The Event of Ghadeer and the Holy Quran

                                         The Event of Ghadeer and the Holy Quran

Allah, the Almighty says in the Holy Quran, 

إِنَّ هذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدي لِلَّتي‏ هِيَ أَقْوَمُ 

“Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright”

  Surah Bani Israel (17) – 9

It is evident from the above verse of the Holy Quran that one who follows the Holy Quran will indeed and most certainly be guided towards the most upright and correct path. The Holy Quran is a book of guidance for mankind and Muslims till the Day of Judgement. It is for Muslims all over the world to ponder over it’s verses with sincerity so that they be guided to the upright path. But what does the “upright path” actually means?

Without the explanation from the Holy Infallibles it would be impossible to understand, what the upright path actually means in the above verse?

Fuzail bin Yasaar narrates from Hazrat Imam Baqir (a.s.), 

 عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) إِنَّ هذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ‏، قال: يهدي إلى الولاية

Imam Baqir (a.s.) says, “Surely this Quran guides to that which is most upright”. He (a.s.) said, guides towards Wilayat. 

Al-Burhaan fi Tafsir al Quran, Vol. 3, Page 510 

Thus the upright path and correct path is the Wilayat of Ahle Bait (a.s.) and the Holy Quran guides towards this path. The biggest and most prominent announcement of Wilayat of Ahle Bait (a.s.) was on the Day of Ghadeer when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) announced the mastership of Ameerul Momineen, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) in front of thousands of companions while returning from the farewell pilgrimage. Let us look into the verses of Holy Quran concerning the incident of Ghadeer e Khum in the light of traditions of the holy Ahle Bait (a.s.) so that we are guided towards the real upright path.

In the light of traditions of the holy and pure Ahle Bait (a.s.) we quote below verses from the Holy Quran which were either revealed on the day of Ghadeer e Khum or just before it. Although there are other more famous verses related to incident of Gadheer but for the sake of brevity and to seek blessing from the Holy Panjetan (a.s) we limit our discussion to the following 5 verses of the Holy Quran.

1st Verse – Surah Zukruf (43) : Verses 79-80 

It is reported in Tafsir e Qummi, after performing Hajjatul Wida, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to all the companions present with him. 

“O people! I leave behind me two weighty things. The companions asked, O Messenger of Allah! What are the two weighty things? Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, the book of Allah and my family, my Ahle Bait (a.s.). Then surely certainly this has been conveyed to me by the Knower of Subtitles, and The Aware…” 

When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said this, then few companions gathered together and said, Mohammed (s.a.w.a.), desires that he places Imamat in his family. Then four from amongst them left from there and went to Mecca and entered the Khane Kaaba and they made a promise, and they wrote amongst them a writing, if Mohammed (s.a.w.a.) dies or is killed we will certainly never let this affair (succession and Imamat) return to his family ever. Then Allah, the Almighty revealed this verse, 

أَمْ أَبْرَمُوا أَمْرًا فَإِنَّا مُبْرِمُونَ۔ أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُم بَلَى وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

Or have they settled an affair? Then surely We are the settlers. Or do they think that We do not hear what they conceal and their secret discourses? Aye! and Our messengers with them write down.

Surah Zukhruf (43) : 79 to 80

Then Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) left from Mecca for Medina till they reached a place which was called Ghadeer e Khum. Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) taught the people their rituals and mentioned to them his wasiyat. Then the verse 67 of Surah Maidah and verse 3 of the same Surah were revealed on the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

2nd Verse - Surah Tauba (9) : Verse 74

يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِسْلَامِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُو

“They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their [pretense of] Islam and planned that which they were not to attain.”

Surah Tauba (9) : Verse 74

Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says, when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood on the day of Ghadeer with Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), there were with him seven people from the Munafeqeen, they were, Fulaan and Fulaan, Abdul Rehman bin Auf, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, Abu Ubaida, Abu Huzaifa, and Mogaira. The third said, did you look at his eyes, they were as if eyes of a Majnoon – meaning the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) at the time when he stood up and said, my Lord told me, then when he stood up he said, who is having more authority on you then yourselves. They said, Allah and His messenger. He (s.a.w.a.) said – O Allah, bear witness, that of whomsoever I am master, Ali is his master. Then they greeted him with (the title) Ameerul Momineen. Then Gibrael (as) descended and made him Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) aware of their conversation. Then he (s.a.w.a.) called them and asked them, then they denied and swore. Then Allah, the Almighty descended the above verse. 

