProphet(S)’spurposebeyondreminding

peopleofQuraysh,andMuslimsgenerally,ofagreatincidentthattookplaceinthatplacefourteenyearsago.PeopleofQurayshaimedatburyingthat incidentandmakingpeopleforget it.AllahtheExalted andHisMessenger have intended to eternalize it inMuslims’mentalities and history. TheincidentasawholebringshumiliationtopeopleofQurayshandelevatesproudlytheHolyProphet(S)andtheHashimites.ItisasketchshowingtheceaselesseffortsofthedespoticQurayshitechiefswhocouldachieveunanimityof theclansandconvince the tribesofKinanahwho lodgednear theHolyPrecincttoputtheHashimitesunderacompleteblockade—ablockadethatlastedforlongyears.TheypracticedacomprehensiveeconomicandsocialblockadeagainsttheHashimitesforcoercingthemtogiveMuhammad,theHolyProphet(S),upsothattheywouldbeabletokillhimormakehimretreatfromhisDivineMission.

ThosedespoticchiefsfeltinsublimecheerforachievingagreatsuccessincongregatingtheclansofQurayshandKinanah for that satanicpurpose.Their conferencewasheld in al-Muhassab in al-KhayfofBanu-Kinanahwhere theyswore,byLatand`Uzza,11on theperseveranceon theirgoals.The document theywrotewas signed by eighty chiefs and celebrities. The next day, theywent onapplyingitsparagraphs.Hence,thatblockadelastedforfouryearsandendedafewdaysbeforetheHolyProphet(S)’simmigrationtoal-Madinah.TheHashimites,includingtheunbelievingones,combinedwiththeHolyProphet(S)andtolerated

many years of blockade, poverty, harm and insult in the Col of Abu-Talib. Until Almighty Allahrelievedtheirsufferingbyamiracle,noneofMuslimsparticipatedwiththem.TheHolyProphet (S)aimedatopening thenewMuslims’mindson thehistoryof their religion

andthecostsofthedivinerevelationinorderthattheymayappreciatethevalue.Besides,hewantedthem to pay attention to the core of Islam and the core of atheism so that theymay discriminate.AnotherpurposewasthatheaimedatsendingapracticalmessagetotherestofthedespoticchiefsofQurayshwhowere still alive to inform them that they shouldered the offense of that atheism andshame.Nevertheless,theycommittedgreatersinsafterwards;theydidnotchangetheirsituationuntiltheHolyProphet(S)gatheredthemundertheswordsoftheHashimitesandAnsaronthedayoftheconquest of Makkah. Only then, they saved themselves from killing by the declaration of beingMuslims.Thereafter, theyplanned for prevailingon theheritageof the IslamicState that hadbeenconstructedbyAlmightyAllahandHisMessenger,againsttheirdesires.Deathandtheswordof`AliibnAbi-TalibweretheLord’smeansofkillingafewnumbersofthe

chiefsofthatsatanictreatyofal-Khayfconference.Aconsiderablenumberofthem;suchasSuhaylibn `Amr,Abu-Sufyan, `Ikrimah ibnAbi-Jahl,Safwan ibnUmayyah ibnKhalaf,Hakim ibnHizam,Suhayb ibnSinan,Abu’l-A`war al-Salami andmany otherswere still alive.They accompanied theHolyProphet(S)intheFarewellHajj;andlistenedtohisstatementsandcouldremembertheirnearpast;andwereadmiredbytheamnestythatheissuedafterhehadstoppedatsubmittingthemtofullevidence.Theirextrinsicandhiddenbehavior,theinduction,theAhlal-Bayt’stestimony,thecourseofhistory—all these thingshaveproven theirdelight for theHolyProphet (S)’sdeclarationofhisimminentdeparture.TheywerepreparingforanewmethodofblockadingtheHashimitesinthenextstage.Hence,theHolyProphet(S)wantedtoremindthemoftheiroldplanandhowtheLordfoileditandHewouldforsurefoilthecomingones.Theseventhprincipleofthisbasis,whichiswarningpeopleofQurayshagainstplayingthetyrant

afterthedepartureoftheHolyProphet(S),isrecordedinourreferencebooksofHadith.ItisassertedbythenarrationrecordedinMajma`al-Zawa`idasrelatedtoFahadibnal-Bahiriwhohadlistenedtothesermonofthe`ArafatDayandreportedfromtheHolyProphet(S)hissaying:“OpeopleofQuraysh!DonotshouldertheworldlyaffairswhilepeopleshouldertheHereafter.IwillnotavailyouintheleastbeforeAllah.”Thanks toAllah,FahadwasaBedouin;hadhebelonged toQurayshorKinanah,hewouldhave

substitutedtheHashimitesforpeopleofQuraysh!TheQurayshitenarratorswerewonttoremoveeverystatementthatmightinjureorcensurepeopleofQuraysh. Therefore, Sunni reference books of Hadith have been full of such ‘authentic’ reportsregardingtheHolyProphet(S)’sblamingandcensuringtheHashimitesandsonsof`Abdal-Muttalib.Inlikemanner,wecouldseetensofnarrationsdealingwiththeHolyProphet(S)’spraisingpeopleofQurayshandorderingtochooseleadersfromthem.AlltheHolyProphet(S)’sstatementsofblameand censure against people of Quraysh have been changed into statements of blame and censureagainsttheHashimites,orhavebeenrepealedbyinventinganothersayingorhavebeenturnedintopraiseforpeopleofQuraysh!Fahadibnal-Bahiri’snarrationof theHolyProphet(S)’sforewarningpeopleofQurayshduring

thesermonoftheFarewellHajjhascomeinitspropertimeandplace.PeopleofQurayshoccupiedadistinctivelocationamongtheArabs;theyweretheleadersoftheArabPeninsula’sinhabitantsduringandafter theHolyProphet (S)’s lifetime.Consequently,anydanger thatmight face theAhlal-Baytwouldcertainlybeoriginatedbythem.Aswell,anymovementofavertingIslamandanywrongdoingthatMuslimsmaysufferwouldcertainlybeoriginatedby them.Otherpeoplewouldalwaysfollowthem.TheHolyProphet(S)isnomorethanabeareroftheLord’sMessageandaconveyorofHisclaim

againstpeople.Hismission is towarnandadmonish so thathewhowouldperishmightperishbyclearproofandhewhowouldlivemightlivebyclearproof.The eighth principle of this basis—warning the Sahabah against breaking faith and struggling onpower—hasbeenrecordedinallreferencebooksofHadithdirectlyandindirectly.TheindirectwayofrelatingthisprincipleistheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,“Afterme,returnnotto

deviationbybeheadingeachother.”In al-Sunan 2/1300, Ibn Majah has dedicated an independent chapter to the Prophet (S)’s sayingsregardingthistopic.Hehasentitledit‘AfterMe,ReturnNotToDeviationByBeheadingEachOther.’HehasalsorecordedtheHolyProphet(S)’ssayings,“Woeisyou!Afterme,returnnottoatheismbybeheadingeachother,”and“Killnoteachotherafterme,”andthelikestatements.Thisforeordainsthat the matter would fall after the Holy Prophet (S)’s departure. As a matter of fact, he franklyforetoldthemabouttheirstruggleonpowerafterhim.Heusedthemaximumdegreeofeloquence,aswellassympathy,andexercisedallstylesofforewarningandadmonitionsoastoconveytheLord’sargumentagainstthemsothattheywillnotprovidetheirunfamiliarityofthetopicwhentheywillbesubmittedbeforetheLord.Thoseadmonishedpeoplewerenonebuthiscompanions.TheywerenottheJewsnortheotherArabtribesnorthechiefsofQurayshexclusively.The Islamic State by now prevailed on all over the Arab Peninsula and the Holy Prophet (S)’s

anticipationofthestruggleforpowerwasnotaddressedtothetribes,suchasHawazinandGhatafan,whowillinglyorunwillinglyweresubmitted toIslam,since these tribeshadnothingtodowith theleadership of the Islamic State. Supposing they did, theywould not obtain any position unless theSahabahwouldpermit.RegardingtheJews,theyweredefeatedandapartofthemwasbanishedoutoftheArabPeninsula;they therefore had no considerable military power at that period. Despite the firmness of theirtrickeries,theywouldnotthriveunlesstheywouldpassbytheSahabah.ThechiefsofQurayshlackedthedaretodemandwithapositionofleadershipalthoughtheyhad

thepredominanceuponthemajorityoftheQurayshitetribesaswellastwothousandwarriors.Thatwas because of their having been the Holy Prophet (S)’s ‘released’ individuals whose souls hadalreadybeen in thehandof him.Thismeant that theHolyProphet (S) hadhad the right to kill orenslavethem;yet,hechosethesecondoptionandreleasedthemafterward.TheywouldhavenohopetoholdapositionofleadershipunlessthatsmallnumberoftheQurayshiteMuhajirunwouldpermit.Asaresult,theHolyProphet(S)’sforewarningagainstthestruggleforpowerafterhimisrestrictedtohiscompanions,MuhajirunandAnsarexclusively.Herecomes the roleof thedirect forewarning,which lackspersonalnamesonly. Itcamefrom theunseenworld and,more precisely, from theLord, providing the end result of those deviating anddeviatedcompanions.AlmightyAllahcommissionedArchangelGabrieltocarrythemissiontotheHolyProphet(S).It

showedthecomingdayonwhichtheLordwillchooseMuhammad(S)forthechiefshipofthegrandassemblage.ArchangelGabrielwillhandhimthepennonofal-HamdandtheHolyProphet(S)willdeliver it to `Ali ibnAbi-Talib; the bearer of theHolyProphet (S)’s pennon in thisworld and the

Hereafter.TheassemblagewillbeundertheleadershipofMuhammadinwhomAdamwilltakepride.Hewillthusbecalled‘Abu-Muhammad(thefatherofMuhammad)’TheLordwillgiveMuhammadexclusivelytherightofintercession(Shafa`ah)andtheDivinePoolofKawthar.Then,delegationsofall thenationswill approachhim for seeking intercession.Hewill intercede andgrant the cardofdrinkingfromthatDivinePoolwhosewaterwillchangetheirphysiologicalstructuresothattheywillbefit toabideinParadiseforever.Whenitwillbehiscompanions’turn,asurprisewilloccur.TheLordwilldisallowtheHolyProphet(S)tointercedeforthoseindividualswhom,subsequentlywillbedeprived of drinking from that Pool. Then, the angels of anguishwill be ordered to take them toHellfire. This is the morrow of those companions, communicated by the ever most true-tonguedindividualonthisearth.Itisindeedaterriblescene.ArchangelGabriel,thehonest,carriedittotheHolyProphetsothathe

would inform his people, during the Farewell Hajj, about such a predestined occurrence. It is thegravest catastrophe for the Sahabah.The reason is that theywould cause theUmmah to fall in thegreatestcatastrophe.Except the like of scattered animals of cattle, none of them will escape. This picture has been

recorded in the most authentic narrations reported by the pro-Sahabah. It is an extraordinaryexpression. Those scattered animalswould be those escaping the cattle. Thismeans that the entiregroupoftheSahabahwillbeinHellfireandonlyafewofthemwillescapeit.Moreover, theHolyProphet(S)explainedthat theSahabahwhoshouldbeinHellfireareof twogroups, indicatingthatthere are two lines taken by two parties of them. This fact has been proven through the forecitedreportofal-HakimwhohasdecideditasauthenticonthecriterionofMuslimandal-Bukhari.Inthisreport,herecords:“Anothergroupwillbeoccluded,too.Nonewillescapebutafewgroupslikethescatteredanimalsinacattle.”Itisadistressingquestion,indeed.Itishardlyacceptableandcredible,especiallyforMuslimswho

havebeenbroughtupon thecherishingforall theSahabahwhomhavebeendescribedas‘thebestcentury’ and ‘the unique generation’ and “My companions are like the stars; if you follow any ofthem,youwillbeguidedtotheright.”ItwillbeagreatshockforsuchMuslims if theyare facedby thathorriblesatanicpictureof thoseSahabah.HaditbeenanypersonotherthantheHolyProphet(S)whoutteredthesewords,theywouldhave

regardedhimasoneoftheenemiesofIslamaimingatruiningthisreligionbymeansofmaligningagainst the Sahabah. Yet, the Holy Prophet (S) himself uttered these words and, as an undeniablereality,hedoesnotspeakoutofdesire.Nevertheless,peopleofQurayshclaimthattheHolyProphet(S)mightspeak insatisfactionandanger;andhiswords inangermustnotbe takenasevidence. Iftruthbetold,theHolyProphet(S)’swordsarealwaystruebecausetheyareproducedbytheDivineRevelationoftheLordoftheworld!Truthisgrievous;anditisnotnecessarythattruthsarealwaysdelightful.Similarly,thewordofrightisnotalwaysfittingourdesires.WecandonothingforthetoomanynarrationsdemonstratingthattheSahabahwillbedegraded,

rejectedandprecludedfromapproachingtheDivinePoolontheResurrectionDay.Thesenarrationsoccupy a great area in the major Sunni reference books of Hadith! Furthermore, they occupy agreater area in the other reference books of Hadith all of which confirm that none of thosecompanionswillescapefromHellfireexceptafewlikethescatteredanimalsofacattle.AccordingtotheArabic-Arabicdictionaryofal-Jawhari, theHolyProphet(S)’sstatementreferstotheanimalsofacattlethatlosttheirsupervisor.ThemostremarkablepointinthisdiscussionistherealizationofthereasonbeyondtheHolyProphet(S)’sreferencetothistopicduringtheFarewellHajj.

Primarily, the reason is thatAlmightyAllahorderedhim topropose this topic in that time.TheHolyProphet(S)hasneverspokenoutofdesire;andunlessAlmightyAllahhadtoldhimaboutthefutureconductsofhiscompanions,hewouldnothaveknownanything.Letusnowputthefollowingquestions:

WhatwouldthoseSahabahdoaftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdeparture?Wouldtheyreturntoatheism?Would they apostatize from Islam, as the Prophet (S) describes? Would they misrepresent thisreligion?Wouldtheykilleachotherforpower?The answer of ourSunni brethren for all these questions and their likes is very simple:Youmustaccept what your Prophet (S) had said and then shut yourmouth so as to avoid being Rafidite—rejecterandprotester.Otherquestionscanalsobecited:WhatfordidtheLordchoosethissortofwarning?WhatfordidHenot kill those individuals who would deviate thereafter or direct His Prophet (S) to kill them orexposethembeforeMuslimssothattheywouldbeavoided?TheansweristhattheLordhasalwaysmadeHisservantssubservienttoHisargumentandleftthemtoactfreelysothat‘hewhowouldperishmightperishbyclearproofandhewhowouldlivemightlivebyclearproof.’Allah,atlength,‘cannotbequestionedconcerningwhatHedoesandtheywillbequestioned.21:23’HeisthePossessorofHisservantsandhastherighttointerrogatethem;Hedoesnotmakeerrors;

therefore,Heisnotsubmittedtoinquiry;HeisthemostKnowledgeable,andthemostknowledgeablemustnotbeaccusedbythoseoflowerlevels.Anotherquestionmaybealsocitedhere:WhatweretheresultsoftheHolyProphet(S)’swarning?DidMuslims, including theSahabah,hurryup towards theHolyProphet (S)askingfor thestraightpath? Did they ask him to nominate a man they would follow thereafter so that those dangerousSahabahwouldnotleadthemastray?TheansweristhattheHolyProphet(S)didnominatethetwoweightythingsforpeopletofollow.Henamed theBookofAllah and his household.He also foretold about twelve godly Imams to comeafterhim.Beforeandafter theFarewellHajj, theHolyProphet(S)definedhishouseholdseveral times.He

mentionedthembynames;`Ali,Fatimah,al-Hasanandal-Husayn(a.s.).Manyreportsrecordedinthereference books ofHadith have declared that theHoly Prophet (S) had identified them personallywhen he covered themwith aYemeni cloak and declared, “Those aremy people;my household.”Sufficednotbytheseproceduresanddeclaration,theHolyProphet(S)causedMuslimstostopunderthehotweatherinal-JuhafahinGhadirKhummandtook`Alifromthearmtoannouncehisreligiousandpoliticalsuccessionandleadership.HethenfixedatentforhimsothatMuslimswouldgreethimconfessingof his leadership and congratulatingon this divinely commissionedposition.TheHolyProphet(S)thenorderedhiswomentocongratulate`Ali,too.TheyapproachedthetentandofferedcongratulationsadmittingloyaltytoImam`Ali.Inhisfinalailment,theHolyProphet(S)wantedtopresentthesuccessionofImam`Aliinawritten

form;he asked the attendants tobringhimapen and apaper so that hewould record a documentprotecting them fromdeviation forever.Unfortunately, they rejectedunrelentingly and said, “Well!Thanks, Messenger! We decided to go astray after you! This decision has been taken with fullawareness,intentionandoption.Wedonotwantyoutorecordadocumentobligingustoobey`Ali,al-Hasan,al-Husaynandnineindividualsfromal-Husayn’soffspring.”Hence,theysaidshamelessly,“Donotbringhimanypenorpaper!”WhatcouldtheHolyProphet(S)makemore?FifthBasisThisbasisstandsforthepunishmentthatthosewhowouldrejecttheinstructionoftheobligatory

adherenceto theHolyImamswillencounter. Itwillbefall in theHereafterandfit theHolyProphet(S)’s responsibility for conveying and witnessing the acts of his nation. The expression of thispunishment is firm and unbending; it came in the form of a divine decision of cursing andcondemning the rejecters of the Holy Prophet (S)’s instructions regarding his household andindicatedthattherepentanceofsuchindividualswouldneverbeacceptedandthattheywoulddeservetheeternaltormentinHellfire.ItscominginthelastoftheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonmightgivetheimpressionindicatingitsfirmnessanddecisiveness.TheparagraphiscitedinthereportrecordedinTuhafal-Uqul,aShiitereferencebook,aswellasa

gooddeal ofSunni referencebooks asserting that itwasmentionedduring theHolyProphet (S)’ssermonintheFarewellHajj.LetusreadthefollowingasquotedfromIbnMajah’sal-Sunan2/905:

`AmribnKharijahnarratedthattheHolyProphet(S)wasonthebackofhisridinganimal,whileitwasbreathingheavilyduetothehotweather,whenhesaid:“…Curseof theLord, theangelsandallpeoplebeon thosewhoascribe themselves toother thantheirfathersormasters.Allahwillnotaccepttheirexcuseorcompensation.”Al-Tirmidhi,inal-Sunan3/293,recordsthefollowing:

Abu-Umamahal-Bahilinarrated:IheartheHolyProphetsayinginthesermonoftheFarewellHajj:“Ceaseless curse of the Lord be on those who ascribe themselves to other than their fathers ormasters.”ThefollowingisquotedfromAhmad’sal-Musnad4/239:

Amr ibn Kharijah narrated that the Holy Prophet (S) was in Mina riding his animal, which wasbreathingheavilyduetothehotweather,whenhesaid:“CurseoftheLord,theangelsandallpeoplebeonthemwhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathersormastersasadesiretoneglectthem.”InAhmad’sal-Musnad4/187,wereadthefollowing:

“…Curseof theLord, theangelsandallpeoplebeon thosewhoascribe themselves toother thantheirfathersormasters.MayAllahnotaccepttheirexcusesorcompensations.”Ahmadhasrelateddifferentreportsofthesamemeaningandrecordedtheminthesameprevious

pagesandtheprecedingones.Hehasalsorecordeditonpages238and186.Al-Darimihasrecordeditinal-Sunan2/244and344.InMajma`al-Zawa`id5/14,thenarrationisreportedfromAbu-Mas`ud.Al-Bukharihasrecordedthereportsinal-Sahih2/221and4/67.ThereadermaywondertherelationshipbetweenthestatementsinvolvedandtheHolyProphet(S)’sinstructionof the adherence tohishousehold.The above-mentionedparagraphs emphasize that theHolyProphet(S)cursedthosewhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathersandtheslaveswhodisavowtheirmastersandclaimothermasters.To answer it, we have to cite the following Islamic ruling:A sonwho disavows his father and

claims another man’s filiation but then regrets and returns to his real father, his repentance isadmissible.Inlikemanner,aslavewholeaveshismasterandclaimsslaveryofanothermanbutthenrepentsandreturnstohismasterafterawhile,hisrepentanceislegallyacceptable.TheserulingsopposetheHolyProphet(S)’sdeclarationthatthedivinecurse,initsharshestform,

isceaselesslypouredonthosewhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathersormasters.Suchadivinepunishmentisacceptedonlyincasesofseriousexcess,suchasapostasy.It isunfit toissuesuchajudgmentagainstanignorantsonorslavewhodisavowshisfatherormaster.Moreover,somereportshaveassuredthattheHolyProphet(S)confirmedtheatheismandapostasy

ofsuchindividuals,suchasthoserecordedinal-Bayhaqi’sal-Sunan8/26,Majma`al-Zawa`id1/97,Kanzal-`Ummal5/872andmanyothers.Asanexample,thefollowingreportisrecordedinKanzal-`Ummal10/324,326,327and16/255respectively:

“HethatdisavowshismastersisrippingthebindofIslamoutofhisneck.”“HethatdisavowshismastersshouldfindhimselfaplaceinHellfire.”“Hethatdisavowshismastersisanatheist.”“HethatdisavowshismastersisassameashewhodisbelievesinwhattheLordhasrevealedtohisMessenger.”Theseauthentic sayings support the fact that suchdecisive rulingshavenothing todowith those

whodisavowtheirfathersormastersunless‘fathers’and‘masters’indicatesomethingelse.ItisalsosupportedbytheaforesaidreportsandmanyothersinwhichtheHolyProphet(S)doesnotrefertofathers and sons at all; rather he stops atmentioningmasters and their servants.Naturally, a son’sdisavowal of his father ismore serious than a slave’s disavowal of hismaster.Nevertheless, suchreportscarryapunishmentthatismoreserious.Inaddition,itissupportedbythefactthatthisruling,inagoodnumberofreportscommunicatingtheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsoftheFarewellHajj,ismentioneddirectlyafter thereference to theexclusivepeculiaritygiven to theAhlal-Bayt;namely,theKhums(one-fifthrate).TheAhlal-Baytareprohibitedfromreceivingthealms.InAhmad’sal-Musnad4/186,wereadthefollowing:TheHolyProphet(S)wasridinghisanimalwhenhesaid,“Almsarenotallowedformyhouseholdandme;anysumofalmsevenifitwasasmuchasthis.”Meanwhile,hetookasinglehairfromthebackofhisanimalandwenton,“Allahcursehimwhoeverascribeshimselftootherthanhisfatherormaster.”Thesamereportisrecordedonpage293ofpart5ofKanzal-`Ummal.Onpage235ofpart10of

thesamebook,thefollowingformisrecorded:“…HewhoeverascribeshimselftootherthanhismastershouldfindhimaplaceinHellfire.”InShiite referencebooksofHadith; theAhlal-Bayt’s reports, this statementhasbeen frequently

andauthenticallyrecordedintheHolyProphet(S)’ssermonsoftheFarewellHajj.Besides,itisapartoftheGhadirsermon.InBiharal-Anwar37/123,wereadthefollowing:Shaykhal-Mufid,inal-Amali,hasrecordedontheauthorityofZaydibnArqamthathesaid:IheardtheHolyProphetsayinginGhadirKhumm,“Almsarenotallowedformyhouseholdandme.Allahmaycursethosewhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathersormasters.Thebabyistothebedownerwhiletheprostitute’sshareisthestones.Anheirisnotallowedtomakeawill.Youhaveheardand seen me. He whoever forges lies against me must find himself a place in Hellfire. I will beprecedingyoutotheDivinePool.IwilltakeprideinyoubeforetheothernationsontheResurrectionDay.Blackennotmyface.IwillsavemenfromHellfireandotherswillbetakenfrommyhandsandsenttherein.AllahismyMasterandIamthemasterofeachmaleandfemalebeliever.`Aliwillbethemasterofanyonewhohasregardedmeashismaster.”[12]Inal-`Umdah344,Ibnal-Bitriq,aShiitescholar,comments:

ThenarrationsrecordedinthemajorreferencebooksofHadithandreportingtheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying, “Allah may curse those who ascribe themselves to other than their fathers or masters,”indicatetheinsistenceontheobligatoryadherencetoAmiral-Mu`minin(Commanderofthefaithfulbelievers)`Ali.SupportingthisclaimclearlyisthemostauthenticatedsayingoftheHolyProphet(S),“`Aliwillbethemasterofanyonewhohasregardedmeashismaster.”TheHolyProphet(S)thenadds, “OAllah! Accede to himwho accedes to `Ali, be the enemy of himwho antagonizes `Ali,supporthimwhosupports`Alianddisappointhimwhodisappointshim.”Hence, `Ali is being the master of those whose master was the Holy Prophet (S), that is all thebelievers. Also `Umar ibn al-Khattab said to `Ali (a.s.) directly after that declaration,“Congratulations!Youhavebecomethemasterofeverymaleandfemalebeliever.”Or,accordingtoother ways of narration, “You have becomemymaster and themaster of everymale and female

believer.”AlmightyAllahonlyhastherighttoselectforthisposition;He,theExalted,gaveittoHisMessengerMuhammad (S) and ordered him to give it to `Ali Amir al-Mu`minin after him. Thismeaning issupportedbyAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“OnlyAllahisyourMasterandHisMessengerandthosewhobelieve;thosewhokeepupprayersandpaytheZakatwhiletheybow.6/55”[13]Onthataccount,theHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,“…thosewhoascribethemselvestootherthantheirfathers,”standsforthosewhodisavowloyaltytoImam`Ali.WecanreferthisdiscussiontotheHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,“O`Ali!YouandIarethefathersofthisnation.”CurseoftheLordbeonthosewhodisobeytheirfathers.SunniandShiitereferencebooksofHadithhavealsorecordedthattheaforementionedsayingwas

apartofthescript,whichwashangedtotheHolyProphet(S)’sswordandgivento`Aliinheritage.Inal-Sahih 4/67, al-Bukhari records this narration. Similarly, Muslim, in al-Sahih 4/115 and 216,records it in variousways of narration.Likemany others, al-Tirmidhi also records it in al-Sunan3/297.Asamatterof fact, they insiston thesenarrationssince theycontained,as theyclaim,`Ali’sconfessionthattheHolyProphet(S)hadnotinheritedhishouseholdanyknowledgeexceptacopyoftheHolyQur ’anandthatpaper,whichhadbeenhangedtohissword.Narrations,however,assurethattheHolyProphet(S)cursedthosewhodisavowtheirmasters.In Shiite reference books of Hadith, there is a fourth occasion on which the Holy Prophet (S)

utteredthewordingofcurse;theQurayshite‘released’individualsmovedtoal-Madinahandpartookthe hypocrites in their efforts against the Ahl al-Bayt. Once, they said, “Regarding his existenceamongtheHashimites,Muhammadisjustlikeadate-palmtreeplantedinajunkyard.”Whenhewasinformedaboutthissaying,theHolyProphet(S)ordered`Alitoascendtheminbarandanswerthem.InBiharal-Anwar38/204,wereadthefollowing:Al-AsbaghibnNubatahnarratedthefollowingontheauthorityof`AliibnAbi-Talib(a.s.):Once,theHolyProphetsummonedmeandorderedtoascendhisminbaranddeclare.“CurseofAllahandcurseofHisarchangelsandmessagedProphetsandmycursebeonhimwhoeverdisavowshisfather or master as well as him whoever wrongs his wageworker.” As I did, no one commentedexcept `Umar ibn al-Khattab. “O Abu’l-Hasan,” said he, “You have conveyed. But they wereambiguouswords.” Iwasback to theHolyProphet (S) to informabout `Umar ’s saying.TheHolyProphet(S)askedmetoconvey,“Opeople!Weshouldnevercommunicatewordstoyouunlesswehavetheirinterpretation.Iamyourfather.Iamyourmaster.Iamyourwageworker.AnarrationthatisrecordedinFuratibnIbrahimal-Kufi’sTafsir392provesthattheHolyProphet

(S)utteredthesamestatementonafifthoccasion:…Fatimahbint(daughterof)al-Husaynnarratedontheauthorityofal-Husaynibn`Alithathesaid:When theHolyProphet (S)was in al-Madinah, someof theMuhajirunofferedhimapart of theirpropertiestohelpinmanaginganyunexpectedmattershemightcounter.Forawhile,henoddedhishead down and, finally, refused their offer saying, “I am not ordered to take anything from yourproperties.” Soon after that, Archangel Gabriel descended from the Heavens carrying AlmightyAllah’ssaying,“Say:Idonotaskforyouanyrewardforitbutlovemynearrelatives.”AstheHolyProphet(S)conveyedthisVersetothem,Muhajirunwentoutgrumblingatthiscommandment,sayingtoeachother thathehadintendedonlytosubmit themtothesonsof`Abdal-Muttalibforever.TheHoly Prophet (S) then summoned `Ali ibn Abi-Talib and ordered him to ascend his minbar andaddresstopeople,“HethatwrongsawageworkerregardinghiswageshouldseekhimselfaplaceinHellfire. He that disavows his master should seek himself a place in Hellfire. He that denies hisparentsshouldseekhimselfaplaceinHellfire.”Amanstoodupandaskedforaninterpretationforthesewords.`AliwentbacktotheHolyProphet(S)andconveyedthatman’srequest.“WoetothepeopleofQurayshbecauseoftheinterpretationof

thesewords,”theHolyProphet(S)repeatedthriceandthensaid,“`Ali:GoandtellthemthatIamthewageworkertheobediencetowhomisanorderissuedintheHeavens.YouandIarethemastersofthebelievers.YouandIarethefathersofthebelievers.”TheProphets’NeedForPeople’sProtectionDuringConveyingTheMissionsDuring the interpretationof theVerseof `Ismah,[14]thepro-Qurayshiteexegeteshavecommitted

twofatalmistakes:First, they havemisrepresented the actual conception of themissions of the Prophets including

Muhammad(S).Second, they have attempted to conceal the reality of people of Quraysh after the conquest of

Makkah. They have intended to draw the Verse away from these incidents and tried to persuadeMuslims that people of Quraysh—the polytheists and the center of the devils—all of a sudden,changedintothosepiouspeoplewhoreceivedpietyinaperiodofasinglenightanddayandwentonleadingpeopletoIslamanditsrightpath.Qur’anicSenseofConveyanceTheHolyQur ’ancarriesasimplemeaningofconveyance;themessengers’explicatingtheDivine

Missionandleavingtheoptionforpeople,andtheLord,nottheProphets,willbethejudge.Hence,anumberofprinciplescanbeconcludedfromthisdeepbasis:First,aProphet(S)isinurgentneedtoguaranteetherightoffreeopinionssothathewillbeable

to transmit and convey hisLord’smission adequately.Thiswas theProphets’ preliminary demandfromtheirnations.Second, theirmissionisnomorethanconveyance.BeforeProphetAbraham(a.s.), jihadwasnot

imposed upon the Prophets; yet Almighty Allah imposed it upon Abraham and the comingProphets[15] so as to remove the obstacles that impeded the process of conveyance or to face theatheists’ assaults against the believers who chose the true religion and organized their livesaccordingly.Third,nooneshouldbeobligedtoconverttothe‘new’religion.Itisquitefreeforeverybodyto

chooseanycourse.Hence,thelawofguidanceanddeviationoughttobeeffectiveandthecapabilitytodogoodandeviloughttobeavailable.Fourth, thepurposeof theexerciseof conveying theDivineMissions is toprovide to theLord

clear,completeandperfectclaimsagainstpeopleinorderthattheywillnothaveanyexcuseswhentheywillbe resurrected for judgment.Toprovideclaims in thedivine religions isanoriginalandperpetual pivot in the tasks of the Prophets. When a Prophet (S) conveys rulings to people andexplicatesclearlytheirbeliefsandduties,hewillactivatetheLord’sclaimand,asaresult,perfectthemissionandreleasehimselffromanyresponsibility.Everyoneis individuallyresponsibleforhisresponsetotheProphets,bepositiveornegative,as

wellashisacts.AProphet(S)isnotresponsibleinthisregardatall.AlmightyAllahsays,“Say:ThenAllah’sis theconclusiveargument;soifHepleased,Hewouldcertainlyguideyou

all.6:149”Letusnowcitesomeproofs,quotedfromtheHolyQur ’an,onthisdiscussion:

Prophet(S)Noahsaystohispeople,“Ideliver toyou themessagesofmyLordandIofferyougoodadviseandIknowfromAllah

whatyoudonot.7:62”AboutProphetshu`ayb,theHolyQur ’ansays,“Soheturnedawayfromthemandsaid:Omypeople!IdeliveredtoyouthemessagesofmyLord

andIgaveyougoodadvice;howwillIthenbesorryforanunbelievingpeople?7:93”

AboutProphet(S)Hud,theHolyQur ’ansays,“But ifyouturnback, thenindeedIhavedeliveredtoyouthemessagewithwhichIhavebeen

senttoyou,andmyLordwillbringanotherpeopleinyourplace,andyoucannotdoHimanyharm;surelymyLordisthePreserverofallthings.11:57”ReferringtothecommonpointintheProphets’missions,AlmightyAllahsays,“Isthenaughtincumbentupontheapostlesexceptaplaindeliveryofthemessage?16:35”“Theysaid:OurLordknowsthatwearemostsurelymessengerstoyou.Andnothingdevolveson

usbutacleardeliveranceofthemessage.36:16-7”Infact,theconceptsofthedivineconveyancearetoomanytobediscussedhere.Astheyarecited

from Qur ’anic texts and Hadiths, they form a perfect hypothesis. Almighty Allah describes HisreligionandBookasaconveyance;“This is a conveyance for people and that they may be warned thereby, and that they may

conceivethatHeisOneAllahandthatthosepossessedofunderstandingmaymind.14:52”TheHolyQur ’anhasalsobeendescribedasaconveyance for thecominggenerationswhowill

receiveIslam;“Say:what is theweightiest in testimony?Say:Allah iswitnessbetweenyouandme;and this

Qur’anhasbeenrevealedtomethatwithitImaywarnyouandwhomsoeveritreaches.6/19”TheLordpraisedHisProphetsfortheirtrustandcourageinconveyingHismessagesinspiteof

people’sresistanceandmockery;“ThosewhodeliverthemessagesofAllahandfearHim,anddonotfearanyonebutAllah;and

Allahissufficienttotakeaccount.33:39”AlmightyAllahconsiderstheprocessofreceivingandconveyingthedivinerevelationasoneof

the most serious and critical actions that require distinctive personalities and precise divineguardianship;“TheKnowerof theunseen!SoHedoesnot revealHis secrets toanyexcept tohimwhomHe

choosesasanapostle;forsurelyHemakesaguardtomarchbeforehimandafterhimsothatHemayknowthat theyhavetrulydeliveredthemessagesof theirLord,andHeencompasseswhat iswiththem,andHerecordsthenumberofallthings.72/26-7”TheconveyanceofourProphet(S)The most interesting point in this regard in the conveyance of Prophet Muhammad (S) whose

missionandresponsibilityisdescribedbyAlmightyAllahas,“AndobeyAllahandobeytheApostleandbecautious;butifyouturnback,thenknowthatonly

acleardeliveranceofthemessageisincumbentonOurapostle.5:92”“Say:ObeyAllah and obey theApostle; but if you turn back, then onhim rests thatwhich is

imposedonhimandonyoureststhatwhichisimposedonyou;andifyouobeyhim,youareontherightway;andnothingrestsontheApostlebutcleardeliveranceofthemessage.24:54”“So,iftheysubmitthenindeedtheyfollowtherightway;andiftheyturnback,thenuponyouis

onlythedeliveryofthemessage,andAllahseestheservants.3/20”“Butiftheyturnaside,Wehavenotsentyouasawatcheroverthem.Onyouisonlytodeliver

themessage.42:48”Hence, the Lord sent our Prophet (S) on the bases of the divine message formulation and

conveyancewithwhichtheProphetsweresent;namely,theruleofsubstantiatingtheLord’sargumentuponpeoplewhileavoidingcoercingthemtoadmitit.ThisistheverymeaningofAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“Onyouisonlytodeliverthemessage.24:54”TheHolyProphet(S)alsosaid,“Ihavebeenorderedtofightpeopleuntiltheysay‘Thereisnogod

butAllah’andiftheysayit,theywillguardtheirsoulsandpropertiesagainstme.”Thiscoercionstands for submitting theChristiansandJews to livepeacefullywithMuslimsand

submittingthepaganistsandpolytheiststoenterthegeneralframeofIslam.Whenoneobeys,anotherdisobeys,athirdonetakestherightpathandafourthdeviates,thisisAllah’sconcern,sinceHeistheoneandonlyJudge.Onthataccount,theconveyanceofthedivinemessagewillnaturallybeinneedfor protection, otherwise people of Quraysh would assassinate him, defame his promulgation orprecludepeoplefromlisteningtohimaftertheywouldhaverealizedtherealsizeofthedangerthatsuchapromulgationcausesontheirauthorityandgods.Despitethefactthatthesecret,aswellastheseen,divineattentiontotheProphetsisofvariousforms,theLord’snormaboutHisMessengersistoleavetheirprotectionforthenaturalfactors,yetwithasumofdivineattention.Asamatteroffact,thereisnosingleproofontheclaimthattheLordwouldalwaysguaranteeHis

Prophets’safety frominjuriesorassassination,aswellasanysortofharmtheymightycounter intheirlifetimes.WehavepreviouslyreferredtoreportsrespectingthecontinuityofguardingtheHolyProphet(S)totheendofhishonorablelife.ItistoaddthatheaskedtheArabclanstoguaranteehisprotectionforconveyinghisLord’sMessage.Let us listen to this narration recordedby IbnHusham, in al-Sirah2/23:Rabi`ahibn`Abbadnarratedthefollowing:IwasayoungboywhenIaccompaniedmyfatherinMinawheretheHolyProphet(S)wasusedtoattendinginthequartersoftheArabclansaddressingtothem,“IamthemessengerofAllahtoyou.IinstructyoutoworshipAllahalone,avoidassociatingotherswithHim,giveuptheworshipofanythingexceptHim,believeinme,givemecredenceandprotectmesothatIwillbeabletocarrymyLord’sMessage.”[16]Moreover, many reports have asserted that the Holy Prophet (S), during the homage of Ansar,

askedthemtoprotecthishouseholdandhimassameastheyprotecttheirfamiliesandsouls.Inthisregard,IbnHusham,inal-Sirah2/38,says:AfterhehadrecitedsomeQur ’anicVersesandurgedthemtoembraceIslam,theHolyProphetsaidtoAnsar,“Iconcludewithyouthecovenantthatyoushouldprotectmeassameasyouprotectyoursonsandwomen.”Al-Barra` ibnMu`arwir took theHolyProphet (S)’shandandshouted,“Yes,byHimWho sent youwith the rightwe swear thatwewill protect you as same aswe protect our people.Confirmyourcovenantwithus,Allah’smessenger!Weare,byAllah,menofwarsandheroism.Wehavebeeninheritingsofromourgreatfathers.”17Accordingly,ourclaimhasbeenproven;theHolyProphet(S),followingthepreviousProphets’

norms,askedforprotectionsothathewouldbeabletocarrythedivinemessage.Ansarcontributedin this protection. The Lord gave victory to His Prophet (S) who defeated his enemies—thepolytheistsandtheJewsandhecouldprevailontheArabPeninsula,Yemen,BahrainandtheGulfupto the boarders of Syria threatening theRomans. InAH 10, hewas about to depart to the ExaltedAssociate.HereceivedSurahofal-Ma`idahinwhichhewasorderedtoconveythemessageandthathe would be protected against people.What changes occurred?Whatmade the Divine Revelationorderhimtoconveyinthelaststageoftheconveyance?WhatmadetheHolyProphet(S)needforprotectionagainstpeopleafterhehadruledsuchagreatstate?For scholars, it is unsupposed that the Holy Prophet (S) needed a physical protection since the

Exalted Lord had already willed it would endure naturally. Hence, the protection intended in thisregardshouldbemental.Secondly,itisconclusivethattheconveyanceintendedintheVerseshouldstandforaremarkablematterthatitwouldbeverymuchdifficultforpeopletoaccept.Itisalsoclearthat‘people’intendedintheVersemusthaveindicatedthehypocrites,noneelse,whopretendedbeingMuslims,becausealltheseriousmattershadbeenalreadyconveyedandthemissionhadnothingelseto convey. Besides, after the revelation of that Verse, the Holy Prophet (S) did not declare any

expectedmatter.Consequently, theVersewould bemeaningless,AlmightyAllah forbid, if it did not refer to the

protectionagainstsuspectingtheHolyProphet(S);somepeoplewoulddoubthimwhentheywouldlisten tohimnominatinghishouseholdas thecomingpoliticalandreligious leadersof thisnation.This is the onlymeaning supporting the general concept of theVerse.As an interpretation, let usinterprettheVerseasfollows:OApostle!Youareonlyaconveyorandmessenger.Youarenotresponsibleforthecomingevents

orresultssincethisisyourLord’saffair.DeliverwhathadbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLordviaArchangelGabrielinthematterconcerning`Ali;thematteryouhavefrequentlyintendedtomentionbutthehypocritespreventedyou.Andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhaveneitherdeliveredHismessagenor substantiated your Lord’s argument against people. The leadership of your progeny is not apersonalmatter,as thehypocritesthink.It isabasicpartof thissealing,unitedepistle.Whenapartfails,themasswillfail.Similarly,whenapartoftheclaimfails,theentireclaimwillfail.AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;peopleofQurayshwhomaydoubtyouafteryouwillconveythismatter that is very difficult for them to admit. This processwill be completed peacefully. Neitherinterruptionnorwillapostasyoccur;hence,youwillbeseenasaperfectconveyorofyourLord’smessage and youwill complete yourLord’s argument on your nation aswell.However, `AliwillrequiretofightthesepeoplefortheinterpretingtheQur ’aninthesamewayasyoufoughtthemforitsrevelation.Surely,Allahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeoplewhowillwrongyourprogenyafteryouand,subsequently,willwrongyournation.TheywillchangeAllah’sfavorintoatheismanddrivethisnationintocombatsandcollapse.PeopleofQuraysh;TheReasonBeyondTheAdditionalProtectionFrom theHolyVerseaswell asvariousnarrations,wecanconclude that theHolyProphet (S)’s

conveyance of his Lord’s message regarding the leadership of his progeny might have caused agrave quake in theUmmahand a serious threat against his Prophethood.What are the reason andcircumstances thatmighthavecausedsuchasweepingcatastrophe?Neither theArab tribesnor theJews nor could the Christians have any opinion or intruded themselves in thematter of the HolyProphet(S)’snominatinghisprogenyashissuccessors.TheonlysourceofdangerthatmighthaveprecludedthisaffairwaspeopleofQuraysh.It seemed that theHolyProphet (S)despairedofcarryingon theaffairashehadanticipated that

peoplewould apostatize as soon as hewould declare it frankly and formally because of the tribalstructureofQuraysh.Quraysh;TheRootofVillainsQurayshitechiefsaretheevilfaceofIshmael’soffspring;yet,theHolyProphet(S)andAbu-Talib,

his uncle, doubted those chiefs’ belonging to Prophet Ismayl (a.s.). They joined the intricatecharactersoftheJews—theircousins,tothetyrannyoftheviolentchiefsoftheBedouintribes.Exceptthe Hashimites and a few others, people of Quraysh were the source of tyranny and Satanism.AlmightyAllahhascomparedthosechiefstoPharaoh;“SurelyWehavesenttoyouanApostle,awitnessagainstyou,asWesentanapostletoPharaoh.

ButPharaohdisobeyedtheapostle,soWelaidonhimaviolenthold.73:15-6”AshewaswatchingthevictimsofthebattleofBadr,theHolyProphetsaid,“Allahmaypunishyou—the evil band badly. You belied me while I am true-tongued and mistrusted me while I amtrustworthy.”AshiseyesfellonthedeadbodyofAbu-JahlibnHusham,hesaid,“Thismanismoretyrant than Pharaoh. As Pharaoh despaired of his life, he submitted to Allah; but when this mandespairedofhislife,hecalledforththeidols—Latand`Uzza.”[18]

IbnHusham,inal-Sirah3/207,hasrecordedthefollowingsayingofAbu-Jahl:Sonsof`Abd-Manafandwecompetedonhonor;weservedfoodwhentheyhadservedit;wefoughtwhentheyhadfought;wegavewhentheyhadgiven;butwhenwebothhadthesamescaleandbecameliketworacehorses,theyclaimedaProphet(S)receivingrevelationfromtheheavensamongthem.Howcanweeverhavesuchaprivilege?Nay,byAllah;wewillneverbelievehimnorwillwegivecredencetohim.[19]Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Qummi,Tafsir1/276:

TheHolyProphet(S)addressedtopeopleofQuraysh,“TheLordhassentmetodestroythekingsofthiswholeworldanddragtheirrealmstoyou.RespondtowhatIamcallingforthandyouwillbethekingsoftheArabs,andthenon-ArabswillsubmittoyouandyouwillbekingsinParadise.”Outofhis envy,Abu-Jahl spoke, “OAllah! IfMuhammad’swords are the right ofThee, then rain skyeystonesuponusorinflictpainfulagonyuponus.”Hethenadded,“TheHashimitesandwewereliketworacehorses;wefoughtwhentheyhadfoughtandspearedwhentheyhadspearedandcookedwhentheyhadcooked.Whentheyandwewereofthesamescale,theyclaimedaProphet(S)amongthem.Nay,wewillneveradmitsuchathingamongtheHashimitesnorsonsofMakhzum.”Inal-Mustatraf1/58,al-Abshihirecordsthefollowing:

Mockingat aman fromYemen,Muawiyah said, “How ill-mindedpeopleyour are!You selected awomanasyour leader!”[20]TheYemeni answered, “But I knowpeoplewho aremore ill-minded;theseareyourpeople!When theHolyProphet (S)calledyou toembrace Islam,youanswered, ‘OAllah!IfthisisthetruthofThee,thenrainuswithskyeystonesorinflictpainfulagonyuponus.’Youshouldhavesaid,‘OAllah!IfthisisthetruthofThee,thenguideustoit.”Inal-Siratal-Mustaqim3/49,al-Bayadirecordsthefollowing:

Muawiyahoncespoke,“AllahfavoredpeopleofQurayshinthreethings;Hesays,‘Andwarnyournear clans,’ ‘Surely, it is a remembrance for you andyour people,’ and ‘For the protectionof theQuraysh.”Answeringhim,amanfromAnsarsaid,“Slowdown,Muawiyah!Allahsaid, ‘Andyourpeoplebeliedit,’andyouareoneofhispeople,andsaid,‘Yourpeopleprecludedagainstit,’andyouareoneofthosepeople,andsaid,‘MypeopledesertedthisQur ’an,’andyouareoneofhispeople.Thesearethreeforyourthree.Wecanaddifyouadd.”Thus,Muawiyahwasashamed.WhenAlmightyAllah inflictedyearsofagonyuponPharaohandhispeople, theyaskedProphet

(S)MosestoimploretotheLordforalleviatingtheanguishtheyhadsuffered.Analogously,theHolyProphet(S)cursedpeopleofQurayshandsupplicatedtoAllahtoinflictyearsofagonyuponthemand, as a result, the Lord responded; they became poor and suffered famine until they had to eat`Alhaz, amixture of camel hair and blood.Nevertheless, they neither submitted to their Lord norimploredtoHim.Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak2/394,recordsthefollowing:Ibn`AbbasnarratedthatAbu-SufyancametotheHolyProphet(S)andsaid,“OMuhammad!IadjureyoubytheLordandthekinship.Wehavehadtoeat`Alhaz.”Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘AndalreadyWeovertookthemwithchastisementbut theywerenotsubmissivetotheLord,nordotheyhumblethemselves.23/76’However, this narration has not appealed to the pro-Umayyad scholars who, consequently, did

nothingtointerpretingthisVerse;rather,theyhaveclaimedtheopposite—theyclaimedthatpeopleofQurayshwere actually submissive to theirLord as theyhumbled themselves toHim.Furthermore,theyhaveclaimedthattheHolyProphet(S)blessedthem.Thefollowingnarration,recordedinibnKathir ’sal-Sirah6/101,canserveasanexample:When theHolyProphet (S)execratedpeopleofQuraysh, theysufferedsuchaharshyear that tookeverything from them. They had to have bones, dogs and `Alhaz. Abu-Sufyan came to the HolyProphet(S)andpleasedhimtosupplicatetoAllahtorelievetheircrisis.TheProphet(S)did,andthecrisiswasrelieved.

