Question 643 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 6

Supporters 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 his family, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them peace. Allah explicitly stated the authority of the Imams (a) in the Quran in general terms. The Messenger of Allah (s) explained and clarified it for the people. It is known that the Messenger (s) is the one who explains the Quran, and what he explained cannot be ambiguous; rather, it is decisive. Allah, the Exalted, said: ‘… We sent down to you the Reminder so that you may explain to the people what was sent down to them, and so that they may reflect’ (^[107]). The Messenger Muhammad (s) did not die until he had explained to the people who their guardians and the proof over them were. This is the interpretation of the Exalted’s words: ‘O you who believe, obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those vested with authority among you’ (^[108]); and His words: ‘Your guardian is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe-those who establish prayer and give alms while bowing’ (^[109]); and His words: ‘When there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they spread it. Had they referred it to the Messenger and those vested with authority among them, those among them able to draw conclusions would have known it. Were it not for Allah’s favor upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few’ (^[110]). No Companion possesses authority like that of Allah and His Messenger except Ali ibn Abi Talib (a). In several instances, the Messenger (s) explicitly stated that Ali’s authority was like his own. Among them is the famous and established hadith of the Two Weighty Things, and among them are his words to the Companion Buraydah. Here is its text: Buraydah said: ‘I went with Ali-may Allah be pleased with him-to Yemen and saw harshness from him. I came to the Prophet-may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him-and mentioned Ali, disparaging him. The face of the Messenger of Allah-may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him-began to change, and he said, “O Buraydah, do I not have more authority over the believers than they have over themselves?” He said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master.”’ Sunni scholars declared this hadith authentic. It is enough to cite al-Albani, who declared it authentic in Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, vol. 4, p. 336, no. 1750, and said of it: ‘This chain of transmission is authentic according to the criteria of the two sheikhs.’ Do not let interpreters and doubters deceive you by claiming that Ali’s authority here means support, love, or the like. The Messenger (s) clarified it by saying, ‘Do I not have more authority over the believers than they have over themselves?’ Then he said, ‘For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master.’ That is, Ali’s authority is like that of the Messenger Muhammad (s): he has more authority over the believers than they have over themselves. Discussion of this subject is very lengthy and will come at its time, Allah willing. The Scientific Committee Supporters of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah establish him on earth) Sheikh Nazim al-Uqayli End of Dhu al-Hijjah, 1432 AH