The Arabic word /wazir/ (minister) is derived from the word...

The Arabic word /wazir/ (minister) is derived from the word /wizr/ in the sense of ‘a heavy load’, and it is called to a person who carries the burden of other’s responsibility on his back; and the Arabic term /’azri/ also means ‘back’. However, it has been cited in many commentary books that the Prophet of Islam (S) repeatedly recited these verses and said: “My Lord!

Like Moses, I also ask for an assistant from my family” [^1] Allamah Tabataba’i in The Commentary of Al-Mizan says: “In the tradition of Rank, the holy Prophet (S) told Ali-ibn-Abitalib: ‘O Ali! You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, save that there is no prophet after me’.

This tradition has been narrated in one hundred ways by the Sunnites and in seventy ways by the Shi‘ite.” Again, some of the traditions recorded in the books compiled by the scholars of the Sunnite and the Shi‘ite denote that the Prophet of Islam (S) asked Allah the same things that Moses had asked for the succession in his mission, with a difference that instead of Aaron he (S) mentioned the name of Ali (as) and said as follows: “O Allah!

I ask You the same thing that my brother Moses asked You that You expand my breast, and make easy for me my task, and loose a knot from my tongue that they may understand my saying, and appoint for me an assistant from my family, Ali, my brother. My Lord!

Strengthen my back by him, and associate him (with me) in my affair, so that we glorify You much, and remember You abundantly; verily You are ever seeing of us.” This tradition has been recorded in The Commentary of Durr-ul-Manthur, by Suyuti; in Majma‘-ul-Bayan by the Late Tabarsi; and a great deal of the great scholars of the Sunnite and the Shi‘ite have also narrated it with some differences, of curse.

Similar to this tradition is the tradition of Rank; wherein the Prophet (S) has said to Ali (as): “Are you not content with (this fact) that you are to me as Aaron was to Moses, save that there is no prophet after me?” This tradition, which has been cited in the first level books of the Sunnites, and as Mohaddith Bahrani has said in his book entitled ‘Qayat-ul-Maram’, it has been narrated in one hundred ways by the Sunnites and in seventy ways by the Shi‘ite, is so authentic and valid that there is no room for any denial or rejection against it.