TheproblemisthatIbnKathirwasfondofAbu-Sufyan’ssmell.Asahistorian,hedidrealizethatAbu-Sufyan’sattendanceattheHolyProphet(S)occurredonlyaftertheHolyProphet(S)hadfeltpityforpeopleofQurayshandsentthemfoodstuffandsomemoney.HeexpectedthemtosubmittotheLordandbelieveinHimandHisMessenger;buttheyexploitedthatmercyandselectedAbu-SufyanastheirrepresentativetotheHolyProphet(S)toofferaplanofreconciliationthatwasassameastheplans of reconciliation frequently suggested by the Israelis nowadays; however, their plan wasrejected.Asasecondattempt,Abu-SufyansoughtImam`AliandFatimahal-Zahra`tointercedeforhim;buttheyrejected,too;therefore,hesuggestedthatatreatyofreconciliationwouldberecordedinthenamesofal-Hasanandal-HusaynsothattheywouldtakeprideinitamongtheArabs.`AliandFatimahalso rejectedandanswered that theywouldneverprotect anyoneagainst theHolyProphet(S).ClansofQurayshQurayshwasmorethantwentyclans,namely,sonsofHashimibn`Abd-Manaf,sonsofUmayyah

ibn`Abd-Shams,Banu-`Abdal-DaribnQusay,sonsofMakhzumibnYaqazhahibnMurrah,sonsofZuhrah ibnKalab, sons ofAsad ibn `Abd al-`Uzza, sons of al-Harith ibn Fihr ibnMalik, sons of`AmiribnLu`ay,sonsofSahmibn`Amr,sonsofJamhibn`Amr,sonsofAnmaribnBughayd,sonsofTaymibnMurrahibnKa`b,sonsof`AdiibnKa`bandothers.Asamatteroffact, themanagementandleadershipwereinthehandsofdefinite,yetaveryfew,

clanswhiletherestwereonlyfollowers.AshedescribesthemeetingofDaral-Nidwah(TheHouseofCouncil),whichwasheldfordiscussingtheissueoftheHolyProphet(S),IbnHusham,inal-Sirah2/331,recordsthefollowing:ThemeetingwasattendedbythecelebritiesofQuraysh.`UtbahibnRabi`ah,ShaybahibnRabi`ahandAbu-Sufyan ibnHarb represented the sons of `Abd-Shams.Tuwaymah ibn `Adi, Jubayr ibnMutimandal-Harithibn`AmiribnNawfalrepresentedthesonsofNawfalibn`Abd-Manaf.Al-Nadribnal-Harith ibn Kildah represented the Banu-`Abd al-Dar ibn Qusay. Abu’l-Bukhtari ibn Husham,ZUmmahibnal-Aswadibnal-MuttalibandHakimibnHuzamrepresentedthesonsofAsadibn`Abdal-`Uzza.Abu-JahlibnHushamrepresentedthesonsofMakhzum.Nabihibnal-HajjajandMunabbihhisbrotherrepresentedthesonsofSahm.UmayyahibnKhalafrepresentedthesonsofJamh.Besides,many others were attendant. Some spoke, “You have clearly seen the acts of this man. I cannotguaranteethathewillnotleadhisfollowersagainstus.Youshoulddecidesomethinginthisregard.”Astheyconsultedthematter,somesuggestedthattheyshoulddetainhimandwait…etc.Ashereferstothosewhoreadiedtocovertheexpensesofthepolytheists’armyduringtheBattle

ofBadr,ibnHusham,inal-Sirah2/488,recordsthefollowing:TheQurayshiteswhoundertook theexpensesof thepolytheists’ armywereal-`Abbas ibn `Abdal-MuttalibibnHashimfromtheHashimitesand`UtbahibnRabi`ahibn`Abd-Shamsfromthesonsof`Abd-Shamsibn`Abd-Manafanda-Harithibn`AmiribnNawfalandTuwaymahibn`AdiibnNawfalfromthesonsofNawfal ibn `Abd-ManafandAbu’l-Bukhtari ibnHushamibnAsadandHakimibnHuzamibnKhuwaylidibnAsadfromthesonsofAsadibn`Abdal-`Uzzaandal-Nadribnal-HarithibnKildahibn`Alqamahibn`Abd-ManaffromthesonsofAbdul-Dar.ThefollowingistheorderoftheQurayshiteclansdependedby`Umaribnal-Khattabintherecords

of his government during the distribution of the imports.Yet, it can help prove the fact that theseclans’structurewasintenselycomplicatedandthattheHashimiteswerealwaysonthetop.Wereadthefollowinginal-Bayhaqi’sal-Sunan6/364:Whenheregistered therecordsofhisgovernment, `Umardecided tobeginwith theHashimites,“IsawtheHolyProphet(S)precedethemandsonsofal-Muttalib.”Hence,theirnameswererecordedinthe topof the list andhegave themequally.Ashenoticed the lineageof sonsof `Abd-Shamsand

Nawfal, `Umaradded,“Sonsof`Abd-Shamsare theHolyProphet (S)’s fullbrotherswhilesonsofNawfal are half brothers.Hence, they shouldbepreceded.”Then, he lookedupon sonsofAbd al-`Uzza and `Abd al-Dar, “Sons of Asad ibn `Abd al-`Uzza are the Holy Prophet (S)’s maternalrelatives.TheywerewithintheMutayyibin.”`UmarthusprecededthemtoBanu-`Abdal-Dar.SonsofZuhrahfollowedBanu-`Abdal-Dar,as`Umarsaw.SonsofTaymandMakhzumcamenext,“SonsofTaymwereapartyinthetreatyofFudul.Besides,theywerewithintheMutayyibinamongwhomwastheHolyProphet(S).Finally,theyenjoyedfavors.”Accordingly,sonsofTaymwereprecededtosonsofMakhzum.SonsofSahm,Jamhand`AdiibnKa`bcametherewith.Somesuggestedthatheshouldbeginwithsonsof`Adi.“No,Ishouldsettlemyselfinitsplace.SonsofSahmandwewereofthesamerankwhenIslamcame forth. You should choose between sons of Jamh and Sahm in precedence,” `Umar decided.Finally, sonsofJamhwerepreceded.SonsofSahmand`Adiwere recordedunder thesamename.Whentheywereseparated,`Umarshouted,“Allahisthegreatest!PraisedbeAllahWhobestowedmemyshare fromHisMessenger.”Thencamesonsof `Amir ibnLu`ay.Abu-`Ubaydah ibn `Abdullahibn al-Jarrah al-Fihri objected and blamed `Umar for preceding all those to him. “Well, Abu-`Ubaydah,”said`Umar,“youmayeithersuccumb, likewhatIhaddone,oryoushoulddiscuss thismatterwithyourpeople.Iwillaccepttheirdecisioniftheyprecedeyoutothemselves.Forme,Iwillprecedeyoutosonsof`Adi—mypeople.”InthereignofMuawiyah,sonsofal-HarithibnFihrwereprecededandlocatedbetweensonsof`AbdManafandAsadibn`Abdal-`Uzza.Inthereignofa-Mahdi,the`Abbasidcaliph,aquarreloccurredbetween sons of Sahm and `Adi. Therefore, they separated. For their standing, al-Mahdi precededsonsof`Adi.ItisgenerallyadmissiblethattheHashimitesweredistinctiveamongtheotherQurayshiteclansdue

to their unique mentality, behavior, activities and values. It is also evident that the other tribesrespected them exclusively. Thiswas the reason beyond the otherQurayshite clans’ having enviedthem.SincethedaysofHashimand`Abdal-Muttalib,theHashimiteswereantagonized.ItwasHashimwhoconstitutedtheSummerjourneytoSyria,PalestineandEgyptforpeopleofQuraysh.Hetouredin deserts and countries andnegotiated the chiefs andkings of tribes and countries bywhich theircaravans had to pass. He concluded treaties of nonaggression for conserving safety of people ofQuraysh’s caravans who expressed their delight for this achievement and took initiative in takingadvantageofit.Nevertheless,theyenviedHashimandhopedhadthatbeentheirownachievementsothat they would have obtained that pride. Hashim however was deceased in Ghaza under obscurecircumstances.Yet,hishousewasnotextinguished.`Abdal-Muttalib,hisson,couldbethemasterofhispeoplecontinuinghisfather ’sachievements.HeconstitutedtheWinterjourneytoYemenaswellasmanytreatiesofnonaggressionwiththechiefsandkingsoftribesandcountriesbywhichpeopleofQuraysh’scaravanspassed.Likehisfather,`Abdal-Muttalibtookprideinthisact.From themental side, the clans ofQuraysh noticed that theHashimites generally, and `Abd al-

Muttalib particularly, were used to taking pride in their being Ishmael’s sons and followers ofAbraham’s creed, as if they were the only offspring of Ishmael and Abraham and, in moreconcentrating vision, as if they suspected the others’ lineage. Abu-Talib and theHoly Prophet (S)applied this idea in the most tangible view. The chasm between the Hashimites and the otherQurayshiteclansincreasedlargelywhen`Abdal-Muttalibclaimedreceivingdivineinspirationviathetruecomingdreams.Once,heinformedhispeoplethattheLordhadorderedhimtodigthewellofZamzam,whichwasderelict longtimeago.Whenhedug,waterspranganewbythepermissionofAllahtheExaltedandhecouldfindtwogoldenstatuesontheformofgazellethere.`Abdal-MuttalibadornedthegateoftheHolyKa`bahwiththesetwogoldenstatuesaddinganewfeaturetohimwhoexclusively took the task of serving the pilgrims with food. He was named ‘the waterer of the

pilgrimsandtheHolyPrecinct’duetothescarcityofwateratthattime.When the Abyssinian army were on their way towards the Holy Ka`bah, `Abd al-Muttalib told

peoplethattheywouldnevertouchitsinceAlmightyAllahwoulddefeatthem.ThisprophesycametruewhenAlmightyAllah rained the armyofAbyssiniawith tinybirds that cast themwithbackedstones;hence,Hecausedthemtobelikearuinednest.AsifhewasaProphet(S),oranintroducertoaProphet(S),`Abdal-Muttaliblegislatedanumberoflawsandregulations.HeissuedthattheritualCircumambulation of the Hajj should be seven times. As some of the Arabs were used to goingaroundtheHolyKa`bahnaked,becausetheypresumedtheprofanityoftheirclothes,`Abdal-Muttalibprohibited this practice. He warned people against burying the she-babies alive. He issued theobligationoffulfillingthevowsandrespectingtheholymonths.Heprohibitedwinesandfornicationand constituted a definite punishment for the perpetrators of such a sin.Hebanished the notoriousprostitutesoutofMakkah,prohibited themarriageof thebloodrelations, issued thepunishmentofcuttingthelarceners’handsandfinallyconstitutedunmercifulregulationsagainstthemurderers.Heidentified one hundred camels to be paid as the blood money of bloodshed. All the previousregulationsandlawsarelegislatedinIslam.`Abdal-Muttalibenjoyed thegreatesthonoramongQurayshaswellas theotherArab tribes;he

thereforewasenviedexcessivelybytheQurayshitechiefswhodraggedhimtobetheotherpartyinacontestforshowingthemosthonorablebythegovernanceofpriests.Asanewproperty,AlmightyAllahcaused`Abdal-Muttalibtoovercometwiceincreasinghisstandingandgoodreputationamongpeople.Thematter thatmost aroused theQurayshite chiefs against `Abd al-Muttalibwas the accident of

providingoneofhissonsasasacrificefortheLordoftheHolyKa`bah,justlikeProphetAbraham(a.s.)—hisforefather.Hence,theQurayshitechiefscouldnotenjoyamomentofrelief.As soon as `Abdal-Muttalibdeparted life,Abu-Talib, the son, taking theplaceofhis father and

grandfather,becamethechiefofhispeopleaswellastheotherArabtribes.Hepreservedhisfather ’smaxims. During the reign of Abu-Talib, the grandest dole on the Qurayshite chiefs took place;Muhammad,Abu-Talib’snephew,claimedProphethoodanddemandedwithbelievingandcomplyingwithhim.ThisdolefortheQurayshitechiefsexpandedwhenanumberoftheHashimitesandsonsofal-Muttalibbelieved inhimandAbu-Talibdeclaredhis responsibilityofprotectinghimduring theconveyance of his Lord’smessage.He also threatened people ofQuraysh a sweepingwar if theywouldtouchasinglehairofMuhammad(S).Sparingnoeffortsinsupportinghisnephew,Abu-TalibstoodinthefaceofthecabalsmanagedbytheQurayshitechiefs.Healsocomposedpoemsthroughwhich he divulged the ill intentions of theQurayshite chiefs and suspected their belongingness toProphetIsmayl(a.s.).HispoemsofglorifyingMuhammad(S)andreproachingtheQurayshitechiefswerecarriedtotheotherArabtribes.Abu-TalibnamedAbu’l-Hakam,thechiefofBanu-Makhzum,as‘the tiny ignorant of Makhzum,’ while the Holy Prophet (S) named him ‘Abu-Jahl’ -man ofignorance-.In spite of their various attempts to incite and threaten Abu-Talib and his nephew, people of

Quraysh failed toachieveanyprogress indefeating thatdivineProphethood.They thendecided topersecuteanyMuslimtheywouldcatch;therefore,mostofMuslimsfledtoAbyssiniabringinganewdisappointmentfortheQurayshitechiefs.Accompanied by sons of Kinanah, the Qurayshite chiefs decided to besiege the Hashimites. Theyarrestedtheminacolforthreeorfouryears.Yet,throughamiracle,theLordundidtheirblockade.WhentheHashimiteslostAbu-Talib,peopleofQurayshdecidedtoassassinateMuhammad(S)sincehe had lost the protector; but Almighty Allah disappointed their consensus and ordered HisMessengertomovetoYathrib—thecitythatmostofitspeopleembracedandadmittedIslam.BesidestheJews,theQurayshitechiefsusedallmeanstoinstigateorthreatpeopleofal-Madinahto

giveuptheHolyProphet(S);yet,theyfailedbecausethatcity,whichwassituatedonthemainwayoftheireconomicexchangewithSyriaandtheneighboringterritories,compliedwiththeHolyProphet(S)fromtoptobottom.In conclusion, theydecided to declarewar against thatHashimite individual; they therefore foughtagainsthiminBadr,Uhudanda-Khandaq;yet,theyfailed,asusual.TheyalsofailedwhentheyusedtheJews,theRomansandthePersiansagainsthim.Unexpectedly,ProphetMuhammad (S) surprised themwhenhe conquered their capital,Makkah,

with great numbers of unbeatable soldiers in AH 8. So, people of Quraysh had to surrender andsubmittohim.TheyformedtwolinestowatchtheparadeoftheHolyProphet(S)andhisarmy.Thestandardofconquestwasraisedby`AbdullahibnRuwahah,theyoungmanfromtheYemenitribeofal-Khazraj.Hewasshoutingwithapoem:Osonsofatheists!ClearthewaytohimToday,wewillstrikeyoufortherevelationSoabruptlythatyourheadswillberemovedAndfriendswillbeengagedagainsttheirreveredMyLord!Idobelieveinhismission.Havingfeltjealoustohearthat,`Umarshoutedatthepoet,“SonofRuwahah!IsitbeforetheHoly

Prophet (S) and inAllah’sPrecinctyouarepoetizing?”But theHolyProphet (S) intruded, “Leavehimalone,`Umar!Theseversesaremorepiercingthanspearheads.”[21]`UmarintendedtorelievetheQurayshitechiefs’defeatandtoavoidchallengingthemintheircapital.Itisworthmentioningthat`Umarwasthesonofthatworthlessclanof`AdiandwasbroughtuponrespectfortheQurayshitechiefs.FortheHolyProphet(S),thosedespoticchiefsunderstoodnothingotherthantheproseofswordsandthat`AbdullahibnRuwahah’sacthadbeenquitecorrectandhighlyappreciatedbyAlmightyAllahsinceitwasmorepiercinguponHisfoesthanspearheads.ConquestofMakkahBewilderstheJurisprudentsTheHolyProphet(S)hadsecuredpeopleofQurayshbeforehegatheredtheirchiefsintheHoly

Mosque under the swords ofAllah’s soldiers.He reminded themofmany things; their arrogance,tyranny, belying the miracles and portents of Allah, dissenting Allah and His Messenger andpersecuting theHashimites andMuslims in addition to their conflicts and cabals against Islam andMuslims.Readthefollowingasquotedfromal-Tabari’sTarikh2/337:

It has been narrated on the authority of Qatadah al-Sadusi that the Holy Prophet (S), during theconquestofMakkah,stoodonthegateoftheHolyKa`bahandsaid,“ThereisnogodbutAllah,alonewithno associate.He fulfilledHispromise, grantedvictory toHis servant and, alone, defeated theparties (of the polytheists). Any claimed revenge or property must be under my feet except thecustodyoftheHouseofAllahandthewateringofthepilgrims.OpeopleofQuraysh!AllahhassavedyoufromthepracticesofJahiliyahand takingpride in the forefathers.Allpeoplebelong toAdamandAdamwascreated frommud. ‘Opeople!Wehavecreatedyou frommaleand female,andWehavemadeyoupeoplesandtribessothatyouwillassociateeachother.ThemosthonorableofyoutoAllahisbeingthemostcarefulofhisduty.’OpeopleofQurayshandpeopleofMakkah!Whatdoyouexpect me to do with you?” “Good! You are but a generous brother and the son of a generousbrother,”answeredthey.“Gofree!Youarereleased,”respondedtheHolyProphet(S).After they had beenwithin the spoils ofwar that theHoly Prophet (S) had the right to possess,

peopleofQurayshweremanumittedandreleased.Hence,theyarecalled‘thereleased.’This fact perplexed the pro-Qurayshite jurisprudents. A release occurs only after capture and

enslavement. This proposes that those people were manumitted by the Holy Prophet (S) who had

enslaved them.Accordingly, they shouldbe the fellowsand subjectsofhis family forgood.TheirbeingMuslimssavedthemfrombeingsentencedtodeathpenaltyonly.Itdidnotcancel theirbeingenslaved;yet,thisrulingisdedicatedtothem.AccordingtotherulingsofjihadandIslamicconquest,suchrulingsareinactive.ThefollowingisasketchoftheHolyProphet(S)’spractices:Ten thousandMuslims under the Holy Prophet (S)’s leadership surroundedMakkah. People of

Qurayshweretoofrightenedtocounterthatarmy.AsanIslamicrule,peopleofMakkah,iftheywereJewsorChristians,shouldchooseoneofthree;becomeMuslims,fightagainsttheMuslimarmyordefray the tribute (Jizyah) and keep their religion. As they were polytheists, they had only twochoices;either tochooseforIslamor tofight.TheyhoweverchoseforIslamunder themenaceofswords.TheyshouldhavebeentreatedasMuslims,buttheHolyProphetsubmittedthemtotherulingsof the prisoners of war and then released them. This sort of release is unfamiliar for Muslimjurisprudents;aprisonerofwarshouldbekilled,releasedorcompensated.TherulingofthereleasewithoutmanumissionorcompensationisdedicatedtothepeopleofQurayshduringtheconquestofMakkah.Another jurisprudentialunsolvedproblemcomes to thesurface; theHolyProphet(S)’sdecisionofexcluding,frompunishment,everyonewhowouldstayhome,throwhisweaponorjoinAbu-Sufyan’shousedidnotconditionthatsuchpeopleshoulddeclarebeingMuslims.The third question the rulings regarding the lands of Makkah about which there are many

probabilities,suchasthattheyarenotpossessedbecausetheyarewithintheholyHouseofAllah,theywereconqueredandthusallMuslimshaverightsinthemforever,TheyhadbeenpossessedbypeopleofQurayshsincetheychooseforIslambutpeoplepurchasedsomefromtheirownerslateron.Inmyconception, thelandsofMakkahshouldbeoutofpossessionbecausetheyareunderthecustodyoftheHolyProphet(S)andtheHolyImams,whiletheHolyProphet(S)’sdecisionofsavingthesoulsof those previouslymentioned peoplewasmere salvation from killing. His amnesty to people ofQurayshmeansthattheywillbealwayshisenslavedindividualswhoenjoydefiniterulingsaccordingto the lawsof Islam.He released them in the samewayasamaster says tohis slaves, ‘Goanddowhateveryoulike.’However,they,aswellastheirprogeny,arestilldecidedasslavesofthatmasterandhisheirs. Inotherwords,hedidnotmakethemchooseeitherIslamorfighting;yet, theywerecompelledtoadefinitechoiceandtheythuswereovercomeandcaptured.TheHolyProphet(S)regardedthemasMuslimswhenheorderedthemtotakepartintheBattleof

Hunayn andwhen he ordered theirwomen to pay homage to him.On other occasions, theywereregardedaspolytheistswhentheirsonsandslaveswhocouldfindtheirwayouttotheHolyProphet(S)aftertheconquestofMakkahwerenotgivenbacktothem:ThefollowingisrecordedinNahjal-Balaghah3/30:Imam`Ali(a.s.)answeredMuawiyahsaying:You think that so-and-soand so-and-soare themostdistinguishedpersons in Islam.Youhave saidsuchathingwhichifitbetrue,youhavenothingtodowithit,butifitbenot,thenitsdefectwillnotaffectyou.Andwhatareyoutodowiththequestionofwhoisbetterandwhoisworse,orwhoistheruler andwho is the ruled.What have the ‘released’ ones and their sons to dowith distinguishingbetweenthefirstMuhajirunanddeterminingtheirpositionordefiningtheirranks.Whatapity!Thesoundofanarrowisbeingproducedbywhatisnotarealarrow,andheagainstwhomthejudgementis tobepassed issitting in judgement.Oman,whydoyounotseeyourownlamenessandremainwithin bounds? And why do not you realize the shortness of your measure and stay back wheredestiny has placed you?You have no concernwith the defeat of the defeated or the victory of thevictor.Al-Kulayni,inal-Kafi3/512,recordsthefollowing:

ThelandsofthosewhochoseforIslamwillinglyshouldbekeptintheirhands.Whateverisseizedby

forceshouldbelongtotheImamandthenthedecisionishis.ThusdidtheHolyProphet(S)dotothelandsofKhaybar.Whenthepeopleofal-Ta`ifbecameMuslims, theywereimposedtopaythetitheanditshalf.MakkahwasconqueredbytheHolyProphet(S);therefore,itspeoplearehisprisoners.Hemanumittedthemandsaid,“Gofree!Youarereleased.”Sunni jurisprudentshavedecidedpeopleofQurayshasMuslims; therefore, theyapplied themto

therulingsofMuslims,butwhentheyareaskedaboutthe‘released’andwhethertheyandtheirlandsareappliedtotherulingsofwarornot,theyclaimthatsucharightisgivenexclusivelytotheHolyProphet(S)!Letusreadthefollowingasquotedfromal-Shafi`i’sKitabal-Umm7/382:Al-Awza`i says that theHoly Prophet (S) conqueredMakkah by force and permittedMuhajirun tooccupytheirownhousesandlandsthere;yet,hedidnotconsiderthemasspoils.Abu-YusufsaysthattheHolyProphet(S)pardonedpeopleofMakkahwhenhedeclaredthateveryonewhowouldkeephimselfinhishouseorjointheMosqueorAbu-Sufyan’shousewouldbesafe.Heaskedhisarmynottokillanybodyexceptcertainnamesorincaseofdefense.HegatheredthemintheMosqueandsaid,“Whatdoyouexpectmetodowithyou?”“Good.Youarethegenerousbrotherandthesonofthatgenerousbrother,”repliedthey.“Gofree!Youarereleased,”saidtheHolyProphet(S).He thus did not regard any part of their possessions as spoils. I have already said that the HolyProphet(S)inthisissueisnotlikeothers.Hisactsshouldbecarefullyunderstoodbecausetheyhavevariousmeanings.Inotherwords,theHolyProphet(S)disregardedtherulingsofIslamwhenhedidnotaddthelands

ofMakkahwiththespoilsofwaranddidnotenslaveitspeople.HepardonedthemandacceptedtheirbeingMuslims.ThisrulingishowevervalidfortheHolyProphet(S),noneelse,andconsequently,itisprohibitedforanyconquerortoimitatetheHolyProphet(S)inthisregard!Thus,theyclaimthatherespectedpeopleofQurayshwhenhetreatedthemindividually.Nevertheless, to adopt this opinion,Sunni jurisprudentshave tomove thisobstacle,which is yet

immovable!Whataboutthenameof‘released’thattheHolyProphetstampedonthenecksofpeopleofQurayshandtheirpartisans?Actually,itbefitstheslavesonly.Some Nasibis22 have understood that the problem of Quraysh with the Ahl al-Bayt would

enduringlyremainunsettledas longas thenameof‘released’ iskeptasamarkontheirforeheads.Thisnamemeans that theyhavebecome the slavesof theHolyProphet (S) andhishouseholdandprogeny and that he had only released, not manumitted them from slavery. Even if they weremanumitted, theymustbealways loyal to theHolyProphet (S)andhishousehold.However,Sunnischolarshavealwaysattemptedtoerasethenameof‘released’inorderthattheymightreleasepeopleofQuraysh from their slavery to theHolyProphet (S) andhishousehold.ShaykhNasir al-Dinal-AlbaniexposeshisreluctantfanaticismtopeopleofQurayshwhenheregardsthenarrationinvolvedasdoubtful!In Salsalat al-Ahadith al-Da`ifah 3/307 al-Albani lists the narration under number 1163 andcomments:ThisdoubtfulnarrationhasbeenrecordedinibnIshaq’sal-Sirah4/31-2.Al-Tabari,inTarikh3/120,has recorded it, too.Ashehas recorded it in al-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah4/300-1, IbnKathir has notcommentedwith anything. It is howeverdoubtful and suspended since Ibn Ishaqhasnotnamed theman fromwhomhe received it. In addition, the narrator is not one of the Sahabah; rather, he hasreceivedthereportfromtheSahabah’sfollowers.Hence,thenarrationisincompletelytransmittedorevenunsound.It seems thatal-Albanihasnot seen theother referencebooksofHadith inwhich this reporthas

been recorded.Similarly,hecouldnotperceive that scholarsand jurisprudentshavedealtwith thisreport asundeniable fact.Wewonder if itwas suchanextremehistoricalblemishor fanaticism to

peopleofQurayshthatmadehimattempttodenythisfact.ItmightbeanattempttosavethemfromthateverlastingnameoftheirslaverytotheHolyProphet(S)andhishousehold.TheissueishowevertoocertainandfamoustoallMuslimschoolstobedenied.Thename‘released’is said exclusively to people of Quraysh and frequently used in the reference books of Hadith.Moreover,ithashadcertainrulingsdiscussedbymasterjurisprudents.Thefollowingisnarratedbyal-Bukhari,inal-Sahih5/105-6:TenthousandwarriorsinadditiontothereleasedwerewiththeHolyProphet(S)duringthebattleofHunayn;yet,theyranaway…etc.Muslim,inal-Sahih3/106,haswrittendownthefollowing:

Thereleasedwerewithhim;yet,theyflewandheremainedalone…etc.[23]Iftruthbetold,theHashimitesonlystoodfirmandfoughtwiththeHolyProphet(S)intheBattleof

Hunayn.Inal-Musnad4/363byAhmad,thefollowingisrecorded:TheHolyProphetsaid:“MuhajirunandAnsararethefriendsofeachother.TheQurayshitereleasedonesandthemanumittedonesofThaqifarethefriendsofeachotheruntiltheResurrectionDay.Al-Hakim, in al-Mustadrak 4/80 and al-Haythami, inMajma` al-Zawa`id 10/15 have decided the

authenticity of the previous report,which has been also authenticated by IbnQudamah: al-Mughni7/321,al-Sarkhasi:al-Mabsut10/39,Ahmad:al-Musnad3/279,al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan6/306,8/266and9/118andal-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal12/86and5/735whereherecordsthefollowing:`Umarstated,“Thisaffairshouldneverbeheldbythereleasedandsonsofthereleased.Ifyouwillnotkeepit,donotthinkthat`AbdullahibnRabi`ahwillbeinattentive.”PeopleofQurayshAftertheConquestofMakkahThe rest of theQurayshite tyrants and the ‘released’ ones had to beMuslims. Nevertheless, the

feelingsofmaliceandarrogancewereconfined in thehiddensofmost, ifnotall,of them.On theotherside,theyfoundanewexit!TheyclaimedthatthegovernmentofMuhammadshouldbetheirssince hewas that generousman and the son of that generousman. Similarly, they adhered to thestatementsthatMuhammad’snobilityandprideweretheirssincehewasthesonofQuraysh.After all, the Holy Prophet (S) pardoned them and permitted their chiefs to enter his state;

therefore,itisillogicalforthemtofightorstandagainstorleavethatgovernmentinthehandsofthestrangers— the people of the tribes of Aws and Khazraj. Likewise, the question of Muhammad’ssuccessioncanbediscussedsinceitwasaninternalaffair!ItisquiteunderstandablethatpeopleofQurayshdirectedtheireffortstowardsthecomingstage—

afterMuhammad’s departure.Themost significant aim theyhad to treatwas precluding him fromnominating the Hashimites for the next leadership. They expressed this trend in a few words;forbidding the Hashimites from joining the leadership to the Prophethood. They decided that thepositionofleadershipshouldbetheshareoftheQurayshiteclansotherthantheHashimiteswhohadalreadyenjoyedthepositionofProphethoodrestrictively.Furthermore,manytextsandconfessionsleadtothefactthatpeopleofQurayshexertedallefforts,

onboththeexternalandinternalfronts,soastoimplementthisplan.Yet,mostofthemdespairedofthe Holy Prophet (S)’s granting them any amount in the leadership because he had beenworkingpractically for preparing his household for this position. On that account, they plotted forassassinatinghim.Theywentonthatassoonastheyhadanopportunity.TheBattleofHunaynwastheexcellentopportunity!TheQurayshitetyrantshaveneverbelievedintheHolyProphet(S).Aftertheyhaddeclaredtheir

beingMuslimsandvolunteeredtojointheHolyProphet(S)inhiswaragainstthetribesofHawazinandGhatafan inHunayn, they flewat the initial throwofspears.Theywere two thousandwarriors

whiletheHolyProphet(S)’ssoldiersweretenthousand.TheQurayshitetyrantswerethemainreasonbeyondthedefeatofMuslimsduringthatbattle.TheyurgedtheotherstofleeasexactlyaswhathadhappenedduringtheBattleofUhud.Predictably, theHashimiteswere theonlywarriorswhostood fastwith theHolyProphet (S).Theyfought so courageously that they could face the attack. Only then, a few numbers of the fleeingMuslimsreturnedtothebattlefieldandAllahgavethemvictory.AtthesametimeasMuslimswerefleeing,peopleofQurayshplottedanumberofprocessesaimed

atassassinatingtheHolyProphet(S),provingthattheyhadalreadyplannedformanythingswiththeenemies.IbnKathirwhoisaffectionatelyfondofpeopleofQurayshandtheUmayyads,hasrecorded, inal-Sirah3/691,thefollowingsayingofhisdear,al-Nudayribnal-Hariththechiefof`Abdal-Dar.…Al-Nudayribnal-HarithibnKildahwasafamousfoeoftheHolyProphet(S).DuringthebattleofHunayn,hejoinedhispeoplewhowerestillkeepingtheirbeliefs.Hespoke,“WeintendedtoattackMuhammad as soon asHawazinwould beat him.But,we could not do it.Whenwe resided in al-Jarranah,theProphet(S)calledatmewhileIwasstillkeepingmybeliefs,‘Oal-Nudayr!MayIguideyoutoapracticemorebeneficialforyouthanthatyouhadintendedduringtheBattleofHunayn,butthe Lord stopped you?’ I came to him so hurriedly. ‘Now, it is the proper time to understand theinfirmityofyourpreviousintention,’saidtheProphet(S).Iconfessed,‘Yes,indeed.IknowthathadtherebeenagodotherthanAllah,hewouldhaveinfluenced.IdeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllah,alonewithout associate.’ Then, the Prophetsupplicated toAllah saying, ‘OAllah, supply himwithmoresteadfastness.’Sincethatday,Ifeelmyheartbeingasfirmasarock.TheProphet(S)thensaid,“PraisebetoAllahWhoguidedhim.”ItisclearlynoticeablethatthepreviouswordsofthisQurayshitechiefinvolvehisdeclarationand

claimofbelievinginAllahtheExalted.Aman’sdeclarationissufficientevidence.Itisalsonoticeablethat he declared the first creed of Islam only and neglected the other, which is the declaration ofMuhammad’sdivineProphethood.Aclaimisnotprovableunlessotherstestifyit.ThisrecognitionprovesthattheirpretensetobeMuslimsonthedayoftheconquestofMakkahhadbeen false.Two thousandwarriorswereunder thecommandmentof this chiefduring theBattleofHunaynwhilehewasplanningforassassinatingtheHolyProphet(S).Thisindicatesthatallthewarriorswerepartiesinthatplot.Inaddition,thesewordsrevealthatthey

had actually implemented processes of assassinating theHoly Prophet (S) but their activitieswerefailedbytheLordandcommunicatedtotheHolyProphet(S).OthernarrationshaveattestedthattheQurayshite chiefs, during the flight ofMuslims in theBattle ofHunayn, could no longer keep thesecret; therefore, they shouted of their rooted atheism and divulged their intentions. We read thefollowingfromIbnHusham’sal-Sirah4/46:…WhenMuslims fled, some people ofQuraysh could no longer hidemalice that disturbed theirhearts. Abu-Sufyan ibn Harb shouted, while pieces of pagans were kept in his bag, “Let them bethrowninthesea.”Jibillah ibn al-Hanbal and Safwan ibn Umayyah, the polytheists, shouted, “Sorcery has certainlyfailed!”Shaybahibn`UthmanibnAbi-Talhah,whosebrotherwaskilledintheBattleofUhud,cried,“Today,IwillretaliateuponMuhammad.Today,IwillkillMuhammad.”He,lateron,narrated,“IsearchedfortheProphet(S)asIintendedtokillhim.Butsomethingstrangelockedmyheart;therefore,IrealizedthatIwouldneverhavetheabilitytokillhim.”Moreover,Shaybah,aMuslimleaderandsonofQuraysh(thestrivingfaithfulandMuslimtribe!),

confessedthathewentaroundtheProphetseveraltimetokillhim.

Adeeplookintheidentities,waysofthinkingandinterestsoftheQurayshitechiefsclearlyexposestheirhypocrisyandthattheyhaddecidedtobelietheportentsandmiraclesintroducedbyMuhammad(S)andgainsayallthehumanitarianvaluesandnormsforwhichhecalled.Theyalsodecidednottojoinhisreligioninanycaseexceptwhentheywouldbethreatenedbyswordsorwhenhisstatewouldbeintheirhands.NosinglemeansdidtheysavewhentheyfoughttheHolyProphet(S).Regardless,theyhadtofail

and, finally, were defeated. As a second stage, they continued plotting cabals and attempting toassassinatehim,buttheyfailed,too.Then,theycametohimdemandingwithapositionofleadershipinhisstate,buttheyfailed,asusual.Atlength,theyclaimedthattheyhadtherighttobetherulersofhisgovernmentsincetheywerehispeople.Inpointoffact,suchsortofpeoplewhopredominatedontheIslamicStateandprecludedtheAhlal-Baytfromtheleadershiprequiresadiscerningstudy.InManaqibAliAbi-Talib2/239,IbnShahrashubrecords:InTanzihal-Anbiya`167,SharifAl-Murtadacomments:As soon as theHolyProphet (S) nominated `Ali ibnAbi-Talib for thenext leadership, a groupofQurayshitepeoplecameand said, “Peoplehaveno long span in Islam.Theywillnot accept to seeyourcousin`AliibnAbi-TalibbetheirleaderwhileyouweretheProphet(S).Youmayissueanotherdecision.”TheHolyProphet (S) replied, “Thatwas notmydecision so that Imay cancel. It is theLord’sdecision.It isHeWhoorderedmetodeclareit.”Theythensuggested,“Well then.YoumayaddamanfromQurayshtohimsothatpeoplewillbesatisfiedandyouraffairswillbeaffirmative.”Soon afterwards, Almighty Allah revealed, “Surely, if you associate, your work would certainlycometonaughtandyouwouldcertainlybeofthelosers.39/65”Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`Abdal-`A¨imal-HasanithatImamal-Sadiqsaid,“PeopleofQurayshwereunder the leadershipofamanfromthe tribeof `Adiwhen theyappearedbefore theHolyProphet(S)andsaid,“Wehaveabandonedourpaganismandfollowedyou.Letushaveapartinthe leadershipyouhavegiven to `Ali.”Hence,AlmightyAllah revealed,“Surely, if you associate,yourworkwouldcertainlycometonaughtandyouwouldcertainlybeofthelosers.39:65”PeopleofQurayshGatherAroundSuhaylIbn`AmrDespite the unfaithful situations shown by people ofQuraysh after the conquest ofMakkah, the

HolyProphet(S)putfortheffortsforacquiringtheirloyaltybydignifyingandwelcomingthem.Hedonatedthemthegreatestsharesofthespoilsandpromisedtodonatemoreinthefutureprovidedthattheywouldshowfidelityandgoodmanners.Not for theirappreciation, theLordadvisedHisMessenger touse the illuminationof tranquility

andbenevolencetofacetheintricacyandnarrow-mindednessofthosetyrantpeopleforsakeofthecominggenerations.Meanwhile, the chiefship ofAbu-Sufyan retracted, and he could keep nothingother thanhis falsefameofcombatingMuhammad(S).Abu-Sufyan’schiefshipwasfit inwarsandtrade,notinsituationsofpeaceandpoliticalactivities.AfterhehadbeendefeatedintheconquestofMakkah,Abu-Sufyan resided in al-Madinah and asked theHoly Prophet (S) to appoint him as taxcollector.Suhaylibn`Amrwasselectedastheverythinkerandpoliticianwhomightregainthe‘glories’of

Qurayshafterthemilitarydownfall.Nottoolong,hebecametheonlypivotaroundwhompeopleofQuraysh rotated and the only heir of those chiefswhomwere killed byMuhammad and hisLord.Althoughhewasoneofthesonsof`AmiribnLu`aywhowereagradelowerthansonsofKa`bibnLu`ay,asIbnHushamassertsinal-Sirah2/489,Suhaylibn`Amribn`Abd-Shamsibn`Abd-Widdwasafull-bloodedQurayshite.HehadlongstorieswithMuhammadandoneofthechiefswhonegotiated

Abu-TalibinrespectofMuhammad’sProphethood.Hewasalsoamemberinal-NidwahConferencewhentheydecidedtoimposeacomprehensivesiegeupontheHashimites.HewasalsoamemberoftheplotofassassinatingtheHolyProphet(S)duringhisjourneytoal-Ta`ifandheparticipatedinthedecision of banishingMuhammad out ofMakkah and killing him if he would return. Finally, herejected to protect the Holy Prophetso that he would be in Makkah for conveying his Lord’smessages.[24]Furthermore,SuhaylwasoneoftheplannerstokillMuhammad(S)afterAbu-Talib’sdeceaseuntil

hisLordsavedhimthroughtheimmigrationtoYathribandoneofthosewhodetainedandtorturedthe earlier Muslims, including his son Abu-Jandal. He was also one of the commanders of thepolytheists’armyduringtheBattleofBadrandoneofthosewhounderwenttheexpensesofthearmy.He exerted all possible efforts in burning the Holy Prophet (S)’s heart through practicingmisbehaviors; therefore, Almighty Allah cursed him and ordered His Prophet (S) to curse andmention him by name in disfavor during his prayers. In addition to the battles of Uhud and al-Khandaq,SuhaylspenthiswealthonrecruitingpeopleagainsttheHolyProphet(S)duringwars.Al-Dhahbi,inSiyarA`lamal-Nubala`1/194,recordsthefollowing:Suhaylibn`Amr,nicknamedAbu-Yazid,wasthebestspeakerofQurayshandoneoftheircelebrities.HecouldescapewhenhewascapturedintheBattleofBadr.InMakkah,hespokeurgingpeopleonpartakinginthewarsagainsttheHolyProphet(S).Hesaid,“OsonsofGhalib!AreyougoingtoletMuhammad and his traitorous followers seize your caravans? This wealth is for those who lackwealthandthispowerisforthosewholackpower.”However,Suhaylwasbenevolent,generousandwell-spoken.WhentheProphet(S)departed life,Suhayladdressedaspeechsimilar to thatofAbu-Bakral-Siddiqinal-Madinah.HiswordscontributedinappeasingpeopleandenhancingIslam.People ofQuraysh selectedSuhayl ibn `Amr to represent them in the truce ofHudaybiyyah.He

protested against writing down ‘theMessenger of Allah’ as the Holy Prophet (S)’s signature. Hesigned on it on behalf of all Qurayshites. Finally, he was one of the leaders of polytheism aboutwhomAlmighty Allah has said, ‘Fight leaders of polytheism. 9/12’ Thus, his false conversion toIslamshouldneverchangeanythingoftheHolyVersesofAlmightyAllah.Al-Sanani,inTafsir1/242,hasrecordedthefollowing:It has beennarrated on the authority ofQatadah that theHolyVerse, ‘Fight leaders of polytheism.9/12’intendedAbu-SufyanibnHarb,UmayyahibnKhalaf,`UtbahibnRabi`ah,Abu-JahlandSuhaylibn`Amr.After the conquest ofMakkah, Suhayl preferred to stay inMakkah and refused to move to al-

Madinahlikemostofthereleasedones.DuetohisarroganceandlonghistoryofstruggleagainsttheHoly Prophet (S), he did not dare to ask for a position in theHoly Prophet (S)’s State.While herejected theHolyProphet (S)’sphilanthropicpresentduring theyearsofdesiccationandstarvationsufferedbypeopleofQurayshbyvirtueoftheHolyProphet(S)’scursingthem,SuhaylacceptedtheonehundredcamelspresentedtohimasspoilsoftheBattleofHunayn.FortheQurayshitepeopleandtheiradorers,thislonghistorywasasbrightasdaylightsun,butfor

Allah and His Messenger, it was as black as gloomy night. The (Muslim) Qurayshites voted forSuhayl’sleadershipaftertheconquestofMakkahforthepreviouslineage,historyandsituations.Howmiserablethehistoriansare!AndwoeistheadorersofpeopleofQurayshinthisregard!WhereastheHolyProphet(S)nominated`AttabibnUsaydal-UmawiandamanfromAnsarasthe

rulersofMakkah,peopleofQurayshpreferredandcompliedwithSuhayl.Thisfactisevidencedbythe story that as soon as the Holy Prophet (S) was deceased, people of Quraysh dissented andrelinquishedIslam.Although,hewasaQurayshiteindividual,`Attabhadtohidehimselfbecauseheexpected that he would be assassinated. A few days later, they received the tranquil news of thehomage to Abu-Bakr, son of Taym. They calmed down because they realized that none of the

Hashimites would be the leader. This is why Suhayl repeated the same words of Abu-Bakr whointendedtosaythatwhoeverworshippedMuhammadmustunderstandthatMuhammadhasdied.We,the other party, do not worshipMuhammadwhowas nomore than amessenger who carried themessageandpassedaway.MuhammadwasthesonofQurayshandhisauthorityshouldbeheldbyhispeople—peopleofQurayshwhoselectedaleader,namely,Abu-Bakr.Youallshouldthuslistenandobey.As a consequence, Suhayl relieved people of Quraysh by carrying to them the news that the

leadershipwouldbeattheirhandsawayfromtheHashimitesandAnsarwhoworshippedMuhammad!Thus,itwouldnotbenecessaryforthemtoapostatizefromIslam.Accordingly,peopleofQurayshlistened to him and that was the conclusion of the project of apostasy.Moreover, Suhayl secured`AttabandorderedhimtoruleMakkahinthenameofthenewQurayshite,notHashimite,leaderAbu-BakribnAbi-QahafahthesonofTaymibnMurrah.[25]SuhaylWorksforIndependenceAfter the conquest of Makkah, people of Quraysh directed their activities towards the orderly

politicalandsecretactionaimedatkeepingtheAhlal-BaytawayfromtheleadershipanddedicatingittotheotherQurayshites.TheyunderstoodthatanyopenactivitiesagainsttheHolyProphet(S)wouldbeunavailing.TheyhadtofacetheproblemoftheHolyProphet(S)’sprogressivearrangementsforbringing `Ali, followed by al-Hasan and al-Husayn, to power. Neither `Ali nor were any of theHashimites welcomed by the Qurayshite people. Thereupon, they, headed by Suhayl ibn `Amr,plannedforpracticinganumberofboldprocedureswiththeHolyProphet(S).Theythereforesenthimvariousmessagesdemandingwith repatriating their sonsand slaveswhohad leftMakkahandjoinedhimforlearningtheirreligion.In this regard, Suhayl said, “Today, we are your allies. We came to terms after we had been

engagedincombats.ImyselfconcludedatrucewithyouinHudaybiyyah.Oursonsandslavesfledtheirhometownsandworkplacestojoinyou.Theyliedwhentheyclaimedthattheyaimedatlearningtheir religion. Besides, we are responsible for teaching them their religion if they are honest.Accordingly,youshouldrepatriatethem.”TheappealofthenewchiefofQurayshmeansthatpeopleofQuraysh,eveniftheyhadtogiveup

armsandsurrenderundertheshadesofswords,didnotrecognizetherulerofMakkahassignedbytheHolyProphet(S);onthecontrary,theywantedhimtorecognizethemasanindependentpoliticalentityopposinghisstateandreligion.Al-Tirmidhi,inal-Sunan5/298,recordsthefollowing:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofRab`iibnHarrashthat`AliibnAbi-TalibtoldusthataftertheconclusionofthetruceofHudaybiyyah,somepolytheistchiefsandindividuals,includingSuhaylibn`Amr, said, “O Allah’sMessenger! Some of our sons, brethren and slaves joined you. They hadclaimed falsely that they wanted to learn their religion. They only want to get rid of their jobs.Repatriate them and we will teach them their religion if they are honest.” The Holy Prophet (S)answered, “O people ofQuraysh! If you keep up such demands, AlmightyAllahwill send amanwhoseheartisfilledupwithfaithtobeheadyouwithhisswordforsakeofthisreligion.”They,aswellasAbu-Bakrand`Umar,askedtheHolyProphet(S)toidentifythatman.“Heisthatrepairerofthesandal,” theHolyProphet (S) referred to `Alibetweenwhosehandswas thesandalof theHolyProphet(S).Abu-Dawud,inal-Sunan1/611,recordsthefollowing:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofRab`iibnHarrashthat`AliibnAbi-Talibsaidthatwhensomeslaves joined the Holy Prophet (S) before the conclusion of truce of Hudaybiyyah, their mastersmessagedtheHolyProphet(S)demandingwithrepatriatingthembecausetheirclaimsoflearningthe

religion had been false; rather they escaped their slavery. A number of people around the HolyProphet(S)attestedthatdemandandadvisedhimtorespond.Heangrilysaid,“OpeopleofQuraysh!IseethatyouwillnevergiveupsuchdemandsunlesstheLordwillsendamanwhowillbeheadyou.”Hence,herejectedtheirdemandandmanumittedthoseslaves.ThereadermustbeawarethatthereferencetothetruceofHudaybiyyahinsuchreportswasoneof

styles of distorting the facts usually followed by the pro-Qurayshite reporters. In fact, the incidentbefell after the conquestofMakkah.Had it occurredbefore that,Suhaylwouldhavedemanded theHolyProphet(S)withrespectingthetermofrepatriatingtheindividualswhowouldjoinhim,whichwasagreeduponduringthetruceofHudaybiyyah.Secondly,theHolyProphet(S)wouldnothaveshownsuchanintenserageifthisdemand,which

wouldhavebeensonormalsinceitwasspecifiedasatermofthetruce,hadbeenprovidedbeforetheconquestofMakkah.OnlyinsituationsofwrongdoingwouldtheHolyProphet(S)beangry.Thirdly,thereleasedQurayshiteswouldnothavesuggestedtotheHolyProphet(S)thattheywouldteachthosesons and slaves their religion if their demandhadbeen issuedbefore the conquest ofMakkah andtheirconversiontoIslam.ThesuggestionofteachingIslamcannotbesaidbyotherthanMuslimsorclaimersofbeingMuslims.Finally,somenarrationshaveconfirmedthattheincidentoccurredaftertheconquestofMakkah.Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak2/138,recordsthefollowing:Ithasbeennarratedon theauthorityofRab`i ibnHarrash that `Ali ibnAbi-Talibsaid thatafter theHolyProphet(S)hadconqueredMakkah,someQurayshitessaid,“OMuhammad!Weareyouralliesandpeople.OurslavesjoinedyounotforreceivingknowledgeofIslam,astheyclaim,butforgivinguptheirdutiesandobligations.Repatriate them.”Abu-Bakrand`Umaragreedto thatdemandwhentheir advicewas sought, but theHolyProphet said, “O people ofQuraysh!Allahwill send amanfromamongyou;hisheartwillbefilledupwithfaith;hewillbeheadyouforsakeofthereligion.”AsAbu-Bakrand`Umarexpectedthemselvestobetheintended,theHolyProphetsaid,“No,youarenot.Hewill be the repairer of the sandals in themosque.” The Prophet (S) had already given hissandalsto`Alitorepair.[26]Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak4/298,hasrecordedasimilarreportanddecideditsauthenticity:

AftertheconquestofMakkah,somepeopleofQurayshcametotheHolyProphet(S)…Hesaid,“OpeopleofQuraysh!Ifyouwillnotkeepupyourprayersanddefraythezakat,Iwillsendamanwhowillbeheadyouforsakeofthisreligion.ThismanwillbewhetherIortherepairerofthesandals.”Meanwhile,`AliwasrepairingtheHolyProphet(S)’ssandals.[27]Manyconsequentialpointscanbeinferredfromthisincident:First, people of Quraysh attended in al-Madinah to see the Holy Prophet (S). They came to

Muhammad’s capital and demanded with his recognition of their political independence. Such anawkwardimpudenceoccurredjustaftertheconquestofMakkahwhentheywerehumiliatedandhadtoaccept Islamunder themenaceofswordsafter theyhadbeenreleased inaddition to theirshamefuldeedsinthebattleofHunayn.Asal-HakimandAbu-Dawudhaveauthenticatedthenarration,peopleofQurayshaddressedtotheHolyProphet(S),‘OMuhammad!’Al-Tirmidhi,however,hasdistorteditinto‘OAllah’smessenger!’InAhmad’sal-Musnad3/82,wereadthefollowing:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-Sa`idal-Khidri…thattheHolyProphet(S)’ssandalwasoncecut;hethereforegaveitto`AliibnAbi-Talibtorepair.WestoodwiththeHolyProphet(S)whothenspoke,“OneofyouwillfightforsakeoftheinterpretationoftheQur ’aninthesamewayasIhavefoughtforitsrevelation.”Eachone,includingAbu-Bakrand`Umar,expectedhimselftobetheone intended.“No,”asserted theHolyProphet (S),“Hewillbe the repairerof thesandal.”We thushurriedto`Alicarryingthisgoodtidings.Asifhehadalreadyknownit,`Alipaidnoattention.InMajma`al-Zawa`id9/133,theauthorhasdecidedtheauthenticityandtruthfulnessofthereport

anditsnarrators.

