Verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr and al-Ghadir
Verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr was used in the al-Ghadir Sermon to demonstrate that Muslims are given a choice regarding al-Ghadir: to accept it or to choose divine enmity on the Day of Judgment.
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| Reason for Notability | Rejecting al-Ghadir is equivalent to enmity with God on the Day of Judgment |
Verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr is among the verses employed in the al-Ghadir Sermon to introduce the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and their future. The use of this verse in the al-Ghadir Sermon is interpreted theologically as follows: Muslims must make a choice regarding two important matters in al-Ghadir, a choice whose consequences they will see on the Day of Judgment. The first matter is the superiority of 'Ali (a) over all people after the Prophet (s) until the Day of Judgment; the second matter is accepting the wilaya of 'Ali (a) and not showing enmity toward him. In both cases, anyone who does not accept this is subject to divine curse and wrath; that is, whoever does not accept that 'Ali (a) is superior to all people, and if they do not accept his wilaya and show enmity toward him, they are cursed and subject to divine wrath.
A Verse Concerning the Enemies of al-Ghadir
Verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr is among the verses used in the al-Ghadir Sermon. The context for the use of this verse has been outlined by some researchers as follows: 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) is the Imam whom the Prophet (s) made the cause of the test for the umma: لَوْ لا انْتَ يا عَلِىُّ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بَعْدى.[1]
The Prophet (s) dedicated a portion of the al-Ghadir ceremony to describing the enemies of the Imams (a) and their future. By quoting several verses and incorporating others for this purpose, a total of 15 verses were placed under the heading of this section. In these verses, on the one hand, the attributes and behavior of the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in this world are discussed, and on the other hand, the recompense for their beliefs and actions in this world and the hereafter is stated, including the nullification of the value of their deeds.
Among these verses is verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr: Template:قرآن.
The Verse in the Text of the al-Ghadir Sermon
Verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr appears in the text of the al-Ghadir Sermon as follows: الا انَّ جَبْرَئيلَ خَبَّرَنى عَنِ اللَّه تَعالى بِذلِكَ وَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ عادى عَلِيّاً وَ لَمْ يَتَوَلَّهُ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَتى وَ غَضَبى»، «وَ لْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ ما قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ، وَ اتَّقُوا اللَّه»، انْ تُخالِفُوهُ «فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِها، إِنَّ اللَّه خَبِيرٌ بِما تَعْمَلُونَ».[2]
Historical Context of the Use of the Verse
The historical context of the use of verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr is depicted as follows: In the final moments of the al-Ghadir Sermon, the Prophet (s) stated some of the virtues of 'Ali (a) to prepare the people fully for the announcement of his position of wilaya. In this section, the Prophet (s) spoke of divine wrath: he first declared those who rejected his words regarding 'Ali (a) to be cursed and subject to divine wrath; then, quoting Gabriel from God Almighty, he invoked curses and wrath upon anyone who did not accept the wilaya and showed enmity toward 'Ali (a).
After conveying the wrath of the Lord regarding the enemies of 'Ali (a), the Prophet (s) gave a warning to the people about the Day of Judgment and expressed this purpose by quoting two Quranic verses and merging their contents. First, he brought a part from the middle of verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr: Template:قرآن; then, to create a connection between the verse and the subject of the speech, he added the phrase انْ تُخالِفُوهُ; then he brought a sentence from the middle of verse 94 of Surah al-Nahl: Template:قرآن and then brought the sentence Template:قرآن, which is the continuation of the verse from Surah al-Hashr.[3]
Quranic Position of the Verse
Regarding the Quranic position of verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr, some researchers have stated: The verse of Surah al-Hashr is about remembering the Day of Judgment. In the previous verse (verse 17), Satan is mentioned, who disavows the human after deceiving him, and on the Day of Judgment, both Satan and the deceived human go to Hell. Here, God advises people to see what they are sending ahead for the tomorrow of the Day of Judgment and not to be like those who forgot God, and God also forgot them.
Theological Analysis of the Verse: Choosing Between Divine Wilayah or Enmity on the Day of Resurrection
According to some scholars, the citation of verse eighteen of Sura al-Hashr in such a context within the al-Ghadir Sermon—when appended to the preceding sentences—indicates a significant matter: the choice between divine wilayah (guardianship) or enmity for the Day of Resurrection. The verse states, "and let every soul consider what it has sent ahead for tomorrow." This sentence follows two important points regarding 'Ali (a) and signifies what choice Muslims make for the Day of Resurrection concerning two crucial matters: the first matter is the superiority of 'Ali (a) over all people after the Prophet (s) until the Day of Resurrection; the second matter is the acceptance of the wilayah of 'Ali (a) and refraining from enmity toward him. In both cases, whoever does not accept this is subject to divine curse and wrath; that is, whoever does not accept that 'Ali (a) is superior to all people, and if they do not accept his wilayah and harbor enmity toward him, they are cursed and subject to wrath.
By mentioning these two points, the Prophet (s) places the people at a crossroads and reminds them of the Day of Resurrection, asking whether they will accept the wilayah of the most superior person after the Messenger of Allah (s), which necessitates friendship and love for him, or whether they will reject his wilayah, which necessitates enmity and hostility toward him.[4]
Footnotes
Bibliography
- Asrar-i Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Nashr-i Mawlud-i Ka'ba, 1420 AH.
- Ghadir dar Qur'an, Qur'an dar Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat-i Dalil-i Ma, 1387 Sh.
- al-Manaqib; 'Ali b. Muhammad b. Shafi'i (Ibn al-Maghazili), edited by Muhammad Baqir Bihbudi, Beirut: Dar al-Adwa', 1404 AH.