"Man Kuntu Mawla Fa-Haza Aliyyun Mawla"

 

"Man Kuntu Mawla Fa-Haza Aliyyun Mawla"

On the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, at the plain of Ghadir Khumm, based on Sunni hadith sources: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) performed Hajj only once in his lifetime. After bidding farewell to the city of Mecca, he (PBUH) departed from his birthplace forever. This is why it is called the Farewell Hajj, and the speech he (PBUH) delivered is known as the "Farewell Sermon," as it was his final address to his homeland. After bidding farewell to everyone in Mecca, he (PBUH) continued on his journey to Madinah without removing his Ihram. Nearly 125,000 people accompanied him.

On the way, on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, on a Saturday, between the Zuhr and Asr prayers, when he (PBUH) reached a place called "Ghadir Khumm," located between Mecca and Madinah, the following verse was revealed:

"O Messenger, convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord. If you do not do so, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people."
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:67)

This is one of the last verses of the Quran. The actual translation of the last phrase is:
"Allah will separate you from mankind and will attach you to Himself."

"Ghadir" means a water pond. The place was called Khumm. When they reached near the pond of Khumm, the verse was revealed as follows:

"O Messenger, convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord, that Ali is the Mawla (guardian) of the believers. If you do not do so, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people."

The phrase “Anna Aliyyun Mawlal Mu’minin” (That Ali is the Mawla of the believers) was removed from the Quran in the publication of Caliph Uthman (RA). Just as the name of Harun (Aaron) was mentioned in the Quran alongside Prophet Musa (Moses), similarly, the name of Mawla Ali (AS) was also mentioned multiple times in the Quran.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that this verse was revealed in honor of Ali (RA). Ibn Mardawayh narrated from Ibn Umar that we used to recite this verse in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH) in this manner.

(Tafsir ad-Durr al-Manthur by Mulla Jalaluddin Suyuti, Volume 2, published in Egypt.)

Two hadiths supporting this verse are:
“Man kuntu mawlāhu fa-hādhā ‘Aliyyun mawlāhu”
(Whoever considers me his Mawla, Ali is his Mawla.)

(Sahih Bukhari, Mishkat al-Masabih)

The Prophet (PBUH) compared Mawla Ali (AS) to Prophet Harun (AS), as evidenced in:

• Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Page 194, and Volume 3, Page 526
• Ibn Hisham, Page 277

Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"O Ali, you are to me as Harun was to Musa. But there is no Prophet after me; I am the last Prophet."

Although there are many other pieces of evidence, I believe these two are sufficient for the wise.