Explanations of traditions alluded to in these lines
Statement of the poet: ‘the true ones’ hints at the verse:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّدِقِينَ
“O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the true ones.”1
It is narrated through the authorities of Hafiz Abu Nuaim, Ibne Marduya and
Ibne Asakir2 and numerous other scholars have narrated from Jabir and Ibne
Abbas that the implication of the verse is:
“Be with Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).”
Ganji Shafei has mentioned this report in the book of Kifaya3, and Hafiz Suyuti has mentioned it in Durre Manthur4.
Statement of the poet: “Foremost and drawn nigh (to Allah)”
…is hint at the words of Allah, the Mighty and the High:
وَالسَّبِقُونَ السَّبِقُونَ أُولَبِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
“And the foremost are the foremost, these are they who are drawn nigh (to Allah),”5
This verse is revealed regarding Ali (a.s.).
Ibne Marduya has narrated from Ibne Abbas that he said: “This verse was
revealed about Hizqeel, believer of the folks of Firon, Habib Najjar, who is
mentioned in Surah Yasin and Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.). Each of them in their
nation, had precedence over others in faith and Ali is the most excellent of them.”
According to Ibne Abi Hatim, Yusha bin Nun is mentioned instead of Hizqeel.
Hafiz Suyuti has mentioned this report in his book of Ad-Durre Manthur, Ibne Hajar in Sawaiq, and Sibte Ibne Jauzi in Tadkira.6 Statement of the poet:
- Thus, their Mastership (Wilayat) is made obligatory by Almighty Allah in Quran.
In this couplet, the poet has hinted at the following verse:
قُلْ لَّا اسْلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبِي وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفُ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
“Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives; and whoever earns good, We give him more of good therein.”7
Remarkable reports and statement are mentioned in books and dictionaries
regarding this verse, but there is no scope to mention all of them here. We shall
quote only some of them:
1. Ahmad in his book of Manaqib, Ibne Mundhir, Ibne Abi Hatim, Tibrani,
Ibne Marduya, Wahidi, Thalabi, Abu Nuaim, Bagahwi in Tafseer, Ibne Maghazili
in Manaqib, through his authorities has narrated from Ibne Abbas that he said:
When this verse was revealed, it was asked from Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.): “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), who are your near kindred, affection
for whom is obligatory on us?”
He replied: “Ali, Fatima and their two sons.”8
2. Hafiz Tabari, Ibne Asakir9, Hakeem Haskani in Shawahidut Tanzil la Qawaidul Tafzil,10
have narrated from Abu Amama Bahili through many chains
from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) that he said:
“Indeed, Almighty Allah created the prophets from a tree and created me
from a different tree. So, I am the root and Ali is its trunk, Fatima is its branch
and Hasan and Husain are its fruits. Thus, whoever clings to one of its branches
would get salvation and whoever deviates from it would be destroyed. If a person
worships Allah for three thousand years between Safa and Marwa, but is not
concerned with us, Allah would cast him headlong into Hellfire. At that time His
Eminence (s.a.w.a.) recited:
قُلْ لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبِي
“Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives.”11
This report is mentioned by Ganji in Kifaya12.