Verses 10 to 12 of Sura al-Inshiqaq and Ghadir
Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq are considered among the verses used in the al-Ghadir Sermon to depict the fate of the enemies of Ghadir and the Imams (a).
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| Ayah Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Surah Name | Sura al-Inshiqaq |
| Ayah Number | 10 to 12 |
| Juz' | 30 |
| Ayah Content | |
| Topic | Description of the fate of Ghadir's enemies |
The Quranic context of Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq is understood to present a depiction of the Day of Judgment, dividing people into two groups: one group whose record of deeds is given into their right hand, and their reckoning is easy; and another group whose record of deeds is given to them from behind their back, and their lamenting cries of regret rise, and they feel the flames of fire upon their bodies. In the al-Ghadir Sermon, this categorization is applied to the enemies of Ghadir and the Imams (a): On the Day of Judgment, when the record of deeds of the enemies of 'Ali (a) is given to them from behind their back, it is as if molten lead is poured upon their heads, and their cries of 'Woe is me: waylī waylī' rise, and the agents of divine punishment send them to Hell.
Verses for Introducing the Enemies of Ghadir
Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq have been regarded by some researchers as an introduction to the enemies of Ghadir and their fate. These researchers have offered the following analysis for their view: The wilāyah of 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) by the Prophet has been made the cause of the test of the ummah: O 'Ali, if it were not for you, the believers would not have been known after me[notes 1].[1] The Prophet dedicated a part of the Ghadir ceremony to introducing the enemies of the Imams (a) and depicting their future. The quotation of several verses and the inclusion of other verses for this purpose have collectively given this section the title of fifteen verses; among these verses are Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq:
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِیَ کِتَابَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ
- And as for him who is given his book from behind his back
فَسَوْفَ یَدْعُو ثُبُورًا - he will soon cry out for perdition
وَیَصْلَیٰ سَعِیرًا - and enter a blazing fire.
Position of the Verses in the Text of the al-Ghadir Sermon
The position of Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq in the text of the al-Ghadir Sermon is depicted as follows: The al-Ghadir Sermon has passed its midpoint, and the Prophet (s) is explaining the future of the friends and enemies of 'Ali (a). After five sections about the friends, it is the turn of the enemies, and in the first section, by quoting a Quranic verse from Sura Al-Inshiqāq, he states one of the consequences of enmity towards 'Ali (a). In this phrase, the word yaṣlā, which is singular in the verse, is used in the Prophet's speech in its plural form (یَصْلَوْنَ) to match the word اعْداء. Know that the enemies of the Imams are those who will find the flames of fire upon their bodies[notes 2].[2]
Quranic Context of the Verses
The Quranic context of these verses in the early part of Sura Al-Inshiqāq is understood to be a depiction of the Day of Judgment, dividing people into two groups:
- The first group consists of those whose record of deeds is given into their right hand, and their reckoning is easy, and they return joyfully to their companions.
- The second group, in contrast, consists of those whose record of deeds is given to them from behind their back, and their lamenting cries of regret rise, and they feel the flames of fire upon their bodies.
Theological Analysis of the Verses
The reason for using Verses 10 to 12 of Sura Al-Inshiqāq in the text of the al-Ghadir Sermon has been analyzed as follows: The understanding evoked by combining the verses with the words of the Prophet (s) is the application of the enemies of the Imams (a) to those whose record of deeds is given to them from behind their back. On the Day of Judgment, it is these records of deeds that unveil the truths. In those moments when everyone is in anticipation, all look at their right hand, hoping to receive their record from that side. At that time, when the record of deeds of the enemies of 'Ali (a) is given to them from behind their back, it is as if molten lead is poured upon their heads, and their cries of 'Woe is me: waylī waylī' rise, and the agents of divine punishment send them to Hell.
Footnotes
References
- al-Iqbāl bi-l-Aʿmāl al-Ḥasanah fīmā Yuʿmal Marrah fī l-Sanah; Sayyid 'Ali b. Musa b. Tawus, research: Jawad Qayyumi Isfahani, Qom: Maktab al-Iʿlām al-Islāmī, 1418 AH.
- al-Yaqīn bi-Ikhtiṣāṣ Mawlānā 'Ali 'alayhi al-Salām bi-Imrat al-Mu'minīn; Sayyid 'Ali b. Musa b. Tawus, research: Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Muʾassasat Dār al-Kitāb al-Jazāʾirī, 1413 AH.