Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam and Ghadir
Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam are among the verses that were revealed at a station of Ghadir after the Prophet (s) prayed to God to place the love of the Imam in the hearts of the people for Amir al-Mu'minin (a).
In Qudayd, which was the last station before Ghadir, fourteen verses regarding Ghadir were revealed, among them Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam. The revelation of these verses, alongside two precise programs for intellectually preparing the people before Ghadir, also brought about reactions. One of these events was the prayer for the love of Amir al-Mu'minin (a) in the hearts of the people, which was performed by the Prophet, and subsequently, these prayers were answered, and these two verses were revealed.
This prayer ceremony and immediate divine response with the revelation of Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam in the presence of the people was considered an exceptional moment in the life of the Prophet (s), astonishing and surprising everyone. Also, on the eve of Ghadir, it clarified the great status of 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) before God.
Verses Related to the Actions of the Prophet (s) in Ghadir
Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam are considered among the verses that were revealed to the Prophet (s) during the Hajjat al-Wida' journey before reaching the land of Ghadir.
Many verses of the Qur'an were revealed during the Prophet's journey from Medina to Mecca and back, of which twenty-one verses are directly related to the topic of Ghadir and its message. These verses indicate the divine backing and direct command of God in the Ghadir ceremony. Some verses refer to the conclusion of the prophethood and the beginning of the imamate, while others prepare the people for a great divine test. Also, Ghadir is introduced as a great victory and the despair of enemies, and the importance of proclaiming the imamate is emphasized. Finally, these verses declare the perfection of religion and the peak of God's blessing with the imamate. These verses are forty-nine verses and were revealed in twenty-one instances.[1]
Among these verses were Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam: 
إِنَّ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ سَیَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمنُ وُدًّا ﴿۹۶﴾ فَإِنَّما یَسَّرْناهُ بِلِسانِکَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِینَ وَ تُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُدًّا ﴿۹۷﴾,Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection. So We have only made it easy in your tongue that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people
.[2]
Historical Context of Revelation
The historical context of the revelation of Verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam in the event of Ghadir is depicted as follows: On the seventeenth of Dhu l-Hijja, after completing the Hajj rituals in Hajjat al-Wida', the Prophet's caravan (s) on its way back to Ghadir reached the valley of "Qudayd", which was less than one day's distance from Ghadir.[3] The settlement of Qudayd was at the beginning of the valley, and Ghadir Khumm was at the end of the same valley. Upon the caravan's arrival in the settlement, the caravan stopped, and people dismounted to rest from the journey they had traveled overnight. With the caravan's descent into Qudayd and the arrival of prayer time, the rows were prepared. After the prayer, the Prophet raised his voice so that everyone could hear and said something about the love of Amir al-Mu'minin (a).[4]
Two narrations explicitly state that the revelation of the command of imamate occurred during the Hajj season, and the Prophet (s) waited six days after that until Verse 12 of Sura Hud was revealed, and after that, he waited until Ghadir. On the one hand, the obstructions of the hypocrites occupied the Prophet's mind (s); on the other hand, the precise execution of the most important program of his mission required the creation and maintenance of the necessary conditions for its implementation.[5]
Course of Events
In Qudayd, which was the last stop before Ghadir, fourteen verses about Ghadir were revealed, including verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam. The revelation of these verses, along with two precise programs for intellectually preparing the people before Ghadir, also led to reactions. Some researchers, through careful study and comprehensive compilation of narrations, have formulated what occurred at this stage of the Ghadir event in Qudayd as follows:[6]
Supplication for the Love of Amir al-Muʾminin (a) in the Hearts of People
