Verse 43 of Sura al-Baqara and Ghadir
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| Ayah Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Surah Name | Sura al-Baqara |
| Ayah Number | 43 |
| Juz' | 1 |
| Ayah Content | |
| Place of Revelation | Medina |
| Topic | Command to perform salat and pay zakat and to learn about them from the Prophet's successors |
| Ayah Recitation Audio Translation | |
Verse 43 of Sura al-Baqara is a verse in the al-Ghadir Sermon that commands salat and zakat, and states that people should refer to the Prophet's successors, the Twelve Imams, for clarification of their rulings after the Prophet.
The inclusion of Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara in the text of the al-Ghadir Sermon has been analyzed from a theological perspective as follows: Although the issues of salat and zakat might not seem directly related to Ghadir, the Prophet (s) immediately after this recommendation explains their connection to wilaya and imamate. The point of connection is what should be done if matters concerning salat and zakat remain ambiguous due to negligence or forgetfulness and require clarification, so that a Muslim's action is "as God has commanded."
The Prophet (s) demonstrates that to resolve ambiguities, clarify details, and answer questions, 'Ali (a) and the Imams from his progeny have been appointed as God's trustees to respond to problems as God has commanded.
A Verse Related to Non-Wilaya Topics
Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara is a verse that was referred to in the al-Ghadir Sermon. The context for the use of this verse is depicted as follows: In Ghadir, the connection between belief and action was explained in such a way that divine rulings alongside the wilaya of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are not only emphasized but are inseparable. It is the Ahl al-Bayt (a) who will explain the details of divine rulings to the people, and people experience their submission to God's commands by acting upon divine rulings. This submission is achieved through obedience to the messengers of the Lord.
In this regard, towards the end of the al-Ghadir Sermon, we witness the Prophet's (s) emphasis on salat, zakat, Hajj, enjoining good and forbidding evil, taqwa, and abstaining from unlawful acts. Subsequently, there is mention of death, the Resurrection, the reckoning on the Day of Judgment, and reward and punishment; just as at the beginning of the sermon, there is a command to reflect on the Qur'an. Amidst these emphases, the Prophet (s) generally discussed lawful and unlawful matters and stated that for their details, people should refer to the Imams (a).[1]
These guaranteed verses in the words of the Prophet (s) are seven verses, among which is Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara:
وَأَقِیمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّکَاةَ وَارْکَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاکِعِینَ
- And establish salat, and pay zakat, and bow down with those who bow down.
The Prophet (s), in a part of the tenth section of the al-Ghadir Sermon, after mentioning Hajj, brought up salat and zakat twice; once by referring to Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara and another time by referring to Ayat forty-one of Sura al-Hajj.
The Verse in the Text of the Sermon
Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara appears in the text of the sermon as follows: O people, establish salat and pay zakat, just as God, the Exalted and Glorious, has commanded you. If a long time passes over you and you fall short or forget, then 'Ali is your guardian and explains for you, he whom God, the Exalted and Glorious, has appointed after me as the trustee over His creation. He is from me and I am from him, and he and those who succeed from my progeny will inform you about what you ask and will explain to you what you do not know... Know that I repeat my statement: Be aware that you establish salat and pay zakat and enjoin good and forbid evil[notes 1].[2]
Historical Context of the Verse's Use
The historical context for the use of Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara is depicted as follows: Before the Prophet's (s) speech in the al-Ghadir Sermon reached its final section, the tenth part of the address was dedicated to lawful and unlawful matters, obligations, and prohibitions. The Prophet's intention was to introduce those to whom people should refer for rulings in the near and distant future. This part is at the end of the sermon and before the bayʿa, where the Prophet (s) recommends salat and zakat and includes this command in his speech with a phrase that appears as an imperative verb in four places in the Qur'an, which is the phrase أَقِیمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّکاةَ, considered a part of the verse in all three instances. The phrase كَما امَرَكُمُ اللَّه عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ further clarifies the Qur'anic nature of these commands.
