Summary:
In this article, the issue of ‘Hazir o Nazir’ is reviewed from the Holy Verses as explained in Ahadith. Its general version where only Holy Verses were used is also prepared and uploaded. The need for this article has arisen due to the misconception spread by some preachers, who are advocating that since none of the Masomeen-asws are present in our time, one must follow ‘Wilayat-e-Faqi’ until the reappearance of the 12th Imam-ajfj. The issues of the Taqleed and Ijtihad are discussed in other places, here we confine our discussion to the issue of ‘Hazir o Nazir’ in the light of Holy Verses and Ahadith.
Allah-azwj Defines the basic three purpose of Sending His-azwj Prophet-saww to people as:
(1) to be a ‘witness’,
(2) to give the ‘good news’ (to the believers of the Paradise) and
(3) to warn (the non-believers of the punishment in the Hell).
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا {4533:}
O Prophet! Surely, We have Sent you as a witness (watching/overlooking), a Bearer of Glad Tidings, and (as a) Warner [33:45]
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا {848:}
Surely, We Sent you as a witness, and a giver of glad tidings and a warner [48:8]
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ {1432:}
And like that, We have Made you an intermediary ‘أُمَّةً’ (Nation) in order for you to become witnesses upon the people, and the Rasool to become a witness upon you. And We did not Make the Qiblah which you were upon except for Us to Know who follows the Rasool from the one turns upon his heels; and even though it may be grievous, except upon those Guided by Allah. And Allah will not Waste your Eman, as Allah is Affectionate, Merciful with the people. [2:143]
The concept of ‘witness’ is very important and of paramount importance, as a witness should be able to watch and have the comprehensive knowledge of the event, otherwise cannot qualify to be called in for giving a witness.
حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد ومحمد بن الحسين عن ابن ابى عمير عن عمر بن اذينة عن بريد بن معاوية قال
Narrated to us Yaqoub Bin Yazeed and Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina, from Bureyd Bin Muawiya who said:
قلت لابي جعفر عليه السلام قول الله تعالى وكذلك جعلناكم امة وسطا لتكونوا شهداء على الناس قال نحن الائمة الوسط ونحن شهداء الله على خلقه وحجته في ارضه.
‘I said to Abu Ja’far-asws, ‘(What about) the Words of Allah-azwj the High And like that, We Made you (Imams) as the intermediary community in order for you (Imams) to become witnesses upon the people, [2:143], he-asws said: ‘We-asws are, the intermediary Imams-asws, and we-asws are witnesses of Allah-azwj on His-azwj creation and His-azwj Proof in His-azwj Earth.’[1]
حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر عن محمد بن عيسى عن الحسين بن سعيد عن جعفر بن بشير عن عمرو بن ابى المقدام عن ميمون البان
Narrated to us Abdullah Bin Ja’far, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al-Husayn Bin Saeed, from Ja’far Bin Bashir, from Amro Bin Abu Al-Maqdaam, from Maymoun Al-Baan who has said:
عن ابى جعفر عليه السلام في قوله تبارك وتعالى وكذلك جعلناكم امة وسطا لتكونوا شهداء على الناس
Abu Ja’far-asws, regarding His-azwj Words, Blessed and High And like that, We Made you (Imams) the intermediary community in order for you (Imams) to become witnesses upon the people, [2:143], said: ‘Equitable, in order to become witnesses upon the people.’
قال عدلا ليكونوا شهداء على الناس قال الائمة ويكون الرسول شهيدا عليكم قال على الائمة.
He (the narrator) said, ‘and the Rasool to become a witness upon you all [2:143]’ He-asws said: ‘Upon the Imams-asws.’[2]
At another place, Allah-azwj Says:
وَجَاءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَعَهَا سَائِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ {2150:}
And every soul will come, with it would be an usher and a witness [50:21]
الحسن بن أبي الحسن الديلمي: بإسناده عن رجاله، عن جابر بن يزيد، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) في قوله عز و جل: وَ جاءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَعَها سائِقٌ وَ شَهِيدٌ. قال: «السائق: أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام)، و الشهيد: رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)
Al-Hassan Bin Abu Al-Hassan Al-Dulaymi, by his chain from his men, from Jabir Bin Yazeed,
Abu Abdullah-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: And every soul will come, with it would be an usher and a witness [50:21]. He-asws said: ‘The usher – is Amir-Al-Momineen-asws, and the witness is Rasool-Allah-saww’.[3]
And Allah-azwj Says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ {1105:}
(O Prophet!) Did you not see how your Lord Dealt with the owners of the elephant? [105:1]
Also Allah-azwj Says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
(O Prophet!) Did you not see how your Lord Dealt with (people of) Aad? [89:6]
In the above Holy Verses, Allah-azwj Reminds the Holy Prophet-saww, ‘أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ’ ‘Did not you see how’ Allah-azwj dealt with the people of elephants and Aad? – those who had lived centuries ago! It means that when these events took place Holy Prophet-saww was witnessing them. Therefore, a ‘witness’ has to be overlooking at that time to whom Allah-azwj is referring to, among those to whom Allah-azwj is addressing. There are no ‘otherwise’ as the ‘Kalam’ (Speech) of Allah-azwj is always flawless and perfect.
