The dictionary meaning of Maula is superior (Awla) or it is one of the
meanings of Maula. Regarding this the conclusions derived by the scholars can
be very beneficial.
فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَأْوَنَكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلَكُمْ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ
“So today ransom shall not be accepted from you nor from those who disbelieved; your abode is the fire; it is your friend and evil is the resort.”1
In Surah Hadeed, you are needless of finding evidences for the interpretation
of the term of Maula; as some have interpreted it only as one having complete
authority and some interpreted it as one most worthy.
They are as follows:
1. Ibne Abbas in his Tafseer2 , quoted by Tafseer Firozabadi.
2. Farrah Yahya bin Ziyad Kufi Nahwi3 (d. 207 A.H.).
3. Akhfash Awsat, Abul Hasan Saeed bin Masada Nahwi (d. 251 A.H.), as quoted by Fakhre Raazi in Nihayatul Uqul.
4. Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ismail Bukhari (d. 215 A.H.). 4
5. Abul Abbas Thalab Ahmad bin Yahya Nahwi Shaibani (d. 219 A.H.).5
6. Abu Ja’far Tabari (d. 310 A.H.) in his Tafseer6 .
7. Taftazani (d. 791 A.H.).7
8. Alauddin Qushji (d. 879 A.H.).8
Second category
Abu Ishaq Ahmad Thalabi (d. 427 A.H.).
In Kashful Bayan, under the verse:
مَأْوَبِكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلَكُمْ
…he says: That is your companion and most deserving for your residence. Then he has argued with the couplet of Labid, who says:
“Then Wahshi began the day thinking that everyone from behind was more deserving (Maula) to be fearful.”9
10. Farrah Husain bin Masud Baghawi (d. 510 A.H.).10
11. Zamakhshari (d. 538 A.H.).11
12. Qaazi Nasiruddin Baidhawi (d. 692 A.H.).12
أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا
“Thou art our Patron.”13
Thalabi says in Kashful Bayan14
: “That is our helper, caretaker and our
‘Wali’ (guardian) and the most capable of us all.”
Then is the statement of Almighty Allah in Surah Aale Imran:
بَلِ اللَّهُ مَوْلَكُمْ
“Nay! Allah is your Patron.”15
“It implies that Almighty Allah is most worthy to be obeyed.”
And the verse of
مَا كَتَبَ اللهُ لَنَا : هُوَ مَوْلنَا : وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“Save what Allah has ordained for us; He is our Patron; and on Allah let the believers rely.”16
As Abu Hayyan says in his Tafseer:17
Kalabi said: That is He is more deserving of us in life as well as death. And
it is said that: He is our master and chief. And by the same argument, He deals
with everyone like He wishes.