IN THE NAME OF GOD

ًً‫و هى اليىم الذي اهز‬،ً‫قال رسىل هللا(ص) يىم غديز خن افضل اعياد أهت‬
‫و هى اليىم‬،‫هللا بٌصب اخً علً بي ابً طالب علوا ألهتً يهتدوى به هي بعدي‬
‫و رضً لهن االسالم ديٌا‬،‫و أتن علً أهتً فيه الٌعوة‬،‫الذي اكول فيه الديي‬
The Messenger of Allah (A.S.) has said:

Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) says: “The day of Ghadir Khum is the greatest 'Eid of my nation.
It is the day on which Allah, the High, ordered me to mention the appointment of my brother, 'Ali
ibn Abi Talib as the flag and standard of my nation. People shall be guided by him after me and this
is the day in which Allah completed the religion and perfected the bounties upon my nation and on
which He was pleased with Islam as their religion.”

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 Mawla Ali (A.S.)
By: Prof. M.S. Tajar

There is a beautiful verse in the Holy Qur’an, in which Allah (S.W.T.)

says: “Truly! Truly! Your only Wali (=Mawla/ Master) is Allah and His
Messenger (Mohammad), and those who believe…those who establish the
prayers, and give charity, while they are (still) in prayer.” See Holy Qur’an
(5:55)

A great number of Muslim scholars have written that the third person
(after Allah and His Messenger) who is indicated in that verse to be the
“Wali” of the Muslims, is Imam Ali. In other words, Imam Ali is the Muslim
Ummah’s “Wali” or Mawla, as per the directive of Allah (S.W.T.) in the
Holy Qur’an.

(Ref. “The Musnad” of Imam Ahmad Hanbal, Vol.. 5/p. 38; Also p. 331/356,
etc.)

This important Qur’anic Message, regarding the hierarchy of the

leadership or “Wali”, in the Islamic Government, was also re-iterated
many times, by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) himself.

Specifically, on the occasion of “Ghadir Khum”, when a great

celebration took place, in an open field, while the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
and thousands of his followers were returning from the Pilgrimage to
Mecca, in the year 10 A.H. (632 A.D.)

In that historic gathering, in the desert, the Holy Prophet

Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was ordered by Allah (S.W.T.) through the
Archangel Jebrail (A.S.) to announce that important Message to one and
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all, immediately; and he did so, to all the Muslims, those who were
present on that fateful day , as well as to those who were to come, in the
future generations.

In his own Khutbah to the crowd who were present, the Holy
Prophet declared: “MAN KONTO MAWLAH , FA HAZA ALIYYON MAWLAH!
…” meaning: To whomever I (the Holy Prophet) was “Mawla” (= from the
word “Wali” meaning Master) this Ali is Mawla, too. (Ref. “Sawa-iq
Muhriqa” by Ibni Hajar, chapter 11 p.9; also in Sec. 5, chapter 1, p. 25; as
well as in “Sahih Tirmidi” and “ Al-Mustadrak”, Vol.. 2, p.325 and Vol.. 4, p.
281. Also refer to the commentaries of the Holy Qur’an, regarding the
verse 67 of the chapter 5 (Al-Maidah), etc.

This was how the Qur’anic guideline about “Wali” or “ Mawla”, meaning
leader/master/ruler, etc. was explained and emphasized further by the
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) in the last year of his life, just a few months before
his own death, in the year 10 A.H.(632 A.D.)

The Meaning of Mawla

No self-respecting Muslim scholar has ever denied or questioned the

“Declaration of Imam Ali, as Mawla of the Muslim Ummah”, in “Ghadhir
Khum” by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.). Yet, some enemies of Imam Ali
(A.S.) have tried, helplessly, to confuse the Muslim Ummah, by saying that
in Arabic language, the word “Mawla” has several other meanings, too;
including ‘friend’/ neighbor/servant, etc. (Ref. The English-Arabic
Dictionary of “Al-Mawrid”/Beirut, p.562).