The following Holy Verse further clarifies the ‘overlooking’ the actions of people:
يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُلْ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا اللَّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ ۚ وَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {949:}
They will be making excuses to you when you return to them. Say: ‘Do not make excuses. We will never believe you. Allah has Informed us of your news,
And Allah and His Rasool would be seeing your deeds, then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, so He will Inform you with what you were doing [9:94]
Also, Allah-azwj Warns believers that not only Allah-azwj but also Rasool-Allah-saww as well as (some Appointed) ‘الْمُؤْمِنُونَ’ ‘Al-Mominoon’ (special believers) will be overlooking your actions:
وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {1059:}
And say: ‘Work, for Allah will See your work and (so will) His Rasool and the Momineen;
And you shall be Returned to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you were doing’ [9:105]
Some Muslims, with regards to this, may argue that the word ‘فَسَيَرَى’ (which literally means ‘then He will see) has been used here in the sense of “Knowing” i.e., Allah-azwj is the only One-azwj who is Seeing our deeds but Rasool-Allah-saww knows our deeds through the revelation as brought to him-saww, if Allah-azwj so Desires, through an angel. From this aspect as well, one has to acknowledge that Rasool-Allah-saww along with ‘Al-Mominoon’ have the Knowledge and awareness of our deeds. Who are these ‘Al-Mominoon’? We will leave that subject for the time being.
We stop here and present another Verse:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا {5633:}
Surely, Allah and His Angels are Sending Salawat upon the Prophet. O you those who believe! Send Salawat upon him and submit submissively [33:56]
The word ‘يُصَلُّونَ’ is in present continuous tense meaning ‘sending blessings’ so Allah-azwj and angels join in Sending ‘salutations’ (Blessings) upon the Prophet-saww and Allah-azwj Commands ‘those who believe’ not only send blessings on the Prophet-saww but also submit to him-saww with full submission. So, how can one act on the half of the Command of Allah-azwj Revealed in this verse by following the ‘Sunnah’ (tradition) of the Prophet-saww but stop short of sending ‘Blessings’ (Salawat) upon him-saww? Whereas Allah-azwj and angels are still Sending ‘Blessings’ on the Prophet-saww,since the use of يُصَلُّونَ in the Holy Verse is in the present continuous tense, meaning Allah-azwj and angels are still sending ‘Salawat’ upon the Holy Prophet-saww. A part of the same Holy Verse cannot be ignored, Regardless of if the Prophet is physically present in front of us or spiritually, as angels are without being seen by our eyes! As per the above Verses, so the Holy Prophet-saww is indeed watching us and knowing our actions all the time and will give evidence in the Hereafter upon being called by Allah-azwj. As we find further confirmation from the following Holy Verse:
Also Allah-azwj Says at another place in the Holy Quran:
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا {414:}
So how will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon all these people? [4:41]
This Verse too reaffirms the above point in that if Allah-azwj were to Bring forward Rasool Allah-azwj as a ‘Witness’ for the actions of people then as per the requirements of the ‘witness’, the ‘witness’ must have observed fully while being aware of their all affairs, otherwise the Justice cannot be established, which is ‘disbelief’ if one assumes that Allah-azwj will present the one, as a witness, who did not oversee actions of people.
محمد بن يعقوب: عن علي بن محمد، عن سهل بن زياد، عن يعقوب بن يزيد، عن زياد القندي، عن سماعة، قال: قال أبو عبد الله (عليه السلام) في قول الله عز و جل: فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً. قال: «نزلت في امة محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله) خاصة، في كل قرن منهم إمام منا شاهد عليهم، و محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله) في كل قرن شاهد علينا».
Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Ziyad Al Qindy, from Sama’at who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws regarding the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic So how will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon them? [4:41].He-asws said: ‘It was Revealed regarding the community of Muhammad-saww in particular. In every generation from them would be an Imam-asws from us-asws as a witness upon them, and Muhammad-saww, in every generation, would be a witness over us-asws’.[4]
العياشي: عن أبي بصير، قال: سألت أبا جعفر (عليه السلام) عن قول الله: فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً؟ قال: «يأتي النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) يوم القيامة من كل امة بشهيد، بوصي نبيها، و أوتي بك- يا علي- شهيدا على امتي يوم القيامة».
Al Ayyashi, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘I asked Abu Ja’far-asws about the Words of Allah-azwj So how will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon them? [4:41]. He-asws said: ‘On the Day of Judgement, they would bring a witness from every community and with the successor-as of its Prophet-as, and they would bring you-asws – O Ali-asws – as a witness over my-saww community on the Day of Judgement’.[5]
عن أبي معمر السعدي، قال: قال علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) في صفة يوم القيامة: «يجتمعون في موطن يستنطق فيه جميع الخلق فلا يتكلم أحد إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمنُ وَ قالَ صَواباً
From Abu Mo’mar Al-Sa’ady who said, ‘Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws said regarding the description of the Day of Judgment: ‘They would be gathering in a place in which the entirety of the creatures would be Questioned, but no one would speak except the one whom the Beneficent would Permit for him and he would speak the right thing [78:38].
فتقام الرسل فتسأل، فذلك قوله لمحمد (عليه السلام): فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً و هو الشهيد على الشهداء، و الشهداء هم الرسل (عليهم السلام)».
So the Rasool-saww would stand and would be Questioned. So those are His-azwj Words to Muhammad-saww: So how will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon them? [4:41]. And he-saww is the witness upon the witnesses, and the witnesses (of the former ones), they are the Rasools-as’.[6]
Rasool-Allah-saww – Giver of Glad Tidings to Amir Al-Momineen-asws
وَ بِالْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ
And by the chain, he said, ‘Al Husayn Bin Ahmad Bin Idrees narrated to us, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Al Abbas Bin Marouf, from Muhammad Bin Yahya Al Khaaaz, from Talha Bin Zayd,
عَنِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص: أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ مِنْ قِبَلِ رَبِّي جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ بَشِّرْ أَخَاكَ عَلِيّاً بِأَنِّي لَا أُعَذِّبُ مَنْ تَوَلَّاهُ وَ لَا أَرْحَمَ مَنْ عَادَاهُ.
(It has been narrated) from Al-Sadiq Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, from his-asws father-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Jibraeel-as came to me-saww from my Lord-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty, and he-as said: ‘O Muhammad-saww! Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Conveys the Greetings to you-saww and is Saying to you-saww: “Give glad tidings to your-saww brother-asws Ali-asws that I-azwj will not Punish the one who loves him-asws, and I-azwj will not be Merciful to the one who is inimical to him-asws’.[7]
أَخْبَرَنَا الشَّيْخُ الْمُفِيدُ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الطُّوسِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا السَّعِيدُ الْوَالِدُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الشَّيْخُ الْمُفِيدُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الْحَارِثِيُّ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْجِعَابِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحُسَيْنِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُنْعِمِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: وَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحُسَيْنِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُنْعِمِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ
It was informed to us by the Sheykh Al Mufeed Abu Ali Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Al Toosy, from Al Saeed Al Walid, from Al Sheykh Al Mufeed Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Muhammad Bin Al Numan Al Harsy Al Baghdady, from Abu Bakr Muhammad Bin Umar Al Ja’aby, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Husayni, from Ahmad Bin Abdul Man’am, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al Fazary,
From Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, from his-asws father-asws, from Jabir.
And he said, ‘It was narrated to us from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Husayni, from Ahmad Bin Abdul Man’am, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,
عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع أَ لَا أُبَشِّرُكَ أَ لَا أَمْنَحُكَ؟ قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنِّي خُلِقْتُ أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فَفَضَلَتْ مِنْهَا فَضْلَةٌ فَخُلِقَ مِنْهَا شِيعَتُنَا فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ دُعِيَ النَّاسُ بِأَسْمَاءِ أُمَّهَاتِهِمْ إِلَّا شِيعَتَكَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يُدْعَوْنَ بِأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ لِطِيبِ مَوْلِدِهِمْ.
