Verse 15 of Sura al-Isra' and Ghadir
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| Ayah Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Surah Name | Sura al-Isra' |
| Ayah Number | 15 |
| Juz' | 15 |
| Ayah Content | |
| Place of Revelation | Mecca |
| Topic | Guidance and misguidance stem from one's choice to accompany or not accompany Ghadir. |
| Ayah Recitation Audio Translation | |
Verse 15 of Sura al-Isra' is a verse that was used during the taking allegiance from the people within the al-Ghadir Sermon and indicated that guidance and misguidance stem from one's choice to accompany or not accompany Ghadir.
The historical circumstances in which Verse 15 of al-Isra' was used in the event of Ghadir are depicted as follows: After the conclusion of the tenth section of the al-Ghadir Sermon, while the listeners remained silent, the Prophet (s) entered the final section of his speech. What the people heard in this section was an unprecedented action that was new to Muslims. The Prophet (s) presented the allegiance more seriously, and in a new initiative, from atop the minbar of Ghadir, he took allegiance from 120,000 people and obtained acknowledgment from all.
The Prophet (s), in a part of the next section—which is the eleventh and final section of the al-Ghadir Sermon—introduced the allegiance at Ghadir as allegiance to God. As one who had said what needed to be said and had taken the covenant, he seemed to ask the people: After all this divine grace, which has chosen the best path and the best imams for you, and has not allowed you to proceed with your own thoughts and create problems for yourselves, do you appreciate all these blessings? The Prophet (s) began these remarks with a question: O people, what do you say?[notes 1]. Then, in a tone of advice, he recited Verse 15 of al-Isra':
فَمَنِ اهْتَدی فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَ مَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّما یَضِلُّ عَلَیْها
- Whoever is guided is guided only for his own sake, and whoever goes astray, goes astray only to his own detriment.
Since everyone had to come for allegiance after the sermon of the Messenger of God (s), the Prophet (s) once again repeated Verse 10 of al-Fath and Verse 28 of al-Zukhruf, referring to the details of this allegiance. Accordingly, he considered this allegiance, on the one hand, as allegiance to God, and on the other hand, as allegiance to all imams and their imamate in this world and the hereafter: O people, what do you say? Indeed, God knows every sound and the hidden thoughts of every soul. So whoever is guided is guided only for his own sake, and whoever goes astray, goes astray only to his own detriment, and whoever pledges allegiance, he pledges allegiance to God. The hand of God is above their hands[notes 2].[1]
Footnotes
- ↑ Waqi'a Qur'ani Ghadir, p. 107; Sakhtrani Istithna'i Ghadir, pp. 233–242.
References
- Sakhtrani Istithna'i Ghadir; Muḥammad-Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Dalil-e Ma Publications, 1386 SH.
- Waqi'a Qur'ani Ghadir: Guzarish-e Safar-e Yek-Māha-ye Payambar Baraye I'lan-e Wilayat Dar Saye-ye Ayat-e Qur'ani; Muḥammad-Bāqir Anṣārī, Qom: Dalil-e Ma Publications, 1386 SH.