The answer to this misinformation and misunderstanding is very

simple and very clear. If they had listened carefully ,the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) was referring to “Mawla “as he himself was the Mawla of the
Muslim Ummah, therefore, the word Mawla in that context, cannot be any
other than the Holy Prophet’s own “Mawla-ship”(=leadership) was.

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Especially, considering the fact that he made this important declaration, in
the desert, immediately after that famous Qur’anic verse in which Allah
(S.W.T.) ordered him to do so, with the warning that if he failed to do it,
then he had not accomplished Allah’s Mission, at all! (Ref. The Holy
Qur’an: Chap. 5, Verse 67) In that fundamental verse of the Holy Qur’an,
Allah (S.W.T.) says, and we quote: “O’ Messenger of God! (Mohammad)
declare that which has been sent down to you, from your Lord! And if you
don’t do it, then you have not accomplished His Mission! Allah will protect
you from the (evil) people! ...” (H.Q. 5:67)

There are lots of interesting points in this verse for us to explore, for which
we don’t have much of time and space. But, then as they say:

“To those who believe, there is no need of a proof, and to those who
don’t, no proof is enough!”

Now, going back to what actually the word “Mawla” means in the
Arabic language, and what the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) meant, when he
said: “Man Konto Mawlah….” We believe it was the “Wilayah” or the
leadership of the Muslim Ummah, after the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.), not
what the “Nay Sayers, hypocrites, and the sick of heart” have claimed.

Mawla Means Authorized Successor

Taking into account that the Holy Prophet’s declaration came just a
few months before his own death; and again considering the fact that the
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) had already told his followers that this was going
to be his last Haj (= Hajjatul Widaa/or “ Goodbye Haj meaning to say that
he would never be around to perform another Hajj (in another words his
last year of life) then saying: “To who I was Mawla (=wali) this Ali is his
Mawla” means exactly the appointment of the successor after him”. (Not
a neighbor /friend or a servant!).

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Did Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) Appoint Any Successor?

As far as the blessed family of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) or the

Ahlul Bayt are concerned, yes, he did! And their followers also throughout
the history of Islam, have maintained this faith, dearly, even at the
expense of their own lives and property. (See the brutal murder of Shi-ah
Muslim, by the Taliban, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, or by the Al-Qaidah in
Iraq).

But, again, some enemies of Imam Ali (A.S.) have claimed that the
Prophet, (P.B.U.H.) died without saying a single word about his own
succession.

If we accept that argument, then it means that all the four Caliphs
(Khulafa Rashidin, or the well guided Khalifahs), who were also some of
the greatest companions of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.)
actually opposed and denied the “Sunnah” and the tradition of the Holy
Prophet; Because, unlike the Holy Prophet, they appointed their own
successors after themselves, whithout exception!

(Is it possible that the greatest followers and disciples of the Holy Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) were deviating from his tradition, immediately after his death?)

Look at the following instances that took place, after the death of the
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.):

1. The first Khalifah of the Holy Prophet, i.e. Abu Bakr, did actually
appoint his own successor, by naming the second Caliph Omar as the
next ruler after him! Yet, some Muslims, claim that the Holy Prophet
did not appoint any successor! So, this was a violation of the Sunnah
or the tradition of the Holy Prophet.
2. The second Khalifah Omar also appointed a successor after himself,
by choosing a council of six people, to name one among themselves,

