Twenty-Eighth Verse

The commentary of the word of Allah, the High:

فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ. رِجَالٌ لاَ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ

“In houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in them; there glorify Him therein in the mornings and the evenings. Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about”[1]

In Ghaayah al-Maraam, he (r.a.) has recorded four traditions from Sunni sources in the exegesis of the aforementioned verses.

Tradition One: From Anas and Buraydah, who both narrate, “When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) recited the verse ‘In houses which Allah has permitted… they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about’, a person stood up and asked, ‘Which are these houses, O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)?’ He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘Houses of the Prophets (a.s.).’ Again he asked, ‘Is the house of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (a.s.) from these houses?’ He (s.a.w.a.) answered, ‘Yes, their house is superior to these houses.’”[2]

Tradition Two: From the exegesis of Mujaahed, Abu Yusuf and Yaqoob Ibn Safeen that Ibn Abbas said under the verse ‘And when they see merchandise or sport they break up for It, and leave you standing’[3] ‘Daheeyah al-Kalbi came on Friday from Syria with provisions and supplies. He stopped at a place called ‘the Stones of Olives’ (أحجار الزيت) (a central market place). Drums were beaten to announce his arrival following which all the people rushed towards him except Ali (a.s.), al-Hasan (a.s.), al-Husain (a.s.), Fatemah (s.a.), Salmaan (r.a.), Abuzar (r.a.), al-Miqdaad (r.a.) and Suhaib (r.a.). The people left the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) standing while he (s.a.w.a.) was delivering a sermon on the pulpit. He (s.a.w.a.) declared, ‘On Friday, Allah looked at my mosque. But for these eight people who are sitting in my mosque, Madinah would have been annihilated by fire along with its inhabitants and crushed with stones like the people of Lut (a.s.). And the verse, ‘Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate…’ was revealed concerning them.’[4]

Tradition Three: Al-Tha’labi in his exegesis while commenting on the aforementioned verse narrates through his chain of narrators that terminates at Anas Ibn Maalik that when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) recited this verse, a person stood up and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Is this house (i.e. the house of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (s.a.)) from these houses?’ He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘Yes, it is superior to them.’[5]

Tradition Four: Al-Tha’labi in his exegesis concerning the interpretation of the above mentioned verse records, “Narrated unto us al-Mundhir Ibn Muhammad al-Qaabusi from al-Husain Ibn Saeed from his father from Abaan Ibn Taghlib from Masqa’ Ibn al-Harth from Anas Ibn Maalik and Buraydah, both of whom said, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) recited the verse ‘In houses which Allah has permitted… they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about’ Abu Bakr stood up and asked, ‘‘O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Is this house (i.e. the house of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (s.a.)) from these houses?’ He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘Yes, it is superior to them.’[6]

