The Occasion of the Revelation of Āyat al-Balāgh and Clarification Regarding Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA)
Was verse 67 of Sūrah al-Mā'idah revealed during the Farewell Ḥajj or on the occasion of ʿĪd al-Ghadīr Khumm?
It is difficult to decisively determine the exact time and place of the revelation of this verse, as there are multiple opinions regarding this. However, based on authentic evidences and reliable proofs, the following clarifications can be made:
There are differing views regarding the occasion of the revelation of Āyat al-Balāgh (Sūrah al-Mā'idah: 67) — whether it was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage or on other occasions.
However, there is no authentic or reliable evidence that it was revealed on the occasion of ʿĪd al-Ghadīr Khumm.
Some Shīʿah sources associate this verse with the wilāyah and caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA), but there is no clear evidence for this claim in the Qur’ān or Ḥadīth.
Some exegetes (mufassirīn) have mentioned Ghadīr Khumm in connection with this verse, but this is based on their personal interpretations and speculative reasoning, which is not accepted by all scholars.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah, this verse relates to the prophethood of the Messenger ﷺ and the command to fully convey the religion, and not to the caliphate of any specific individual.
In this verse, Allāh ﷻ promises protection to the Prophet ﷺ from the people, so that he may deliver the complete message of the religion without fear.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah, Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA) was the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, and there is no disagreement on this matter.
However, using this verse as proof for his caliphate or wilāyah is incorrect, as the verse pertains to the general command of preaching the religion, and not to any political position of an individual.
The exact location of the revelation of Āyat al-Balāgh (Sūrah al-Mā'idah: 67) is not definitively established, but the claim that it was revealed at Ghadīr Khumm is not supported by any authentic evidence.
This verse concerns the completion and delivery of the message of Islam, not the announcement of the caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA).
The caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA) is undeniable, but there is no direct link between this verse and his appointment as caliph.
❖ Question:
Was verse 67 of Sūrah al-Mā'idah revealed during the Farewell Ḥajj or on the occasion of ʿĪd al-Ghadīr Khumm?
❖ Answer by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir (ḥafiẓahullāh):
It is difficult to decisively determine the exact time and place of the revelation of this verse, as there are multiple opinions regarding this. However, based on authentic evidences and reliable proofs, the following clarifications can be made:
① The Revelation of the Verse:
There are differing views regarding the occasion of the revelation of Āyat al-Balāgh (Sūrah al-Mā'idah: 67) — whether it was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage or on other occasions.
However, there is no authentic or reliable evidence that it was revealed on the occasion of ʿĪd al-Ghadīr Khumm.
Some Shīʿah sources associate this verse with the wilāyah and caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA), but there is no clear evidence for this claim in the Qur’ān or Ḥadīth.
② Mention of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA)’s Caliphate:
Some exegetes (mufassirīn) have mentioned Ghadīr Khumm in connection with this verse, but this is based on their personal interpretations and speculative reasoning, which is not accepted by all scholars.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah, this verse relates to the prophethood of the Messenger ﷺ and the command to fully convey the religion, and not to the caliphate of any specific individual.
③ Divine Assurance of the Prophet’s Protection:
In this verse, Allāh ﷻ promises protection to the Prophet ﷺ from the people, so that he may deliver the complete message of the religion without fear.
④ The Caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA):
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah, Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA) was the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, and there is no disagreement on this matter.
However, using this verse as proof for his caliphate or wilāyah is incorrect, as the verse pertains to the general command of preaching the religion, and not to any political position of an individual.
✿ Summary:
The exact location of the revelation of Āyat al-Balāgh (Sūrah al-Mā'idah: 67) is not definitively established, but the claim that it was revealed at Ghadīr Khumm is not supported by any authentic evidence.
This verse concerns the completion and delivery of the message of Islam, not the announcement of the caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA).
The caliphate of Sayyidunā ʿAlī (RA) is undeniable, but there is no direct link between this verse and his appointment as caliph.
