Ali asws to Muhammad saww is like Haroun as was to Musa as (Why?)

Summary:

A question comes to one’s mind, why did Rasool Allah^-saww say to Imam Ali^-asws, as found in several Ahadith: ‘You^-asws are to me^-saww like Harun^-as was to Musa^-as, except that there shall be no prophet^-as after me^-saww? As one would find out from Ahadith too that as Harun^-as actually passed away during the lifetime of Musa^-as and Yusha^-as bin Nun^-as was the executor of the Will of Prophet Musa^-as as a successor.[1]

Below are some extracts of Ahadith, highlighting multiple similarities between the Harun^-as and Ali^-asws. The main and foremost one is their^-as support and assistance during the difficult and critical stages of delivering the Divine Message of Allah^-azwj, by Prophetas (Musa^-as and Mohammed^-saw) until the time when all aspects of the Divine Commends were delivered and Religious Messages were completed.

In the case of Prophet Musa^-as:

(Imam^-asws says in a Hadith): Thus, all of them perished therein except for two men – Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Kaalib Bin Youhanna – whom Allah^-azwj had Bestowed Favours upon the two. And Musa^-as and Haroun^-as passed away, and Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Kaalib and their sons entered into it (the Holy Land)’.[2]

In another Hadith, the narrator asked the Imam^-asws: Who died first? Imam^-asws replied: Haroun^-as died before his brother Musa^-as in the desert and Musa^-as also died in the desert. Musa^-as had no children but Haroun^-as had children (so Prophet-hood flowed in the children of Haroun^-as).[3]

In the case of Prophet Mohammed^-saw:

Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic did not Cause His^-azwj Prophet^-saww to pass away until Completing the Religion for him^-saww, Allah Said We have not neglected anything in the Book [6:38] and Revealed in it what He^-azwj Revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage – and it was then Revealed at the end of his^-saww lifetime: This day have I perfected for you your Religion and Completed My Favour on you and chosen for you Islam as a Religion [5:3]. And the matter of Imamate is from the Completion of the Religion.[4]

Extracts of Ahadith Highlighting the similarities of Haroun^-as with Ali^-asws:

(Allah^-azwj Says) And I have Chosen you (Musa) for Myself [20:41]

Therefore go, you and your brother (Haroun), with My Signs, and do not slacken in My Zikr [20:42]

اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ {43}

Go, both of you (Musa and Haroun), to Pharaoh, (for) he has transgressed! [20:43]

“I have Accepted the supplication of both of you [10:89] (Musa^-asws and Haroun^-as)

And Musa^-as appointed Haroun^-as as Caliph, but they established a body of a calf for it being a mooing sound, so they said, ‘This is your god and god of Musa [20:88], and they neglected Haroun^-as.[6]

And Imam^-asws (5^th or 6^th) said: ‘The Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj did not pass away until he^-saww taught to the people, the matter of Ali^-asws. So he^-saww said: ‘The one of who I^-saww was the Master of, so Ali^-asws is his Master’. And he^-saww said: ‘He^-asws is from me^-saww of the status which Haroun^-as was from Musa^-as, apart from (the fact) that he^-asws is not a Prophet^-as after me^-saww’.[7]

And they intended to kill Haroun^-as, and they said, ‘Surely, Musa^-as lied and has fled from us, and (we should) be taking to the calf and worship it’. As Muslims tried to kill Ali^-asws.[8]…

‘Musa^-as and Haroun^-as were both Prophets^-as, Rasools^-as, brothers.[9]

Ahadith giving more details when Musa^-as left Haroun^-as behind as a Caliph among his^-as people is included in Appendix I.

So he^-asws said: ‘O Mufazzal! Musa^-as and Haroun^-as were two Sent Prophets^-as, brothers. So Allah^-azwj Made the Prophet-hood to be in the loins of Haroun^-as, and it is not for anyone that he should say, ‘Why did He^-azwj Do that?[10] Also,

Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Made the Prophet-hood to be in the sons of Haroun^-as and did not Make it to be in the sons of Musa^-as, although Musa^-as was higher than Haroun^-as’.[11] A detailed Hadith is given in Appendix II.

And Haroun^-as was the Caliph of Musa^-as, saying it in the Words of the Exalted Be my Caliph, and correct (the people) [7:142]. And he (Ali^-asws) is the Caliph of Muhammad^-saww….’[12]

Also, Rasool Allah^-saww has informed about the similarity between deeds of successors in past and the deeds of those successors who were yet to come. He^-saww has compared the incident of Yusha bin Nun, the successor of Musa^-as and wife of Prophet Musa^-as, Safra binte Shuaib (who revolted against Yusha) with the incident of the successor of Holy Prophet Mohammed^-saww, Amir-ul-Momineen (Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib^-asws) and Ayesha binte Abi Bakr.[13], See More details in Appendix III-IV.

Introduction:

Some Ahadith are presented where devotion, assistance and sacrifices of Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib^-asws in delivering the Divine Message by Rasool Allah^-saww is exemplified to that of Prophet Haroun^-as to Prophet Musa^-as.

Allah^-azwj has frequently Mentioned Musa^-as and Haroun^-as in the Holy Quran as being two brothers equally engaged in delivering and defending the Message of Allah^-azwj and Acknowledges their^-as efforts and Sending greetings, i.e., Greetings be upon Musa and Haroun [37:120].

The Insistence to see Allah^-azwj and the Thunderbolt:

قَالَ [الْإِمَامُ ع:] وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ مُوسَى ع لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَهْداً بِالْفُرْقَانِ [فَرَّقَ‏] مَا بَيْنَ الْمُحِقِّينَ وَ الْمُبْطِلِينَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص بِنُبُوَّتِهِ- وَ لِعَلِيٍّ ع بِإِمَامَتِهِ، وَ لِلْأَئِمَّةِ الطَّاهِرِينَ بِإِمَامَتِهِمْ، قَالُوا: لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ‏ أَنَّ هَذَا أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ‏ حَتَّى نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً عِيَاناً يُخْبِرُنَا بِذَلِكَ. فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ مُعَايَنَةً- وَ هُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى الصَّاعِقَةِ تَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ.

The Imam (Hassan Al-Askari^-asws) said: ‘And that was because when Musa^-as intended to take the pact upon them, a covenant with the Criterion, differentiating between what is between the ratifiers and the falsifiers to Muhammad^-saww with his^-saww Prophet-hood, and to Ali^-asws with his^-asws Imamate, and to the Pure Imams^-asws with their^-asws Imamate, they said: ‘We will never believe in you, that this is a Command of your^-as Lord^-azwj until we see Allah manifestly, visually Informing us with that’. So the thunderbolt seized them in view, and they were looking towards the thunderbolt descending upon them’’.[14]

The matter of Al-Hassan^-asws

وعنه، رفعه إلى هشام بن سالم، قال: قلت للصادق جعفر بن محمد (عليه السلام): الحسن أفضل أم الحسين؟ فقال: «الحسن أفضل من الحسين». قلت: و كيف صارت [الإمامة] من بعد الحسين في عقبه دون ولد الحسن؟

And from him, with an unbroken chain going up to Hisham Bin Saalim who said,

‘I said to Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, ‘Is Al-Hassan^-asws higher or Al-Husayn^-asws?’ He^-asws said: ‘Al-Hassan^-asws is higher than Al-Husayn^-asws’. I said, ‘And how did the Imamate come to be in the posterity of Al-Husayn^-asws from after him^-asws, apart from Al-Hassan^-asws?’

فقال: «إن الله تبارك و تعالى أحب أن يجعل سنة موسى و هارون جارية في الحسن و الحسين (عليهما السلام)، ألا ترى أنهما كانا شريكين في النبوة، كما كان الحسن و الحسين شريكين في الإمامة، و أن الله عز و جل جعل النبوة في ولد هارون و لم يجعلها في ولد موسى، و إن كان موسى أفضل من هارون».

So he^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Loved for the Sunnah of Musa^-as and Haroun^-as to flow in Al-Hassan^-asws and Al-Husayn^-asws. Do you not see that the two of them^-as were both associates in the Prophet-hood just as Al-Hassan^-asws and Al-Husayn^-asws are both associates in the Imamate?’

Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Made the Prophet-hood to be in the sons of Haroun^-as and did not Make it to be in the sons of Musa^-as, although Musa^-as was higher than Haroun^-as’.

قلت: فهل يكون إمامان في وقت واحد؟ قال: «لا، إلا أن يكون أحدهما صامتا مأموما لصاحبه، و الآخر ناطقا إماما لصاحبه، فأما أن يكونا إمامين ناطقين [في وقت واحد] فلا».

I said, ‘So can there be two Imams^-asws at any one time?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, except that one of the two would be silent and follow his^-asws companion^-asws, and the other one would be a speaking Imam^-asws for his^-asws companion^-asws. As for there being two speaking Imams^-asws at any one time, so no’.

قلت: فهل تكون الإمامة في أخوين بعد الحسن و الحسين (عليهما السلام)؟ قال: «لا، إنما هي جارية في عقب الحسين (عليه السلام)، كما قال الله عز و جل: وَ جَعَلَها كَلِمَةً باقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ ثم هي جارية في الأعقاب و أعقاب الأعقاب إلى يوم القيامة».

I said, ‘So will be Imamate come to be in two brothers after Al-Hassan^-asws and Al-Husayn^-asws?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, but it is flowing in the posterity of Al-Husayn^-asws, just as Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: And He Made it a Word to remain in his posterity [43:28], then it will flow in the posterity, and the posterity of the posterity up to the Day of Judgement’.[15]

ابن بابويه في كتاب (النبوة): بإسناده الى المفضل بن عمر، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله (عليه السلام): يا ابن رسول الله، أخبرني عن قول الله عز و جل: وَ جَعَلَها كَلِمَةً باقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ. قال: «يعني بذلك الإمامة جعلها الله في عقب الحسين (عليه السلام) إلى يوم القيامة».

Ibn Babuwayh in the book Al-Nabuwwat by his chain going up to Al-MufazzAl-Bin Umar said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Inform me about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And He Made it a Word to remain in his posterity [43:28]’. He^-asws said: ‘It Means by that the Imamate. Allah^-azwj Made it to be in the posterity of Al-Husayn^-asws up to the Day of Judgement’.

فقلت: يا ابن رسول الله، أخبرني كيف صارت الإمامة في ولد الحسين دون ولد الحسن (عليهما السلام)، و هما ولدا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، و سبطاه، و سيدا شباب أهل الجنة؟

So I said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Inform me, how did the Imamate come to be in the sons^-asws of Al-Husayn^-asws apart from the sons of Al-Hassan^-asws, and they^-asws are both sons^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww, and his^-saww grandsons^-asws, and Chiefs of the youths of the people of the Paradise?’

فقال: «يا مفضل، إن موسى و هارون نبيان مرسلان أخوان، فجعل الله النبوة في صلب هارون، و لم يكن لأحد أن يقول: [لم فعل ذلك؟

و كذلك الإمامة، و هي خلافة الله عز و جل، و ليس لأحد أن يقول:] لم جعلها في صلب الحسين و لم يجعلها في صلب الحسن، لأن الله عز و جل الحكيم في أفعاله، لا يسئل عما يفعل و هم يسئلون»

And similar to that is the Imamate, and it is the Caliphate of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and it is not for anyone to say, ‘Why did He^-azwj Make it to be in the loins of Al-Husayn^-asws, and why did He^-azwj not Make it to be in the loins of Al-Hassan^-asws?’, (This is) because Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is the Wise in His^-azwj Actions, and He^-azwj is not to be asked regarding what He^-azwj Does, rather they are the ones to be Questioned’.[16]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْمَرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُكَايَةَ التَّمِيمِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ النَّضْرِ الْفِهْرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الْأَوْزَاعِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَرْمَضَنِي اخْتِلَافُ الشِّيعَةِ فِي مَذَاهِبِهَا فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ أَ لَمْ أَقِفْكَ عَلَى مَعْنَى اخْتِلَافِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ اخْتَلَفُوا وَ مِنْ أَيِّ جِهَةٍ تَفَرَّقُوا قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ

Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Ma’mar, from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Ukaayat Al-Tamimy, from Al-Husayn Bin Al-Nazar Al-Fahry, from Abu Amro Al-Awzaiy, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir Bin Yazeed who said:

‘I came up to Abu Ja’far^-asws, so I said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww, the differing among the Shias in this Doctrine causes me pain’. He^-asws said: ‘O Jabir, shall I^-asws not suffice you with the meanings of their differences, from where they are differing, and from which perspective they are separating?’ I said, ‘Yes, O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww’.

قَالَ فَلَا تَخْتَلِفْ إِذَا اخْتَلَفُوا يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّ الْجَاحِدَ لِصَاحِبِ الزَّمَانِ كَالْجَاحِدِ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فِي أَيَّامِهِ يَا جَابِرُ اسْمَعْ وَ عِ قُلْتُ إِذَا شِئْتَ

He^-asws said: ‘But, you do not differ if they differ, O Jabir. The one who fights against the Master^-asws of the Era (Imam^-asws of his time) is like the one who has fought against Rasool-Allah^-saww in his^-saww days. O Jabir, listen attentively’. I said, ‘As you^-asws like’.

قَالَ اسْمَعْ وَ عِ وَ بَلِّغْ حَيْثُ انْتَهَتْ بِكَ رَاحِلَتُكَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) خَطَبَ النَّاسَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ بَعْدَ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ وَفَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ فَرَغَ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ تَأْلِيفِهِ

He^-asws said: ‘Listen attentively, and make it reach to wherever your ride takes you, that Amir-Al-Momineen^-asws preached to the People at Al-Medina, seven days after the passing away of Rasool-Allah^-saww, and that was when he^-asws was free from collecting the Quran and compiling it.

