Summary:
In all Ahadith books followed by Muslims, it is agreed that at the place of Ghadeer (after the last Hajj) Rasool-Allah-saww – in fulfilment of a Divine Commandment[1] – delivered a sermon and announced the Message regarding the authority Ali-asws. So at the top of the podium (built from the saddles of camels) Rasool-Allah-saww asked:
الست اولی بکم من انفسکم؟
Is my life not worthier one over all of your lives?
قالوا: بلی
They said: Of course
Then He-saww grabbed the hand of Ali-asws, and said:
‘مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ’ Whoever’s Master I was ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ (Moula) now Ali-asws is his Master ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ (Moula).
In some Ahadith, it is with an addition:
فَقَالَ مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ اللَّهُمَّ وَالِ مَنْ وَالاهُ وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ.
(Rasool-Allah-saww ) said: ‘The one whose Master ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ I-saww was, Ali-asws is his now his Master (Moula)‘مَوْلَاهُ’. O Allah-azwj! Protect him who accepts him-asws as his protector and Be inimical to the one who is inimical to him-asws’’.[2]
In some narrations ‘فَهَذَا’ is found meaning ‘So This’ (Ali-asws):
مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَهَذَا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاه
Whoever’s Master I was ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ (Moula), so This Ali is now his Master-asws ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ (Moula)
The disagreement among the Muslim Ummah (Nation) is, however, not on these Ahadith and the small variations, but on the meaning of the word ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ (Moula). Some Muslims trivialise the meaning of ‘مَوْلَاهُ’ and say it means ‘friend’ so as per their interpretation, Rasool-Allah-saww said: As you have befriended me-saww so you should also befriend Ali-asws. However, if one compare this to what Al-Quran is saying about our Holly Prophet-saww will be able to understand whether is it right to call the holly prophet our friend or not!
النَّبِيُّ أَوْلى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِم (33:6)
The Prophet is preferred over all Momineen from their own lives.
Also in 49:1-5, Allah-azwj Command Muslims to respect and honour Rasool-Allah-saww, Appendix I.
Another translation of the word Moula is Servant/in service, so let’s take this translation into context and see what it can also mean.
من کنت مولاہ، فعلی مولاہ
Whoever was in my service, is now in Ali’s service.
The question arises, who is/was in prophet-saww’s service? In order to understand that, we will present an Amazing verse from Al-Quran.
قُلْ إِنْ كانَ لِلرَّحْمنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْعابِدِينَ.
Say (O Prophet) If Al-Rahman were to take someone as a Son, Then I should the one as I was the first of his obedient (43:81).
This verse was revealed to denounce the ideology of people who took prophet Jesus as the son of Allah-azwj. In other words, this verse is saying that Al-Rahman doesn’t have any blood relationships and if he had any, our holly Prophet-saww would be the one because he is the first from the obedient ones. There are numerous Holy Verses and Ahadith in the praise of Rasool-Allah-saww, thereby establishing the status of Rasool-Allah-saww second to none, among the ‘Abd’ of Allah-azwj.
Therefore, when people look up the word in Arabic dictionary, the confusion persists as there are multiple meanings for the word ‘مَوْلَا’, as it has been used in different cultures for over 1400 years giving a list of its possible usage. Therefore, one has to turn to the Holy Quran and see in which context and meanings Allah-azwj has Revealed it and what are its meanings in the context of what Rasool-Allah-saww said in the sermon of Ghadeer:
مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَهَذَا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاه
As Rasool-Allah-saww would always be instructing believers in accordance with what had been Revealed to him-saww with the Words of Allah-azwj.
In most of Holy Verses, where the Word ‘Moula’ is Revealed, it is in the meanings of ‘Master’ and/or ‘Guardian’ and is mainly used for Allah-azwj. e.g.,
أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا , . اللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ , ‘مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ’ , أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْ, هُوَ مَوْلَانَا. Allah-azwj has Used the Word Moula in the meanings of Master (to be Obeyed as being His-azwj Messengers-as) His-azwj Angels-as and His-azwj Selected (Divine) Prophet/Imams. Moula is also used in Holy Quran when denouncing the fake imams and sins leading to Fire as well as those destined to Fire trying to looking for assistance from their associates, without success, from the wrath of Allah-azwj (22:13, 44:41 and 57:15).
In summary, Moula either means Master/Guardian (Allah-azwj and His-azwj Divine Authorities-as) or when Allah denounces the fake imams and sinners who will try to assist each other against the Decree of Allah-azwj.
Introduction:
We will try to better understand the meanings of the word ‘Moula’ as Revealed in the Holy Quran in order to eliminate the ambiguity caused by its, linguistic use, as found in the Arabic dictionaries. There are about 13 Holy Verses which refer to the word ‘Moula’ and its derivative (i.e., singular, plural forms), we will review these Verses in the following paragraphs:
أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا (Chapter 2, Verse 286)
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ {286}
(Allah Said): “Allah does not Encumber a soul except to its capacity. For it would be what it earned and against it would be what it earned”. (The Rasool said): ‘Our Lord! Do not Seize us if we forget or we make a mistake. Our Lord! And do not Load upon us a burden like what You Loaded upon those from before us. Our Lord! And do not Load upon us what we have no strength for us with it; and Pardon (our sins) for us and have Mercy on us.