Thenarrationmaintainsthattheincidentoccurredinal-Madinah.Second,peopleofQurayshunderstoodthattheconquestofMakkahandtheiracceptanceofIslam

asa religionhadnotbeenconsideredas submission to theHolyProphet (S)and the IslamicState;ratheritwasaformofalliancewithhimagainstthetribesthatwerenotincludedtohisStateyet.TheRomansandthePersianwerethemainfoesoftheHolyProphet(S)’sStateandpeopleofQurayshaswell.Furthermore,theyfeltthattheyhadpracticallyjoinedthatalliancewhentheyfoughtintheHolyProphet(S)’slineagainsthisfoesduringtheBattleofHunayn.Onthataccount,itisnowhisturntorecognize their independent entity. They began with demanding him to repatriate their sons andslaves.Third,except theHashimites,peopleofQurayshwhohadimmigratedwith theHolyProphet(S)

agreed to that demand.For instance,Abu-Bakr ibnQahafah and `Umar ibn al-Khattab supported itcompletely.Yet,narrationshavevariedinexposingthescopeofAbu-Bakrand`Umar ’ssupportingthe Qurayshite demand; some narrations, such as al-Hakim’s authentic previous one, explain thatAbu-Bakr answered, ‘They have said the truth, Allah’s messenger! Repatriate them,’ and `Umarrepeated the same thing. Other narrations, such as that recorded in al-Tirmidhi’s al-Sunan and al-Hakim’sal-Mustadrak3/122andMajma`al-Zawa`id9/134and5/186,havenotreferredtoAbu-Bakrand`Umar ’sconfirmationoftheQurayshitedemand;yettheyhavementionedtheirexpectationtobethepartywhomwillbeselectedbytheLordandHisMessengerfordiscipliningpeopleofQuraysh.Smartly,theword‘men’wassubstitutedforthenamesofAbu-Bakrand`Umar.Suchnarrationsarerecordedinal-Hakim’sAl-Mustadrak2/125and10/473.Mentioning the twomen was totally eradicated in some narrations such as that recorded in Abu-Dawud’sal-Sunanandthevariousnarrationsin11/613.Fourth,aquestionshouldbeputforthhere:WhatwastherelationshipbetweenSuhaylibn`Amr

and the twomenAbu-Bakrand`Umar,andwhydid theyconfirm theQurayshitedemand?Anotherquestionshouldalsobeputforth:whydidtheHolyProphetseektheadviceofAbu-Bakrand`UmarafterhehadunderstoodtheactualintentofpeopleofQuraysh?Hethereforebecameangryrejectingtheirdemandandthreateninganotherwarandforewarningitsimminentfalling.Inanycase,accordingtonarrations,thechiefshipofQurayshwasrepresentedbythosefourmenoftheincident—theHolyProphet(S),Suhaylibn`Amral-`Amiri thepolytheists’chief,Abu-Bakrand`Umar thesonsof theworthlessclansofQuraysh.Fromtheabove,weunderstand that therewasasort of relationship and earlier arrangement between the delegation of Quraysh and the twomen.Some narrations have divulgedmore things—Suhayl and his delegation resided at `Umar ’s housewhen they were in al-Madinah, and Abu-Bakr accompanied them to the Holy Prophet (S) as anintercessor.Fifth,fourelementscanbeassumedfromtheHolyProphet(S)’sreactionintheincidentinvolved:

1.Althoughnarrationshavenotreferredtofurtherdetailsabouttheincident,thefirstelementthatcanbe concluded is theHoly Prophet (S)’s anger owing to the awkward impudence of theQurayshitedelegationaswellasthewayoftheirthinking.2.TheHolyProphet (S)despairedofpeopleofQuraysh’smodifying their coursesof tyrannyandspreadingontheinstructionsofIslam.Heperceivedthattheswordwouldbetheonlydevicethatmaycausethemtoadheretotheright.Anumberofnarrations,suchasthoserecordedinal-Hakim’sal-Mustadrak 2/125, Abu-Dawud’s al-Sunan 1/611, al-Bayhaqi’s al-Sunan 9/229 and Kanz al-`Ummal10/473,havereferredevidentlytothispoint.(TheHolyProphetsaid,“OpeopleofQuraysh!IseeyouwillneverceaseunlesstheLordwillsendamanwhowillbeheadyouforthesakeofIslam.”)ThisstatementconfirmsthatpeopleofQurayshwillneversubmittoIslamexceptbyforce.3. The Holy Prophet (S) named `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.) in threatening people of Quraysh. Theyscaredthismantodeathsincetheysufferedtheharshestdaysoftheirlifetimeonhishands.He,alone,

wasthekillerofhalfofthepolytheistheroeswhiletheotherMuslims,ingroups,killedthesecondhalforevenless!TheHolyProphet(S)mentioned`AliindirectlywhenhereferredtothemanwhomwouldbesentforbeheadingpeopleofQurayshforsakeofthereligion.Once,asrecordedinMajma`al-Zawa`id9/133,heexpressed,“AmanbelongstomeorI…”WhenAbu-Bakrand`Umaraskedhimtonamethatman,theHolyProphetsaid,“ItisIortherepairerofthesandal.”[28]ThissayingwasaimedatobstructingtheQurayshiteunevenhopessincetheywouldunderstandthatthis question might occur as early as possible. Moreover, they should anticipate a command ofinvadingMakkahandterminatingthetyrantsthere.TheHolyProphet (S)proposes toevince `Ali’s standing;hewanted tomakepeopleofQuraysh

knowthatthemanwouldbeoneoftheHashimiteswhomtheystillenviedanddetested.HadtheHolyProphet(S)foretoldthat`AliwouldfightpeopleofQurayshforsakeoftheinterpretationoftheHolyQur ’antwenty-fiveyearslater,theywouldhavebeensurethattheywouldhaveatwentyyearperiodtocarryouttheirplans.InMajma`al-Zawa`id9/134,anauthenticatednarrationdeclaresthatsincetheHoly Prophet (S)’s reign, `Ali (a.s.) had been threatening people of Quraysh and everybody whowouldthinkofapostasy.Hesworethathewouldfightthemtothelastmoments.TheHolyProphet(S)wasthedirectorofthisthreat,whichwasaimedatprecludingpeopleofQurayshfrompracticinganyprocessofdissentingIslam:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofIbn`Abbas thatduringtheHolyProphet(S)’s lifetime,`Ali(a.s.)wasused to saying, “Allah thePowerful andGlorified says, ‘Muhammad isnomore thananapostle;theapostleshavealreadypassedawaybeforehim;ifthenhediesoriskilled,willyouturnbackuponyourheels?’Nay,byAllah!Wewillnever turnbackuponourheelsafterwehavebeenguidedbyAllah theExalted.ByAllah I swear, ifMuhammadwilldieorbekilled, Iwilldefinitelyfightforthesamesakethathehasbeenfightingforuntilthelastofmylife.Nay,byAllah!ItisIwhoishisbrother,successor,cousinandheir.WhothenismoremeritoriousthanIam?”Following thepreviousnarration, the samecompilerwritesdownanothernarration inwhichhe

exposes that immediately after the conquest ofMakkah, the Holy Prophet (S) menaced people ofQurayshwith`Ali(a.s.):Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`Abdal-RahmanibnAwfthatimmediatelyaftertheconquestofMakkah,theHolyProphet(S)wenttowardsal-Ta`if…andsaid,“Opeople!Iwillbeyourleader.Iurge you to be benevolent with my household. You will meet me on the Divine Pool. By thePrevailingofmysoulIutterthisoath;ifyoudonotperformprayersanddefraythezakat,Iwillsenduponyouamanwhobelongs tome.Hewillbeheadyourwarriorsandcaptureyoursons.”PeoplethoughtthatAbu-Bakror`Umarhadbeentheintended;theHolyProphet(S)took`Alifromthehandandsaid,“Hewillbethisman.”ThisthreatprovesevidentlytheactualintentionsofthosefreshMuslims.

4.TheHolyProphet(S)hasdecidedthosewhoprovidedthatclaimasatheists.TheHolyProphet(S)’ssayings,“Iseeyouwillnotstop,OpeopleofQuraysh…”andthethreatwithamanwhowillbeheadthemforsakeofthereligionandhisanger—alltheseareevidencesonthosepeople’satheism.Inthefirstsaying,theHolyProphet(S)meantthattheywouldnotstoptheiratheismandantagonismagainsttheLordandHisMessenger.Inthelatter,hiswordsmeantthattheywouldneverfollowthereligionandthattheywouldnotceasetheiractivitiesagainstIslamunlesstheywouldbetreatedbyswords.Incasethese‘released’wereMuslimswhosepropertiesmustberespected,itshouldbeillegalfor

theHolyProphet(S)toviolatesuchproperties.He(a.s.)usedtosay,“Itisillicitforanyonetohavefromothers’ properties unless their satisfaction is obtained.Your properties and souls are as holyas…etc.”Jurisprudentshaveconfusedlytriedtosolvethisproblem;theysaidthatitisexclusivelygiventotheHolyProphet(S).Yet,thisisincorrectbecauseitisillogical.

ConsequenceoftheIncidentApparently,theincidenthinderedtheQurayshitepeople’sattemptstoharvesttheHolyProphet(S)’s

recognitionoftheirpoliticalindependenceinaformofallianceorautonomyintheIslamicState.Aviewat thehistorywrittenwith thepensof thepro-Qurayshiteauthorswillconclude thatpeopleofQuraysh, soon after the incident, repented and accepted Islam so piously and gave alms andmanumittedtheirslavesandundertookontheritualHajjandfastedandofferedtheprayers…etc.Incontrast,theHolyProphetsaid,“Iseeyouwillneverstop,OpeopleofQuraysh!”Fromthenatureof theQurayshitepeople ingeneraland theirchiefs inspecific, it isunderstood

that theymust havekept up their activities on all possible fronts and could concludemany results.TheyunderstoodthattheHolyProphet(S)hadstillbeenattentiveoftheirmovementsandthatithadbeenagreatmistake to thinkofapolitical independence inhisState.Thirdly, they recognized thatMuhammad—theleadingHashimiteknight—hadbeenunmatched,especiallywhenhewassupportedbyhiscousin—thekilleroftheArabs—andpeopleofAwsandKhazrajwhodared,forthefirsttimeintheirlives,tofightpeopleofQurayshandkillanumberoftheirheroes.Theissueofpoliticalindependencewasretractedwhenasubstitutecameforth;peopleofQuraysh

were confident that Muhammad’s State covered the territories and Muslims were preparingthemselves to fight theRomansand thePersians.Muhammadhadpromisedhis followers that theywoulddefeatthesetwogreatpowersandMuslimslookedforwardtoachievingso.Onthataccount,any demand of autonomywould bemeaningless.Hence, it is necessary tomove to a new generalsituation through industrious political activities and processes of systematic violence. By suchactivitiescouldtheQurayshpeopleonlyseizeMuhammad’sState.Muhammad,atanyrate,isthesonofQurayshandhispeoplearethusmoremeritoriousthanothers

inreceivinghisheritage.NeitherAnsartheYemenisnorcananyothertribeprotest.Supposingthatwillbeachieved, therewillcomeoneproblemthatrequirestreatment inanyprice—theHashimiteswhomare called ‘theprogeny’ or ‘thenear of kin,’ and aboutwhom frequentQur ’anic texts havebeenrevealedandmanyHadithshavebeensaid.Muhammadhasendowedthemexclusivelythefifthofthepublictreasury.Indeed,thatwastheconclusionattainedbypeopleofQurayshwhomwerereleasedfromkillingandslaveryatthehandsoftheHolyProphet(S).Thatwastheirrewardforhimduringhislifetime.AllsuchevilplotswerepracticedwiththeaidofsomeoftheSahabah.`UmarAtteststheTergiversationoftheQurayshitesWereadthefollowingnarrationinal-Tabari’sTarikh3/426:

It has been narrated on the authority of al-Hasan al-Basri that `Umar once was informed that theQurayshite chiefs had complained about his decision of detaining them in al-Madinah unless apermissionwouldbeobtainedyetforalimitedperiod.Heascendedtheminbarandsaid,“IdescribeIslamasacamel.Initsemergence,Islamwasthelikeofaoneyearoldcamel.Itbecametwoyearold,four year old, six year old and, in the final, it became senile. Nothing but decrease comes aftersenility. Islam is going towards senility. People of Quraysh are aiming at having Allah’s wealthentirely for themselves. This will never occur as long as son of al-Khattab is alive. I will keepstandingontheentranceofthecityforinterceptingpeopleofQurayshfromfallinginthefire.”[29]Thissituationincludesanumberofpoints:1.ThesehavebeenthewordsofaQurayshitechiefwhosetriballoyalty,forhim,wasbeyondany

dispute;hecarriedthepennonofQurayshandcalledfortheirsucceedingtheHolyProphet(S)inthefaceofAnsarandtheHashimites.HealsosparednoeffortsinstrippingtheleadershipfromtheAhlal-BaytandAnsar.HethenservedtheQurayshitechiefswiththatpureleadershipandtheynamedhim

‘theCoreofQuraysh.’2.Thesewordsprovidea testimonyaverring that theQurayshiteMuhajirunwere sodeviate that

theyshouldbedetainedinal-MadinahinordernottomisleadMuslims.Havingassumedtheactualityof theQurayshiteMuhajirun, it becamemore evident to understand the hiddens of theQurayshite‘released’peoplewhomshouldneverceasetheirtrickeriesagainstIslamunless`Ali’sswordwouldplayontheirheads,astheHolyProphet(S)predicted.3.Thesewordscompriseapictureof`Umar ’simaginationabouttheshortperiodofIslamandits

imminenttermination.`UmarlikenedIslamtoanypoliticalcirclethatpassedontheArabPeninsulaandotherterritoriesandwouldbevanquishedsoon.Throughvarioustexts,`UmarbelievedthatIslamwouldnotlastformoreagesandbelievedthatothernationswouldsooninvadeMuslimterritories,especiallyMakkahwhosepeoplewoulddesertitandcauseittoberuined.Ka`bal-Ahbarmighthavebeenthesourceofsuchfalseprophesies.

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6ChapterTheVerseofIsmah

TheOrderoftheverseIntheNameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful

AndtheJewssay:ThehandofAllahistiedup!Theirhandswillbeshackledandtheywillbecursedforwhattheysay.Nay,bothHishandsarespreadout,HeexpendsasHepleases;andwhathasbeenrevealed to you from your Lord will certainly make many of them increase in inordinacy andunbelief;andWehaveputenmityandhatredamongthemuntilthedayofresurrection;whenevertheykindleafireforwarAllahputsitout,andtheystrivetomakemischiefintheland,andAllahdoesnotlovethemischiefmakers.AndifthefollowersoftheBookbelievedandguardedagainstevil,WewouldcertainlyhavecoveredtheirevildeedsandWewouldcertainlyhavemadethementergardensofbliss.And if theyhadkeptup theTorahand theBibleand thatwhichwas revealed to themfrom theirLord,theywouldcertainlyhaveeatenfromabovethemandfrombeneaththeirfeet;thereisapartyofthemkeepingtothemoderatecourse,andasformostofthem,evilisthatwhichtheydo.OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealed toyou fromyourLord;and ifyoudo itnot, thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.Say:OfollowersoftheBook!YoufollownogooduntilyoukeepuptheTorahandtheBibleandthatwhichisrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andsurelythatwhichhasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord will makemany of them increase in inordinacy and unbelief; grieve not therefore for theunbelievingpeople.Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoeverbelieves in Allah and the last day and does good- they will have no fear not will they grieve.CertainlyWemadeacovenantwiththechildrenofIsraelandWesenttothemapostles;whenevertherecametothemanapostlewithwhatthattheirsoulsdidnotdesire,someofthemdidtheycallliarsandsometheyslew.[5:62-70[ThePlaceoftheVerseIfweacceptthattheQur ’anicordersupportstheexegesisofaVerse,twomattersshouldbetakenin

consideration:First,theVerseliesinSurahofal-Ma`idah—thesealoftherevealedSurahsand,Second, the Verse comes among others respecting the manners of the Jews and Christians.

Correspondingly,itcarriesthefollowingmeaningtotheHolyProphet(S):Convey,andfearnottheJewsortheChristians.Wewillprotectyouagainstthem.Theywillbetooshorttoinjureyou.NeitherSunnisnordotheShi`ahadmitsuchinterpretation.TheVersethusaddsnothingnewabout

theJewsandChristianssincethedangercausedbythemhadbeenremovedbeforetherevelationoftheVerse.Fromthiscause, it is important tounderstandwhether theplaceof theVersehasbeenas

original as it was revealed or one of the Sahabah intruded to put it in this very position.We, theShi`ah,denyclearlyanysuppositionclaiminganyformofdistortionintheHolyQur ’an.Yet,reportshave asserted that someof theSahabahhad pursued personal inferences in choosing the places ofsomeVerses.Accordingly,theplaceoftheVersehadbeensubjectively,ifnotunintentionally,chosen.SunniScholars’OpinionsThefollowingsixopinionsarethemostcommonamongthevariousthesesrelatedtotheVerseand

assumedbySunniexegetes.Yet,aseventhSunniopinionaccordstheShi`ah’sinterpretation.FirstOpinionTheVersewasrevealedinthepreliminarystageoftheHolyProphet(S)’sDivineMission.When

theLordorderedhimtoconveythemessage,hehesitated;heabstainedorshoweddrawback.Hence,theLordloomedandrelieved.Onlythen,theHolyProphet(S)conveyed.ThisproposesthattheVersewasrevealedtwenty-threeyearsbeforetherevelationofSurahofal-

Ma`idah.As if he deterred it, al-Shafi`i (Kitab al-Umm 4/168) uses ‘it is said’ before the reference to thisopinion:…It is said that when Archangel Gabriel first conveyed to the Holy Prophet (S) the mission ofpromulgating for the new religion, he hesitated and feared that people would belie him. Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealed…’Althoughmanyobjectionsarearousedagainstthisclaim,wemaycontentwiththefollowing;itis

contrarytotheorderoftheVerse.Itisalsoinadmissibletoacceptsuchanaccusationofabstinenceorhesitation in carrying theLord’sMessages so as to avoid accusationof lyingor injuryor killing.Qur ’anic textshaveattestedthat theHolyProphet(S)exertedallpossibleeffortsforconveyinghisLord’smission.Al-Shafi`i’sIndirectReportsInal-Suyuti’sal-Durral-Manthur2/298,wereadthefollowing:

Ithasbeennarratedon theauthorityofAbu’l-Shaykhon theauthorityofal-Hasanal-Basri that theHolyProphetsaid:IfeltannoyedwhenmyLordorderedmetoconveyHisMessage,becauseIknewthatpeoplewouldbelieme,butHe threatened if Idecline,Hewouldsubdue.That isHissaying:OApostle!Deliver…etc.”[1]Ithasbeenalsonarratedon theauthorityof IbnJarir that IbnJurayjsaid that theHolyProphet (S)fearedpeopleofQurayshuntiltherevelationoftheVerse,‘OApostle…andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Onlythen,hewasrelieved.Hesaidfrequently,“Letthemdisappoint.”Ithasbeenalsonarratedontheauthorityof`AbdibnHumayd,IbnJarir,IbnAbi-HatamandAbu’l-Shaykh on the authority ofMujahid thatwhenAlmightyAllah revealed, ‘…Deliverwhat has beenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord…,’ theHolyProphetsaid, ‘OmyLord!Iamalone.HowshouldIbehavewhenpeopleuniteagainstme?’Then,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘Andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage.’[2]Inal-Nisapuri:al-Wasit2/208,wereadthefollowing:

It has been narrated on the authority of al-Anbari that during his dwelling in Makkah, the HolyProphet(S)usedtodeclareonlyapartoftheQur ’anictextsrevealedtohimbecauseheanticipatedthatthepolytheistswouldinjurehiscompanionsandhim…The previous reports lack documentation. They are nomore than sayings of al-Hasan al-Basri,

Mujahid and their likes. Next, wewill prove that al-Hasan al-Basri aimed at achieving somethingprivate throughpublicizing suchwordingand thathecitedhis saying from theHolyProphet (S)’s

sermonofGhadirbuthewastoocowardtoreportthetruth.IndirectReportsTurnintoReliableOpinionsExegeteshaverealizedthattheVersewasrevealedintheHolyProphet(S)’slastdaysandrealized

thattheattributionofanincidentthattookplaceonthefirstdaysofhismissiontotheexegesisoftheVerse was no more than words of false scholars of the Umayyad reign or reports of doubtfuldocumentation.Notwithstanding,theyflagrantlytooktheVersetwenty-threeyearsback.Itisquiteoddtoseeconsideratenames,suchasal-Zamakhshariandal-Fakhral-Razi,beamongsuchexegetes.ThisisbecausetheyattemptedtotaketheVerseawayfromtheGhadirdeclarationofloyalty.Intruth,theyhavehadtochooseeitherconnectingtheincidenttotheVerseoradoptingthefalsereportsaboutthecancellationoftheguardingoftheHolyProphet(S).ThisfableishoweverexposedbythesequenceofthehistoricaleventsaswellasthetextoftheVerse.Wereadthefollowinginal-Zamakhshari’sal-Kashshaf1/659:The meaning of Allah’s saying, ‘And Allah will protect you from the people,’ is that the Lordprovides a promise of protecting the Holy Prophet (S)… against being killed only! It has beennarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,‘IbecamedisturbedwhenAlmightyAllahorderedmetoconveyHismessagetopeople.HethenthreatenedapunishmentifIwouldabstainandguaranteedtoprotectme.Onlythen,Iregainedvigor.’[3]Al-Razi,inTafsir6:12/48-50,recordsthefollowing:

Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityofal-HasanthattheHolyProphetsaid,“IbecamedisturbedwhenmyLordorderedmetoconveyHismessagetopeoplesinceIrealizedthatpeople,includingtheJewsandChristians,wouldbeliemeandthatpeopleofQurayshwouldthreatenme.WhenAlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliver…etc.,’allmyapprehensionswereremoved.Regarding Allah’s saying, ‘And Allah will protect you from the people,’ one may ask how it ispossibletoregardthisstatementwhiletheHolyProphet(S)’sfacewasscratchedduringtheBattleofUhud. There are two answers for this question: First, the Verse stands for the protection againstkilling.Second,theVersewasrevealedaftertheBattleofUhud.Al-Raziwasnothonestinrecordingal-Hasan’swords.Headdedthestatement,‘includingtheJews

and Christians’ to the narration because he intended to take the Qurayshite people away from theVerse and dedicate it to the Jews and Christians. Yet, we should not blame him for his love forQurayshgenerallyandhisgrandfatherAbu-BakribnAbi-Qahafahinparticular.Weonlydemandwithobjective honesty. No single indication to the Jews or Christians has been shown in the referencebooks thatcomprisedal-Hasan’spreviousnarration.Excellingatal-Raziand theothers, IbnKathirrecordsthefollowinginal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/53:IthasbeennarratedinIbnAbi-Hatam’sbookofTafsirontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofal-Hasanibn`«saibnMaysarahal-Harithiontheauthorityof`Abdullahibn`Abdal-Quddusontheauthorityofal-A`mashontheauthorityofal-Minhalibn`Amrontheauthorityof`Abdullahibnal-Harith that `Ali said, “WhenAlmightyAllah revealed, ‘Andwarnyournearest relations,’ theHolyProphet(S)askedmetocookalegofaewewithsomefoodandabowlofmilkandtheninviteBanu-Hashim. Ididand theywereabout fortymen…TheProphet (S) thensaid, ‘Whichoneofyouwillsettlemydebtsandhewillbemysuccessoramongmypeople?’Asheanticipatedfinancialloss,al-`Abbas,liketheothers,keptsilent.IhadtokeepsilentasIreveredal-`Abbas’shavingbeenolderthanIwas. In the second time, I spoke after I had seen al-`Abbas kept silent again. I said, ‘Iwill be it,Allah’sMessenger!’TheProphetsaid,‘Yes,itisyou…etc.’Bysaying,‘whichoneofyouwillsettlemydebtsandhewillbemysuccessoramongmypeople?’theHolyProphet(S)wantedoneofthemtosettlehisdebtsafterhisdeathbecauseheanticipatedthathewouldbekilledassoonashewouldconveytheLord’smessagetotheArabpolytheists.Therefore,he

aimedatnominatinghissuccessorwhowouldguardhisfamilyafterhisdecease.Anyhow,AlmightyAllahsecuredHisMessengerwhenHerevealed,‘OApostle!Deliver…etc.’[4]IbnKathirhasslippedverymuchandservedhisfanaticismextremely;hecutoffthetextregarding

Allah’ssaying,‘Andwarnyournearestrelations,’anderasedtheHolyProphet(S)’shavingcarriedoutAlmightyAllah’s commandment of nominating a successor. Instead, he distorted the narrationsayingthattheHolyProphet(S)askedtheHashimitesforasuccessortobetheguardianofhisfamilyandsettlehisdebtsafterhehadanticipatedthathewouldbekilledbypeopleofQuraysh.Hence,`Ali(a.s.) volunteered. But when the Verse was revealed, such a succession became invalid. Thus, IbnKathir, purposefully, disregards the fact that the Holy Prophet (S) was ordered to invite his nearrelativesexclusivelytothereligion.NeitherpeopleofQurayshnorweretheothersincludedinthisinvitation.Thereupon,hisanticipationofbeingkilledorinjuredismerefabrication.Furthermore,asmuchasIcouldconceive,noonesupportsIbnKathirinestablishingarelationshipbetweentheVerseof`IsmahandtheVerseofwarningthenearrelatives.Besides,hedoesnotrefertothesourcesfromwhichheadoptedthatopinion.Asamatteroffact,forIbnKathir,nothingismoreimportantthatmisrepresentingandfadingthe

HolyProphet(S)’swordsathisnearrelativesaswellasnominating`Aliashisbrother,vicegerentandsuccessor.Meanwhile,hesparesnoeffortsintakingtheVerseof`IsmahawayfromSurahofal-Ma`idahandtheDayofGhadir.ThefollowingistheHolyProphet(S)’swords,whichwerecutoffbyIbnKathir,asquotedfromal-Amini’sal-Ghadir1/207:Inorder todiscriminate theaccurate from thedeviation,wehereinafterquoteal-Tabari’swordsasrecordedinhisTarikh1/207:(TheHolyProphetsaid)“Ihavebroughtforth thegoodof thisworldaswellas theHereafter.TheExaltedLordhasorderedmetoinviteyoualltothismatter.Whichoneofyouwillsupportmeandwill be my brother, heir and successor?” (`Ali went on narrating) I was the youngest among theattendantswhoutterlyrefused.Ispoke,“Iwillbethatone,Allah’smessenger!Iwillbeyoursupporterinthismatter.”TheHolyProphet(S)tookmefromtheneckanddeclared,“Thisismybrother,heirandsuccessor.Listenandcomplywithhim.”Theattendantswentoutlaughingandaddressingtomyfather,“Well,hehasorderedyoutolistentoandcomplywithyourson!”(Al-Amini:al-Ghadir2/279)Decidingitasauthentic,Abu-Ja`faral-IskafiofBaghdad,aMu`tazilitetheologist, (died inAH240)has recorded thesamenarration inNaqdal-`Uthmaniyyah. IthasbeenalsorecordedinthefollowingreferencebooksofHadith:Burhanal-Din:Anba`Nujaba`al-Abna`46-8,Ibnal-Athir:al-Kamil2/24,Abu’l-Fida``Imadal-Dinal-Dimashqi:Tarikh1/116,Shihabal-Dinal-Khafaji:Sharhal-Shifa3/37.Cuttingoffthelaststatementofthenarration,herecords,‘Inal-Bayhaqi:Dala`ilal-Nubuwwahaswellasmanyotherbooks,thisnarrationisauthenticallydocumented,`Ala`al-Din al-Baghdadi al-Khazin: Tafsir 390, Al-Suyuti: Jami` al-Jawami` 6/392 as quoted from al-Tabariand6/397asquotedforthesixmostnotableHadithists—ibnIshaq,ibnJarir,ibnAbi-Hatam,ibnMardawayh,Abu-Na`iandal-BayhaqiandIbnAbi’l-Hadid:SharhNahjal-Balaghah3/254.The compiler of al-Ghadir then criticizes those who misrepresented the narration seeking the

Qurayshites’favor.Al-Tabari,forinstance,intendstomaketheHolyProphet(S)’swordsaboutImam`Aliobscure;herecords,“TheProphet(S)thensaid:Thisismybrother…andsoon.”IbnKathir,inal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/40andTafsir3/351,followsal-Tabari.SecondOpinionAsecondSunniopinionindicatesthattheVersewasrevealedsometimebeforetheimmigrationto

al-Madinah.Sincethen,theHolyProphet(S)dispensedwiththeguardofAbu-Taliboral-`Abbas.In Sunni reference books ofHadith, this opinion is commonly accepted; yet, it is of two sorts ofnarrations.Theearliershows,whetheropenlyorsuggestively,thetimeandplaceoftherevelationof

theVerse,whichwasMakkah,whilethelatterrelatesittotheHolyProphet(S)’scancelingtheguard,withoutreferringdirectlytothewatchpracticedbyAbu-Taliboral-`Abbas.Regardless,weoughttoopt for the earlier since its origin is al-Tirmidhi’s reporting from `A`ishah.Likemanyothers, al-Tirmidhiperceivedthat`A`ishahhadmeantMakkah.Asamodelofthefirstsortofnarration,letusquotethefollowingfromal-Suyuti’sal-Durral-Manthur2/298-9:It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that theHoly Prophet (S) answered thosewhoaskedhimaboutthemostintenseVersethatwaseverrevealedtohim,andheanswered,“DuringtheHajj season, I was in Mina when Archangel Gabriel revealed to me Allah’s saying, ‘O Apostle!Deliver…etc.’Istoodatal-`Aqabahandshouted,‘Opeople!WhoeversupportsmeinconveyingmyLord’smessagewillbegrantedParadise.Opeople!IfyoudeclarethatthereisnogodbutAllahandIbe His messenger, you will be saved and granted Paradise.’ All people, including women andchildren,thenbegantothrowmewithdustandstonesandspewinmyfaceshouting,‘Youareliarandapostate.’Inthesemoments,aninspirationcameforthbeforemeandsaid,‘Itisnowthepropertimeforyou,ifyouaretheLord’smessenger,tocurseyourpeopleinthesamewayasProphet(S)Noahcursedhispeople.’Instead,Isaid,‘OAllah!Guidemypeoplefortheydonotknow,andsupportmebymaking themrespond toYourobedience.’Then,al-`Abbas,myuncle,cameandsavedmefromthem.”Al-A`mashcommentedthatthedescendantsofal-`Abbasusedtotakeprideinthatsituation.IthasbeenalsonarratedontheauthorityofIbnMardawayhontheauthorityofJabiribn`AbdullahthatAbu-TalibusedtoappointaguardforaccompanyingtheHolyProphet(S)wheneverhewouldgoout; but when Almighty Allah revealed, ‘And Allah will protect you from the people,’ the HolyProphetsaidtohisuncle,‘Allahhasprotectedme.Idonotneedaguard.’Ithasbeennarratedbyal-Tabarani,Abu’l-Shaykh,Abu-Na`im,inal-Dala`il,IbnMardawayhandIbn`AsakirontheauthorityofIbn`AbbasthattheHolyProphet(S)wasguarded;Abu-Talibusedtosendmen from theHashimites for guarding him.He then said to his uncle, ‘I do no longer need thosewhomyouaresendingforguardingme.”[5]InMajma`al-Zawa`id7/17,wereadthefollowing:

It has beennarratedon the authority ofAbu-Sa`id al-Khidri that al-`Abbas, theHolyProphet (S)’suncle,wasoneofthosewhoguardedhim,butwhenAllahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’theguardiansstopped.[Al-Tabarani: al-Mu`jam al-Saghir and al-Mu`jam al-Awsat. Yet, its narrator, `Atiyyah al-`Awfi, isdoubtful.]IthasbeenalsonarratedontheauthorityofIbn`AbbasthattheHolyProphet(S)usedtobeguarded.Abu-Talib, his uncle, used to appoint men from the Hashimites for guarding him. When Allahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’theHolyProphetsaidtohisuncle,‘AlmightyAllahhasprotectedmeagainstjinnandpeople.’[This report is recordedbyal-Tabarani.Within itsnarrators isal-Nasr ibn`Abdal-Rahmanwho isdoubtful.]Thesecondsortofnarrationshasbeenoriginatedbythefollowingreportofal-Tirmidhi:al-Sunan

4/317:Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`A`ishahthatguardingwaspracticedontheHolyProphet(S)until therevelationofAllah’ssaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Hence,hetookhisheadoutofhis tent and said, ‘Youmay leave.TheLordhasprotectedme.’ [This is aone-waynarration.Nevertheless, somenarratorshave reported thesamefrom`Abdullah ibnShaqiqwithoutreferringto`A`ishah.[6]Seemingly,`A`ishah’sreportproposedthat theVersewasrevealedinMakkah.Al-Bayhaqi, inal-

Sunan9/8,supportsthisclaimandaddstheforecitedsayingofal-Shafi`iinwhichheclaimsthatthe

HolyProphet(S)wasprotectedagainstbeingkilledonly. InTafsir2/4/160,al-Muraghirecordsal-Suyuti’searliernarrationasrelatedtoIbn`Abbasandal-Tabarani.Hethencomments:‘Al-Tirmidhihadnarrated that theHolyProphet (S)wasguarded inMakkahbefore the revelationof theVerse.”Notwithstanding, `A`ishah’s reportdoesnot imply that theoccurrencewas inMakkah. It seems thatthephrase‘inMakkah’wasunintentionallyerasedfromtheoriginalcopyofal-Tirmidhi’snarration.Aboutthereportof`A`ishah,al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur2/291,records:`AbdibnHumayd,al-Tirmidhi,ibnJarir,Ibnal-Mundhir,ibnAbi-Hatam,Abu’l-Shaykh,Abu-Na`im,al-BayhaqiandibnMardawayhhavenarratedontheauthorityof`A`ishahthat…etc.Bearingthesameindicationof`A`ishah’sreport,al-Suyutirecordsanumberofnarrationssomeof

whichhintatthefactthattheincidentoftheguardtookplaceinal-Madinah.Inal-Durral-Manthur2/298-9,al-Suyutirecords:Al-TabaraniandIbnMardawayhhavenarratedontheauthorityofAbu-Sa`idal-Khidrithatal-`Abbas,theHolyProphet(S)’suncle,wasoneofthosewhoguardedtheHolyProphet(S),butwhenAlmightyAllahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’theguardiansstopped.InDala`ilal-Nubuwwah,Abu-Na`imhasnarratedontheauthorityofAbu-DharrthattheywerealwaysaroundtheHolyProphet(S)wheneverhewenttosleepbecauseheanticipatedassassination,butwhentheVerse,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople’wasrevealed,westopped.Manyexegetesandhistorianshaveadoptedthisopinion.Asiftheyadmitit,al-Zamakhshari,inal-

Kashaf1/659,andal-Razi,inTafsir6/12/50,recordtheopinionattestingthattheVersewasrevealedinMakkah.Onthataccount,theyhaveindicatedthatthereportsof`A`ishah,al-Hasanal-BasriandtheotherstalkedaboutanoccurrencethattookplaceintheearlystageoftheHolyProphet(S)’sMission.[7]Thecompilerofal-Sirahal-HalabiyyahhasattemptedtoseizetherelationshipbetweentheVerseof`IsmahandtheHolyProphet(S)’sguardsoastoinventavirtueforAbu-Bakr.Onpage327ofpart3,herecords:Before the revelation of Allah’s saying, ‘And Allah will protect you from the people,’ the HolyProphet (S)was guarded by a number of people. The night just before theBattle ofBadr, hewasguardedbySa`dibnMaadh.OnthedayoftheBattle,hewasguardedbyAbu-Bakralone.ThismankeptonunsheathinghisswordwhiletheHolyProphet(S)wassleepingunderthecanopy.Unfortunately,thecompiler,bythepreviouswords,hascontradictedhimself;ifthecancellationof

the guard took place before the immigration to al-Madinah, then the guard of Abu-Bakr and theothersduringtheBattleofBadrwouldbeineffective!Inaddition,itisdubioustobelievethatMuslimsusedcanopiesduringtheBattleofBadr.Finally, al-Hakimhas recordedanauthenticallydocumentednarration implying thatone thirdof

MuslimsguardedtheHolyProphet(S)duringtheBattleofBadr.Thisisrationalbecausetheysettledintheuncoveredlowareaofthebattlefield.Al-Hakim:al-Mustadrak2/326:Ithasbeennarrated that ashewasaskedaboutSurahof al-Anfal, `Abadah ibnal-Samit said, ‘TheSurahregardedusduring theBattleofBadr.We,Muslims,were threegroups.Thefirstgroupwasfightingthefoes;thesecondwasgatheringthespoilsandcapturingtheprisoners;andthethirdwasguardingtheHolyProphet(S)nearthetent…etc.The followingpoints prove the invalidityof theopinionof inventing a relationshipbetween the

Verseof`IsmahandtheguardpracticedontheHolyProphet(S):(1)Theforeciteddiscussionofthefirstopinion,(2)The same narrations of the third opinion that claimed that the cancellation of the guard had

occurredinal-Madinah,notMakkah,and(3) The major reports that support the opinion involved are `A`ishah’s and the report of al-

`Abbas’shavingguardedtheHolyProphet(S).Theothersarenotauthenticated.Infact,thepurposeofmostofsuchreportswastodisregardAbu-Talib’sroleinupholdingtheHolyProphet(S)andtoprovethathedispensedwithAbu-Talib’sguardinMakkah.Theearliest reportaimsatgivingal-`Abbas theroleofAbu-Talibofguarding theHolyProphet

(S)inMakkahsoastomakeal-`AbbasthepersonthroughwhomtheLordprotectedHisMessengeragainstpeople.If truthbe told,al-`Abbas,before the immigration toal-Madinah,playedanordinaryrole.Like theotherHashimites, he sympathizedwith theHoly Prophet (S) and suffered the siege imposed uponthem. In addition, it is unproved that he accepted Islamor immigrated to al-Madinah like `Ali andHamzah.WhatisknownforeverybodyisthathewascapturedduringtheBattleofBadrandacceptedIslamonlywhenhe, aswell as the other prisoners,was released. It is to add that al-Haythami andotherscholarshavedecidedtheinauthenticityofthereport,whichseemstobeclearlyweak.ThirdOpinionThe thirdopinion involves that theVersewas revealed inal-Madinahwithoutadefinitedate.Al-

Suyutirecordsanumberofnarrationsshowingnospecifictimeforitsrevelation,thoughheconnectsthemtothematterofcancelingtheguardpracticedontheHolyProphet(S).Thereabouts,fromsomeofsuchnarrations,itcanbeunderstoodthattheVersewasrevealedinal-Madinah.Al-Durral-Manthur298-9:Al-TabaraniandIbnMardawayhhavenarratedthefollowingontheauthorityof`IsmahibnMalikal-Khatmi:WeusedtoguardtheHolyProphet(S)atnightsuntiltherevelationofAllah’ssaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Ibn Jarir andAbu’l-Shaykhhavenarratedon the authorityofSa`id ibn Jubayr thatwhenAlmightyAllahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’theHolyProphetsaid,‘Donotguardmeanylonger.MyLordhasprotectedme.’IbnJarirandIbnMardawayhhavenarratedontheauthorityof`AbdullahibnShaqiqthatsomeoftheSahabahusedtoguardtheHolyProphet(S)wheneverhewentout,butwhenAlmightyAllahrevealed,‘AndAllahwill protect you from the people,’ he said, ‘Go to your duties.Allahhas protectedmeagainstpeople.’`AbdibnHamid,IbnJarirandAbu’l-ShaykhhavenarratedontheauthorityofMuhammadibnKa`bal-Qara¨ithattheSahabahusedtoguardtheHolyProphet(S)untiltherevelationofAlmightyAllah’ssaying, ‘And Allah will protect you from the people.’ The guard was thus canceled as the LordinformedHisMessengeraboutprotectinghimagainstpeople.`AbdibnHamidandIbnMardawayhhavenarratedontheauthorityofal-Rabi`ibnAnasthattheHolyProphet (S) was guarded by his companions until the revelation of Allah’s saying, ‘O Apostle!Deliver…etc.’[8]ReportsrespectingtheHolyProphet(S)’shistoryprovethathesoughttheArabtribes’protection

so that he would convey his Lord’s message. Ansar paid homage to him on the conditions ofprotectinghishouseholdandhimassameastheyprotecttheyfamiliesandthemselves.Thesereportsand facts invalidate the claimof theVerse’s revelation inMakkah.Had theVerse been revealed inMakkah, the Holy Prophet (S) would not have been in need for such protection and covenant.ReferencebooksofHadith,Tafsirandhistoryarefilledinwithnumerousnarrationsconcerningtheguardpracticedon theHolyProphet(S) inMakkahandal-Madinah,especiallyduringbattles.Suchguardlasteduntilthefinalhoursofhislifetime.TheelongatedchaptersabouttheguardpracticedontheHolyProphet (S)and thestories that tookplace thereprove the invalidityof theopinionunderdiscussion.Whatisstrangeisthatthesamepersonswhohaverecordedsuchreportsandstoriesassert

thattheHolyProphet(S)hadcanceledtheguardinMakkahoraftertheimmigrationtoal-Madinahwhen the Verse of `Ismah was revealed, for nothing more than taking the Verse away from theincidentofGhadir!Fromtheprevious,wehave toreject thereportsof the totalcancellationof theguardbefore the

incidentofGhadir.Wehavecitedal-Hakim’sreportrelatingthattheHolyProphet(S)wasguardedbyathirdofMuslimsduringtheBattleofBadr.ThefollowingreportisquotedfromAhmad’sal-Musnad2/222:AnumberoftheHolyProphet(S)’scompanionsguardedhimwhilehewasofferingprayersafterthemidnightjustbeforetheBattleofTabuk.[9]TheBattleofTabuktookplaceinthelastyearoftheHolyProphet(S)’slife.

Readthefollowingin`Uyunal-Athar2/402:During theBattle ofBadr, Sa`d ibnMaadh guarded theHolyProphet (S)who slept in his canopy.Muhammad ibn Muslimah was his guard during the Battle of Uhud. During that of Khandaq, al-Zubayribnal-`Awwamwashisguard.InKhaybar,theHolyProphet(S)wasguardedbyAbu-Ayyubal-Ansari.Itissaidthathesupplicated,‘OAllah!ProtectAbu-Ayyubforheprotectedme.’Bilal,Sa`dibnAbi-WaqqasandDhakwanibn`Abd-QaysguardedtheHolyProphet(S)inWadial-Qira.`AbbadibnBishrwasthecommanderoftheHolyProphet(S)’sguards.WhenAllahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’theguardwascanceled.AshehadtofindananswerforthereportstellingthattheHolyProphet(S)wasguardedduringthe

BattleofTabuk,thecompilerinterprets‘guarding’into‘waiting’!`Uyunal-Athar1/119:Regarding `Amr ibn Shu`ayb’s report concerning guarding the Holy Prophet (S) while he wasofferingprayersatthenightbeforetheBattleofTabuk,itseemsthattheywerewaitingforhim.Theguardof theHolyProphet (S)wascanceledsince therevelationofAllah’ssaying, ‘AndAllahwillprotect you from the people,’ which was before the Battle of Tabuk. Allah, however, is the mostknowledgeable.This interpretation is clearly contrary to the many reports of the guard practiced on the Holy

Prophet(S).Atanyrate,suchreportsrefutetheclaimthattheVersewasrevealedinMakkah.To sum it up, the claim of the cancellation of the guard practiced on the Holy Prophet (S) lacksevidence since it contradicts thehistoryofhis life.Besides, thecontinuationof theguardhasbeenproventhroughmanyfacts;theHashimitesguardedtheHolyProphet(S)inMakkahand,altogetherwiththerestofhiscompanions,inal-Madinahuntilthelastdaysofhislifetime.Inmyconception,itseemsthattheattemptsofconnectingtheVerseof`Ismahtothecancellationof

the guard denotes the accuracy of the Ahl al-Bayt’s interpretation that the Verse stands for theprotectionagainstapostasy.Fromthiscause, theirdissidentshaveaimedimportunatelyatciting thematerialprotectionandthecancellationoftheguardastheinterpretationoftheVerse,whichledthemtobeengaged incontrast.Nevertheless, theyhad todisregard thestories relating theHolyProphet(S)’shavingbeenguardedandhadtooverlooktheColumnoftheGuards[10]thatisstillfacingthemintheHolyProphet(S)’sMasjidsinceAH9.Al-Albani, having admitted that the Verse was revealed in Makkah, refuted al-Hakim’s

authenticating `A`ishah’s report that he himself had already authenticated. He then mentioned thereportofassassinatingtheHolyProphet(S)asevidenceontheauthenticityofthepreviousreport.FourthOpinionThe fourth opinion is that theVersewas revealed in al-Madinah in the second year of theHoly

Prophet(S)’simmigrationaftertheBattleofUhud.Al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur2/291,recordsthefollowing:IbnAbi-ShaybahandIbnJarirhavenarratedontheauthorityof`AtiyyahibnSa`dthat`Abadahibnal-

Samit,once,cametotheHolyProphet(S)andsaid,‘Allah’sMessenger:Ihaveconcludedacovenantof loyaltywithmanyof the Jews,but I nowdeclare that I disavowsuchcovenants anddeclaremyloyalty to Allah and His Messenger. `Abdullah ibn Ubay was present; he spoke, ‘For me, I fearvicissitudes of time. I cannot breakmy covenantwith them.’Hence, theHolyProphet said to him,‘Abu-Habbab:Youhaveappreciatedthecovenantbrokenby`Abadah;so,youcankeepitforyourselfalone.’`Abdullahthenaccepted.Onthataccount,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘Oyouwhobelieve!DonottaketheJewsandtheChristiansforfriend…andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Thepreviousdiscussionof thenarrationsof theguard issufficient forproving thefalsehoodof

this report. In addition, the report was the words of `Atiyyah ibn Sa`d, not the Holy Prophet (S).Finally, theVerses remarked in the reportwere 51 to 67 of Surah of al-Ma`idahwhich no singlenarrator has ever claimed that they were revealed because of the story of `Abdullah ibn Ubay’sloyaltytotheJews.Atlength,`AbdullahwasdeceasedbeforetherevelationofSurahofal-Ma`idah.FifthOpinionThefifthopinion is that theVersewasrevealed immediatelyafteranattemptofassassinating the

HolyProphet (S).Contradiction is thedistinctivefeatureof thereportsnarrating thatassassination;somenarratorshavetoldthattheattempttookplaceduringtheBattleofThatal-Riqa`whenapersonapproachedtheHolyProphet(S)andaskedforhisswordso thathewouldseecarefully.TheHolyProphet(S)gavehimhisswordsonegligently…etc.OthernarrationshavementionedthattheswordwashangedorthattheHolyProphet(S)wasinadvertentorthathewasdippinghislegsinawell…etc.Al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur2/298-9,recordsthefollowing:IbnAbi-Hatamhasnarratedon theauthorityof Jabir ibn `Abdullah that after theBattleofThat al-Riqa`,theHolyProphet(S)restedonawellanddippedhislegstherein.Meanwhile,Ghawrathibnal-Harthdecidedtokillhimbuthiscompanionsasked,‘Howwillyoukillhim?’‘Iwillaskhimtogivemehis sword and Iwill kill him then,’ saidGhawrath.He then approached and said, ‘Muhammad:Givemeyoursword.’TheHolyProphet(S)did.Assoonasthemanheldthesword,hishandsbeganto shiver. ‘Allahhasprecludedyou fromwhat youhad intended todo,’ said theHolyProphet (S).Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliverwhat…etc.’IbnJarirhasnarratedontheauthorityofMuhammadibnKa`bAl-Qara¨ithattheHolyProphet(S),once,restedunderatreewhenaBedouinmanunsheathedhisswordandshouted,‘Whowillprotectyouagainstme?’‘Allahwill,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).Suddenly,theman’shandsshiveredandhecouldnolongerholdthesword.[Othersadded]Herammedhisheadtoatreeandhisbrainwasscattered.Hence,Allahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’IbnHabbanandIbnMardawayhhavereportedontheauthorityofAbu-HurayrahthattheHolyProphet(S),once,restedunderatree,whichwasthemostextensivebecauseweusedtoselectthelargesttreefor him during journeys.He hanged his sword to that treewhen aman came and drew the swordshouting,‘Muhammad!Whowillprotectyouagainstme.’‘Allahwill,’saidtheHolyProphet(S),‘Putthatswordaway.’Hence,Allahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Other narrators have reported that a personwas arrested because he had tried to assassinate the

HolyProphet(S).Inal-Durral-Manthur2/299,ithasbeennarratedthattheHolyProphetsaidtothearrestedmanwhowaschargedoftryingtoassassinatehim,‘Youshouldhaveregardedme!Evenifyouhadhadsuchanopportunity,AlmightyAllahwouldhavepreventedyoufromdoingit.’Theinaccuracyofthisopinioncanbeprovedthroughthefollowingpoints:(1)According to ibnHusham, in al-Sirah3/225, theBattleofThat al-Riqa` tookplace inAH4.

