Imamate in the Prophet’s Tradition

When we read books on Islamic narrations, especially those written by our Sunni brethren, we find many narrations that verify the imamate of Imam `Al¢(s).

One wonders why there should be any doubt concerning `Al¢'s a successor ship despite the presence of so many documents and why should groups of believers follow paths different from that of the Infallible Ones(s).

These narrations, some of which are based on hundreds of documentation, and others, that rely on baseless documents, are all narrated in several famous Islamic books; they are so conclusive that we need no further documents to prove our point.

We will present you here with only a handful of these narrations. Those interested in further studies should examine the relevant sources.⁽[1]⁾

The Narration of Ghad¢r

According to most Islamic historians, the Honorable Prophet of Islam performed the Hajj ceremony in the last year of his life. Then, together with a large crowd of his new and old companions and those enthusiastic Muslims who had come to the °ij¡z to take part in the ceremony, they reached a place, called Ju¦fah, between Mecca and Medina, and later arrived at a place called Ghad¢r Khumm, which was, in fact, a cross-roads where the pilgrims went their separate ways.

Before the pilgrims could separate and set off on their private destinations, the Prophet(s) ordered them not to separate but gather there. It was terribly hot, and there was no shelter in sight. The Muslims performed the mid-day prayer with the Prophet(s) who asked them to stay for an important message.

A pulpit was made out of camel saddles and the Prophet climbed up on it. After thanking God for His blessings, he addressed the people, saying: “In the near future I will go away from you to join Allah. I have a responsibility and so do you; how would you bear witness about me?”

The people raised their voice, saying:

نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ وَجَاهَدْتَ فَجَزَاكَ اللهُ خَيْراً.

“We shall witness to the fact that you delivered your message and did good and did your best to guide us. May God give you your reward.”

Then the Prophet(s) asked them: Would you bear witness to God’s uniqueness, to my prophethood, to the authenticity of the Day of Judgment and to the Resurrection on that day?

Everybody answered: “Yes, we will bear witness that it is so.” Then the Prophet(s) added: “O God bear witness to this.”

Once again, he asked people: “O people, can you hear me?”

They answered: “Yes, we can.”

Then silence prevailed upon the desert. Nothing could be heard except for the sound of the wind. The Prophet(s) continued:

“Now, tell me what you will do with the two weighty things I will leave behind?”

A person shouted from among the crowd: “Which two weighty things, O Messenger of Allah?”

The Prophet replied: Firstly, the Greater Weight, namely the Holy Qur’¡n, which you should not abandon so that you might not go astray; secondly the Lesser Weight, that is, the People of the House of the Prophet. God has ordered me that you should not leave these two until they join me in Paradise. Do not leave these two, or else, you will be destroyed.”

Then he looked around, as if searching for someone and saw `Al¢. He reached over and took `Al¢’s hand in his own and raised it high, so high that both their armpits could be seen.

Now, the Prophet’s voice became more strident, and he said:

“Who is the most deserving among the Muslims?”

The people replied: “God and the Prophet know better.”

The Prophet(s) then said:

“God is my leader and I am the leader for the believers.” Then, he added:

فَمَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاَهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاَهُ.

“Anyone for whom I am his leader (Mawl¡), `Al¢ is his leader as well.”

The Prophet repeated this sentence three times, some say four times. Then, raising his head toward the sky, he said:

اَللَّهُمَ وَالِ مَنْ وَالاَهُ وَعَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ وَأَحِبَّ مَنْ أَحَبَّهُ وَأَبْغِضْ مَنْ أَبْغَضَهُ وَانْصُرْ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ وَاخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ وَأَدِرِ الْحَقَّ مَعَهُ حَيْثُ دَارَ.

“O God, love `Al¢’s friends; be an enemy to his enemies; show affection towards those who love him; hate those who show hatred towards him; help his followers; stop helping those who abandon him and let righteousness be with him for ever.”

Then he emphasized: “Those who are present should impart this news to those who are absent”

No sooner had the crowd dispersed when Gabriel revealed this verse to the Prophet(s):

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي...

“Today, I made your religion complete and completed my blessings upon you.”

At this moment, the Prophet(s) said:

اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ عَلَى إكْمَالِ الدِّينِ وَإتْمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ وَرِضَا الرَّبِّ بِرِسَالَتِي وَالوِلاَيَةِ لِعَلِيٍّ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

“I glorify God because He perfected His religion and completed His blessings and declared His satisfaction regarding my prophethood; I thank Him since He has appointed my successor.”

At this there was a strange commotion among the people and everybody congratulated `Al¢(s) for this achievement. Among the crowd, both Ab£-Bakr and Umar congratulated `Al¢ (s) by saying:

بَخٍ بَخٍ لَكَ يا بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ! أَصْبَحْتَ وَأَمْسَيْتَ مَوْلاَيَ وَمَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَمُؤْمِنَةٍ.

“Praise be upon you, praise be upon you, O son of Ab£-±¡lib; you have become my leader and the leader of all the believers.”

A large number of Islamic scholars have recorded the above narration in their books in different ways, some in detail and some in a concise manner. Nobody can doubt the validity of this narration. The great writer, `All¡mah Am¢n¢, in his famous book, called Al-Ghad¢r, reports this narration from one hundred and ten of the Prophet’s close followers and from three hundred and sixty famous Islamic books and writers. Among these scholars, there are some Sunni writers, as well.

A large group of Islamic writers have written books specifically on this issue. Among these writers is `All¡mah Am¢n¢. In his reference, this writer mentions the names of twenty-six other Islamic authors who have written separate books on the event of Ghad¢r.

Those who have not found any fault with the authenticity of this narration have expressed their doubts about the issue of imamate and have interpreted the word “Mawl¡” in the Prophet’s message as “friend” and not as “leader.” However, the circumstances show that the issue was related to the issue of the appointment of a successor:

a) The verse on delivery, which was discussed earlier in this section, and which was revealed to the Prophet prior to this event, and which was expressed with emphasis and urgency, explicitly reveals the fact that it did not speak of mere friendship which is not a cause for concern. Furthermore, the verse of “perfecting the religion” which was revealed to the Prophet(s) later than the verse above, shows that the issue had been one of leadership and successorship.

b) The way the event took place in a hot, scorching desert, with such a detailed speech and requiring the presence of the people all lead to the correctness of our claim.

c) The congratulations which `Al¢(s) received from the members of numerous groups and from people from different classes of society and the poems which were written on that day and afterwards, all refer to the fact that what the Prophet had declared was related to Imamate and Wil¡yah and nothing else.