After several sections, the Prophet (s) explicitly states: "I repeat my statement." This is the only instance in the al-Ghadir Sermon where the term repetition is used. Then, the Prophet presents the command for salat and zakat alongside enjoining good and forbidding evil. For this reason, it is probable that the Prophet referred to verses where these four commands appear together, which are found in Ayat forty-one of Sura al-Hajj and Ayat seventy-one of Sura al-Tawba.[3]
Qur'anic Context of the Verse
The Qur'anic context of Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara is depicted as follows: The command for salat and zakat as an imperative verb appears three times in Sura al-Baqara and once in Sura al-Hajj. Ayat forty-three of Sura al-Baqara also includes the issue of bowing (rukūʿ), and Ayat eighty-three of Sura al-Baqara is about the covenant of the Children of Israel, among God's commands to them being salat and zakat. Furthermore, Ayat one hundred ten of Sura al-Baqara refers to the recompense for these two actions, and Ayat seventy-eight of Sura al-Hajj—which is the end of this sura—recalls the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (a).[4]
Theological Analysis of the Verse
The inclusion of verse forty-three of Sūrat al-Baqarah in the text of the al-Ghadir Sermon has been theologically analyzed as follows: Although the issue of salat and zakat seems unrelated to Ghadir, the Prophet (s) immediately after this injunction explains their connection to wilāya and imamate. This is the interpretation derived from this part of Ghadir concerning the verse of salat and zakat. The point of connection is that if, due to negligence or forgetfulness, issues regarding salat and zakat remain ambiguous and require clarification, what should be done to ensure that a Muslim's action is "as God has commanded"?
This is a question that the Prophet (s) answered, making people aware that they also need God's proof (ḥujja) in their acts of worship. He states: To remove ambiguities, clarify details, and answer questions, 'Ali (a) and the Imams from his progeny have been appointed as the trustees of the Lord to respond to problems as God has commanded. Therefore, if acting upon the two commands اقیموا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّکاةَ,Establish the prayer and give the zakat must be according to God's command, it will forever require the Infallibles (a) to explain their extensive aspects and to refer to their words for every new issue that arises.[5]
Footnotes
- ↑ مَعاشِرَ النّاسِ، أَقِیمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّکاةَ کَما امَرَکُمُ اللَّه عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، فَإِنْ طالَ عَلَیْکُمُ الامَدُ فَقَصَّرْتُمْ اوْ نَسیتُمْ فَعَلِیٌّ وَلِیُّکُمْ وَ مُبَیِّنٌ لَکُمْ؛ الَّذى نَصَبَهُ اللَّه عزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَكُمْ بَعْدى امينَ خَلْقِهِ. انَّهُ مِنّى وَ انَا مِنْهُ، وَ هُوَ وَ مَنْ يَخْلُفُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتى يُخْبِرُونَكُمْ بِما تَسْالُونَ عَنْهُ وَ يُبَيِّنُونَ لَكُمْ ما لا تَعْلَمُونَ …. الا وَ انّى اجَدِّدُ الْقَوْلَ: الا فَاقیمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّکاةَ وَ أْمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ انْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْکَرِ
References
- Asrār-i Ghadīr; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Tehran: Nashr-i Tak, 1384 SH.
- Sukhanrānī-yi Istithnāʾī Ghadīr; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Intishārāt-i Dalīl-i Mā, 1386 SH.
- Ghadīr dar Qurʾān, Qurʾān dar Ghadīr; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Intishārāt-i Dalīl-i Mā, 1387 SH.
- Wāqiʿa-yi Qurʾānī Ghadīr: Guzārish-i Safar-i Yak-Māha-yi Payāmbar barā-yi Iʿlān-i Wilāya dar Sāya-yi Āyāt-i Qurʾānī; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Intishārāt-i Dalīl-i Mā, 1386 SH.