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 as the Khalifah of the Prophet. (Again another violation of what the
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) did, or actually did not do).
3. Then, the third Khalifah Othman was killed, even before he could
appoint anyone, as his own successor, but because he was one of the
six members of the council that was established by the second
Khalifah Omar, then it means that he also believed in appointing a
successor, again another violation of what the Holy Prophet is
believed to have not done, at all!
4. The fourth Khalifah among the Khulafa Rashidin” or the well guided
Khalifs, /the righteous rulers” was Imam Ali. He also appointed his
eldest son, Imam Hasan, saying that this was actually based on the
instructions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) before his death, when he
said: “The Emirs after me (the righteous and legitimate successors to
the Holy Prophet) shall only be 12, as were the righteous successors
to the Prophet Moses (A.S.) among the Israelites, before me. And all
the 12 Emirs shall come from the Bani Hashim” (i.e. the family of the
Holy Prophet). See “ Yanabi A l-Mawaddah” by Qonduzi Al-hanafi,
Ch. 77, pp. 308, 533.
5. Then, again Imam Hassan (A.S.) who was also the grandson of the
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) appointed his own younger brother Imam
Hosain (A.S.) as his own successor , just like the Prophet Moses (A.S.)
who appointed his own younger brother Haroon (A.S.), in the earlier
times. (Ref. The Holy Qur’an 7:142) Imam Hassan also believed that
this was based on the instruction of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.). (see
“Abaqat Al-Anwar” by Mir Hamid Hosain Musawi, p. 980).

Another interesting point to ponder here is that the last three Imams
that were mentioned above, were also, members of the Holy Ahlul
Bayt, or the Household of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) who,
according to the belief of all the Muslims, were “Purified by Allah from
all forms of wrongdoing, “ as the Glorious Qur’an declared them to be,

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in the Ayah 33 of the Surah 33. (Ref: The Glorious Qur’an by Abdullah
Yusuf Ali/p.1116.

This tradition of appointing their own successors, continued in the

family of the Holy Prophet, generation after generation, and that is
what the true followers of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and
his Household still believe, to this day.

So, what the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) declared on that

hot summer day, in the Ghadir Khum, by appointing Imam Ali (A.S.) the
Mawla/Wali of the Muslims, just like he himself was, over the Muslim
Ummah, is valid until the last day of life, on this earth.

And that is the true meaning of: “Ash-hado An-na Aliyyan Waliyyul-
Lah!” meaning to say that, being the faithful followers of the Sunnah or
the tradition of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) we Muslims also declare
Imam Ali (A.S) as our own “Mawla”/Wali, as the beloved Prophet taught
us, in that historic day of “Ghadir Khum” by saying: Man Konto mawlah,
Aliyyon Mawlah.”

References:

1) The Holy Qur’an (with English Explanations, transliterated, by Prof. M.S. Tajar, National Bookstores, Philippines, 2011

3rd edition.

2) Imam Ahmad Hanbal, ‘Al-Musnad’, Vol.. 5/ Elmi Books/Lebanon,2002.

3) Shibli Numani, ‘Siratun Nabi”, Muarif Press, Azam Gad/1920/pp.165,166,

4) Amir Ali, “The Spirit of Islam”, Siraj Books, Karachi, Pakistan,1972

5) Imam Tabarani “ Al-kabir’ Darul Ilm Publications/ Damascus/1980/Hadith No.2625

6) Ali Muttaqi, “ Kanzul Ummal” Egypt, 1938/Vol. 6, p.153,157.

7) Munir Ba-albakki, “Al-Maurid” English -Arabic Dictionary. Dar Al-Ilm Books/ Beirut/1980-p.562.

8) Elias A. Elias “The School Arabic-English Dic.” Dar Al-Jil Books, Lebanon,1962/p.454

9) Mohammad F. Abdul Baqi “ The Holy Qur’an Dictionary” Darul Kutub Publishers, Cairo, Egypt, 1945

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 10) Mohammad Bin Isma-il Bukhari “ Sahih Bukhari”Darul Kutub, Cairo, 1935.

11) Muslim Bin Hajjaj, “Sahih Muslim” Darul ilm, Beirut, 1978.

12) Mohammad Tirmidi, “Sahih Tirmidi”, Darul Kutub, Cairo, 1952

13) Hanbal, Imam Ahmad, “Al-Musnad” Ilmi Books, Beirut, 1968

14) Abdullah Yusuf Ali, “The Glorious Qur’an”, with commentary, Libya, 1973.

Edited by: CSD