Verse 137 of Sura al-A'raf and Ghadir
Verse 137 of Sura al-A'raf is a verse that Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī (a) used in a sermon to address the ultimate victory of the Ghadir discourse and the ultimate defeat of the Saqifa discourse. This sermon was delivered approximately thirty years after the Ghadir event, on a Friday that was Eid al-Ghadir, in Kufa during the Ghadir celebration.
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| Ayah Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Surah Name | Sura al-A'raf |
| Ayah Number | 137 |
| Juz' | 9 |
| Ayah Content | |
| Place of Revelation | Meca |
| Topic | The Eventual Victory of the Ghadir Paradigm and the Eventual Defeat of the Saqifah Paradigm |
| Ayah Recitation Audio Translation | |
In a part of the Imam's (a) sermon, where Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf is embedded, the Imam (a) first speaks about the status of those who accept his walāya. The position depicted for the acceptors of Ghadir begins with its foundational beliefs, namely possessing a tranquil heart, and extends to the description of true faith (faith in the unseen). Their salvation is then affirmed by God and His Messenger, and forgiveness and a great reward are guaranteed for them. That great reward is salvation from Hellfire, Paradise, and the reception of ʿAlī's (a) lovers with a heavenly greeting.
Regarding whether the Imam's (a) intention by the phrase 
وَ تَمَّتْ کَلِمَةُ اللَّه
refers to the Ghadir event or the actualization of Ghadir after twenty-five years of usurpation of the caliphate, which occurred with the assumption of the caliphate by Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a), both possibilities are considered to mean the realization of the divine command in society, but their orientation is regarded as different. In one interpretation, this phrase is considered to correspond to the Ghadir event, and in another, to the period of Amīr al-Muʾminīn's (a) apparent caliphate.
A Verse Related to the Friends of Ghadir
Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf is a verse that, according to sources, was mentioned in Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī's (a) al-Ghadir Sermon, thirty years after the Ghadir event. The context for the use of this verse in the Imam's (a) sermon is depicted as follows: In Amīr al-Muʾminīn's (a) address at Ghadir, verses from the Quran were cited and embedded, regarding the status of those who accept Amīr al-Muʾminīn's (a) walāya. The status attributed to the friends of Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a) in this section begins with its fundamental beliefs, namely possessing a tranquil heart, and extends to the description of true faith (faith in the unseen). Their salvation is then affirmed by God and His Messenger, and forgiveness and a great reward are guaranteed for them. That great reward is salvation from Hellfire, Paradise, and the reception of ʿAlī's (a) lovers with a heavenly greeting.
These embedded verses in the words of the Prophet (s) are six verses, among which is Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf:
وَ أَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِینَ کانُوا یُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغارِبَهَا الَّتِی بارَکْنا فِیها وَ تَمَّتْ کَلِمَتُ رَبِّکَ الْحُسْنی عَلی بَنِی إِسْرائِیلَ بِما صَبَرُوا وَ دَمَّرْنا ما کانَ یَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ قَوْمُهُ وَ ما کانُوا یَعْرِشُونَ - And We made the people who were abased inheritors of the eastern and western parts of the land which We had blessed, and your Lord’s best word was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of their patience; and We utterly destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had built, and what they had raised high.
The Verse in the Text of Amīr al-Muʾminīn's Sermon at Ghadir
On the day of al-Dawḥ, God revealed to His Prophet what unveiled His will concerning His sincere servants and chosen ones, and He commanded him to convey it... So God perfected His religion and gladdened the eyes of His Prophet, the believers, and the followers. The Ghadir event occurred, which some of you witnessed, and news of it reached some of you. And God's good promise was fulfilled for the patient ones; and God utterly destroyed what Pharaoh, Hāmān, Qārūn, and their armies had built and what they had raised high. Only a worthless remnant of the people of misguidance remained, who spare no effort in corrupting the affairs of the people. God will pursue them in their homes, erase their traces, annihilate their foundations, and soon bring them regrets. He will join them with those who extended their hands and stretched their necks, and to whom God's religion was entrusted, but they altered it, and God's decree was placed in their hands, but they distorted it. And soon, at its appointed time, God's help will come against His enemy, and God is subtle and all-aware.[notes 1][1]
Historical Context of the Verse's Use
The historical context for the use of Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf in Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī's (a) al-Ghadir Sermon is described as follows: Approximately thirty years after the Ghadir event, on a Friday that was Eid al-Ghadir, Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a) delivered a detailed speech in Kufa during the Ghadir celebration, in which he presented important points about Ghadir. In a part of this address, the Imam (a), by referring to the past of the caliphate and its leaders, briefly mentioned the revelation of the Verse of Tablīgh and the Verse of Ikmāl, and to explain how God's conclusive argument was presented, he cited Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf in his speech.
