Al-Hijr Verse 42 and Ghadir

Template:Infobox Verse Al-Hijr Verse 42 is a verse through which the Prophet (s) demonstrated that Satan has no dominion over the followers of the wilaya of the Commander of the Faithful (a), although he leads his own followers astray regarding his wilaya.

After the proclamation of the wilaya of the Commander of the Faithful (a), Iblis said among his companions that he would lead all the followers of his wilaya astray. With the revelation of Saba' Verse 20, Satan was greatly agitated upon hearing the phrase "except for a group of the believers" in that verse; he raised his head toward the heavens and addressed God, saying: "By Your Might and Majesty, I will join this group of believers to the rest [of those who follow me]."

At this point, the Prophet (s), who was witnessing the conversation of Iblis with his troops, recited Al-Hijr Verse 42 while pointing to Iblis: "You have no authority over My true servants."

Two points have been inferred from the Prophet's (s) reliance on this verse in responding to Iblis: that Satan cannot deviate that group of believers in the matter of wilaya, and they are too firm to abandon the wilaya of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) due to Satan's deception; and that it is the Shi'a of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) who have caused Satan to cry out by accepting the wilaya.

A Verse Concerning the Actions of Hypocrites at Ghadir

Al-Hijr Verse 42 is considered one of the verses revealed regarding the actions of the hypocrites during the event of Ghadir.

Since the hypocrites began their sedition and conspiracy from the very first hours of the Ghadir journey and attempted to execute their plans on many occasions, many verses were revealed regarding the provocations and plots of the hypocrites against the Prophet (s), alongside the verses revealed concerning the Prophet's (s) actions at Ghadir. The traditions related to these verses have clarified their occasion of revelation and their direct connection to Ghadir. These verses consist of 104 verses revealed on 39 occasions.

Among these verses is Al-Hijr Verse 42: Template:قرآن

Historical Context of Revelation

The historical context of the revelation of verse 42 of Surah Saba' is depicted as follows: The eighteenth of Dhu l-Hijja was the first day of the Ghadir ceremonies. The Prophet (s) stood upon the pulpit to convey the most important divine message to humanity.

Iblis, the ancient enemy of humanity, was not unaware of the ceremony; rather, he was present at Ghadir before anyone else to see where matters would lead and to devise a plan for the aftermath. On one hand, he paid close attention to the words of the Prophet (s) and evaluated their consequences, while on the other, he observed the various groups of people and was monitoring their reactions.

A long-term future lay ahead, and if everyone were to be oblivious to it, Satan could not be indifferent; for Ghadir was designed for the most beautiful form of human guidance, and Satan could never tolerate such a thing. In such a situation, events occurred between Iblis and his legions—behind the scenes of Ghadir—which, by synthesizing the hadiths, can be presented as follows:

Details of the Events

On the day of Ghadir, as soon as the Prophet (s) raised Amir al-Mu'minin (a) by his hand upon the pulpit and introduced him, Iblis let out a cry and summoned all his legions. With this cry, all the devils, wherever they were, gathered before him and said: "O our master and our lord! What was this cry? What has terrified you? We have never heard a more terrifying cry from you than this."

Iblis said: "This Prophet has done something that, if it reaches its conclusion, God will never be disobeyed." They said: "O our master, you are the one who led Adam astray! But it seems that from now on, this community will be a community of mercy, protected from sin, and neither you nor we will have any path toward them; for their Imam and protector after their Prophet has been identified to them." Iblis said: "Woe to you, your day today is like the day of 'Isa. By God! I will lead the people astray regarding 'Ali."

Then Iblis, in the form of a handsome old man, came to the Prophet (s) and said: "O Muhammad, how few are those who pledge allegiance to you regarding what you said about your cousin." On the other hand, the devils, upon seeing Ghadir and that great completion of the argument, threw dust upon their heads and fell into wailing and lamentation. Iblis said to them: "What has happened to you?" They said: "What is this event that has occurred? We thought that when Muhammad passed away, his companions would disperse, but we see that he has established the matter of successorship for a person after himself. By God, you did not tell us this. You had informed us that when this Prophet passed away, his companions would disperse. But this program has become a firm matter, such that whenever one of his successors passes away, another takes his place. Today, this man has established a covenant that no human can break until the Day of Resurrection."

