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Ghadeer - Meaning of Mawla: Then the Messenger of Allah continued: "Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?”People cried and answered: "Yes, O’ Messenger of God.”Then Prophet (S) held up the hand of ‘Ali and said: "Whoever I am his Mawla, ‘Ali is his Mawla. O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him." ألَسْتُ أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم؟ قالوا بلى يارسول الله. قال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه. اللهم وال من والاه و عاد من عاداه. Some of the Sunni references: (1) Sahih Tirmidhi, v2, p298, v5, p63 (2) Sunan Ibn Maja, v1, pp 12,43 (3) Khasa’is, by al-Nisa’i, pp 4,21 (4) al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v2, p129, v3, pp 109-110,116,371 (5) Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 84,118,119,152,330, v4, pp 281,368,370, 372,378, v5, pp 35,347,358,361,366,419 (from 40 chains of narrators) (6) Fada’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, pp 563,572 (7) Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, p103 (from several transmitters) (8) Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, v12, pp 49-50 (9) Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur, by al-Hafiz Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, v3, p19 (10) Tarikh al-Khulafa, by al-Suyuti, pp 169,173 (11) al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah, by Ibn Kathir, v3, p213, v5, p208 (12) Usdul Ghabah, by Ibn Athir, v4, p114 (13) Mushkil al-Athar, by al-Tahawi, v2, pp 307-308 (14) Habib al-Siyar, by Mir Khand, v1, part 3, p144 (15) Sawaiq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, p26 (16) al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v2, p509; v1, part1, p319, v2, part1, p57, v3, part1, p29, v4, part 1, pp 14,16,143 (17) Tabarani, who narrated from companions such as Ibn Umar, Malik Ibn al-Hawirath, Habashi Ibn Junadah, Jari, Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas, Anas Ibn Malik, Ibn Abbas, Amarah,Buraydah,... (18) Tarikh, by al-Khatib Baghdadi, v8, p290 (19) Hilyatul Awliya’, by al-Hafiz Abu Nu’aym, v4, p23, v5, pp26-27 (20) al-Istiab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, Chapter of word "ayn”(‘Ali), v2, p462 (21) Kanzul Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v6, pp 154,397 (22) al-Mirqat, v5, p568 (23) al-Riyad al-Nadirah, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, v2, p172 (24) Dhaka’ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p68 (25) Faydh al-Qadir, by al-Manawi, v6, p217 (26) Yanabi’ al-Mawaddah, by al-Qudoozi al-Hanafi, p297 ... And hundreds more. Meaning of Mawla: As per the above hadith the prophet is Mawla of believers and the same is Ali Mawla of the believers. First we should look the prophet has what characteristics being Mawla of believers in order to derive its real meaning for the Imam Ali? The Prophet is Mawla of believers; First I make this clear that he prophet is the seal of the prophets and there is no prophet after him. لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا Ye have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day and who engages much in the praise of Allah. (33:21) But he has declared himself Mawla of the believers, so that we should find specific characteristics attributed to him in relation to the believers قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٣١} : Say: "If ye do love Allah follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." (3:31) قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ {٣٢} 003:032 Say, ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, indeed Allah does not like the faithless. ٢٠ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ ٢٤_٥٤ قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُم مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ٤٧_٣٣ ۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوٓا۟ أَعْمَٰلَكُمْ 008:020 O you who have faith! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you hear [him]. 024:054 Say, ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger.’ But if you turn your backs, [you should know that] he is only responsible for his burden and you are responsible for your own burden, and if you obey him, you will be guided, and the Messenger’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms. 047:033 O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not render your works void. ٣_١٣٢ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ٥_٩٢ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 003:132 and obey Allah and the Messenger so that you may be granted [His] mercy. 005:092 And obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and beware; but if you turn your backs, then know that Our Messenger’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms. ٨_٤٦ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ 008:046 And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute, or you will lose heart and your power will be gone. And be patient; indeed Allah is with the patient. ٦٤_١٢ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 064:012 Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away, then Our Messenger’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ 049:001 O you who have faith! Do not venture ahead of Allah and His Messenger, and be wary of Allah. Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing. Similarly for imam Ali being Mawla: “Obey Allah and messenger” / (who is also mawla). So obeying the Mawla is mandatory. Thus confirms that the meaning of Mawala as given in Ghaderr narration is leader who is to be followed/Obeyed, like for the prophet who is also Mawla of believers. Thus confirming that Imaam Ali is Mawla of believers and he is the leader after the prophet and he should be obeyed with the same authority as that of the prophet on believers. Hadith Manzlia: The Messenger of Allah said to ‘Ali: "Your position to me is like the position of Aaron (Haroon) to Moses, except that there shall be no Prophet after me" أنتَ مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا إنَّهُ لا نبيَّ بعدي Sunni References: (1) Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English version, Traditions 5.56, 5.700 (2) Sahih Muslim, Arabic, v4, pp 1870-71 (3) Sunan Ibn Majah, p12 (4) Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p174 (5) al-Khasa’is, by al-Nisa’i, pp 15-16 (6) Mushkil al-Athar, by al-Tahawi, v2, p309 The hadith is recorded in two Sahiheen. It is graded as Sahih: by many sunni scholars., وَلَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمْ هَٰرُونُ مِن قَبْلُ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنتُم بِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى وَأَطِيعُوٓا۟ أَمْرِى {٩٠} 020:090 Aaron had certainly told them earlier, ‘O my people! You are only being tested by it. Indeed your Lord is the All-beneficent. So follow me and obey my command!’ This verse was revealed describing the Haroon told his people that they should follow him and obey him. If we look in the quran then this word فَٱتَّبِعُونِى has been used only in two verses of quran. First in the verse 3:31 as given below where the prophet Muhammad saww has said that the Muslims should follow him. قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ {٣١} 003:031 Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’ In the light of Hadith Manzila Imam Ali has same relation with the Prophet as Haroon has to Musa. The quran confirms that haroon was minister / adviser and successor after Musa like wise as per hadith Manzila Imam Ali is minister and successor after the Prophet Muhammad saww. Also the verse (20:90) "Fatab-uni" confirms that the Children of Israel should follow Haroon in succession to Mosa as likewise Imam Ali should be followed in succession of Muhamamd saww. Also the people should obey Imam Ali likewise they were ordered to obey haroon as. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍۢ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا {٥٩} 04:059 O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favorable in outcome. كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَٰرَكٌۭ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ 038:029 [This is] a blessed Book that We have sent down to you, so that they may contemplate its signs, and that those who possess intellect may take admonition. ألَسْتُ أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم؟ قالوا بلى يارسول الله لنَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ The Prophet has more authority over the believers than themselves. (33:36) Thus it confirms that Mawla has more authority over believers than themselves. This is the real meaning of Mawla who is Leader after the prophet Muhammad saw. And Imam Ali is Mawla (Leader) of believers.

