Flimsy objections
In his Nasrul Laali Alaa Nazmul Amali,1 when Sayyid Hamiduddin Abdul
Hamid Alusi reaches the verse of Mastership (Wilayat), he says:
This verse was not revealed particularly regarding Ali (a.s.) as they think; on
the contrary it was revealed generally for all Muhajireen and Ansar, whose part
Ali was. The evidence lies in the use of the plural form of the pronoun (those
who). Therefore Ali alone cannot be implied.
Allamah Amini says: As if the warp and woof of his statement is same as
that of Ibne Kathir and he issued these statements emulating him, as Ibne Kathir
also, when he comes to this verse, he writes:2
“Not a single verse is found in the Holy Quran, which is revealed about Ali.”
As if these negligent people forgot that if a command includes all people –
for encouraging the like of that act or to restrain from it – at that time to mention
a condition or sign of the person under discussion is specified, it is more effective
and more powerful than an order directly given to a person. And this style is not
an unusual; and its numerous examples are found in language of Quran. Below
are some examples:
1. الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَا
“Those who said: Surely Allah is poor and we are rich.”3
Hasan has said: The speaker of this sentence is Huyy bin Akhtab. Akrama,
Siddi, Maqatil and Muhammad bin Ishaq say that it was Fanhas bin Azura.
Khazin says:
Although this statement was issued from a Jew, but, since they were pleased
from this statement, it was attributed to all of them.
Regarding this one may refer to Tafseer Qurtubi, Ibne Kathir, Khazin, etc.4
2. لا يَنْهُكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ
“Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made
war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not
driven you forth from your homes.”5
This verse was revealed about Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr and its context
of revelation is that Qatila, mother of Asma, who was daughter of Abdul Uzza
and an idolater, had come to Medina and brought gifts for Asma. But Asma said:
“Neither would I accept the gifts nor permit you to enter my house till I don’t
take permission from Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).”
Then she came to Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and mentioned the issue.
Following that Almighty Allah revealed the following verse and the Messenger
also instructed her to provide a mat for her, seat her in the house and accord
respect to her.
Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Ibne Jarir and Abu Hatim have mentioned this tradition;6 as mentioned in Tafseer Qurtubi, and by Ibne Kathir and Khazin.
3. وَٱلْعَصْرِ (١) إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ (٢) إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ (٣)
“Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made
war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not
driven you forth from your homes.”7
It is narrated from Ubayy bin Kaab that he recited Surah Asr in the presence
of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and asked: “May my parents be sacrificed on you,
what is its interpretation?”
The Prophet replied: ‘I swear by the time’ is an oath by Allah with relation
to the last day; and ‘most surely man is in loss’ implies Abu Jahl Ibne Hisham;
and ‘except those, who believe’ stands for Abu Bakr Siddiq and ‘and do good’
implies Umar bin Khattab; ‘and enjoin on each other truth’ implies Uthman bin
Affan; and ‘and enjoin on each other patience’ implies Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).8
Allamah Amini says: We do not support this inappropriate statement; we
quoted it only to argue against them (that is to prove that plural can be used for a
single person).
4. الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ
“Those to whom the people said: Surely men have gathered against you.”9
The term ‘people’ implies Masud bin Ashjai. Nasafi says in his Tafseer:10
Although ‘people’ is plural, but it implies one person (singular) and it is
possible that it denotes his followers, who like him, prevented people from Jihad.
Khazin says: The word of ‘people’ is general, but it implies one particular
person.
Ibne Marduya has narrated through his chains of narrators from Abu Rafe
that:
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) sent Ali with some people in order to pursue
Abu Sufyan. They met a Bedouin from Khaza tribe and he said: “They have
united against you.”
Ali (a.s.) and his companions said: “Allah is sufficient for us and He is the
best of the protectors.”
At that moment the captioned verse was revealed regarding him.11
5. وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْتَونَ عَنْهُ وَإِنْ يُهْلِكُونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“And they prohibit (others) from it and go far away from it.”12
Ahle Sunnat believe that this verse was revealed about Abu Talib. And in the coming discussions, we would analyze it in detail and state the correct viewpoint.