Iblis replied to them: "It is never so! Set your minds at ease; his companions will not remain faithful to what he took a covenant from them for. Those who are with him have given me promises in this regard that they will not acknowledge anything of what he said, and I know that they will never violate the promise they have given me." With this announcement, the army of Satan dispersed. It was here that verse 20 of Surah Saba' was revealed: "Iblis found his conjecture about them to be true, and they followed him, except for a party of the believers."

With the revelation of this verse, Iblis once again let out a cry, and they returned and said: "O our master, what was this second cry?" He said: "Woe to you, by God, God has quoted my words in a verse of the Quran and revealed this verse (verse 20 of Saba')." After this news, the devils dispersed again. Iblis was carefully observing the movements of the hypocrites. When, upon the appointment of Amir al-Mu'minin (a), a group of them said: "He speaks out of desire," and also 'Umar said to Abu Bakr: "Do you not see his eyes, how they roll in his head like those of a madman?" Iblis let out another cry of joy and gathered his gang once again, saying to them: "Do you know that I was previously the one who led Adam astray?" They said: "Yes." He said: "Adam broke the covenant but did not disbelieve in God, but these people both broke the covenant and disbelieved in the Prophet!"

Iblis, who was pleased with the mention of his speech in a verse of the Quran, became greatly agitated upon hearing the phrase "except for a group of the believers" in verse 20 of Surah Saba'. He raised his head toward the heavens and addressed God, saying, "I swear by Your Might and Majesty, I will join this group of believers to the rest." At this point, the Prophet (s), who was witnessing the conversation between Iblis and his legions, recited verse 42 of Surah al-Hijr, pointing toward Iblis: "You shall have no authority over My true servants."

Following this incident, the companions of Iblis dispersed, but he let out a cry once more, and they returned, asking, "O our master, what was this third cry?" He replied, "I swear by God, it is because of the companions of 'Ali!" Then, in the presence of the devils, Iblis addressed God, saying, "O Lord, I swear by Your Might and Majesty, I will make sins and transgressions appear so beautiful to them that they will commit them, and in this way, I will make them hateful in Your sight."

Theological Analysis of the Verse

Some scholars, relying on reports concerning the connection between verse 42 of Surah al-Hijr and al-Ghadir, have stated: uncovering the details of the connection between the usurpers of the caliphate and the devil is a sensitive point in Shi'a beliefs that will help in tracing the roots of many issues. This discovery will be clarified by highlighting several points:

The Devil's Most Terrifying Day

It has been narrated in numerous traditions that Iblis has let out a terrifying scream several times throughout his life. Considering that one of these instances occurred at al-Ghadir, it is interesting to note that when he screamed on that day and his armies gathered, their first remark was, "We have never heard a more terrifying scream from you than this."

This indicates that the day of al-Ghadir was the most difficult day for Iblis, and the greatest barrier against the misguidance of creation was established on that day, which distressed him greatly. Just as the greatest lamp of guidance was lit on that day, which, if one is not blind-hearted and the dark curtains of Saqifa do not obstruct them, finding the straight path will be clear.

Now, by reviewing what Iblis said to the devils in this regard, as well as what they said to him, one can perceive aspects of this terror of Iblis and the greatness of the day of al-Ghadir, where they said:

• This Prophet did something that, if it succeeds, God will never be disobeyed.
• These people recognized their refuge and their Imam after their Prophet.
• This man made a covenant that no human can break until the Day of Resurrection.
• This became a firm foundation such that whenever one departs from the world, another appears in his place.

The Day of Adam (a) and the Day of Jesus (a)

Satan seeks excuses to misguide humans and approaches the children of Adam through strange detours to lead them from the straight path toward Hell. In a conversation that took place between Iblis and other devils on the day of al-Ghadir, it becomes clear that there were three very important and exceptional junctures for Satan in the misguidance of creation: one was the affair of Adam (a) in Paradise, the second was the birth of Jesus (a) without a father, and the third was Saqifa.

