notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
On the Nights of Qadr, you said that Imam Ali (AS) is the commander of all the great prophets.
Does this authority also extend to the Noble Prophet (PBUH)? Is Imam Ali (AS) also the commander of Muhammad (PBUH)? If so, how is that possible, given the status of the Noble Prophet (PBUH)?
The authority of Imam Ali (AS) does not extend to the Prophet (PBUH). Rather, the Prophet (PBUH) holds precedence, leadership, guardianship, and authority over Imam Ali (AS). The Messenger of God’s (PBUH) authority over the believers takes precedence over Imam Ali’s (AS), and he is also Imam Ali’s commander.
Indeed, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, holds precedence, authority, guardianship, and command over the Master, Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him!
The Prophet of God is the heaven, and Ali, peace be upon him, is its sun. The Prophet, peace be upon him, is the year, and Ali, peace be upon him, is its moon. The Prophet, peace be upon him, is the city of knowledge and wisdom, and Ali, peace be upon him, is its gate. The Prophet, peace be upon him, is the king, and Ali, peace be upon him, is his vizier.
In a hadith transmitted from the Messenger of God, peace be upon him:
فأنت یا علی أمیر من فی السماء و أمیر من فی الأرض و أمیر من مضى و أمیر من بقی فلا أمیر قبلک و لا أمیر بعدک لأنه لا یجوز أن یسمى بهذا الاسم من لم یسمه الله تعالى به
The Master’s authority over all who are other than the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, is clear from this, for:
المائده : 55 إنما ولیکم الله و رسوله و الذین آمنوا الذین یقیمون الصلاه و یؤتون الزکاه و هم راکعون
النساء : 59 یا أیها الذین آمنوا أطیعوا الله و أطیعوا الرسول و أولی الأمر منکم فإن تنازعتم فی شیء فردوه إلى الله و الرسول إن کنتم تؤمنون بالله و الیوم الآخر ذلک خیر و أحسن تأویلا
In truth, the guardianship of the Master, Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, falls under the guardianship of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family. That is, the Messenger of God holds authority over the Commander of the Faithful.
The Messenger of God’s authority and command over the believers take precedence over the authority and command of the Master, Ali, peace be upon him. Indeed, he holds authority even over Ali!
The Messenger of God, peace be upon him, said:
و أنا و أنت مولى المؤمنین و أنا و أنت أبوا المؤمنین ثم خرج رسول الله
أنت منی بمنزله هارون من موسى و أنت ولی کل مؤمن بعدی
أنا مدینه العلم و علی بابها
And the Master’s own acknowledgement:
إنما أنا عبد من عبید محمد ص