['Aalim Network QR] Wilayat of Imam Ali (AS)

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly given by Mullah Asgher.

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
Moderator, 'Aalim Network


QUESTION:

Salaam,

I thought that the reason we said "Ali un Wali Allah" was because of the
ayah in the Qur'an which says,

"Allah is your wali, the Prophet (Mohammed) is your wali and he who
gives zakat while in rukoo is your wali."
 (Sura no.5, Ayat 55)

The last statement being a reference to Hazrat Ali (the incident where
he extended his hand to Angel Gibrael who, in the guise of a beggar,
came to the mosque and asked for zakat -- Gibrael took one of the rings
off his finger.)

Sunni scholars normally render this as:

	"Allah is your protector, the Prophet is your protector and he who
offers zakat AND bows in front of Allah is your protector." 

Any clarifications on this?


ANSWER:

	The phrase "Ash hadu anna 'Aliyyan Waliyullah" is not a Wajib part
of Adhan, but it is preferable to recite it with the Niyyat of Qurbat.
(Agha Seestani - Islamic Laws Masail 928). 

	In the Ayat you quote (5:55), the discussion is on the word
"Wali". It can mean many things including Master, Protector, Guardian (and
even Slave). Its meaning is to be taken in context. Most commentators both
Sunni and Shi'i are agreed that Wilayat here refers to Religious
Authority. As for it meaning Protector, this does not make sense in the
context, as only Allah is the Protector. 

And Allah knows best

Asgharali M M Jaffer