Notice that in this verse...

Notice that in this verse, Allah does not use the plural form of guardian (Wali), and He states that only your Wali is Allah, , and Imam Ali. This implies that, at least for us, the Walaya of Imam Ali (PBUH) is the same as (rather defined as) the Walaya of (PBUH&HF), which in turn, is defined as the Walaya of Allah. Hence, when Allah states in Chapter 32, Verse 4 of the Holy Quran that there is no Wali other than Him (min dun Allah), this does not exclude whom He assigned as Wali.

Alternatively, we can say that there is no Wali other than those whose authority is from Allah (min Allah). In this connection, Imam Ali (PBUH), said, “... Allah made them (i.e.

Ahl al-Bait) His authorized representatives, and defined their Walaya as His Walaya and their party as His party and said, ‘As to those who turn to the Walaya of Allah, His Messenger, and the believers,- it is the party of Allah that most certainly triumphs.’ (5:56) He also said, ‘Only your guardian (Wali) is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers who establish prayers and give charity while they are bowing.’ (5:55).” (al-Tafsir, al-Nu'mani, as quoted in Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 66, p. 80, and vol.

90, p. 55). I asked Gabriel to plead to Allah, [(Who is) the security (of the believers),]. to excuse me from conveying it to you, O people, due to my knowledge on the fewness of the pious, the numerousness of the hypocrites,1 the corruption and the treachery of the sinful, and the trickery of those who ridicule Islam, those whom Allah described in His book as: “They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts,”2 taking it lightly, while it is a grave matter in the sight of Allah,3 1 The Holy Quran confirms that the majority of people are disbelievers (cf.

13:1, 16:83, 17:89, 26:8, 30:8), wicked (6:116, 5:49, 5:100), ungrateful (2:243, 7:10, 23:78, 27:73, 34:13), and consequently, will abide in Hell (7:179). 2 Chapter 48, Verse 11 of the Holy Quran. 3 cf. Chapter 24, Verse 15 of the Holy Quran.

and due to their annoying me on many occasions, so much so that they called me (all) “ear”, claiming I am so because of Ali’s frequent attendance in my presence and my attention to him, until Allah, the mighty and the majestic, sent down (the following verse) in this regard: “And of them are some who annoy the Prophet and say: He is an ear (for accepting what he hears, particularly from Ali).