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far Muhammad-asws Bin Ali-asws, from Jabir Bin Abdullah Al-Ansary who said, ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws: ‘Shall I-saww give you-asws glad tidings? Shall I-saww confer upon you-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, O Rasool-Allah-saww!’ He-saww said: ‘I-saww was Created, (both) me-saww and you-asws, from one clay (essence). So there remained some remnants from it, and our-asws Shias were Created from it.
Thus, when it will be the Day of Judgment, the people would be called by the names of their mothers except for our-asws Shias, for they would be called by the names of their fathers, due to the goodness of their births’.[8]
Similarly, those (among the pious and martyred ones) who have left the world, cannot be considered as ‘dead’ after being buried, as Allah-azwj Says:
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {813:}
And when Allah Took a Covenant of the Prophets: “When I have Given you from a Book and Wisdom – then a Rasool comes to you verifying to what is with you, you must believe in him, and you must help him”.
He said: “Do you affirm and accept My Pact upon that?” They said: ‘We do accept’. He said: “Then bear witness, and I (too) am of the Bearers of Witness with you [3:81]
This leads to another topic, ‘Raj’a’ (Returning of the Prophets-as), which is beyond the scope of the article, for further details, please visit: Rajja, Rajjat, Return to Life | Hubeali.com
https://hubeali.com/articles/Rajja_Return_to-Life.pdf
Finally, we present a Holy Verses in which Allah-azwj specifically Points out to Rasool-Allah-saww as a ‘witness’ and Says, ‘O Prophet, you are enough for Me-azwj as a ‘witness:
مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا {794:}
Whatever befalls you from a good, so it is from Allah, and whatever befalls you from an evil, so it is from yourselves;
And We Sent you to the people as a Rasool, and suffice with Allah as a Witness [4:79]
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ يَوْماً لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْواتاً بَلْ أَحْياءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مَاتَ شَهِيداً وَ اللَّهِ لَيَأْتِيَنَّكَ فَأَيْقِنْ إِذَا جَاءَكَ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ غَيْرُ مُتَخَيِّلٍ بِهِ
And by this chain,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to Abu Bakr one day: ‘[3:169] And reckon not those who are killed in Allah’s Way as dead; but, they are alive (and) are being provided sustenance from their Lord. And I-asws testify that Muhammad-saww Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj died as a martyr. By Allah-azwj! He-saww would be coming to you, therefore be convinced when he-saww does come to you for the Satan-la cannot be dreamt as being him-saww’.
فَأَخَذَ عَلِيٌّ بِيَدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَرَاهُ النَّبِيَّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ آمِنْ بِعَلِيٍّ وَ بِأَحَدَ عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ إِنَّهُمْ مِثْلِي إِلَّا النُّبُوَّةَ وَ تُبْ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِمَّا فِي يَدِكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا حَقَّ لَكَ فِيهِ
Ali-asws grabbed Abu Bakr by the hand and showed him the Prophet-saww, and he-saww said to him: ‘O Abu Bakr! Believe in Ali-asws and in eleven from his-asws sons-asws. They-asws are like me-saww except for the Prophet-hood, and repent to Allah-azwj from what is in your hands, for there isn’t a right for you in it’.
قَالَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ فَلَمْ يُرَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he-saww went as was not seen (again)’.[9]
For the completion of our discussion on the concept of ‘Hazir o Nazir’, we also look at those Holy Verses in which Allah-azwj is mentioned ‘Hazir o Nazir’ without mentioning of anyone else- these Holy Verses are frequently referred to by those who insist that only Allah-azwj is ‘Hazir o Nazir’ while conveniently ignoring the ones which we have read above, these Verses are cited in the Appendix I.
Briefly, of course Allah-azwj is ‘Hazir o Nazir’ but Allah-azwj has also Made some other witnesses, as per His-azwj ‘Mashiya’ (desire), so one has to also acknowledge them or at least not reject them.
The concept of ‘Hazir o Nazir’ of the Prophet-saww, is also denied by rejecting or altering the meanings of the cited Verses through some of those Verses where Allah-azwj Informs His-azwj Prophet-saww about an event or a News, are cited in Appendix II.