فَقَالَ أَلَا وَ إِنِّي فِيكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كَهَارُونَ فِي آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَ كَبَابِ حِطَّةٍ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ كَسَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ فِي قَوْمِ نُوحٍ إِنِّي النَّبَأُ الْعَظِيمُ وَ الصِّدِّيقُ الْأَكْبَرُ

He^-asws said: ‘Indeed! And I^-asws am among you, O you people, like Haroun^-as was among the people of the Pharaoh^-la, and like the Door of Hitta in the Children of Israel, and like the Ark of Noah^-as in the people of Noah^-as. I^-asws am the Great News (Al-Nabaa Al-Azeem), and the Great Truthful (Al-Siddique Al-Akbar),

وَ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ سَتَعْلَمُونَ مَا تُوعَدُونَ وَ هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا كَلُعْقَةِ الْآكِلِ وَ مَذْقَةِ الشَّارِبِ وَ خَفْقَةِ الْوَسْنَانِ ثُمَّ تُلْزِمُهُمُ الْمَعَرَّاتُ خِزْياً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلى أَشَدِّ الْعَذابِ وَ مَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ

And after a little while you will come to know what had been Promised to you. And is this anything else but for a morsel of food, and a sip of drink, light sleep? Then the disgrace will be necessitated upon them in the world, and on the Day of Judgement they will be returning to intense Punishment. And Allah^-azwj is not Heedless of what they are doing.

فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ تَنَكَّبَ مَحَجَّتَهُ وَ أَنْكَرَ حُجَّتَهُ وَ خَالَفَ هُدَاتَهُ وَ حَادَّ عَنْ نُورِهِ وَ اقْتَحَمَ فِي ظُلَمِهِ وَ اسْتَبْدَلَ بِالْمَاءِ السَّرَابَ وَ بِالنَّعِيمِ الْعَذَابَ وَ بِالْفَوْزِ الشَّقَاءَ وَ بِالسَّرَّاءِ الضَّرَّاءَ وَ بِالسَّعَةِ الضَّنْكَ

So what is the Recompense for the one who turned away from His^-azwj Divine Authority, and denied His^-azwj Divine Authority, and opposed His^-azwj Guides^-asws, and turned away from His^-azwj Light and stormed (his way) into the darkness, and exchanged water for the mirage, and Bounties for the Punishment, and the success for the misery, and prosperity for the poverty, and the ease for the hardship?

إِلَّا جَزَاءُ اقْتِرَافِهِ وَ سُوءُ خِلَافِهِ فَلْيُوقِنُوا بِالْوَعْدِ عَلَى حَقِيقَتِهِ وَ لْيَسْتَيْقِنُوا بِمَا يُوعَدُونَ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي الصَّيْحَةَ بِالْحَقِّ ذلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُرُوجِ إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَ نُمِيتُ وَ إِلَيْنَا الْمَصِيرُ يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ الْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِراعاً ـ إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ ـ .

Indeed! This is the Recompense of what they had sown and done before. So be certain of the Promise and of its reality, and be assured of what has been Promised on the Day of the coming of the Scream, with the Truth. A Day they would be hearing the Scream with the Truth, that would be the Day of coming forth [50:42] Surely We Cause to live and We Cause to die, and to Us if the destination [50:43] A Day the earth would cleave asunder from them quickly, that Gathering is easy unto Us [50:44]’’.[17]

Musa^-as bequeathed to Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Yoshua Bin Noon^-as bequeathed to the son of Haroun^-as

لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ {25}

We had Sent Our Rasools with the clear proofs, and We sent down the Book and the Scale with them, in order for them to establish justice with the people. And We Sent down the iron wherein is severe violence and benefits for the people, and for Allah to Know who helps Him and His Rasool in the secret. Surely Allah is Strong, Mighty [57:25]

حدثنا محمد بن عيسى عن محمد بن سنان عن اسماعيل بن جابر عن عبد الكريم بن عمرو عن عبد الحميد بن ابى الديلم عن ابى عبد الله عليه السلام قال اوصى موسى إلى يوشع بن نون واوصى يوشع بن نون إلى ولد هارون ولم يوصى إلى ولد موسى لان الله له الخيرة يختار من يشاء ممن يشاء وبشر موسى يوشع بن نون بالمسيح

It has been narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ismail, Bin Jabir, from Abdul Kareem Bin Amro, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al-Daylam, who has said:

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Musa^-as bequeathed to Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Yoshua Bin Noon^-as bequeathed to the son of Haroun^-as, and did not bequeath to the son of Musa^-as, because to Allah^-azwj is the good, He^-azwj Choses whosoever that He^-azwj so Wishes to, and Musa^-as gave the good news to Yoshua Bin Noon^-as of the Messiah^-as.

فلما ان بعث الله المسيح قال لهم انه سيأتي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله من بعدى اسمه احمد من ولد اسماعيل يصدقني ويصدقكم وجرت بين الحواريين في المستحفظين وانما سماهم الله المستحفظين لانهم استحفظوا الاسم الاكبر وهو الكتاب الذى يعلم به كل شئ الذى كان مع الانبياء

When Allah^-azwj Sent the Messiah^-as, He^-azwj Said to him^-as that he^-saww, the Rasool-Allah^-saww will come afterwards, his^-saww name will be Ahmad^-saww from the son of Ismail. He^-saww will ratify Me^-azwj, and ratify you^-as. And (a meeting) took place between the disciples among the Mustahfizeen (The guardians), and Allah^-azwj had Named them as Al-Mustahfizeen because they were guarding the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and it is the Book by which everything can be known which was with the Prophets^-as.

يقول الله تعالى لقد ارسلنا رسلنا بالبينات و انزلنا معهم الكتاب والميزان الكتاب الاسم الاكبر فأوحى بالاسم الاكبر وميراث العلم وآثار علم النبوة إلى على بن ابى طالب عليه السلام.

Allah^-azwj the Exalted has Said: We had Sent Our Rasools with the clear proofs, and We sent down the Book and the Scale with them [57:25], and the Book is the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar). He^-azwj Revealed that the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and inheritance of the knowledge, and effect of knowledge of the Prophet-hood be transferred to Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws’.[18]

و من طريق المخالفين: ما رواه الحافظ محمد بن مؤمن الشيرازي في كتابه المستخرج من تفاسير الاثنى عشر، في تفسير قوله تعالى: عَمَّ يَتَساءَلُونَ عَنِ النَّبَإِ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ مُخْتَلِفُونَ يرفعه إلى السدي، قال: أقبل صخر بن حرب حتى جلس إلى رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، فقال: يا محمد، هذا الأمر من بعدك لنا أم لمن؟

And from Tareeq Al-Mukhalifeen, what has been reported by Al-Hafiz Muhammad Bin Mo’min Al-Shirazy, in his book Al-Mustakhraj Min Tafaseer Al-Isnay Ashar, who has said:

In the interpretation of His^-azwj Words: What are they asking about? [78:1] About the Magnificent News, [78:2] Which they are differing in? [78:3], with an unbroken chain going up to Al-Saday who said, ‘Sakhar Bin Harb came up until he was seated near Rasool-Allah^-saww, and he said, ‘O Muhammad^-saww! This command, from after you^-saww, is it for us or for whom?’

قال: «يا صخر، الإمرة من بعدي لمن هو مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى»

He^-saww said: ‘O Sakhar, the command from after me^-saww is for the one^-asws who is from me^-saww of the status which Haroun^-as had from Musa^-as’.

فأنزل الله: عَمَّ يَتَساءَلُونَ عَنِ النَّبَإِ الْعَظِيمِ منهم المصدق بولايته و خلافته، و منهم المكذب بها،

So Allah^-azwj Revealed: What are they asking about? [78:1] About the Magnificent News, [78:2]. Among them are those who would ratify his^-asws Wilayah and Caliphate, and among them would be the beliers of it.

ثم قال: كَلَّا و هو رد عليهم سَيَعْلَمُونَ سيعرفون خلافته إذ يسألون عنها في قبورهم، فلا يبقى يومئذ أحد في شرق الأرض و لا غربها، و لا في بر و لا بحر، إلا و منكر و نكير يسألانه عن ولاية أمير المؤمنين و خلافته بعد الموت، يقولان للميت: من ربك؟ و ما دينك؟ و من نبيك؟ و من إمامك؟.

Then He^-azwj Said: Never! [78:4] – and it is a rebuttal against them, they shall soon come to know – they will come to recognise his^-asws Caliphate when they are questioned about it in their graves. So there will not remain anyone on that day, neither in the east of the earth nor in the west of it, neither in the land nor in the sea, except that the Munkar and Nakeer (two questioning Angels) would question him about the Wilayah of Amir-Al-Momineen^-asws and his^-asws Caliphate, after the death. The two (Angels) would say to the dead one: ‘Who is your Lord^-azwj? And what is your Religion? And who is your Prophet^-saww?’ And who is your Imam^-asws?’[19]

The special case of Al-Husayn^-asws

كما روي عن علي بن محمد بن مهرويه، عن داود بن سليمان قال: حدثني أبو الحسن علي بن موسى الرضا عليه السلام، عن أبيه موسى، عن أبيه جعفر، عن أبيه محمد عن أبيه علي، عن أبيه الحسين، عن أبيه علي بن أبي طالب صلوات الله عليهم قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إن موسى سأل ربه: إن هارون مات، فاغفر له،

Just as it is reported from Ali Bin Muhammad in Mahrawiya, from Dawood Bin Suleyman,

‘From Abu Al-Hassan Ali^-asws Bin Musa Al-Reza^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws Musa^-asws, from his^-asws father Ja’far^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws Muhammad^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws Ali^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws Al-Husayn^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Musa^-as asked his^-as Lord^-azwj: ‘If Haroun^-as dies, then Forgive him^-as’.

فأوحى الله إليه: يا موسى لو سألتني في الاولين والآخرين لاجبتك، ما خلا قاتل الحسين، فاني أنتقم [ له ] من قاتله.

So Allah^-azwj Revealed unto him^-as: “O Musa^-as! If you^-as were to ask Me^-azwj regarding the former ones and the latter ones, I^-azwj will Answer you^-as, apart from the killer of Al-Husayn^-asws, for I^-azwj would be Taking revenge for him^-as from his^-as killers!”’.[20]

The Divine Fourth Caliph:

في عيون الاخبار حدثنا أبو الحسن محمد بن ابراهيم بن اسحق رضى الله عنه قال حدثنا أبو سعيد النسوي قال حدثنى ابراهيم بن محمد بن هارون قال حدثنا أحمد بن الفضل البلخى قال حدثنى خالي يحيى بن سعيد البلخى

In Uyoon Al Akhbar, it has been narrated from Abu Al Hassan Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Bin Is’haq ^-as from Abu Sa’eed Al Noosy from Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Bin Haroun from Ahmad Bin Al Fadhl Al Balkhy from Khaly Yahya Bin Sa’eed Al Balkhy

عن على بن موسى الرضا عن ابيه عن آبائه عن على عليه السلام قال: بينما أنا امشى مع النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم في بعض طرقات المدينة إذ لقينا شيخ طوال كث اللحية بعيد مابين المنكبين، فسلم على النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ورحب به ثم التفت إلى فقال: السلام عليك يا رابع الخلفاء ورحمة الله وبركاته، اليس كذلك هو يا رسول الله ؟ فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: بلى ثم مضى

From Ali^-asws Bin Musa Al-Reza^-asws from his^-asws father^-asws from his^-asws forefathers^-asws from Ali^-asws, having said: ‘While I^-asws was walking with the Prophet^-saww in one of the roads of Al-Medina, when we^-asws met a tall old man with a bushy beard and broad shoulders. So he greeted upon the Prophet^-saww and was welcoming with him^-saww. Then he turned towards me^-asws and he said, ‘The greetings be upon you^-asws, O fourth Caliph, and the Mercy of Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Blessings! Isn’t he^-asws like that, O Rasool-Allah^-saww?’ So Rasool-Allah^-saww said to him: ‘Yes’. Then he went away.

فقلت: يا رسول الله ماهذا الذى قال لى هذا الشيخ وتصديقك له ؟ قال: أنت كذلك والحمد لله، ان الله عزوجل قال في كتابه: انى جاعل في الارض خليفة والخليفة المجعول فيها آدم عليه السلام،

I^-asws said: ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww! What is this that this Sheikh said that you^-saww ratified for him?’ He^-saww said: ‘You^-asws are like that, and Praise is for Allah^-azwj. Allah^-azwj has Mighty and Majestic Said in His^-azwj Book I am going to Make a Caliph in the earth [2:30] – and the Caliph obscure in it is Adam^-as.

وقال عزوجل: (يا داود انا جعلناك خليفة في الارض فاحكم بين الناس بالحق) فهو الثاني، وقال عزوجل حكاية عن موسى حين قال لهارون عليه السلام: (اخلفنى في قومي واصلح) فهو هارون إذا استخلفه موسى عليه السلام في قومه وهو الثالث،

And the Might and Majestic Says O Dawood ! We have Made you a Caliph in the earth; so judge between the people with the Truth [38:26]; So he^-as was the second. And the Mighty and Majestic Relates the story of Musa^-as when he^-asws said to Haroun^-as Be my Caliph, and correct (the people) [7:142]. So it was Haroun^-as that Musa^-as appointed as Caliph among his^-as community and he^-as was the third.

وقال عزوجل (واذان من الله ورسوله إلى الناس يوم الحج الاكبر وكنت انت المبلغ عن الله عزوجل وعن رسوله، وانت وصيى ووزيرى وقاضي دينى والمؤدى عنى، وانت منى بمنزلة هارون من موسى الا انه لانبى بعدى، فانت رابع الخلفاء كما سلم عليك الشيخ،

And, the Mighty and Majestic Says And a proclamation from Allah and His Rasool to the people on the day of the greater Pilgrimage [9:3] and you^-asws were the Preacher on behalf of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and you^-asws are my^-saww successor^-asws and my^-saww Vizier, and the fulfiller of my^-saww debts and the caller on my^-saww behalf, and you^-asws are from me^-saww at the status of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as, except that there would be no Prophet^-as after me^-as. Thus, you^-asws are the fourth Caliph, just as the Sheikh had greeted upon you^-asws.[21]

ابن شاذان: عن علي بن الحسين، عن أبيه (عليهما السلام): قال أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): «من لم يقل إني رابع الخلفاء الأربعة، فعليه لعنة الله».

Ibn Shazan, from Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘The one who does not say that I^-asws am the fourth Caliph, so upon him is the Curse of Allah^-azwj’’.

قال الحسين بن زيد: فقلت لجعفر بن محمد (عليهما السلام): قد رويتم غير هذا فإنكم لا تكذبون؟! قال (عليه السلام): «نعم قال الله تعالى في محكم كتابه: وَ إِذْ قالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً فكان آدم أول خليفة الله. و يا داوُدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْناكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فكان داود الثاني.