The difference between the text of the verse and the text of the Imam's (a) sermon is shown as follows: In the Quran, 'kalimatu rabbika' (your Lord's word) is used, which the Imam (a) rendered as 'kalimatu llāh' (God's word). Also, in the Quran, 'bimā ṣabarū' (because of their patience) is used, which the Imam (a) stated as 'ʿalā l-ṣābirīn' (upon the patient ones). Then, the rest of the verse, which is 'dammarnā mā kāna yaṣnaʿu...' (We utterly destroyed what they had built...), he presented in the third person instead of the first person plural. Then, instead of 'Firʿawn wa qawmuhu' (Pharaoh and his people), he mentioned Pharaoh, Hāmān, Qārūn, and their armies.
Quranic Context of the Verse
The Quranic context of Verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf is depicted as follows: This verse appears in the context of the story of Prophet Mūsā (a) and Pharaoh, which begins from Verse 103 of Sura al-A'raf and covers from the beginning of his appearance and prophethood and his conversations with Pharaoh, up to the story of the sorcerers and Pharaoh's pursuit of Prophet Mūsā (a) and his companions. It then refers to the afflictions of Mūsā's (a) companions with famine, floods, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood, and their request to believe if these calamities were removed, and their subsequent failure to believe after the removal of the afflictions. Until Pharaoh and his companions were drowned in the sea, and God granted the eastern and western parts of the land to the oppressed. In this section, which is the middle of Verse 137 and the verse under discussion, God declares the completion of kalimatu llāh (God's word) and His good promise to the Children of Israel, and that what Pharaoh and his people had built was destroyed.
Theological Analysis of the Verse
Some researchers have commented on the theological analysis of verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf as follows: The interpretative aspect of this verse hinges on whether the phrase وَ تَمَّتْ کَلِمَةُ اللَّه refers to the event of Ghadir or to the actual realization of Ghadir after twenty-five years of the usurpation of the caliphate, which occurred with Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a) assuming the caliphate. Both possibilities signify the realization of God's command in society, but their orientation differs, and each has been examined separately:
A) "wa tammat kalimat Allāh" Means the Event of Ghadir
From a semantic perspective, this interpretation has a direct connection with Āyat al-Ikmāl and reflects the Prophet's (s) twenty-three years of efforts, during which many polytheists and hypocrites created obstacles for him. However, God commanded His Prophet to be patient, and through this patience, the Prophet's mission progressed to its final stage, which was the declaration of wilayah. Furthermore, God chose patient Imams for the Ummah, similar to the Prophet (s) himself, and God's promise was fulfilled, and the enemies' conspiracies were thwarted.
This interpretation is narrated in a detailed tradition from Imam al-Sadiq (a) as follows: The Prophet (s) had adopted patience in the face of the polytheists until he uttered the name of God Almighty, and they denied His sacred essence. The Prophet (s) then addressed God, saying: "I have been patient regarding my life, my family, and my honor, but I cannot bear ugly words against my God." God then revealed this verse: فَاصْبِرْ عَلی ما یَقُولُونَ,So be patient with what they say . Thus, the Prophet (s) endured all hardships with patience. Then God gave him glad tidings of Imams from his progeny and described them as patient, saying: "We made them Imams who guide by Our command when they were patient and had certainty in Our signs." ... God also thanked the Prophet (s) for this patience and revealed verse 137 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf. The Prophet (s) said: This verse is a glad tiding and a retribution.
By combining the words of Imam al-Sadiq (a) and the words of Imam Ali (a) in the al-Ghadir Sermon in Kūfa, where the Imam explained verse 137 of al-Aʿrāf by mentioning the event of Ghadir, the following conclusion is drawn: Despite all the efforts of the disbelievers at the beginning of Islam and all the conspiracies of the hypocrites in the later years of Islam, especially the conspirators of the Saḥīfa and Saqifa, God brought the immense patience of His Messenger to fruition and fulfilled His promise by introducing ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib and eleven Imams (a) after him at Ghadir, rendering the efforts of the Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun of the Ummah fruitless.
