In such a situation...

In such a situation, he led a congregational prayer and asked his companions to make a pulpit-like peak. He towered over it and delivered the most important speech in the lives of all Muslims. The most important piece of that speech was that he took Imam Ali (a.s.) from the hand, raised him as much as he could, and declared openly and frankly: مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَهٰذَا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ.

اَللّٰهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ، وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ،وَ اَحِبَّ مَنْ اَحَبَّهٗ ، وَ اَبْغَضَ مَنْ اَبْغَضَه ٗ ، وَ انْصُرْ مَنْ نَصَرَهٗ ، وَ اخْذُلْ مَنْ خَذَلَهٗ وَ أَدِرِ الْحَقَّ مَعَهٗ حَيْثُ دَارَ. اَلَا فَلْيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبُ. “Ali shall be the master of him whoever has taken me as master. O Allah!

(I implore to You to) accede to him whoever accedes to Ali, be the enemy of him whoever makes an enemy of Ali, love him whoever loves Ali, hates him whoever hates Ali, give victory to him whoever supports Ali, disappoint him whoever disappoints Ali, and direct the right to the direction that Ali takes.

It is obligatory upon the attendants to convey this instruction to the absent.”[^95] As the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) conveyed his Lord’s missive so completely, the Lord revealed, “This day have I perfected for you your Religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a Religion.[^96] ”[^97] From her early life, Lady Zaynab (a.s.) realized the Prophet’s instruction and the Ummah’s homage to her father, Imam Ali (a.s.).

She also realized that the leadership of her father was a divine instruction and, hence, was a pillar part of the Religion. The Prophet’s Final Disease As he was back from the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) felt sick. He was attacked by a very violent fever that obliged him to stay at bed. When Muslims heard of this bad news, they hastened to visit him in groups.

He used to instruct them not to leave the leadership of Imam Ali (a.s.) after his departure.[^98] Because the issue of Imam Ali(a.s.)’snext leadership was the most important, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) repeatedly focused on it in every situation. He used to say: هٰذَا عَلِيٌّ مَعَ الْقُرْآنِ، وَ الْقُرْآنُ مَعَ عَلِيٌّ، لاَ يَفْتَرِقَانِ حَتّٰي يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ. Ali (a.s.) is most certainly with the Qur’an and the Qur’an is most certainly with Ali (a.s.).

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