Al-Husayn Bin Zayd said, ‘So I said to Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, ‘It has been reported other than this, and you (Imams^-asws) are not lying?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes. Allah^-azwj the Exalted Said in the Decisive (Verses) of His^-azwj Book And when your Lord said to the Angels: I am going to Make a Caliph in the earth [2:30] – so Adam^-as was the first Caliph of Allah^-azwj. And O Dawood ! We have Made you a Caliph in the earth [38:26] – So Dawood^-as was the second.

و كان هارون خليفة موسى قوله تعالى: اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَ أَصْلِحْ، و هو خليفة محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله)، فلم لم يقل: إني رابع الخلفاء الأربعة؟.

And Haroun^-as was the Caliph of Musa^-as, saying it in the Words of the Exalted Be my Caliph, and correct (the people) [7:142]. And he (Ali^-asws) is the Caliph of Muhammad^-saww. So why shouldn’t one say he^-asws is the fourth Caliph?’[22]

People turned against Ali^-asws as they did against Haroun^-as

And the Might and Majestic Says: O Dawood ! We have Made you a Caliph in the earth; so judge between the people with the Truth [38:26]; So he^-as was the second. And the Mighty and Majestic Relates the story of Musa^-as when he^-asws said to Haroun^-as Be my Caliph, and correct (the people) [7:142]. So it was Haroun^-as that Musa^-as appointed as Caliph among his^-as community and he^-as was the third.

And, the Mighty and Majestic Says And a proclamation from Allah and His Rasool to the people on the day of the Greatest Hajj [9:3] and you^-asws were the Preacher on behalf of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and you^-asws are my^-saww successor^-asws and my^-saww Vizier, and the fulfiller of my^-saww debts and the caller on my^-saww behalf, and you^-asws are from me^-saww at the status of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as, except that there would be no Prophet^-as after me^-saww. Thus, you^-asws are the fourth Caliph, just as the Sheikh had greeted upon you^-asws.[23]

People were Ungrateful for the given Divine Favours of the two Worlds:

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {472:}

O Children of Israel! Recall My Favour which I Bestowed upon you and I had Graced you all in the two worlds (Religion and world) [2:47]

قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع‏ قَالَ: اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ‏ أَنْ بَعَثْتُ مُوسَى وَ هَارُونَ إِلَى أَسْلَافِكُمْ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ، فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ‏ إِلَى نُبُوَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ وَصِيَّةِ [عَلِيٍ‏] وَ إِمَامَةِ عِتْرَتِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ. وَ أَخَذْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ‏ بِذَلِكَ الْعُهُودِ- وَ الْمَوَاثِيقِ الَّتِي إِنْ وَفَيْتُمْ بِهَا كُنْتُمْ مُلُوكاً فِي جِنَانِهِ مُسْتَحِقِّينَ‏ لِكَرَامَاتِهِ وَ رِضْوَانِهِ.

The Imam (Hassan Al-Askari^-asws) said: ‘He^-azwj Said Recall My Favour which I Bestowed upon you, by Sending Musa^-as and Haroun^-as to your ancestors, with the Prophet-hood. So they^-as guided them to the Prophet-hood of Muhammad^-saww and the successorship of Ali^-asws and the Imamate of the his^-saww goodly family. And We^-azwj Took upon you all the Pacts with that and the Covenant – which, if you had fulfilled these, your would have been kings in His^-azwj Gardens, deserving of His^-azwj Prestige and His^-azwj Pleasure.

وَ أَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعالَمِينَ‏ هُنَاكَ، أَيْ فَعَلْتُهُ بِأَسْلَافِكُمْ، فَضَّلْتُهُمْ دِيناً وَ دُنْيَا: أَمَّا تَفْضِيلُهُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَلِقَبُولِهِمْ نُبُوَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ [وَ وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍ‏] وَ آلِهِمَا الطَّيِّبِينَ.

And I had Graced you all in the two worlds [2:47] – over there, i.e., ‘I^-azwj Did it with your ancestors, Gracing them the Religion and the world. As for their Grace in the Religion, it was for their acceptance of the Prophet-hood of Muhammad^-saww and the Wilayah of Ali^-asws and their^-asws goodly Progeny^-asws.

وَ أَمَّا [تَفْضِيلُهُمْ‏] فِي الدُّنْيَا فَبِأَنْ ظَلَّلْتُ‏ عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَامَ، وَ أَنْزَلْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَ السَّلْوَى وَ سَقَيْتُهُمْ مِنْ حَجَرٍ مَاءً عَذْباً، وَ فَلَقْتُ لَهُمُ الْبَحْرَ، فَأَنْجَيْتُهُمْ- وَ أَغْرَقْتُ أَعْدَاءَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنَ وَ قَوْمَهُ، وَ فَضَّلْتُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ [عَلَى‏] عَالَمِي زَمَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ خَالَفُوا طَرَائِقَهُمْ، وَ حَادُوا عَنْ سَبِيلِهِمْ

And as for their Gracing them in the word, it was by Shading the clouds upon them, and Sending down upon them the Manna and quails, and Quenching them with fresh water from a rock, and Parting the sea for them. Thus I^-azwj Rescued them and Drowned their enemies, Pharaoh^-la and his^-la people. And I^-azwj Excelled them upon the communities of their era which opposed their ways and guided away from their way.

ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ [لَهُمْ‏]: فَإِذَا كُنْتُ [قَدْ] فَعَلْتُ هَذَا بِأَسْلَافِكُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ لِقَبُولِهِمْ وَلَايَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ، فَبِالْحَرِيِ‏ أَنْ أَزِيدَكُمْ فَضْلًا فِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ- إِذَا أَنْتُمْ وَفَيْتُمْ بِمَا آخُذُ مِنَ الْعَهْدِ وَ الْمِيثَاقِ عَلَيْكُمْ‏.

Then Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said to them: “So when I^-azwj have Done this with your ancestors during that era for their acceptance of the Wilayah of Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws, so rather I^-asws will Increase you all in Grace during this era when you fulfil was I^-azwj Took from the Pact and the Covenant upon you.”’[24]

محمد بن علي بن بابويه: قال: حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق (رضي الله عنه)، قال: حدثنا حمزة بن القاسم العلوي العباسي، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك الكوفي الفزاري، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسين بن زيد الزيات، قال: حدثنا محمد بن زياد الأزدي، عن المفضل بن عمر،

Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Babuwayh said, ‘Ali Bin Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Imran Al Daqaaq narrated to us, from Hamza Bin Al Qasim Al Alawy Al Abaasy, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Maalik Al Kufy Al Fazary, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Zayd Al Ziyaat, from Muhammad Bin Ziyad Al Azdy, from Al Mufazzal Bin Umar,

فقال (عليه السلام): «إن موسى و هارون كانا نبيين مرسلين أخوين، فجعل الله النبوة في صلب هارون دون صلب موسى، و لم يكن لأحد أن يقول: لم فعل الله ذلك؟ و إن الإمامة خلافة الله عز و جل، ليس لأحد أن يقول: لم جعلها الله في صلب الحسين دون صلب الحسن؟ لأن الله هو الحكيم في أفعاله‏ لا يُسْئَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَ هُمْ يُسْئَلُونَ».

So he^-asws said: ‘Musa^-as and Haroun^-as were both Prophets^-as, Rasools^-as, brothers. So Allah^-azwj Made the Prophet-hood to be in the posterity of Haroun^-as beside the posterity of Musa^-as, and it was not for anyone to ask, ‘Why did Allah^-azwj do that?’ And the Imamate is the Caliphate of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and it is not for anyone that he should be saying, ‘Why did He^-azwj Make it to be in the posterity of Al-Husayn^-asws besides the posterity of Al-Hassan^-asws?’ This is because He^-azwj is Allah^-azwj. He^-azwj is the Wise in His^-azwj Deeds: He cannot be questioned concerning what He Does and they shall be questioned’ [21:23] (an extract).[25]

محمد بن العباس، قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد الجعفي، عن محمد بن القاسم الأكفاني، عن علي بن محمد بن مروان، عن أبيه، عن أبان بن أبي عياش، عن سليم بن قيس، قال:

Muhammad Bin Al-Abbas, from Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Ju’fy, from Muhammad Bin Al-Qasim Al-Kafany, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Marwan, from his father, from Aban Bin Ayyash, from Sulaym Bin Qays who said,

و رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) كان واحدا منهم، علمه الله سبحانه إياه، و علمنيه رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، ثم لا يزال في عقبه إلى يوم القيامة، ثم قرأ: وَ بَقِيَّةٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسى وَ آلُ هارُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ، فأنا من رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا النبوة، و العلم في عقبنا إلى أن تقوم الساعة»

And Rasool-Allah^-saww was one of them (firmly rooted in the Knowledge). Allah^-azwj the Glorious had Taught him^-saww, and Rasool-Allah^-saww learnt it. Then it will not cease to be in his^-saww posterity up to the Day of Judgement’. Then he^-asws recited and remnants of what the progeny of Musa and the progeny of Haroun have left, the Angels would be carrying it [2:248]. So I^-asws am of the status with Rasool-Allah^-saww which Haroun^-as had from Musa^-as except for the Prophet-hood, and the Knowledge will be in our^-asws posterity until the Establishment of the Hour’. (An extract).[26]

The Divine Knowledge Transmitted to Prophets^-as and Imams^-as:

Muhammad Bin Al-Abbas, from Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Ju’fy, from Muhammad Bin Al-Qasim Al-Kafany, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Marwan, from his father, from Aban Bin Ayyash, from Sulaym Bin Qays who said,

خرج علينا علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام)، و نحن في المسجد فاحتوشناه، فقال: «سلوني قبل أن تفقدوني، سلوني عن القرآن، فإن في القرآن علم الأولين و الآخرين، لم يدع لقائل مقالا، و لا يعلم تأويله إلا الله و الراسخون في العلم، و ليسوا بواحد،

‘Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws came out to us, and we were in the Masjid, so we went to him^-asws. He^-asws said: ‘Ask me^-asws before you lose me! Ask me^-asws about the Quran, for in the Quran is Knowledge of the Former ones and the Later ones, not leaving a word to be said by a speaker, but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge [3:7], and (it) is (the Knowledge) not with anyone (else).

Ali^-asws was Nominated Caliph after Rasool Allah^-sawas Haroun^-as was Made Caliph by Musa^-as:

(تفسير مجاهد): إنها نزلت في أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) حين خلفه رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) بالمدينة، فقال: «يا رسول الله، أ تخلفني على النساء و الصبيان»؟ فقال: «يا أمير المؤمنين، أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى، حين قال له: اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَ أَصْلِحْ». فقال: « [بلى و] الله».

Tafseer Mujahid –

‘It was Revealed regarding Amir Al-Momineen^-asws when Rasool-Allah^-saww left him^-asws behind as a Caliph at Al-Medina, so he^-asws said: ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww! Are you^-saww leaving me^-asws behind as a Caliph upon the women and the children?’ He^-saww said: ‘O Amir Al Momineen^-asws! Are you^-asws not pleased that you^-asws happen to be from me^-saww at the status of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as, when he^-as said to him^-as: Be my^-as Caliph among my^-as people and rectify [7:142]. So he^-asws said: ‘Yes, by Allah^-azwj!’

وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ قال: علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) ولاه الله أمر الامة بعد محمد، و حين خلفه رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) بالمدينة، فأمر الله العباد بطاعته و ترك خلافه.

(For the Verse): and those with (Divine) Authority from you [4:59], he said, ‘Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws. Allah^-azwj Made him^-asws the ruler of the affairs of the community after Muhammad^-saww, and when Rasool-Allah^-saww left him^-asws behind as a Caliph at Al-Medina, so Allah^-azwj Commanded the servants with obeying him^-asws, and leave opposing him^-asws’’.[28]

People’s Breaking of Allegiance is for both Haroun^-as and Ali^-asws:

و رواه الشيخ الفاضل المتكلم الفقيه العالم الزاهد الورع أبو علي محمد بن أحمد بن علي الفتال- المعروف بابن الفارسي- و هو من أجلاء قدماء الإمامية من علمائها و متكلميها،

And it is reported by Al-Sheykh, the meritorious, the theologian, the jurist, the scholar, the ascetic, the pious Abu Ali Muhammad Bin Ahmad Bin Ali Al-Fatal – well known as Ibn Al-Farsi – and he is from the majestic of the ancient Imamites from its scholars and its theologians.

فحج بهم فبلغ من حج مع رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) من أهل المدينة و أهل الأطراف و الأعراب سبعين ألف إنسان أو يزيدون ، على نحو عدد أصحاب موسى السبعين ألف الذين أخذ عليهم بيعة هارون (عليه السلام) فنكثوا و اتبعوا العجل و السامري، و كذلك أخذ رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) البيعة لعلي (عليه السلام) بالخلافة- على عدد أصحاب موسى- فنكثوا البيعة و اتبعوا العجل و السامري سنة بسنة، و مثلا بمثل،

So he^-saww performed Hajj with them, and there reached the ones to perform Hajj along with Rasool-Allah^-saww, from the people of Al-Medina, and the people of the outskirts, and the Bedouins, seventy thousand people or more, upon an approximation of the seventy thousand companions of Musa^-as, those upon whom he^-as took the allegiance for Haroun^-as, but they broke it and followed the calf and Al-Samiry. And similar to that, Rasool-Allah^-saww took the allegiance for Ali^-asws with the Caliphate – upon a number of the companions of Musa^-as – but they broke the allegiance and followed the calf and Al-Samiry, way by way and like by like.

إن جبرئيل (عليه السلام) هبط إلي مرارا ثلاثا، يأمرني عن السلام ربي، و هو السلام، أن أقوم في هذا المشهد فأعلم كل أبيض و أحمر و أسود أن علي بن أبي طالب أخي و وصيي و خليفتي، و هو الإمام من بعدي الذي محله مني محل هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي،

Jibraeel^-as descended unto me^-saww three times, instructing me^-saww on behalf of Al-Salaam (the safety Provider), my^-saww Lord^-azwj, and He^-azwj is Al-Salaam, that I^-saww should stand in this landscape and let know every white and red and black (person) that Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws is my^-saww brother, and my^-saww successor, and my^-saww Caliph, and he^-asws is the Imam^-asws from after me^-saww, whose place from me^-saww is the place of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as, except that there would be no Prophet^-as after me^-saww.

و واصلوا البيعة و المصافقة ثلاثا، و رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) يقول كلما بايع قوم: «الحمد لله رب العالمين، الحمد لله الذي فضلنا على جميع العالمين».