Manyyearsafterthisdate,Surahofal-Ma`idahwasrevealed.Somereportsoftheincidenthavenotdefinedadateandothershavebeenlogicallyunacceptable.

(2)Themajor reference books recording the story ofGhawrath and theBattle ofThat al-Riqa`havenotreferredtotherevelationoftheVerseof`Ismah;rathermostofthemhavereferredtothelegislation of the ritual Prayer ofAnticipatingDangers (Salat al-Khawf) and the practice ofmorewatchfulguardontheHolyProphet(S)evenduringprayers.These two points are sufficient for refuting the claim of the revelation of the Verse on such

occasions.IbnHusham hasmentioned thatAlmightyAllah’s saying, ‘O youwho believe!RememberAllah’sfavoronyouwhenapeoplehaddeterminedtostretchforththeirhandstowardsyou,butHewithheldtheirhandsfromyou…,’wasrevealedonthatoccasion.[11]ThisisalsoinaccuratesincetheVerseisalsoinSurahofal-Ma`idah.Al-Bukhari,aswellasmanyothers,hasmentionedthattheVersewasrevealedfortheSalatal-KhawfandthepracticeofmorewatchfulguardontheHolyProphet(S)duetothatincident:It hasbeennarratedon the authorityof Jabir ibn `Abdullah that theHolyProphet (S), once, restedunderatreetowhichhehangedhisswordinhisjourneybackfromacampaigninNajd.Aseachonesearched for a tree to sleep under its shadow, theywerewaked up by theHolyProphet (S)’s loudvoice.Whentheyapproached,theysawaBedouinmansittingbeforehim.TheHolyProphet(S)thensaid, “While Iwas sleeping, thisman unsheathedmy sword; so Iwoke up and saw him raising ittowardsme saying ‘Whowill protect you againstme?’ ‘Allahwill,’ I answered.The result then iswhatyouseenow.”TheHolyProphet(S),however,didnotpunishhim.IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-SalamahthatJabiribn`AbdullahreportedthatinThatal-Riqa`,theHolyProphet(S)restedunderalargetreethatwehaveleftforhim.Apolytheistcameandunsheathed theHoly Prophet (S)’s sword,whichwas hanged to the tree and said, ‘Well, now youshould fearme.’ ‘No, I shouldnot,’ answered theHolyProphet (S). ‘Whowill protectyouagainstme?’saidtheman.‘Allahwill,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).Wethencameandthreatenedthatman.Thenitwastimeforaprayer;hence,theHolyProphet(S)ledagroupofusinatwoRak`ahprayerthentheothergroupcameinstead.IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofMusaddadontheauthorityofAbu-`UwanahontheauthorityofAbu-Bishrthatthepolytheistman’snamewasGhawrathibnal-Harth.[12]ThemostacceptableformofGhawrath’sstorycanbeseeninal-Kulayni:al-Kafi8/127:Ithasbeennarratedon theauthorityofAban ibnTaghlibon theauthorityofAbu-Basir that ImamAbu-`Abdullahal-Sadiq(a.s.),once,narratedthatwhiletheHolyProphet(S)restedunderatreeontheedgeofavalley,atorrentcamebetweenhiscompanionsandhim.Hence,thecompanionswaitedforthattorrenttostop.Meanwhile,apolytheistmandeterminedtokilltheHolyProphet(S);heattackedhimwithhisswordshouting,‘Whowillprotectyouagainstme?’‘YourandmyLordwill,’answeredtheHolyProphet(S).Immediately,ArchangelGabrielknockedthatmandown.TheHolyProphet(S)tooktheswordandsatonhischestsaying,‘Now,whowillprotectyouagainstme,Ghawrath?’‘Yourbenevolence and humanitywill,’ said theman. Forthwith, theHoly Prophet (S) left him. Themanstoodupshouting,‘ByAllahIswear,youarebetterandmorebenevolentthanIam.’MajorreferencebooksofHadithhavenotmentionedthattheVersewasrevealedduringtheBattle

ofThatal-Riqa`orontheoccasionofGhawrath’sattemptofassassination.Furthermore,ithasbeenclearthatafterthatincident,theHolyProphet(S)orderedtoguardhimmorewatchfullyevenduringtheprayers.TheadoptersofthisopinionmayhaveunderstoodthatthecancelingoftheguardmeantthattheHolyProphetsuspectedthedivineprotection!The following opinions of ibnHajar and al-Qurtubi is a part of their confusion in inventing a

relationshipbetweentheVerseof`IsmahandGhawrath’sstory.Al-QurtubisaysthattheHolyProphet(S)’s having being alone during the events of the story proves that he was not guarded and, as a

sequence,theVerseof`Ismahwasalreadyrevealed.IbnHajaranswers,‘No,theVersewasrevealedon that day; so, the guards’ jobwas canceled. Before that, the Holy Prophet (S)’s convictionwassometimes increasing and in other times decreasing. He took guards whenever his confidencedecreasedandcanceleditwhenhisconfidenceincreased.DuringtheeventsofGhawrath’sstory,theHolyProphet(S)’sconfidencewasconsiderable;therefore,hewasnotguarded.[13]IbnHajarmissesthefactthatSurahofal-Ma`idahwasrevealedinAH10whiletheBattleofThat

al-Riqa`tookplaceinAH4andthatAbu-Hurayrah(thereporteroftheincident)puthisfeet,forthefirst time, in al-Madinah inAH7.Healsomisses thatSalat al-Khawfand thewatchfulguardwerelegislatedinThatal-Riqa`.However,hisoneandonlyaimwastotaketheVerseof`IsmahawayfromtheincidentsonGhadirKhumm.ThereportsconfirmingthattheHolyProphet(S)wasguardedduringtheBattleofTabukthattook

place six years after the Battle of That al-Riqa` have been already forecited. Through authenticreports,wehaveprovedthattheHolyProphet(S)wasguardedevenduringtheconquestofMakkahthattookplacefouryearsaftertheforecitedincident.Readthefollowingnarrationasquotedfromal-Bukhari:al-Sahih5/91:It hasbeennarratedon the authorityofHushamon the authorityof his father thatwhenpeopleofQuraysh were informed about the Holy Prophet (S)’s progress towardsMakkah, Abu-Sufyan ibnHarb,HakimibnHizamandBadilibnWarqa`…TheHolyProphet(S)’sguardscouldcapturethem…etc.SixthOpinionThesixthopinionclaimsthattheVerseisgenerallyreferringtotheHolyProphet(S)’shavingbeen

orderedtoconveytheLord’smessage,lestheshouldnotberegardedasconveyor.Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Durral-Manthur2/299:`Abd ibnHamid, Ibn Jarir, Ibn al-Mundhir, IbnAbi-Hatam andAbu’l-Shaykh have narrated on theauthority ofQatadah that in thisVerse, theLord acquaintsHisMessenger that hewill protect himagainstpeopleandordershimtoconveythemessage…etc.To great extent, this opinion is similar to the first one.The previous topicsmay be enough for

refutation.Besides,thereportsofthisopinionarenotdocumentedandnotenoughforachievingtheconditiontherein.TheOpinionAgreeingtheAhlal-Bayt’sInterpretationLetusfirstrefertothefollowingnarrations:

Al-Suyuti:al-Durral-Manthur2/298:IbnAbi-Hatam,IbnMardawayhandIbn`AsakirhavenarratedontheauthorityofAbu-Sa`idal-KhidrithattheVerseof`IsmahwasrevealedtotheHolyProphet(S)onthedayofGhadirregarding`AliibnAbi-Talib.IbnMardawayhhasnarratedthatIbnMas`udsaid,‘BeforetheHolyProphet(S),weusedtorecitetheVerseinthisform,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord(i.e.aboutthematterthat`Alibeingtheleaderofthebelievers)andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage.’Abu-Ja`faral-Iskafi:al-Mi`yarwa’l-Muwazanah213:

IthasbeennarratedthatJabiribn`Abdullahand`Abdullahibnal-`AbbassaidthattheHolyProphet(S)feltsomefearwhenAlmightyAllahorderedhimtonominate`Aliasthenextleaderandinstructpeople topayhomage tohim.Heanticipated thatpeoplewouldaccusehimof favoringhiscousin.Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliver…etc.’OnthatdayinGhadirKhumm,theHolyProphet(S)deliveredthemessagetopeople.

Asafootnote,headds:Al-Suyuti, inal-Durral-Manthur, records that IbnMardawayhandIbn`Asakirhavenarratedon theauthorityofAbu-Sa`idal-KhidrithataftertheHolyProphet(S)hadnominated`Aliasthenextleaderandaskedpeople topayhimhomage,ArchangelGabrielconveyedAlmightyAllah’ssaying, ‘ThisdayhaveIcompletedyourreligionforyouandperfectedMyfavoronyou…etc.’[14]Al-Khatib,al-Hasakani,Ibn`Asakir,IbnKathir,al-KhawarzmiandIbnal-Maghazilihavenarrated

thatAbu-Hurayrahsaid,“WhoeverobservesfastingontheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjahwillbegrantedtherewardofasixty-monthfasting.ItisthedayofGhadirwhentheHolyProphet(S)took`AliibnAbi-Talibfromthehandandsaid,‘Iamthemasterofthebelievers,aren’tI?’‘Yes,youare,’affirmedpeople.Hethendeclared,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustregard`Aliashismaster.’`Umar ibn al-Khattab then said to `Ali, ‘Congratulations son of Abu-Talib! You have becomemymasterandthemasterofeveryMuslim.’Then,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘ThisdayhaveIcompletedyourreligionforyouandperfectedMyfavoronyou…etc.[15]Sayyidal-Tabataba`i,inTafsiral-Mizan6/54,recordsthefollowing:

Al-Tha`labi in Tafsir has recorded that Ja`far ibnMuhammad said, “Almighty Allah’s saying, ‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord,’refersto`Ali.Immediatelyaftertherevelationof theVerse, theHolyProphet (S) took `Ali from thehandanddeclared,“Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.”Ithasbeenalsonarratedontheauthorityofal-KalbiontheauthorityofAbu-SalihontheauthorityofIbn`AbbasthattheVersewasrevealedabout`AliibnAbi-Talib.AllahorderedtheHolyProphet(S)toinstructpeopletopayhomageto`Ali;so,hetookhimfromthearmanddeclared,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowillantagonize`Ali.”Thefollowingisquotedfrom`Allamahal-Amini:al-Ghadir1/214:

TheVersewasrevealedontheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah,AH10,theyearoftheFarewellHajj.Whenthe Holy Prophet (S) resided in Ghadir Khumm, Archangel Gabriel came to him and said,“Muhammad:AlmightyAllahgreetsyouandsays:OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyou(i.e.regarding`Alisuccession)fromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage, andAllahwillprotectyou from thepeople.”The foregoingpeoplewhoweremore than100,000individualswereabouttoreachal-Juhafah.TheHolyProphet(S)orderedthemtoreturnandorderedtheotherstohaltinthatplace.Hethennominated`AliastheleaderofMuslimsandtoldthemaboutthedivinerevelationthatAlmightyAllahwouldprotecthimagainstpeople.FortheImamiyyah,this fact is indisputable. Yet, we should provide reports from Sunni reference books of Hadith asevidences.Al-Amini,thereafter,referstothirtySunnireferencebooksthathaverelatedreportsrespectingthe

revelationoftheVerseaboutImam`Ali’ssuccession.Letusnowrefertosomeoftheminbrief:1.Al-Tabari,Abu-Ja`farMuhammadibnJarir (died inAH310):al-Wilayah. In thisbook,hehas

narrated on the authority of Zayd ibn Arqam that when the Holy Prophet (S) was back from theFarewellHajj,heresidedinGhadirKhumm.Itwasthefirsthoursofthatextremelyhotdaywhenheorderedtosweepaheightthereandgatherpeople.Assoonastheywerebeforehim,hedeliveredaneloquentsermonsaying,‘TheLordhasrevealedtome…etc.2.Al-Han¨ali,ibnAbi-HatamAbu-Muhammadal-Razi(diedinAH327)3. Al-Mahamili, Abu-`Abdullah (died in AH 330.) In al-Amali, he has related the report to Ibn

`Abbas.4.Al-Farisi,Abu-Bakral-Shirazi(diedinAH407);hehasrelatedthereporttoibn`Abbas.5.IbnMardawayh(AH323-416);hehasrelatedontheauthorityAbu-Sa`idal-KhidrithattheVerse

wasrevealedonthatdayinGhadirKhummfordeclaringtheleadershipof`AliibnAbi-Talib.Hehas

also recorded that IbnMas`udsaid, “In thepresenceof theHolyProphet (S),weused to recite theVerseof`Ismahas,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord(i.e.regarding`Alibeingtheleaderofthebelievers)andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage.’”6.Al-Tha`labi, Abu-Ishaq al-Nisapuri (died inAH 427); he has recorded the report in al-Kashf

wa’l-Bayan.7. Al-Isfahani, Abu-Na`im (died in AH 430); he has recorded the report inMa NazalaMin al-

Qur ’anfiHaqq`Ali(TheQur ’anicVersesAbout`Ali).8.Al-Wahidi,Abu’l-Hasan al-Nisapuri, (died inAH 468); InAsbab al-Nuzul, he has related the

report.9.Al-Sajistani,Abu-Sa`id,(diedinAH477);hehasnarratedthereportinal-Wilayah.10.Al-Hasakani,al-HakimAbu’l-Qasim;inShawahidal-TanzilliQawa`idal-TafdilWa’l-Ta`wil,

hehasrecordedthereport.11.Ibn`Asakir,Abu’l-Qasimal-Shafi`i(diedinAH471);hehasrelatedthereporttoAbu-Sa`idal-

Khidri.12.Al-Natanzi,Abu’l-Fath;inal-Khasa`isal-`Alawiyyah,hehasrecordedthereport.13.Al-Razi,Fakhral-Dinal-Shafi`i(diedinAH606);inal-Tafsiral-Kabir3/636,hehasrecorded

thattheVersewasrevealedfor`Ali.TheProphet(S)tookhimfromthehandanddeclared,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.’14.Al-Nasibi,Abu-Salim al-Shafi`i (died inAH652); he has recorded the report inMatalib al-

Sa`ul16.15.Al-Ras`ani,`Izzal-Dinal-Mawslial-Hanbali(borninAH589)16. Al-Hamawini, Abu-Ishaq, Shaykh al-Islam (died in AH 722); in Fara`id al-Simtayn, he has

recordedthereportontheauthorityofhisthreemasters:SayyidBurhanal-DinIbrahimibn`Umaral-Husayni al-Madani, Shaykh Majd al-Din `Abdullah ibn Mahmud al-Mawsli and Badr al-DinMuhammadibnMuhammadibnAs`adal-BukhariontheauthorityofAbu-Hurayrah.17.Al-Hamadani,`Ali(diedinAH786);inMawaddatal-Qurba,hehasrecordedthatal-Barra`ibn

`Azibsaid,“IaccompaniedtheHolyProphet(S)inthejourneybackfromtheFarewellHajj.AswereachedGhadirKhumm,hegatheredpeople,sattoatreeandtook`Alifromthehandandsaid,‘Iampreferredtoyoursouls,aren’tI?’‘Yes,youare,Allah’smessenger!’assertedpeople.‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowill support `Ali and be the enemy of his who will oppose `Ali,’ declared the Holy Prophet (S).`Umar,May Allah please him, met `Ali and said, ‘Congratulations, `Ali ibn Abi-Talib! You havebecomemymasterandthemasterofeverymaleandfemalebeliever.’ThatwastheresultofAllah’ssaying,‘OApostle!Deliver…etc.’18.Badral-Dinibnal-`Aynial-Hanafi(AH762-855);in`Umdatal-QarifiSharhSahihal-Bukhari

8/584,hehasrecordedthereportrespectingtheVerseontheauthorityofal-Wahidi.WahhabisandtheHadithofGhadirIt is strange to find the opinion of the Ahl al-Bayt regarding the interpretation of the Verse of

`Ismah in Sunni reference books of Hadith, because it collapses the claims about Imamate andsuccessionoftheHolyProphet(S)whichpeopleofQurayshandtheirfanshavesparednoeffortsinattempting to convince Muslims with. From this cause, Nasibis are extremely incensed for theexistenceof theHadithofGhadiron innumerablepagesofSunni referencebooksofHadith.Theyhavealwayswishedhadsuchreportsbeenerasedfromsuchbooks.Consequently,theyhaveshoweredinsultsandaccusationsattheShi`ahandtheirscholarsfortheyhavealwaysreferredtotheexistenceof such reports in such books. Instead, they should have studied such reports on the light of theQur ’anandtheauthenticHadiths.

Al-Albani;inSalsalatal-AHadithal-Sahihah5/644,hasrecordedthefollowing:TheHolyProphet(S)usedtobeguardeduntiltherevelationAlmightyAllahsaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Hethentookhisheadoutof the tentandordered theguards to leavehimsincehewouldbeprotectedbytheLord.Al-Tirmidhi(2/175),IbnJarir(6-199)andal-Hakim(2/3)havenarratedthereportontheauthorityofal-Harith ibn `Ubaydon theauthorityofSa`idal-Jaririon theauthorityof `Abd ibnShaqiqon theauthorityof`A`ishah.Al-Tirmidhi,however,hasregardeditasstrange.Othershavereporteditontheauthority of the same series except `A`ishah. This is in fact more accurate because al-Harith ibn`Ubayd who is the same as Abu-Qudamah al-Iyadi is rather doubtful in affairs regarding hismemorization.Abouthim,al-Hafi¨saysthatalthoughheishonest,hemakesmistakes.Someofthoseto whom al-Tirmidhi had referred, such as Isma`il ibn `Ilyah the trustworthy, contradicted thisopinion. Ibn Jarir has narrated the report on the authority of Isma`il on the authority of al-Jaririinterruptedly.Hence,thereportisactuallyinterruptedlytransmittedandal-Hakim’shavingdecideditsauthenticityasrelatedontheauthorityof`A`ishahisinaccuratealthoughal-Dhahbihasregardeditasauthentic, too.Inconclusion, thereport isauthenticsince ithasbeentestifiedbythereportofAbu-Hurayrah that theProphet (S), once, restedunder a tree,whichwas themost extensivebecauseweusedtoselectthelargesttreeforhimduringjourneys.Hehangedhisswordtothattreewhenamancameanddrewtheswordshouting,‘Muhammad!Whowillprotectyouagainstme.’‘Allahwill,’saidtheHolyProphet(S),‘Putthatswordaway.’Hence,Allahrevealed,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’AccordingtoIbnKathir,al-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah6/198,IbnHabban,inal-Sahih,andIbnMardawayhhaverecordedthepreviousnarrationfromtwowaysofdocumentation…etc.It is worth mentioning that the Shi`ah, depending upon numerous narrations most of which areincomplete or interruptedly transmitted, have claimed that the Verse was revealed on that day inGhadirKhummfor `Ali,MayAllahpleasehim,.This ishowevercontrary to the forecited reports.They have cited Abu-Sa`id al-Khidri’s report, which is forged. I have proven this fact duringdiscussing the report numbered 4922.Without studying its documentation, `Abd al-Husayn[16] theShiitehasreferredtoofsuchnarrationsinal-Murajaat38.Sincehisonlypurposewastoenlistanywordthatmayservehissect,heusedtociteanynarrationasevidencewithoutpayinganyattentiontoits documentation or discriminatory study.However, the Shi`ah have adopted the rule that the endjustifiesthemeans.Beware of thisman and his narrations!Moreover, he used to defraud, if not lie to, the readers;

referring to the report thatwas falsely ascribed toAbu-Sa`id al-Khidri, for instance, theman hasclaimedthatamanycompilersofSunnireferencebooksofHadith,suchasal-Wahidi,haverecordedthat report. Even the beginners know that al-Wahidi is not one of the compilers of the fourmostremarkableSunnireferencebooksofHadith.HeisaninterpreteroftheHolyQur ’anwhomighthavementioned authentic and doubtful reports indistinctly. However, Abu-Sa`id al-Khidri’s report wasdoubtfulbecauseithasbeennarratedontheauthorityofextremelydoubtfulandneglectednarrators.After they had adopted Taqiyyah (pious simulation), the Shi`ah have deemed lawful to forge liesagainst Sunnis in their books and sermons.Thismatter is clearly unveiled in al-Khomayni’s bookentitledKashf al-`Asrar. It is quite evident thatTaqiyyah is the spouse of fabrication.Accordingly,Shaykhal-IslamIbnTaymiyah,whoknewtheShi`ahmorethananyoneelsedid,said,‘TheShi`aharethebiggest fabricatorsofallMuslims.’ Imyselfobviouslynoticed the fabricationofsomeof theirscholars,especially`Abdal-HusaynwhohasdeludedthereadersintoimaginingthattheauthenticityofthereportisbeyonddisputefortheSunnischolarbecauseofitsnumerouswaysofnarration.Al-Khumaynihasbeenbiggerfabricator!Onpage149of theforecitedbook,hehasclaimedthe

revelationofVerseof`IsmahonthedayofGhadirinwhichtheProphet(S)wasorderedtodeclaretheImamateof`AliibnAbi-Talib.HehasascribedthistoSunnischolarsanddecidedtheunanimityof

theShi`ahonthatmatter.Allahmayrewardthatmanasexactlyaswhathedeserves.Answeringal-Albani,wesay,first,thatthestyleofinsultsandrevilingatpeople,aswellasissuing

inaccurate judgments, should be eluded, for it is not rightful for al-Albani to classify the Islamicgroups as to their honesty and dishonesty. Among Sunnis and Shiites, there are various kinds ofpeople.Yet,Nasibisareexcludedfortheyaresubjectedtodefiniterules.Al-Albanishouldnotforgetthat he defended Imam `Ali (a.s.) and refuted ibnTaymiyahwhowronged him and denied that theHolyProphetsaidabouthiminthefamousincidentofGhadirKhumm,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Be thesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Ali and be the enemy of himwhowill oppose `Ali.’ In the same place, al-Albani, in Salsalat al-AHadith al-Sahihah 5/330, No. 1750, has decided the authenticity of the forecited Hadith. IbnTaymiyahwouldneverbeexpectedtogivetheShi`ahtheirduesincehehadwrongedtheirImam!Onpage344ofthesamebook,al-Albaniadds:AsIsawIbnTaymiyahconsideringtheHadith[17]asdoubtfulinitsfirsthalfanduntrueinitssecond,I have had towrite down these pages andprove that theHadith is authentic. Inmy conception, thereason beyond such exaggeration of Ibn Taymiyah was that he used to be hasty in deciding theinauthenticityofsomeHadithsbeforestudyingthem!Nevertheless,theShi`ahhavebeencompletelyinaccurate as theyclaimed that theHolyProphet (S)nominated `Ali ashis successor through suchHadiths.Historyhasproventhefalsityofthisclaim;iftheHolyProphet(S)hadindeedsaidsuchathing, it shouldhaveoccurredbecause the sourceof hiswords is theDivineRevelation andAllahneverbreaksHispromise.WhilehecriticizesibnTaymiyah’shastiness,al-Albanihimselfjumpedtoinaccurateconclusions

confusingthelegislativeinstructionwiththedivineprediction.Hadal-Albani’swordsbeenright,theHadiththathealreadydecidedasauthenticwouldhavebeeninvalid.Inotherwords,theHolyProphet(S)’ssaying,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster,’whichal-Albanihasdecidedasauthenticmusthavebeenoriginated from theDivineRevelation, too.Hence,suchadivineprediction,asal-Albanihasdecided,shouldbefallandthat`AlishouldbetheleaderofMuslimswhoshouldprecedehimtothemselvesinthesamewayastheyprecededtheHolyProphet(S). However, this matter did not take place; on the contrary, they attacked the house of `Ali andFatimahtwoorthreedaysaftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdepartureandthreatenedflamingthehouseifthepeopletherewouldnotcomeoutandpayhomagetothenewleader.Finally,theyforced`Alitopayhomage.Alltheseeventsareasclearasthesun.Onthataccount,the

Holy Prophet (S)’s saying, ‘`Ali will be my successor ’ is as same as his saying, ‘Whoever hasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.’Iftheearlierisdivineprediction,asal-Albani claims, the latter should be, too!Both texts refer to a legislative instruction and a guideleadingMuslimstotheirdutiessothatanycontraryeventwouldnottakeplace.Secondly, al-Albani has decided the report dedicating the Verse of `Ismah to the event of the

congregationaldeclarationofloyaltyinGhadirasinauthentic;hashestudiedthereportssoastohavetherighttosaythatmostofthesenarrationshavebeenincompletelytransmittedordoubtful?HasheinvestigatedthewaysofnarratingtheHadiththatwasreportedbyal-Tha`labi,Abu-Na`im,al-Wahidi,Abu-Sa`id al-Sajistani, al-Hasakani and many others? Has he scrutinized these ways of narrationbeforehedecided thatmostof themhavebeen incompletely transmittedordoubtful?Hashefoundthatanyofthenarratorsareneglectedbyhim?Finally,hecommittedthesameerrorofIbnTaymiyahwhomhehadcriticized!In any event, al-Albani still has enough time to correct his errors.Wehope that hewouldwrite

downhisnotesrespectingthediscussionoftheexegesisoftheVerseof`Ismahandstudy,onhisowncriteria, the ways of narration and documentation that we have cited provided that he would notcontradicthispreviouswordsandavoiddecidinganarratorasdoubtfulfornothingotherthanhaving

referredtoImam`Ali’smeritswhileheadmitsontheotherreportsrelatingthemeritsofImam`Ali’srivals!Letusnowrefertothewaysofdocumentationquotedfromonereferencebook,whichisShawahid

al-Tanzilli-Qawa`idal-Tafdil[18]byal-Hakimal-Hasakani—`Abdullahibn`AbdullahibnAhmadal-`Amirial-Qurayshithestudentofal-Hakimal-Nisapuri.Onpages250-7,hewritesdown:244.Abu-`AbdullahAl-Daynuri has narrated to us on the authority ofAhmad ibnMuhammad ibnIshaq ibn Ibrahim al-Sunni on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn Hamdan on the authority ofMuhammad ibn `Uthman al-`Absi on the authority of Ibrahim ibnMuhammad ibnMaymunon theauthority of `Ali ibn `Abis al-A`mash on the authority ofAbu’l-JihafDawud ibnAbi-`Awf on theauthorityof`AttiyyahontheauthorityofAbu-Sa`idal-KhidrithattheVerseof`Ismahwasrevealedabout`AliibnAbi-Talib.245. Al-HakimAbu-`Abdullah al-Hafiz has narrated to us on the authority of `Ali ibn `Abd al-

Rahmanibn`«saal-Dahqaninal-Kufahontheauthorityofal-Husaynibnal-Hakamal-Hibriontheauthorityofal-Kalbion theauthorityofAbu-Salihon theauthorityof Ibn`Abbas that theVerseof`Ismahwasrevealedabout`Ali.Immediatelyaftertherevelation,theHolyProphet(S)carriedoutthedivineorderofconveying.Hetook`Alifromthehandanddeclared,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Be thesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowillopposehim.’246.Agroupofpeoplehavenarratedthesamereportontheauthorityofal-Hibri,andal-Subay`iin

hisbookofTafsirhasalsonarratedontheauthorityofal-Hibri.Otherpeoplehavenarrateditontheauthorityofal-Kalbi.IhavecompiledabookintenvolumesandentitledDuatal-HudatIlaAda`Haqqal-MuwalatinwhichIhavereferredtothewaysofthedocumentationofthisreportindetails.247. Abu-Bakr al-Sukkari has narrated to us on the authority of Abu-`Amr al-Muqri on the

authorityofal-HasanibnSufyanontheauthorityofAhmadibnAzharontheauthorityof`Abdal-Rahmanibn`AmribnJibillahontheauthorityof`UmaribnNa`imibn`UmaribnQaysal-Masirontheauthorityofhisgrandfatherthat`AbdullahibnAbi-Awfa,onthatdayinGhadirKhumm,heardtheHolyProphet(S)recitingtheVerseof`Ismah.Hethenraisedhishandssoupwardlythathisarmpitswereseenandsaid,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Ali.OAllah!Bethewitness.’248.`AmribnMuhammadibnAhmadhasnarratedtousontheauthorityofZahiribnAhmadon

the authority of Abu-Bakr Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sawli on the authority of al-Mughirah ibnMuhammadontheauthorityof`AliibnMuhammadibnSulaymanal-NawfaliontheauthorityofhisfatherthatZiyadibnal-Mundhirsaid:IwaspresentwhenAbu-Ja`farMuhammadibn`Ali(Imamal-Baqir),whileinstructingpeople,wasaskedbyamannamed`Uthmanal-A`shawhousedtorelateal-Hasan al-Basri’s instructions, ‘Son ofAllah’sMessenger:MayAllahmakemy soul your ransom!Once, al-Hasan recited the Verse of `Ismah then commented that it was revealed about somebodywhomhehadnotidentified.’TheImamsaid,“Hewouldhavetoldifhehadwanted.Nevertheless,hefearedmisfortunes!ArchangelGabriel,once,descended to theHolyProphet (S)andconveyed thattheLordorderedhimtoinstructpeoplehowtoperformtheritualprayers;so,hecarriedout.HethendescendedandconveyedthattheLordorderedtheHolyProphet(S)toinstructpeoplehow

tofast;so,hecarriedout.HethendescendedandconveyedthattheLordorderedtheHolyProphet(S)to instruct people how to undertake the ritual Hajj; so, he carried out. He then descended andconveyedthat theLordorderedtheHolyProphet(S)toleadpeopletotheir leadersothat theLordwouldhaveHisclaimagainstthemperfected.TheHolyProphetsaid,“MyLord:Mypeoplehavestillborn the customs of Jahiliyah. They are filled inwith rivalry and pride. Themanwhom I shouldintroduce as their leader has beheaded a single man, at least, from each house of my people. I

anticipatethattheywouldapostatizefromthereligionifIdeclarethat.’Immediately,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealed toyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage(socompletely),andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.’ When the Holy Prophet (S) guaranteed theprotectionofAlmightyAllah,hetook`AliibnAbi-Talibfromthehandandsaid,‘People:Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Aliandgivevictorytohimwhowillsupport`Alianddisappointhimwhowilldisappoint`Aliandlovehimwhowilllove`Alianddislikehimwhowilldislike`Ali.’Commentingonthenarration,`Uthmanal-A`shasaid,‘ThebestthingthatIevergainedduringthatjourneywasthisnarration.’249. `Ali ibnMusa ibn Ishaqhasnarrated tomeon the authorityofMuhammad ibnMas`ud ibn

MuhammadontheauthorityofSahlibnBahrontheauthorityofal-FadlibnShadhanontheauthorityofMuhammadibnAbi-`Umayrontheauthorityof`Umaribn`Udhaynahontheauthorityofal-KalbiontheauthorityofAbu-SalihthatIbn`AbbasandJabiribn`AbdullahsaidthattheHolyProphet(S)anticipatedthatpeoplewouldcriticizeandrevileathimwhenhewouldconveyhisLord’sinstructionsofnominating`Alias theirnext leader.Heexpected themtoaccusehimoffavoringhiscousinforpersonalgoals.Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealedtheVerseof`Ismah.Immediately,theHolyProphet(S)declaredthat`AliwouldbethenextleaderofMuslims.ThatwasinGhadirKhumm.250. Muhammad ibn al-Qasim ibn Ahmad has narrated to me on the authority of Abu-Ja`far

Muhammad ibn `Ali on the authority of his father on the authority of Sa`d ibn `Abdullah on theauthorityofAhmadibn`Abdullahal-BarqiontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofKhalafibn`Ammaral-AsadiontheauthorityofAbu’l-Hasanal-`Abdiontheauthorityofal-A`mashontheauthority of `Abayah ibnRab`i that `Abdullah ibn `Abbas (narrating the story of theHolyProphet(S)’sNightAscension)saidthatAlmightyAllahsaid,‘IhaveassignedavicegerentforeachProphet(S)andthusyouaretheMessengerofAllahand`Aliisyourvicegerent.’When the Holy Prophet (S) returned to the earth, he disliked telling people about that divine

commission because they had just converted to Islam. Six days after the incident, AlmightyAllahrevealedHissaying,‘Then,itmaybethatyouwillgiveupapartofwhatisrevealedtoyouandyourbreast will become straitened by it.’ The Holy Prophet (S) waited for more eighteen days. ThenAlmightyAllahrevealedtohim,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot, thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.’ For that reason, he ordered Bilal todeclarethatpeoplemustgatherinGhadirKhummthenextday.Hence,hesaid,‘People:MyLordhasorderedme toconveyHisMessage toyoubut I fearedsinceIanticipated thatyouwouldbelieme.Therefore,Heblamedmeandthreatenedapunishmentfrequently.’He then took `Ali ibnAbi-Talib from thehandand raised it soupwardly that their armpitswere

seenandthendeclared,‘People:AllahismyMasterandIamyourmaster.Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Aliandgivevictorytohimwhowillsupport`Alianddisappointhimwhowilldisappoint`Ali.’soonafterthat,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘ThisdayhaveIperfectedyourreligionforyouandcompletedMyfavoronyou…etc.’TheAhlal-Bayt’sOpinionInal-`Ayyashi’sbookofTafsir1/331,wereadthefollowing:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-SalihthatIbn`AbbasandJabiribn`AbdullahsaidthattheHolyProphet(S)anticipatedthatpeoplewouldcriticizeandrevileathimwhenhewouldconveyhisLord’sinstructionsofnominating`Aliasthenextleader.Heexpectedthemtoaccusehimoffavoring

hiscousin.Hence,AlmightyAllahrevealedtheVerseof`Ismah.Inal-Kulayni’sal-Kafi1/290,wereadthefollowing:

It has been narrated on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya on the authority of Ahmad ibnMuhammadandMuhammadibnal-HusaynontheauthorityofMuhammadibnIsma`ilibnBuzay`onthe authority ofMansur ibnYunus on the authority ofAbu’l-Jarud thatAbu-Ja`far Imam al-Baqir(a.s.) said, “AlmightyAllah has imposed five precepts upon people, but they carried out four andneglectedone.As theywereunawareof the timeofoffering the ritualprayers,ArchangelGabrieldescendedtotheHolyProphet(S)andconveyedtheLord’sordersofinstructingpeoplewhentooffertheprayers.Forthepreceptofthezakat,thesamethingtookplace.Forthepreceptofthefasting,onthe tenth ofMuharram, the Holy Prophet (S) instructed the people of the neighboring villages toobserve fasting.Lateron,Ramadan, themonth lyingbetweenSha`banandShawwal,was identifiedforthefasting.ThentheritesoftheHajjdescended;ArchangelGabrielsaidtotheHolyProphet(S),‘In the sameway as you have taught them how to offer prayers, defray the zakat and observe thefasting,youshouldnowinstructthemhowtoundertaketheHajj.’Finally,thecommandmentoftheallegiancewasrevealed.Theperfectionofthereligionwasachievedthrough the loyalty to the leadership of `Ali ibn Abi-Talib. The Holy Prophet (S) then narrated,“When thecommandmentof the loyalty to `Ali’s leadershipwas revealed tome, I thought thatmypeople, havingbeen freshMuslims,would accusemeof favoringmycousin.Forthwith,AlmightyAllahthreatenedapunishmentifIwouldneglecttheconveyanceofthematter.HethereforerevealedtheVerseof`Ismah:‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.’Immediately,theHolyProphet(S)took`Ali(a.s.)fromthehandanddeclared,‘People:LiketheotherProphets, I have to respond tomyLord afterHe has givenme this age.You, aswell as I,will beinterrogated. What will your answer be?’ ‘We admit that you have conveyed, advised andaccomplished your mission. May Allah satisfy you with the best reward of the Messengers,’acknowledgedpeople.‘OAllah!Bethewitness,’repeatedtheHolyProphet(S)thrice,‘Muslims:Thismanshallbeyourleaderafterme.Thepresentmustcarrythiscommandtotheabsent.’”InBiharal-Anwar94/300,wereadthefollowing:

Muhammad ibn `Alial-Tarazihasnarrated inhisbookon theauthorityof `Abdullah ibnJa`faral-HimyariontheauthorityofHarunibnMuslimontheauthorityofal-Hasanal-Laythithat,once,Abu-`AbdullahJa`faribnMuhammad(S)saidtothegroupsoftheShi`ahandtheadherentsoftheAhlal-Baytwhowerepresentbeforehim,‘DoyouknowthedayonwhichtheLordhasconstructedIslam,revealedtheilluminationofthereligionandmadeit–thatday-afestivityforouradherentsandus?’‘Allah,HisMessengerandthesonoftheMessengerarethemostknowledgeable.Isitthe`Idal-Fitr?’askedthey.‘No,itisnot,’answeredAbu-`Abdullah(a.s.).‘Isitthenthe`Idal-Adha?’[19]askedthey.‘No,’ answered the Holy Imam, ‘However, these are two holy and noble days. The day of theilluminationofthereligionisholierandnobler.ItistheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah.OnthenoontimeofthatdaywhentheHolyProphet(S)arrived

inGhadirKhumm during his journey back from the FarewellHajj, ArchangelGabriel descendedcarryingtheLord’sinstructionofdeclaringAmiral-Mu`minin’ssuccessionandleadership.‘Onthisveryday,youmustdeclarethat`AliwouldbethemasterofthisUmmahsothathemustbethenextleadertowhompeopleshouldshowloyalty.Hewillrepresentyou,’saidArchangelGabriel.‘Gabriel,mydear!’saidtheHolyProphet(S),‘Ifearthatmycompanionswillopposesincetheyhavedetested`Ali for he killed their people andwill unveil their hiddens.’ Archangel Gabriel carried theHolyProphet(S)’swordsand,immediately,camebackwithAlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHis

message, andAllahwill protect you from the people; surelyAllahwill not guide the unbelievingpeople.’ Having been apprehensive and distress, the Holy Prophet (S) ordered to sweep the placeunderthesetreeswhilehisfeetweresorefortheheatofthesun.HethenorderedMuslimstogatherthere;so,they,includingAbu-Bakr,`Umar,`UthmanandtherestofMuhajirunandAnsar,approachedtogetherbeforehim.Hethendeclaredthat`AlimustbeacceptedasthecomingleadersincethiswasAlmightyAllah’scommission.Al-Nu`manal-Maghribi,inDaa`imal-Islam1/14,hasrecordedthefollowing:

Ithasbeennarratedthataman,once,saidtoAbu-Ja`farMuhammadibn`Ali(Imamal-Baqir)thatal-Hasan al-Basri said that theHolyProphet (S), once, said, ‘I becamedistressed anddisturbedwhenAlmightyAllahorderedmetoconveyamessage.Ifearedthatpeoplewouldbelieme,buttheLordthreatened apunishment if Iwouldnot do it.’Abu-Ja`far (a.s.) asked themanwhether al-Hasan al-Basrihad told themabout thatmessage.Themananswerednegatively. ‘ByAllah I swear,’ said theImam, ‘al-Hasan al-Basri knew thatmessage completely, but he concealed it deliberately.’ ‘Son ofAllah’sMessenger,’askedtheman,‘MayAllahmakemysoulyourransom.Whatwasthatmessage?’Abu-Ja`far(a.s.)said,‘Thebelieversdidnotknowhowtooffertheprayersthatwereimposedupon

theminAlmightyAllah’sBook;therefore,HedirectedHisMessengertoexplainitforthem,andtheHolyProphet(S)didutterly.Similarly,Heorderedtodefraythezakat,buttheydidnotknowwhatisthat;therefore,theHolyProphet(S)explainedittothemsayingthatgold,silver,camels,cows,sheepandtheyieldsarethethingsapplicabletothezakat.thus,heleftnothingunexplored.Asfastingwasimposeduponthem,peopledidnotknowanythingaboutit;so,theHolyProphet(S)explaineditindetails.WhentheLordimposedtheritualHajj,AlmightyAllahdirectedtheHolyProphet(S)toteachthemhowtoundertakeit.AlmightyAllahthenorderedpeopletobeloyaltotheAhlal-Bayt.Inthisregard,theAlmightyrevealed,‘OnlyAllahisyourmasterandHisMessengerandthosewho

believe,thosewhokeepupprayersandpaytheZakatwhiletheybow.’AsHeimposedtheloyaltytotheleadershipoftheAhlal-Bayt,peopledidnotknowthesortofthatloyalty.Liketheprayer,Zakat,fastingandHajj,AlmightyAllahorderedHisMessengertoexplainthemeaningoftheloyaltytotheAhlal-Bayt’sleadership.ThisorderdisturbedtheHolyProphetsinceheanticipatedthatpeoplewouldapostatize from the religion and belie him. Hence, he sought the Lord’s relief and, immediately,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.’Afterthat,he,havingbeeninGhadirKhumm,declaredtheobligatoryloyaltytotheleadershipof

`Ali ibnAbi-Talib (a.s.) flawlessly and ordered the present to carry it to the absent.As the divinepreceptswererevealedgradually,theobligatoryloyaltytotheleadershipof`Ali ibnAbi-Talibwasthe sealing. For this reason, Almighty Allah revealed, ‘This day have I perfected for you yourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenforyouIslamasareligion.’ThismeansthattheLordwouldnotrevealanymorepreceptsinceHehascompletedthem.IthasbeennarratedthattheHolyProphetsaid,‘IenjointhosewhobelievedinAllahandbelievedandgavecredencetometoadheretotheleadershipof`Ali ibnAbi-Talibsincetheloyaltytohimisassame as the loyalty tome. This is a binding instruction that I have received frommy LordWhodirectedmetocarryittoyou.’The first narrationhas been also recorded in al-Nu`man al-Maghribi: Sharh al-Akhbar 1/101.A

similarnarrationhasbeenrecordedinthesamebook2/276inthefollowingform:TheHolyProphetsaid,‘Gabriel:MypeoplearefreshMuslims.Theyhavejust leftJahiliyah.Ifearthat theywould return to it.’ Immediately,AlmightyAllah revealed, ‘OApostle!Deliverwhat hasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.’

