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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Master and Mastership Chapter 3: Special Form of Positive Wala’ The affection toward the (the Prophet's progeny) is the special form of the positive Wala’ . It is an incontrovertible fact that the Holy Prophet himself has urged the Muslims to have special affection toward his progeny. Even the Sunni scholars do not deny that. It is this affection which has been mentioned in the verse about the .

" Say: I ask you no reward for my preaching save love and affection toward my progeny ". (al-Shura;42 23). The well-known and authentic hadith of Ghadir, according to which the Prophet said " Whoever regards me as his master and guardian, must regard Ali, too, as his master and guardian "[^1] also implies a sort of affection which will be explained later.

It is agreed by both the Shi'ah and the Sunni that the verse: " Your Waly can be only Allah, His Messenger and those who believe and establish prayers, and pay zakat while they kneel down in prayer ". (al-Ma'idah, 5:55); was revealed in respect of Imam Ali. Tabari, in his ''Exegesis''[^2]of the Holy Qur'an quotes a number of reports in this connection. Zamakhshari, who is one of the most eminent Sunni scholars, is definite when he says: "This verse was revealed in respect of Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Though it refers to a single person, plural form has been used with the intention of exhorting the Muslims to follow the good example set by him, and to emphasize that even prayers may be delayed for doing good to the poor and the needy".[^3] In other words if an occasion arises to pay zakat while one is offering prayers, the payment should not be postponed for that reason alone. Fakhruddin al-Razi is another important scholar.

He also says that this verse is related to Ali ibn Abi Talib for no other person except him paid zakat while offering prayers.[^4] At the most there may be some difference of opinion as regards the meaning of Waly. We will discuss this point while explaining the purport of the verse.

Ali ibn Hammad Baghdadi, who was one of the most outstanding Shi'ah poets of the fourth century of the Hijri era, referring to this verse says that because Imam Ali paid zakat while offering prayers Allah has associated the Wala’ toward the Imam with the Wala’ towards himself. On the occasion of Mubahilah.[^5] He called Imam Ali the self of the Holy .