And the pledges of allegiances continued for three days, and Rasool-Allah^-saww was saying, every time the people pledged their allegiances: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, Lord^-azwj of the Worlds. The Praise is for Allah^-azwj Who Merited us^-asws over the entirety of the worlds!’[29]

The Passing Away of Haroun^-as and Musa^-as:

[ القطب الراوندي ] عن ابن بابويه، حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، حدثنا إبراهيم، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن ابان بن عثمان، عن أبي حمزة، عن أبي جعفر صلوات الله عليه، قال: لما انتهى بهم موسى (عليه السلام) إلى الأرض المقدسة، قال لهم: ادخلوا فأبوا أن يدخلوها، فتاهوا في أربعة فراسخ أربعين سنة، وكانوا إذا أمسوا نادى مناديهم أمسيتم الرحيل، حتى انتهى إلى مقدار ما أرادوا أمر الله الأرض فدارت بهم إلى منازلهم الاولى، فيصبحون في منزلهم الذي ارتحلوا منه فمكثوا بذلك أربعين سنة ينزل عليهم المن والسلوى،

Al Qutub Al Rawandy, from Ibn Babuwayh, from Muhammad Bin Al Hassan Al Saffar, from Ibrahim, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abu Hamza, from

Abu Ja’far^-asws has said: ‘When Musa^-as ended up with them (the people) to the Holy Land, said to them: ‘Enter!’ But they refused to enter it. They wandered around in four Farsakhs for forty years. And whenever they used to settle, a caller from among them would call out, ‘You have settled, now leave’; to the extent that they ended up to a measure of what Allah^-azwj the Command of Allah^-azwj had Intended for the earth. Then they held on to their first homes. So, they had come to be in their houses which they had left from, and they remain with that for forty years, with the Manna and the Quails descending upon them.

فهلكوا فيها أجمعين إلا رجلين: يوشع بن نون، وكالب بن يوفنا الذين أنعم الله عليهما، ومات موسى وهارون صلوات الله عليهما فدخلها يوشع بن نون وكالب وأبناؤهما، وكان معهم حجر كان موسى يضربه بعصاه، فينفجر منه الماء لكل سبط عين.

Thus, all of them perished therein except for two men – Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Kaalib Bin Youfanna – whom Allah^-azwj had Bestowed Favours upon the two. And Musa^-as and Haroun^-as passed away, and Yoshua Bin Noon^-as, and Kaalib and their sons entered into it (the Holy Land). They had a rock with them which Musa^-as had struck upon with his^-as staff. So water sprung out from it, with each of the tribe among them, a spring (each)’.[30]

Ali^-asws is from me^-saww and I^-saww am from Ali^-asws like Haroun^-as was to Musa^-as

عن حنان بن سدير، عن أبيه، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، قال: «لما نزل جبرئيل (عليه السلام) على رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) في حجة الوداع بإعلان أمر علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) يا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ ما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إلى آخر الآية، قال: فمكث النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) ثلاثا حتى أتى الجحفة، فلم يأخذ بيده فرقا من الناس.

From Hanaan Bin Sudeyr, from his father, from Abu Ja’far ^-asws having said:

‘When Jibraeel^-as descended upon Rasool-Allah^-saww during the Farewell Pilgrimage with the announcement of the matter of Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws O you Rasool! Deliver what has been Revealed unto you from your Lord [5:67] – up to the end of the Verse, the Prophet^-saww waited for three days until he^-saww came to Al-Johfa, and he^-saww did not grab the hand of anyone from the people’.

فلما نزل الجحفة يوم الغدير في مكان يقال له مهيعة نادى الصلاة جامعة، فاجتمع الناس، فقال النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): من أولى بكم من أنفسكم؟ قال: فجهروا، فقالوا: الله و رسوله. ثم قال لهم الثانية، فقالوا: الله و رسوله. ثم قال لهم الثالثة، فقالوا: الله و رسوله.

So when he^-saww encamped at Al-Johfa on the Day of Al-Ghadeer in a place called Mohya, called for the congregational Prayer. So the people gathered and the Prophet^-saww said: ‘Who is higher to you than your own selves?’ So they all shouted loudly saying, ‘Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww!’ Then he^-saww said it to them for a second time. So they said, ‘Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww!’ Then he^-saww said it to them for the third time, so they said, ‘Allah ^-azwj and His ^-azwj Rasool^-saww!

فأخذ بيد علي (عليه السلام) فقال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه، و عاد من عاداه، و انصر من نصره، و اخذل من خذله، فإنه مني و أنا منه، و هو مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى، إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي».

So he^-saww grabbed the hand of Ali^-asws and said: ‘The one to whom I^-saww was a Master of, so Ali^-asws is His^-azwj Master. Our Allah^-azwj! Befriend the one who befriends him^-asws, and be Inimical to the one who is inimical to him^-asws, and Help the one who helps him^-asws, and Abandon the one who abandons him^-asws, for he^-asws is from me^-saww and I^-saww am from him^-asws, and he is from me^-saww of the status which Haroun^-as had from Musa^-as, except that there is no Prophet^-as after me^-saww’.[31]

Ali^-asws Helped Rasool Allah^-saww as did Haroun^-as to Musa^-as:

وَوَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ۚ وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ {142}

And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights. And Musa said to his brother Haroun: ‘Be my Caliph among my people and be righteous, and do not follow the way of the mischief makers’ [7:142]

القمّيّ مقطوعاً و نسب حديثه في المجمع إلى الباقر عليه السلام و الصادق عليه السلام قال‏

(Tafseer) Qummi – An extract, and he linked his Hadeeth in Al-Majmua to Al-Baqir^-asws and Al-Sadiq^-asws having said:

وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً- وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْحَى إِلَى مُوسَى أَنِّي أُنْزِلُ عَلَيْكَ التَّوْرَاةَ الَّتِي فِيهَا الْأَحْكَامُ إِلَى أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً- وَ هُوَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَ عَشَرَةٌ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ،

And as for His^-azwj Words: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights [7:142] – Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto Musa^-as: “I^-azwj shall Reveal the Torah unto you^-as in which were Ordinances to forty days” – and it is (the month of) Zul Qadah and ten from Zil-Hijja.

فَقَالَ مُوسَى لِأَصْحَابِهِ- إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَدْ وَعَدَنِي- أَنْ يُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ التَّوْرَاةَ وَ الْأَلْوَاحَ إِلَى ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً، وَ أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ أَنْ لَا يَقُولَ إِلَى أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فَتَضِيقَ صُدُورُهُمْ،

So Musa^-as said to his^-as companions: ‘Allah^-azwj Blesse and Exalted has Promised me^-as that He^-azwj would be Revealing the Torah unto me^-as and the Tablets, to thirty days’ – and Allah^-azwj had Commanded him^-as that he^-as should not be saying: ‘To forty days’, for it would constrict their chests.

فَذَهَبَ مُوسَى إِلَى الْمِيقَاتِ- وَ اسْتَخْلَفَ هَارُونَ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَ الثَّلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ مُوسَى، غَضِبُوا فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يَقْتُلُوا هَارُونَ وَ قَالُوا إِنَّ مُوسَى كَذَبَنَا وَ هَرَبَ مِنَّا وَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ وَ اعبدوه [عَبَدُوهُ‏]،

So, Musa^-as went to the appointment and made Haroun^-as the Caliph upon the Children of Israel. So when the thirty days were exceeded and Musa^-as did not return, they got angry and they intended to kill Haroun^-as, and they said, ‘Surely, Musa^-as lied and has fled from us, and (we should) be taking to the calf and worship it’.

فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ عَشَرَةٍ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُوسَى الْأَلْوَاحَ وَ مَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأَحْكَامِ- وَ الْأَخْبَارِ وَ السُّنَنِ وَ الْقِصَصِ،

So when it was the ten days from Zil-Hijja, Allah^-azwj Revealed unto Musa^-as, the Tablets and whatever they would be needy to him^-as for, from the Ordinances, and the news, and the Sunnahs, and the stories.[32]

Why Ali^-asws did not make a stand with the sword during the issues of Al-Saqifa

فقال الأشعث بن قيس – وغضب من قوله -: فما يمنعك يا بن أبي طالب حين بويع أخو تيم بن مرة وأخو بني عدي بن كعب وأخو بني أمية بعدهما، أن تقاتل وتضرب بسيفك؟ وأنت لم تخطبنا خطبة – منذ كنت قدمت العراق – إلا وقد قلت فيها قبل أن تنزل عن منبرك: (والله إني لأولى الناس بالناس وما زلت مظلوما منذ قبض الله محمدا صلى الله عليه وآله). فما منعك أن تضرب بسيفك دون مظلمتك؟

Ash’as Bin Qays said that he was angered from his^-asws words – : ‘So, what prevented you^-asws, O Ibn Abu Talib^-asws, when allegiances were given to the brother of Taym Bin Marat (Abu Bakr), and the brother of the Clan of Udayy Bin Ka’ab (Umar), and the brother of the Clan of Umayya (Usman) after these two, to fight and strike by the sword? And you^-asws have never preached us with a sermon – since you^-asws came to Al-Iraq – except that you^-asws have said in it, before you^-asws came down from your^-asws Pulpit: ‘By Allah^-azwj, I^-asws am the highest of the people than the people themselves, and I^-asws have not ceased to be an oppressed one since Allah^-azwj Captured Muhammad^-saww’. So what prevented you^-asws to strike by your^-asws sword to do away with being oppressed?’

فقال له علي عليه السلام: يا بن قيس، قلت فاسمع الجواب: لم يمنعني من ذلك الجبن ولا كراهية للقاء ربي، وأن لا أكون أعلم أن ما عند الله خير لي من الدنيا والبقاء فيها، ولكن منعني من ذلك أمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وعهده إلي.

Ali^-asws said to him: ‘O Ibn Qays, you have said, so now listen to the answer. Neither was it the cowardice that prevented me^-asws nor was it abhorrence of meeting my^-asws Lord^-azwj, and it was not the knowledge that what is with Allah^-azwj is better for me^-asws than the words and what remains within it, but what prevented me^-asws from that was the order of the Rasool-Allah^-saww and his^-saww oath to me^-asws.

أخبرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله بما الأمة صانعة بي بعده، فلم أك بما صنعوا – حين عاينته – بأعلم مني ولا أشد يقينا مني به قبل ذلك، بل أنا بقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله أشد يقينا مني بما عاينت وشهدت.

Rasool-Allah^-saww informed me^-asws of what the community will be plotting against me^-asws after him^-saww. There was none more knowledgeable than myself^-asws of what they were going to do – when I^-asws saw it with my^-asws own eyes – and more intensely convinced than myself^-asws about it even before that, but I^-asws had more conviction on the words of the Rasool-Allah^-saww than what I^-asws saw with my^-asws own eyes and witnessed.

فقلت: يا رسول الله، فما تعهد إلي إذا كان ذلك؟ قال: إن وجدت أعوانا فانبذ إليهم وجاهدهم، وإن لم تجد أعوانا فاكفف يدك واحقن دمك حتى تجد على إقامة الدين وكتاب الله وسنتي أعوانا.

I^-asws said: ‘O Messenger of Allah^-saww, so what is your^-saww oath to me^-asws, if that were to happen?’ He^-saww said: ‘If you^-asws find helpers, then reject them and struggle against them, and if you^-asws do not find helpers, hold back your^-asws hand and save your^-asws blood, and until such time as you^-asws find helpers for the Establishment of the Religion, and the Book of Allah^-azwj, and my^-saww Sunnah’.

وأخبرني صلى الله عليه وآله أن الأمة ستخذلني وتبايع غيري وتتبع غيري. وأخبرني صلى الله عليه وآله أني منه بمنزلة هارون من موسى، وأن الأمة سيصيرون من بعده بمنزلة هارون ومن تبعه والعجل ومن تبعه، إذ قال له موسى: (يا هارون، ما منعك إذ رأيتهم ضلوا ألا تتبعن أفعصيت أمري قال يا بن أم إن القوم استضعفوني وكادوا يقتلونني)، وقال: (يا بن أم لا تأخذ بلحيتي ولا برأسي، إني خشيت أن تقول فرقت بين بني إسرائيل ولم ترقب قولي).

And he^-saww informed me^-asws that the community will be abandoning me^-asws and will pay allegiance to someone else and follow him. And he^-saww informed me^-asws that I^-asws am to him^-saww at the status which Haroun^-as had with Musa^-as, and that the community will end up becoming, after him^-saww, in a similar position that Haroun^-as faced and the ones that followed him^-as, and the calf and the ones that followed it, when Musa^-as said to him^-as: ‘O Haroun^-as, what prevented you^-as, when you^-as saw them going astray and disobeying my^-as orders?’ He^-as said ‘Son of my mother! Surely the people weakened me and they almost killed me [7:150], and said: ‘Do not hold me^-as by my^-as beard and my^-as head, I^-asws was afraid to tell the dispersed ones of the Children of Israel, and they did not wait for my^-as words’.

وإنما يعني: إن موسى أمر هارون – حين استخلفه عليهم – إن ضلوا فوجد أعوانا أن يجاهدهم، وإن لم يجد أعوانا أن يكف يده ويحقن دمه ولا يفرق بينهم. وإني خشيت أن يقول لي ذلك أخي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: (لم فرقت بين الأمة ولم ترقب قولي وقد عهدت إليك إن لم تجد أعوانا أن تكف يدك وتحقن دمك ودم أهل بيتك وشيعتك)؟

And it means that Musa^-as ordered Haroun^-as – when he^-as made him^-as to be the Caliph – that when they go astray, so if he^-as were to find helpers then he^-as should strive against them, and if he^-as does not find any helpers then he^-as should hold back his^-as hand and save his^-as blood and not cause friction between them. And I^-asws am afraid that my^-asws brother^-saww Rasool-Allah^-saww would say to me^-asws that: ‘Why did you^-asws create friction between the community and did not heed my^-saww words and what I^-saww had covenanted to you^-asws that if you^-asws do not find helpers then you^-asws should hold back your^-asws hand and save your^-asws blood, and the blood of the People^-asws of your^-asws Household, and your^-asws Shia?’[33]

فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): ما أنا تركته و أخرجتكم، و لكن الله عز و جل تركه و أخرجكم، و في هذا تبيان قوله (صلى الله عليه و آله) لعلي (عليه السلام): أنت مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى».

So Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘It was not I^-saww that left him^-asws and expelled you all, but it was Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Who Left him^-asws and Expelled you all’. And in this is an explanation of his^-saww words to Ali^-asws: ‘You^-asws are from me^-saww of the status of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as’.

