This is also traceable to ABDALLAH IBN MAS'UD.

This is also traceable to ABDALLAH IBN MAS'UD. Three companions of the prophet (p), namely A'MASH, ABU SAI'D AL-KHUDARI and ABDALLAH IBN ABBAS, have been reported to have declared that this verse was revealed to the prophet (p) in respect of Imam Ali on the day of KHUM.

I quote the following from TAFSIR (commentary on the QUR'AN) called "KASHF AL-BAYAN" by ABU ISHAQ AHMAD ATH-THA'ALIBI, in the exposition of this verse he says: "When this AYA "O Apostle proclaim the message…." Was revealed to the prophet, he caught hold of the arm of Ali, and said, "Ali is the master and ruler of whomsoever I have been the master and ruler… etc.

I have been told by ABU AL-QASIM YA'QUB IBN AHMAD IBN ASSARI who was told by ABU BAKR MUHAMMAD IBN ABDALLAH IBN MUHAMMD… and so on till ADIL IBN THABIT, who was told by AL-BARA'' IBN AZIB, a companion of the prophet (p), that we were in the company of the prophet (p) during the Farewell Pilgrimage. When we arrived near KHUM, suddenly a call to prayer was made, and a pulpit was arranged for the prophet under two trees.

The prophet (p) caught hold of the arm of Imam Ali and asked of the congregation, "Am I not the master of the souls of the Muslims"? They replied, "Yes, you are". The prophet (p) then said, "This Ali is the master of the souls of all of whom I am the master. O God, be the friend of him who is Ali's friend, and be an enemy to his enemy". UMAR met Ali and congratulated him in these words: "O son of Abu TALIB, congratulations to you. You have become the MAWLA of all the Muslims, men and women".

IBN-ABBAS says (I have omitted the names of the intervening RUWAT) that the verse "O Apostle proclaim the message…" was revealed to the prophet in respect of Ali; the prophet (p) accordingly caught Imam Ali by the arm and said, "This Ali is the MAWLA of all of whom I have been the MAWLA. O God, be a friend to Ali's friend, and be an enemy to his enemy".

Imam FAKHR-ED-DINE-RAZE, in his AT-TAFSIR AL-KABIR MAFATIH AL-GHAIB", while commenting on this verse says exactly the same thing as has been reproduced above, with the addition of the congratulations of UMAR. The message spoken of in this verse was the one requiring the prophet (p) to announce that Imam Ali had been appointed to succeed him. Two relevant questions arise in this connection, viz. (1) Where is the proof of this assertion, and (2) Why was the name of Imam Ali not mentioned expressly?

I proceed to answer these questions.