Question 66 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 2

Ahmed al-Hasan Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them abundant peace. This verse-‘And those who respond to their Lord, establish prayer, whose affair is consultation among them, and who spend from what We have provided them’ (^[64])-was revealed to Muhammad (s) during Muhammad’s (s) lifetime. If it concerned governance and the ruler, the Muslims would have been entitled to choose someone other than Muhammad (s) and appoint him over them! If it concerned governance and the ruler, Muhammad (s) would have consulted the Muslims about the matter before announcing the appointment of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) after him at Ghadir Khumm! Even if it concerned appointing a commander over an army going out to fight the disbelievers, the Messenger of Allah (s) would have consulted the Muslims before appointing Usama ibn Zayd. Rather, many of them were displeased with this appointment. Why, then, did the Messenger of Allah not accept their counsel and their objection to Usama ibn Zayd’s young age, if he was commanded to take their counsel in matters of governance? Do you suppose that he (s) opposed the Quran? Far be it from him! The Quran has its people. May Allah have mercy on a person who recognizes his own measure, hears a truth, and submits to it.