So here we are at that point of time where we boast our belief and take pride in our leaders - Eid-e-Ghadeer. Let's see things from a Sunni's perspective. String s1= Ghadeer_Event; String replaceString=s1.replace('Master','Friend'); //replaces all occurrences of 'Master' to 'Friends' in Ghadeer Event. 1. Jibraeel (عليه السلام) came to Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) when he was in Al-Mina and said:... Raise him (Ali) as a guiding flag for people, remind and renew people’s covenant and pledge about adhering to the authorized representative of Mine and the Friend of every believing man and woman, Ali Ibn Abi Talib ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم))... 2. Three times did Gabriel command me on behalf of the Peace, my Lord, Who is the source of all peace, to thus make a stand in order to inform everyone, black and white, that: Ali ibn Abu Talib is my Brother, Wasi, and successor over my nation and the Imam after me, the one whose status to me is like that of Aaron to Moses except there will be no prophet after me, and he is your Friend next only to Allah and to His Messenger. (From Holy Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sermon at Ghadeer) 3. “O people! Comprehend (the implications of) what I have just said, and again do comprehend it, and be (further) informed that Allah has installed him (Ali) as your Friend and Imam, obligating the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who follow them in goodness to obey him...(From Holy Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sermon at Ghadeer) 4. listen and obey, and submit to the Command of Allah, your Lord, for Allah, the Exalted and the Sublime One, is your Friend and Lord, then next to Him is His Messenger and Prophet who is now addressing you, then after me 'Ali is your Friend and Imam according to the Command of Allah... (From Holy Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sermon at Ghadeer) 5. Whoever among you takes me as his Friend, this, Ali is his Friend, and he is Ali ibn Abu Talib, my Brother and wasi, and his appointment as your wali is from Allah...(From Holy Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sermon at Ghadeer) 6. Their Prophet on the Ghadeer Day calls on them all At Khumm, how great the Prophet is when he does call! He said, “Who is your Friend and Wali?” They said, showing on that day no hostility, “Our Friend is our God while our Wali is you, You shall find today none to disobey you.” He said to him, “Stand up, O Ali, for I did find “You to be and Imam after me and a guide.” (Poetry of Hassan bin Thabit after Prophet's declared Ali as Friend) 7. Then, he ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)&HF) said: “Behold! Whosoever I am his Friend, this Ali is his Friend. O Allah! Stay firm in supporting those who stay firm in following him, be hostile to those who are hostile to him, help those who help him, and forsake those who forsake him... (From Holy Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) sermon at Ghadeer) 8. Bakhin, O son of Abu Talib, this morning you became Friend of every believing man and woman.'' - Omar bin al-Khattab. Became Friend this morning (10 AH)? 9. Conclusion - Jibraeel (عليه السلام) came 3 times to Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) with this message from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stopped 100k+ tired Muslims in the middle of nowhere in extreme heat for 3 days to announce after a long sermon - 'People, Ali is your Friend' and then asked everyone to shake hands and tell him they friends now. 10. All hajis after reaching home - Wife - honey, you're 3 days late. Haji - ya, Muhammad made us stop. We are now friends with Ali.

