Table of Contents
Allah created man and centred the purpose of His creation on Wilayat. This Wilayat encompassesall qualities of man that made him the best creation of Allah. These qualities and features enable him to scale the peak of every virtue. Purpose is the nucleus of creation due to which the human intellect, wisdom, thoughts, purity, virtue, and all such aspects are elevated and illuminated. Therefore, this subject converges to Wilayat, because the Creator had made Wilayat as Takweeniyat of the creation among the best of the creatures. We thank Allah for this opportunity and are pleased to shower more light on this subject.
We begin by mentioning a couple of literal and terminological meanings of the word “Wilayat” and “Takween”.
The word “Wilayat” is derived from the word “Wali” (master). However the experts offer its meaning from several aspects. For example, in the dictionary named ‘al-Waseet’, the meaning of the word ‘Wali’ are ‘being near’, ‘to be adjacent’, ‘to be attached.’ The meaning of the word Wilayat are ‘relation’, ‘nearness’, ‘authority of a region’, ‘sovereignty’, ‘province’, ‘rulership’, ‘dictatorship’ and ‘superiority’, ‘authority’ and ‘arrangement of governance’. The meaning of the word “Takween” is mentioned as ‘to bring out a non-existent in the state of existence from the side of Allah. Therefore, the literal meaning of “Wilayat-e-Takweeni” is the authority of Allah over His creatures. In other words, having absolute right of ownership over all creatures of Allah.
The word Wali in Quran
In many verses of Quran, the word Wali is used in the context of ruler, authority, the one who has complete command. For example:
Allah is the guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light and (as to) those who disbelieve, their guardians are Shaitans who take them out of the light into the darkness.
At another place in the Quran, it is mentioned:
Only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow.
In the aforementioned verse, the authority (Wilayat) has been vested with only three holy entities: Allah, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Ameerul Momineen Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and the 11 infallible Imams (a.s.) from his progeny appointed by Allah.
While explaining the above verse of Holy Quran, the commentators say that ‘the people of faith who establish the prayers and pay the poor rate in the state of ruku’ refers to Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.). The meaning of Wali is reflected in the tradition of Ghadeer. In Ghadeer-e-Khum, while addressing the people, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) asked, “Who has more right upon you than you yourselves?”
The people replied in unison, “Allah and His Messenger”.
Then Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, “Of whomsoever I am Maula (over whomsoever I have authority), then this Ali is his Maula (Ali will have authority over them)”.
Then, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) instructed people to offer salutations to Ali (a.s.) by saying that “You are the one who has authority over the believers.”
In another tradition, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) mentions that Ali (a.s.) has authority over the believers.
From the aforementioned discussion, it can be concluded without any argument that Wilayat means absolute authority and rulership and is attributed only to Allah and He has made His Messenger and all the Imams (a.s.) as an authority over the people. Thus, refusal to accept the Wilayat of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the infallible Imams (a.s.) is disobedience to the command of Allah.
The meanings and explanation of the terms taken from dictionaries make it easier for common people and researchers to understand and relate. We will collectively discuss those terms that pertain to Wilayat and Takween.
Terminological meaning of Wilayat
According to the dictionary, the meanings of Wilayat are rulership, kingship, attached that cannot be separated. Terminologically, the term Wilayat implies following, obedience, submission to an authority and not rebelling.
Everything is recognised by its opposite. The darkness of the night is recognised only when we see the light in the morning. Bitter taste makes us appreciate sweetness. Disbelief (kufr) makes us realise the light of faith (Imaan) and draws us towards steadfastness. With this inference, Wilayat encompasses the entire exegesis of ‘Sallemoo Tasleema’.
Terminological meaning of Takween
According to the dictionary, Takween means to come into existence from the point of non-existence. It becomes abundantly clear that the terminological meaning of Takween is connected to the aim of man’s creation, as mentioned earlier.
To delve into this topic, to understand the significance of Wilayat-e-Takweeni, to realize its emphasis, we find numerous verses and historical events and occurrences. However, we begin by first looking at a broader analysis of Wilayat-e-Takweeni.
Let us analyse the term Wilayat-e-Takweeni from the aspect of Arabic grammar. The word Wilayat-e-Takweeni is a murakkabe izafi (compound word).