B) "wa tammat kalimat Allāh" Means the Period of the Apparent Caliphate of Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a)
This interpretation refers to the meaning of the patient ones and Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun in this verse, which is derived from the words of Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a). In the first part, the Imam recounts the story of Ghadir, stating that some of them were present at that event, and the news reached others. Then he proceeds to describe his own time, explaining that many ups and downs have occurred from Ghadir until that day, and now that the caliphate is in his hands, the majority are with him, and a few have not yet found the right path, and God will soon remove them.[2]
In the Imam's words during the Ghadir celebration, the "patient ones" are those who endured the usurpation of the caliphate for twenty-five years. God rewarded this patience by placing the caliphate in the hands of its true owner, Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a), and brought the conspiracy of the companions of Saqifa to failure. Thus, "Pharaoh" is an allusion to the first, "Haman" to the second, and "Qarun" to the third; as these allusions are found in many narrations.[3] To further emphasize, the Imam explicitly reminds them of their innovation and distortion of God's religion, and considers the remnants of Saqīfa to be associated with them. Therefore, the meaning of the verse is the practical and tangible realization of Ghadir, during which people tasted its essence in the five years of Amīr al-Muʾminīn's (a) rule; which was also accompanied by the poison of enemies and successive wars. The complete realization of Ghadir will be delayed until the day when Baqīyat Allāh al-Aʿẓam (may our souls be sacrificed for him) appears and lets people taste its true essence.[4]
Footnotes
- ↑ Miṣbāḥ al-Mutahajjid, vol. 2, pp. 754–755; al-Iqbāl, vol. 2, pp. 256–257; Miṣbāḥ al-Kafʿamī, pp. 697–698; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 94, p. 115, ḥ. 8.
- ↑ Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 94, p. 115.
- ↑ For the allegorical nature of these three terms referring to those three individuals, see: Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 24, p. 156; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 37, p. 343; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 47, p. 391; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 53, p. 25.
- ↑ Ghadīr dar Qurʾān, vol. 2, pp. 361–366.
- ↑ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّه عَلى نَبِيِّهِ يَوْمَ الدَّوْحِ ما بَيَّنَ عَنْ ارادَتِهِ فى خُلَصائِهِ وَ ذَوِى اجْتِبائِهِ وَ امَرَهُ بِالْبَلاغِ. فَكَمَّلَ اللَّه دينَهُ وَ اقَرَّ عَيْنَ نَبِيِّهِ وَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَ الْمُتابِعينَ وَ كانَ ما قَدْ شَهِدَهُ بَعْضُكُمْ وَ بَلَغَ بَعْضُكُمْ وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ اللَّه الْحُسْنى عَلَى الصّابِرينَ وَ دَمَّرَ اللَّه ما صَنَعَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَ هامانُ وَ قارُونُ وَ جُنُودُهُ وَ ما كانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ وَ بَقِيَتْ حُثالَةٌ مِنَ الضَّلالِ لايَأْلُونَ النّاسَ خَبالاً، يَقْصُدُهُمُ اللَّه فى دِيارِهِمْ وَ يَمْحُو آثارَهُمْ وَ يُبيدُ مَعالِمَهُمْ وَ يُعَقِّبُهُمْ عَنْ قُرْبٍ الْحَسْراتُ وَ يُلْحِقُهُمْ بِمَنْ بَسَطَ اكُفَّهُمْ وَ مَدَّ اعْناقَهُمْ وَ مَكَّنَهُمْ مِنْ دينِ اللَّه حَتّى بَدَّلُوهُ وَ مِنْ حُكْمِهِ حَتّى غَيَّرُوهُ وَ سَيَأْتى نَصْرُ اللَّه عَلى عَدُوِّهِ لِحينِهِ وَ اللَّه لَطيفٌ خَبيرٌ
References
- Al-Iqbāl bi-l-Aʿmāl al-Ḥasana fīmā Yuʿmal Marra fī l-Sana; ʿAlī b. Mūsā (Ibn Ṭāwūs), Edited by: Jawād Qayyūmī Iṣfahānī, Qom: Maktab al-Iʿlām al-Islāmī, 1418 AH.
- Biḥār al-Anwār al-Jāmiʿa li-Durar Akhbār al-Aʾimma al-Aṭhār; Muḥammad Bāqir b. Muḥammad Taqī Majlisī, Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
- Ghadīr dar Qurʾān, Qurʾān dar Ghadīr; Muḥammad Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Intishārāt Dalīl-i Mā, 1387 SH.
- Al-Miṣbāḥ (Jannat al-Amān al-Wāqiya wa Jannat al-Īmān al-Bāqiya); Ibrāhīm b. ʿAlī al-Kafʿamī, Qom: Dār al-Raḍī, 1405 AH.
- Miṣbāḥ al-Mutahajjid; Muḥammad b. Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī, Edited by: ʿAlī Aṣghar Marwārīd and Abū Dharr Bīdār, Beirut: Muʾassasat Fiqh al-Shīʿa, 1411 AH.