In this regard, several phrases are seen in the story of Iblis at al-Ghadir: the devils said to Iblis, "You were there for Adam!" Iblis said to the devils, "Do you not know that I was previously there for Adam?" He also said, "Woe unto you, your day today is like the day of Jesus. By God, I will misguide the people regarding him." On the day of Saqifa, when Satan shook hands to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr, he said, "It is a day like the day of Adam." That same day, the devils said to him, "It was you who expelled Adam from Paradise." The day he was able to expel Adam (a) from Paradise, he effectively expelled the human race from Paradise and made them prisoners of his tricks in this world.

On the day the birth of Jesus (a) occurred without a spouse for Mary (a), he used this divine miracle as a pretext for exaggeration (ghuluww) and presented that noble figure as a deity, and afflicted generations of humanity with this false belief, leading them to Hell. On the day of al-Ghadir, he also swore that he would misguide people in this regard. Saqifa was the realization of this oath of Iblis, which, until the end of time, sent a majority of humans to Hell by denying the wilaya of 'Ali (a).

In fact, these three days in the history of Iblis's misguidance were like traveling a thousand-year journey in one night, which is thus recorded in their memory and recalled. Thousands of efforts and attempts by the devils in thousands of places and times, and regarding thousands of humans, were accomplished through one fundamental and root program. Satan first laid the foundation of misguidance. Then he built the structure of error upon it. Then, without worry, the path of oppression and tyranny was smoothed.

Satan does not consider the day of Saqifa comparable to the day of Adam (a), and in this regard, he says: Adam broke the covenant but did not disbelieve in God, but these people both broke the covenant and disbelieved in the Prophet. He, who seeks the misguidance of creation and knows the degrees of error well, considers the covenant-breakers of Saqifa as disbelievers and considers the violation of the wilaya of the Commander of the Faithful (a) as equivalent to explicit opposition to the person of the Prophet (s) and the denial of his prophethood.

Satan's Strategies Against al-Ghadir

Two verses are discussed regarding the presence of Satan at al-Ghadir and his decisions, which, considering the context of their revelation, indicate the necessary criteria for escaping Saqifa and remaining faithful to the covenant of al-Ghadir: one is verse 20 of Surah Saba and the other is verse 42 of Surah al-Hijr.

The Prophet (s) recited verse 42 of Surah al-Hijr when Satan, upon hearing "except for a group of the believers" in verse 20 of Surah Saba', began to think about the rest. He decided that although the majority of the people were led astray by Saqifa, he must force the minority of believers to oppose God at any cost. It was then that he swore by the honor and majesty of God that "I will join this group of believers to the majority."

In response, the Prophet (s) recited verse 42 of Surah al-Hijr: "Indeed, as for My servants, you have no authority over them, except those who follow you of the deviators." This verse consists of two parts, each clarifying an aspect of the issue:

• "Indeed, as for My servants, you have no authority over them." This means that in the matter of the wilaya, Satan cannot deviate that group of believers, and they are too firm to abandon the wilaya of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) through Satan's deception. Imam al-Sadiq (a) states in this regard: "I swear by the God who sent Muhammad (s) with the truth, the great and small devils are upon the believers more than wasps are upon meat. On the other hand, the believer is firmer than a mountain, for a piece can be cut from a mountain with an axe, but nothing can be cut from the religion of a believer."
• "Except those who follow you of the deviators." This part of the verse relates precisely to the Shi'a of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) who have raised the cry of Satan by accepting the wilaya. When the devils ask Iblis, "Why are you crying out like this?" he replies: وَ اللّٰهِ مِنْ اَصْحابِ عَلِیٍّ: By God, from the companions of 'Ali.

References

• Bihar al-anwar al-jami'a li-durar akhbar al-a'imma al-athar; Muhammad Baqir b. Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi, Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, 1403 AH.
• Tafsir al-Qummi; 'Ali b. Ibrahim al-Qummi, research: Tayyib Musawi Jaza'iri, Qom: Dar al-Kitab, 1404 AH.
• Ghadir dar Qur'an, Qur'an dar Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat-e Dalil-e Ma, 1387 Sh.
• Al-Kafi; Muhammad b. Ya'qub al-Kulayni, research: 'Ali Akbar Ghaffari and Muhammad Akhundi, Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, 1407 AH.
• Kitab Sulaym b. Qays al-Hilali; Sulaym b. Qays al-Hilali, research: 'Ala' al-Din Musawi, Tehran: Mu'assasat al-Bi'tha (Qism al-Dirasat al-Islamiyya), 1407 AH.