(Surah Ankabut 29:2-4) Ibne Mahyar has related from Imam Husain (a.

(Surah Ankabut 29:2-4) Ibne Mahyar has related from Imam Husain (a.s.) that when this verse was revealed, Ali (a.s.) asked: O Prophet of Allah! What is that ‘trial’ mentioned in this verse? The Prophet (S) replied: O Ali, it is you. That is the Almighty Allah would test the people through your Imamate and you would dispute with those who have usurped your Caliphate and did not accept your Imamate, so you should be ready to dispute with proof and argument.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said that: The Holy Prophet (S) spent a night in the mosque and when morning approached Amirul Momineen (a.s.) also arrived. The Prophet (S) called him. Ali (a.s.) said: Labbaik (here I am), O Messenger of Allah. The Prophet said: Come to me. Amirul Momineen (a.s.) went to him and the Hazrat said: O Ali! You saw that I spent the whole night here in the mosque and asked a thousand wishes from Allah.

He fulfilled all of them and I asked similar things for you and Allah accepted them all. Then I asked him to unite the whole Ummat on your Imamate so that all may accept your Caliphate and follow you, the Almighty did not accept this wish of mine and He has revealed these verses. Also Saddi has narrated that ‘those who are true’ refers to Ali (a.s.) and his companions and ‘He will certainly know the liars’ means his enemies who are untrue in their claim of being believers.

Second verse: وَقُلْ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا وَإِنْ يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا. And say: The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve; surely we have prepared for the iniquitous a fire the smoke of which shall encompass them about.

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