قالت العلماء: و أين هذا من القرآن؟ قال الرضا (عليه السلام): «أوجدكم في ذلك قرانا و أقرؤه عليكم؟» قالوا: هات. قال: «قول الله عز و جل: وَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلى مُوسى وَ أَخِيهِ أَنْ تَبَوَّءا لِقَوْمِكُما بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتاً وَ اجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً ففي هذه الاية منزلة هارون من موسى، و فيها أيضا منزلة علي (عليه السلام) من رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)،

The scholars said, ‘And where is this from the Quran?’ Al-Reza^-asws said: ‘Will you be finding this in the Quran or shall I^-asws recite it to you all?’ They said, ‘Give it’. He^-asws said: ‘The Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And We Revealed unto Musa and his brother, saying: “Provide houses for your people in Egypt and make your (own) houses as a Qiblah (Direction) and establish the salat, and give glad tidings to the Momineen [10:87]. So, in this Verse is a status of Haroun^-as from Musa^-as, and in it as well is a status of Ali^-asws from Rasool-Allah^-saww.

و مع هذا دليل ظاهر في قول رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) حين قال: ألا إن هذا المسجد لا يحل لجنب إلا لمحمد و آله».

And along with this apparent evidence regarding the words of Rasool-Allah^-saww where he^-saww said: ‘Indeed! Surely, this Masjid is not Permissible for one with sexual impurity except for Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws’.

قالت العلماء يا أبا الحسن، هذا الشرح و هذا البيان لا يوجد إلا عندكم معشر أهل بيت رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله).

The scholars said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan^-asws! This is the narration and the explanation which cannot be found except with you^-asws, O group of the People^-asws of the Household of Rasool-Allah^-saww’.

فقال (عليه السلام): «و من ينكر لنا ذلك، و رسول الله يقول: أنا مدينة العلم و علي بابها، فمن أراد المدينة فليأتها من بابها؟ و فيما أوضحنا و شرحنا من الفضل و الشرف و التقدمة و الاصطفاء و الطهارة، ما لا ينكره إلا معاند لله عز و جل».

So he^-asws said: ‘And who can deny us^-asws that, and Rasool-Allah^-saww has said: ‘I^-asws am the City of the Knowledge and Ali^-asws is its Gate, so the one who wants (to come to) the city, so he should come to it from its Gate?’ And with regards to what I^-asws have clarified, and explained from the merits, and the nobility, and the preferences, and the Choosing, and the Purity, none can deny it except for the one stubborn to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic’.[34]

و من (مناقب ابن المغازلي الشافعي) أيضا: يرفعه إلى عدي بن ثابت، قال: خرج رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) إلى المسجد، فقال: «إن الله أوحى إلى نبيه موسى أن ابن لي مسجدا طاهرا لا يسكنه إلا أنت و هارون و ابنا هارون، و إن الله أوحى إلي أن أبني مسجدا طاهرا لا يسكنه إلا انا و علي و فاطمة و ابنا علي».

And from Manaqib Ibn Al Magazili Al Shafei’e as well, raising it to Udayy Bin Sabit who said,

‘Rasool-Allah^-saww went out to the Masjid, so he^-saww said: ‘Surely, Allah^-azwj Revealed unto His^-azwj Prophet^-as Musa^-as that: “Build for Me^-azwj pure Masjid, none should dwell in it except for you^-as, and Haroun^-as and the two sons of Haroun’. And Allah^-azwj Revealed unto me^-saww that I^-as should built a pure Masjid, none should dwell in it except for myself^-saww, and Ali^-asws, and (Syeda) Fatima^-asws, and the two sons^-asws of Ali^-asws’.[35]

و عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك، عن عباد بن يعقوب، عن محمد بن يعقوب، عن أبي جعفر الأحول، عن منصور، عن أبي إبراهيم (عليه السلام)، قال: «لما خافت بنو إسرائيل جبابرتها، أوحى الله إلى موسى و هارون (عليهما السلام) أَنْ تَبَوَّءا لِقَوْمِكُما بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتاً وَ اجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً- قال- أمروا أن يصلوا في بيوتهم».

And from him (Ali Bin Ibrahim) who said, ‘Muhammad Bin Ja’far narrated to me, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Malik, from Abaad Bin Yaqoub, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Abu Ja’far Al Ahowl, from Mansour,

‘From Abu Ibrahim^-as (7^th Imam^-asws) having said: ‘When the Children of Israel feared their tyrants, Allah^-azwj Revealed unto Musa^-as and Haroun^-as: “Provide houses for your people in Egypt and make your (own) houses as a Qiblah (Direction) [10:87] – they^-as had been Commanded that they should be praying Salat in their houses’’.[36]

They neglected the position of Haroun^-as and reverted to Disbelief:

ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُما وَ بَيْنَ أَخْذِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَرْبَعِينَ عَاماً .

Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘It was so between the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “I have Accepted the supplication of both of you [10:89] (Musa^-asws and Haroun^-as), and between the Seizing of the Pharaoh^-la, (a duration of) forty years’.[37]

الطبرسي: مكث فرعون بعد هذا الدعاء أربعين سنة، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام).

Al Tabarsy –

‘Pharaoh^-la remained after this supplication (of Musa^-as and Haroun^-as, for forty years’ – (Reported) from Abu Abdullah^-asws’.[38]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) دَعَا مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) وَ أَمَّنَ هَارُونُ ( عليه السلام ) وَ أَمَّنَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ( عليها السلام ) فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُما فَاسْتَقِيما وَ مَنْ غَزَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ كَمَا اسْتُجِيبَ لَكُمَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Musa^-as supplicated and Haroun^-as said ‘Ameen’, and the Angels (also) said, ‘Ameen’. So Allah^-azwj Blessed and High Said: He said: “I have Accepted the supplication of both of you, therefore be steadfast [10:89]; and (for) the one who fights in the Way of Allah^-azwj, I^-azwj shall Answer for him just as I^-azwj Answered for both of you^-as, up to the Day of Judgment”’.[39]

العياشي: عن بعض أصحابنا، عن أحدهما (عليهما السلام)، قال: «إن الله قضى الاختلاف على خلقه، و كان أمرا قد قضاه في علمه كما قضى على الأمم من قبلكم، و هي السنن و الأمثال تجري على الناس، فجرت علينا كما جرت على الأمم من قبلنا، و قول الله حق،

Al Ayyashi, from one of our companions,

(It has been narrated) from one of them^-asws (5^th or 6^th Imam^-asws) having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Decreed for there to be differences upon His^-azwj creatures, and the matter had been in His^-azwj Knowledge just as it had been upon the communities who were before you. And it is the Sunnah and the lessons (to be learned), which flow upon the people. So it would flow to us^-asws as it had flowed to the communities from before us, and the Words of Allah^-azwj are True.

قال الله تبارك و تعالى لمحمد (صلى الله عليه و آله): سُنَّةَ مَنْ قَدْ أَرْسَلْنا قَبْلَكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنا وَ لا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنا تَحْوِيلًا ، و قال: فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا، و قال: فَهَلْ يَنْتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثْلَ أَيَّامِ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ قُلْ فَانْتَظِرُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الْمُنْتَظِرِينَ و قال: لا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ.

Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Said to Muhammad^-saww: A Sunnah of the ones We Sent before you from Our Rasools, and you will not find an alteration to Our Sunnah [17:77]. And Said: So are they waiting except for the days like of those who passed away before them? Say: ‘Then wait, I too am with you from the waiting ones’ [10:102]. And Said: There is no replacement to Allah’s Creation [30:30].

و قد قضى الله على موسى (عليه السلام) و هو مع قومه يريهم الآيات و العبر، ثم مروا على قوم يعبدون أصناما قالُوا يا مُوسَى اجْعَلْ لَنا إِلهاً كَما لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ قالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ و استخلف موسى هارون (عليهما السلام) فنصبوا عِجْلًا جَسَداً لَهُ خُوارٌ

And Allah^-azwj had Decreed to Musa^-as, and he^-as was with his^-as people, to show them the Signs and the lessons (to be learned). Then he^-as passed by a people who were worshipping idols. They said, ‘O Musa! Make a god for us just as there is a god for them’. He said, ‘You are an ignorant people [7:138].

فَقالُوا هذا إِلهُكُمْ وَ إِلهُ مُوسى و تركوا هارون، فقال: يا قَوْمِ إِنَّما فُتِنْتُمْ بِهِ وَ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمنُ فَاتَّبِعُونِي وَ أَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي قالُوا لَنْ نَبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عاكِفِينَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنا مُوسى فضرب لكم أمثالهم، و بين لكم كيف صنع بهم».

He^-as said: ‘O people! But rather you are being tempted by it, and surely your Lord is the beneficent, therefore follow me and obey my order [20:90] They said: ‘Never! We will continue our devotion upon it until Musa returns to us [20:91]. And He^-azwj Struck Examples for you all (to See) how you react to these’.

و قال: «إن نبي الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) لم يقبض حتى أعلم الناس أمر علي (عليه السلام)، فقال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه. و قال: إنه مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى غير أنه لا نبي بعدي.

And he^-asws said: ‘The Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj did not pass away until he^-saww taught to the people, the matter of Ali^-asws. So he^-saww said: ‘The one of who I^-saww was the Master of, so Ali^-asws is his Master’. And he^-saww said: ‘He^-asws is from me^-saww of the status which Haroun^-as was from Musa^-as, apart from (the fact) that he^-asws is not a Prophet^-as after me^-saww’.

و كان صاحب راية رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) في المواطن كلها، و كان معه في المسجد يدخله على كل حال، و كان أول الناس إيمانا به، فلما قبض نبي الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) كان الذي كان، لما قد قضي من الاختلاف، و عمد عمر فبايع أبا بكر و لم يدفن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) بعد، فلما رأى ذلك علي (عليه السلام)، و رأى الناس قد بايعوا أبا بكر خشي أن يفتتن الناس ففرغ إلى كتاب الله و أخذ بجمعه في مصحف،

And he^-asws was the Master of the Flag of Rasool-Allah^-saww in all the places, and was with him^-saww in the Masjid alone in all situations, and he^-asws was the first of the people to believe in him^-saww. So when the Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj passed away, that which happened, happened. So when the differences occurred, and Umar extended his hand and pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr, and did not bury Rasool-Allah^-saww afterwards, Ali^-asws saw that, and saw the people to have pledged their allegiances to Abu Bakr, and feared the strife of the people. So he^-asws resolved to compile the Book of Allah^-azwj, and took all that which was gathered in the Parchments.

فأرسل أبو بكر إليه أن تعال فبايع، فقال علي (عليه السلام): لا أخرج حتى أجمع القرآن فأرسل إليه مرة اخرى، فقال: لا أخرج حتى أفرغ، فأرسل إليه الثالثة عمر رجلا يقال له: قنفذ، فقامت فاطمة بنت رسول الله (صلوات الله عليهما) تحول بينه و بين علي (عليه السلام) فضربها،

So Abu Bakr sent for him^-asws to come and pledge allegiance to him. So Ali^-asws said: ‘I^-asws will not come out until I^-asws gather the Quran’. So he sent for him^-asws for a second time, so he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws will not come out until I^-asws am free from it’. So Umar sent for him^-asws for the third time, a man called Qunfuz. So Fatima^-asws, daughter^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww, came in between him and Ali^-asws, so he hit her^-asws.

فانطلق قنفذ و ليس معه علي (عليه السلام)، فخشي أن يجمع علي (عليه السلام) الناس، فأمر بحطب فجعل الحطب حوالي بيته، ثم انطلق عمر بنار، فأراد أن يحرق على علي (عليه السلام) بيته و على فاطمة و الحسن و الحسين (صلوات الله عليهم)، فلما رأى علي (عليه السلام) ذلك خرج فبايع كارها غير طائع».

So Qunfuz returned, and Ali^-asws was not with him. So, due to the fear that Ali^-asws would gather the people, he ordered for the firewood, and placed it around his^-asws house. Then Umar called for the fire, intending to burn the house upon Ali^-asws, and upon Fatima^-asws, and Al-Hassan^-asws, and Al-Husayn^-asws. So when Ali^-asws saw that, he came out, and his^-asws allegiance was pledged abhorrently, unwillingly’.[40]

Allah^-azwj Helped Prophet Musa^-as through his brother Haroun^-as:

إِذْ تَمْشِي أُخْتُكَ فَتَقُولُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَكْفُلُهُ ۖ فَرَجَعْنَاكَ إِلَىٰ أُمِّكَ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ ۚ وَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا فَنَجَّيْنَاكَ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا ۚ فَلَبِثْتَ سِنِينَ فِي أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ {40}

When your sister walked over and she was saying, ‘Shall I point you to one who will take his responsibility?’ Thus We Returned you to your mother, for her eyes to be delighted and she would not grieve. And you killed a person, but We Saved you from the gloom and Tried you with a Trial. So you remained for years with the people of Madayn, then you came (here), as Ordained, O Musa! [20:40]

وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي {41}

And I have Chosen you for Myself [20:41]

اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِآيَاتِي وَلَا تَنِيَا فِي ذِكْرِي {42}

Therefore go, you and your brother, with My Signs, and do not slacken in My Zikr [20:42]

اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ {43}

Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, (for) he has transgressed! [20:43]

فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ {44}

But speak to him gentle words, perhaps he would mind or fear [20:44]

و عنه، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن علي السكري، قال: حدثنا محمد بن زكريا الجوهري، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن عمارة، عن أبيه، عن سفيان بن سعيد، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله جعفر بن محمد الصادق (عليهما السلام)- و كان و الله صادقا كما سمي- يقول: «يا سفيان، عليك بالتقية، فإنها سنة إبراهيم الخليل (عليه السلام)، و إن الله عز و جل قال لموسى و هارون (عليهما السلام): اذْهَبا إِلى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغى فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّناً لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشى يقول الله عز و جل: كنياه، و قولا له: يا أبا مصعب».) و كان اسم فرعون أبا مصعب الوليد بن مصعب(.

