When someone was sent as a ‘Wali’ (Master) then...

When someone was sent as a ‘Wali’ (Master) then: إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ [Shakir 5:55] Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow.

And if He (s.w.t.) wanted someone to be obeyed then: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً [Shakir 4:59] O you who believe!

obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end All this initial groundwork has been laid so that it would become easier to understand the claims that have been made by the jurists; claims that have been accepted by a great multitude of people.

Those who do not accept their claims have either been declared faithless or irreligious. There is a long list of these claims which they keep making time and again, and this list is getting longer by the day. I shall discuss some of these claims in the light of the guidance from the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) so that no blame shall rest on me. Their claims can be divided into two categories - claim to their titles and claim to their status. Before I discuss this in detail, let me clarify one point.

There are some words which have two meanings - one linguistic and one allegorical. For example the Arabic word ‘Dharb’ has a linguistic meaning which is to ‘hit’. But, when it comes to mathematics it is used to mean ‘multiplication’. The Sufis actually use it to mean their chants of ‘Allah Hu, Allah Hu’. In the same way the Holy Quran has also used certain words in two meanings.

The words that have been used in the Holy Quran in its linguistic meanings, we can also only use them in the same manner. For example, the word ‘Rasool’ (Messenger). This word has been used for Prophets, ordinary people, angels and even for a crow. Therefore we can use this word in its linguistic form. In Arab countries this is also used for someone who brings you news.

✦ ✦ ✦