‘أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا’ You are our Master, therefore Help us against the Kafir people’. [2:286]
مَوْلَاكُمْ (Chapter 3, Verse 150)
بَلِ اللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ النَّاصِرِينَ {150}
But, ‘اللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ’(Allah is your Guardian) and He is the best of the helpers [3:150]
مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ (Chapter 6, Verse 62)
ثُمَّ رُدُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ الْحَاسِبِينَ {62}
Then they are returned to Allah, ‘مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ’ their True Master; Indeed, for Him is the Decision and He is the swiftest of the Reckoners [6:62]
أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْ (Chapter 8, Verse 40)
وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۚ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ {40}
And if they turn back, then know that أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَاكُمْ (Allah is your Guardian); most excellent is the Guardian and most excellent the Helper [8:40]
هُوَ مَوْلَانَا (Chapter 9, Verse 51)
قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ {51}
Say: ‘It will never befall us except what Allah Ordains for us. ‘هُوَ مَوْلَانَا’ (He is our Master), and upon Allah do the Momineen rely’ [9:51]
اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ (Chapter 10, Verse 30)
هُنَالِكَ تَبْلُو كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا أَسْلَفَتْ ۚ وَرُدُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ ۖ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ {30}
That is where every soul shall become acquainted with what it sent before, and they would be returned to, اللَّهِ مَوْلَاهُمُ الْحَقِّ (Allah their true Master), and it be lost from them what they had been fabricating [10:30]
الْمَوْلَىٰ (Chapter 22, Verse 13)
يَدْعُو لَمَنْ ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِ ۚ لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ {13}
He supplicates to one whose harm is nearer than his benefit. Evil is ‘الْمَوْلَىٰ’ (the guardian) and evil is the associate [22:13]
الْمَوْلَىٰ & مَوْلَاكُمْ (Chapter 22, Verse 78)
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ {78}
And strive hard in (the Way of) Allah, with a striving which He is Rightful of. He Chose you and did not Make any hardship upon you in the Religion, being a sect of your father Ibrahim. He named you all as the Muslims from before. And regarding this, the Rasool happens to be a witness upon you, and you happen to be witnesses upon the people. Therefore, establish the Salat and give the Zakat, and adhere with Allah, He is ‘مَوْلَاكُمْ’ (your Master). So, Excellent is ‘الْمَوْلَىٰ’ (the Master), and Excellent is the Helper! [22:78]
مَوْلًى عَنْ مَوْلًى (Chapter 44, Verse 41)
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِي مَوْلًى عَنْ مَوْلًى شَيْئًا وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ {41}
A Day, neither will ‘مَوْلًى’ an associate avail anything from ‘مَوْلًى’ an associate (against the Punishment of Allah), nor would they be helped [44:41]
اللَّهَ مَوْلَى (Chapter 47, Verse 11)
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَوْلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَأَنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ لَا مَوْلَىٰ لَهُمْ {11}
That is because Allah is the Guardian of those who believe, and that the Kafirs, there is no Guardian for them [47:11]
مَوْلَاكُمْ (Chapter 57, Verse 15)
فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ ۖ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ {15}
So today, neither will ransom be taken from you nor from those who committed Kufr. Your abode is the Fire. It is your guardian, and evil is the destination [57:15]
مَوْلَاكُمْ (Chapter 66, Verse 2)
قَدْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَانِكُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ {2}
Allah has Imposed for you all a dissolution of your oaths, ‘وَاللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ’ and Allah is your Guardian, and He is the Knowing, the Wise [66:2]
اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ (Chapter 66, Verse 4)
إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِنْ تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ {4}
If you both repent to Allah, then He has Inclined both your hearts, and if you back each other against him, then surely Allah, ‘هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ’ He is his Guardian, and (so are) Jibraeel and the corrector of the Momineen; and the Angels after that are backers [66:4]
APPENDIX I: Allah-azwj Commands Believers to Respect His Prophet-saww
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {149:}
O you those who believe! Do not precede in front of Allah and His Rasool, and fear Allah, surely He is Hearing, Knowing [49:1]
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَنْ تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ {2}
O you those who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not be loud to him with the talk like the loudness of some of you to the others, lest your deeds become Nullified while you are not aware [49:2]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ {3}
Surely those who are lowering their voices in the presence of Rasool-Allah, they are those whose hearts Allah has Tested for piety. They shall have Forgiveness and a Mighty Recompense [49:3]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحُجُرَاتِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ {4}
Surely, those who are calling out to you from behind the chambers, most of them are not using their intellects [49:4]
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ صَبَرُوا حَتَّىٰ تَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمْ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ {5}
And had they been patient until you came out to them, it would have been better for them, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful [49:5]
[1] يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ {67}
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]
[2] Bashaarat Al Mustafasaww Li Shia Al Murtazaasws – P 8 H 13