http://wahidkhorasani.com/English ***** Share Your Thoughts/Learning/Insights from this Lecture, for the benefit of others. You may think its common knowledge, but remember there are new and young Shia's - You may be blessed to make a connection that others were not able to. They will benefit from your insight. You may see things the way others do not see. or Just reflect on it for your own knowledge/Wisdom. Understanding the Concept will clarify many things.

Salam, The following questions have been prepared on the basis of discussions conducted in this forum at SC. 1. What is the criterion of the selection / appointment of prophets mentioned in quran for the guidance? (By Allah swt or by the people ) 2. Which verse of quran describes this selection criterion? Please mention it. 3. What is the criterion of selection / appointment of the caliph / leaders / imams other than prophet mentioned in quran? (by Allah swt or by the people)? 4. Which verse of quran describes this selection criterion of leaders/ caliphs / imams clearly? 5. Please quote the example from quran mentioning the names of the people selected prophet / imam / leader /caliphs by Shura / consultation instead of Allah wt for guidance. 6. Who are UlilAmr as described in the verse of quran (4:59) and given in the hadith of the prophet? 7. Please mention the names of Ulil Amr as given by the hadith of the prophet saw (ie Imams from the progeny of the prophet saww the first 3 caliphs as Ulil Amr). 8. Do you consider the prophet Muhammad saw as Mawala of the believers? If yes then as per quran is it necessary to follow him? 9. Has the Prophet mentioned any one as Mawala of the believers if so please mention the hadith? 10. Has the prophet described the first 3 caliphs as Mawala / Master of the believers as given in any hadith of the prophet saw 11. Whom the quran has described the sideeq / truthful one as mentioned in the quran (the chosen representative of Allah swt or a person chosen by the people? The purpose of the thread is not a discussion but the just an academic point of view to compare the answers of the questions asked. The answers will provide a good comparison for the truth. A final conclusion can be mentioned on the basis of these answers after a suitable time (like 2 week) after start of this thread. All Shia and Sunni friends are welcome to send the answers to these questions. Wasalam

