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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Leading The Ummah Chapter 20: The Event Of Ghadir (Part 3) What was the objective behind the Glorious Event of Ghadir? The previous discussions have clearly depicted the fact that the event of Ghadir has been a definite historical event, and any doubt on it is to doubt on obvious facts. It should be noted that among the Islamic narration, few narrations may equal it from the perspective of frequency.

Therefore, we shall not concentrate on the validity of such an authentic document; rather we will discuss the content of this document. The key issue of this document is the word “Mawla” in the phrase “ “ مَن كنتُ مَولاهُ فعليٌ مولاهُ “ Firstly, we should note that the word “Mawla” is used in the Holy Quran in the sense of “preferable”. “So today ransom shall not be accepted from you nor from those who disbelieved; your abode is the fire; it is your friend, end evil is the resort [^1] “.

﴿ فَالْيَوْمَ لا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَ لا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَأْواكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلاكُمْ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾ In the interpretation of this verse the great Islamic interpreters say: the word “Mawla” in this verse means “more suitable” or “preferable” because nothing is better (or more suitable) than fire for the people who have committed sins. “He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his profit; evil certainly is the guardian and evil certainly is the associate”.

[^2] ﴿ يَدْعُوا لَمَنْ ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِ لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلى وَ لَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ ﴾ This verse based on its meaning and due to the context of the other preceding verses deals with the acts of idolaters who considered their idols as their masters. Thus, these two verses indicate that one sense of “Mawla” is “more suitable” and one “superior”.

So, let us see what the expression “ مَن كنتُ مَولاهُ فعليٌ مولاهُ “ means: does it refer to one's domination over others, which is the characteristic of a superior one? Or does “Mawla” refer to one's friend, as some others have assumed? There are many clues that the first sense of the word “Mawla” is meant. Scholars refer to this “as the absolute governorship”.

In this connection, the Holy Quran refers to the Prophet (S) as: ﴿ النَّبِيُّ أَوْلى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ ﴾ “The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves” [^3] .

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