Tafsir al-Qummi, Vol. 1, Page 301

3rd  Verse – Surah Saba (34) : Verse 46 

قُلْ إِنَّما أَعِظُكُمْ بِواحِدَةٍ أَنْ تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنى‏ وَ فُرادى‏ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا ما بِصاحِبِكُمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ نَذيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذابٍ شَديد

Say, "I only advise you of one [thing] - that you stand for Allah , [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought." There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.

Surah Saba (34): Verse 46

It is reported in Tafseer al Burhaan from Yaqoob bin Yazid who says that he asked Imam Sadiq (a.s.) concerning the above verse. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, with Wilayat. I asked him, and how is it? Imam (a.s.) said, when he (s.a.w.a.) stood with Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) in front of the people and said “of whomsoever I am master, Ali is his master”, a man slandered him and said, “surely Mohammed (s.a.w.a.) invites us every day to a new thing. It is now apparent that he intends to tie his Ahle Bait (a.s.) around our neck”. Then Allah the Almighty revealed the above verse upon His Messenger (s.a.w.a.). 

The narrator then says, he asked him regarding the second part of the verse, that you stand for Allah , [seeking truth] in pairs and individually. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) replied, pairs refers to obedience of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and obedience of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and individually refers to obedience of the Imam from their progeny after both of them and by Allah O Yaqoob, it does not mean anything other than this. 

Al-Burhaan fi Tafsir al Quran, Vol. 4, Page 526

4th  Verse – Surah Qalam (68) : Verses 1 – 6

ن وَ الْقَلَمِ وَ ما يَسْطُرُونَ (1) ما أَنْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ (2) وَ إِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْراً غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ (3) وَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‏ خُلُقٍ عَظيمٍ (4) فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَ يُبْصِرُونَ (5) بِأَيِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ (6)

Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write. By the grace of your Lord you are not mad. And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off. And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality. So you shall see, and they (too) shall see. Which of you is afflicted with madness.

Surah Qalam (68) – Verses 1 to 6

It is narrated in Tafseer e Furat al Kufi from Hazrat Imam Sadiq (a.s.), when the Wilayat of Ali (a.s.) was revealed, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stood in front of the people and said, “Of whomsoever I am Master, Ali (a.s.) is his master”. Then a man said, most certainly he is captivated (fascinated) by this youth (referring to Ali (a.s.). Then Allah revealed this verse, “Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write. By the grace of your Lord you are not mad. And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off. And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality. So you shall see, and they (too) shall see. Which of you is afflicted with madness.”

Tafseer e Furat e Kufi, Page 495

5th  Verse – Surah Qiyamat (75) : Verses 31 to 34

فَلا صَدَّقَ وَ لا صَلَّى (31) وَ لكِنْ كَذَّبَ وَ تَوَلَّى (32) ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلى‏ أَهْلِهِ يَتَمَطَّى (33) أَوْلى‏ لَكَ فَأَوْلى‏ (34)

And the disbeliever had not believed, nor had he prayed. But [instead], he denied and turned away. And then he went to his people, swaggering [in pride]. Woe to you, and woe!

Surah Qiyamat (68) : Verses 31 to 34

In Tafseer e Furat, it is narrated from Janabe Ammar e Yasir (r.a.) who quotes Janabe Abu Zar e Gaffari (r.a.), that Janabe Abu Zar said the below in a gathering of Ibn Abbas. 

Janabe Abu Zar (r.a.) said, “… O people, do you not know that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) gathered people on the Day of Ghadeer Khum and he said, “of whomsoever I am master, Ali (a.s.) is his master. O Allah! You love the one who loves him, bear enmity with the who bears enmity with him, help the one who helps him, forsake the one who forsakes him. Then a man stood up and said, congratulation to you O ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) you have become master of all believing man and believing woman today. Then when Mowaiya ibn Abi Sufiyan heard this, he reclined towards Mogaira ibn Shobah and said, I do not acknowledge Ali (a.s.) of his Wilayat and I do not agree to Mohammed (s.a.w.a.) in what he is saying. Then Allah, the Almighty revealed upon his Prophet (s.a.w.a.) And the disbeliever had not believed, nor had he prayed. But [instead], he denied and turned away. And then he went to his people, swaggering [in pride]. Woe to you, and woe!

Tafseer e Furat e Kufi, Page 515