[^66] The efforts of Imam Ali ('a) himself during the days...

[^66] The efforts of Imam Ali ('a) himself during the days of his caliphate were one of the main causes of propagation of the notion of Imamate as a Divine office. In one of the verses that he composed concerning the event and tradition of Ghadir, he interprets it as ordaining his wilayah over the people: On the day of Ghadir Khumm, the Apostle of God made my wilayah incumbent upon you. [^67] In an elaborate letter that the Imam wrote to Mu'awiyah, he deals with this matter iii detail.

This letter reveals interesting points concerning the Imam's role in propagation of the Shi'i concept of wilayah. As this letter has an important place from the viewpoint of Imami ideas, we shall cite here its main parts: God, the Exalted, says, "Obey God and the Apostle and those who have authority among you" (4:59). This verse is about us , not you. Then He forbade conflict and disunity and enjoined submission and unity.

You are the same people who professed faith in that before God and the Apostle. God has informed you that "Muhammad is not the father of any man among you. He is the Apostle of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets" (33:40). And He has said, "If he dies or is killed will you turn back on your heels?" (3:144). And you, Muawiyah, and your companions, have turned your backs and apostatized, breaking the covenant you had made with God and breaking the allegiance, although that does not harm God.

O Mu'awiyah, don't you know that the Imams are from amongst us, not from among you? God has informed you that those who possess authority should be those who derive knowledge (a reference to 4:83), and He has also informed that in all matters that there is disagreement amongst you, you should refer to God and His Apostle and to those who possess authority and possess knowledge. Hence anyone who is loyal to his covenant will find God to be faithful to His covenant ....

We are the progeny of Abraham who are the envied ones and you are the jealous ones (a reference to 4:54) . . . . It was a group of Israelites who said to their prophet, "Appoint a king over us so we may fight in the way of God" (2:246). When God sent Said as king, they were jealous of him and they said, "How can he have sovereignty over us?" (2:247) and they imagined that they were more worthy of kingship than him.

All these are things that have occurred in the past and now I describe them for you and its interpretation is with us and whoever belies it will be disappointed.