Hundred Questions - Walayat of `Ali (may peace be through him)
Walayat of `Ali (may peace be through him)
Q80 Why is the Walayat of `Ali (May peace be through him) obligatory on a mu'min? Is there any proof for it in the Qur'an and Tradition?
A80
- The importance and necessity of our Mawla `Ali's (May peace be through him) walayat is because of the fact that his walayat is that of God and the Messenger, because by God's command, he is wali-yi amr (the one entrusted with Divine authority) after the Prophet.
- Since Hazrat-i `Ali (May peace be through him) is the true successor to the Prophet and the true Imam, therefore, his walayat, love, friendship and obedience are obligatory.
- It is said in the wise Qur'an "(O Prophet! Say to these people) if you love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins" (3:31). According to this verse, God's obedience and love are not possible directly but only indirectly. That is, they are possible through the mediation of the Prophet. If that is the case, then how can there be any doubt that in the same way, the Prophet's obedience and love are possible through `Ali's (May peace be through him) mediation?
- God, may He be exalted, says: "Indeed your guardian is Allah, and His messenger and those who believe, who establish prayers and pay zakat (religious tax) while they are bowing down (in prayers). (5:55)". In this verse the three stages of walayat are mentioned in one place with the purpose that, in fact, those three stages are one. That is, the walayat of God is through the Prophet, and that of the Prophet is through `Ali (May peace be through him), as obedience is in three stages: obedience to God, obedience to the Prophet and obedience to the ulu'l-amr (4:59), but these three obediences are, in reality, one.
- The authentic tradition is well-known that this verse was revealed about Imam `Ali (May peace be through him), for it was he who gave zakat to a beggar in the state of ruku` (bowing in prayers). In this respect see the books pertaining to this subject. Now if someone asks: if the above-mentioned verse was about Hazrat-i `Ali (May peace be through him), after the mention of God and the Prophet's walayat, why not mention the walayat of one person, why mention persons in the plural? That is, if the walayat was in regard to Imam `Ali (May peace be through him), why is it not mentioned in the singular form?
The first answer to this question is that those who are taught the walayat in this verse are general Muslims and mu'mins; but those whose walayat is obligatory after that of God and the Messenger, are selected and distinguished from the rest of Muslims and mu'mins. Thus from this Qur'anic teaching, on the one hand, we know that the walayat of those which is mentioned here is not the ordinary love and friendship which one Muslim should have for another. On the other hand we came to know that on the perfect level of faith, there are certain chosen people whose walayat is obligatory on all the people of Islam.
The second answer is that in the state of ruku`, none except `Ali (May peace be through him) from among the companions of the Prophet has given zakat to a beggar. This is a wisdom- filled coincidence. Thus, it is established that this verse is about Hazrat-i `Ali (May peace be through him) and his walayat after that of the Prophet, which is universally accepted. In fact, it is not only this one verse which mentions `Ali's (May peace be through him) being wali- yi amr, rather there are numerous other verses and traditions regarding this. Therefore, here the question should be framed in this way: What is the wisdom in mentioning Hazrat-i `Ali (May peace be through him) as a group and not as a single individual? The answer may be given as follows:
- It is a special miracle of Qur'anic wisdom that in an appropriate place many people are mentioned in the mention of one individual. Thus God, in His profound wisdom, included in Hazrat-i `Ali's (May peace be through him) action the actions of all the true Imams in his progeny, may peace be upon them, so that it may be evident to wise people that all pure Imams are united like one single soul, not only in the rank of walayat, but also in the function of guidance. So this is the reason that Imam `Ali's (May peace be through him) attributes are mentioned in the plural form.
- It is mentioned in the Qur'an: "Verily! Abraham was a nation (ummat) obedient to Allah, upright, and he was not of the polytheists" (16:120). So here too, is the same reality. The action of Abraham (May peace be through him) is regarded as the action of all the Prophets and Imams from his progeny, for he was their progenitor and his status and rank had to continue in their succession till the Resurrection as mentioned in the Qur'an (4:54).
- Let us have a look at a common example of how the Qur'an considers infidels, both of the past and the present, as one community, as if the way of their disbelief and disobedience is the same. Such as: "Say (unto them, O Prophet): Why then slew you the Prophets of Allah in previous times, if you are indeed believers?"(2:91).
It is obvious that those who slew the Prophets of God in previous times did not exist during the time of Prophet, because they had long since passed away from this world. However, in Prophet Muhammad's (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) time, there were people who thought like them and continued their ideology. Therefore, God, considering the past and present infidels as one community, said: "Why did you slay the Prophets?"
After these Qur'anic proofs, attention is drawn to the Prophetic Traditions regarding the walayat of `Ali (May peace be through him) and his progeny. There are numerous Traditions, which establish the walayat of `Ali (May peace be through him). However, in connection with Hundred Questions, as we do not like to prolong one answer, it will suffice to quote only one important Tradition, which is: "I am from `Ali and `Ali is from me".
If we try to understand this Tradition in the light of reason and wisdom, we will come to know the vivid fact that this tradition has great spiritual comprehensiveness. That is, `Ali's (May peace be through him) being from the Prophet means that `Ali (May peace be through him) received all the treasures of intellect and understanding, knowledge, wisdom, rectitude and guidance from the Prophet, and the Prophet's being from `Ali (May peace be through him) means that the holy light of the Prophet was transferred into Mawla `Ali (May peace be through him), and thenceforth it continues living and shining in the succession of the Imamat of the progeny of Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) and the children of `Ali (May peace be through him).
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