Allah has bestowed Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Holy progeny (a.s.) complete authority over His entire creation. That means all the affairs of this universe have been handed over to these divine personalities. Two personalities immediately come to mind: one who has been assigned the position of Wilayat and the second is the one who has accepted this Wilayat with heart and soul – the one who is steadfast on the idea of ‘sallemoo tasleema’. This means the one whom the greatest Creator has imparted complete authority over all the creations and all the creations submit to him.
When we want to put this Wilayat into action, then every breath and moment of our life are under the authority of this Wilayat and revolve around the centre of ‘sallemoo tasleema’. Therefore, in Ghadeer-e-Khum, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stressed on the word ‘aula’. Thereafter, he used the words, ‘fa haaza Ali’ instead of ‘haaza’ only. This ‘fa’ signifies the attachment which cannot be separated under any condition. Not only this, but in the prophecy, the argument is completed in a manner similar to the attachment of Wilayat between Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Hazrat Ali (a.s.), and there in no chance of detachment, and in the same vein, Wilayat continues till the final seal of argument – reaches Hazrat-e-Wali-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.).
It is noteworthy that till Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), the rulers were terrified, because according to the prophecy, if the 12th one is born, he would exercise the rights of Wilayat of 11th Imam (a.s.) exactly in the same way as the relation of Wilayat that exists between Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Hazrat Ali (a.s.).
In Ghadeer-e-Khum, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed about the absolute Wilayat of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) to the people and mentioned about the continuation of Wilayat of 11 successors of Hazrat Ali (a.s.). He (s.a.w.a.) also announced the Imamat and Wilayat of Hazrat Wali-e-Asr (a.s.). This lineage continues to remain intact from the day of Ghadeer till date. Even today, the 12th successor of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is alive and his advent has been prophesied by Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
That Imam – who is hidden from the eyes of the people – has the crown of Wilayat on his head. When he reappears, he will uproot all oppressors and tyrants. A lot of incidences have been mentioned in the books with regards to the Wilayat of Hazrat Baqiyatullah (a.t.f.s.) and his absolute authority over the people. We point to an incident that has been recorded by Allamah Majlisi (a.r.) in Behaarul Anwaar, vol.52, pg.70:
A person named Abu Rajeh – who used to express his displeasure for the enemies of Ahle Bait (a.s.) – was once beaten up by a few Nasibis to such an extent that his death was imminent. People left him there in a near-dead-like state. When Abu Rajeh sought the help of Imam-e-Zamana (a.s.), who is the possessor of Wilayat-e-Takweeni, he came to the rescue of Abu Rajeh and healed his wounds to the extent that it appeared as if there were no wounds at all! Not only this, Imam transformed his old age into youth!
When the Imam of our time, based on the power and authority granted by Allah, can solve all our problems and difficulties, then why should we seek help elsewhere?
Allah created this world, created His Hujjat, kept him safe from all the evils, kept him in occultation the way the sun is hidden behind the clouds. This is the pillar that strengthens our belief that the Hujjat of Allah brings our honourable scholars on this covenant, supports them, and through them, he (a.t.f.s.) guides the people towards Wilayat-e-Takweeni.
To end this discussion, it is apt to say that the scholars of the nation of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) have not done justice in explaining the exegesis of Wilayat-e-Takweeni. Consequently, the entire Muslim community got divided into several sects. Therefore, a person says out of despair “Scared of the nation of Sayed-e-lau-laak”.
Just think: the incident of Ghadeer is mentioned so clearly in the books of history. However, it was not propagated the way it should have been. On the contrary, there have been efforts and attempts to deflect this incident from the minds of people, so much so that people have forgotten this great incident completely. Even if this incident is mentioned, the effect is minimal. The event of Ghadeer sends a shiver down the spines of the rulers of Bani Umayyah and Bani Abbas, who were the so-called people of authority of that time.
The Holy Quran has referred to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as ‘Ameen’ (trustworthy). The words of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) are truthful. The 12th successor will be from the progeny of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and he (a.t.f.s.) will eliminate tyranny and oppression from this world and fill the world with justice and equity.
The aforementioned tradition from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) always made them feel that the 12th successor is the master of time, and that the current regime was based on tyranny and oppression which would successively increase, and the downfall of this regime would be brought about by him (a.t.f.s.) and they could foresee this. After 250 years, the house arrest of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) actualized the prediction of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) about the awaited one who would avenge the killing of Imam Husain (a.s.).
Hasten, Hasten – O Master of the time!