Hence,theHolyProphet(S)gatheredpeopleinGhadirKhummandsaid,‘People:IbecamedisturbedfortheLordhasorderedmetoconveyamessagetoyou.ButHethreatenedapunishmentifIwouldshun.YouhaveknownthatAlmightyAllahismyMasterandthatIamthemasterandtheleaderofMuslimsandthatIshouldbeprecededtotheirsouls,haveyounot?’‘Yes,wehave,’admittedpeople.TheHolyProphet(S)thustook`Alifromthehandandraisedhimsaying,‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster,andwhoeverhasregardedmeashisleadermustnow regard `Ali as his leader.OAllah!Be the supporter of himwhowill support `Ali andbe theenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Aliandgivevictorytohimwhowillsupport`Alianddisappointhimwhowilldisappoint`Aliandmaketherightfollow`Aliwhereverhegoes.’Asaresult,theloyaltyto`Ali(a.s.)hasbeenincumbentuponeachmaleandfemaleMuslim.[20]MorenarrationswillbecitedinthecomingdiscussionoftheVerseofIkmalal-Din(theperfection

ofthereligion).ShiitereferencebooksofHaditharefullofsuchauthenticatednarration.GeneralRemarksRegardingtheOtherOpinionsFirstRemarkExceptal-TirmidhiwhohasrecordedthenarrationoftheguardpracticedontheHolyProphet(S)

anddecideditasaone-waystrangereport,noneoftheSunniHadithistshavereferredtotheexegesisofVerseof`Ismah.Yet,al-BukharihasmentionedtheVerseintwoindependenttitles—thefirstisin5/88wherehehasrecorded`A`ishah’sreportaboutthenecessityofconveyingandnotconcealingtherevelationandthesecondis in8/9wherehehasrecordedal-Zuhri’sreportabout theHolyProphet(S)’sconveyance.Inaddition,hehasrecordedtwootherreportsrespectingtheVerseof`Ismah—6/50and8/210.In1/110,MuslimhasrecordedareportabouttheVerse.Asamatteroffact,suchnegligencedoesnotproveorindicatetheinauthenticityorthedubietyof

thereport.NumerousaretheauthenticreportsthathavenotbeenrecordedinthereferencebooksofHadithandmorearetheinauthenticreportsthatarefoundinsuchreliablebooks.TheimportantpointisthatthecompilersofthesebooksofHadithhaveexertedallpossibleeffortsforrefutingtheAhlal-BaytwhiletheyhaveknownforsurethattheVerseof`IsmahrepresentsaproofontherightoftheAhlal-Bayt.TheywouldhaverepeatedlynarratedandrecordedanyreportthatmightrefutetheAhlal-Baytifonlytheyhadany.ItisthusobviousthattheyhavehadtoavoidrefutingthenarrationsoftheShi`ahandtheagreeing

Sunniones.Asaresult,wecannotfindsuchnarrationsinthesixreliableSunnireferencebooksofHadith.SecondRemarkExceptthetimeoftheFarewellHajjwhenSurahofal-Ma`idahwasrevealed,thetwenty-threeyears

oftheHolyProphet(S)’smissionhavebeenentirelymentionedinthevariousSunninarrationsabouttheVerseof`Ismahwhile, if truthbe told, theVersewasrevealedduringtheexcludedperiod.ThisfactincitesustoconcludethatthepurposebeyondtheexpansionofthenarrationsandtheexclusionofthatperiodhasbeentoclosetheeyesbeforetheveryperiodinwhichtheVersewasrevealed.ThirdRemarkFor Shiite reference books ofHadith, all the reports that refer to the revelation of theVerse of

`Ismahbring up assuredly the same reason anddate.On the other hand,Sunni reference books ofHadith assume various reasons in contrary times that caused their scholars to be engaged inperplexityregardingthetruereasonandtime.Moreover,someofsuchcontrarynarrationssupporttheAhl al-Bayt’s narration that is not acceptedby theQurayshite caliphs and their fans.As a rule,whenallMuslims,includingtheAhlal-Bayt,identifyacertainreasonandtimefortherevelationofa

Versewhileothersrefertomiscellaneousreasonsandtimes,itwillbesurelyunderstandablethatthereasonunanimouslyadmittedshouldbeaccepted.EvaluationofTheOpposingOpinionsOnTheLightOfTheVerse(1)TheMattertobeDeliveredThe meaning of the Verse is still ambiguous unless the verb ‘reveal’ refers to a past incident

because it is in the past tense. The past tense of the verb shows that theHoly Prophet (S) alreadyreceived a difficult commandment that he should deliver but hewas looking for away to convey.Hence,theVersewasrevealedtostoptheHolyProphet(S)’santicipationsandorderhimtodeliverassoonaspossiblewhetherpeoplewouldadmitornot,andrelievehimthattheywouldnotapostatizefromthereligionandthathewouldbeprotectedagainstthem.ThisistheinterpretationoftheAhlal-BaytsupportedbymanySunnireports.(2)ConfirmationofTheCaseandItsConditionsItismeaninglesstosaytosomebodythathemustconveythemessagesthatyouwillgivetohim,

lesthewillnotconveythem!Ifthereisadefinitemessagetodeliver,itwillbequitetruetosaytothatsomebodythatyouwillnotregardhimasconveyorofyourpreviousmessagesthathehadalreadycarriedifhewillnotcarrythisimportantmessage.FromTafsiral-Mizan6/49,thefollowingisquoted:AlthoughthestatementoftheVerserevealsthreat,itinsinuatestheimportanceofthecommand;ifthemessagewouldbeneglectedandwouldnotbecarriedtopeople,theotherpartsofthereligionwouldbe as if it had not been conveyed. The phrase, ‘If you do it not, then you have not delivered hismessage,’ is a conditional clause demonstrating the importance of the condition since the mostimportantrewardreliesuponitcompletely.Itisnotanordinaryconditionalclausethatisusuallyusedfor specifying the result of an unknownmatter. ForAlmightyAllah, this is inapplicable sinceHeknows the results.TheHolyQur ’andoesnothaveprobabilitieswhether theHolyProphet (S)willconveyornot.(3)TheHolyProphet(S)’sFearTheHolyProphet(S)anticipatedthatthedivinemessagewouldbeindanger.Hewastoobraveto

fearassassinationorinjurybecausehewaspious,courageousandsinless.SincethefirstdaysoftheMission,theHolyProphet(S)knewthedifficultyofhismission;therefore,heexpecteddangersanddifficulties.Accordingly, it is illogic to say that he had hesitated or refrained from conveying theMissionbeforehewasthreatened.Hefearedthatpeoplemightretractorobjecttotheleadershipofhishouseholdconsideringthedecisionaspersonal.(4)TheInterpretationof‘People’Al-Fakhral-Razi,inhisbookofTafsir6/12/50,recordsthefollowing:

Because the Verse (of `Ismah) ends with ‘surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people’ weunderstandthat‘people’referstotheunbelievingonesexclusively.This opinion is unacceptable; the word ‘people’ cannot be limited to definite ones because the

Verse shows that the Lordwill protectHisMessenger against all people.Many indications can beinferred from the relationshipbetween ‘people’ and ‘theunbelievingones.’ThemeaningmightbethatAllahwillprotectyouagainstthewholepeopleandwillnotguidethosewhointendtohurtyousincetheyareunbelievers.ItalsomightbethatdeliverthemessageandAllahwillprotectyouagainstpeople,andtherejecterswhoaredecidedasunbelieverswillnotbeguidedbyAllah.ThelatterindicationismorepreferablesinceitissupportedbyaHadithrecordedinal-Bukhari’sal-Sahih8/139:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-HurayrahthattheHolyProphetsaid,‘MypeoplewillbeinParadisesavingtherejecters.’‘Whoaretherejecters?’askedpeople.“WhoeverobeysmewillbeinParadiseandwhoeverdisobeyswillbewiththerejecters,’explainedtheHolyProphet(S).Thecomprehensiveand logicalmeaningof ‘people’ fits the sourceof injuryanddanger,which

was not dedicated to the unbelievers only. The Holy Prophet (S) was also antagonized by thehypocriteswholivedamongpeople.WehavealreadyshownthatthesourceofdangerintendedbytheVerseof`Ismahwas,togreatextent,thehypocrites.Al-Razi,however,hasaimedattakingthecensureawayfromtheQurayshitehypocritesandtakingthedivinecommandmentawayfromtheleadershipofImam`Ali.(5)TheMeaningofProtectionAgainstPeopleThepromisedprotectionintendedintheVerseof`Ismahshouldsuittheamountofdangerthatthe

Holy Prophet (S) expected. It should agree with the protection against people’s suspecting theProphethoodandaccusinghimoffavoringandnominatinghishouseholdforleadership.Oneofthemost famed sayings thatpeopleofQurayshused toutterwas thatMuhammad (S) intended togiveboth Prophethood and leadership to the Hashimites exclusively so as to take the other clans ofQurayshawayasifProphethoodandleadershipareunderhiscontrolthathemaygivetowhomeverhewills.This is theverymeaning that suits theamountofdangerexpectedby theHolyProphet (S)who,

constantly, was thinking of the anticipated actions that might occur when he would declare theleadershipofImam`Ali(a.s.).Unliketheotheropinions,theprotectionintendedintheVersedoesnotstand for protecting the Holy Prophet (S) against being assassinated, hurt or injured; rather itguaranteestosavetheProphethoodagainstpeopleofQuraysh.ThisfactcanbeprovenbythefactthattheHolyProphet(S)’sguardwasnotchangedafter thatevent.Likewise, thedangerandharmwerenotchanged,butincreased!Inabstract,theprotectionmentionedintheVersestandsforsavingtheHolyProphet(S)’smission

fromhispeoplewhocould rarelyaccept thematterand they thusdecided tomutiny.Yet,AlmightyAllah fulfilledHispromise;on that day inGhadirKhumm, theHolyProphet (S)nominated Imam`Ali for the leadership and asked people to offer him congratulations and people did peacefully.Nevertheless,assoonashedepartedthisworld,theytooktheAhlal-Baytawayfromtheleadership,sethishouseonfireandforcedhimtopayhomagetotheirman.TwoQuestionsInvolvingtheVerse(1)UsingtheVerseasWeaponAgainstImam`AliMuslims have testified that theHoly Prophet (S) conveyedwhat he had received from his Lord

perfectlyandhesufferedwhatnootherProphet(S)hadeversuffered;yet,SunnisaccuseShiitesofclaimingthathehadconcealedcertainmatterscitingtheVerseof`Ismahasexample.We,theShi`ah,denouncesuchanaccusationthoroughly!Al-Qurtubi,inhisbookofTafsir6/243,recordsthefollowing:WhoeverclaimsthattheHolyProphet(S)hadconcealedanyrevealedissuehasbeliedtheLordWhosays,‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’MayAllahcondemntheRafiditesfortheyclaimthattheHolyProphet(S)concealedmattersthatpeoplerequired.Al-Qastalani,inIrshadal-Sari7/106,saysthefollowing:

TheShi`ahclaimthattheHolyProphet(S)concealedsomeoftherevealedissuesforhefearedinjury.Itseems that thesourceof thisaccusation is `A`ishah’s famoussaying, ‘Whoeverclaims that the

HolyProphet (S) concealed anything of theLord’sBook has forged big lies againstAllah.’ They

haverecordedthissayingrepeatedlysoastobelieImam`Ali(a.s.)whoconfirmedthathehadbeentheHolyProphet(S)’ssuccessorandthathehadwithhimtheHolyProphet(S)’sHadithandheritageother than the Holy Qur ’an. He possessed a comprehensive book that comprised everything thatpeoplewouldrequireincludingtheamountofthecompensationforaviolatedretaliationofascratch!Healsoconfirmed that theHolyProphet (S)hadforetoldhimabout the futuremisfortunes that theAhlal-Baytwouldfaceincludingtheattackonhishouse;soheinstructedhimwhattodothen.We, the Shi`ah, believe in the previous claims. Sunni and our reference books of Hadith have

includedtensofreportscarryingtheuniquestandingofImam`AliandthespecialcarethattheHolyProphet(S)usedtogivehimexclusivelysoastobringhimup,accordingtoadivinecommission,toinherithisknowledge.WealsobelievethatImam`Aliistoopure,divinelypurifiedandhonesttosayanythingbutthetruth.Al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur6/260,hasrecordedthefollowing:IbnJarir,IbnAbi-Hatam,al-Wahidi,IbnMardawayh,Ibn`Asakir,ibnal-NajjarihavenarratedontheauthorityofIbnBuraydahthattheHolyProphetsaidto`Ali,‘Verily,AlmightyAllahhasorderedmetofavoryouandavoidkeepingyouawayfrommeandto teachyousothatyouwillperceive;andyouwillperceive.’Forthesewords,theVerse,‘Andaretainingearwillretainit,’wasrevealed.Abu-Na`im,inHilyatal-Awliya`,hasrecordedthisnarrationinwhichtheHolyProphetsaidto`Ali,‘Youaretheretainingearthatperceivesmyknowledge.’Hudhayfahibnal-Yaman,oneofImam`Ali’sfollowers,wasthekeeperoftheHolyProphet(S)’s

secretaboutdistinguishingthehypocritesfromthebelievers,whereasImam`Aliwasthekeeperofall the secrets and knowledge of the Holy Prophet (S). All narrators have recorded that the HolyProphet(S)foretoldImam`Alithathewouldfightagainstthebreachers,theunjustandtheapostatesforsakeoftheinterpretationoftheHolyQur ’an.It seems that someof theHolyProphet (S)’s instructions to Imam `Aliwere known for people;

therefore they have the courage to attack his house and force him to accept the new leader.WhileImam`Aliwassomightyandcourageousthatallpeoplefearedhim,mostofthosewhoattackedhishouse were too coward to face his sword—Dhu’l-Faqar. Thus, they were sure that he would notunsheathehisswordandwouldfollowtheHolyProphet(S)’s instructionevenifFatimahal-Zahra`would be beaten so harshly that she would abort her baby. In due course, the pro-Qurayshitemercenaries and their masters rejected Imam `Ali’s claim of receiving the Holy Prophet (S)’sheritageandknowledgeanddeniedthathehadleftanythingforhisfamilyincludingknowledge,giftsorproperties.Onthataccount,Abu-BakrconfiscatedFadak,agardenthattheHolyProphet(S)hadendowedto

Fatimahal-Zahra`(a.s.)whenAlmightyAllahrevealed,‘Andgivethenearofkinhisdue.’Therulingauthorities, takingadvantageof `A`ishah’s forecited saying, exceeded the limitswhen theyclaimedthat anyonewhowould claim that theHolyProphet (S) had instructed him/her in private is surelydisbeliever!Readthefollowingasquotedfromal-Bukhari’sal-Sahih1/188:Ithasbeennarratedthat`A`ishahsaid,‘WhoeverclaimsthattheHolyProphet(S)concealedanythingofwhatwasrevealedtohimhascertainlylied.Allahsays,‘OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyou…etc.’[21]Atanyrate,suchwickedplothasincludedtwoflawsregardingtheexpansionoftheindicationto

themattertobeconveyedandthepartiesoftheconveyanceaswellasamisrepresentationofImam`Aliandhisadherents’claims.Firstofall,ItisuntruethattheHolyProphet(S)wasorderedtoconveyanythingthathewouldreceivefromtheLord.Hisknowledgereceivedthroughrevelation,inspirationandpersonalviewsistoocomprehensivetobecarriedtopeoplesincethey,includingthebelievingones, are too incompetent to receive it. Secondly, some instructions were addressed to certainindividuals;hence,theHolyProphet(S)didnotpublicizethem.Inthisregard,AlmightyAllahsays,

‘Andspeaktothemprivatelyeffectualwords.’NeitherImam`AlinorhasanyofhisfollowersclaimedthattheHolyProphet(S)hadnotconveyed

theMessageperfectly;rathertheysaythathe(a.s.)tookpeople’smentalitiesandintellectualcapacitiesinconsiderationduringtheconveyanceoftheMessage.Imam`AliwasthussoreceptivethattheHolyProphet (S) conferred him with additional knowledge. Unlike the opinions of al-Qurtubi and al-Qastalani,thisconceptprovesthatImam`Ali,Fatimahal-Zahra`,al-Hasanandal-Husayn(a.s.)weremore intelligent; therefore, they receivedmoredivineknowledge.Furthermore, Imam`AliandhisShi`ahhaveconfirmedthattheHolyProphet(S)hadconveyedmanythingsabouttheAhlal-BaytandothertopicsthattheQurayshitecaliphsandtheirfanshaveconcealed.Thepro-QurayshitemercenariesusedtowrongandforgeliesagainstImam`Ali.Inthesametime,

theyoverlook`Umar ’sclaimthattheHolyProphet(S)hadnotinterpretedmanyQur ’anictexts,suchasthoseregardingKalalahandusury.[22]ThisisaclearaccusationthattheHolyProphet(S)hadnotexplainedtheHolyQur ’anadequately.Inabstract,thefactthattheHolyProphet(S)gavespecialknowledgetoImam`Alidoesnotoppose

his carryingout theLord’s instructionsperfectlybecause itwasAlmightyAllahWho, through theDivineRevelation, ordered him to give Imam `Ali such knowledge exclusively. In likemanner, itdoesnotstandagainstTaqiyyahthattheHolyProphet(S)practicedagainstdefinitemenofQurayshand other tribes because he was ordered to use wisdom, Taqiyyah and indulgence in order toaccomplishthegoalsofIslam.Thefollowingnarrationisquotedfromal-Kafi2/117:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofImamJa`faral-SadiqthattheHolyProphetsaid,‘MyLordhasorderedmetobeindulgentwithpeopleinthesamewayasHehasorderedmetoperformthedivineprecepts.’InMajma`al-Zawa`id8/17,wereadthefollowing:

Ithasbeennarratedon theauthorityofAbu-Hurayrah that theHolyProphet said, ‘Precededby thebeliefinAlmightyAllah,theacmeofrationalityisthewillingnesstopleasepeople.’IthasbeennarratedthatBuraydahsaid,“WhileIwaspresentbeforetheHolyProphet(S),amanfromQurayshcame.TheHolyProphet(S)welcomedhimwarmly.Whenthemanleft,theHolyProphet(S)asked, ‘Doyouknow thisman?’ ‘Yes, Ido,’ answered I, ‘He is thebestofQuraysh in lineageandwealth.Thisismyopinion,whataboutyouropinion?’‘HewillbeworthlessontheJudgmentDay,’saidtheHolyProphet(S).”Al-Bukhari has givenmore than one title to the question of thewillingness to please people. In

7/102,herecords:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu’l-Darda`thathesaid,‘Althoughwesmileinthefacesofsomepeople,ourheartscursethem.’Ithasbeennarratedon the authorityof `Urwah ibnal-Zubayron theauthorityof `A`ishah that theHolyProphet(S),once,saidaboutamanwhohadsoughtpermissiontovisithim,‘Lethimin.Heisindeed theworstofhispeople.’He then receivedhimwithnicewordsand smiling face.When themanleft,IaskedtheHolyProphet(S)toexplainittome,andhesaid,‘Listen,`A`ishah!Verily,themostevilpeoplearethosewhomarereceivednicelysoastoavoidtheirevil.’(2)UsingtheVersetoRefutetheClaimthattheHolyProphet(S)wasBewitchedSunni and Shiite scholars have cited theVerse of `Ismah as evidence refuting the claim that the

HolyProphet (S)wasbewitched.According tosomenarrations,aJewcould take theHolyProphet(S)’scombandsomeofhishairsandburiedtheminawellafterhehadspelledbewitcheryonthem.ThisbewitcheryinfluencedtheHolyProphetsoheavilythatheimagineddoingsomeactsuntilamanoranangelorArchangelGabrielledhimtothatwell.Hedestroyeditafterhehadbeencured.This

false accusation has been related to `A`ishah. Al-Bukhari, in al-Sahih 4/68, 7/28-9 and 164 andMuslim, in al-Sahih 7/14 as well as many other reference books of Hadith have recorded suchreports.All Shiite scholars, aswell as a few Sunni ones, have had the courage to refute this accusation

citingtheVerseof`Ismahasoneoftheirevidences.Al-Tusi,inTafsiral-Tibyan1/384,hasrecordedthefollowing:The reports narrating the fable that the Holy Prophet (S) was bewitched are inconsiderate andbaseless.Hehasbeen tooelevated tobebewitched,which is aqualityof imperfectionmakingonedistrustanyinstructionsaidbysuchabewitchedman.TheHolyProphet(S)istheLord’sargumentagainstpeopleandHischoiceamongHisservantsandtheselectedoutofAlmightyAllah’swisdom.He has been saved from vulgarity and harshness as well as any ill behavior. Except those whodiscount theHolyProphet (S)’s real qualities, none candare to ascribe such tainted things to him.AlmightyAllahsays,‘AndAllahwillprotectyouagainstpeople.’Hehasalsobeliedthosewhosaid,‘Youarefollowingbutabewitchedman.’IbnIdrisal-`Ujali,inal-Sara`ir3/534,recordsthefollowing:

Unanimously, we believe that the Holy Prophet (S) was never bewitched. Our proof is AlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyouagainstpeople.’Someoftheoppositesectsbelievethathewasbewitched.ThisisindeedcontrarytotheGlorifiedRevelation.Wereadthefollowinginal-Majlisi’sBiharal-Anwar60/38:

Had it been true that the Prophets could be bewitched, the sorcerers would have injured all theProphets.Thisis indeedcontrarytoAlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’ ‘And a magician will not be successful wheresoever he may come from.’ At length, theatheistswhoaredefinitelyliarsusedtoaccusetheHolyProphet(S)ofbeingbewitched.Al-NawawiisoneoftheSunnischolarswhorefutedtheaccusation.Inal-Majmu`19/243,hewrites

down:ReportsnarratingthattheHolyProphet(S)wasbewitchedshouldberefutedbecausetheysupporttheatheists’accusinghimofbewitchment.ItisalsocontrarytotheQur ’anictextsthatbeliedthem.Al-Razi has narrated that al-Qadi (the judge) said that such narrations are false and must not beacceptedsinceAlmightyAllahsays,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’‘Andamagicianwillnotbesuccessfulwheresoeverhemaycomefrom.’TobelievesuchnarrationsmeanstodoubttheProphethood.Hadthatbeenright,alltheProphetsandpiouspeopleshouldhavebeeninfluencedbybewitchery.Al-Razi,inhisbookofTafsir16/32/187,recordsthefollowing:

MajorityofMuslimshaveclaimedthattheHolyProphet(S)wasbewitchedbyaJew.BeitknowntoyouthattheMu`tazilitehaverefutedthisclaim,whichopposesAlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’A few Sunni scholars have adopted such opinions while the majority admit such fabrications

becausetheyhavenotbeenaccustomedtorefuteanythingsaidby`A`ishahandal-Bukharibeittrueor false.Likewise, theyhaveneverpermittedanyone tocriticize such reports; therefore, theyhavebeenengagedintensofproblemsregardingmonotheism,Prophethood,Shafa`ah(theintercession),thefirstrevelationandWaraqahibnNawfal,the‘HandsomePagans’thatSulaymanRushdibetookasaprincipleforhisSatanicVerses,thebewitchmentaswellasmanyothers.The accusation is contrary to the Prophethood of theHoly Prophet (S) and, according tomany

Verses,itwasoriginatedbytheatheists.However,tocitetheVerseof`Ismahastherefutationoftheaccusationisbaseless,sinceitcanbeclaimedthattheVersewasrevealedinthelastdaysoftheHolyProphet(S)whiletheoccurrencetookplacealongtimebeforethat.To sum it up, Shiite scholars have decided that the protection intended in the Verse of `Ismah

indicatesguardingtheHolyProphet(S)against theapostasyof theQurayshitepeopleandMuslimsduring his lifetime. Sunni scholars have talked too much about the Verse, yet not as accurate aspossible, as they thought that it indicated protecting the Holy Prophet (S) against assassination,poisoning,injuryorharm.Induecourse,theyhavethoughtthattheVerseiscontrarytothereportsrelatingthathisdeceasewasbecauseofapieceofapoisonedmeatthataJewesshadservedtohim;yetArchangelGabrielwastoolateininforminghimaboutthat.Hence,adropofthatpoisonwasthereasonbeyondhisdeceasethenextyear.Inal-Shifa1/317,`Ayyadsays:IfoneaskshowitispossibletoacceptthenarrationreportingthattheHolyProphet(S)waspoisonedbyaJewessandAlmightyAllahsaying,‘AndAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople,’weanswerthattheVersewasrevealed in theyearof theBattleofTabukwhile thepoisoningoccurred inKhaybarbeforethatdate.Likewise, Sunni scholars could not find an answer to the confusion that the Holy Prophet (S),

according to many narrations, wished to die as martyr while he knew that Almighty Allah hadprotectedhimagainstkilling.InIbnHajar ’sFathal-BariFiSharhSahihal-Bukhari8/2644,wereadthefollowing:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-HurayrahthatheheardtheHolyProphetsaying,‘IswearbyHimWhoprevailsonmysoulthatIwishIwerekilledforsakeofAllah.’Some scholars have doubted such Hadith because they deemed the Holy Prophet (S) far abovewishingformartyrdomwhileheknewforsurethathewasprotectedagainstbeingkilled.Ibnal-Tinanswered that the statementmight have been said before the revelation of theVerse of protection(`Ismah)yet,thisanswerisinaccuratebecausetheVersewasrevealedduringtheHolyProphet(S)’searlyresidenceinal-MadinahwhileAbu-Hurayrah,thedirectreporterofthestatement,arrivedthereonthefirstdaysoftheseventhyearinal-Madinah.Ontheotherhand,towishforsomethingdoesnotnecessarilyrequiretheprobabilityofitsoccurrence.Forinstance,ithasbeennarratedthattheHolyProphet(S),once,said,‘Iwishthat(Prophet(S))Moseshadbeenpatient…etc.’TheHolyProphet(S)might have aimed for urging Muslims to practice jihad. This opinion, however, is the mostacceptable. Our master scholar, Ibn al-Mulaqqin, has claimed that Abu-Hurayrah mighty added ‘Iwish’tothestatementoftheHolyProphetic.Thisopinionseemstobeunsatisfactory.[23]SupportingthepreviousHadithhasbeentrue,theHolyProphet(S)’swishcanbereal,becausethe

Verseof`Ismahhasguaranteedthatpeoplewouldnotapostatizefromthereligionduringhislifetime.Thus,ithasnothingtodowithassassination,injuryorharm.Onthecontrary,AlmightyAllahsays,‘AndMuhammadisnomorethananapostle;theapostleshavealreadypassedawaybeforehim.Ifhethendiesoriskilled,willyouturnbackuponyourheels.’ThisVerseindicatesthathewouldnotdienormally.TheLordidentifiesnaturaldeathandassassinationas the twosorts that theHolyProphet(S) would counter. The only interpretation of Almighty Allah’s having confused the sort of HisMessenger ’sdeathisthatHehasknownthattheHolyProphet(S)wouldbekilledorthelike.TheStoryOfGhadirTheQurayshitesDuringtheFarewellHajjWehavenoticedthattheHolyProphet(S),throughhissermons,wordsandevenbehaviorsinthe

FarewellHajj,emphasizedonthepresentandfuturerolesoftheAhlal-BaytforetellingthecomingofTwelve Imams who would represent, along with the Holy Qur ’an, the most precious thing fortheUmmah. In other words, he confirmed the obligatory compliance with the Holy Imams in allaspects of life. For instance, the Holy Imams are forbidden from receiving alms and, in themeanwhile, they should have the Khums. However, people of Quraysh could not stand the HolyProphet(S)’ssermons,wordsandactivities that identifiedthepreferenceofImam`Ali,Fatimahal-

Zahra`, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. They understood the situation as if it had been nominating theHashimitesastheleadersoftheUmmahanddeprivingtheotherclansofsuchpositionsincetheymustkeeponactingasreleasedslavesoftheHashimites.As expected, Sunni reference books of Hadith have neglected the Qurayshite chiefs’ reaction

towards the Holy Prophet (S)’s sermons that disturbed people of Quraysh whose chiefs; such asSuhaylibn`Amr,`IkrimahibnAbi-Jahl,SafwanibnUmayyahibnKhalaf,HakimibnHizam,SuhaybibnSinan,Abu’l-A`waral-Salamiandtheothers,weregloomy-facedwhiletheysawtheHolyProphet(S) paving the way to the Hashimites’ leadership. Immediately, they acted actively to contactMuhajirun,nottheHashimites,tofindasuitabletreatmentforsuchimpendingcatastrophe!On the other hand, Shiite reference books of Hadith have mentioned that such activities began

duringtheconquestofMakkahandexpandedduringtheFarewellHajjtoattainclimaxinMinaonthedaysofTashriq.TheoutcomeoftheactivitieswastheconclusionofatreatythattheShi`ahcallthe‘AccursedDocument’inwhichtheyagreedupondeprivingtheHashimitesofjoiningtheleadershipto the Prophethood.A fewmembers of that treaty arrived slyly inMakkah and hanged the secondAccursedDocumentnexttothefirstoneinsidetheHolyKa`bah.UnlikethefirsttreatyduetowhichtheHashimiteswerebesiegedinthecolandwassignedinthenamesofLatand`Uzza—thepagans,thenewdocumentproposedapoliticalplantodeprivethemoftheleadershipaftertheHolyProphet(S), but this time, it was signed in the name of Islam. However, Almighty Allah informed HisMessenger about thedetails of that document andwhenhe exposed thembefore theparties of thatwicked treaty, they could hardly control themselves before him.Like the other Prophets, theHolyProphet(S)’smissionwasnomorethanconstitutingAlmightyAllah’sargumentsagainstpeopleandthentheyarefreetodoanythingtheylike.IfwebelievewhatSunnireferencebookofHadithhavementionedaboutthenoisethatwasarisen,

yetintentionally,whenevertheHolyProphet(S),duringthesermonof`Arafat,triedtomentiontheidentityof theTwelve Imams(a.s.), itmusthavebeenoneof theprogrammedactivitiesagainst theHashimitesandthattheHolyProphet(S)musthavereproachedandinformedthemthathehadknownthepurposebehindsuchactivities.ResultsoftheFarewellHajjForpeopleofQuraysh,theFarewellHajjpassedpeacefullysincetheHolyProphet(S)didnottake

anypracticalstepinthecourseofnominatingthenewleaderalthoughhespokeverymuchabouttheHashimites,hisprogeny,hisoffspring,Fatimah,theTwelveImamsandmanyissuesconcerningtheAhl al-Bayt. Furthermore, he did not demandwith paying homage to `Ali— the first Imamof hishousehold.For the Holy Prophet (S), he believed that he had conveyed his Lord’s message to the utmost

degree.Meanwhile, people ofQuraysh could no longer tolerate the situation or stand any furtherinstructions. If he demanded with paying homage to `Ali, they would distrust and accuse him ofestablishingamonarchysimilartothatoftheRomansorthePersians.Hadthisoccurred,peopleofQurayshmight have lead amutiny inwhich all theArabswould participate so as to preclude thekingdomoftheHashimitesbeginningwith`Aliandneverending!ReferencebooksofHadithhaveactuallyrecordedsuchstatementsthatweresaidbyQurayshitechiefswho, as if they had never accepted Islam, understood the question as an endless kingship ofMuhammadandhisfamily.TheHolyProphet(S)UnderPressureDuring theFarewellHajjand itsmomentouscircumstances,ArchangelGabrielwascarrying the

Lord’scommandstotheHolyProphet(S).Probably,heaccompaniedhimthroughouttheHajjseason

andrevealedtohimmanyinstructionsincludingthewordsofthesermons.Inal-Madinah,theangelsaidtotheHolyProphet(S),‘Muhammad:AlmightyAllahgreetsyouandinformsthatyourdeparturewillbeimminentandverysoon,youwillcometoHim.HethereforeordersyoutoexplaintherulingsoftheritualHajjinthesamewayasyouhaveexplainedtherulingsoftheprayer,zakatandfasting.’Carrying out the commandment, the Holy Prophet (S) explained the rulings and acts of the HajjemphasizingontheprinciplesofIslamandtheuniquestandingsoftheAhlal-Bayt.OnthefinaldaysoftheHajj,ArchangelGabrieldescendedtosay,‘AlmightyAllahordersyou to

leadyournationtotheirleader.Declareyourwill,conveytohimyourknowledgeandtheProphets’heritageandnominatehimbeforeallpeople,forIshouldnotgraspthesoulofanyofMyProphetsbeforeheperfectsthereligionandshouldnotleaveMylandswithoutconstitutingaclaimagainstthecreatures.’Because of the tense situation of people ofQuraysh, theHoly Prophet (S) began to think of an

appropriatewayofdeclarationsayingtohimself,‘Mypeoplehavejustleftthecustomsandtraditionof Jahiliyah. If I nowdeclare thatmycousinmustbemy successor, theywillmisthink thematter.’Hence,hedecidedtocarryoutthatdivinecommandmentassoonashewouldbebackinal-MadinahwherehewouldprepareforitandseekAnsar ’ssupport.TheDivineRevelationStopstheCaravanHavingtheintentiontocarryoutthedivinecommandment,theHolyProphet(S)leftMakkah.On

the third day of the journey and five hours after sunrise, he reached Kura` al-Ghamim, a placesituated between Makkah and al-Madinah and eight miles away from `Asfan, where ArchangelGabriel conveyed to him saying, ‘Muhammad: Almighty Allah greets you and says: O Apostle!Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have notdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguide theunbelievingpeople.’TheHoly Prophetsubmitted to the Lord, stood as if pinned to the ground and orderedMuslims

whosefirstrowswereabouttoarriveinal-Juhafah,avillageabouttwomilesawayfromKura`al-Ghamim,tostop.Hewantedtocarryoutthatseriousdivinecommandmentintheveryplacewhereithadbeenrevealedtohim.‘Releasemycamel,’heordered,‘ByAllahIswearthatIwillnotleavethisplacebeforeIconveymyLord’smessage.’HealsoorderedMuslimstobethere.Hethenrodeoff.ArchangelGabriel,havingbeennext tohim,watchedcontentedly theHolyProphet (S)’s tremblinglimbsoutoffearingofAllahandtearyeyessaying,‘Hasitreachedtothreat?IwillsurelycarryoutAllah’sorder. If theyaccuseandbelieme, thiswillbe lessarduous thancountering thedistressingpunishmentinthisworldandtheHereafter.’Beforehelefthim,theangelhadpointedtoasmallareaoftreestotheright.TheHolyProphet(S)

left the angel and directed towards Ghadir Khumm. Some of those who witnessed the incidentnarrated, ‘We heard theHoly Prophet (S) calling us andwe, owing to the extremely hot weather,hastened.Wesawhimputtingapartofhiscloakonthehead.’A collective prayer was declared in other than its due time. It was in fact the time to carry on

anotherobligatoryprecept,whichispayinghomagetotheHolyProphet(S)’sImmaculateProgeny(a.s.). Whatever the reaction would be, this precept must be conveyed to Muslims. The Lord hasemphasizedontheconveyancedeclaringthatwasnotapersonalquestionthattheConveyorhasthechoice to do or not and that theLordwould protect against anymischievous response.Hence, theHolyProphetshouldcarryouttheorders.Onthatextremelyhotday,theHolyProphet(S)orderedtosweeptheplaceunderthesetreeswhere

thesermonofthedivineleadershipwouldbedelivered.HealsoorderedtoestablishanelevatedplacesothathiseyeswouldcoverallMuslims.Carryingouttheorders,theyplacedsaddlesofcamelson

eachothersoastomakeaminbarlikething.Muslimsapproachedthespring-Ghadir-,drankfromitswater, served their animals andperformed the ritual ablution.Beforeoffering theprayer, theyhadsurroundedtheHolyProphet(S)tolistentowhathewouldsay.Becausetheplacewastoonarrowtocover them all,many of them had to sit in the sun or in the shadow of their animals. Everybodyrealized that something that would be declared in the sermon had happened; something had beenrevealedsourgentlythattheHolyProphet(S)couldnotwaittwomoremiles!Accordingtothereports,thetotalnumberofMuslimswhoparticipatedintheFarewellHajjwith

theHolyProphet(S)wasabout120,000.After theHajj,manyof themmusthaveleft.Nevertheless,thousandsofthemtookthesamewaythat theHolyProphet(S)tooksincetheylivedinal-Madinahandtheneighboringvillages.Approximately,theywere10,000.DocumentingpeopleofQuraysh’seffortstocoveruptheincidentofGhadirKhumm,Imamal-Sadiqsays,‘Howstrangemisfortunes`AliibnAbi-Talibhadtoface!Hehadtenthousandwitnesses;yethecouldnotsavehisright!Peopleusuallysavetheirrightsbytwowitnessesonly.[24]Muslimsdidnot have towait too long; they saw theHolyProphet (S) ascending theminbarlike

stone and beginning with the Name of Allah. He modulated an honorable poesy about theglorification and praising of Almighty Allah. Subsequently, he apologized to the attendants fordrivingthemtohaltinsuchapoorplaceandforaskingthemtolistentohiminsuchanintolerableweather.HenotifiedthatArchangelGabrielhadcometohiminal-KhayfMasjidtocarrytheLord’scommandmentofnominating`Aliastheirnewdivinelycommissionedleader.Hesaid,“Whenthecommandmentoftheloyaltyto`Ali’sleadershipwasrevealedtome,Ithought

that my people, having been freshMuslims, would accuse me of favoring my cousin. Forthwith,AlmightyAllahthreatenedapunishmentifIwouldneglecttheconveyanceofthematter.Hethereforerevealed‘OApostle!DeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguide theunbelievingpeople.’There isnogodbutHeWhose timing isunexpectedand injustice isunavailing.IacknowledgemyslaverytoHim,testifyHisgodheadandconveywhatHehasrevealedtome, lestanunavoidablecatastrophewillstrikemeandnonewillsaveme.People: IamcloseonrespondingtheinvitationofmyLord.Whatwillyousay?”“Weallacknowledgethatyouhaveperfectlyconveyedandadvised,”saidpeople.“Doyouacknowledgethat there isnogodbutAllah,MuhammadbeingHisMessenger,Paradise istrue,HellfireistrueandtheResurrectionistrue?”askedtheHolyProphet(S).“Yes,wedo,”confessedthey.Pointingtohischest,hesaid,“SodoI.”Hethenadded,“Iwillprecedeyouandyouwilljoinmeonthe Divine Pool the width of which is as expansive as the distance from Sana` (Yemen) to Busra(Syria)anditscupsareasmanyasstarsanditswateriswhiterthansilver.Thinkhowyouwillregardmeinthetwoweightythings.”“Whatarethetwoweightythings?”askedaman.Heanswered,“ThemajorweightythingisAllah’sBookoneofwhoseedgesisintheLord’shand

whiletheotherisinyours.Ifyoukeepit,youwillneitherslipnorgoastray.Theminorweightythingismyprogeny—myhousehold.IadjureyoubyAllahnottodisregardmyhousehold.IadjureyoubyAllahnot todisregardmyhousehold. I adjureyoubyAllahnot todisregardmyhousehold.TheseweightythingswillneverseparateeachotheruntiltheyjoinmeontheDivinePool.IhaveimploredtomyLordtokeepthisbond.Precedethemnot,lestyouwillbeperished.Shunthemnot,lestyouwillgo astray. Teach them not for they are alwaysmore knowledgeable than you are. People:Do youknow thatAlmightyAllah ismyMasterand Iam themasterof thebelieversand Iampreceded toyourselves?”“Yes,wedo,”declaredpeople.

TheHolyProphet(S)thenasked`Alitostanduptohisright.Hethenraisedhishandsohighlythatthe armpits of both were seen. He declared, “Whoever has regarded me as his master must nowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Aliandgivevictorytohimwhowillsupports`Alianddisappointhimwhowilldisappoint`Aliandturntherightto`Aliwheneverheturns.People:BeitknowntoyouthatAlmightyAllahhasnominated `Ali asyour leadermaking theobedience tohimobligatoryuponMuhajirun,Ansar,theirfollowers,Bedouins,urban,non-Arabs,Arabs,mastersandslaves—youngandold.”“Whatisthelikeoftheloyaltyto`Ali?”askedaman.“Tobeloyal tohimis tobeloyal tome,”saidtheHolyProphet(S),“`AlimustbeprecededtothesoulsofthosewhomIwasprecededtotheirsouls.”Elaborately,theHolyProphet(S)wentoninterpretingtheranksofhisinfallibleprogenyandthe

Twelve Imams saying, “`Ali, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and nine individuals from his progeny shall be,respectively,withtheQur ’anandtheQur ’anwillbewiththem.TheywillneverleavetheQur ’anandtheQur ’anwillneverleavethemuntiltheywilljoinmeontheDivinePool.”Morethanonce,hecalledMuslimstowitnessthathehadconveyedtheLord’smessages,andtheydid,andhedemanded them tocarry themessage to thosewhocouldnot attend that assembly, and theypromisedtodoit.Hethenansweredthequestionsofeverybody.Assoonashefinished,ArchangelGabrieldescendedcarryingAlmightyAllah’ssaying,‘Thisday

haveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenforyouIslamasareligion.’TheHolyProphet (S) thus thanked andpraisedAlmightyAllah for the perfectionof thereligion and the completion of the grace and His satisfaction for the conveyance of the nextleadershipof`Ali.Onlythen,helefttheminbarandorderedtoestablishatentinwhich`Aliwouldsitto receive allMuslimswhomwould obligatorily congratulate him for the divinely commissionedleadership.EventheHolyProphet(S)’swomenwereorderedtocongratulate.`Umar ibn al-Khattab was the first to congratulate, ‘Congratulations, son of Abu-Talib! You havebecomemymasterandthemasterofeverymaleandfemalebeliever.’Seizing the opportunity, Hasan ibn Thabit, the poet, asked the Holy Prophet (S) to permit him tocomposesomeversesontheoccasion.Blessedbeyou!Sayyourverses,’saidtheHolyProphet(S).Hence,Hasanpoetized:OnthedayofGhadir,theirProphetcalledthemInKhumm;HowgreattheProphet’scallwas!Saying,Whoisyoumasterandleader?TheyansweredandshowednonegligenceYourLordisourMasterandyouareourLeaderAndnonewilldisobeyyouinthisregardHesaid:Standup`Ali,forIwillappointyouTheImamandtheguideaftermeThisistheleaderofhimwhosemasterwasIHence,befaithfulandsincerefollowersofhimAndthenheprayed:OAllah!SupporthissupporterAndbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Ali[25]ThestoryofGhadirreportedinSunnireferencebooksofHadithis,togreatextent,similartowhat

Shiitebookshavereported.[26]Forinstance,readthefollowingreportasquotedfromMuslim’sal-Sahih7/122:YazidibnHayyanal-TaymihasnarratedthatHusaynibnSabarah,MuslimibnZaydandIwenttoZaydibn Arqam. After we had sat before him, Husayn asked, “Zayd, you have really attained greatbenefaction because you saw the Holy Prophet (S), listened to his words, participated in his

campaignsandfollowedhiminprayers.Now,Zayd,pleasenarratetouswhatyouhaveheardfromtheMessengerofAllah.”Zaydspoke,“Sonofmybrother,IswearbyAllahthatIhavebecomeold-aged,mydayshavebecomevery old and have forgotten some of these narrations that I used to memorize directly from theMessengerofAllah.You thereforeshouldacceptwhat Iwill tellyouandshouldnotaskme thingsovermyability.”Hethenadded,“Oneday,inaplacebetweenMakkahandal-MadinahcalledKhumm,theMessengerofAllahdeliveredaspeechtous.AfterstatementsofpraisingandthankingAlmightyAllahaswellasstatementsofpreachandremindingofHim,theHolyProphetsaid,‘Opeople,IamnomorethananordinarypersonandthemessengerofmyLord(i.e.theangelofdeath)willshortlycome tomeand thenIwill respond.Amongyou, Ihave left twoweighty things: first, theBookofAllahthatincludesrightguidanceandillumination.PreserveintheBookofAllahandholdfastonit.Second,myhousehold;rememberAllahconcerningmyhousehold,rememberAllahconcerningmyhousehold,rememberAllahconcerningmyhousehold.’Husaynaskedagain,“Zayd,whoaretheHolyProphet(S)’sHousehold?Arehiswivesincludedwithhishousehold?”Zaydanswered,“Hiswivesareincludedwithhishousehold,buthisHouseholdarethosewhomareforbiddentoreceivealmsafterhim.”Husaynasked,“Whoarethey?”Zaydanswered,“Theyarethefamilyof´Ali,thefamilyof´Aqil,thefamilyofJa`far,andthefamilyof`Abbas.”[27]Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak3/148,recordsthefollowing:

It hasbeennarratedon the authorityofZayd ibnArqam that theHolyProphet said, “I am leavingamongyouthetwoweightythings—Allah’sBookandmyhousehold.TheywillnotleaveeachotheruntiltheyjoinmeontheDivinePool.”Although this report isauthenticaccording to thecriteriaofMuslimandal-Bukhari, theyhavenotrecordeditintheirbooks.Although,Muslimandal-Hakimhaverecordedthesamereport,al-Hakimusedwordscarryingthat

ImamatewillpersisttotheResurrectionDay.IbnKathir,inal-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah5/408,hashadadifferentopinion:In his way back to al-Madinah after having clarified the rituals of the Hajj, the Holy Prophet (S)addressedaremarkablesermonunderatreeinGhadirKhummontheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah.Inthis sermon, he demonstrated many things. He also referred to `Ali ibn Abi-Talib’s merits—hishonesty,decencyandclosestandingtohim.Bythis,theHolyProphet(S)removedwhatmanypeoplehadborn in their hearts against `Ali.Abu-Ja`far al-Tabariwas so interested in this sermon that hecompiled a two-volume book in which he mentioned its ways of narration and different forms.Likewise,Abu’l-Qasimibn`Asakir,thegrandscholar,hasrecordedmanynarrationsappertainedtothesermon.ForIbnKathir,thematterisnomorethananattempttoremovethemalicethatsomeMuslimshad

against `Ali ibnAbi-Talib; therefore,heordered them tohalt inGhadirKhumminorder toprove`Ali’shonestyandinnocence.TheHolyProphet(S)mentioned`Ali’smeritssoas to‘removewhatmanypeoplehadborn in theirheartsagainst `Ali.’ In thissermon,‘Hedemonstratedmanythings.”Thatisit.Such a style is expected from an author belonging to the tribe of `Abd al-Dar that Imam `Ali hadkilledtheirbestknightsduringthebattlesofIslam,butnotanauthorrespectingIslamandhavinganyamountof love for `Ali ibnAbi-Talib!For this reason,Wahhabisadore IbnKathirandpublishhisbooks.

Al-JuhafahandGhadirKhummWhywasthedivinecommandmentrevealedonthewaytoal-Madinah,intheheartofthedesertand

inthehottesthoursofthatday?AlmightyAllahwanted to say toHisProphet (S), ‘There isnodifferencebetweenMakkahandal-Madinah.Whereveryoudeclaretheleadershipofyourprogeny,peopleofQurayshmayobjectandmutiny.Theyhavealwayshatedyourhousehold.Becauseyourmission is toconvey, theplaceandtimearenowquitesuitableforconveyance.ConveyandIwillprotectyouagainstpeopleofQurayshso that you will be able to fulfill the mission of conveyance. I will withhold their hearts andmentalities,shutthemouthsoftheirdevilsandpreserveyourProphethood.Then,IwillrespitethemastheywillpersecuteyourprogenysothatMywillregardingyourUmmahandprogenywillcometopass.Atthattime,Iwillsendal-MahdiwhowillfillintheearthwithjusticeafteritwasfilledinwithinjusticeforIcannotbequestionedconcerningwhatIdoandtheyshallbequestioned.Fromthiscause,anotherquestionmaybecited:HowdidtheLordprotectHisProphet(S)against

people of Quraysh that none of them attempted to object?Most of the Qurayshite chiefs were inMakkah;yet,someofthemwereinthecaravan,whichalsoincludedsomeMuhajirunwhowereloyaltotheirclans’chiefs,nottheirProphet(S).Howcouldtheysaynothingandcontroltheirnerves?HowdidtheytestifytheHolyProphet(S)’sconveyance?Howdidtheypromisehimtotelltheabsentaboutwhatoccurredthere?Howdidtheyrespondtohimandcongratulate`Aliforthatleadership?Toanswer,AlmightyAllahwantedtopreservethemessageandconstituteHisclaimagainstpeople.

OutofHisomnipotence,HecausedpeopleofQurayshtokeepsilentinGhadirKhumm.TheytookthequestionasoneofthedeclarationsoftheFarewellHajjsaidrepeatedlybytheHolyProphet(S)whowasstillalive;so,whenhewoulddie,theywouldhaveanothermanner.Whentheytriedtospeakoutandobject,theLordsentdownabackedclayonal-Nadribnal-Harith—theirspokesmanandsenthimtodeath,andsentdownfireonanotherand,too,senthimtodeath.Thesetwosortsofheavenlypunishment were enough to make people of Quraysh stop cutting the road of the Ahl al-Bayt’sleadership.Ontheotherside,theHolyProphet(S)foundrestforhehadconveyedtheLord’smessageutterly

and declared the divine commission of nominating `Ali for leadership. The matter deserved acelebration.This time, theprocessofconveyancewasaccomplishedpeacefully,peopleofQurayshdidnotobject, Jabir ibnSamarahwasnot infectedwith temporarydeafnesswhen theHolyProphetsaid‘myprogeny’or‘`Ali’or‘Banu-Hashim’andnomutinywasshown,unlike the incidentofal-Madinah that took place only four days before the Holy Prophet (S)’s final departure when theyrejectedtofetchhimapenandapapersothathewouldrecordadocumentprotectingthemagainstdeviationforever.AccordingtoShiitenarrations,theHolyProphet(S)orderedthemtocongratulatesoastoconfirm

theircommitmenttothenomination.SunnireferencebooksofHadithhavereportedthatAbu-Bakr, theQurayshitecaliph,feltextremelysorryforhehadorderedtoattackthehouseof`AliandFatimah(a.s.)twoorthreedaysaftertheHolyProphet(S)’sdeparture.InMajma`al-Zawa`id5/202,wereadthefollowing:Ithasbeennarratedthat`Abdal-Rahmanibn`Awfsaid,“IvisitedAbu-Bakrinhisfinalailment…Hesaid,‘IamnotcontriteforanythingexceptthreedeedsthatIwishIhadnotdone…IwishIhadnotattackedFatimah’shouseevenIwouldbeengagedinawar…’The story in brief is that when Abu-Bakr became the caliph, he summoned Imam `Ali to pay

homage,heobjectedandaccusedthemofbetrayingtheHolyProphet(S).Meanwhile,Abu-BakrwasinformedthatanumberofAnsarandMuhajirunwereholdingameetinginFatimah’shouse.`Umarsuggested that the house should be attacked and the group should be threatened a burning if theywould insist. `Umar ibn al-Khattab led a group and attacked the house of Fatimah (a.s.). They

surrounded and placed firewood around the house. Some of those who were in the house weresupporting Imam `Ali’s situationwhile theotherswere there for offering consolationon theHolyProphet(S)’sdecease.Allof them,however,were threatenedburningif theywouldrefuse tocomeout.Practically, firewoodwere seton fire around thehouse.Becausehehad to carryout theHolyProphet (S)’s instruction, Imam`Alididnotwant to fight them.Fatimahal-Zahra`wentout so thattheywouldrevereherandgoback.Onthecontrary,shesufferedinsultsandwasbeatenbythelashofsomeofthemsoheavilythatherbabywasaborted…etc.Induecourse, `AliandFatimah (a.s.)decided to seekAnsar ’s supportdemanding them to fulfill

theirpledgetoprotecttheAhlal-Baytinthesamewayastheyprotecttheirfamilies.Imam`AliaskedLady Fatimah al-Zahra`, the ailing, to ride on an animal while al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Zaynab andUmm-KulthumaccompaniedthempassingbythecelebritiesofAnsarfortwonights.AnsweringLadyFatimah, they said, ‘Daughter of the Holy Prophet (S): Had we heard your words before payinghomagetoAbu-Bakr,wewouldneverhaveacceptedanyonesave`Ali.’Yet,sheanswered,‘MyfatherdidnotleaveanyexcuseforanyoneonthatdayinGhadirKhumm.’[28]LadyFatimahal-Zahra`’sspeechwasacopyofherfather ’s.Indeed,shewasapartofhimandtoo

immaculate to speak like ordinary people since she was godly in creation, thinking, feelings andmanners.Correspondingly,herfathersaid,‘Very,AllahissatisfiedwheneverFatimahissatisfiedandenragedwheneverFatimahisenraged.’ShethusimitatedherfatherwhensherefutedAnsar ’sexcuseshowing that theiranswerhadbeenpoliticalwhile thedivineclaimismoreelevated,prevalentandadvanced thanpoliticalgames.AsAlmightyAllahnamed the leaderof theUmmah, noonehas theright to choose. All people are thus required to submit since the claim of their Lord has beenconstitutedonthem.According to the conception of the divine conveyance, the declaration of Ghadir was a never-

endingdivineactionwhileanyoppositeactcanbeeffectiveinpoliticalconceptionsonly.Asamatterof fact, the politically powerful acts are still futile andmeaningless even if they persist for years,centuries,oruntiltheadventofImamal-Mahdi.

