Supposing ‘Maula’ implies these two meanings it is not beyond two
possibilities: either the implication is that either people are being encouraged to
follow and help Ali (a.s.) since he is one of the believers and from his defenders;
or it implies that he is commanding him to help and support the people, while
either it is an informative or expressive sentence.
As for the first possibility, that is informing about necessity of loving him: it
is a not a new thing for the people and its announcement is also not without
precedence and that if he did not announce it, it is as if he has not delivered the
message. And to announce it he made people wait in those unfavorable
circumstances and that great crowd was told that religion was complete and the
bounty was perfected.
In such a way as if he had brought something new and has framed a new
rule, which did not exist before; and Muslims were unaware of it, and they also
came and congratulated him; and that also in words like: “Today, you have
become my master and the master of all believer men and women,” statements which show that a new incident has taken place, about which, the sayer was not
informed before, because every Muslim day and night recites the following
verses of Quran:
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنْتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ
“And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other.”1
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ
“The believers are but brethren.”2
And this verse well proves the attachment of Muslims to each other like two
brothers [so its announcement again in those special conditions is meaningless].
And we regard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) to be remote from such an act and
Almighty Allah also regards Himself free of such vain acts.
As for the second possibility
That is making his love and affection obligatory: This possibility is also not
lesser than the first, because command is not given and law is not framed
regarding love and help, and there is no need to announce it.
Moreover, if the implication is existence of love (first possibility) or
ordering to love him (second possibility), the Prophet would not have said: “Of
whomsoever I am the master” on the contrary he should have said: One who is
loyal to me, he is loyal and supporter of Ali. From this aspect, these two
possibilities are out of the meaning of Maula in tradition. May be Sibte Ibne Jauzi
implies this, when he says in Tadkira:3
“To apply the meaning of helper and supporter to the word of Maula in the
tradition is incorrect.”
In addition to this loving and helping by these two reasons [new command,
which was mentioned in first and second instance] is only related to Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.) is not obligatory; on the contrary it is necessary to love all
Muslims. On the basis of this, what is the justification in restricting it for
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and making preparation for that?
And if the implication, was special love and friendship, that is, which is
higher than customary love among the people, like the obligation of following
and obeying him and submitting before him, then this is the same meaning of
Imamate and being a Divine Proof. Especially if Imamate is according to the
statement of: Of whomsoever I am the master…before the specialty, which the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has placed between the meaning in the text ‘then Ali is his Maula’.
As for the third possibility – that is informing about the obligation of love
and support for Ali, if it was in this meaning, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)
would have announced its emphasis to Ali and not to the people.
As for the third possibility – that is making obligatory love and regard of the
people for Ali (a.s.): This also, is like the third possibility.
As for the fourth possibility: that is making obligatory love of people upon
Ali (a.s.): This is also like the third possibility; since the Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) in that case would not make such preparations, deliver a sermon to the
people and request them to listen to it; and also why he should adjure them and
take their concurrence; that have I conveyed the divine message to you? All this
was not required.
Except that it should be intended to demand the love of people and their
affection by mention of this matter, in such a way that if they are aware that he
loves them and he is their helper, they would follow him and not oppose him and
would never reject his statement
As is the intention of calling people to love and affection since the
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) initiated the statement with ‘of whomsoever I am
the Maula’ we understand that the implication of the Prophet is not ordinary love
between people. On the contrary his implication was special love and it is known
to all that love and help of the Prophet is like the love and affection of other
believers. And basically it is not like the love and help of anyone else, because
the Prophet loves the Ummah and helps it as he is the leader of people in the
religion and the world and he holds discretion over them, and protects them in
every manner. Because if this had not been there, enemies would have destroyed
them. As a result of which the aim of Almighty Allah in spreading of the call of
truth and promotion of Islam in the world would be contradicted. So it is
necessary to have this love for the well being of religion. And one, who has this
love, is without any doubt the caliph of the Prophet on the earth.
In that case the aim is calling for strengthening of love and affection of
people, the term of Maula in other meanings is not applicable.
Meaning implied in the tradition
The term Maula implies only Wali; now what remains is one having
precedence, Sayyid, master, freed slave, one, who has control on the affairs and
the caretaker.
As for Wali: The only meaning is what the speaker intended, because as per
the explanation mentioned, taking another meanings is not correct.
As for Sayyid4 in the mentioned meaning it is not separate from the first
meaning, because Sayyid means one, having precedence over others, especially the statement of Prophet (s.a.w.a.) with which he introduced himself in the
beginning and then mentioned his cousin in the same terms; thus it is not possible
that he should not have implied the same meaning with regard to him. On the
contrary, it is general leadership of the religion and the world; to follow which is
obligatory on all people.
As for the one having discretion over affairs: This meaning is also like the
previous one. Regarding this meaning, Raazi in his Tafseer,5 while discussing the
exegesis of the verse:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَكُمْ
“And hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian”6
He has narrated from Khaffal that:
At this point implication of this meaning from the term of Maula isn’t
possible, except that one should conclude one having discretion as Almighty
Allah has made following him obligatory, so that people may be guided on the
path of success.
That is why he is worthier than all others for having discretion on all aspects
of human society, like the Prophet, whose obedience is obligatory, who through
the command of Allah is appointed as the Imam clearly by the Prophet. And he is
always the follower of the acts and words of Prophet:
وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى
“Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed,”7