And from him, from Ahmad Bin Al Hassan Al Qatan, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Askary, from Muhammad Bin Zakariyya Al Jowhary, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Amarat, from his father, from Sufyan Bin Saeed who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq^-asws – and by Allah^-azwj, he^-asws was as truthful as he^-asws has been named – saying: ‘O Sufyan! It is upon you to observe Taqiyya, for it is the Sunnah of Ibrahim^-as the Friend (of the Beneficent), and that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said to Musa^-as and Haroun^-as: Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, (for) he has transgressed! [20:43] But speak to him gentle words, perhaps he would mind or fear [20:44]. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: “Teknonym him^-la, and say to him^-la: ‘O Abu Mas’ab!’ (And the name of Pharaoh^-la was Abu Mas’ab Al-Waleed Bin Mas’ab).

إلى أن قال: قال: سفيان: فقلت له: يا بن رسول الله، هل يجوز أن يطمع الله عز و جل عباده في كون ما لا يكون؟ قال: «لا». فقلت: فكيف قال الله عز و جل لموسى و هارون (عليهما السلام): لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشى و قد علم أن فرعون لا يتذكر و لا يخشى.

Sufyan (the narrator) said, ‘So I said to him^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Is it permissible that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic would Try His^-azwj servants by a fact that will not be happening?’ He^-asws said: ‘No!’ So I said, ‘So did Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic (not) Say to Musa^-as and Haroun^-as: perhaps he would mind or fear [20:44], although He^-azwj had Known that Pharaoh^-la would neither mind nor fear’.

فقال: «إن فرعون قد تذكر و خشي، و لكن عند رؤية البأس، حيث لم ينفعه الإيمان، ألا تسمع الله عز و جل يقول: حَتَّى إِذا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قالَ آمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُوا إِسْرائِيلَ وَ أَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ،

So he^-asws said: ‘Pharaoh^-la did mind and did fear, but when he^-la saw the evil (Punishment), where the Eman did not benefit him^-la. Have you not heard Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Saying: until when the drowning faced him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no god except the One in Whom the Children of Israel believe in, and I am from the submitters’ [10:90].

فلم‏ يقبل الله عز و جل إيمانه، و قال: آلْآنَ وَ قَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً ، يقول: نلقيك على نجوة من الأرض، لتكون لمن بعدك علامة و عبرة».

But, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic did not Accept his^-la Eman and Said: Now! And you had disobeyed before and you were from the corrupters! [10:91] But today We will Rescue you with your body for it to become a Sign for the ones to come after you [10:92] – the Verse. He^-azwj is Saying: “We^-azwj will Cast you^-la upon the shore from the earth, for you^-la to become a sign and a lesson for the ones after you^-la’.[41]

Appendix I: When Musa^-as left Haroun^-as behind as a Caliph among his^-as people

علي بن إبراهيم: في قوله تعالى: فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ وَ أَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ قال: اختبرناهم و أضلهم السامري،

Ali Bin Ibrahim –

‘Regarding the Words of the Exalted: He said: “We have Tried your people from after you, and Al-Samiri strayed them!” [20:85]. He^-azwj Said, “We^-azwj Tested them, and Al-Samiri strayed them”.

قال: بالعجل الذي عبدوه، و كان سبب ذلك أن موسى لما وعده الله أن ينزل عليه التوراة و الألواح إلى ثلاثين يوما أخبر بني إسرائيل بذلك، و ذهب إلى الميقات، و خلف هارون في قومه،

He said, ‘(Strayed them) by the calf which they worshipped, and the cause of that was that Musa^-as, when Allah^-azwj Promised him^-as that He^-azwj will Send down the Torah and the Tablets unto him^-as up to thirty days, he^-as informed the Children of Israel with that, and went to his^-as appointment, and left Haroun^-as behind as a Caliph among his^-as people.

فلما جاءت الثلاثون يوما و لم يرجع موسى (عليه السلام) إليهم غضبوا و أرادوا أن يقتلوا هارون، و قالوا: إن موسى كذبنا و هرب منا. فجاءهم إبليس في صورة رجل، فقال لهم: إن موسى قد هرب منكم و لا يرجع إليكم أبدا، فاجمعوا لي حليكم حتى أتخذ لكم إلها تعبدونه.

So when the thirty days came up, and Musa^-as did not return, they were angry and wanted to kill Haroun^-as, and they said, ‘Surely Musa^-as lied to us and fled from us!’ So Iblees^-la came over to them in the image of a man, and said to them, ‘Musa^-as has indeed fled from you all, and will not be returning to you, ever. Therefore, gather your ornaments until I take a god for you all, you can be worshipping it’.

و كان السامري على مقدمة موسى يوم أغرق الله فرعون و أصحابه، فنظر إلى جبرئيل و كان على حيوان في صورة رمكة، فكانت كلما وضعت حافرها على موضع من الأرض تحرك ذلك الموضع، فنظر إليه السامري و كان من خيار أصحاب موسى (عليه السلام)،

And it was so that Al-Samiri was at the forefront of Musa^-as on the day Allah^-azwj Drowned Pharaoh^-la and his^-la companions. So he had looked at Jibraeel^-as, and he^-as was upon a beast (which was) in the image of a horse. And it was so that whenever it placed its hooves upon a place from the ground, that place shuddered. So Al-Samiri looked at him^-as, and he (Al-Samiri ) was from the best companions of Musa^-as.

فأخذ التراب من تحت حافر رمكة جبرئيل و كان يتحرك فصره في صرة و كان عنده يفتخر به على بني إسرائيل فلما جاءهم إبليس و اتخذوا العجل، قال للسامري: هات التراب الذي‏ معك.

So Al-Samiri took the soil from underneath a hoof of the horse of Jibraeel^-as, and made it to be in a basket, and it was with him, and he used to pride upon the Children of Israel with it. So when Iblees^-la came to the, and they took to the calf, he^-la said to Al-Samiri , ‘Give me^-la the soil which is with you’.

فجاء به السامري فألقاه إبليس في جوف العجل، فلما وقع التراب في جوفه تحرك، و خار، و نبت عليه الوبر و الشعر، فسجد له بنو إسرائيل، و كان عدد الذين سجدوا سبعين ألفا من بني إسرائيل،

So Al-Samiri came with it and Iblees^-la threw it into the interior of the calf, and when the soil fell into its interior, it moved, and mooed, and the fluff and the hair grew upon it. The Children of Israel performed Sajdah to it, and it so happened that the number of the ones from the Children of Israel who did do Sajdah (to the calf) was seventy thousand.

فقال لهم هارون كما حكى الله: يا قَوْمِ إِنَّما فُتِنْتُمْ بِهِ وَ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمنُ فَاتَّبِعُونِي وَ أَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي قالُوا لَنْ نَبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عاكِفِينَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنا مُوسى،

Haroun^-as said to them, just as Allah^-azwj has Related: ‘O people! But rather you are being tempted by it, and surely your Lord is the Beneficent, therefore follow me and obey my order’ [20:90]. They said: ‘Never! We will continue our devotion upon it until Musa returns to us’ [20:91].

فهموا بهارون فهرب من بينهم، و بقوا في ذلك حتى تم ميقات موسى أربعين ليلة، فلما كان يوم عشرة من ذي الحجة أنزل الله عليه الألواح فيها التوراة و ما يحتاجون إليه من أحكام السير و القصص، ثم أوحى الله إلى موسى: فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ وَ أَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ و عبدوا العجل و له خوار.

So they intended to kill Haroun^-as, and he^-as fled from between them, and they remain in that (state) until the Musa^-as time of Musa^-as was completed at forty nights. When it was the tenth of Zil Hajj, Allah^-azwj Sent down the Tablets upon him wherein was the Torah, and whatever they would be need to from the Ordinances of the ways and the retaliations. Then Allah^-azwj Revealed unto Musa^-as: He said: “We have Tried your people from after you, and Al-Samiri strayed them!” [20:85]. And they worshipped the calf, and for it was a mooing (sound).

فقال موسى (عليه السلام): يا رب، العجل من السامري، فالخوار ممن؟ فقال: «مني- يا موسى- إني لما رأيتهم قد فاءوا عني إلى العجل أحببت أن أزيدهم فتنة».

Musa^-as said: ‘O Lord^-azwj! The calf is from Al-Samiri , but the mooing sound is from whom?’ So He^-azwj Said: “From Me^-azwj, O Musa^-as! I^-azwj, when Saw them to have turned away from Me^-azwj to the calf, I^-azwj Loved to Increase them in Fitna”.

فَرَجَعَ مُوسى كما حكى الله عز و جل إِلى قَوْمِهِ غَضْبانَ أَسِفاً قالَ يا قَوْمِ أَ لَمْ يَعِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ وَعْداً حَسَناً أَ فَطالَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَهْدُ أَمْ أَرَدْتُمْ أَنْ يَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُمْ مَوْعِدِي، ثم رمى بالألواح و أخذ بلحية أخيه هارون و رأسه يجره إليه قالَ يا هارُونُ ما مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَهُمْ ضَلُّوا أَلَّا تَتَّبِعَنِ أَ فَعَصَيْتَ أَمْرِي فقال هارون كما حكى الله:ا بْنَ أُمَّ لا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَ لا بِرَأْسِي إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ وَ لَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْلِي‏

So Musa returned to his people [20:86] – just as Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Related, angry, sorrowful. He said: ‘O People! Did not your Lord Promise you a good Promise? Was the period prolonged upon you or did you want the Wrath from your Lord to be Released upon you, so you broke my promise?’ [20:86]. Then he^-as threw down the Tablets and grabbed the beard of his^-as brother^-as Haroun^-as, and his^-as head, pulling it towards himself^-as. (Musa) said: ‘O Haroun! What prevented you, when you saw them straying [20:92] That you did not follow me? So you disobeyed my order? [20:93]. Haroun^-as just as Allah^-azwj Related: He said: ‘O son of my mother! Do not seize me by my beard nor my head! I feared, lest you might be saying: ‘You caused division between the Children of Israel and you did not await my word’’ [20:94]’’. [42]

ثم قال: إن موسى قال لهارون: (ما منعك إذ رأيتهم ضلوا ألا تتبعن) إلى قوله (ولم ترقب قولي)، وأنا من نبي الله بمنزلة هارون من موسى، عهد إلي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: (إن ضلت الأمة بعده وتبعت غيري أن أجاهدهم إن وجدت أعوانا، وإن لم أجد أعوانا أن أكف يدي وأحقن دمي)، وأخبرني بما الأمة صانعة بعده.

Then he^-asws said that: ‘Musa^-as said to Haroun^-as: ‘That you did not follow me? So you disobeyed my order? [20:93] – up to his^-as words: and you did not await my word’’ [20:94]. And I^-asws (Ali^-asws) am from the Prophet^-saww of Allah^-azwj at the status, which Haroun^-as had from Musa^-as. Rasool Allah^-saww held me^-asws on oath that the community will go astray after him^-as and follow others apart from me^-asws, and that I^-asws should fight them if I^-asws were to find helpers, and if I^-asws do not find helpers then I^-asws should restrain my^-asws hand and save my^-asws blood’, and he^-saww informed me^-asws of what the community will be doing after him^-saww.[43]

قال الراوي: فقلت لأبي جعفر (عليه السلام): فكم مكث موسى غائبا عن امه حتى رده الله عليها؟ قال: «ثلاثة أيام». فقلت: كان هارون أخا موسى لأبيه و امه؟ قال: «نعم، أما تسمع الله تعالى يقول:ا بْنَ أُمَّ لا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَتِي وَ لا بِرَأْسِي.

The narrator said, ‘I said to Abu Ja’far^-asws, ‘For how long was Musa^-as absent from his^-as mother until Allah^-azwj Returned him^-as to her?’ He^-asws said: ‘Three days’. So I said, ‘Was Haroun^-as the brother of Musa^-as from his^-as father and mother?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes. But, have you not heard the Words of Allah^-azwj the Exalted Saying: He said: ‘O son of my mother! Do not seize me by my beard nor my head! [20:94]’.

فقلت: أيهما كان أكبر سنا؟ قال: «هارون». قلت: و كان الوحي ينزل عليهما جميعا؟ قال: «الوحي ينزل على موسى، و موسى يوحيه إلى هارون».

So I said, ‘Which one of the two was greater in age?’ He^-asws said: ‘Haroun^-as’. I said, ‘And did the Revelation come unto the both of them^-as?’ He^-asws said: ‘The Revelation descended upon Musa^-as, and Musa^-as revealed it unto Haroun^-as’.

فقلت: أخبرني عن الأحكام، و القضاء، و الأمر و النهي، أ كان ذلك إليهما؟ قال: «كان موسى الذي يناجي ربه، و يكتب العلم، و يقضي بين بني إسرائيل، و هارون يخلفه إذا غاب عن قومه للمناجاة».

So I said, ‘Inform me^-asws about the Ordinances, and the Judgement, and the Enjoinments and the Prohibitions, was that to both of them^-as?’ He^-asws said: ‘Musa^-as was the one who whispered to his^-as Lord^-azwj, and wrote out the knowledge, and he^-as judged between the Children of Israel. And Haroun^-as, was his^-as Caliph when the whispering was absent from his^-as people’.

قلت: فأيهما مات قبل صاحبه؟ قال: «مات هارون قبل موسى (عليه السلام)، و ماتا جميعا في التيه». قلت: فكان لموسى (عليه السلام) ولد؟ قال: «لا، كان الولد لهارون، و الذرية له».

I said, ‘So which one of the two died before his^-as companion?’ He^-asws said: ‘Haroun^-as died before Musa^-as, and both died in the wilderness’. I said, ‘Did Musa^-as have a son?’ He^-asws said: ‘No. There was a son to Haroun^-as, and the descendants was for him^-as’.[44]

و في الاحتجاج عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام في حديث مجيباً لبعض الزنادقة: و امّا قوله لنبيّه صلّى اللَّه عليه و آله‏ وَ ما أَرْسَلْناكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعالَمِينَ‏ و إنّك ترى اهل الملل المخالفة للايمان و من يجري مجراهم من الكفّار مقيمين على كفرهم إلى هذه الغاية و انّه لو كان رحمة عليهم لاهتدوا جميعاً و نجوا من عذاب السعير

And in (the book) Al Ihtijaj,

‘From Amir Al-Momineen^-asws in a Hadeeth answering to one of the atheists: ‘And as for His^-azwj Words to His^-azwj Prophet^-saww: ‘And We did not Send you except as a mercy to the worlds [21:107], and you will see the people of the nation being in opposition to the Eman, and the ones flowing upon their flow from the Kafirs, being steadfast upon their Kufr up to this peak. And if he^-saww was a mercy upon them, they would all have been Guided and been saved from the Punishment of the Blazing Fire.

