The Prophet (S) said...

The Prophet (S) said: "Now, look how do you treat with these two weighty and worthy things that I leave among you?" A voice from among the crowd asked the Prophet (S) what those two worthy things were. The Prophet (S) immediately said: " The first is 'the Greater Weight ' , the Qur'an, whose one end is in Allah's hand and another end is in your hand. Never abandon it lest you might get astray! The second worthy thing is my progeny, my Ahlul-Bayt.

And verily Allah, the Subtle, the Aware, informed me that never, never, will these too get separated from each other until they meet me at Heaven. Do not anticipate them both, because you, will be perished; and be not behind-hand of those two, for you will be perished, too." At that time, people saw that the Prophet (S) was looking round as if he was looking for someone.

As soon as he saw Ali (as), he leaned over and took his hand and raised it up so high that the whiteness of their arm-pits appeared. The entire crowd saw him (as) and recognized him that he is the very ever-victorious officer of Islam. Here, the Prophet's voice became louder and more audible when he said: "O' people! who is superior (or the Master) among the people to the believers more than their own selves?

" They said: " Allah and the Prophet (S) know better." The Prophet (S) said: "Allah is my master, and I am the master over the believers, and I am superior to them more than their own selves (my decision is superior to their decision)." Then he (S) added: "To whomever I am the Maula (the master) this Ali is his Maula (the master)." And he repeated this statement three times, or, as some narrators of the traditions have cited, he repeated it four times.

After stating this commandment, he looked up towards heaven and prayed, saying: "O' Allah! Be You a friend to him who is a friend to him (Ali) and (Be You) as enemy to him who is enemy to him (i.e. Ali)." Then he (S) said to the audience: "Beware that all of you who are present should communicate this news to those who are absent." The Prophet's sermon was completed while sweat was showering from the faces of the Prophet (S), Ali (as) and all people there because of the heat.

Before separating the rows of the pilgrims, Ruh-ul-'Amin (Gabriel) came down and revealed this holy verse to the Prophet (S): "...This day have I perfected your religion for you and have I completed My bounties on you and am pleased your religion to be Islam. ..." [^2] The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: " Allah is the Greatest!