As for traditions from our sources, they are truly copious. From these are what has been mentioned in Ghaayah al-Maraam from Muhammad Ibn Yaqoob from a number of our companions from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Khaaled from his father from one who mentioned to him from Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Rahmaan Ibn Abi Laylaa from his father from Abu Abdillah (al-Sadeq (a.s.)) who said, ‘Verily, you will not be righteous till you know. You will not know till you testify. You will not testify till you submit to the four doors, the first of which will not suffice except with the last of it. The companions (believers) of the three are deviated and wander in it a distant wandering. Verily, Allah – Blessed and High be He – does not accept but good deeds and does not accept but with the fulfillment of conditions and covenants. So, whoever has fulfilled for Allah – Mighty and Glorified be He – His conditions and completes whatever He has described in His covenant, will reach to what is with Him and will acquire completely whatever Allah has promised him. Surely, Allah – Blessed and High be He – has informed the servants about the path of guidance, manifested for them the ways of light and informed them of the method of treading. He says, ‘And most surely I am most Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does good, then continues to follow the right direction.’[7] And He says, ‘Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).’[8] Then whoever guards against evil for Allah in whatever He has commanded will meet Allah as a believer in what Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) has brought. Alas! Alas! A nation died before they followed the right direction. They thought that they had believed and they were associating partners with Allah while they knew not. Surely, one who comes to the houses from their doors has received guidance and the one who adopts any other way has treaded the path of destruction. The obedience of the possessor of His authority (ولي الامر) is because of his obedience to Allah and the obedience of His Messenger (s.a.w.a.) is because of His obedience. Whoever forsakes the obedience of the possessors of authority (اولي الامر), has neither obeyed Allah nor His Messenger (s.a.w.a.) while it is the acknowledgement of what has descended from Allah – Mighty and Glorified be He – i.e. take your adornments at every place of prostration and seek the houses which Allah has permitted to be raised and in which His name is mentioned. Indeed, He has informed you that they are, “Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate; they fear a day in which the hearts and eyes shall turn about.” Verily, Allah has chosen His Messenger (s.a.w.a.) for His affair; then, He has chosen them as testifiers in His warnings. He said, ‘…and there is not a people but a warner has gone among them.’[9] One who was ignorant was deviated and the one who saw and reflected received guidance. Surely, Allah – Mighty and Majestic be He – says, ‘…For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are in the breasts.’[10] How can he receive guidance who does not see? How can he see who does not ponder? Follow the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and his Ahle Bait (a.s.). Confess to what Allah has sent down. Follow the signs of guidance, for surely, they are the symbols of trustworthiness and piety. Know that if a person denies Prophet Eesa Ibn Maryam (a.s.) and accepts all other Messengers (a.s.), he has not believed. Tread the path seeking the lighthouse and seek the signs from the goodness of the proofs, you will complete the affair of your religion and believe in Allah, your Lord.”[11]

Abu Hamzah al-Thumaali (r.a.) narrates that Qataadah Ibn Deaamah al-Basri came to our master Imam al-Baqer (a.s.) in the Mosque of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Imam Abu Ja’far (a.s.) asked him, ‘You are the jurist of the people of Basrah?’ He replied in the affirmative. Imam Abu Ja’far (a.s.) reprimanded him thus, ‘Woe unto you, O Qataadah! Surely Allah – Mighty and Majestic be He – created some people from amongst His creation and appointed them as proofs upon His creatures. So, they are the wedges in the earth, the establishers of His affairs and the chosen ones of His knowledge. He has selected them before He created them as shadows from the right of the Throne (عرش).’ Qataadah remained silent for quite a long time. Then he said, ‘May Allah grant you goodness! By Allah! (Numerous) jurists sat before me and in front of Ibn Abbas. My heart was never uneasy in front of anyone of them like it was restless before you.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘Do you know where you are? You are in front of ‘…houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in them; there glorify Him therein in the mornings and the evenings. Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of poor-rate…’ we are these (houses).’ Qataadah said, ‘By Allah! You have said the truth, may Allah hold me as your ransom! By Allah! These are not the houses of stones and mud.’[12]

I say: After it has become clear for you that the traditions of both the sects are unanimous that the word ‘houses’ in the verse ‘…houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in them;…’ refers to the houses of the Prophets (a.s.), not the houses of mud and stones and that the houses of Ali (a.s.) and Fatemah (s.a.) is superior to their houses, it will become clear for you that they (Ahle Bait (a.s.)) are the chosen of the chosen ones of the creatures and that the Imamate and Caliphate is distinct and exclusive for them other than the entire Ummah.

Explanation: Verily Allah – Blessed and High be He – has informed in His Majestic Book about the selection of the progeny of Ibraheem (a.s.) and the progeny of Imran over the worlds. He says, ‘Surely Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim and the descendants of Imran above the nations.’[13] So they are the chosen ones of the world and the progeny of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is superior to them as per the traditions of both the sects. Therefore, they (a.s.) are the chosen of the chosen ones of the worlds.

When it is clear for you that they (a.s.) are thus, it will be apparent for you that the distinction of Imamate and Caliphate is for them. Do you think it to be permissible for the one who is the chosen of the chosen ones of the worlds – according to the endorsement of the Knower of the secrets and hidden things – to be under the oath of allegiance of the one who does not know the inner selves of the people and their secrets?

All Praise is for Allah Who guided us to this path and guidance would not have been possible for us had Allah not guided us and blessings of Allah be on Muhammad and his infallible progeny.