فانّ اللّه تبارك و تعالى اسمه انّما عنى بذلك انّه جعله سبيلًا لانذار أهل هذه الدار لأنّ الأنبياء قبله بعثوا بالتصريح لا بالتعريض و كان النبيّ صلّى اللَّه عليه و آله منهم إذ صدع بأمر اللّه و اجابه قومه سلموا و سلم أهل دارهم من سائر الخليقة

But, what Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted is His^-azwj Name, rather Means by that, that He^-azwj Made him^-saww to be a way (means) for the warning the people of this house (world), because the Prophets^-as before him^-saww were Sent with the declarations, not with the allusions. And it was so that the Prophet^-saww was from them^-as, when expounded openly the Commands of Allah^-azwj and his^-saww people responded to him^-saww in submission, and the people of their houses submitted from the rest of the creation.

و ان خالفوه هلكوا و هلك اهل دارهم بالآفة التي كانت نبيّهم يتوعّدهم بها و يخوّفهم حلولها و نزولها بساحتهم من خسف أو قذف أو رجف أو ريح أو زلزلة أو غير ذلك من أصناف العذاب الذي هلكت به الأمم الخالية

And if they had opposed him^-saww, they would have been destroyed, and the people of their houses would have been destroyed with the scourges which he^-saww had informed them of, threatened them with, and scared them of its horror and its descent with their roofs, from a collapse, or hailstorm, or a tremor, or a wind, or an earthquake, or other than that from the varieties of the punishment by which the past communities had been destroyed by.

و انّ اللَّه علم من نبيّنا صلّى اللَّه عليه و آله و من الحجج في الأرض الصبر على ما لَمْ يطق من تقدّمهم من الأنبياء الصبر على مثله فبعثه اللَّه بالتعريض لا بالتصريح و اثبت حجّة اللَّه تعريضاً لا تصريحاً بقوله في وصيّه من كنت مولاه فهذا عليّ مولاه و هو منّي بمنزلة هرون من موسى الّا انّه لا نبيّ بعدي

And Allah^-azwj is more Knowing than our Prophet^-saww and the Divine Authorities in the earth, of the patience upon what the preceding ones from the Prophets^-as could not tolerate the patience the like of it. Thus, Allah^-azwj Sent him^-saww with the allusions, not with the declarations (only), and he^-saww affirmed the Divine Authorities of Allah^-azwj by allusions not by declarations (only), by his^-saww words in his^-saww bequest: ‘One whom I^-saww was the Master of, so Ali^-asws is his Master’, and: ‘He is from me^-asws at the status of Haroun^-as from Musa except that there would be no Prophet^-as after me^-saww’.

و ليس من خليقة النبيّ صلّى اللَّه عليه و آله و لا من شيمته أن يقول قولًا لا معنى له فلزم الأمة ان تعلم أنّه لما كانت النبوّة و الاخوّة موجودتين في خلق هرون و فيمن جعله النبيّ صلّى اللَّه عليه و آله بمنزلته انّه قد استخلفه على أمّته كما استخلف موسى هرون (ع) حيث‏ قال له‏ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي‏

And there isn’t from a mannerism of the Prophet^-saww nor from (any of) his^-saww characteristics that he^-saww would say a word with not meaning to it. So it necessitated the community that it learns that it is so that when the Prophet-hood and the brother-hood were both present in the person of Haroun^-as and in the one^-asws whom the Prophet^-saww made to be at his^-as status, then surely he^-saww has made him^-asws to be a Caliph upon his^-saww community, just as Musa^-as had made Haroun^-as to be a Caliph where he^-saww said to him^-as: ‘‘Be my Caliph among my people [7:142].

و لو قال لهم لا تقلّدوا الإمامة الّا فلاناً بعينه و الّا نزل بكم العذاب لأَتاهم العذاب و زال باب الانظار و الامهال.

And had he^-saww said to them: ‘Do not collar yourselves with the Imamate except so and so exactly, or else the Punishment would descend upon you all, the Punishment would have (definitely) come upon them, and the door (opportunity) of the awaiting, and the respite would have been lost’’.[45]

Ibn Shazan, from Ali Bin Al-Husayn^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘Amir Al Momineen^-asws said: ‘The one who does not say that I^-asws am the fourth Caliph, so upon him is the Curse of Allah^-azwj’’.

Appendix II: Prophet-hood was in the progeny of Haroun^-as:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ غَيْرُهُ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ وَ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الدَّيْلَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ أَوْصَى مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) إِلَى يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ وَ أَوْصَى يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ إِلَى وَلَدِ هَارُونَ وَ لَمْ يُوصِ إِلَى وَلَدِهِ وَ لَا إِلَى وَلَدِ مُوسَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَهُ الْخِيَرَةُ يَخْتَارُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِمَّنْ يَشَاءُ

Muhammad Bin Al Husayn and someone else, from Sahl, from Muhammad Bin Isa and Muhammad Bin Yahya and Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, altogether from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ismail Bin Jabir and Abdul Kareem Bin Amro, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al Daylam,

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘Musa^-as bequeathed to Yoshua^-as Bin Noon^-as, and Yoshua^-as Bin Noon^-as bequeathed to a son of Haroun^-as and did not bequeath to his^-as own son, nor to a son of Musa^-as. Allah^-azwj the Exalted Gave him^-as the choice that he^-as can choose the one whom he^-as so desires to, from the ones he^-as so desires to.

وَ بَشَّرَ مُوسَى وَ يُوشَعُ بِالْمَسِيحِ ( عليه السلام ) فَلَمَّا أَنْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمَسِيحَ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ الْمَسِيحُ لَهُمْ إِنَّهُ سَوْفَ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي نَبِيٌّ اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ مِنْ وُلْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ( عليه السلام ) يَجِي‏ءُ بِتَصْدِيقِي وَ تَصْدِيقِكُمْ وَ عُذْرِي وَ عُذْرِكُمْ وَ جَرَتْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فِي الْحَوَارِيِّينَ فِي الْمُسْتَحْفَظِينَ وَ إِنَّمَا سَمَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْمُسْتَحْفَظِينَ لِأَنَّهُمُ اسْتُحْفِظُوا الِاسْمَ الْأَكْبَرَ وَ هُوَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي يُعْلَمُ بِهِ عِلْمُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ الَّذِي كَانَ مَعَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ( صلوات الله عليهم )

And Musa^-as and Yoshua^-as gave glad tidings of the Messiah^-as. So when Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Sent the Messiah^-as, the Messiah^-as said to them: ‘There would be soon coming a Prophet^-saww after me^-as whose name is Ahmad^-saww, from the children of Ismail^-as. He^-saww would come ratifying me^-as and ratifying you, and my^-as justifications and your justifications’. And there flowed from after him^-as among the disciples, among the preservers, and rather Allah^-azwj Named them as ‘preservers’ because they preserved the Great Name, and it is the ‘Book’ through which one can find out the knowledge of everything which was with the Prophets^-as.

فَلَمْ تَزَلِ الْوَصِيَّةُ فِي عَالِمٍ بَعْدَ عَالِمٍ حَتَّى دَفَعُوهَا إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَلَمَّا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُحَمَّداً ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَسْلَمَ لَهُ الْعَقِبُ مِنَ الْمُسْتَحْفِظِينَ وَ كَذَّبَهُ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ جَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِه

So the bequest did not cease to be in a knowledgeable one after a knowledgeable one until it was handed over to Muhammad^-saww. So when Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Sent Muhammad^-saww, the descendants from the ‘preservers’ submitted to him^-saww and the Children of Israel belied him^-saww, and they (the descendants of the preservers) called to Allah^-azwj and fought in His^-azwj Way.

ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ أَعْلِنْ فَضْلَ وَصِيِّكَ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ الْعَرَبَ قَوْمٌ جُفَاةٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِمْ كِتَابٌ وَ لَمْ يُبْعَثْ إِلَيْهِمْ نَبِيٌّ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ فَضْلَ نُبُوَّاتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ( عليهم السلام ) وَ لَا شَرَفَهُمْ وَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِي إِنْ أَنَا أَخْبَرْتُهُمْ بِفَضْلِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فَقَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ لا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ قُلْ سَلامٌ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ

Then Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Mention, Revealed unto him^-saww: “Proclaim the merits of your^-saww successor^-asws!” So he^-saww said: ‘Lord^-azwj! The Arabs are a disloyal people. There has not happened to be a Book among them nor a Prophet^-as was Sent to them, but they are neither recognising the merits of the Prophet-hoods of the Prophets^-as, nor their^-as nobilities, nor would they be believing in me^-saww if I^-saww were to inform them with the merits of the People^-asws of my^-saww Household’. So Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Mention Said: “And do not grieve upon them and say: (So pardon them) and say: ‘Salam!’, for soon they would come to know [43:89]’.

فَذَكَرَ مِنْ فَضْلِ وَصِيِّهِ ذِكْراً فَوَقَعَ النِّفَاقُ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَعَلِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ذَلِكَ وَ مَا يَقُولُونَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَ لَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِما يَقُولُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَ لكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآياتِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ وَ لَكِنَّهُمْ يَجْحَدُونَ بِغَيْرِ حُجَّةٍ لَهُمْ

So he^-saww mentioned the merits of his^-saww successor^-asws with a mention, and the hypocrisy occurred in their hearts. So Rasool-Allah^-saww knew that and what they were saying, so Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Mention, Said: “O Muhammad^-saww! We do Know it has grieved you, that which they are saying. They are not belying you, but the unjust ones are rejecting the Signs of Allah [6:33] ”. But they were denying without there being any proof/argument for them.

وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ وَ يَسْتَعِينُ بِبَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لَا يَزَالُ يُخْرِجُ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً فِي فَضْلِ وَصِيِّهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ السُّورَةُ فَاحْتَجَّ عَلَيْهِمْ حِينَ أُعْلِمَ بِمَوْتِهِ وَ نُعِيَتْ إِلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ

And it was so that Rasool-Allah^-saww used to harmonise with them and assist with some of them upon the others, and he^-saww did not cease to bring out for them something regarding the merits of his^-saww successor^-asws until this Chapter was Revealed. So he^-saww argued against them when he^-saww knew of (nearness of) his^-saww own death, and gave the news of it to himself^-saww.

فَقَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ فَإِذا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ وَ إِلى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَبْ يَقُولُ إِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ عَلَمَكَ وَ أَعْلِنْ وَصِيَّكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ فَضْلَهُ عَلَانِيَةً

So Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Mention Said: So when you are free, then nominate [94:7] And to your Lord be hopeful [94:8]. He^-saww is Saying: “When you^-saww are free, then nominate your^-saww flag and proclaim your^-saww successor^-asws, so let them (people) know his^-asws merits publicly”.

فَقَالَ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَأَبْعَثَنَّ رَجُلًا يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ لَيْسَ بِفَرَّارٍ يُعَرِّضُ بِمَنْ رَجَعَ يُجَبِّنُ أَصْحَابَهُ وَ يُجَبِّنُونَهُ

So he^-saww said: ‘The one whose Master I^-saww was, so Ali^-asws is his Master! O Allah^-azwj! Befriend the one who befriends him^-asws and be Inimical to the one who is inimical to him^-asws’ – three times. Then he^-saww said (on the Day of Khyber): ‘I^-saww shall be sending a man who loves Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww love him^-asws. He^-asws isn’t with fleeing’ thus exposing the cowards from his^-saww companions and their cowardice.

وَ قَالَ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَلِيٌّ سَيِّدُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَمُودُ الدِّينِ وَ قَالَ هَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي يَضْرِبُ النَّاسَ بِالسَّيْفِ عَلَى الْحَقِّ بَعْدِي وَ قَالَ الْحَقُّ مَعَ عَلِيٍّ أَيْنَمَا مَالَ وَ قَالَ إِنِّي تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ إِنْ أَخَذْتُمْ بِهِمَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي عِتْرَتِي أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اسْمَعُوا وَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتُ إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرِدُونَ عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ فَأَسْأَلُكُمْ عَمَّا فَعَلْتُمْ فِي الثَّقَلَيْنِ وَ الثَّقَلَانِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي فَلَا تَسْبِقُوهُمْ فَتَهْلِكُوا وَ لَا تُعَلِّمُوهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكُمْ

And he^-saww said: ‘Ali^-asws is the chief of the Momineen’, and said: ‘Ali^-asws is the pillar of the Religion’, and said: ‘This is the one who would be striking the people with the sword upon the Truth after me^-saww’, and said: ‘The Truth is with Ali^-asws wherever he^-asws so inclines’. And said: ‘I^-saww leave behind among you all two matters. If you were to take to these two, you will never stray – the Book of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and the People^-asws of my^-saww Household, my^-saww family. O you people! Listen, and I^-saww have delivered (the Message). You will soon be returning to me^-saww at the Fountain, and I^-saww will be asking you all about what you had done with the two weighty things, and the two weighty things are the Book of Allah^-azwj, Mighty is His^-azwj Mention and the People^-asws of my^-saww Household. Therefore, do not precede them^-asws for you will be destroyed, and not do (try to) teach them^-asws, for they^-asws are more knowledgeable than you are’.

فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِنْ حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالَ يا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ ما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَما بَلَّغْتَ رِسالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكافِرِينَ

When Rasool-Allah^-saww returned from the Farewell Hajj, Jibraeel^-as descended unto him^-saww and said: O you Rasool! Deliver what has been Revealed unto you from your Lord; and if you don’t do so, then you have not delivered His Message, and Allah will Protect you from the people. Surely Allah does not Guide the Kafir people [5:67].

فَنَادَى النَّاسَ فَاجْتَمَعُوا وَ أَمَرَ بِسَمُرَاتٍ فَقُمَّ شَوْكُهُنَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ وَلِيُّكُمْ وَ أَوْلَى بِكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ فَقَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ فَقَالَ مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالَاهُ وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ

So he^-saww called the people, and they gathered, and he^-saww ordered with the clearing (of the ground), so the thorns were removed. Then he^-saww said: ‘O you people! Who is your guardian and closer with you all than your own selves?’ So they (people) said, ‘Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww!’ So he^-saww said: ‘The one whose Master I^-saww am, so Ali^-asws is his Master. O Allah^-azwj! Befriend the one who befriends him^-asws and be Inimical to the one who is inimical to him^-asws’ – three times.

