Verse 17 of Sura Hud and Ghadir
Verse 17 of Sura Hud is a verse that, according to the testimony of Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada al-Ansari, was revealed concerning Imam Amir al-Mu'minin (a). It considers the Imam's worthiness for Wilaya to be due to his accompaniment by a clear proof and a divine witness.
The context for the connection between Verse 17 of Sura Hud and Ghadir is understood from a narration by Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada, a companion of the Prophet (s) and a supporter of Imam 'Ali (a), who stated that the occasion of revelation for Verse 17 of Sura Hud was concerning Imam 'Ali (a).[1]
According to some sources, Aban narrates from Sulaym and 'Umar b. Abī Salama: Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan entered Medina during his pilgrimage during his reign. There was a conversation between Mu'awiya and Qays b. Sa'd. Qays, who was the leader of the Ansar and the son of their great leader Sa'd b. 'Ubada, responded to him and enumerated the virtues of Amir al-Mu'minin (a). Mu'awiya became angry and said: O son of Sa'd, from whom do you narrate these matters? Did your father inform you of these? Qays said: I heard and received these matters from someone who is better than my father and whose right over me is greater than my father's. Mu'awiya asked: Who is that? Qays said: He is Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali b. Abi Talib, the scholar of this Umma, its ruler, its Siddiq, and its Faruq. Mu'awiya said: The "Siddiq" of the Umma is Abu Bakr b. Abi Quhafa and its "Faruq" is 'Umar b. al-Khattab, and the one with whom the knowledge of the book rests is 'Abd Allah b. Salam.
Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada al-Ansari replied: More deserving of these names and their true owner is the one about whom God revealed: 
أَفَمَنْ كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِنْهُ,Is he then who is on a clear proof from his Lord, and a witness from Him follows him... [equal to him who has no proof?]
And he is the one about whom God says: "You are a warner, and for every people there is a guide" (Verse 7 of Sura al-Ra'd and Ghadir). By God, it was revealed that "'Ali is the guide of every people," and you removed this. And he is the one whom the Prophet (s) appointed at Ghadir Khumm and said: "Whoever I am his master, 'Ali is his master." And the Prophet said to him in the Battle of Tabuk: "You are to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me."[2]
Footnotes
References
- Asrar Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Nashr Mawlud Ka'ba, 1420 AH.
- Awwalin Mirath Maktub az Waqi'a Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat Dalil Ma, 1387 SH.
- Chahardah Qarn ba Ghadir (Ittimam Hujjat-ha, Bahth-ha-ye 'Ilmi, Munazirat, Mirath Maktub, Shi'r wa Adab, Yadgar-ha wa Yadbud-ha); Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat Dalil Ma, 1379 SH.
- 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.