(Because of his announcement...

(Because of his announcement,) the number of people from the inhabitants of Medina and its suburbs as well as (other) Arabs who went on pilgrimage along with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) was in excess of 70,000 — this is equivalent to the number of people from whom Moses (PBUH) took pledge of allegiance for Aaron (PBUH), but they later chose the calf (for worship) and the Samiri.1 Likewise, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) took the pledge of allegiance from this number of people for Ali (PBUH), but they later broke their pledge and chose the calf and the Samiri of their time (as their leaders), following exactly the custom of their predecessors — Repeating the words of compliance with the call of Allah (al-Talbiya), the Prophet (PBUH&HF) traveled from Mecca to Medina and performed the rituals of pilgrimage.

1 Sameri was a hypocrite who deceived the folk of Prophet Moses (PBUH) during his leave, and made them worship a gold calf instead of Allah. cf. the Holy Quran, Chapter 20, Verses 83-97. When he was in the stopping place (al-Mina), the Angel Gabriel brought him a message from Allah, the most High, saying, “O Muhammad!

Your Lord, the mighty and the majestic, greets you and states, ‘Indeed, your inevitable time (of departure) has approached; thus, fulfill your obligation; make your will earlier; entrust what is with you of knowledge, the heritage of the early prophets in terms of knowledge and signs, the weapon, and the chest1 to the executor of your will and your successor, who is My far reaching proof over My creation and My exhaustive argument against them, Ali Ibn Abi Talib (PBUH).

Raise him as a guiding flag for people, remind and renew people’s covenant and pledge about adhering to the authorized representative2 of Mine and the master of every believing man and woman, Ali Ibn Abi Talib (PBUH). Verily, I have never taken the soul of any of the prophets except after perfecting My religion, and completing My bounty by means of requiring adherence to My authorized friends and enmity against My enemies. 1 cf. the Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 248.

2 The term “Wali-Allah” is translated as “authorized representative” or “authorized friend” throughout the text. It refers to an individual who is authorized by Allah over people, who exercises authority on behalf of Allah and according to His command, and is the guardian of the believers. Thus, obeying him means obeying Allah and disobeying him means disobeying Allah.