فَوَقَعَتْ حَسَكَةُ النِّفَاقِ فِي قُلُوبِ الْقَوْمِ وَ قَالُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ هَذَا عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ قَطُّ وَ مَا يُرِيدُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَرْفَعَ بِضَبْعِ ابْنِ عَمِّهِ

So the thorns of hypocrisy occurred in the hearts of the people and they said, ‘Allah^-azwj, Majestic is His^-azwj Mention has not Revealed this unto Muhammad^-saww at all, and he^-saww does not intend except to raise the shoulder of his^-asws cousin^-asws’.

ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَ قَدْ قَضَيْتَ نُبُوَّتَكَ وَ اسْتَكْمَلْتَ أَيَّامَكَ فَاجْعَلِ الِاسْمَ الْأَكْبَرَ وَ مِيرَاثَ الْعِلْمِ وَ آثَارَ عِلْمِ النُّبُوَّةِ عِنْدَ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَتْرُكِ الْأَرْضَ إِلَّا وَ لِيَ فِيهَا عَالِمٌ تُعْرَفُ بِهِ طَاعَتِي وَ تُعْرَفُ بِهِ وَلَايَتِي وَ يَكُونُ حُجَّةً لِمَنْ يُولَدُ بَيْنَ قَبْضِ النَّبِيِّ إِلَى خُرُوجِ النَّبِيِّ الْآخَرِ

Then Jibraeel^-as came over to him^-saww and he^-as said: ‘O Muhammad^-saww! (Allah^-azwj is Saying): “You^-saww have spent your^-saww Prophet-hood and completed your^-saww days, therefore make the Great Name, and the inherited Knowledge, and the traces (Ahadeeth) of the Knowledge of the Prophet-hood to be with Ali^-asws, for I^-azwj do not Leave the earth except there is a scholar for Me^-azwj in it, by whom My^-azwj obedience can be recognised, and by him^-asws My^-azwj Wilayah can be recognised, and he^-asws can happen to be My^-azwj Divine Authority to the ones who would be born from the passing away of a Prophet^-as to the coming out of another Prophet^-as”’.

قَالَ فَأَوْصَى إِلَيْهِ بِالِاسْمِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَ مِيرَاثِ الْعِلْمِ وَ آثَارِ عِلْمِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ أَوْصَى إِلَيْهِ بِأَلْفِ كَلِمَةٍ وَ أَلْفِ بَابٍ يَفْتَحُ كُلُّ كَلِمَةٍ وَ كُلُّ بَابٍ أَلْفَ كَلِمَةٍ وَ أَلْفَ بَابٍ .

He^-asws said: ‘So he^-saww bequeathed to him^-asws with the Great Name, and the inherited Knowledge, and traces (Ahadeeth) of the Knowledge of the Prophet-hood, and bequeathed to him^-asws with a thousand words and a thousand topics, with each word and each topic opening a thousand words and a thousand topics’.[47]

Appendix III: Prophet Musa^-as’s Wife Fought Against Musa^-as’s Successor:

It is narrated from Ali bin Ahmad al-Daqaqi from Hamza bin Qasim from Abul Hasan Ali bin al-Junaid Raazi from Abu Awana from Hasan bin Ali from Abdur Razzaq from his father from Abdur Rahman bin Auf’s slave, Maina from Abdullah bin Masud that he said:

“I asked the Rasool Allah^-saww, “O Messenger of Allah^-saww! Who will perform your^-saww ghusl after your^-saww demise?” He^-saww replied, “Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib^-asws”. He asked, “How long will he^-asws live after you^-saww?” Rasool Allah^-saww said: “he^-asws will live for thirty years after me^-saww.

The successor of Prophet Musa^-as lived for thirty years after him^-as and he^-as was opposed by the wife of Musa^-as in the matter of performing ghusl. She claimed that she was more rightful of this and fought with Yusha^-as. He^-as also fought against her followers and defeated them. She was taken as captive but was treated very nicely. Similarly, Abu Bakr’s daughter will also betray Ali^-asws at so and so occasion. One thousand people of my Ummah will join her and fight against Ali^-asws. Ali^-asws will defeat her followers and hold her as captive and treat her well. The Almighty Allah^-azwj says regarding this:

وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى

And stay in your houses and do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of the former Times (33:33). The indication here is to Safra binte Shuaib (an extract).[48]

Death of Prophet Musa^-as

Narrated to us Ahmad bin Hasan al-Qattan: Narrated to us Hasan bin Ali Sukkari: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Zakariya al-Basri: Narrated to us Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ammarah from his father that he said:

I said to Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws bin Muhammad^-asws: Tell me about the passing away of Musa^-as bin Imran^-as. The Imam^-asws replied:

“When the end of Musa^-as approached and the angel of death came and said, O Kalimullah (the one with whom Allah^-azwj conversed)! Assalaamo A’laikum, Musa^-asresponded, “Wa a’laikas salaam! Who are you?” The angel replied, “I am the angel of death.” He asked, “Why have you come?” He replied, “To take your soul.” Musa^-asasked, “From where will you seize it?” He replied, “From your mouth.” Musa^-asasked, “How will you seize it from the mouth when I have conversed with the Almighty with it?” The angel replied, “All right! I will seize it from your hands.” Musa^-asexclaimed, “How will you seize it from my hands when these hands have held the Torah?” The angel said, “I will seize it from your feet.” Musa^-assaid, “I have gone to Mount Toor on these very feet to talk with My Lord.” The angel said, “Then I will take it from your eyes.” Musa^-assaid, “I have always looked with these eyes hopefully towards my Lord’s Mercy.” The angel said, “Then from your ear.” Musa^-assaid, “I have heard my Lord’s Words with these very ears.”

Then Almighty Allah^-azwj revealed to the angel, “Do not seize his^-as soul until he^-as himself desires it.” So, the angel of death went back and Musa^-aslived for quite a long time thereafter. Then one day he called Yusha^-as, gave his^-as will to him^-as, made him his^-as legatee and asked him to keep the will a secret until the time of his (Musa^-as’s) death. He^-as also asked Yusha^-as to pass on the Wasiyyat (Will) at the time of his (Yusha’s) death to someone else as desired by Allah^-azwj.

(After) Saying this Musa^-asdisappeared from his people. During these days of his absence he once met a man digging a grave. Musa^-astold him that he^-as would like to help him in digging that grave. He said, ‘Why not?’ Musa^-asengaged himself in the digging. Soon the grave was completed by them. Then Musa^-aslay down in it sideways to see how it feels. At that moment the Almighty Allah^-azwj showed him his place in Paradise. So he said: “My Lord^-azwj, Call me towards You^-azwj.” So, the angel of death seized his holy soul then and there. Then he buried him in the same grave and closed it by filling it with earth.

That man digging the grave was actually the angel of death in the shape of a man. This happened in Tiyah. An announcer announced from the heavens that Musa Kalimullah^-ashas died and who is it that does not die?”

(Also) Narrated to me by my father from my grandfather from his father^-asthat: The Messenger of Allah^-saww was asked about the location of the grave of Prophet Musa^-as. He^-saww replied: “Near the highway adjacent to the red hillock.” After Musa^-as, Yusha^-as bin Nun^-asbecame the leader of Bani Israel. He was always busy in their affairs and was bearing all kinds of difficulties caused to him by the kings of those days. Three of those kings died.

Thereafter the condition of Yusha^-asbecame strong and be became independent in the matter of law and order (giving orders to do or to refrain from doing things). Then two hypocrites of the community of Musa^-asconspired and took Safra daughter of Shuaib, the wife of Musa^-aswith them and revolted against Yusha bin Nun^-aswith 100000 men.

Yusha bin Nun^-asoverpowered them. Many groups of them were killed and those who remained alive fled by the Divine Order and Safra daughter of Shuaib became a captive. Yusha^-astold her, “I am leaving you in this world so that in the other world when I meet Musa^-asthe Prophet of Allah, I may complain to him about you and your community about what I have suffered due to you.”

Safra said, “By Allah^-azwj! If Paradise is made open to me so that I can enter it I will feel ashamed of seeing there Musa^-asthe Prophet of Allah^-as, as I have torn his veil and thereafter I revolted against his legatee.” The Imams and leaders that succeeded Yusha bin Nun for four hundred years till the time of Prophet Dawood^-asremained in concealment. They were eleven in all and during each of their times the people used to visit them and obtain guidance (An extract from a long Hadith).[49]

Appendix IV: Yusha Ibn Nun and Similarities with Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws

Some Ahadith from Hayat-ul-Qulub, volume one:

It is authentically narrated from Imam al-Baqir that during the night in which Amir-ul-Momineen was martyred, fresh blood was gushing out of every stone that was picked up until sunrise and that Yusha‘ibn Nun was also martyred on this night.

It is recorded with many evidences that in the night wherein Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws was martyred, Imam Al-Hasan went up the pulpit and said, “O People! That night was also like this one when ‘Isa son of Maryam went up the heavens. That night was also like this one when Yusha‘ ibn Nun was killed. That is the 21st of Ramadham.”

It is mentioned in a narration that Yusha‘ lived for 133 years and he made Kaalab bin Yuqanna his successor and caliph.

Imam Al-Reza^-asws said, the people of Jerusalem believed ‘Isa^-as as their god because he made the dead alive. Yusha^-as ‘ also made all dead, alive, walked on water and healed the blind.

[1] Prophet Musa^as’s successor was Yusha^as bin Nun^as who was also a Prophet and Yusha^as bin Nun was the successor of Musa^as and Qata^as was the successor of Yusha^as bin Nun^as. As mentioned in the Holy Quran: “And when Musa said to his servant: I will not cease until I reach the junction of the two rivers (18:60).” (Kamal-Al-Deen-wa-Tamam-Al-Ni-Mah, vol.1). Also as per some sources (https://thethinkingmuslim.com/2016/01/11/yusha-ibn-nun-the-only-man-for-whom-the-sun-was-stopped/), His full name was Yusha son of Nun, son of Ephraim, son of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), son of Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob), son of Prophet Ishaaq (Isaac), son of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). So Yusha is the great-grandson of Prophet Yusuf (pbuh) and out of six of his forefathers, four were prophets.

[2] Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumaly – H 78

[3] Hayat-ul-Qulub, Al-Majlisi, Vol. 1, pg. 302 (Ansariyan Publications).

[4] الكافي 1: 154/ 1

[5] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 65 H 3 (Extracts)

[6] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 306/ 134

[7] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 306/ 134

[8] تفسير القمي، ج‏1، ص: 240

[9] الخصال: 304/ 84

[10] الآيات 2: 556/ 12، الخصال: 305/ 84، معاني الأخبار: 126/ 1

[11] كمال الدين و تمام النعمة: 416/ 9

[12] مائة منقبة: 125 منقبة 59.

[13] Kamal-Al-Deen-wa-Tamam-Al-Ni-Mah, vol. 1

[14] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askari^asws – S 125

[15] كمال الدين و تمام النعمة: 416/ 9

[16] الآيات 2: 556/ 12، الخصال: 305/ 84، معاني الأخبار: 126/ 1

[17] Al Kafi – V 8 H 14452

[18] Basaair Al Darajaat – P 9 CH 22 H 4 (Extract)

[19] (اليقين: 151.)

[20] Taweel Al Ayaat Al Zaahira – H 11

[21] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – H 73

[22] مائة منقبة: 125 منقبة 59.

[23] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – H 73 (Extract)

[24] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askari ^asws – S 118

[25] الخصال: 304/ 84 (Extract)

[26] تأويل الآيات 2: 555/ 10

[27] تأويل الآيات 2: 555/ 10 (Extract)

[28] مناقب ابن شهر آشوب 3: 15، شواهد التنزيل 1: 168/ 203، ينابيع المودة: 114 «قطعة منه».

[29] روضة الواعظين: 89.

[30] Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumaly – H 78

[31] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 332/ 153.

[32] تفسير القمي، ج‏1، ص: 240

[33] Kitab Suleym Bin Qays Al Hilali – H 12

[34] عيون أخبار الرّضا (عليه السّلام) 1: 232/ 1.

[35] مناقب عليّ بن أبي طالب (عليه السّلام): 252/ 301. (Non-Shia source)

[36] تفسير القمّي 1: 314

[37] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 19 H 5

[38] مجمع البيان 5: 196.

[39] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 31 H 8

[40] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 306/ 134

[41] معاني الأخبار: 385/ 20

[42] 1- تفسير القمّي 2: 61. – (Extract)

[43] Kitab Suleym Bin Qays – H 67 (Extract)

[44] تفسير القمّي 2: 135 (Extract)

[45] تفسير الصافي، ج‏3، ص: 359

[46] مائة منقبة: 125 منقبة 59.

[47] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 65 H 3 (Extracts)

[48] Kamal-Al-Deen-wa-Tamam-Al-Ni-Mah, vol. 1

[49] Kamal-Al-Deen-wa-Tamam-Al-Ni-Mah, vol. 1

Summary:

Extracts of Ahadith Highlighting the similarities of Haroun-as with Ali-asws:

Introduction:

The Insistence to see Allah-azwj and the Thunderbolt:

The matter of Al-Hassan-asws

Musa-as bequeathed to Yoshua Bin Noon-as, and Yoshua Bin Noon-as bequeathed to the son of Haroun-as

The special case of Al-Husayn-asws

The Divine Fourth Caliph:

People turned against Ali-asws as they did against Haroun-as

People were Ungrateful for the given Divine Favours of the two Worlds:

The Divine Knowledge Transmitted to Prophets-as and Imams-as:

Ali-asws was Nominated Caliph after Rasool Allah-saw as Haroun-as was Made Caliph by Musa-as:

People’s Breaking of Allegiance is for both Haroun-as and Ali-asws:

The Passing Away of Haroun-as and Musa-as:

Ali-asws is from me-saww and I-saww am from Ali-asws like Haroun-as was to Musa-as

Ali-asws Helped Rasool Allah-saww as did Haroun-as to Musa-as:

Why Ali-asws did not make a stand with the sword during the issues of Al-Saqifa

They neglected the position of Haroun-as and reverted to Disbelief:

Allah-azwj Helped Prophet Musa-as through his brother Haroun-as:

Appendix I: When Musa-as left Haroun-as behind as a Caliph among his-as people

Appendix II: Prophet-hood was in the progeny of Haroun-as:

Appendix III: Prophet Musa-as’s Wife Fought Against Musa-as’s Successor:

Death of Prophet Musa-as

Appendix IV: Yusha Ibn Nun and Similarities with Amir-ul-Momineen-asws