If by word mawla at ghadir means leader/caliph/imam then Ali a.s is not your Mawla. According to twelver shia Imamate concept, Prophet s.a.w.w had appointed Ali a.s mawla (leader/caliph/suucessor/imam) after him at ghadir. And there are twelve such mawla (leaders/caliphs/suucessors/imams) after Prophet s.a.w.w till the day of qiyamah. And every person has to recognize Mawla/Imam of his time. Isra 71 says: One day We shall call together all human beings with their respective Imams. Based on these principles, Ali a.s was mawla i.e leader/Imam/caliph only for people of his time. Ali a.s, the first of the Twelve Imams, died in the year 40. His son Hassan a.s died nine years later, in 49. If Ali a.s is the Imam for the people of his time, Hassan a.s is left with only those people who were born during his nine years. All the other people of his time who were alive during his father's time will form part of his father's group, and not his. The tenure of the 3rd Imam lasted for 22 years; the 4th for 34 years; the 5th for 19 years; the 6th for 34 years; the 7th for 35 years; the 8th for 20 years; the 9th for 17 years; the 10th for 34 years; and the 11th for only 6 years. And with the 12th Imam, we have a tenure of Imamah that has been running for over 1200 years. The group that will supposedly be called by the name of the 11th Imam, for example, will only include people that were born during his Imamah that ran from 254 up to 260, rest of all till qiyamah will be called by the name of 12th Imam. Therefore since 260AH till today and till the qiyamah, 12th Imam was, is and will be the Mawla (leader/caliph) for all people (as per twelver shia concept). They all will be called and idetified by his name on qiyamah not by the name of Ali a.s. He was mawla (leader/imam) only till 40AH and for people of his time only.

Are there sunni hadith about the wilayat of Imam Amir ul mumineen (as) that are free from any shia in their chain of transmissions

One of the most common excuses to cover up the context of the Ghadir Khumm speech is that mawla means friend or ally, but all of these famous scholars from Ahlul Sunnah say that mawla, in this context, means awla, which me ands first in authority. But forget our obvious and logical argument, look at these famous scholars from Ahlul Sunnah who agree with us. 1. al-Wahidi (d. 468), in "al-Wasit" 2. al-Akhfash Nahwi (d. 215), in "Nihayat al-Uqul" 3. al-Tha’labi (d. 427), in "al-Kashf wal Bayan" 4. Ibn Qutaybah (d. 276), in "al-Qurtayan", v2, p164 5. al-Kalbi (d. 146, quoted in "Tafsir al-Kabir", by al-Razi, v29, p227) 6. al-Farra’ (as quoted in "Ruhul Ma’ani", by al-Alusi, v27, p178) 7. al-Nasafi (d. 701), in his "Tafsir", v4, p229 8. al-Tabari (d. 310), in "Tafsir al-Tabari", v9, p117 9. al-Bukhari (d. 215), in "Sahih al-Bukhari", v7, p271 10. al-Zamakhshari (d. 538), in "Tafsir al-Kashshaf", v2, p435 11. Qazi Nasiruddin al-Baydawi (d. 692), in "tafsir al-Baydawi", v2, p497 12. al-Khazin al-Baghdadi (d. 741), in his "Tafsir", v4, p229 13. Muhib al-Din al-Afandi, in "Tanzil al-Ayat" 14. Mu’ammar Ibn Muthanna al-Basri (as quoted in "Sharh al-Mawaqif", by al-Sharif al-Jurjani, v3, p271) 15. Abul Abbas Tha’lab (as quoted in "Sharh al-Sab’ah al-Mu’allaqah", by al-Zuzani) 16. Ibn Abbas, in his "Tafsir”written on the margin of Durr al-Manthur, v5, p355 17. Abu al-Saud al-Hanafi (d. 972), in his "Tafsir" 18. and many more such as Yahya Ibn Zaid Kufi (d. 207), Abu Ubaida Basri (d. 210), Abu Zaid Ibn Aus Basri (d. 125), Abu Bakr Anbari (d. 328), Abul Hasan Rummani (d. 384), Sa’d al-Din Taftazani (d. 791), Shaba Uddin Khafaji (d. 1069), Hamzawi Maliki (d. 1303), Husayn Ibn Mas’d (d. 510), Abu Baqa Ukbari (d. 616), Ibn Hajar al-Haythmai (d. 974), Sharif Jurjani (d. 618), Abdul Abbas Mubarrad (d. 285), Abu Nasr Farabi (d. 393) and, Abu Zakariya Khateeb Tarizi (d. 502),... Only a couple try and cover it up and say it means friend, and you accept their lies. How can you not accept the wilayah of Ali looking at those? Mawla means first in authority in this context, not according to us, but your scholars analysis and us May Allah guide you towards the obvious truth.

MSS