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7ChapterTheVerseofIkmalal-Din(TheFinalVerse)

It is not unacceptable to say that a thoughtful study of the events that caused the revelation of

Qur ’anicVersesestablishesnew indications,unveilsnew factsand repealsmany things thatpeopleadoptasfactsforages.ThisisbecausethestatisticalaspectintheinterpretationoftheHolyQur ’anismorereliablethanotheraspects.Incasetherearefivecontrarynarrationseachmentioningadefiniteevent,placeanddatefortherevelationofaQur ’anictext,itisillogictoacceptthemalljustbecausetheirnarratorswereSahabahanyofwhomwillsurelyguidetotheright!Infact,onenarrationonlywillbetrue,whiletheotherswillbenot.Yet, thismission isdifficultbecauseof theconfusionandcontrastof thenarrations.Atany rate,

exegetesoftheHolyQur ’anarerequiredtoundertakethemissionactivelyandtolerablyinordertosupply theUmmah with the results of their studies thatmust be new and useful in the field of theunderstandingoftheHolyQur ’anandSunnahaswellastheotherreligiousfields.Muslimsscholars’inconsistencyindefiningtheearliestQur ’anictextisnotunfamiliar;[1] rather

their inconsistency in defining the last revelation is very strange! In the beginning of the DivineRevelation, therewerenoMuslims,nowritersandno interest in themarchof theDivineMission,whilewhenthelastrevelationdescended,MuslimswereunitednationsurroundingtheHolyProphet(S) after he had predicted the imminence of his final departure and accompanied them during theritualHajj.Thereasonwasdefinitelypolitical;forpoliticalpurposes,thequestionofthelastrevelationofthe

HolyQur ’anwasobscured.Surahal-Ma`idah;theFinalReferencebooksofHadith,TafsirandjurisprudencehaveproventhatSurahofal-Ma`idahwasthe

finalQur ’anicchapter,andtheVerseofIkmalal-Din(PerfectionoftheReligion),whichwasrevealedafter sealing all theprecepts,was the finalQur ’anic text.Nevertheless, someSahabahattempted tochangethisfact.TheAhlal-Bayt’sOpinionInal-`Ayyashi’sbookofTafsir1/288,wereadthefollowing:

It has been narrated on the authority of `«sa ibn `Abdullah on the authority of his father on theauthority of his grandfather that Imam `Ali said, “Qur ’anic texts used to be repealedby thenewerones;consequently,theHolyProphet(S)usedtotakeupthelatest.Surahofal-Ma`idahrepealedtheother Surahs because it was the final. It was revealed while the Holy Prophet (S) was riding hisbrown-redmule.Therevelationwassoponderous that theanimalhadtostopanditsabdomenwasabouttotouchtheground.TheHolyProphet(S)wasfaintedandhadtocatchShaybahibnWahabal-Jamhi’sbraid.Afterawhile,heraisedhisheadandrecitedSurahofal-Ma`idah.Imam`Ali(a.s.)wantedtosaythatrubbingthefeetduringtheritualablutionisobligatorysinceno

otherrulinghasrepealeditbecauseitwasrevealedfinally.[2]

Inal-Kafi1/289,wereadthefollowing:Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`AliibnIbrahimontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofIbnAbi-`Umayrontheauthorityof`UmaribnUdhaynahontheauthorityofZurarah,al-FudaylibnYasar,BukayribnA`yun,MuhammadibnMuslim,BuraydibnMuawiyahandAbu’l-JarudthatAbu-Ja`far (Imamal-Baqir) said,“AlmightyAllahhasmade the loyalty to `Aliobligatory.He revealed,‘OnlyAllahisyourguardianandHisMessengerandthosewhobelieve,thosehowkeepprayersandpaytheZakatwhiletheybow.’Peopledidnotknowwhattheloyaltymeant;therefore,HeorderedtheHolyProphet(S)toexplainit inthesamewayasheexplainedtheobligatoryprayer,Zakat,fastingand Hajj, but because he feared lest people would apostatize from the religion or belie him, hesupplicatedtotheLordaboutitandtheLordrevealed,‘OApostle!Deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyou fromyourLord, and ifyoudo itnot, thenyouhavenot revealedHismessageandAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople.’Immediately after that, he carried out the instruction.He called people to gather and conveyed thedivinely commissioned leadershipof `Ali andordered the attendants to carry it to the absent.ThattookplaceinGhadirKhumm.Thepreceptswererevealedconsecutivelyandthelastofthemwastheloyalty to the Ahl al-Bayt; therefore, closely after the Holy Prophet (S)’s declaration of Ghadir,AlmightyAllahrevealed,‘ThisdayhaveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyou and chosen for you Islamas a religion.’By thisVerse, theLordmeant thatHe shouldnotrevealanymorepreceptssinceHehadperfectedthem.ThefollowingisquotedfromAl-Ya`qubi’sTarikh2/43:

IthasbeensaidthattheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasthefinal.Itisthemostaccurateopinion.SunniNarrationsAgreeingtotheAhlAl-Bayt’sOpinionInal-Durral-Manthur2/252,wereadthefollowing:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofSa`idibnMansurandIbnal-MundhirontheauthorityofAbu-MaysarahthatthefinalrevealedSurahwasal-Ma`idahwhereinseventeenpreceptsarementioned.Inal-Muhalla9/407,thefollowingisrecorded:

Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`A`ishahthattheSurahofal-Ma`idahwasthefinal.Youthusshoulddeemlawfulwhateveryoufindlawfulthereinanddeemunlawfulwhateveryoufindprohibitedtherein.Onthataccount,theVersesofthisSurahhavenotbeenrepealed;rathertheyaredecisive.Inthesamebook,7/389,wereadthefollowing:

It has been narrated on the authority of IbnWahab on the authority ofMuawiyah ibnSalih on theauthorityofJirriIbnKulaybontheauthorityofJubayribnNufayrthat`A`ishahsaid,‘Surahofal-Ma`idahwasthefinal.Youshouldthusdeemunlawfulwhateverisprohibitedtherein.’[3]ReadthefollowinginMajma`al-Zawa`id1/256:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofIbn`Abbasthat…Surahofal-Ma`idahhasdecidedeverythingbecauseitwasthefinal.Althoughthereporthasbeenalsorecordedfullyinal-Tabarani’sal-Mu`jamal-Awsatand,yetapartofit,IbnMajah’sal-Sunan,oneofitsreportersis`Ubaydibn`Ubaydahal-Tammarwho,accordingtoIbnHabban,wastrustfulbutusedtoreportstrangenarrations.Al-Haythamiwants to say that thisman used to narrate reports opposing the regulations of the

rulingauthoritiesoneofwhichisthatthefinalSurahwasnotal-Ma`idah.Thefollowingisquotedfromal-Durral-Manthur2/252:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-`UbaydDamarahibnHabiband`AtiyyahibnQaysthattheHolyProphetsaid,‘Surahofal-Ma`idahisoneofthefinal.Youshouldthusdependuponwhatisthereinrespectingthelawfulandtheprohibited.Thisistheonlynarrationthatadds‘oneof’tothetext.Itthereforemustbeunderstoodthatitwas

addedsoastoseekthesatisfactionoftherulingauthorities.AccordingtoTafsiral-Tibyan3/413,`Abdullahibn`Umarsaid,‘Surahofal-Ma`idahwasthefinal.’Inal-Ghadir1/228,wereadthefollowing:IbnKathirhasnarratedontheauthorityofAhmad,al-Hakimandal-Nassa`ithat`A`ishahsaid,‘Surahofal-Ma`idahwasthefinal.’To sum it up, theAhl al-Bayt, aswell asmanyauthenticnarrations recorded inSunni reference

bookofHadith,haveconfirmedthatSurahofal-Ma`idahwasthefinalandtheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasthefinalrevelationbecauseitshowsthatthereligionhasbeenperfected.TheOtherOpinionsAlthough the question of theVerse of Ikmal al-Din’s being the final is logically and practically

indisputable,itwasobscuredbecauseofthemanyconflicting,yetauthenticaccordingtotheircriteria,narrations each identifying a definite Verse as the final. The matter became worse when someSahabahadoptedcertainopinionsinthisregard,andtheSahabah’spersonalopinionsarealwaystoofaultlesstobeobjected!Unlike the fouropinionsabout the first revelation,al-Suyuti, inal-Itqan1/101, seemed tobe too

embarrassedtolistthemanyconflictingopinionsregardingthefinalrevelation;hethereforeoutlinedthematafastpace.Yet,we,hereinafter,havetoundertakethismissionandlistsomeofthem,yetinabstract,sothatwewillrefertothereasonbeyondtheoriginationofeachopinion:1.Verse278ofSurahofal-Baqarah(TheVerseofusury)

2.Verse176ofSurahofal-Nisa`(TheVerseofKalalah)3.Verse281ofSurahofal-Baqarah4.Verse128ofSurahofal-Tawbah5.Verse25ofSurahofal-Anbiya`6.Verse110ofSurahofal-Kahf7.Verse93ofSurahofal-Nisa`8.Surahofal-Tawbah9.Surahofal-NasrThefollowingstorymayfocussomelightontheoriginationofsuchcontradictionandconfusion:

AshecouldnotcitetheexegesisoftheVerseofusury,`UmarexcusedthattheVersewasthefinalandtheHolyProphet(S)wasdeceasedbeforehehadexplained.Sincethen,thisVersefounditselfaplaceintheopinionsregardingthefinalQur ’anictexttoviewithSurahofal-Ma`idah.Inanyevent,usuryhasbeendiscussedinfourVersessomeofwhichwererevealedinMakkah.Whichonewasintendedtobethefinal?Asusual,thefansof`UmarvolunteeredtosolvetheproblemintroducingVerse278ofSurahofal-

Baqarahastheoneintended.Forthiscause,theyhavebelievedthatthefinalVerseliesinSurahofal-Baqarah,whichwasrevealedintheearlieststageoftheHolyProphet(S)’simmigrationanddecidedthat the prohibition of usurywas an additional legislation since itwas revealed after theVerse ofIkmalal-Din.Intheirconceptions,suchironyisacceptablesolongasitaimsatdefending`Umar!FromAhmadibnHanbal’sal-Musnad1/36,wequotethefollowing:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofSa`idibnal-Musayyabthat`Umar,MayAllahpleasehim,said,‘The Verse of usury was the final. The Prophet (S) was deceased before he had explained it.Therefore,youshouldleaveusuryandsuspicion.’[4]Fromal-Sarakhsi’sal-Mabsut2/51and12/114,wequotethefollowing:

`Umar,mayAllahpleasehim,said,“TheVerseofusurywasthefinal.TheProphet(S)diedbeforehehadexplainedit.’Al-Suyuti,inal-Itqan1/101,recordsthefollowing:

Al-BukharihasnarratedontheauthorityofIbn`AbbasthattheVerseofusurywasthefinal.Ontheauthorityof`Umar,al-Bayhaqihasrelatedasimilarthing.Ahmad(ibnHanbal)andIbnMajahhavenarratedthat`UmarsaidthattheVerseofusurywasoneofthefinalrevelations.Hereisanotherstory:Oneday,ormanydaysinfact,`Umarcouldnotunderstandthemeaningof

Kalalah;consequently,hehadtosaythattheVersewasthefinalandtheHolyProphet(S)diedbeforehehadexplainedit,orhehadexplaineditinsufficiently.Al-Bukhari, inal-Sahih5/115hasnarratedon theauthorityofal-Barra` ibn`Azib thatSurahofal-TawbahwasthefinalandthelastVerseinSurahofal-Nisa`wasthefinal.Al-Suyuti,inal-Itqan1/101hasnarratedontheauthorityofMuslimandal-Bukharithatal-Barra`ibn`Azibsaid,‘ThefinallyVerseisthelastinSurahofal-Nisa`andthefinalSurahisal-Tawbah.’Ahmad, in al-Musnad4/298has alsonarratedon the authorityof al-Barra` ibn `Azib that the finalSurahwasal-TawbahandthefinalVersewasthelastinSurahofal-Nisa`.Sincethen,theVerseofKalalahpusheditswayintheopinionsregardingthefinalVersetoviewithSurahofal-Ma`idahandtheVerseofusury.ItisworthmentioningthatthequestionofKalalahperplexed`Umaribnal-KhattabsoimmenselythatheregardeditasoneofthemajorissuesoftheUmmah.[5]However, the previous stories indicate that Sunni reference books of Hadith have been too

contradictory tobeacceptedasawhole. It is thereforenecessary toaccept someand throwothers.They also imply that `Umar, in the conceptions of our Sunni brethren, is so untouchable that hisunreasonableclaimsmustbeturnedintoundiscussiblefactseveniftheyopposetheHolyQur ’anoraccusetheHolyProphet(S)ofimperfectconveyance!Ifanyonerejects,hemustbeoneoftheRafidahwhoaretheenemiesofAllah,HisProphet(S),HisreligionandtheSahabah!Correspondingly, `Umar confirmed that the Verses of usury, Kalalah and perhaps many others

were revealed after theVerse of Ikmal al-Din. In otherwords,AlmightyAllah informedMuslimsabouttheperfectionofthereligionwhiletherewerestillmanyquestionstoberevealed!NoMuslimshouldeveraccepttoaccusetheLordandHisMessengerofimperfectionandillogicsoastosaveanordinarymortalfromcontradiction.Letusnowrefertotheotheropinionsinbrief:

Al-Bukhari,inal-Sahih5/182,hasrecordedontheauthorityofSa`idibnJubayrthatIbn`Abbassaid,‘Verse93ofSurahofal-Nisa`wasnotrepealedbyanyotherVersebecauseitwasthefinal.’[6]It is improper to accept such ‘authenticated’ narrations and to believe that the prohibition ofmurderingabelieverwasanadditionallawthatwasrevealedaftertheVerseofIkmalal-Din.Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak2/338,hasnarratedontheauthorityofYusufibnMahranontheauthorityofIbn`Abbasthat`UbayibnKa`bsaidthatthelasttwoVersesofSurahofal-Tawbahwerethefinal.[7]Muslim, inal-Sahih8/243,hasnarratedon theauthorityof Ibn`Abbas that thefinalSurah thatwasrevealedwhollyisSurahofal-Nasr.[8]Al-Tabarani,inal-Mu`jamal-Kabir12/19,hasrecordedontheauthorityofIbn`AbbasthatVerse281ofSurahofal-Baqarahwasthefinal.EvenMuawiyahibnAbi-Sufyanhadanopinion;fromtheminbar,hedeniedthattheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwas the final; rather itwas the lastVerse of Surah of al-KahfwhereAllah reproachedHisMessenger![9]Havingnoticedthatthematterexceededalllimits,al-Suyutihashadtosaysomething,yetslightly,

abouttheopinionsof`UmarandMuawiyahwhowentextremelyfarinforgerysoastotaketheVerseof Ikmalal-Dinaway from theAhlal-Baytand the incidentanddeclarationofGhadirKhumm.Asusual, al-Suyutihad topassby thematter soquickly thatnonewouldwonder. In al-Itqan1/102,herecordsthefollowing:

Undoubtedly, theVerseof Ikmalal-Dinwas revealedduring theFarewellHajjdenoting thatall thelawshavebeenperfected.Manyscholars,suchasal-Saddi,haveaffirmedthatallthereligiouslawswererevealedbeforetheVerseintended;yet, ithasbeennarratedthat theVersesofusury,debtandKalalah were revealed later. Ibn Jarir, however, has not accepted this opinion. He says that theperfectionofthereligionstandsforMuslims’prevalenceonMakkah,nomore.IbnJarir,whosewordsmightbeadmittedbyal-Suyuti,wantstosaythattheonlysolutionforsuch

contrarynarrationsistotaketheVerseofIkmalal-Din[10]awayfromtheperfectionofthereligioninordertosavetheopinionsof`UmarandMuawiyah.Itishowevernotanewthing;SunnischolarshavealwayswontedtodeemobligatorythewordsoftheSahabah,excepttheAhlal-Baytofcourse,eveniftheyhavetoputavetoonthewordsofAllahandHisMessenger!TheresultofsuchfanaticismisthattheyhaveconcludedthattheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasnotthe

final,norwasSurahofal-Ma`idahthesealoftheQur ’an.Moreover,itdoesnotdenotetheperfectionof the religious rulings; rather it refers to theperfectionof the conquest ofMakkah.Accordingly,‘thisday’mentionedintheVersereferstotwoyearsbefore!Lateron,thereaderwillrealizethat`Umarassertedthat‘thisday’referstotheverydayonwhichtheVersewasrevealedoreven,asal-Qurtubi[11]affirms,theveryhour.TheVerseintheHolyQur’anIntheNameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful

Oyouwhobelieve!DonotviolatethesignsappointedbyAllahnorthesacredmonth,norinterferewith theofferings,nor thesacrificialanimalswithgarlands,nor thosegoing to thesacredhouseseekingthegraceandpleasureoftheirLord;andthatyouarefreefromtheobligationsoftheHajj,thenhunt,andletnothatredofapeoplebecausetheyhinderedyoufromtheSacredMasjidinciteyoutoexceedthelimits,andhelponeanotheringoodnessandpiety,anddonothelponeanotherinsinandaggression;andbecarefulofyourdutytoAllah;surelyAllahissevereinrequitingevil.Forbiddentoyouisthatwhichdiesofitself,andblood,andfleshofswine,andthatonwhichany

othernamethanthatofAllahhasbeeninvoked,andthestrangledanimalandthatbeatentodeath,andthatkilledbyafallandthatkilledbybeingsmittenwiththehorn,andthatwhichwildbeastshaveeaten,exceptwhatyouslaughter,andwhatissacrificedonstonessetupforidolsandthatyoudivide by the arrows; that is a transgression.This dayhave thosewhodisbelieve despair of yourreligion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion andcompletedMy favoronyouandchosen foryouIslamasa religion;butwhoever iscompelledbyhunger,notincliningwillfullytosin,thensurelyAllahisForgiving,Merciful.[5:2-3[TheForbiddenMeatIn the firstplace, theunusual situationof theVerse jumps to themind.According to reportsand

interpretationoftheHolyQur ’an,theVersewasrevealedduringtheFarewellHajjasanindependentVerse; yet, it is now a part of aVerse concerning the forbiddenmeat. If this part is removed, themeaningofthewholeVersewillnotchange.WhyhastheVersebeensituatedinthisplace?Wasititsoriginalplaceaccordingto therevelationordidoneof theSahabahchoose thisplacefor itoutofpersonalview?Firstofall,we,theShi`ah,aretoosubmissivetoAlmightyAllahtosaythatanysortofdistortion

has ever occurred to the Holy Qur ’an. Yet, we have put such a question hoping for an answer.Perhaps, those who collected the Holy Qur ’an missed out the correct position of the Verse and,insteadofputtingitintheendofSurahofal-Ma`idah,theyputitinthisposition.IftheVersecomesafter the rulings of themeat, itmaybe acceptable; but to be in themiddle of the rulings is rather

unsatisfactory!Al-Haythami,inal-Durral-Manthur2/257-9,hasnarratedontheauthorityofIbnJarirthatal-SaddisaidthattheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasrevealedonthedayof`Arafatandwasthesealingoftherulings.TheAhlal-BaytandtheVerseofIkmalal-DinThe Ahl al-Bayt have confirmed that the Verse was revealed in al-Juhafah on Thursday, the

eighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjahwhen theHolyProphet (S)was inhiswaybackfromtheFarewellHajj.Thefollowingnarrationisquotedfromal-Kulayni’sal-Kafi1/289:Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`AliibnIbrahimontheauthorityofSalihibnal-SindiontheauthorityofJa`faribnBashirontheauthorityofHarunibnKharijahontheauthorityofAbu-Basirthataman,once,askedImamal-Baqirwhether leadershipofImam`Aliwasapersonalopinionorwasitdivinelycommissioned.TheImamanswered,‘TheHolyProphet(S)hasbeentooreverenttodeclareathingwithoutthecommandofAlmightyAllah.Liketheobligatoryritualsofprayer,Zakat,fasting and Hajj, the leadership of Imam `Ali was an obligatory precept that Almighty Allah hasissued.In1/198ofthesamebook,wereadthefollowingnarration:

Thefollowinghasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`Abdal-`AzizibnMuslim:In the Masjid of Marw, people, discussing the Imamate, referred to the big variance of people’sopinionsinthisregard.IthereforevisitedImamal-Rida(a.s.)andinformedhimaboutthequestion.Hesmiledandsaidtome:`Abdal-`Aziz:People are indeed ignorant about the religion.AlmightyAllahwouldnot causeHisProphet(S)todieunlessHewouldperfectthereligion.HerevealedtohimtheHolyQur ’aninwhichthereistheexplanationofeverythingandthemanifestationofwhatislawful,unlawful,thedoctrinalprovisions,therulingsandeverythingthatpeoplemayneed.Inthisregard,Hesays,‘NothingisleftwithoutamentionintheBook.6/38’During the Farewell Hajj, which took place in the last days of the Holy Prophet (S)’s lifetime,Almighty Allah revealed to him saying, ‘This day have I perfected your religion, completedMyfavorstoyouandhavechosenIslamasareligion.6:3’Imamatehasbeenapartof theperfectionof the religion.TheHolyProphet (S)didnotdepart thisworld before he hadmanifested to theUmmah the points of their religion, showed them the rightcoursesthattheyshouldtake,situatedthemontherightpathandassignedImam`Ali(a.s.)asleaderand Imamfor them.Asamatterof fact,hedidnot leaveanythingwithout thoroughmanifestation.AnyonewhoclaimsthatAllahhasnotperfectedHisreligionisinfactdenyingtheHolyQur ’an,andtodenytheHolyQur ’anisasortofatheism.DopeopleacknowledgethetruestandingofImamateanditspositionintheUmmahsothattheymayberightfultochooseforthemselves?AlmightyAllahhasgivenProphetAbrahamImamateasathirdrankafterProphethoodandintimacyand as a virtue by which He conferred honor upon him and praised him. “When his Lord testedAbraham'sfaith,(byHiswords)andhesatisfiedthetest,Hesaid,‘IamappointingyouastheImamofmankind.’ Abraham asked, ‘Will this Imamate also continue through my descendants?’ The Lordreplied, ‘Theunjustdonothave theright toexerciseMyauthority.2:124”ProphetAbrahamwashighlydelightedforthisrank;therefore,hehopeditwouldbepassedtohisdescendants.ThisVerse,however,cancelstheImamateofanyunjustindividualuptotheDayofResurrectionanddedicatesittothechoiceonesexclusively.ThenAlmightyAllahhashonoredImamatewhenHehasdecidedittobefortheoffspringoftheImmaculateones.Hesays,“We granted him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob as a gift and helped both of them to become

righteouspeople.WeappointedthemasImamstoguidethepeoplethroughOurcommandandsent

them revelation to strive for good deeds,worship theirLord and pay religious tax.Both of themwereOurworshippingservants.21:73-4”Thesuccessivegenerationskepton receiving the Imamate in inheritanceuntil it reachedProphet

Muhammad(S).Inthisregard,AlmightyAllahsays,“The nearest people to Abraham, among mankind, are those who followed him, this Prophet

(Muhammad)andthetruebelievers.3:68”Inthismanner,theImamatehasbecomeexclusiveforthem.

ThentheHolyProphet(S)gaveit toImam`Ali(a.s.) tobesuccessiveinhischoiceoffspringuponwhomAllahhasconferredknowledgeandfaith.ThisisindicatedinAlmightyAllah’ssaying,“Thosewhohavereceivedknowledgeandhavefaithwillsay,‘BythedecreeofAllah,youhave

remainedfortheexactperiodwhichwasmentionedintheBookofAlmightyAllahabouttheDayofResurrection.ThisistheDayofResurrection,butyoudidnotknow.30:56”ThisVerseshowsthedecreeofAlmightyAllahregardingthequestionofImamatethatwillpersist

intheHolyProphet(S)’sprogenyuntiltheDayofResurrection,sincenoProphetshouldcomeafterMuhammad(S).Afterall,howcanthoseignorantpeoplechooseforImamateoutoftheiropinions?[12]SunniOpinionAgreeingtotheAhlal-Bayt’sInSunnireferencebooksofHadith,onecanfindtensofnarrations,someofwhichare‘firstclass’

according to theircriteria inclassifying theHadith, regarding thedeclarationofGhadir.Al-TabarihascompiledthetextsandwaysofnarratingthedeclarationofGhadirinatwo-volumebookentitled‘al-Wilayah.’Ibn`AsakirandmanyothershavealsorecordedsimilarreportsallofwhichrefertotheHolyProphet(S)’sraisingImam`Ali’shandandconveyingtheLord’scommandmentoftheloyaltytohisImamate.Nevertheless, a number of fanatic Sunnis have criticized al-Tabari for that work since they

anticipatedthatShi`ahwouldconstituteitasevidenceandwouldrefertoitduringargument.Mostofsuchnarrations have confirmed that theVerse of Ikmal al-Dinwas revealed on that day inGhadirKhumm just after the Holy Prophet (S)’s declaration of the divinely commissioned leadership ofImam`Ali(a.s.).Unfortunately,mostofSunnischolarswhoadmitthereportsofGhadirhaverejectedtheVerse’s havingbeen revealedon that occasion and, instead, admitted the sayingsof `Umar andMuawiyahclaimingitsrevelationonthedayof`Arafat.On the other hand,manyShiite scholars have recorded the narrations respecting the incident of

Ghadir, such as al-Naqawi al-Hindi: `Abaqat al-Anwar, Shaykh al-Amini: al-Ghadir, Sayyid al-Mar`ashi: Sharh Ihqaq al-Haq and Sayyid al-Milani:Nafahat al-Azhar. Shaykh al-Amini, al-Ghadir1/230,haslistedtheSunnireferencebooksofHadithwhoconfirmthattheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasrevealedon thatday inGhadirafter theHolyProphet (S)hadnominated Imam`Alias thecomingleader.`Umar’sOpinion`Umarsaysthat theVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasrevealedonthedayof`Arafat,whichwasFriday,

duringtheFarewellHajj.Hence,mostSunnishaveadoptedthisopinion[13]disregardingthescholars,suchasSufyanal-Thawri,al-Nassa`iandmanyothers,whodoubtedwhetherthedayof`ArafatduringtheFarewellHajjwasFridayanddisregardingthemanynarrationsthatagreewiththeAhlal-Bayt’sclaims because it was `Umar who said it and, as an indisputable rule, `Umar ’s statement must bebeyondanydisputeandmustbeprecededtoallthings![14]AlthoughmajorscholarshaveconfirmedthattheVerseofIkmalal-DinwasrevealedinGhadirKhummontheoccasionoftheHolyProphet(S)’snominatingImam`Alias the leaderof theUmmah,others,suchasal-Suyuti, insist that itwas

revealedbeforethatoccasion.Afterpresentingthescholars’opinionsabouttheVerse,IbnKathir,oneoftheadorerof`Umar,in

Tafsir2/14,triestounveilthescholars’suspectingthedayof`ArafathavingbeenFridayduringtheFarewellHajjsothattosave`Umar ’sopinionfromanythingincludingsuspicion.HeusesdeceptivewordstodegradethesuspicionarousedbySufyanal-Thawri.Inthesametime,heignorestotallythereportsofal-Tabarithatunveiltheinaccuracyof`Umar ’sopinion.[15]FactorsSupportingtheAhlal-Bayt’sOpinion(1)FactorofTimeIt is easy to search for the actual incident beyond the revelation of the Verse of Ikmal al-Din

through the many narrations reporting the events of the Farewell Hajj, which was expansivelydistinctiveforitwaspreparedduetoanearlierdivinecommandment.Itwasattendedbyabout70000-120000individualsmostofwhomnarrated,somewhatindetails,mostoftheeventsthereinaswellastheHolyProphet(S)’sactions,wordsandthefivesermons.TheyalsohadinmindthedayonwhichtheHoly Prophet (S) left al-Madinah, the places he passed by or stopped at, the day onwhich hearrivedinMakkahandhowheundertooktheritualsoftheHajj.Moreover,theydescribedhisjourneybacktoal-Madinahindetailsuptothefinalhourofhislifetime.Accordingly, theelementof time is themost important in thequestionof identifying thedayon

which the Verse of Ikmal al-Din was revealed. Yet, it gives preponderance to the Ahl al-Bayt’sopinion.(2)FactorofContradictionUnliketheimaginationsofal-Tabariandhislikes,thecontradictioninthisissueisnotbetweentwo

narrationsoneofwhich ismoreauthenticated than theother; rather it is a contradictionbetweenaHadithandasayingof`Umar.ThereportsthattheyhaveregardedasdoubtfulareinfactdocumentedHadithswhile theother reportsofal-Bukhariandhis likesareonlysayingsof `Umarwhodidnotreport them from the Holy Prophet (S). `Umar ’s saying is definitely not sufficient for refuting aHadith. Sunni scholars should have studied such narrations; if theywere proven as authentic, theyshould have thrown `Umar ’s saying away; and if not, they should have again studied the otherSahabah’sopinionsallofwhichwerecontradictoryto`Umar ’s.(3)FactoroftheHolyProphet(S)’sEternalInstructionEven ifwe shun the truth and regard theHadithsof theAhl al-Bayt and theSunni scholarswho

agreewiththeminthispoint—evenifweregardsuchHadithsasnomorethanpersonalopinionsand,thus,thecontradictionbecomesbetweenoneoftheSahabahandtheAhlal-Bayt,weshouldrefertheissuetotheimmortalinstructionoftheHolyProphet(S)thatwemusttakethereligionfromtheAhlal-Bayt,notSahabah.NonecandenythisfactbecauseithasbeenmentionedinthefamousHadithofthe ‘TwoWeightyThings.’[16]Unmistakably, this authenticHadith implies that the sources of thisreligionarerestrictedlytheHolyQur ’anandtheAhlal-Bayt.(4)FactorofInconsistency`Umar ’snarrationisbasicallytooinconsistenttobebelieved.Accordingtothenarrations,`Umar

identifiedthedayof`ArafatasThursdayorFriday!Al-Nassa`i,inal-Sunan5/251,hasrecordedthat`UmarsaidthattheVerseofIkmalal-DinwasrevealedonThursdaynightwhilein8/114ofthesamebook,hehasrecordedanothernarrationconfirmingthat`UmarsaidthattheVersewasrevealedonFriday:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofIshaqibnIbrahimontheauthorityof`AbdullahibnIdrison

theauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofQaysibnMuslimontheauthorityofTariqibnShihabthataJewsaidto`Umar,‘HadtheVerseofIkmalal-Dinbeenrevealedtous,wewouldhavecertainlytaken thedayof its revelationas eternal festivity.’ `Umaranswered, ‘Iknow thenight atwhich theVersewasrevealed.ItwasonThursdaynightwhilewewerewiththeMessengerofAllahon`Arafat.’(5)FactorofOtherScholars’OpposingOpinionAsmentionedearlier,SufyanAl-Thawri,oneofthemasterscholarsofSunnism,doubtedthatthe

dayof`ArafatwasFriday.Yet,hewasnottheonlyonewhoadoptedthisopinion.ItseemsthatSufyanwassurethatthedayof`ArafatwasnotFriday,buthehadtosaythatheonlydoubtitsoastosavehimselffromthefansof`UmarwhorearrangedtheeventsoftheIslamichistorysoastoshowthatthedayof`ArafatwasFriday.(6)FactorofHistoricalFactMuslimscelebratethe`Idal-Adha,notthedayof`Arafat.NosingleMuslimhaseverclaimedthat

the day of `Arafat being formal `Id and, accordingly, no singleMuslim agreeswith `Umar ’s oddopinion.IntheconceptionofWahhabis,suchanopinionmustbedecidedasheresywhosefinalabodeisHellfire!(7)Factorof`Umar’sContradictoryReportsAccordingtoal-Nassa`i’sreport, theJewwhoclaimedthat theywouldtake thedayonwhichthe

religion was perfected as an occasion of festivity must have definitely understood that the Verseindicatestheperfectionofthereligionandthat`Umaradmittedthisunderstanding.Asaconsequence,`UmarmusthaveagreedwiththeopinionoftheAhlal-Bayt,al-Saddi,Ibn`AbbasandmanyotherswhohaveconfirmedthattheVersewasthefinal.Meanwhile, `Umar, according to other ‘authenticated’ narrations, claimed thatmany rulings and

Verses,suchasthatofKalalah,debtandheritage,wererevealedaftertheVerseofIkmalal-Din.Asarule,reportsthatopposeeachothermustbedisregarded.Fromthiscause,`Umar ’ssayingsaboutthefinalVersesandthetimeoftherevelationoftheVerseofIkmalal-Dinmustbetotallyrejected.(8)Factorof`Umar’sPoorReply`Umar ’sanswerwasunconvincingforboththeJewsandMuslims.Ifhewantedtosaythattheday

was not taken as festivity (`Id) because the Verse was revealed on a day of festivity—the day of`Arafat, theJewcouldwonderhowtheLordofMuslimsspoiled that festivityandcaused it to fadeawayunderanotherfestivity;if`Umarwantedtosaythatthefestivityoftheperfectionofthereligionwasmergedwith the festivity of `Arafat and thus became a part of it, the Jew couldwonderwhyMuslims,excepttheShi`ah,donotcelebratethathalf-festivityorevenrefertoit;If`Umarwantedtosaythatsuchagloriousfestivitywasmixedwithtwofestivities—Fridayandthedayof`Arafatandthusitwasconsumed,theJewcouldwonderwhyAlmightyAllahcausedthatfestivitytothawunderthesetwofestivitiesanddisappear,andtheJewcouldalsowonderwhohadtherighttodissolvethatfestivity andwhy theUmmah have not been aware about the clash of festivitieswhile a Jew in thereignof`UmardiscoveredtheissueandtaughtMuslimsaboutit.As amatter of fact, the question of the Jew is still unanswerable for `Umar and his fans.What

`Umardidwasthatheonlyadmittedthequestionandthenbegantoshowerpersonalopinionsoutofhisowndesire.HeconfessedthatthedayonwhichtheVerseofIkmalal-Dinwasrevealedwasnoble,great, determinative and historian because on that day, Almighty Allah perfected the religion,completedHisgraceandchosenIslamforpeopleasareligionandthusitmustbecelebratedjustliketheother`Ids.Finally,headmittedthathadanyothernationhadsuchaday,theywouldhavecertainly

takenitasfestivity.Inviewof`Umar ’ssubmissiontotheJew’squestion,thedayoftheperfectionofthereligionmust

be,inthelightofSunnijurisprudence,takenasformalfestivity,justlikethe`Idal-Fitr,`Idal-AdhaandFriday.Adeeplookinthequestiondivulgesthat`UmarwasengagedintwotroublesregardingtheVerse

ofIkmalal-Din;hecontradictedhimselfwhenheidentifiedthefinalrevealedVerseandopenedtheunclosabledoorofMuslims’havingtherighttodemandhimaswellashisadorerswiththe`Idoftheperfectionofthereligion,whichisnowcelebratedbytheShi`ahalone.Asan Islamic rule, the `Idsaredivinelydeterminedand it is impermissible foranyone to invent

others.TheShi`ah,celebrating`Idal-Ghadir,havedependedupontheAhlal-Baytwhoconfirmedthatthe Holy Prophet (S) had declared that day as doctrinal festivity for Muslims and declared thatArchangel Gabriel had told him that past nations used to betake the day on which their Prophetsnominatedtheirsuccessorsasfestivity.Whatwas then`Umar ’sevidenceonsupporting theJew’sclaimandaccepting that thedayof the

perfectionofthereligionmustbetakenas`Id?Ifhisevidencewashisownopinion,itshouldbethenasortofheresy;andifhedependeduponawordorconfirmationthathehadreceivedfromtheHolyProphet(S),thenwhywouldheconcealit?ExcepttheShi`ah,nootherMuslimhavereferredtothe`Idal-Ghadir.(9)FactorofLogical-Nassa`iandotherreportershaverecordedthattheHolyProphet(S)ledthecongregationalDuhr

(midday)and`Asr(afternoon)Prayersonthedayof`Arafat; therefore,had`Umar ’sclaimthat theVerseofIkmalal-DinwasrevealedonFridaybeentrue,theHolyProphet(S)wouldhavecertainlyledtheFriday,nottheDuhrand`Asr,Prayer.Inaddition,nosinglenarrationcommunicatesthattheHolyProphet (S)offered theFridayPrayeron thatday.From thiscause,wemayconclude thatal-Nassa`i,unliketheothers,agreeswithSufyanal-Thawrianddisagreeswith`Umar;inal-Sunan1/290,he gathers the narrations reporting that the Holy Prophet (S) offered the Duhr and `Asr Prayerstogetheronthedayof`Arafat.Abu-Dawud,inal-Sunan1/429,recordssimilarreports.ItmaybecitedthattheFridayPrayeriscanceledinjourneys.Sunnijurisprudentshavedisagreeing

opinionsinthispoint.Providedthatthedayof`ArafatduringtheFarewellHajjwasFridayandthatthe Holy Prophet (S) canceled the Friday prayer, thousands of Muslims who were present in theFarewellHajjmusthavedefinitelyreferredtothislaw.Ibn Hazm, in al-Muhalla 7/272, has done his best to find a suitable answer, but he has had to

fabricate that the Duhr Prayer is as same as the Friday Prayer! He has begged the question andrejectedtheotherreportsfortheycontradicted`Umar ’ssaying.Withreference to theHolyProphet (S)’s journey toMakkah thatbeganonThursday,4thofDhu’l-Hijjah, the narrations that Ibn Hazm has refuted because they oppose `Umar ’s saying are moreacceptable. Themonth ofDhu’l-Hijjah began onMonday; therefore, the day of `Arafatmust havebeen Tuesday and `Id al-AdhaWednesday. On that account, Friday must have been the twelfth ofDhu’l-Hijjah.(10)FactorofOtherEventsManySunninarrationshaveconfirmedthattheHolyProphet(S)departedlifeeightyoreighty-one

daysafter therevelationof theVerseof Ikmalal-Din.[17]Suchnarrationsoppose theclaim that thedayof`ArafatwasFriday.Theyhavealsoconfirmedthat theHolyProphet(S)departedlifeonthetwelfthofRabi`al-Awwalandthedayof`ArafatwastheninthofDhu’l-Hijjah;therefore,thisperiodismore thanninetydays.Sunnischolarsshouldnoweitheragreeuponournarrations thatconfirm

thattheHolyProphet(S)departedlifeonthetwenty-eighthofSafaroragreeuponournarrationsthatconfirm that theVerseof Ikmalal-Dinwas revealedon theeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah—thedayofGhadir.`Umar ’sclaimisalsocontrarytothemanySunninarrationsthatconfirmthattheVerseofIkmalal-

DinwasrevealedonMonday.[18]In anyevent,we, theShi`ah,donot admit that theHolyProphet (S) lived for eightydays after therevelationof theVerseofIkmalal-Din.Webelieve,accordingtoourauthenticatedreports, that theVersewasrevealedontheeighteenthofDhu’l-HijjahandtheHolyProphet(S)departedlifeon29thofSafarandtheperiodisthusaboutseventydaysonly.WealsobelievethattheVersewasrevealedonThursday or Friday and the Holy Prophet (S)’s Mission commenced on Monday and Imam `AliprayedwithhimonTuesdayandhediedonMondaytoo…etc.Many reportshave recorded theHolyProphet (S)’smovement fromal-Madinahand theyallare

contradictorytothereportsidentifyingFridayasthedayof`Arafat.AccordingtoShiiteauthenticatednarrations,theHolyProphet(S)beganhisjourneytoMakkahonThursday,Dhu’l-Qa`dah26,whichagreestothefactthattheVerseofIkmalal-DinwasrevealedontheeighteenthofDhu’l-Hijjah.Onthat account, Monday was the first of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the Holy Prophet (S) arrived in Makkah onThursday,[19]thedayof`ArafatwasTuesdayandthedayofGhadirwasThursday.[20]SupportingtheAhlal-Bayt(a.s.)reports,manySunnireportshaveindicatedthattheHolyProphet

(S) used to travel onThursdays and seldom traveledonother days.[21] Jabir has narrated that theHolyProphet(S)’sjourneybeganfourdaysbeforetheendofDhu’l-Qa`dah.[22]Al-Bukhari,aswellasmany other reference books ofHadith, has recordedmany narrations confirming that theHolyProphet(S)’sjourneytoMakkahbeganfivedaysbeforetheendofDhu’l-Qa`dah.[23]Besides, ordinary journeys from al-Madinah toMakkah take eight days inmaximum; the Holy

Prophet(S)tooktheshortestway,whichwasabout400kilometers;hiscompanionsandheweresospeedy thatsomeof themcomplainedabout fatigueandhe instructed themto tie theachedfeet;nosinglenarrationhasevermentionedthathestoppedduringthatjourney;rathermanynarrationshaveconfirmed that he, duringhis journeyback to al-Madinah, stopped atmanyplaces, such asGhadirKhumm;accordingtonarrations,hearrivedinMakkahonthefourthofDhu’l-Hijjah—allthesefactssupporttheAhlal-Bayt’sreports.Induecourse,thenarrationsreportingthatheleftal-MadinahonthetwentyfifthofDhu’l-Qa`dah[24]shouldbethusdiscreditedbecausetheymadethejourneytakeabouttendays.The previous points show the real value of the narrations that stood against the Ahl al-Bayt’s

opinionandtheiradoptershavetriedtheirbesttomaketheincidenttakeplaceonSaturdaysothatthefirst of Dhu’l-Hijjah would be Thursday and the day of `Arafat would be Friday for nothing butsupporting `Umar ’s saying. Yet, they have gone beyond limits overlooking the other narrationsreportingthat`UmarhimselfidentifiedThursdayasthedayof`Arafat.[25] If thesenarrationsweretrue,Dhu’l-Qa`dahmusthavebeenthirtydays.[26]Tryingtodefendthisopinion,IbnKathirsaysinal-Sirah4/217:AhmadhasnarratedontheauthorityofAnasthattheHolyProphet(S)ledtheDuhrPrayerinhis

Masjidinal-Madinahandthe`AsrPrayer,intheshortenedfrom,inDhu’l-Halifah.In view of that, the Holy Prophet (S) began his journey on Friday and IbnHazm’s claim that thejourneybeganonThursday isbaseless. Indisputably, the firstofDhu’l-HijjahwasThursdayashasbeen proven through uninterrupted and unanimous narrations confirming that the day of `Arafat,which is theninthofDhu’l-Hijjah,wasFriday.Had theHolyProphet (S)’s journeybeenstartedonThursday, the 24th, six nights ofDhu’l-Qa`dahwould remain.Yet, Ibn `Abbas, `A`ishah and JabirhaveassertedthatthejourneybeganfivenightsbeforetheendofDhu’l-Qa`dah,andthisshouldneverbeFridaybecauseAnassaysthatthejourneystartedonSaturday.Thenarratormiscalculatedwhenhe

thought thatDhu’l-Qa`dahwould be thirty days; rather itwas only twenty-nine days that year. So,WednesdaywasnotaccountedwithDhu’l-Qa`dah.ThenightbeforeThursdaywasthefirstofDhu’l-Hijjah…Thisprognosisshouldbeconsideredsincethereisnootheropinion.ItseemsthatIbnKathirhasnotbeensureenoughabouthisprognosisbecausehehadtonoticethe

uncertainty arisen by `Umar, Sufyan al-Thawri and al-Nassa`i. He also had to regard Ibn Hazm’semphasis that the Holy Prophet (S)’s journey started on Thursday. He also begged the questionattemptingtoprovethat theHolyProphet(S)’sjourneytoMakkahstartedonThursday.He,firstofall,hasconfirmedthattheHolyProphet(S)haltedon`ArafatonFridaywhileheshouldhaveprovenhisconfirmation.HehasalsocitedthenarrationofAnasthattheHolyProphet(S)ledtheDuhrand`Asr,notFriday,PrayersashisevidencewhilethisverynarrationsupportstheAhlal-Bayt’sopinionthattheHolyProphet(S)’sjourneystartedonThursday.Atlength,supportingthenarrationofAnashasbeenaccurate, itdoesnotopposethefactthatthe

journeystartedonThursday;ratheritconfirmsthattheHolyProphet(S)puttheihram(uniformofHajj)onafterhehadledthe`AsrPrayerinDhu’l-Halifahandkeptonhisjourney.Tosumitup,innumerabledifficultiesstandinthefaceofadmittingtheopinionthattheVerseof

Ikmalal-Dinwasrevealedonthedayof`Arafat,andthesedifficulties,whichlieintheform,dateandtimingofthenarrations,obligethefairresearchersnottoadoptthem.Asaresult,theAhlal-Bayt’sopiniondisablesanyoppositeforapowerlessoppositeisineffective.In conclusion, all Muslims have agreed that the day on which the Verse of Ikmal al-Din was

revealedisagreatdivinefestivityandintheconceptionoftheAhlal-Bayt,itis,asprovedbylogicand manifest evidences, the most remarkable Islamic festivity. The weekly Islamic festivity isinvolvedintheFridayPrayer,the`Idal-Fitrisfortheaccomplishmentofthefasting,the`Idal-AdhaisfortheaccomplishmentoftheHajjandthe`Idal-Ghadirisforthecompletionofthedivinegraceand the perfection of the religion. In Sunni conception, such completion was achieved by therevelation and perfection of the religious rulings without nominating a leader; but in Shiiteconception,itwasachievedbytheperfectionofthereligiousrulingsandthecompletionofthedivinegrace that settled theproblemof the leadershipandnominated the Imamsof theAhlal-Baytas theleadersoftheUmmahuptotheDayofResurrection.So long as allMuslims have agreed on considering the day of the perfection of the religion as

formalfestivity,whyhaveMuslimchiefs,scholarsandintellectsacceptedtoneglectsuchagreat`Id?Sunni scholars should respond to our invitation to study the legal and doctrinal faces of this‘wronged’ `Id so as to revive it in Muslims’ lives in a form corresponding to the beliefs andjurisprudenceofeachsect.

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8ChapterTheVerseofSa`il

IntheNameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMercifulOnedemanding,demandedthechastisementwhichmustbefall.Theunbelieversthereisnoneto

avertit.FromAllah,theLordofthewaysofAscent.(70:1-3)EventsStimulatedbyPeopleofQurayshTocitetheexegesisoftheVerseofSa`il(thedemandingone),itisnecessarytoremarkadealof

seriouseventsthatcroppedupduringthelastdaysoftheHolyProphet(S)’slifetime.Someofthemhavebeenproven tobeprovokedbypeopleofQurayshwhoseem tobe thecreatorsof theothersaccordingtomanyindicationsputtingafingerofaccusationatthem.FirstEventWe have already presented that many of the Qurayshite chiefs confessed that they tried to

assassinatetheHolyProphet(S)duringtheBattleofHunayn.SecondEventTheyagainattemptedtoassassinatetheHolyProphet(S)inal-`Aqabahwhenhewasbackfromthe

Battle of Tabuk. This attempt, given effect by twenty hypocrites, was planned so properly. TheexecutorsknewthattheHolyProphet(S)wouldtakethemountainsidealonethatnightwhilethearmywouldtaketheother.Theyplannedtowaylayaloftthatmountainandassoonashewouldreachthenarrowestpoint,theywouldthrowrocksasmanyaspossiblesothattheywouldhithim.Then,theywould run away and hide amongMuslims’ groups. They aimed at seizing theHoly Prophet (S)’sauthoritywhiletheywouldshowtheirdeepestgriefforhim.TheLord,however,respitedthem.Whentheywereabouttothrowrocks,ArchangelGabriellitthatmountainthattheHolyProphet(S)couldseeandrecognize them.Hecalled thembynames.Hudhayfah ibnal-Yamanand`Ammar ibnYasircouldalsoseeandrecognizethem.TheHolyProphet(S)thenmadethemthewitnessesonthatplot.Thehypocriteshadnothingtodoother thandescendingthemountainasspeedyaspossible tohideamongMuslims.WhydidtheHolyProphet(S)hidetheirnames?There is no reason for theHoly Prophet (S)’s having hidden their names except that theywere

Qurayshitesandcelebrities;andtodeclaretheirnameswouldcertainlyleadtopunishingthem;andtopunish themwould cause danger of apostasy; and to apostatize from Islamwouldmean that theywouldconvincesomeoftheArabtribestomutinyclaimingthatMuhammad(S)hadgiveneverythingto his relatives and deprived people ofQuraysh and theArabs; and to arouse such a claimwouldcreateanillreputationofIslamsinceitwouldbesaidthattheHolyProphet(S)disputedhisbelievingcompanionsandfoughtthem;andtoinventsuchanillreputationwouldleadtonewwarstheresultsofwhichwouldnotbebetter than theearlierones.Hence, thedivine solution is tokeep thematterhiddenaslongasthosemenadmittedIslam.

