Verse 7 of al-Taḥrīm and Ghadīr

Verse 7 of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm is a verse revealed during the Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ regarding the betrayal of some of the Prophet's wives (s) in revealing the secret of Ghadīr to the enemies of Ghadīr, which denied their oaths about not revealing it.

Some researchers have presented the context of the revelation of Verse 7 of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm using the narration of Ḥudhayfa b. al-Yamān as follows: ʿĀʾisha bt. Abī Bakr, the Prophet's wife (s), learned of the secret of Ghadīr before its announcement. Contrary to her promise to the Prophet (s) to keep the secret, she revealed it to Ḥafṣa bt. ʿUmar, and both of them revealed it to their fathers. After the secret was revealed, the hypocrites began to conspire against Ghadīr. Consequently, God revealed the first to fourth verses of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm.

When God informed the Prophet (s) of the betrayal of confidentiality, he summoned his wives and questioned them about the revelation of his secret, without mentioning the conspiracy of the hypocrites. They swore that they had not disclosed his secret. It was then that the seventh verse of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm was revealed, denying their claims.

A Verse Revealed During Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ

Verse 7 of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm is considered among the verses revealed to the Prophet (s) during the journey of Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ and after the completion of the Hajj rituals in the city of Mecca. These verses are:

Yā ayyuhā alladhīna kafarū lā taʿtadhirū al-yawma ۖ innamā tujzawna mā kuntum taʿmalūn,O you who have disbelieved! Make no excuses today. You are being requited only for what you used to do.

Historical Context of the Verse's Revelation

Some researchers have presented the context of the revelation of Verse 7 of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm using the narration of Ḥudhayfa b. al-Yamān as follows: After the completion of the rituals of Ḥajjat al-Wadāʿ and on the way back from Mecca to Ghadīr Khumm on the fourteenth of Dhu l-Ḥijja, it was the turn of ʿĀʾisha bt. Abī Bakr among the Prophet's wives (s) for the Prophet (s) to stay with her. However, the presence of ʿAlī (a) to deliver the trusts prevented this. ʿĀʾisha said: 'I must go to ʿAlī and tell him why he does not allow me to be with the Prophet (s).' Addressing Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a), she said: 'O son of Abū Ṭālib, today you prevented the Prophet (s) from being with me.'

The Prophet (s) replied: 'O ʿĀʾisha, do not come between me and ʿAlī, for he fears no one in my path.' 'By Him in whose hand is my soul, no believer dislikes him, and no disbeliever loves him.' 'Know that after me, the truth is with ʿAlī and goes wherever ʿAlī goes; they will not separate until they meet me at the Pond of Kawthar.' ʿĀʾisha said: 'O Messenger of God! Your private meeting with ʿAlī has been prolonged since the beginning of today.' The Prophet (s) turned away from her, but ʿĀʾisha said: 'O Messenger of God, why are you hiding that private matter from me? Perhaps it is also good for me.' He (s) said: 'That is true. By God, this matter is good for whoever God makes fortunate to accept it and believe in it, and I am commanded to invite all people to it. You will soon learn about this matter when I announce it publicly.' ʿĀʾisha said: 'O Messenger of God, why do you not inform me of it now so that I can begin to act upon it sooner and start what is good?'

The Prophet (s) said: 'I will inform you soon, but keep it secret until I am commanded to announce it publicly.' 'If you keep it secret, God will reward you in this world and the Hereafter, and it will be a virtue for you that you have preceded others in faith in God and His Messenger.' 'But if you reveal this secret and neglect to safeguard what has been entrusted to you, you will have disbelieved in your Lord, and your reward will be lost, and you will have removed the hand of God's and His Messenger's security from yourself, and you will be among the losers;' 'and this will not harm God or His Messenger, and the curse of God, the angels, and all people will be upon you.'

ʿĀʾisha bt. Abī Bakr promised to keep that secret, believe in it, and observe it. The Prophet (s) then informed her of the secret thus: 'God Almighty has informed me that my life has ended, and He has commanded me to appoint ʿAlī as a sign among the people, to make him their Imam, and my successor, just as the prophets before me appointed their successors.' 'I am going to God, and I will announce his caliphate. Keep this matter behind the veil of your heart until God permits its announcement.' ʿĀʾisha once again promised not to tell anyone this secret; however, God informed His Prophet (s) what she and her companion Ḥafṣa bt. ʿUmar and their fathers would do concerning this.

Disclosure of the Divine Secret of Wilāya

ʿĀʾisha informed Ḥafṣa on the same day, and both informed their fathers. Abū Bakr and ʿUmar held a meeting and informed the munāfiqūn of the matter. They consulted with each other and said: "Muḥammad intends to establish the matter of caliphate in his family, like Chosroes and Caesar, until the end of time. No, by God! If the caliphate reaches ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, you will have no share in life; for Muḥammad treats you according to your outward appearance, but ʿAlī acts according to what he holds in his heart towards you. So, consider well your own situation and this matter, and declare whatever you have in mind." It was in this manner that the Prophet's (s) secret was disclosed by ʿĀʾisha and Ḥafṣa. Following this, God revealed the first three verses of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm.

Then, through the fourth verse of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm, God informed the Prophet (s) that even if the disclosers repent, their hearts are deviant, and if they attempt to act against the Prophet (s), his helpers are God, Gabriel, the angels, and Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a). When God gave this news, the Prophet (s) summoned them and questioned them about the disclosure of his secret, without mentioning the plot of the munāfiqūn. They swore that they had not revealed his secret. It was then that the seventh verse of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm was revealed in refutation of them: "O you who are faithless! Do not make excuses today. You will be requited only for what you used to do."

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