[^19]: Muslims hold that 'mediation' will be given to the...

[^19]: Muslims hold that 'mediation' will be given to the Prophet (see note 172), while Shi'ite tradition adds that it will also belong to the Imams. Cf. the chapter in Majlisi's Bihar al-Anwar 'The Mediation, and the station of the Prophet and the Folk of his House which will become manifest at the resurrection' (VII, 326-40).

Among relevant sayings quoted in both Shi'ite and Sunni sources is that of 'Ali: 'In the Garden there are two pearls within the Throne, one of them white and the other yellow. In each there are 70,000 rooms whose gates and cups come from a single root. The white is the Mediation which belongs to Muhammad and his Household, while the yellow belongs to Abraham and his household' (commentary on 5:35: al-Tabarsi, Majma' al-bayan; Maybudi, Kashf al-Asrar). [^20]: Cf. Supplication 1.4.

[^21]: The 'Friend' or wali is the Imam, who, in keeping with the various meanings of the root, is 'friend' of God, 'guardian' of the people under his care, and 'authority' in all matters of religious teaching. His function, known as wilaya (or walaya) and derived from the same Arabic root, is discussed in most books on Shi'ism; in the present text the word is mentioned, not always in the technical sense, in Supplications 5 (title); 8.3; 20.7, 22; 26.1; 47.64; and 77.2.

[^22]: Allusion to 17:80: And say [0 Muhammad]: '... grant me authority from Thee to help me.' [^23]: Cf. 48:1: Surely We have given thee a manifest opening. [^24]: Cf. Moses' supplication in 20:31: Appoint for me of my folk a familiar, Aaron, my brother; by him brace up my back. [^25]: Like the previous clause, this is an allusion to the story of Moses and Aaron in the Qur'an, and more specifically, to God's words to Moses: We shall strengthen thy arm by means of thy brother (28:35). [^26]: Cf.

37:173: Our troops - they are the victors. [^27]: Wilaya - which may be translated as friendship, authority, guardianship, rule - is the office or function of the 'Friend' or wali mentioned above in note 219. [^29]: Cf. 10:25: And God summons to the Abode of Peace. Cf. also 6:127. [^30]: As indicated in note 77, 'caprice' denotes any desire opposed to the divine guidance. [^31]: This may be an allusion to 17:16.

[^32]: Allusion to 4:108: They hide themselves from men but hide themselves not from God. [^33]: Allusion to 7:182: We will draw them on little by little from whence they know not; and I grant them respite - surely My guile is firm.