Because the narrations that recorded the plot of al-`Aqabah named famous Qurayshitepersonalities,thepro-QurayshHadithistshavehadtosuspectthemalthoughmostofthemhavehadtoregarded Ibn Jumay` and the other narrators who mentioned the names of the planners and theexecutorsofthatplotastrustworthy.Inaddition,SunnireferencebooksofHadithhaverecordedthatHudhayfahand`AmmarwerefrequentlyaskedbyQurayshitechiefswhethertheyhadseenthemonthatnightwiththeexecutorsoftheplotornotandthatsuchchiefsattemptedtogaintheacquittalofhypocrisy from Hudhayfah and `Ammar. The same reference books have also recorded manynarrationsasserting thatpeoplecould identify thehypocrites,after theirdeath,bynoticingwhetherHudhayfahwould offer the ritual Funeral Prayer for them or not. Finally, they have narrated thatHudhayfahdidnotoffertheFuneralPrayeronanyoftheQurayshitechiefs!ThirdEventThe story of Surah of Tahrim implies that one of the Holy Prophet (S)’s wives violated his

instructions of concealing the news he had recounted to her exclusively and, backed by her well-wisher,workedforpeopleofQurayshagainstherhusband.TheLord,again,informedHisProphet(S)aboutdivulging thesecretand theHolyProphet (S)conveyed thisdivine information toheraswell as her well-wisher who was also one his wives. Thenceforth, the Holy Qur ’an revealed hersecretandtheintentionsofthoseforwhomshehadworkedandthreatenedapunishmentandcitedasexamplesforthemthewivesofProphet(S)NoahandProphet(S)LotwhowereatheistsbecausetheyhadbetrayedtheirhusbandsandthuswouldbeinHellfire.As usual, the pro-Quraysh Hadithists have distorted the story making it a simple family affair

respectingthewives’jealousyandsomeslightflawswiththeHolyProphet(S)!TheywantMuslimstoclosetheireyesbeforetheclear-cutVersesofSurahofTahrimthatdeclare

theoccurrenceofastrikingdangerontheHolyProphet(S)andtheDivineMissionandtheenlistingofagreatarmyfordefyingthesituation.AlmightyAllahsays,“IfyoubothturntoAllahforindeedyourheartsarealreadyinclined;andifyoubackeachotheragainsthim,thensurelyAllahitisWhoishisGuardian,andGabrielandthebelieversthatdogood,andtheangelsafterthataretheaiders.66/4.”Towards whom were their hearts inclined? For whom did they back each other against the HolyProphet(S)?WhatsortoffamilyaffairswasthatwhichincitedsuchagreatarmythatAlmightyAllahusesonlyincasesofultimateemergency?Ibn `Abbas used to interpret ‘inclined’ into ‘deviated.’On that account, twoof theHolyProphet

(S)’swivesneededtorenewtheirconvertingtoIslam!FourthEventForawholemonth,theHolyProphet(S)desertedhiswivesandconfinedhimselfinthehouseof

MariahtheCopticontheoutskirts.Consequently,rumorhasitthathewoulddivorceallhiswives.The pro-Quraysh Hadithists have described the matter as a personal affair although it hadpreoccupiedtheHolyProphet(S),theDivineRevelationandMuslims.Thereason,accordingtotheirnarrations,wastheusualdemandsofwivesawayfromtheIslamicissuesthatoccupiedthepoliticalareatoexcessandengagedtheQurayshitechiefsinparticular.FifthEventPeople of Quraysh worked as hard as possible for offending against `Ali ibn Abi-Talib’s

personality making the Holy Prophet (S) very much angry. He defended `Ali and honored hispersonality in the sameway as he had always done inwar, peace, journey and residence.Yet, thematterincreasedinthelastperiodofhislifetimewhensuchcampaignsagainstImam`Aliincreased

causing theHoly Prophet (S) to delivermany sermons inmany instances to declare themerits ofImam`Ali(a.s.)andregardanyonewhowouldhurthimasmisledandatheist.TheoverwhelmingstoryofBuraydahal-Aslamithathasfounditselfaplaceinthebestregardable

pages of each and every Sunni reference book of Hadith unveils clearly the organized plans thatpeople ofQuraysh executed against Imam `Ali and due towhich theHolyProphet (S) reproachedeveryone who would criticize Imam `Ali and declaring that he would be the leader ofthisUmmahafterhimandanyonewhodetestsordisobeyshimwouldbeindisputablyhypocrite.ThiseventshowshowmuchmaliceandenvytheQurayshitechiefsboreagainstImam`Ali(a.s.).SixthEventTheQurayshitechiefsprecludedpeople fromrecording theHolyProphet (S)’swordsanddeeds

duringhislifetime.PeopleusedtorecordtheHolyQur ’anassoonasitwasrevealedandtheHolyProphet(S)orderedtoputthefreshQur ’anictextsbetweentheminbarandthewallwherepapersandinkwereavailableforanyonetorecord.Imam`Ali(a.s.)usedtowritedownalltheQur ’anictextsandtheHadithsaftertheHolyProphet(S)wouldorderhimtowrite.Others,suchas`Abdullahibn`Amribnal-`AstheyoungQurayshite,alsousedtowritedowntheHadiths;butsomeoftheQurayshitechiefspreventedthemfromrecordingtheHadithbecause theyknewthat theywouldfaceahorriblehazard if theHadithspraising theAhlal-Bayt and the Hashimites and cursing the Qurayshite chiefs would reach the hands of the cominggenerations.Yet,someofsuchchiefsusedtorecordtheJewishcultureandattendtheirclasseseverySaturday![1]Sunni referencebooksofHadithhaveconfessed that `Abdullah ibn `Amrcomplainedbefore the

HolyProphet(S)thatpeopleofQurayshwarnedhimagainstrecordingtheHadiths.Abu-Dawud,inal-Sunan2/176,recordsthefollowing:Ithasbeennarrated that `Abdullah ibn`Amrsaid,“PeopleofQuraysh toldmenot to recordeverysingle word said by the Holy Prophetsince he was an ordinary mortal who may be erring whenenraged. I ceased the recordingand told theHolyProphet (S) about theirwords.Hepointedathismouth and said, “Record every thing. By the Prevailing ofmy soul I swear that nothing but truthcomesoutofmymouth.”[2]SeventhEventAnattempttoassassinatetheHolyProphet(S)wasplannedonhiswaybackfromtheFarewellHajj

atArsha.ThedetailsofthisplotwassimilartogreatextenttotheplotthatwasexecutedafterthebattleofTabukand,again,thedivinerevelationunveiledit.EighthEventPeople of Quraysh escalated their disapproval of the Holy Prophet (S)’s activities to direct the

leadershipofhisfamily.Someofthemobjectedopenlyandshamelesslyanddemandedwithpositionsof leadership for the other clans of Quraysh. However, the Holy Prophet (S) rejected all suchdemandsbecausehehadnothingtodoaboutthisdivinedirective.[3]NinthEventInhisfinalailment,theHolyProphet(S)ordertoenlistanarmytobejoinedbyalltheQurayshite

chiefs except theHashimites and nominatedUsamah ibnZayd as the commander.He then orderedUsamah, the young African Muslim, to advance towards Mu`tah in Jordan to fight against theRomans.TheHolyProphet(S),however,wantedtostrengthentheIslamicStateandtorevengeforthemartyrsoftheBattleofMu`tah.Yet,theseweretheopenaims,whiletheactualaimsweretotakethe

opposersofImam`Ali’sleadershipawayfromal-Madinah.Usamahandhisarmycampedoutofal-Madinahand theQurayshitechiefs showed reluctance to

jointhatarmysothattheywouldfailtheHolyProphet(S)’splan.Theyalsoworkedondetainingasgreatnumbersof thearmyaspossible.Finally, theycriticizedtheHolyProphet(S)fornominatingUsamahforcommandment.Hence,theywantedtointerruptthecourseofthearmysothattheywouldgainmoretime.Asareply, theHolyProphet(S)deliveredaspeechemphasizingonexpeditingthemarchofUsamah’sarmyanddeclaringthatAlmightyAllahandhewouldcursethosewhowouldfallbehind.TenthEventPeopleofQurayshdecidedtostopfranklyinthefaceoftheHolyProphet(S)toprecludehimfrom

handingtheleadershipoftheUmmahofficiallyovertotheAhlal-Bayt.`Umaribnal-Khattab,thenewchiefofQuraysh,volunteeredtocarryonthedecision.Inhislasthour,theHolyProphetsummonedthechiefsofQurayshandAnsarandaskedthemtofetchhimapaperandapentorecordforthemanofficialdocumentsavinghisnationagainstdeviationforever.Asherealizedthatthisdocumentwouldmeannominating`AliandhishouseholdastheonlyleadersoftheUmmah,`UmarstoodinthefaceoftheHolyProphetshouting,‘No,wedonotneedyourdocumentandyoursecurityagainstdeviation.Wealsodonotwantyourtraditionsandpeople.Allah’sBookissufficientforus;anditiswe,neitheryounoryourAhlal-Bayt,whoshouldinterpretit.’Unfortunately, the attendants, frompeople ofQuraysh and the deceivedAnsar, supported `Umar

and shouted before their Prophet (S), ‘We support `Umar ’s saying from top to bottom.’ Hence, adiscrepancybrokeoutwhiletheailedProphet(S)waslooking.AgroupsupportedtheHolyProphet(S)’s saying and the others supported `Umar ’s. Then the latter group shouted, ‘Do not give himanything!Lethimnotrecordanything.’It ismost likely thatArchangelGabrielwas attendant for he used to visit theHoly Prophet (S)

recurrently these days. The Holy Prophet (S) might have sought his advice and the Archangelinstructed him that he had accomplished his mission completely and the best solution for such adiscrepancywouldbetodismissallofthemsoastoimpedetheapostasyofQuraysh.Hence,theHolyProphetsaid,‘Leaveme!ItisinappropriatetoissuedisputationbeforeaProphet(S)!AndthepainsthatIamsufferingareeasierthanwhatyouaredraggingmeto.’Thisstoryisabovedisputebecauseal-Bukharihasrecordeditinsixpositionsofhisal-Sahih.Ibn`Abbascalledthis

incident‘thecalamityofThursday.’EleventhEventOwing to harsh fever, the Holy Prophet (S) fainted for minutes and then regained his

consciousness.Thatwasduringhisfinalailment.Hecouldunderstandthatsomeofthosearoundhimintended to pour a drug in his mouth when he fainted. When he regained his consciousness, heordered them not to give him anymedicinewhen hewould faint. On the contrary, as soon as hefainted,theypouredamedicineinhismouth.Ashetriedtovomitit,theyforcedhimtodrink.Whenheregainedconsciousness,hereprimandedthemandorderedallofthem,excepttheHashimites,tohavefromthatmedicine.Accordingtonarrations,allofthemhadtohavesomeofthat‘medicine’.Reference books of Hadith have called this incident ‘forcing the Holy Prophet (S) to have the

medicine.’ItisimportanttostudythisincidentcarefullyforitmighthavebeenanattempttopoisontheHolyProphet(S)!ThepresentationofthepreviouseventsistheintroductiontotheinterpretationoftheVerseofSa`il.Asamatteroffact,eacheventisworthyofthoroughstudysincethesourceofallofthemwaspeople

ofQurayshtakinginconsiderationtheircloserelationshipwiththeJews.NewPreparationsaftertheDayofGhadirThecaravanoftheHolyProphet(S)andtheImamleftGhadirKhummtowardsal-Madinah.While

theHolyProphet(S)’sheartwascalmed,peopleofQurayshweresodisturbedoutoftheirspiteandwickednessfortheywouldneverrelaxunlesstheywouldexercisethepainfulagony.DuringmanyeventsintheFarewellHajj,inMakkah,on`Arafat,thethreesermonsinMinaandthe

sermonof al-KhayfMasjid,AlmightyAllahprotectedhisProphet (S) as promised in theVerseof`Ismah.Finally,AlmightyAllahorderedMuslimstostopinaplaceunderburningmiddaysothattheHolyProphet (S)wouldraise`Ali ibnAbi-Talib’shandashighaspossibleanddeclare, ‘Thismanwill be your leader after me. After him, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and nine Imams from al-Husayn’soffspringwill be your leaders.’ In this very situation, the divine promise of protectionmanifestedstrongly.AlmightyAllah shut themouths of people ofQuraysh so that theywould not oppose orobject and opened theirmouthswithwords of agreement only, ‘We admit that you have conveyedyourLord’smessagescompletelyandhavebeenexcellentMessenger.Wewillsurelyobey.’Afterwards, they hurried to Imam `Ali’s tent to congratulate him on the leadership and showed

complimentswhenAlmightyAllah revealed, ‘Thisdayhave I perfected foryouyour religion andcompleted on youMy favor and chosen for you Islam as a religion.’ They then lent their ears toHasanibnThabit’spoemdescribingtheHolyProphet(S)’sconveyanceoftheLord’sinstructionofnominatingImam`Aliforthenextleadership.TheceremoniesofofferingcongratulationstoImam`AlilastedtonightandonlycoulddarknessstopMuslims’gatheringbeforehistentforofferingcongratulations;therefore,theHolyProphet(S)hadtopass thatnight inGhadirKhumm—Ghadirof Imamate.After theFajr -dawn-Prayer,hemoved.OthernarrationsaffirmthattheHolyProphet(S)hadtosettlefortwodaysthere.Thiswas the firstdivinemethodofprotecting theHolyProphet (S).Thesecondmethod,however,wasthedivinepunishment.LiketheJewsduringtheirProphet(S)’sreigns,peopleofQurayshhadtocounterthedivinepunishment.StonesfromHeavenupontheSpokesmenofQurayshSunniandShiite referencebooksofHadithhavenamed thosewhoobjected to theHolyProphet

(S)’s nominating Imam `Ali for leadership in Ghadir Khumm. Yet, some narrations have madeclericalerrorsinsomeofthenamesbecausesuchdivinepunishmentfellonmorethanoneoccasion.ThoseinflictedbyheavenlystonesorpunishmentwereJabiribnal-Nadribnal-HarithibnKildahal-`Abdari, al-Harith ibnal-Nu`manal-Fihri, `Amr ibn `Utbahal-Makhzumi,al-Nadr ibnal-Harithal-Fihri, al-Harith ibn `Amr al-Fihri, al-Nu`man ibn al-Harith the Jew, al-Nu`man ibn al-Mundhir al-Fihri,`Amribnal-Harithal-Fihri,amanfromthetribeofTaym,aBedouinmanandaBedouinmanfromNajdwhobelongedtothetribeofJa`faribnKilabibnRabi`ah.SavetheBedouinandtheJewones,alltheotherswerefromQurayshforAnsarhadneverobjected

to any privilege that the Holy Prophet (S) gave to his progeny though they, later on, showeddisloyaltytotheAhlal-Bayt.Theincidentinabstractisthatone,ormore,ofthosepersonsprotestedagainsttheHolyProphet

(S)’s nominating Imam `Ali for the coming leadership and accused him of passing his personalcaprices in the form of divine commandments. Although the Holy Prophet (S) asserted that thedecisionhadbeenissuedbytheLord,thatmanwasnotconvinced.HelefttheplaceangrilyandaskedtheLordtorainhimwithaheavenlystoneifthematterwasindeedHis.TheLordinflictedhimwithaheavenlystonethatkilledhimorinflictedhimwithaheavenlyflamethatburnedhim.Fromthisincident,weunderstandthattheLordusedathreateningstylewithpeopleofQurayshfor

protectingHisMessengeragainsttheirexpectedapostasy.Consequently,theyunderstoodthatfailurewouldbe thedecisiveresultofanypoliticalcombatwith theHolyProphet (S)and that theyshouldwaituntilhewoulddie.Thisincidentrevealsanumberofissuestobehereinafterpresented:(1)SunniReferenceBooksofHadithRecordtheIncidentNotonlyhaveShiitereferencebooksofHadithrecorded the incidentof thestonesfromheaven,

butalsomanySunnireferencebookshavedocumentedit.Abu-`Ubaydal-HarawihavebeenthefirsttorecordtheincidentinhisbookentitledGharibal-Qur ’an.IbnShahrashub,inManaqibAliAbi-Talib2/240hasrecordedthefollowing:IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofAbu-`Ubayd,al-Tha`labi,al-Naqqash,Sufyanibn`Uyaynah,al-Razi,al-Qizwini,al-Nisapuri,al-Tabrasiandal-TusithatwhenthenewsoftheHolyProphet(S)’shavingconveyedhisLord’scommandmentinGhadirKhummspreadoutamongpeople,al-Harithibnal-Nu`man al-Fihri (or Jabir ibn al-Nadr ibn al-Harith ibn Kildah al-`Abdari, according to Abu-`Ubayd’sreport)cametotheHolyProphet(S)andsaid,“Muhammad:Youhaveorderedustodeclarethat there isnogodbutAllahandMuhammadbeinghisMessenger, tooffer theprayers, tofast, toundertaketheHajjandtopaytheZakat.All thesethatwehaveadmittedwerenotsufficientforyouuntilyouraisedyourcousinfromthearmandprecededhimtoussaying,‘`Alishallbethemasterofhim who has regarded me as his master.’ Is this your own desire or was it according to Allah’sinstruction?”The Holy Prophet (S) answered, “I swear by Allah the only Lord that it was certainly Allah’sinstruction.”Jabir thenturnedhisface towardshisanimalsaying,“OAllah!IfMuhammad’swordshavebeentrue,thenrainuswithaheavenlystoneorinflictapainfulchastisementuponus.”Beforehecouldreachhisanimal,theLordrainedhimwithastonethatfellontheheadandwentoutfromtheanusandhethuswaskilled.Consequently,AlmightyAllahrevealedtheVerseofSa`il.SomeShiite scholars[4]have listedmore than thirty names of Sunni scholarswho recorded this

incident,suchasal-Harawi,Abu-`Ubayd(diedinAH223),inGharibal-Qur ’an,al-Baghdadi,Abu-Bakr al-Naqqash al-Mawsili (died in AH 351), in his book of Tafsir, al-Tha`labi, Abu-Ishaq al-Nisapuri (died in AH 427), in al-Kashf wa’l-Bayan, al-Hasakani, al-Hakim Abu’l-Qasim, in Ada`Haqq al-Muwalat, al-Qurtubi, Abu-Bakr Yahya (died in AH 567), in his book of Tafsir, Abu’lMu¨affar, Shams al-Din—the grandson of Ibn al-Jawzi (died in AH 645), in al-Tadhkirah, al-Hamawini,Shaykhal-Islam(diedinAH722),inFara`idal-Simtayn,al-`Imadi,Abu’l-Sa`ud(diedinAH982), inhis bookofTafsir 8/292, al-Shirbini,Shamsal-DinofCairo (died inAH977), in al-Siraj al-Munir 4/364, al-Halabi, Burhan al-Din `Ali (died in AH 1044), in al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah3/302,al-Hafni,Shamsal-Din(diedinAH1181),inSharhal-Jami`al-Saghir2/387andal-Zarqani,Abu-`Ali(diedinAH1122),inSharhal-Mawahibal-Ludaniyyah.(2)SurahofMaarijwasRevealedinMakkahoral-MadinahThegeneral senseof theVersesofSurahofMaarij,up toVerse36, seems tobe revealed inal-

Madinah for it comprises laws similar to those mentioned in Surah of al-Nur and Surah of al-Mu`minun,whiletherestseemtoberevealedinMakkahfortheyrefertoquestionsofbeliefandtheHereafter.Induecourse,itisdifficulttodiscerntheplaceofitsrevelation.Weshouldthusregard,yetpresumably,thesecondpartoftheSurahasrevealedinMakkahandthefirstinal-Madinah,butitwasprecededthereafter.ThetextoftheSurahisthedecisivecriterion.InSharhal-Akhbar1/241,al-Nu`manhasnarratedon theauthorityof Imamal-Sadiq(a.s.) that it

was revealed inMakkah to show themannersof thosewhodissented the leadershipof Imam `Ali.According toanarrationrecorded inShaykhal-Kulayni’sal-Kafi5/450, theSurahwasrevealed inMakkah.Be it revealed inMakkahoral-Madinah, thechastisementmentioned in theVerseofSa`il

refers to the stones of heaven thatwere inflictedupon themanwhoobjected to the nominationofImam`AliastheleaderoftheUmmah.Moreover,thestonesthatinflictedal-`Abdariandal-FihriandtheirlikeswasapartofthethreateningchastisementmostofwhichwillbesentdowninordertopavethewayfortheadventofImamal-Mahdi.[5](3)IstheChastisementWorldlyorImmortal?Apart from the various interpretations and narrations of the Surah, it seems that it refers to the

chastisementoftheworldtocome.Itisalsoemptyofanycondemnagainstthedemandingonewhomaybeasuppliantwhoseeksthefallingofsuchchastisement.Foral-Qurtubi,the‘demandingone’intheVerseisProphet(S)NoahorProphetMuhammad(S)!Therefore,itmaybeaskedhowSunniandShiitescholarshaveconcludedthattheVersereferstoworldlychastisementandthe‘demandingone’wantedtochallengeandbelie.Theanswerislexicological.TheArabicitem‘sa`alabi’referstoaskingaboutamatterinaform

ofchallengeandindicatesthatthe‘demandingone’hasalreadyheardofsuchaworldlychastisementfromtheHolyProphet(S)whousedtothreatandforewarn;therefore,hedemandedwithitandtheLord answered him through theseVerses.Because the chastisement of theworld to come ismoreimportant,theLordhasemphasizedonitwithoutneglectingtheworldlyone.The Surah states, ‘O you who are deriding the chastisement against which our Messenger

forewarnedyou!Surelywhateverhehasmenacedwillbefall,beinthisworldortheHereafter.Nothingwillguardtheatheistsagainstit.Hence,youareadvisedtobelieveinAllahsothatyouwillavoidthatchastisement,whichwillnotinflictthebelievers.’ThesecondVersenegatesthepossibilityofavertingthatchastisementawayfromtheunbelievers.

In otherwords, itwill inevitably inflict the unbelievers for they definitely deserve it andwill alsoinflictthosewhopretendedtobebelieverswhoserepentancemaysavethemfromit.It is not unlikely that ‘the unbelievers’mentioned in the Verse stands for those who disbelieve inAlmightyAllah’smarvelsorgraces.Sunnischolarshavefallenincontradictionbecausetheyarguedthatthechastisementmentionedin

theVersebeingtheHereafterthatwillinflicttheunbelieversonlyand,meanwhile,theyarguedthatitrefers to the worldly chastisement that inflicted al-Nadr ibn al-Harith al-`Abdari who was killedduring the Battle of Badr. At any rate, they have always endeavored to make any chastisementmentioned in the Holy Qur ’an stand for the chastisement of the Hereafter and, sometimes, theydedicatedittotheJewsandChristianssoastotakeitawayfrompeopleofQurayshandthehypocritesand prove that Almighty Allah did not respond to HisMessenger ’s invocations against people ofQuraysh.Moreover,theyaccusedtheHolyProphet(S)thathewasreproachedbytheLordbecausehehadcalleddowneviluponpeopleofQurayshSunniJudgmentontheHadithofStonesfromHeavenSunnischolarshavehaddifferentopinionsregardingtheHadith;someofthem,likeAbu-`Ubayd,

al-Tha`labiandal-Hamawini,haveacceptedandpreferredittotheotheropinionswhileothershaverecordeditindirectly.Athirdgrouphaverecordeditbutpreferredtheotheropinions.Atanyrate,allof them have accepted it yet in different degrees.Hence, Sunni scholars have to accept it becausemasterscholars,suchasAbu-`UbaydandSufyanibn`Uyaynah,haveadmittedit.Al-Albani,whomisregarded as the leading Hadithist in this age, has decided the authenticity of any narration that isacceptedbytwoorthreemasterscholars.Al-Shawkani,inFathal-Qadir5/352,saysthatthedemandingoneintendedintheVersewasal-Nadr

ibnal-Harithwhosaid,‘OAllah!IfthisisthetruthsentfromThee,thenrainuswithaheavenlystoneorinflictpainfulchastisementuponus.’HewaskilledduringtheBattleofBadr.Otherscholarshave

referredtoAbu-Jahloral-Harithibnal-Nu`manal-Fihri.Shamsal-Dinal-Shirbini,in`Abaqatal-Anwar7/398,saysthatvariousopinionshavebeencitedaboutthedemandingone;Ibn`Abbassaysthathewasal-Nadribnal-Harithandotherssaythathewasal-Harithibnal-Nu`man.Abu-`Ubayd,inNafahatal-Azhar7/291,confirmsthattheVersewasrevealedafterthedeclaration

ofGhadirandthedemandingonewasJabiribnal-Nadribnal-HarithibnKildahal-`AbdariAl-Qurtubi,inTafsir18/278,presentsthevariousopinionsrespectingtheinterpretationoftheVerseofSa`ilamongwhichisthenarrationinvolved.ThisisinfactsufficientevidenceontheexistenceoftheHoly Prophet (S)’s declaration of the leadership of Imam `Ali.Hence,we, the Shi`ah, have toappreciatethissituationandthankthemforitbecausetheyadmitourclaim.It is thusunanimous that thedemand in theVerseactuallyoccurredand thatal-Nadrchallenged theHolyProphet(S)regardingthedivinelycommissionedleadershipofImam`Ali.Yet, theVerse thatindicates thedescendingof theheavenlystonewasrevealed togetherwith theVersesdiscussing therulingsofspoils,whichwas revealedafter theBattleofBadr.[7]On thataccount, it is irrational toaccept that the Lord’s replication to al-Nadr ’s demandwas revealed inMakkahwhile the demanditselfwasrevealedafterwardsinal-Madinahafterthedemiseofal-Nadr.Thesayingofthedemandingone–thatis,‘OAllah!IfthisisbeingtherightsentfromThee,then

rainuswithaheavenlystoneor inflictpainfulchastisementuponus,’- ismoreapplicable toShiiteinterpretation.Asageneralrule,thegeneralsenseofaVerseoraHadithmustbepreservedasmuchaspossible.Hence,thedefeatsofthedisbelieversintheBattleofBadrandal-Khandaqaswellastheother sorts of punishments, such as the draught, starvations and humility during the conquest ofMakkah,werepartsofthechastisement.Correspondingly,itisunnecessarytorestrainthescopeofthechastisementtothecaseofal-Nadroranyotherindividualincident.(5)Nasibis’OpinionAbouttheHadithExceptIbnTaymiyahandhisfans,Nasibishavenotrefutedthenarration.MuhammadRashidRida,

in Tafsir al-Manar, also imitates Ibn Taymiyahwho attacked the narration coarsely and blunderedblindlythroughit.MisusingthenameofhismasterShaykhMuhammad`Abduh,RashidRidahasbeenhighlyinfluencedbytheideasofIbnTaymiyahandIbnal-Qayyim.Ashe,in6/464,recordsthenarration,hedecidesitasuntrueforSurahofal-Maarijwasrevealed

inMakkahwhiletheunbelieverswhochallengedachastisementarementionedinSurahofal-Anfal,whichwas revealed after theBattle ofBadr andmany years before the revelation of Surah of al-Ma`idah. It seems that Rashid Rida could find his intent through Ibn Taymiyah’s criticism of thenarrationbecauseitsdocumentationhasbeentooauthentictoberefuted.ThemainpointuponwhichIbn Taymiyah and Rida depended in criticizing the narration is that the Holy Prophet (S) did notreturntoMakkahaftertheFarewellHajjandthatal-Abtuh,theplacewheretheeventsofthenarrationtookplace,issituatedinMakkah.Unintentionallyorintentionally,theybothneglectedthatthereisinal-Madinahafamousplacealsocalledal-Abtuh.The other point they have used is that the Verse that rendered the unbelievers’ challenge was

revealedinal-MadinahwhileSurahofMaarijwasrevealedinMakkah.Theyhavealsoignoredthatthegeneralsenseofthefirstthirty-sixVersesandthenarrationinvolvedsupposeandindicatethatitwasrevealedinal-Madinah.EvenifitwasrevealedinMakkah,thereisnoflawifweadmitthatitwasrevealedmorethanonceformoreexplication.ScholarshaveconfirmedthatSurahofal-Kawtharwasrevealedmore than once. Furthermore, it is reasonless to refute the whole narration even if it isproved that theVersewasnot revealedon thatoccasion.Finally,Sayyidal-Tabataba`i, inTafsiral-Mizan6/54,has refutedall thepointsof criticismarousedbyRashidRida.Al-Amini, in al-Ghadir

1/239, and al-Naqawi, in `Abaqat al-Anwar 7-8, have also refuted the points of criticism of IbnTaymiyahthroughdecisiveproofsandoverwhelmingfacts.Yet,itseemssuitabletoaddthefollowingthreepointstothetopic:First:Thenarrations is neitherbaselessnor inventedby theofficial narratorsof theQurayshite

caliphateforitprovesthedivinegroundoftheImamateofImam`AliandinvalidatestheauthorityofAbu-Bakr.Induecourse,itisverydangeroustoclaimthatthenarrationanditslikeswereintrudedbytheShi`ahinSunnireferencebooksofHadithforsuchaclaimwilldevastatetheentirestructureofSunni referencebooksofHadithaswellas theQurayshitecaliphate.Finally, itwasnarratedby thesamereportersdependedbySunnireferencebooks.Second:Matters thatareadmittedbybothSunnisandShi`aharemoreacceptable thanothersfor

onecanbelieveaHadithnarratedbybothSunniandShiitebookswhileitmayberatherdifficulttobelieveaHadithaboutwhichMuslimscholarshavehadopposingopinions.Third:Whentheotherqualitiesoftheauthenticityofanarrationarepresent,thediscrepancyabout

thefirstnameofitsstarbecomesunimportantformanyendeavorsmusthavebeenmadetoconcealhisnamethatbroughtdishonortohisfamily.Inanyevent,wepreferthatthemanwasJabiribnal-Nadribnal-HarithibnKildahal-`Abdari,not

al-Harith ibnal-Nu`manal-Fihri, forAbu-`Ubayd,whomishighlyesteemedbySunni scholars forhis experience and knowledgeability, have recorded this name in his Tafsir. Jabir was a famousQurayshitepersonality;hisfatherwasthechiefofBanu-`Abdal-Dar.(6)WaysofNarrationandDocumentationA.WaysofnarrationanddocumentationofSunniReferenceBooksThefirstwayisthenarrationofAbu-`UbaydinGharibal-Qur ’anandthesecondwayisthereport

of al-Tha`labion the authorityofSufyan ibn `Uyaynahuponwhich (i.e. the report)many scholarshave depended, such as Sayyid al-Mar`ashi, in Ihqaq al-Haq 6/358, al-Hamawini, in Fara`id al-Simtayn, al-Zarnadi, inNu¨umDurar al-Simtayn93, Ibn al-Sabbagh, in al-Fusul al-Muhimmah24,`Abdal-Rahmanal-Saffuri,inNuzhatal-Majalis2/209,al-Qurtubi,inTafsir,SayyidJamalal-Dinal-Shirazi, in al-Arba`unHadith, `Abdullah al-Shafi`i, inAl-Manaqib 205, al-Qanduzi, inYanabi` al-Mawaddah247,al-Amrutsari,inArjahalMatalib568,`Abdal-Ra`ufal-Mannawi,inFaydal-Qadir,MuhammadAl-Qadiri,Al-Siratal-sawi,al-Halabi, inInsanal-`Uyun,Ahmadibnal-FadlBakthir, inWasilat al-Amal, Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Amir, in al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah and Muhammad ibnYusufal-Kanji,inKifayatal-Talib.B.Al-Hasakani’stwowaysfromSufyanibn`UyaynahInShawahidal-Tanzil2/381,herecordsthefollowing:

It has been narrated to the authority ofAbu-`Abdullah al-Shirazi on the authority ofAbu-Bakr al-Jarjara`i on the authority of Abu-Ahmad al-Basri on the authority ofMuhammad ibn Sahl on theauthorityofZaydibnIsma`ilontheauthorityofMuhammadibnAyyubontheauthorityofSufyanibn`UyaynahontheauthorityofJa`faribnMuhammadontheauthorityofHisfatherontheauthorityof`Ali…etc.It has been narrated on the authority of Abu-Bakr al-Subay`i on the authority of Ahmad ibnMuhammad ibn Nasr Abu Ja`far al-Dab`i on the authority of Zayd ibn Isma`il ibn Sinan on theauthority of Shurayh ibn al-Nu`man on the authority of Sufyan ibn `Uyaynah on the authority ofJa`faribnMuhammadontheauthorityofHisfatherontheauthorityof`Ali…etc.C.Al-Hasakani’sReportfromJabiral-Ju`fiInShawahidal-Tanzil2/381,herecordsthefollowing:

IthasbeennarratedontheauthorityofIbrahimibnMuhammadal-KufiontheauthorityofNasribnMuzahimon theauthorityof `Amr ibnShamron theauthorityof Jabiral-Ju`fion theauthorityofMuhammad ibn `Ali… etc. Similar narrations have been reported fromHudhayfah, Sa`d ibnAbi-Waqqas,Abu-HurayrahandIbn`Abbas.D.Al-Hasakani’sReportfromHudhayfahibnal-YamanInShawahidal-Tanzil2/381,herecordsthefollowing:

It has been narrated from Abu’l-Hasan al-Fasi on the authority of Abu’l-Hasan Muhammad ibnIsma`il al-Hasani on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hasan al-Asadi on the authority ofIbrahim; and it has been narrated fromAbu-BakrMuhammad ibnMuhammad al-Baghdadi on theauthorityofAbu-Muhammad`Abdullah ibnAhmadibnJa`faral-Shaybanion theauthorityof `Abdal-Rahmanibnal-Hasanal-AsadiontheauthorityofIbrahimibnal-Hasanal-Kisa`iontheauthorityofal-FadlibnDikkinontheauthorityofSufyanibnSa`idontheauthorityofMansurontheauthorityofRab`iontheauthorityofHudhayfahibnal-Yaman…etc.E.Al-Hasakani’sReportfromAbu-HurayrahInShawahidal-Tanzil2/381,herecordsthefollowing:

Ithasbeennarratedfrom`UthmanontheauthorityofFuratibnIbrahimal-Kufiontheauthorityofal-HusaynibnMuhammadibnMus`abal-BujaliontheauthorityofAbu-`ImarahMuhammadibnAhmadal-Mahdi on the authority ofMuhammad ibnAbi-Mi`shar al-Madani on the authority of Sa`id ibnAbi-Sa`idal-MiqbariontheauthorityofAbu-Hurayrah…etc.ShiiteReportsfromSufyanibn`UyaynahA.Furat’sReportsFuratibnIbrahimal-Kufi,inTafsir505,hasrecordedthefollowing:

It has been narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Tabyan on the authority of al-Husayn ibnMuhammadal-KharifithatheaskedSufyanibn`Uyaynah…etc.B.Muhammadibnal-`Abbas’sReportsInTa`wilal-Ayat2/722,thefollowingisrecorded:

Muhammadibnal-`Abbashasnarratedontheauthorityof`AliibnMuhammadibnMukhalladontheauthorityofal-Hasanibnal-Qasimontheauthorityof`Umaribnal-AhsanontheauthorityofAdamibnHammadontheauthorityofHusaynibnMuhammadthatheaskedSufyanibn`Uyaynah…etc.C.Sharifal-Murtada’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromMadinatal-Maajiz1/407:

Sharifal-Murtada,in`Uyunal-Mu`jizat,hasrecordedthatAbu-`AbdullahMuhammadibnAhmadhasnarratedontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityof`AliibnFarrukhal-SammanontheauthorityofYahyaibnZakariyyaal-MinqariontheauthorityofSufyanibn`Uyaynahontheauthorityof`UmaribnAbi-Sulaym al-`Isa on the authority of Ja`far ibnMuhammad al-Sadiq on the authority of hisfather…etc.D.Muntajabal-Dinal-Razi’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromal-Arba`unHadith82:

Ithasbeennarrated fromAbu’l-`Ala`Zayd ibn `Ali ibnMansural-AdibandSayyidAbu-Turabal-Murtada ibnal-Da`i ibnal-Qasimal-Hasanion theauthorityof `Abdal-Rahman ibnAhmadon theauthority of Muhammad ibn Zayd ibn `Ali al-Tabari Abu-Talib ibn Abi-Shuja` al-Buraydi on the

authority of Abu’l-Husayn Zayd ibn Isma`il al-Hasani on the authority of Sayyid Abu’l-`AbbasAhmad ibn Ibrahim al-Hasani on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hasan al-Khaqani on theauthority of `Abbas ibn `«sa on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Abd al-Wahid al-Khazzaz on theauthorityofal-Hasanibn`Alial-Nakh`iontheauthorityofRumiibnHammadal-MakhariqithatheaskedSufyanibn`Uyaynah…etc.E.Al-Tabrasi’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromTafsiral-Mizan6/58:

IthasbeenrecordedinMajma`al-Bayan[8]thatSayyidAbu’l-Hamdhasnarratedontheauthorityofal-HakimAbu’l-Qasimal-HasakaniontheauthorityofAbu-`Abdullahal-ShiraziontheauthorityofAbu-Bakral-JurjaniontheauthorityofAbu-Ahmadal-BasriontheauthorityofMuhammadibnSahlon the authority of Zayd ibn Isma`il on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ayyub al-Wasiti on theauthorityofSufyanibn`Uyaynah…etc.ShiiteReportsfromOtherNarratorsA.Al-Kulayni’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromal-Kafi1/422:

Ithasbeennarratedontheauthorityof`AliibnIbrahimontheauthorityofAhmadibnMuhammadontheauthorityofMuhammadibnKhalidontheauthorityofMuhammadibnSulaymanontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofAbu-BasirontheauthorityofImamal-Sadiq…etc.Thefollowingisalsoquotedfromal-Kafi8/75:It has been narrated from a number of our companions on the authority ofSahl ibn Ziyad on theauthorityofMuhammadibnSulaymanontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofAbu-Basir…etc.B.Furatal-Kufi’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromFurat’sTafsir503:

Al-Husayn ibnMuhammad ibnMus`ab al-Bujali on the authority of Abu-`ImarahMuhammad ibnAhmadal-Muhtadion theauthorityofMuhammad ibnMi`sharal-Madanion theauthorityofSa`idibnAbi-Sa`idal-MiqbariontheauthorityofAbu-Hurayrah…etc.Ja`far ibnMuhammad ibnBishrawayh al-Qattan has narrated on the authority of al-Awza`i on theauthorityofSa`sa`ahibnSawhanandal-AhnafibnQaysontheauthorityofIbn`Abbas…etc.Abu-AhmadYahya ibn`Ubaydibnal-Qasimal-Qizwinion theauthorityofSa`d ibnAbi-Waqqas…etc.C.Muhammadibnal-`Abbas’sreportThefollowingisquotedfromTa`wilal-Ayat2/722:

Ahmadibnal-QasimhasnarratedtousontheauthorityofAhmadibnMuhammadal-SayyariontheauthorityofMuhammadibnKhalidontheauthorityofMuhammadibnSulaymanontheauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofAbu-BasirontheauthorityofImamal-Sadiq…etc.Muhammadal-Barqihasnarratedon theauthorityofMuhammadibnSulaymanon theauthorityofhisfatherontheauthorityofAbu-BasirthatImamal-Sadiq…etc.D.Shaykhal-Saduq’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromBiharal-Anwar33/165:

`Aliibn`Abdullahal-ZiyadihasnarratedontheauthorityofJa`faribnMuhammadal-Duristiontheauthority of his father on the authority of Shaykh al-Saduq on the authority of his father on the

authorityofSa`dontheauthorityofMuhammadibnal-HusaynibnAbu’l-Khattabontheauthorityofhis fatheron theauthorityofMuhammadibnSinanon theauthorityofZurarahon theauthorityofImamal-Sadiq…etc.E.Al-Bahrani’sReportsThefollowingisquotedfromMadinatal-Maajiz2/267:

`Allamahal-Hilli,inal-Kashkul,hasrecordedontheauthorityofMuhammadibnAhmadibn`Abdal-Rahmanal-Bawardi…etc.F.IbnSahrashub’sReportThefollowingisquotedfromBiharal-Anwar31/320:

IthasbeenrecordedinIbnShahrashub’sal-ManaqibontheauthorityofAbu-BasirontheauthorityofImamal-Sadiq…etc.G.`AliibnIbrahimAl-Qummi’sReportThefollowingisquotedfrom`AliibnIbrahimAl-Qummi’sTafsir2/385:

It has been narrated from Ahmad ibn Idris on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Abdullah on theauthority ofMuhammad ibn `Ali on the authority of `Ali ibn Hasan on the authority of `Abd al-RahmanibnKathirthatImamal-Rida…etc.TheNarrationisAuthenticandtheDivineChastisementWasRepeatedTworesultscanbeobtainedfromthenumerousnarrationsthatrecordedtheincidentsofthestones

fromheaveninflicteduponthosewhoobjectedagainsttheleadershipofImam`Ali(a.s.).First, thenarrationsarequalifiedaccordingtothecriteriaof theauthenticityofHadith.It is thus

illogictoaccepttheclaimsofthenarrow-mindedandthesuspiciouswhoallowthemselvestosaythattheShi`ahhad fabricatedsuchnarrationsbecause theverynarrationsare found in themajorSunnireference books ofHadith. However, some Sunni extremistsmay claim that these narrations havebeenreportedfromtheHolyImams(a.s.).OuransweristhatSunnischolarshaverespectedtheHolyImamsanddependedupontheirreportsandknowledgeandtheyhaveonlyobjectedtothenarrationsthat are reported by Shiite ways of narration. Furthermore, the series of reporting the narrationsinvolved do not include only Shiite narrators; al-Hasakani, for instance, has report them toHudhayfahandAbu-Hurayrahaswellasmanyothers.Second, according to thevariousnarrations reporting the incident, it is clear-cut that therewere

morethanoneincidentbecauseofthevarietyofnames,sortsofpunishment,places,timesandeventsmentionedinthenarrations.(7)PeopleoftheBefallingChastisementTheOldEnvyandthe‘BloodLick’Societiesof theArabPeninsulawere tribaland thusstruggles,combatsand tribalallianceswere

commonamongthem.TheAllianceof‘Fudul’wasthemostfamedinhistory.Itwasestablishedby`Abdal-Muttalib,theHolyProphet(S)’sgrandfather,andwasalsocalledtheAllianceofMutayyibin(PeopleofOdor)because theparties swore allianceby immersing their hands in avessel of odormadebythedaughterof`Abdal-Muttalib.ThemostimportanttermsofthatalliancewastoprotecttheHolyKa`bah,prohibitanysortof injusticeandsupport thewrongeduntil theyrecover their rights.TheHolyProphet (S)was twentyyearsoldwhenhepartook in that alliance.Moreover,narrationshavestatedthathepassedtheallianceafterIslam.Inthisregard,hesaid,‘IwasboywhenIwitnessedtheAllianceofMutayyibinwithmyuncles.Ipreferittohavingthebestkindsofcamels.’[9]

ThalliancewasananswerforanoppositeoneestablishedbyBanu-`Abdal-Dar.SomeQurayshitetribesrespondedandpartookinthatalliance,whichwascalledthe‘bloodlick’becauseitsmemberssworealliancebylickingthebloodofacowslaughteredonthatoccasion.Differentopinionshavebeenstatedabout the reasonand timeof thesealliances.Somenarrators

havementioned that theywere establishedduring thebuildingof theHolyKa`bahwheneach tribewantedtohavethehonorofputtingtheBlackStoneinitsplace.Themostacceptablenarrationinthisregard is that recorded by al-Ya`qubi who said that because Banu-`Abd al-Dar envied `Abd al-Muttalib,theydecidedtoconcludeanallianceagainsthim.[10]Banu-`Abdal-Dar;theStandard-BearersofthePolytheistsHistorians have confirmed that Banu-`Abd al-Dar inherited Dar al-Nidwah and the Qurayshite

standardofwars.Hence,theyusedtobearthestandardsduringbattles.[11]Imam`Ali(a.s.)killedmorethantenindividualsfromtheknightsofBanu-`Abdal-Darwhoraisedthestandardofthepolytheists’armyagainsttheHolyProphet(S).Yet,othernarrationshavementionedthatsomeofthemwerekilledbyHamzahibn`Abdal-Muttalib.[12]Banu-`Abdal-DarGiveALessoninSelf-DefenseHistorians have recorded that ‘the courageous knights’ of Banu-`Abd al-Dar taught people of

Quraysh a peculiar lesson in self-defense against the Hashimites taking advantage of their highmorals.IbnKathir,inal-Sirah3/39,quotesthefollowingnarrationfromIbnHusham:InthegravestmomentsoftheBattleofUhud,theHolyProphetsatunderAnsar ’sstandardandordered`Ali to march carrying the standard. `Ali marched challenging the foes. The bearer of people ofQuraysh’s standard, Talhah ibn Abi-Talhah, accepted the challenge. As the two warriors stoppedbetweenthetwoarmies,`Alistrokehimsoheavilythathefelltotheground.Suddenly,`Alilefthimand came back! ‘Whydid you not kill him?’Muslims asked `Ali. ‘He showedme his anus! I thenrealizedthatAlmightyAllahhasactuallykilledhim,’`Alianswered.OntheBattleofSiffin,BusribnArta`ah did the same thing when `Ali was about to kill him; hence, `Ali left him out of his highmorals. `Amr ibn al-`As also showed his anus during theBattle of Siffinwhen `Ali knocked himdownandwasabouttokillhim.`Alialsolefthim.Apoetrecordedthisstrangeincident…etc.Al-Nadribnal-Harith;theChiefofBanu-`Abdal-DarIbnHusham,inal-Sirah1/195,hasrecordedthefollowing:

Al-Nadribnal-HarithwasoneoftheSatanicenemieswhousedtoharmtheHolyProphet(S).Inal-Hirah(Iraq),helearntthetalesofthePersiankings.WhenevertheHolyProphetsattoremindpeopleoftheirLordandwarnagainstHispunishmentthatbefellthepastnations,al-NadrcametothesameplaceandrecountedthetalesofthePersiankings.Heaskedpeopletogatheraroundhimsothathewould tell him stories better than the sayings ofMuhammad!He challenged theHolyQur ’an andclaimed that he would reveal the same thing that was revealed by Almighty Allah. Ibn Ishaq hasnarrated on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that eight Verses were revealed reproaching al-Nadr andunveilinghisfakeclaims.[13]Al-NadrwastherepresentativeofhisclaninthewickedconferencethatpeopleofQurayshheldfor

conspiringwitheachotheragainst theHolyProphet(S).[14]HewasselectedastheircouriertotheJewsseeking theiradvice in the issueof theHolyProphet (S).[15]Heparticipated in recording theFirst Accursed Document against the Hashimites.[16]He served food to the warriors who foughtagainsttheHolyProphet(S)duringtheBattleofBadr.[17]HefinallywaskilledduringthatbattleatthehandsofImam`Ali.[18]

Al-Nudayr;al-Nadr’sBrotherandSuccessorReference books of history have stated that other individuals from Banu-`Abd al-Dar bore the

standard of people of Quraysh after al-Nadr. Yet, it has not been mentioned whether al-NudayrsucceededhisbrotherinbearingthestandardandbecamethechiefofBanu-`Abdal-Darwaswarriorornot.ThefansofQurayshhavedescribedhimasshrewdmanwhomtheHolyProphet(S)gaveonehundredcamelsfromthespoilsoftheBattleofHunaynjustliketheotherchiefsofQurayshsoastomakethemacceptIslam.[19]Manynarrationshaveconfirmedthatal-NudayrwasoneoftheQurayshitechiefswhoplottedfor

assassinatingtheHolyProphet(S)duringtheBattleofHunayn.As usual, the Pro-Quraysh narrators have made al-Nudayr one of the Muslim celebrities whoimmigrated to al-Madinah and was martyred during the Battle of Yarmuk! Likewise, they havechangedalltheQurayshitepeoplewhomwereplaguedintomartyrsintheBattleofYarmuk.[20]ShiitereferencebooksofHadithhavereportedastrangedisputationmadebyal-Nadribnal-Harithal-Fihriwith theHoly Prophet (S) in al-Madinah. It seems that itwas al-Nudayr, not al-Nadr,whodisputedtheHolyProphet(S)inal-MadinahaftertheFarewellHajj.[21]IbnHusham[22]hasstatedthatal-Nudayriscalledalsoal-Harith,andal-Ya`qubi[23]hasmisnamed

himal-Harithibnal-HarithibnKildah.Accordingly,itisprobablethattheyhadathirdbrothernamedal-Harith.Thismighthavebeentheverypersonwhomwascastbyaheavenlythunderboltorstonebecause he objected to the Holy Prophet (S)’s declaration of the leadership of Imam `Ali. In duecourse, thebefallingchastisementwasinflicteduponthreeindividualsfromthisfamily—thefather,duringtheBattleofBadr,Jabirandal-Harith.Hence,theyshouldbecalledthefamilyofthebefallingchastisement.Atanyrate,themostascertainedmatteristhatamanobjectedtotheHolyProphet(S)andastone

from heavenwas inflicted upon him; and thatman, according to al-Tha`labi, in Tafsir, andmanyShiite reference books of Hadith, was al-Harith ibn al-Nu`man al-Fihri. Al-Hasakani, Shaykh al-KulayniandIbnShahrashubhavealsoreferredtothisname.Thisprovesthatal-Harithuponwhomtheheavenlystonewasinflictedisdifferentfromthesonof

`Abdal-DarandthatanotherheavenlystonewasinflicteduponJabiribnal-Nadral-`Abdari.TheTwoMostLicentiousofQurayshReference books ofHadith have confirmed that themost evilQurayshite tribes that harmed the

Holy Prophet (S) were Banu-Umayyah and Banu’l-Mughirah to whom Abu-Jahl ibn Makhzumbelonged.Theyaredescribedasthetwomostlicentious.WeshouldaddBanu-`Abdal-Dartothem.Al-Suyuti,inal-Durral-Manthur4/85,hasrecordedontheauthorityofal-Bukhari,inTarikh,ontheauthorityofIbnJarir,Ibnal-Mundhir,ibnMardawayhthat`Umaribnal-Al-Khattabsaid,“RegardingAlmighty Allah’s saying, ‘Have you not seen those who have changed Allah’s favor forungratefulness,’thesearethetwomostlicentioushousesofQuraysh—sonsofUmayyahandsonsofal-Mughirah.Concerning the latter, youhave completedwith themon theBattle ofBadr and as tosonsofUmayyah,theyarerespitedforaterm.”ThisstatementseemstobesaidbytheHolyProphet(S)andrepeatedby`Umarwhomustthusbe

askedwhyheappointedMuawiyahasthegovernorofSyriaandallowedhimtobehaveashelikedand why he arranged the matter of caliphate in a way enabling `Uthman to be the caliph and,consequently,theIslamicStatewascompletelyprevailedbythemostlicentioushouseofQuraysh!

