• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Du`a – Essence of `Ibadat Part Three - The Ultimate Purpose of the Message of the Qur'an

The Ultimate Purpose of the Message of the Qur'an

Tags: Ghadir-i Khumm, Walayat, Wasi

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

“Ya ayyuha'r-rasulu balligh ma unzila ilayka mir-rabbika, wa il-lam taf`al fa-ma ballaghta risalatahu, wa'llahu ya`simuka mina'n-nas = O Messenger! Convey that which has been revealed unto you from your Lord. And if you did not, then you did not convey His message. And (do not be afraid!) Allah will protect you from humankind” (5:67).

This verse was brought by the Trustworthy Jibra'il, at the place of Hajfah, which is situated at a distance of three miles from Ghadir-i Khumm, when the Prophet was returning to Madinah after completing the farewell pilgrimage. This Shi`ah narration is also found in the books of some truth-loving Sunni savants. Here we quote a marginal note from the translation of the Qur'an, p.188 by Farman `Ali, a Shi`ah commentator. He says: “Ibn Abi Hatim has narrated from Abu Sa'id Khudari that this verse was revealed about Hadhrat `Ali at Ghadir-i Khumm. Based on this, Ibn Mardawayh has narrated from Ibn Mas`ud that this verse used to be recited during the life time of the Prophet as follows: “Ya ayyuha'r-rasulu balligh ma unzila ilayka mir-rabbika anna `Aliyyan mawla'l-mu'minina, wa il-lam taf`al…” = O Messenger! Convey the command that has been revealed to you about `Ali, that he is the Mawla (master) of the mu'mins. And if you did not…” (Tafsir-i Durr-i Manthur, by Jalalu'd-Din Suyuti, a Sunni commentator (Misr, n.d.) III, 398).

In fact, the Prophet wanted to appoint `Ali ibn Abi Talib as his khalifah or successor for a long time, but he did not take steps to do so because of the fear of opposition from some of his companions. But finally, when this emphatic command of God revealed to him on the way to Madinah after the farewell pilgrimage, he was compelled to declare him as his successor at Ghadir-i Khumm, in front of approximately a hundred thousand people. On his appointment as the khalifah and wasi, the people congratulated Hadhrat `Ali on his khilafat and walayat and poets composed eulogies in his praise, such as the famous verse of Hassan:

Fa-qala lahu qum ya `Aliyyu fa-innani
Radhituka min ba`di imaman wa hadiya

He (the Prophet) said to him (Hadhrat `Ali):

“O Ali stand up, indeed I am pleased to appoint you as the Imam and guide after me”.

“La ilaha illa'llahu'l-hayyu'l-qayyum = There is no God except Allah, Who is Everliving and Everlasting by Himself”. “La ilaha illa'llahu'l-maliku'l-haqqu'l-mubin = There is no God except Allah, Who is the real King of the manifest”. “La ilaha illa'llahu'l-maliku'l-haqqu'l-yaqin = There is no God except Allah, Who is the real King of certainty”; “La ilaha illa'llahu maliku yawmi'd-din = There is no God except Allah, Who is the Master of the Day of Judgement”; “La fata illa `Aliyyun, la sayfa illa Dhu'l-faqar = There is no ideal man except 'Ali (and) there is no ideal sword except Dhu'l-faqar.” “Tawassalu `inda'l-masa'ibi bi-mawlakumu'l-hadhiri'l-mawjudi Shah Karimi'l-Husayni = Seek the mediation and closeness of your lord Shah Karim al-Husayni during calamities.” “Allahumma laka sujudi wa-ta`ati = O Allah! my prostration and obedience is for You.”

The kalimah “La ilaha illa'llah” is among the perfect Words of the wise Qur'an. Perfect words mean those words or concise phrases which contain numerous meanings of the universe and the existents. For instance, “kun” is one such Word, which only means “Be”, yet endless realities are hidden in it. Hadhrat Hakim Pir Nasir-i Khusraw has explained the ta'wil of “la ilaha illa'llah” in discourse 11 of Wajh-i Din.