The announcement of Ghadeer expectedly ruffled a lot of feathers among the companions. While many of them secretly rejected appointment of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) as Master on the Day of Ghadeer, there were some who grumbled openly to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) about it.
Stone falls from sky on the dissenting companion
One companion approached the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) protesting the appointment of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) as Master of all believing men and women. This incident is captured forever in the Holy Quran in these verses:
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall. The unbelievers there is none to avert it. From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. (Surah Maarif (70): 1-3)
Regarding these verses Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) narrates: After the announcement in Ghadeer, Harith Ibn No’man confronted the Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
Is this announcement made by you in a personal capacity or has Allah Himself ordered it?
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) – By Allah, besides whom there is no God, this announcement is from Allah.
On hearing this Harith huffed back to his mount grumbling: O Allah – if indeed this announcement is true, then let a stone descend on me or inflict me with a painful chastisement.
He had barely reached his mount when a stone descended from the sky right on his head – entering his body and exiting from his posterior.
On this occasion Allah revealed the abovementioned verse.
- Allamah Amini (r.a.) in Al-Ghadeer v 1 p 239-247 has recorded 30 Ahle Tasannun sources for this incident
- Shawahid al-Tanzeel v 2 p 381- under Surah Maarij (70): 1-3 (Ahle Tasannun)
- Kashf wa al-Bayan / Tafseer al-Thalabi under Surah Maarij (70): 1-3 (Ahle Tasannun)
- Tafseer al-Naqqash under Surah Maarij (70): 1-3 (Ahle Tasannun)