This approach creates a situation where it becomes difficult to defend that there is no contradiction in the Holy Quran. However, if we believe that the Holy Prophet-saww had all the Knowledge from his-saww Lord-azwj and neither knew the unseen nor the unknown through ordinary means, as per other people but only from Allah-azwj. This helps in protecting the integrity of the Holy Quran. Hence, we believe its Allah-azwj who Wanted His-azwj Prophet-saww to be a witness over His-azwj creation, as Allah-azwj has Commanded us to bring forward witness in our all important matters of life (i.e., Nikah, tallaq, accusations…).
Appendix I:
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنْتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ {1175:}
I did not say to them except what You Commanded me with, ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord’, and I was a witness upon them for as long as I was among them. But when You Caused me to die, You were the Watcher upon them; and You are a Witness upon all things [5:117]
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصَادِ {1489:}
Surely, your Lord is Ever-watchful [89:14]
لَا يَحِلُّ لَكَ النِّسَاءُ مِنْ بَعْدُ وَلَا أَنْ تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَقِيبًا {5233:}
The women are not Permissible for you afterwards, nor for you to replace them with (other) wives even though their beauty may fascinate you, except what your right hands possess, and Allah was always Watchful upon all things [33:52]
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا {1}
O you people! Fear your Lord, Who Created you from a single being and Created its spouse from it and spread from these two, many men and women; and fear Allah, Who you are asking for the relationships by; Allah will always be Watchful over you [4:1]
Appendix II:
All Muslims believe that there is no contradiction in the Holy Quran. Therefore, Holy Verses should not be interpreted/translated in a way that lead to the contradictions. The concept of ‘Hazir o Nazir’ for the Holy Prophet-saww is well proven from the Verses presented in the main article, however incorrect interpretations and translation of a few Verses, as presented below, cause difficulties and confusions. Here we present those Verses which are sometimes quoted to negate the concept of ‘Hazir o Nazir’.
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {1009:}
And the foremost, the first ones from the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them with goodness, Allah is Pleased from them and they are pleased from Him, and He has Prepared Gardens for them beneath which the rivers flow wherein they shall abide eternally, that is the Mighty achievement [9:100]
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مُنَافِقُونَ ۖ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا عَلَى النِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ سَنُعَذِّبُهُمْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ {1019:}
And from the ones around you from the Bedouins are hypocrites, and from the people of Al-Medina are stubborn upon the hypocrisy. You do not know them, We Know them. We will be Punishing them twice, then they will be Returned to the grievous Punishment [9:101]
When we read the previous Verse (9:100) Allah-azwj is addressing the Momineen and the Verse 9:101 is the continuation of the subject, so Momineen are addressed here and not the Holy Prophet-saww.
وَمَا كُنْتَ بِجَانِبِ الْغَرْبِيِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَى الْأَمْرَ وَمَا كُنْتَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {4428:}
And what did you (see) next to the western side when We told the (Prophet) Musa the matter and what did you (see) from the witnesses [28:44]
However, in most Quranic translations, the English translation is as:
And you were not on the western side when We Decreed the Commandment to Musa and you were not from the witnesses [28:44]
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ {10212:}
That is from the News of the unseen (which) We Reveal unto you, and what did you (see) with them when they formed a consensus and they were plotting [12:102]
However, in most Quranic translations, the English translation is as:
That is from the News of the unseen (which) We Reveal unto you, and you were not near them when they formed a consensus and they were plotting [12:102]
يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ {43} ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَامَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ {44}
O Maryam! Be obedient to your Lord and perform Sajdahs and Rukus along with the Ruku performers [3:43] That is from the News of the unseen We Reveal unto you; and what did you (see) with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them would have the responsibility of Maryam, and what did you (see) with them when they were contending [3:44]
However, in most Quranic translations, the English translation is as:
O Maryam! Be obedient to your Lord and perform Sajdahs and Rukus along with the Ruku performers [3:43] That is from the News of the unseen We Reveal unto you; and you were not with them when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them would have the responsibility of Maryam, and you were not with them when they were contending [3:44]
[1] Basaair Al Darajaat – P 2 Ch 13 H 3
[2] Basaair Al Darajaat – P 2 Ch 13 H 3
[3] تأويل الآيات 2: 609/ 2.
[4] الكافي 1: 146/ 1.
[5] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 242/ 131
[6] تفسير العياشي 1: 242/ 132.
[7] Bashaarat Al Mustafasaww Li Shia Al Murtazaasws – P 1 H 23
[8] Bashaarat Al Mustafasaww Li Shia Al Murtazaasws – P 1 H 19
[9] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 126 H 13