Statement of the poet: “hearing ear”
It is a hint to the report, which Hafiz Abu Nuaim has mentioned in Hilyatul
Awliya1 that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:
“O Ali, the Almighty Allah has commanded me that I should make you
proximate and that I should train you, so that you may remember.” And the
following verse was revealed:
وَتَعِيَهَآ أُذُنٌۭ وَٰعِيَةٌۭ (١٢)
“And that the retaining ear might retain it.”2
“You are the retaining ears of my knowledge.”
Some scholar have also narrated this tradition.
Qaazi Izd Eiji writes in Mawaqif:3
Majority of the commentators believe that the verse:
وَتَعِيَهَآ أُذُنٌۭ وَٰعِيَةٌۭ (١٢)
“And that the retaining ear might retain it.”4
…implies Ali (a.s.).
Some other verses of Zahi in praise of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
1. Be devoted to Ali and become effulgent through the lamp of guidance
and his knowledge, so that you may enter Paradise and drink from his
vessel. 2. So, whoever is devoted to him gets salvation and whoever is
inimical to him, has neither recognized religion nor its base. 3. He is the first,
who regarded Almighty Allah as one and unique and did not bow to the idols
even for a day. 4. He is one, who entered the deep well and did not fear death
and while the bucket was left in the well, he sought water.
Explanation: The statement of the poet in the last verse hints at the report
regarding Ali (a.s.) that Imam Ahmad Hanbal has mentioned in Manaqib5 and it
is that on the eve of Badr, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked: “Who would give us
water to drink?”
Due to fear, the people did not volunteer. Ali (a.s.) arose and placed a bucket
on his shoulders and came to a well, which was deep and dark and entered it. So
Almighty Allah revealed to Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel that they should be
ready to help Muhammad, his brother and his army. They descended from the
heavens and raised a call, which was heard by all and which terrified all of them.
When they came to the edge of the well, all of them saluted Ali (a.s.) as a mark of
respect.6