( 127 )
the people around him
saying: "This man is asking about
the self." ( 6 )
I have mentioned in the last chapter that the Messenger's declaration after the Hijrah was not a fulfillment of a
promise he made to Ali before the Hijrah
for he fulfilled
his promise to Ali by "brothering" him on the day of the
conference which took place at his house. Furthermore
he did not promise Ali with such a declaration to be made
in the future.
The Holy Prophet announced that to the Muslims voluntarily
because Ali deserved the unique honor and because its announcement might prepare the Muslims
psychologically for the leadership of Ali in the future. He
wanted to show the nation the guiding Minaret which the
nation would need after the Prophet.
As the Messenger announced to the Muslims the unique
honor which he bestowed upon Ali by "brothering" him
he was expected to announce publicly the other two high
honors which he conferred on him: of being his executor
and successor. For what the nation needed more than anything else was the good leadership to which it might
resort after the Messenger. Such a leadership is what could
secure the continuity of the Islamic Message in its purity.
It could also secure the nation against deviation from the
right road in its long future.
The Messenger chose to announce this leadership during
the tenth year after the Hijrah when he was performing his
valedictory pilgrimage. He declared to the thousands of
pilgrims that Ali had the right to administer the affairs of
the Muslims as much as the Prophet had. This meant that
the Prophet had declared that Ali was to be his successor.
It also implied executorship
for whomever the Prophet
appointed to administer the affairs of the Muslims would
be his executor also.
( 6 ) Almuttaqi Al-Hindi, Kanzul-Ummal, Part 15 (virtues of Ali), p. 125 (hadith No. 361)
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