Who among you will assist...

Who among you will assist, share, and endure the burden in this mission of mine, for, he shall be my Deputy [Khalifa], my Trustee [Wasi], my Chief Administrator [vizier] both in this world and the life to come .” The entire congregation kept quiet, except Ali (a.s.), who rose and said:“ Though I am still in my teens and not strong enough as yet, I shall be your Deputy [Khalifa], Trustee [Wasi], and Chief Administrator [vizier].

” The congregation responded by deriding the Prophet (S), some claiming that he was bewitched while others preferred to ignore him. The Prophet (S) invited the Banu Abdul Muttalib again the next day and on the third consecutive day for the miraculous feast as well as for repeating the Divine Message.

On all the three days, Imam Ali (a.s.) stood up in response to the Prophet’s call for a helper and said, “ I shall be your Deputy, Trustee, and vizier .” The Prophet (S) hugged and blessed Ali (a.s.) and holding up Ali’s hand declared:“ Oh people, this Ali (a.s.) here is my successor, [wasi], my caliph, and my vizier both in this world and the next .” The Prophet (S) then prayed:“ O Lord, love him who loves Ali, hold as your enemy whosoever shows enmity towards Ali, help those who help Ali, and abandon those who abandon Ali .” On hearing this, people taunted Abu Talib saying, “ O Abu Talib, Muhammad has appointed your son as the lord over Muslims.

From today, you have to obey your son .” All historians and the narrators of Hadith and history record this historical and momentous event unanimously and universally.[^6] Here it is very important to note that on the Day of Warning, the Prophet (S) was alone, without any support of men, means, or material. Therefore, Imam Ali’s offer to support the Prophet (S) could not have been motivated by any materialistic desire.

Similarly, the Prophet (S) also could not be accused of trying to confer any benefit or perpetuate family rule, for at that stage there was neither wealth nor estate. Instead of benefits, what was certain was only persecution in the shape of mental and physical harassment. It is a historical fact that as a direct consequence of proclamation of Islam in the feast of Youm ad-Dar, the Prophet (S) was banished for confinement in the Shi’b (defile) of Abu Talib .

A social boycott was enforced and anyone found to sympathize with the Prophet (S) was subjected to mental and physical torture.