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9ChapterReferences

TheHolyQur ’anTheBible`Ayyad,al-Qadi:al-ShifafiTa`rifHuquqal-MustafaAhmadibnHanbal(diedinAH241):al-MusnadAbu-Ya`li:Tabaqatal-HanabilahAl-`Amili,SayyidJa`farMurtada:Ma`satal-Zahra`Al-`Asqalani,ibnHajar(diedinAH582):Lisanal-MizanAl-`Asqalani,ibnHajar(diedinAH582):Ta`jilal-Manfa`ahAl-`Asqalani,ibnHajar(diedinAH582):Tahdhibal-TahdhibAl-`Ayni,Badr al-DinMahmud ibnAhmad (died inAH855): `Umdatal-Qari fiSharh Sahih al-

Bukhari.Al-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):`Ilalal-Shara`i`Al-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):`UyunAkhbaral-RidaAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):al-HidayahAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):al-KhisalAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):Kamalal-DinwaTamamal-Ni`mahAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):Maanial-AkhbarAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh(diedinAH381):ManlaYahduruhal-FaqihAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh:al-I`tiqadatAl-Saduq,MuhammadibnBabawayh:al-TawhidAl-Sanani,`Abdal-Razzaq(diedinAH211):TafsirAl-Sanani,`Abdal-Razzaq(diedinAH211):al-MusannafAl-Tusi(diedinAH460):Tafsiral-TibyanAl-Tusi(diedinAH460):Tahdhibal-AhkamAl-Tabataba`i,SayyidMuhammadHusayn:Tafsiral-MizanAl-Tabarani(diedinAH360):Al-Mu`jamal-KabirAl-Tabari,MuhammadibnJarir(diedinAH310):TarikhAl-Tabari,MuhammadibnJarir(diedinAH310):TafsirAl-Tabari,MuhammadibnJarir(diedinAH400):al-MustarshidAl-Tabari,MuhammadibnJariribnRustum:Dala`ilal-ImamahAl-Tabrasi(diedinAH548):al-IhtijajAl-Tabrasi:I`lamal-WaraAl-Turayhi(diedinAH1085):Majma`al-BahraynAl-Halabi,`AliibnBurhanal-Dinal-Shafi`i:al-Sirahal-HalabiyyahAl-Hamawi,Yaqut(diedinAH626):Mu`jamal-BuldanAl-Harrani,ibnShu`bah:Tuhafal-`UqulAl-Hasakani,al-Hakimal-Nisapuri:Shawahidal-TanzilAl-Hilli,Ibnal-Mutahhar(diedinAH726):Nahjal-Haqq

Al-Himyari,ibnHusham(diedinAH218):al-SirahAl-Hurral-`Amili(diedinAH1114):Wasa`ilal-Shi`ah.Al-Husayni,SayyidHamid(diedinAH1306):Khulasat`Abaqatal-AnwarAl-Husayni,Sharafal-Din:Ta`wilal-AyatAl-Huwayzi(diedinAH1112):TafsirNural-ThaqalaynAl-Abshihi,Abu’l-Fath(diedinAH850):al-MustatraffiKulliFann(in)Musta¨rafAl-Albani,MuhammadNasiral-Din:Salsalatal-Ahadithal-SahihahAl-Albani,MuhammadNasiral-Din:Salsalatal-Ahadithal-Da`ifahAl-Amini,`Abdal-Husayn(diedinAH1390):al-GhadirAl-Andalusi,ibn`AbdRebbih(diedinAH328):al-`Iqdal-FaridAl-Andalusi,ibnHazm(diedinAH456):al-MuhallaAl-Arbali(diedinAH693):Kashfal-GhUmmahAl-Bahrani,SayyidHashim(diedinAH1107):Hilyatal-AbrarAl-Bahrani,SayyidHashim(diedinAH1107):Ghayatal-MaramAl-Bahrani,SayyidHashim(diedinAH1107):Madinatal-MaajizAl-Baghawi(diedinAH516):Masabihal-SunnahAl-Baghawi,al-Farra`(diedinAH516):Maalimal-TanzilAl-Baghdadi,al-Khatib(diedinAH463):TarikhBaghdadAl-Baghdadi,MuhammadibnHabib(diedinAH245):al-MuhabbarAl-Baladhiri,AhmadibnYahya(diedinAH375):Futuhal-BuldanAl-Bayhaqi(diedinAH458):Dala`ilal-NubuwwahAl-Bayhaqi,(diedinAH458):Shu`abal-«manAl-Bayhaqi,Ahmadibnal-Husayn(diedinAH458):al-Sunanal-KubraAl-Bayyadi,al-`Amili(diedinAH877):al-Siratal-MustaqimAl-Bukhari,al-Adabal-MufradAl-Bukhari,Muhammad(diedinAH256):al-SahihAl-Bukhari,MuhammadibnIsma`il(diedinAH256):al-Tarikhal-KabirAl-Darimi,`AbdullahibnBahram(diedinAH255):al-Sunan

Al-Damiri(diedinAH808):Hayatal-Hayawanal-KubraAl-Daylami,al-Hasan:A`lamal-DinfiSifatal-Mu`mininAl-Daylami,IbnShirawayh(diedinAH509):Firdawsal-AkhbarAl-Dhahbi,Shamsal-Din(diedinAH748):Mizanal-I`tidalAl-Dhahbi,Shamsal-Din(diedinAH748):SiyarA`lamal-Nubala`

Al-Dhahbi,Shamsal-Din(diedinAH748):Tadhkiratal-Huffa¨Al-Dimashqi,Abu’l-Fida(diedinAH732):TarikhAl-Dimashqi,ibnKathir(diedinAH774):al-Bidayahwa’l-NihayahAl-Dimashqi,ibnKathir(diedinAH774):al-Sirahal-NubawiyyahAl-Dimashqi,ibnKathir(diedinAH774):TafsirAl-Fakhral-Razi:al-Tafsiral-KabirAl-Farahidi,al-Khalil(diedinAH175):al-`Ayn(Arabic-ArabicDictionary)Al-Haythami,ibnHajar:Al-Sawa`qal-MuhriqahAl-Haythami,Nural-Din(diedinAH807):Majma`al-Zawa`idAl-Hindi,al-Muttaqi(diedinAH975):Kanzal-`UmmalAl-Ihsa`i,ibnAbi-Jumhir:Ghawalial-LaaliAl-Isfahani,al-Raghib(diedinAH425):Muhadaratal-Udaba`Al-Jawhari(diedinAH393):al-SihahAl-Jawzi(diedinAH654):Tadhkiratal-Khawass

Al-Kufi,MuhammadibnSulayman(diedinAH270):Manaqib`Amiral-Mu`mininAl-Kurani,`Ali:Mu`jamAhadithal-Imamal-MahdiAl-Kulayni,MuhammadibnYa`qub(diedinAH329):Al-KafiAl-Maliki,Ibnal-`Arabi(diedinAH543):`Aridatal-AhwadhifiSharhSahihal-TirmidhiAl-Milani,Sayyid`Ali:Nafahatal-AzharAl-Maghribi(diedinAH273):Sharhal-AkhbarAl-Maghribi,al-Nu`man(diedinAH363):Daa`imal-IslamAl-Maghribi,Ibnal-Siddiq(diedinAH1380):Fathal-Malikal-`AliAl-Majlisi(diedinAH1111):Biharal-AnwarAl-Makki,Sa`idibnMansur(diedinAH227):al-SunanAl-Maqari,AhmadibnMuhammad(diedinAH1041):Nafhal-Tibal-TasamaniAl-Mar`ashi,SayyidNurullahal-Tustari:Ihqaqal-HaqqAl-Mas`udi,`AliibnAl-Husayn(diedinAH346):Murujal-DhahabAl-Mazzi,Yusuf(diedinAH742):Tahdhibal-KamalAl-Mufid,Muhammadibnal-Nu`man(diedinAH413):al-Muqanna`ahAl-Mundhiri(diedinAH656):al-Targhibwa’l-TarhibAl-Muraghi(diedinAH1370):TafsirAl-Nuri,(diedinAH1320):Mustadrakal-Wasa`ilAl-Nassa`i,AhmadibnShu`ayb(diedinAH203):al-SunanAl-Nawawi(diedinAH676):SharhSahihMuslimAl-Nawawi,Muhyi’l-DinSharaf(diedinAH676):Al-MabsutAl-Nisapuri,`AliibnAhmadal-Waqidi(diedinAH468):al-Tafsiral-WasitAl-Nisapuri,al-Hakim(diedinAH405):al-Mustadrak`Ala’l-SahihaynAl-Nisapuri,al-FadlibnShadhanal-Azdi(diedinAH260):Al-«dahAl-Nisapuri,Al-Fattal(diedinAH508):Rawdatal-Wa`idinAl-Nisapuri,Muslimibnal-Hajjaj(diedinAH261):al-SahihAl-Nu`mani,MuhammadibnIbrahim(diedinAH380):al-GhaybahAl-Numayri,`UmaribnShaybah(diedinAH262):Tarikhal-Madinahal-MunawwarahAl-Nuwayri,Ahmadibn`Abdal-Wahhab(diedinAH733):Nihayatal-ArabAl-Qastalani,Shihabal-DinAhmadibnMuhammad(diedinAH923):Irshadal-SariAl-Qizwini,ibnMajah(diedinAH275):al-SunanAl-Qummi,`AliibnIbrahim(diedinAH329):TafsirAl-Qummi,al-Hasanal-Saffar:Basa`iral-DarajatAl-Qummi,al-Khazzaz(diedinAH400):Kifayatal-AtharAl-Qummi,ibnBabawayh(diedinAH329):Al-Imamahwa’l-TabsirahAl-Qurtubi(diedinAH671):TafsirAl-Razi,`Abdal-Rahman(diedinAH256):al-Jarhwa’l-Ta`dilAl-Sabki,`Abdal-Wahhab(diedinAH771):Tabaqatal-Shafi`iyyahal-KubraAl-Sajistani,Sulaymanibnal-Ash`ath(diedinAH275):al-SunanAl-Sakhawi(diedinAH902):al-Tuhfahal-LatifahAl-Salami,Muhammadibn`Ayyash(diedinAH310):TafsirAl-Sarakhsi,Shamsal-Din(diedinAH483):al-MabsutAl-Shafi`i,MuhammadibnIdris(diedinAH204):Kitabal-UmmAl-Shabalnaji,Mu`minibnHasan:Nural-AbsarAl-Sharifal-Murtada(diedinAH436):al-AmaliAl-Sharifal-Murtada(diedinAH436):al-IntisarAl-Sharifal-Murtada(diedinAH436):al-Rasa`il

Al-Sharifal-Murtada(diedinAH436):al-ShafiAl-Sharifal-Murtada(diedinAH436):Tanzihal-Anbiya`Al-Shawkani(diedinAH1250):Fathal-QadirAl-Suhayli(diedinAH581):al-Rawdal-AnifAl-Suyuti-al-Muhalla:Tafsiral-JalalaynAl-Suyuti(diedinAH911):al-Itqanfi`Ulumal-Qur’anAl-Suyuti(diedinAH911):Asbabal-NuzulAl-Suyuti,Jalalal-Din(diedinAH911):al-Durral-ManthurAl-Suyuti,Jalalal-Din(diedinAH911):Tarikhal-Khulafa`Al-Tamimi,MuhammadibnHabban(diedinAH354):al-MajruhinAl-Tha`labi:(diedinAH875):al-Jawahiral-HisanAl-Tirmidhi,Muhammadibn`Isa(diedinAH279):al-SunanAl-Ya`qubi,AhmadibnWadih(diedinAH284):TarikhAl-Zamakhshari,Jadullah(diedinAH528):Tafsiral-KashshafAl-Zubaydi,SayyidMuhammad(diedinAH1205):Tajal-`ArusfiSharhal-QamusAyyub,Sa`id(diedinAH1418):Maalimal-FitanFuratibnIbrahim(diedinAH300):TafsirIbnHajar(diedinAH852):Fathal-BarifiSharhal-BukhariIbnAbu-Shaybah(diedinAH235):al-MusannafIbnAbi’l-Hadid:SharhNahjal-BalaghahIbnal-Athir(diedinAH630):al-Kamilfi’l-TarikhIbnal-Athir(diedinAH630):Usdal-GhabahIbnal-Athir:al-Bidayahwa’l-NihayahIbnJazi(diedinAH741):al-TashilIla`Ulumal-TanzilIbnKhuldun,`Abdal-Rahman(diedinAH808):TarikhIbnMakula(diedinAH475):Ikmalal-KamalIbnMandur(diedinAH711):MukhtasarTarikhDimashqIbnQudamah,`Abdullah(diedinAH620):al-MughniIbnSa`d(diedinAH230):Al-TabaqatIbnSayyidal-Nas(diedinAH734):`Uyunal-AtharIbnShahrashib(diedinAH588):al-ManaqibIbnWaqid,Muhammadibn`Umar(diedinAH207):al-MaghaziImam`Ali,Nahjal-BalaghahMalikibnAnas(diedinAH179):al-Muwatta`Muhammad`Abduh–RashidRida:Tafsiral-ManarMuntajabal-DinibnBabawayh:al-Arba`unHadith

[1]1.(S)abbreviationof“Ŝalla’l-Lāhu°alayhiwaãlihiwasallam”:“peaceandAllah’sbessingsbeuponhimandhisholyprogeny”

[2]2.UmmahistheIslamicNation—theMuslim’scommunityfoundedbyProphet(S)Muhammad,comprisingindividualsboundtooneanotherpredominantlybyreligiousties.

[3]3.TheAhlal-Bayt(PeopleoftheHouse)isatermdedicatedtothefamilyoftheHolyProphet(S).Moreprecisely,itisdedicatedtodefiniteindividuals;namely,Imam`AliibnAbi-Talib,Fatimahal-Zahra`(theHolyProphet(S)’sdaughterandImam`Ali’swife),al-Hasanibn`Ali,andal-Husaynibn`Ali.ThenineImmaculateImams(namely,`Aliibnal-Husaynal-Sajjad,Muhammadibn`Alial-Baqir,Ja`faribnMuhammadal-Sadiq,MusaibnJa`faral-Kazim,`AliibnMusaal-Rida,Muhammadibn`Alial-Jawad,`AliibnMuhammadal-Hadi,al-Hasanibn`Alial-`Askari,andal-MahditheAwaited)arealsowithintheAhlal-Bayt.

[4]4.(a.s.)abbreviationof“°Alayhi-ha-humassalām”,“peacebeuponhim,herorthem”,thathasbeenusedbesidesthenamesoftheprophets,anglels,themembersofAhal-BaytandtheWomenofParadise(Khadīja,Fātima,Maria,Asyiah).

[5]5.ThisisanindicationtoAllah’ssayingintheHolyQur`an(Surahofal-Ahzab33:33):“Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse!andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying.”

[6]6.ThisisanindicationtoAllah’ssayingintheHolyQur`an(SurahofFatir35:32):“ThenWegavetheBookforaninheritancetothosewhomWechosefromamongOurservants.”

[7]7.ImamateisthesuccessionoftheHolyProphet(S).

[8]8.HadithisthebodyoftraditionsconcerningthesayingsanddoingsoftheHolyProphet(S),consideredtobesecondinauthoritytotheHolyQur`an.

[9]9.Sunanal-Darimi;1/145

[10]10.Al-Kulayni:al-Kafi4/29.

[11]11.ZakatistheobligatorypaymentmadeannuallyunderIslamiclawoncertainkindsofpropertyandusedforcharitableandreligiousobjects.

[12]12.HajjisthepilgrimagetotheSacredMosqueatMakkahundertakeninthetwelfthmonthoftheMuslimyearandconstitutingoneofthereligiousdutiesofIslam.

[13]13.Al-Kulayni:al-Kafi1/298.

[14]14.QurayshisthenameofthetribethatinhabitedMakkahinthetimeoftheHolyProphet(S)andtowhichhebelonged.Quraysh,yet,wasthenameofoneoftheHolyProphet(S)’sforefathers.

[15]15.Infact,peopleofQurayshdeniedthewholematterandclaimedthattheHolyProphet(S)hadnevernominatedorelectedanyoneforvicegerencey.

[16]16.AnsarisatitlesaidtothepeopleofYathrib,lateronal-Madinah(al-Munawwarah),whosupportedandreceivedtheHolyProphet(S)andhisfollowersaftertheyhadimmigratedfromMakkah.

[17]17.HashimitesarethesonsanddescendantsofHashimibn`Abd-Manaf,thesecondgrandfatheroftheHolyProphet(S)andtheHashimitesarethustheuncles,cousins,anddescendantsoftheHolyProphet(S).

[18]18.IllegalaccordingtotheIslamicdoctrine.

[19]19.Ghadir-orGhadirKhumm-isaplacebetweenMakkahandMedinawheretheHolyProphet(S)declaredImam`AliasthenextleaderoftheUmmahandmadeitincumbentonMuslimsofallgenerationstoobeythisleadershipandconsideritasadivinedirective.SeeMuhammadBaqirAnsari:WhatHappenedinGhadir,translatedbyBadrShahin,MowloodKaabaPublications,Qum–Iran,2000.

[20]20.Al-Tabarihasalsocompiledabook,intwovolumes,inthisregardentitledal-Wilayah(TheVicegerencey).Unfortunately,thisbookhasnotbeenprintedyet.

[21]21.TheFarewellHajjisthefinalritualcollectivepilgrimageledbytheHolyProphet(S).

[22]22.ThisisanindicationtotheHolyProphet(S)’sfamousstatement:“Iamleavingamongyouthatwhichwillsaveyoufromdeviationforeverifyouonlyadhereto:theBookofAllahandmyprogeny—myhousehold.HaveIconveyed(toyouthismatter)?”Al-Ya`qubi:al-Tarikh(BookofHistory)2/92.

[23]1.Al-Tabari,Tarikh2/84andIbnKathir,al-Sirah2/158.Inal-Ghadir7/134,thestoryisrelatedtoIbnHusham,al-Sirah2/32,al-Rawdal-Anif1/264,Imadal-Dinal-`Amiri,Bahjatal-Mahafil1/128,al-Sirahal-Halabiyyah2/3,ZayniDahlan:al-Sirah1/302andMuhammadHasanaynHaykal,HayatuMuhammad.

[24]2.Also,Muslim:al-Sahih6/16,al-Nassa`i’sal-Sunan7/137,IbnMajah:al-Sunan2/957,Ahmad:al-Musnad5/316,Al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan8/145.

[25]3.Also,al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan8/145.

[26]4.Animportanttopicistobementionedinthisregard;historiansandbiographershaveattemptedtoobscurethestageofinvitingtheHashimitesexclusivelyand,instead,theyhaveinventedthestagesofpre-Arqam’shouseandpost-Arqam’shouse,usingdoubtfulandauthentic,andirrationalandreasonablereports.

[27]5.Mu`tazilah(Arabic:ThoseWhoWithdraw,orStandApart)isanIslamicschoolofspeculativetheologythatflourishedinBasrahandBaghdad(8th-10thcenturiesAD).

[28]6.IbnKathiral-Bidayahwa’l-Nihayah3/40andTafsir3/351.

[29]7.See,formoredetails,al-Tabari’sTarikh2/321,Ibnal-Athir ’sal-Kamilfial-Tarikh2/24,Abu’l-Fida’sTarikh1/116,IbnAbual-HadidSharhNahjal-Balaghah3/254,Ahmad’sal-Musnad1/159,Jami`al-Jawami`6/408,andKanzal-`Ummal6/401.

[30]8.IbnHusham’sal-Sirah1/504,al-Muhabbar70-1andAl-Baladhiri’sal-Sunan1/270.

[31]9.Al-Riyadal-Nadirah2/168andKanzal-`Ummal5/45-6.

[32]10.IbnHusham’sal-Sirah1/424,al-Rawdal-Anif1/264,Bahjatal-Mahafil1/128,ZayniDahlan’s1/302andal-Sirahal-Halabiyyah;2/3.

[33]1.Lateron,thetextsofthesacredsermonsoftheFarewellHajjwillbecited.

[34]2.SahabaharegenerallythecompanionsoftheHolyProphet(S)and,terminologically,everyone,disregardingtheage,whosaw,heardorwitnessedtheHolyProphet(S).Yet,variousopinionshavebeengiveninthisregard.Formoreinformation,seeAhmadHusaynYa`qub:TheConceptionoftheSahabah’sUltimateDecency;translatedbyBadrShahin,AnsariyanPublications–Qum,1999.

[35]3.Majma`al-Zawa`id3/270.

[36]4.Minbarisasmallsetofstepsinamosquefromwhichthesermonsaredelivered.

[37]5.Thisnarrationisauthenticated.seeMajma`al-Zawa`id5/191.

[38]6.Al-Tabarani:al-Mu’jamal-Kabirandal-Mu’jamal-Awsatandal-Haythami:Majma`al-Zawa`id5/190.

[39]7.Al-Bukhari,al-Sahih5/6

[40]8.Also,Abu-Dawud:al-Sunan1/435andAhmadal-Musnad5/37.

[41]9.Also,Ahmad:al-Musnad4/320.

[42]10.IbnHajar:Tahdhibal-Tahdhib2/35.

[43]11.Al-Dhahbi:SiyarA`lamal-Nubala`3/187.

[44]12.IbnHajar,Tahdhibal-Tahdhib4/206

[45]13.WhentheHolyProphet(S)conqueredMakkah,hesummoneditspeoplewhohadmistreatedhimsobadlytothedegreethattheyhadwagedmanycampaignsagainsthim.Yet,hepardonedthemandtheywerenamedthe‘ReleasedOnes’.

[46]14.SiyarA’lamal-Nubala’3/187.

[47]15.Also,Ahmad:al-Musnad1/398and406andal-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal6/89and12/32asquotedfromIbnSa`d:al-TabaqatandIbn`Asakir:Tarikh.

[48]16.Shaykhal-Saduq:al-Ikhtisas233,al-Khazzaz:Kifayatal-Athar73andal-Nu'mani:al-Ghaybah106.

[49]17.Also,Majma`al-Zawa`id4/220.

[50]18.TheShi'ahImamiyyaharethosewhobelieveintheTwelveImamsasthedivinelycommissionedleadersoftheUmmahtobefollowed.

[51]19.Shi'ahZaydiyyaharethosewhobelieveZaydibn`Aliibnal-HusaynastheImamtobefollowedafterhisfather,ImamZaynal-`Abidin.

[52]20.Also,A'lamal-Wara364.

[53]21.Majma’al-Zawa’id1/113.

[54]22.Al-Albani,andnoneelse,hasdecidedtheauthenticityofthisnarration.

[55]23.TheAnti-MahdiisassameastheAntichristwhoisagreatpersonalopponentofChrist,expectedtoappearbeforetheendoftheworld.

[56]24.Twelversarethe(Ithna’ashariyyah)Shi’ahwhobelieveintheTwelvedivinelycommissionedImams.

[57]25.AccordingtoSunnidefinition,theRafidites(Rejecters)arethosewhorejectedtheleadershipofAbu-Bakrand‘UmaraftertheProphet(S)’sdecease.However,thenameissaidtotheShi’ahingeneralandtheTwelversinparticular.FortheShi’ah,thistitleisobjectofpridebecause,accordingtoanauthenticatednarrationreportedfromImamJa`faral-Sadiq(a.s.),thistitlewasfirstsaidtothebelieversofEgyptwhofollowedProphet(S)Moses.

[58]26.ThisisanindicationtoGenesis,17:20:“AndforIshmaelIhaveheardthee:behold,Iwillbless

him,andwillmakehimfruitful,andwillverygreatlymultiplyhim;twelveprinceswillhebeget,andIwillmakehimagreatnation.”Derby’sVersionoftheBible.

[59]1.haykhAl-Saduq,inhisal-Faqih,relatesthefollowingnarration:Abanibn`UthmanreportedthatImamal-Sadiq(a.s.)askedIbrahimal-Sayqal:‘DoyouknowtowhomtheHolyProphet(S)referredin(masters)duringtheSermonoftheFarewellHajj?’‘No,’answeredIbrahim,‘Idonotknow.’TheImam(a.s.)answered,‘(Masters)standsfromtheAhlal-Bayt.’

[60]2. AliibnIbrahimal-Qummihasrelatedthisform.

[61]3.Also,al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan10/188.

[62]4.Alsoal-Darimi:al-Sunan2/303,Ahmad:al-Musnad6/70and151andIbnMajah:al-Sunan2/1417.

[63]5.bnMajah:al-Sunan2/1015.

[64]6.Also,Abu-Tharr,Abu-Sa`id,ZaydibnArqamandHudhayfahibnUsayd.Thenarrationisdecidedasstrangeandqualified,butwitharatherdoubtfulnarrator.Sa`idibnSulaymanandmanyotherscholars,however,haverelatedZaydibnal-Hasan’snarrations.

[65]7.Also,Abu-Dawud:al-Sunan1/427andal-Bayhaqi:Dala`ilal-Nubuwwah5/8.IbnMajahhasrecordedasimilarnarrationinal-Sunan2/1025.

[66]8.Also,al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan7/30and10/114.

[67]9.Inal-Mu`jamal-Kabir,al-Tabaranihasrecordedthiswhosereportersaretrustful.

[68]10.nal-Mu`jamal-Kabirandal-Mu`jamal-Awsat,al-Tabaranirelatesthisnarrationtotrustfulnarrators.

[69]11.ThemajoridolsworshippedbytheArabatheists.

[70]12.Asimilarreporthasbeenrecordedonpage186ofthesamebookandquotedfromBisharatal-Islam.

[71]13.Thisisaword-for-wordtranslationoftheHolyVerse.Thefollowingisitsmeaning:OnlyareAllahandHisMessengerandthebelieverwhogavealmswhilehewasintheritualgenuflectionofaprayeryourmasters.

[72]14.“OApostle!DeliverwhathadbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord;andifyoudoitnot,thenyouhavenotdeliveredHismessage,andAllahwillprotectyoufromthepeople;surelyAllahwillnotguidetheunbelievingpeople.5/67”

[73]15.NotethatalltheProphetswhocameafterAbrahamwerehisdescendants.

[74]16.Also,Al-Tabari’sTarikh2/83,al-Ya`qubi:al-Tarikh2/36andibnKathir ’sal-Sirah2/155.

[75]17.Also,al-Tabari’sTarikh2/92,Usdal-Ghabah1/174,`Uyunal-Athar1/217,IbnKathir ’sal-Sirah2/198andAhmad’sal-Musnad3461.AsherecordsitinhisMajma’al-Zawa’id6/44,al-HaythamicommentsthatAhmadandal-Tabaranirecordedit.AhmadhasrelatedittonarratorsthatareadmittedinthemostauthenticreferencebooksofHadithexceptIbnIshaq.InKanzal-`Ummal,thesamenarrationhasbeenreportedin1/328and8/29.

[76]18.SayyidHashimal-Bahrani:Hilyatal-Abrar1/127,Shaykhal-Tusi:al-Amali1/316asquotedfromal-Majlisi:Biharal-Anwar19/272h.11andal-Haythami:Majma’al-Zawa’id6/91.

[77]19.IbnSayyidal-Nas:`Uyunal-Athar1/146andIbnKathir:al-Sirah1/506.

[78]20.ThisisanindicationtoBilqis(Ethiopian:Makeda)theQueenofShebainYemen.

[79]21.Al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan10/228,al-Tirmidhi:al-Sunan4/217andal-Dhahbi:SiyarA`lamal-Nubala`1/235.

[80]22.NasibisarethosewhoopenlydeclaretheenmitytotheAhlal-Baytandtheiradherents.AddressingtotheShi`ah,Imamal-SadiqdefinesaNasibiastheonewhoshowsenmitytothefollowersoftheHolyImams.

[81]23.Also,Muslim:al-Sahih5/196andAhmad:al-Musnad3/190and279.

[82]24.Al-Tabari:Tarikh2/82.

[83]25.Afterrecordingthisincident,IbnHusham,inal-Sirah4/1079,adds,“Onlythendidpeoplecalmdownand`AttabBinUsaydappeared.

[84]26.AccordingtothecriterionofMuslim,thisreportisauthentic;yetneitherhenorhasal-Bukharirecordedit.

[85]27.Also,Kanzal-`Ummal13/174.

[86]28.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal7/326.

[87]29.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal13/75andIbnShabbah:Tarikhal-Madinah2/779and2/401.

[88]1.Al-Wahidi:Asbabal-Nuzul1/438.

[89]2.Al-Wahidi:Asbabal-Nuzul1/139andal-Tabari:Tafsir6/198.

[90]3.Al-Nisapuri:al-Wasit2/208.

[91]4.Asimilarnarrationisrecordedinal-Sirah1/460.

[92]5.Al-Tabarani:al-Mu`jamal-Kabir11/205.

[93]6.Al-Hakim,inal-Mustadrak2/313,hasreportedthesamenarrationfrom`A`ishahregardingitasauthenticallydocumented;yet,Muslimandal-Bukharididnotrecordit.

[94]7.Al-Suhayli:al-Rawdal-Anif2/290,al-Qastalani:Irshadal-Sari5/86,Ibnal-`Arabi:Sharhal-Tirmithi6/11,174,Al-`Ayni:`Umdatal-Qari7/14,95,IbnJazzi:al-Tashil1/244,al-Nuwayri:Nihayatal-Irab8/16,196and19/18,342,al-Nisapuri:al-Wasit2/209andal-Damiri:Hayatal-Hayawanal-Kubra1/79.

[95]8.InTarikhal-Madinahal-Munawwarah1/301,IbnShaybahhasrelatedthesamereportto`AbdullahibnShaqiqandMuhammadibnKa`bAl-Qarazi.Al-Tabari,inTafsir6/199,relatesitto`AbdullahibnShaqiq.ForibnSa`d,healsorecordsthereportinal-Tabaqat1/1/113.Similarly,al-BayhaqirecordsitinDala`ilal-Nubuwwah2/180.

[96]9.InKanzal-`Ummal12/430,thereportisrelatedto`Abdullahibn`AmribnAl-`As.InMajma`al-Zawa`id10/367,itisdecidedasauthentic.

[97]10.IbnHusham:al-Sirah4/21.

[98]11.IbnHusham:al-Sirah3/227.

[99]12.Al-Bukhari:al-Sahih5/53.Also,al-Hakim’sal-Mustadrak3/29referringtothelegislationofSalatal-KhawfandthepracticeofguardthatismorewatchfulontheHolyProphet(S).HehasalsodecidedtheauthenticityofthereportaccordingtothecriteriaofMuslimandal-Bukhariwhothough

didnotrecordit.ForAhmad,hehasreferredtoGhawrath’sstoryinal-Musnad3/364,390withreferencetothelegislationofSalatal-KhawfdisregardingtherevelationoftheVerse.Referto4/59ofthesamereferencebook.ExceptthereferencetotherevelationoftheVerse,manydetailsofthestoryhavebeenwrittendowninal-Haythami’sMajma`al-Zawa`id9/8.

[100]13.IbnHajar:Fathal-Bari8/2752.

[101]14.Al-Hasakani:Shawahidal-Tanzil1/157N.211,Ibn`Asakir:TarikhDimashq2/85Chapter:`AliibnAbi-Talib’sLifetime,N.585-6.

[102]15.Formoredetails,seetheconsecutiveworksthatdealtwiththeHadithofGhadir,suchasIbn`Uqdah:al-Risalah,al-Tabari:Hadithal-Ghadir,al-Darqutni:Hadithal-Ghadir,Al-Dhahbi:Hadithal-Ghadir,`Ubaydullahal-Hasakani:Hadithal-Ghadir,Mas`udal-Sajistani:Hadithal-Ghadir.Forfurtherinformation,seeal-Amini:Kitabal-GhadirandHamidHusaynal-Lakahnuwi:`Abaqatal-AnwaraswellmanyreferencebooksofHadith.

[103]16. Abdal-HusaynSharafal-Dinal-`Amili;thecompilerofthefamousbookofal-Muraja`ataswellasmanyothers.

[104]17.‘Whoeverhasregardedmeashismastermustnowregard`Aliashismaster.OAllah!Bethesupporterofhimwhowillsupport`Aliandbetheenemyofhimwhowilloppose`Ali.’

[105]18.RevisedbyShaykhMuhammadBaqiral-Mahmudi.

[106]19. «dal-Fitr;thefeastofbreakingthefastisthefestivalmarkingtheendofRamadanandfallingonthefirstdayofShawwal.`«dal-Adha;thefeastofsacrificeisthefestivalmarkingtheculminationoftheritualHajjseasonandfallingonthetenthofDhu’l-Hijjah.

[107]20.Asimilarnarrationhasbeenrecordedinal-Ayyashi’sbookofTafsir1/333.

[108]21.Thesamereporthasbeenrepeatedinal-Bukhari’s6/50and8/210,Muslim’s1/10andal-Tirmidhi’s4/328…etc.

[109]22.Lateron,morelightwillbefocusedonthesetopics.

[110]23.AsimilardiscussionhasbeenrecordedinBadral-Dinal-`Ayni:`Umdatal-Qari14/95.

[111]24.Al-Hurral-`Amili:Wasa`ilal-Shi`ah18/174.

[112]25.Shaykhal-Saduq:Kamalal-DinwaTamamal-Ni`mah276,al-Tabrasi:al-Ihtijaj1/70,al-Nisapuri:Rawdatal-Wa`izin98,MuhammadibnJariral-Tabari:117.

[113]26.Fordetails,seeal-Amini:al-Ghadir.

[114]27.Also,AhmadibnHanbal:al-Musnad2/366.

[115]28.Shaykhal-Saduq:al-Khisal1/173.

[116]1.Formoredetails,seeal-Suyuti:al-Itqan1/91.

[117]2.haykhal-Huwayzi:TafsirNural-Thaqalayn1/582and5/447.

[118]3.Ahmad:al-Musnad6/188,al-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan7/172(intworeports),Abu-Ya`li:Tabaqatal-Hanbaliyyah1/427,al-Hakim:al-Mustadrak2/311.Commentingonthereport,al-Hakimsays,‘AlthoughMuslimandal-Bukharihavenotrecorded,itisauthenticaccordingtotheircriteria.’Lateron,thereaderwillunderstandthatMuslimandal-Bukharihavenotrecordedthereportssoastocoverup`UmarwhocitedotherSurahsasthefinal.

[119]4.Also,al-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal4/186.

[120]5.Fordetails,seeal-Bukhari:al-Sahih6/242,Muslim:al-Sahih2/81,5/61and8/245,IbnMajah:al-Sunan2/910,Al-Suyuti,al-Durral-Manthur2/249,al-Hakim,al-Mustadrak2/303andal-Muttaqial-Hindi:Kanzal-`Ummal11/80.

[121]6.Also,al-Bukhari:al-Sahih6/15,al-Haythami:al-Durral-Manthur2/196andal-Nawawi:al-Majmu`18/345.

[122]7.Also,al-Haythami:al-Durral-Manthur3/295andAbu-Dawud:al-Sunan1/182.However,suchnarrationshavebeenthoroughlydiscussedin`Alial-Kuranial-`Amili:Tadwunal-Qur`an.

[123]8.Also,al-Tirmidhi:al-Sunan4/326,IbnKathir:Tafsir2/2andal-Haythami:al-Durral-Manthur6/407.

[124]9.Al-Tabarani:al-Mu`jamal-Kabir19/392.

[125]10.AlthoughthemeaningofIkmalal-Dinistheperfectionofthereligion,Sunnischolarshaveintendedtodistortitsoastokeepthewordsof`UmarandMu`awiyahassanctifiedaspossible.

[126]11.Al-Qurtubi:Tafsir1/143and2/61.

[127]12.SolongasthepreciousandholystatementsofImamal-Ridahavebeencited,itseemssuitabletorefertothemperfectlyfortheysurelyincluderemarkablepointsanddemonstratetheactualpositionoftheHolyImamsasquotedfromIbnShu`nahal-Harrani:Tuhafal-`Uqul:Goingon,Imamal-Rida(a.s.)says:ImamateistherankoftheProphetsandtheheritageoftheProphets’successors.ImamateistherepresentationofAlmightyAllahandHisMessenger(S),thepositionofAmiral-Mu`minin(a.s.)andtheinheritanceofal-Hasanandal-Husayn(a.s.).TheImamistheheadofthereligiousaffairs,thesystemofMuslims,thegoodnessoftheworldandthestrongholdofthebelievers.TheImamistherisingprincipalandthenoblebranchofIslam.Theaccomplishmentoftheprayers,zakat,fasting,Hajj,jihad,theavailabilityofspoilsandalms,theexecutionofthedoctrinalprovisionsandtherulesandtheprotectionsofthefrontsandtheborders—alltheseareachievedthroughtheImamonly.TheImamlegalizeswhateverAllahdeemslegal,forbidswhateverAlmightyAllahdeemsillegal,executesthedoctrinalprovisionsthatAlmightyAllahenacts,protectsthereligionofAlmightyAllahandcallstothepathofAlmightyAllahthroughwisdom,goodadviceandstrongevidence.TheImamisassameastheshiningsunwhoselightcoversthewholeworldwhileitstandsuprightinthehorizonandneithersightsnorcanhandscatchit.TheImamistheluminousfullmoon,thebrightlamp,therisinglight,theguidingstarinthedeep-blackgloom,theguidetotherightandthesaviorfromperdition.TheImamistheguidingfireonhighlands,theheattotheseekersofwarmthandtherescuerfromdangers.WhoeverdepartstheImamwillsurelyperish.TheImamistherainingclouds,thetorrentialdownpour,theshadysky,theplainland,theabundantspring,thebrookandthegarden.TheImamisthelenientcustodian,thehumanefather,thefullbrother,thelikeofthesympatheticmothertoherbabyandtheshelteroftheservants.TheImamisthetrusteeofAlmightyAllahonHislandandcreatures,theargumentofAlmightyAllahagainsttheservants,thesuccessorofAlmightyAllahinHiscountries,thecallertoAlmightyAllah,andtheprotectorofthesanctitiesofAlmightyAllah.

TheImamispurifiedfromsins,freedfromdefects,givenknowledgeexclusively,characterizedwithforbearance,thesystemofthereligion,thestrongholdofthebelievers,thepunishmentofthehypocritesandtheperditionofthedisbelievers.TheImamistheuniqueinhistime.Noonecancatchupwithhimandnoscholarcanamounttohim.Thereisnosubstituteforhimandtherearenolikeormatchtohim.Thewholevirtueisdedicatedtohimwithoutseekingoracquisition.ItisonlythechoiceoftheFavorerandEndower—AlmightyAllah.HowisitthenpossibleforanybodytounderstandtherealityandthequalityoftheImam?Howimpossiblethisis!Mindsaretooastray,intellectsaretoolost,witsaretooperplexed,speakersaretoomute,poetsaretoounversed,authorsaretooimpotent,eloquentonesaretoowordlessandscholarsaretooweaktodescribeasinglefeatureorasinglevirtueoftheImam’sfeaturesandvirtues.Asaconsequence,theyallhaveconfessedoftheirinadequacytodoso.Howisitthenpossibletodescribehimasawholeorportrayhismanners?Howitispossibletofindanyonewhocandohisroleorrepresenthim?HowisthispossiblewhiletheImamisasfarasstarsfromthereachofthedebatersandthedescribers?DotheythinkthattheycanfindImamateinanybodyotherthantheHolyProphet(S)’sfamily?Theyaredeceivedbytheiropinionsandtheyareindulginginthefalsehopes.TheyaresurelyclimbingaruggedascentandaslipperymountthatwillsurelycausethemtostumbletotherockbottombecausetheyhaveintendedtonominateanImamoutoftheirdesires.HowcantheynominateanImamwhilethetrueImamispermanentlyknowledgeablethatignoranceneverreacheshimandacustodianthatneverbetrays?HeisthecoreoftheProphethoodwhoselineageistoohonorabletobecriticizedandnohighbornindividualcaneverdarehim.TheImam’stribeisQuraysh,hisclanisHashim,hisrootistheMessengerofAlmightyAllahandthemasterofthecelebritiesandtheoffspringof`AbdManaf.TheImamishewhoseknowledgeisincreasingandwhoseforbearanceisperfect.Heiscognizantofpolicyandworthyofleadership.Theobediencetohimisobligatory.HeistheexecutorofAlmightyAllah’scommandmentsandtheadviserofAlmightyAllah’sservants.AlmightyAllahhasleadtheProphetsandtheirsuccessors(a.s.)tosuccessandtherightpathandgiventhem(apartofHisstored)knowledgeandwisdomexclusivelysothattheybecomethemostknowledgeableofpeople.AlmightyAllah,theMajestic,says,“IstheonewhoguidestotheTruthaproperguideoronewhohimselfcannotfindguidanceunlessheisguided(byothers)?Whatiswrongwithyouthatyoujudge(sounjustly)?10/35”RelatingthestoryofSaul,Hesays,“Allahhaschosenhimasyourrulerandhasgivenhimphysicalpowerandknowledge.AllahgrantsHisauthoritytoanyonewhomHewants.2/247”AboutProphet(S)David,Hesays,“DavidslewGoliathandAllahgrantedDavidthekingdomandwisdomandalsotaughthimwhateverHewanted.2/251”AddressingtotheHolyProphet(S),Hesays,“AllahhasrevealedtheBooktoyou,hasgivenyouwisdomandhastaughtyouwhatyoudidnotknow.Certainly,Allah'sfavortoyouhasbeengreat.4/113”AbouttheImamsoftheAhlal-Bayt,Hesays,“AretheyjealousofthefavorsthatAllahhasdonetosomepeople(theImams)?WehavegiventothefamilyofAbrahamtheBook,WisdomandagreatKingdom.Somehavebelieved,othershavedisbelievedandtriedtopreventpeoplefrombelieving.Forthesepeople,onlytheintensefireofHellisasufficientpunishment.4/54-5”WhenAlmightyAllahselectssomeone(theImam)formanagingtheaffairsofHisservants,Hegrantshimtheinclinationtodoso,fillsinhisheartwithspringsofwisdomandbestowsuponhimwithfluency.Hence,hewillhavetheabilitytoansweranyquestionandwillsaynothingbutthetruth.TheImamisthereforegrantedsuccessfulness,rightguidanceandadvocacyandwillbesavedfrom

errorandflaw.Heisgivensuchcharacteristicssothathewillbeanargumentagainstthecreaturesandawitnessontheservants(ofAlmightyAllah).CantheythenensuresuchcharactersfortheonetheychooseasImamoutoftheiropinions?

[128]13.Al-Bukhari:al-Sahih1/16,5/127and8/137.

[129]14.Seeforinstanceal-Suyuti:al-Itqan1/75andal-Durral-Manthur2/259.

[130]15.Al-Tabari,inTafsir4/111,recordsmanyreportsontheauthorityofmajorSahabah,suchasIbn`Abbas,thattheVerseofIkmalal-DinwasrevealedonMonday.

[131]16.Ahmad:al-Musnad3/14,3/17-26,59and4/366,371,al-Darimi:al-Sunan2/431,Muslim:al-Sahih7/122,al-Hakim:al-Mustadrak3/109,148andal-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan2/148.

[132]17.Al-Suyuti:al-Durral-Manthur2/257-9[asquotedfromal-Bayhaqi:Shu`abal-«man],IbnHajar:Talkhisal-Hubayr7/3[asquotedfromal-Tabarani:al-Mu`jamal-KabirNo.12984andal-Tabari:Tafsir4/106],al-Qurtubi:Tafsir20/223andal-Razi:Tafsir3/523.Seealsoal-Amini:al-Ghadir1/230.

[133]18.Al-Bayhaqi:Dala`ilal-Nubuwwah7/233andal-Haythami:Majma`al-Zawa`id1/196.

[134]19.Shaykhal-Kulayni:al-Kafi4/245.

[135]20.Al-Hurral-`Amili:Wasa`ilal-Shi`ah9/318,al-Tabari:al-Mustarshid119.

[136]21.Al-Bukhari:al-Sahih4/6,Abu-Dawud:al-Sunan1/586andIbnSayyidal-Nas:`Uyunal-Athar2/341.Seealsoal-Majlisi:Biharal-Anwar16/272.

[137]22.IbnKathir:al-Sirah4/217.

[138]23.Al-Bukhari:al-Sahih2/146,184,187and4/7,al-Nassa`i:al-Sunan1/154,208and5/121,Muslim:al-Sahih4/32,IbnMajah:al-Sunan2/993andal-Bayhaqi:al-Sunan5/33.

[139]24.Al-`Ayni:`Umdatal-Qari,al-Qastalani:Irshadal-Sari,IbnHazm:al-Muhallaandal-Halabi:al-Sirahal-Halabiyyah3/257.

[140]25.Forinstance,seeIbnSa`d:al-Tabaqat2/124,al-Waqidi:al-Maghazi2/1089,al-Halabi:al-Sirahal-Halabiyyah(themarginof)3/3,al-Tabari:3/148,andal-Dhahbi:Tarikh2/701.

[141]26.TheHijriyearislunarandeachmonthbeginsattheapproximatenewmoon;therefore,monthsmaybeeitherthirtyortwentyninedays.

[142]1.Anexpansivedocumentationofthisfacthasbeenpresentedin`Alial-Kurani:Tadwinal-Qur`an.

[143]2.Ahmad:al-Musnad2/192,215andal-Hakim:al-Mustadrak1/105and3/528.

[144]3.SharifAl-Murtada:Tanzihal-Anbiya`167.

[145]4.SayyidHamidHusaynal-Lakahnuwi:`Abaqatal-Anwar,Shaykhal-Amini:al-Ghadir,al-Mar`ashi:Ihqaqal-Haqandal-Milani:Nafahatal-Azhar.

[146]5. Alial-Kurani:Mu`jamAhadithal-Imamal-Mahdi5/458asquotedfrom`AliibnIbrahimal-Qummi:Tafsir2/385andAbu-Zaynabal-Nu`mani:al-Ghaybah272.

[147]6.Al-Bukhari:al-Sahih5/199,Muslim:al-Sahih8/129andal-Fakhral-Razi:Tafsir3/122.

[148]7.HolyQur`an:Surahofal-AnfalVerse32.

[149]8.ByShaykhal-Tabrasi.

[150]9.Ahmad:al-Musnad1/190andal-Hakim:al-Mustadrak2/220.

[151]10.Al-Ya`qubi:Tarikh1/248and2/17andIbnHusham:al-Sirah1/85.

[152]11.Al-Balathiri:Fathal-Buldan60.

[153]12.bnHusham:al-Sirah3/587.

[154]13.Also,al-Sirah1/239,al-Suyuti:al-Durral-Manthur3/181,5/297and6/263andal-Suyuti:Tafsiral-Jalalayn540.

[155]14.IbnHusham:al-Sirah1/191and2/331andAl-Tabari:Tarikh2/98.

[156]15.IbnHusham:al-Sirah1/195andIbnSayyidal-Nas:`Uyunal-Athar1/142.

[157]16.IbnHusham:al-Sirah1/234al-Ya`qubi:Tarikh2/31.

[158]17.IbnHusham:al-Sirah2/488andal-Tabari:Tarikh2/142.

[159]18.IbnHusham:al-Sirah2/206-7,al-Tabari’sTarikh2/157and286andYaqutal-Hamawi:Mu`jamal-Buldan1/94.

[160]19.Al-Tabari:Tarikh2/358,IbnHusham:al-Sirah4/929,IbnKathir:3/682andal-Ya`qubi:Tarikh.

[161]20.Al-Sam`ani:al-Ansab3/110andIkmalal-Kamal1/327.

[162]21.Al-Bahrani:MadinataulMaajiz;2/267

[163]22.IbnHusham:al-Sirah2/488.

[164]23.Al-Ya`qubi:Tarikh2/63.

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