Descending the verse “al-Wilāyah” (10 A.H. /632 A.D.)
On Monday, the 1st of July 2024 A.D. (the 24th of Dhū al-Hijjah 1445 A.H.)
«إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُونَ»
“Verily, your guardian (walī) is Allah, His messenger, and the believers; those who perform the prayers and give Zakāh (alms) while bowing down (in their prayer)”. (The Quran, 5:55)
Shia believes this verse, as the “Verse of al-Wilāyah”, indicates to the succession of Imam Ali as the Walī (guardian) after Prophet Muhammad. Also many Sunni commentators of the Quran confirm the fact that the above verse was descended on the honor of Imam Ali and many Sunni scholars have also mentioned the unanimity or consensus of opinion in their books upon this view. For instance, the famous commentator, Zamakhsharī says about this verse, “It was revealed in favor of Ali (may Allah enlighten his face). When a beggar asked him for alms in the mosque and Ali was in the position of bowing down during his prayer, he gave away his ring while in that position. It seems it was loose on the little finger, for he did not exert any effort in taking it off, which would have nullified his prayer.” (Tafsīr al-Kashshāf (See interpretation of 5:55)
Here are some more Sunni references in this regard:
(1) Tafsīr al-Kabīr, by Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Tha'labī, under Verse 5:55;
(2) Tafsīr al-Kabīr, by Ibn-e-Jarīr al-Tabarī, v. 6, pp. 186 & 288-289;
(3) Tafsīr al-Durr al-Manthūr, by al-Suyūtī, v. 2, pp. 293-294;
(4) Tafsīr al-Kashshāf, by al-Zamakhsharī, Egypt 1373, v. 1, pp. 505,649;
(5) Asbāb al-Nuzūl, by Jalāl al-dīn al-Suyūtī, Egypt 1382, v. 1, p. 73 on the authority of Ibn-e-‘Abbās;
(6) Asbāb al-Nuzūl, by al-Wāhidī, on the authority of Ibn-e-‘Abbās, under Verse 5:55;
(7) Sharh al-Tajrīd, by Allama Qūshjī, under Verse 5:55;
(8) Ahkām al-Quran, al-Jassās, v. 2, pp. 542-543;
(9) Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, v. 5, p. 38;
(10) Kanz al-Ummāl, by al-Muttaqī al-Hindī, v. 6, p. 391, no. 5991;
... and more.
The story is that Abūdhar al-Ghifārī, the great companion of the Prophet, says, "One day I said my prayers in the company of the Prophet. A beggar came to the mosque and begged for alms, but nobody gave him anything. The beggar raised his hands towards heavens and said, "O Allah! Be a witness that I came to Your Prophet's mosque and no one gave me anything." Ali was in a state of bowing down in his prayer. He pointed out his ring to the beggar who approached him and removed the ring from his finger.
Thereupon the Prophet, Allah's blessings and peace be upon him and his posterity, implored Allah the Mighty and Glorious, saying, ‘O Allah! My brother Moses begged you saying, 'My Lord, delight my heart and make my task easy and undo the knot in my tongue so that they may understand me, and appoint from my kinsmen, Aaron, my brother, as my vizier, and strengthen my back with him and make him participate in my mission so that we may glorify You and remember You more frequently. Certainly, You see us. And You inspired him, 'O Moses! All your requests have been granted.'
Then the Prophet continued, “O Allah! I am your slave and your prophet. Delight my heart and make my task easy and appoint from among my kinsmen Ali as my vizier and strengthen my back with him. Then, Abūdhar proceeded, ‘By Allah, the Messenger of Allah had not yet finished his supplication when the trustworthy Gabriel descended to him with this Verse, “Certainly Allah is Your Master, and His Prophet and those who believe who establish prayer and give charity while they bow. And whoever takes Allah and His Messenger and those who believe as a guardian, so surely the party of Allah will be victorious.” (The Quran, 5:55 and 56)
