Hazrat Ali’s (Radiyallahu Anhu) expedition towards Yemen

In the month of Ramadhan 10 A.H. Rasulullah (ﷺ) appointed Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) as the head of 300 men and sent him towards Yemen. Rasulullah (ﷺ) personally tied a turban onto his head. This turban had three folds. One end of it which was an arm’s length was made to hang in the front while the other end which was a span’s length was made to hang at the back. Rasulullah (ﷺ) said to him, “You must move straight ahead. Do not be diverted in any direction, on reaching there, do not start any battle. You should first invite them towards Islam. If they accept, do not do anything to them. By Allah, if a single person embraces Islam at your hands, it will be better for you than this world and whatever it contains.” Hazrat Ali (Radyallahu Anhu) departed with 300 men and on reaching Qanat he stopped over there. From this place he sent small detachments of Sahabah in different directions. The Muslim army first reached the area of Mudhjij and acquired many children, women, camels and goats. All this booty was gathered at one spot. They then had to face another group (of disbelievers). Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) invited them to Islam. They refused and instead began flinging arrows and rocks onto the Muslims. It was only then that Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) attacked them. Twenty of their people were killed and the remainder dispersed. After a short pause, Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) gave chase to them. He invited them to Islam a second time. They accepted Islam for themselves and on behalf of their tribe as well. They made a promise that the will pay zakah which is the right of Allah.

Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) gathered all the booty, took out one fifth and distributed the balance among the Mujahideen. He appointed a person as his deputy in order to lead the army and hastened towards Makkah to before his companions. Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) had received information that Rasulullah (ﷺ) had left Madinah in order to perform Hajj. He therefore left Yemen and went straight to Makkah. He joined Rasulullah (ﷺ) for the farewell Hajj. (Zurqani Vol.3 Pg.103)

The Sermon at Ghadir Khum

When Rasulullah (ﷺ) was returning from Hajj, Hazrat Buraydah Aslami (Radiyallahu Anhu) made certain complaints against Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu). Rasulullah (ﷺ) delivered a sermon in Ghadir Kum, a place between Makkah and Madinah. The gist of the sermon was: “I am a mortal. It is possible that a messenger from my Sustainer will call me soon and that I will accept his call. (This was a reference to the fact that his time to depart from this world had drawn near). He then emphasised the importance of having love for his family and said with regard to Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), “The person who is my friend, Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) is also his friend.” After hearing this, Hazrat Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) congratulated Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Hazrat Buraydah (Radiyallahu Anhu) also no longer harboured any ill-feeling towards Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu)

The purpose of this sermon was to show that Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) was a beloved and close servant of Allah and that to have love for the family of Rasulullah (ﷺ) was one of the requirements of Imaan. To harbour malice, enmity, dislike or ill-feeling towards his family is against the demands of Imaan. So the purpose of this Hadith is solely to explain the duty of having love for Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu). This Hadith has no connection whatsoever to the concept of Imamat or Khilafat. Even a person endowed with basic intelligence can understand that there is a world of difference between love and Khilafat and that these two are separable. A person has love for his parents, his children, his wives, his friends etc. By having love for all of them, do they all become a person’s Khalifah? Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Fatimah, Hazrat Hasan and Hazrat Husain (Radiyallahu Anhum) were not only the beloveds of Rasulullah (ﷺ) but also close family. If love was a proof of Khilafat, Hazrat Hasan (Radiyallahu Anhu) should have been the first caliph. In fact, Hazrat Fatimah (Radiyallahu Anha) ought to have been the first caliph, followed by Hazrat Hasan, the Hazrat Husain and only then Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhum)

Moreover, when Rasulullah (ﷺ) delivered this sermon at Ghadir Khum, his Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) and family members were also present. None of them took this meaning that after him (ﷺ) Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) is to become the uninterrupted Khalifah. Rasulullah (ﷺ) passed away two months after this. The matter concerning the Khilafat was discussed at Thaqeefah Bani Saidah. The Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) who had heard the sermon at Ghadir Khum were also present there. None of them presented this Hadith as proof to the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu). Neither did Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), Hazrat Abbas (Radiyallahu Anhu) nor anyone from the Banu Hashim (family of Rasulullah ﷺ) ever use this Hadith as a proof for the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu).

In short, in this sermon at Ghadir Khum, Rasulullah (ﷺ) ordered the Ummah to have love for Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) and his (Rasulullah’s ﷺ) family members and prohibited us from having any enmity towards them. (Seeratul Mustapha Vol.3 Pg 156-158)

Many people say that the word 'Maulana' must only be used for Allah. However, it should be understood that the word 'Maula' has many meanings:

1) Lord 2) Owner 3) Master 4) Benefactor 5) Liberated servant 6) Assistant 7) Lover 8) Neighbour 9) Paternal Cousin 10) Associate 11) Friend 12) Protector and many other meanings

So when it has many meanings it follows that when it is used for Allah it will have one meaning and for humans it will have another meaning.

In the Quran and Hadith 'Maula' is used in different meanings. In Hadith it is used for other than Allah. Some examples are cited below:

1) In Surah Nisa V.33, Allah says:

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ

Translation: For everyone we have made heirs in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left.

2) In a lengthy Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to Hazrat Zayd ibn Harithah (Radiyallahu Anhu),

أَنْتَ أَخُونَا وَمَوْلاَنَا

Translation: "You are our brother and our Maula (freed slave)." (Bukhari #26999, #4251)

3) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said regarding Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu)

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ

Translation: "Whoever's friend I am, then Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) is also his friend." (Ibn Majah #121)

4) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "You should not say, 'Feed your Rabb (referring to the master/owner), Assist your Rabb in performing Wudhu, Give water to your Rabb,' but should say (instead of Rabb), Sayyidi (My leader) or Maulaya (my master)." (Bukhari #2552, Muslim #2249)

5) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,

مَنْ عَلَّمَ عَبْدًا آيَةً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ، فَهُوَ مَوْلَاهُ

Translation: "Whoever teaches a slave (of Allah) a verse from the Book of Allah (Quran) he is Maula (master or teacher)..." (Al Mu'jamul Kabeer lit Tabrani #7528, Shuabul Iman lil Bayhqi #2023). However, one of the narrators in the chain of narration is not known therefore this Hadith is not very authentic.

It is clear form all these examples that the use of the word 'Maulana) has many meanings and is used in various contexts in the Quran and Hadith.