COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL IMAM ALI (A.S.) - THE GUIDE

Surah al-Ra’ad Ayah 7: “And those who disbelieve say: “Why has there not been sent down a sign to him from his Lord? (O’Prophet!) You are only a Warner, and there is guide for every people.”

In this Ayah Allah (s.w.t.) clearly says that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) is the Warner of the people and there is a Guide for every people. The people demanded miracles, in reply to this Allah revealed this Ayah.

The only portion of the Ayah which talks about the Guide needs to be investigated.

The trust-worthy narrator of Islam, Ibn Abbas said that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) placed his sacred hand on his chest: “I am the Warner”, and then alluding to the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “You are guide; those who will be guided after me will be guided through you.” (Tafsir-ul-Kabir vol. 19 page 14, Ihq aq-ul-Haqq vol 3 page 87)

The following other narrators have reported;

Ibne-Mardwaih, Ibne Hatim, Tabarani, Ibne Asakir, Jalaluddin Sayyoti, Masnad-e-Imame Ahmade Hambal, Hulyatul Auliya of Hafiz abu Nayeem,Fakhar-ud-din RaziIbne Kaseer, Allama Ibne Sabagh Maliki in his ‘Fusool-ul-Muhimmah” Ganji Sha’fie’ in Kifayat-ul-Talib, Tabari, Abu Hayyan Andlasi in his “Bah-al-Muheet, Allama Naishapuri, Hamwini in “Fara’id-us-Samteen, Mir Ghiyas-ud-din in his “Habib-us-Sair, Alusi in “Ruh-ul-Ma’ani, Shablanji in “Noor-ul-Absar, and Shaikh Sulayman Qandoozi in “Yanbe-ul-Muwaddat”

The function of the Warner (Messenger) is the leading of the misled to the right path and the Imam deals with guiding people and directing them forward after they have adjusted their way in the right direction.

At the time of the creation of Adam and subsequent refusal by Iblis to prostrate (as a mark of respect) to him, Allah had promised Prophet Adam and his wife Hawwa that He will send guidance on the earth. Hence, after the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), the Prophet Hood was completed but Allah’s promise of guidance till the Day of Judgment necessitates the appointment of guides or Imams for the guidance of humanity. Hence after Imam Ali (a.s.), the eleven Imams were appointed. The last Imam was kept in Occultation due to tyrannical murders of all infallible Imams. As for the question of guiding, Allah is the best guide of humanity but He is invisible. Similarly, sun spreads the life on this planet, sometimes from behind the clouds!  

The guidance of Imam Ali (a.s.) was so indispensible that the second caliph Omar ibne Khattab  openly declared “Had not  Ali been there, Omar would have perished” and Omar even prayed saying, “O’ God spare me from any problem for which Abul Hasan (i.e., Ali) be not present to solve.”

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M. Pooya

The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi