However...

However, Allah (SWT) presents yet another opportunity for the minds that don’t comprehend and the eyes that don’t see and those who may belittle or misunderstand the significance of this event under the cloak by the presentation of Imam Ali’s question. The message we extract simply by the posing of this question by a person like Imam Ali (AS) is in itself an indication that this gathering is not random neither is it a coincidence.

The Tradition of the Cloak is not merely a story that is pleasant to hear, and Allah (SWT) is not a teller of stories without presenting its lessons, morals, and significance that will be effective till the end of time and not just for the contemporaries of that event. It is interesting to note that when Imam Ali (AS) poses his question to the Prophet (SA), he does not ask “if” there is a reward and value behind their gathering under the cloak.

Instead, he asks “what” is the reward and value of this gathering. Imam Ali (AS) already concluded and knows with certainty, as the successor of the Prophet and the 1st Imam, that there is indeed significant merit and value behind this gathering. It is only a matter of gaining that knowledge and understanding and making it available to the public.

This is the response of Allah (SWT) through the tongue of Imam Ali (AS) to anyone who wishes to devalue the Tradition of the Cloak or dilute its significance.

As Imam Ali (AS) himself said in this regards, “Allah (SWT) makes the truthful tongue of a person in front of the people better than wealth and inheritance.” It is cited in the book of Manaqib Aal Abi Talib by Ibn Shahr Ashoob that Abu Baseer narrates that Imam Al Sadeq (AS) said that the Prophet (SA) said that, “I prayed to Allah (SWT) to bestow me with a “truthful tongue” (Lisaan Sidq). so Allah (SWT) revealed these verses in Surat Maryam (19:49-50)”.

Just as Allah (SWT) bestowed Prophet Is-haaq (Isaac) to Prophet Ya’qoob (Jacob), He (SWT) bestowed Imam Ali (AS) as the “truthful tongue” to (SA). Previous…