اللّهُمَّ هَبْ لِعَلِىٍّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِى صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَ الْهَيْبَةَ وَ الْعَظَمَةَ فى صُدُورِ الْمُنافِقينَ[7] Then, to seriously prepare for Ghadir, he called 'Ali (a) and said in the presence of the people: "O 'Ali, raise your hands to the sky and supplicate so that I may say Amin." O 'Ali, say: اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ لى عِنْدَكَ عَهْداً وَ اجْعَلْ لى عِنْدَكَ وُدّاً وَ اجْعَلْ لى فى قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ مَوَدَّةً Amir al-Muʾminin (a) repeated this supplication, and the Prophet (s) said Amin.[8]
Also, the Prophet (s) said: "O 'Ali, make any supplication you wish for yourself, and I will say Amin." Amir al-Muʾminin (a) repeated this supplication three times: اللّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْ مَوَدَّتى فى قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِناتِ اِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ and the Prophet (s) said Amin.[9]
Acceptance of Supplication and Revelation of Verses
After the supplication of Amir al-Muʾminin (a) and the Amin of the Prophet (s) in the presence of the people, verses 96 and 97 of Sura Maryam were revealed in this regard. The revelation of these verses meant the acceptance of the supplication of the Prophet (s) and Amir al-Muʾminin (a), and the people were surprised by the speed of the acceptance of this supplication.[10] The Prophet (s) said: "O 'Ali, Allah has revealed a verse from His Book concerning you and has placed love for you in the heart of every believer."[11] Then he said: "Praise be to Allah who has made the hearts of believers eager with love for you."[12] Then he said: "You will not see any believer except that there is love for 'Ali (a) in his heart."[13]
At this point, the Prophet (s) announced his heartfelt desire and said to Amir al-Muʾminin (a): "I asked my Lord to establish *wilaya* between me and you, and He accepted; and I asked Him to establish brotherhood between me and you, and He accepted; and I asked Him to make you my successor, and He accepted."[14]
Footnotes
- ↑ Ghadir dar Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 25.
- ↑ Ghadir dar Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 71.
- ↑ ʿAwalim al-ʿUlum; vol. 2/15, p. 39; ʿAwalim al-ʿUlum; vol. 2/15, p. 51.
- ↑ Ghadir dar Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 74.
- ↑ Al-Amali, vol. 1, p. 436.
- ↑ Ghadir dar Quran, vol. 1, p. 74.
- ↑ Tafsir al-'Ayyashi, vol. 2, p. 142; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 353, hadith 2.
- ↑ Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, pp. 248–249; Shawahid al-Tanzil, vol. 1, p. 474; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 354, hadith 4; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, pp. 355–356.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 358.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 353, hadith 2; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 356.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 39, p. 290, hadith 90.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 355.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 39, p. 289, hadith 88.
- ↑ Tafsir al-'Ayyashi, vol. 2, p. 141; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 35, p. 354; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 36, p. 100, hadith 43.
References
- Bihar al-Anwar al-Jami'a li-Durar Akhbar al-A'imma al-Athar; Muhammad Baqir b. Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi, Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi, 1403 AH.
- Tafsir al-'Ayyashi; Muhammad b. Mas'ud al-'Ayyashi, research by: Sayyid Hashim Rasuli Mahallati, Tehran: Maktabat al-'Ilmiyya al-Islamiyya, 1380 AH.
- Tafsir Furat al-Kufi; Furat b. Ibrahim al-Kufi, research by: Muhammad al-Kazim, Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Mu'assasat al-Tab' wa l-Nashr), 1410 AH.
- Shawahid al-Tanzil li-Qawa'id al-Tafdil fi l-Ayat al-Nazila fi Ahl al-Bayt Salawat Allah wa Salamuhum 'alayhim; 'Ubayd Allah b. 'Abd Allah al-Haskani, research by: Muhammad Baqir al-Haskani, Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Mu'assasat al-Tab' wa l-Nashr), 1411 AH.
- Ghadir dar Quran, Quran dar Ghadir; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat Dalil Ma, 1387 SH.
- 'Awalim al-'Ulum wa l-Ma'arif wa l-Ahwal min al-Ayat wa l-Akhbar wa l-Aqwal; 'Abd Allah b. Nur Allah Bahrani Isfahani, research by: Muhammad Baqir Muwahhid Abtahi Isfahani, Qom: Mu'assasat al-Imam al-Mahdi (a), 1382 SH.
- Waqi'a Qur'ani Ghadir: Guzarish Safar Yek Mahe Payambar Baraye I'lan Wilayat dar Saye Ayat Qur'ani; Muhammad Baqir Ansari, Qom: Intisharat Dalil Ma, 1386 SH.