Al-Mawadda Verse: Difference between revisions

[[File:قل لایسئلکم اجرا.jpg|Al-Mawadda Verse written on the mausoleum of Imam al-Husayn (a)|250px|thumbnail]]

'''Al-Mawadda verse''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|آية المودة}}) is a part of verse 23 of [[Sura al-Shura]] which shows the high status of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and considers the reward for the mission of [[the Prophet (s)]] nothing except the love of the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

"Mawadda" means to love <ref>Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', under the word "ودد".</ref>and "Qurba" means blood relatives<ref>Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿArab'', under the word "قرب".</ref>.

== Occasion of Revelation ==

All [[Shi'a]] and most of [[Sunni]] exegetes have narrated from [[Ibn 'Abbas]] that after the Prophet's (s) [[migration to Medina]], [[Ansar]] had discussions about the Islamic government. They decided to go the [[Prophet (s)]] and say, "We will submit to you all our small wealth and facilities if you have any financial needs for the progress of [[Islam]] and the management of the newly-established Islamic society. In any way you take and use it would be our honor."<ref>See: Ālūsī, ''Rūḥ al-maʿānī'', vol. 13, p. 30.</ref> That was when al-Mawadda verse was [[revelation|revealed]] to the Prophet (s) to mention the love of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] as the reward for the Prophet's (s) mission, not any material or worldly reward.

* Others suggest that "qurba" refers to closeness to God, and "al-mawadda fi l-qurba" consists in loving God through closeness to Him (by obedience). Thus, the verse means that the Prophet (s) did not want any rewards except loving God by being close to Him.<ref>Ālūsī, ''Rūḥ al-maʿānī'', vol. 13, p. 31-32.</ref>

Also, [[al-'Allama al-Hilli]] considers al-Mawadda verse, the fourth verse proving the [[Imamate]] of 'Ali (a) and quoted from [[Ibn 'Abbas]] that when al-Mawadda verse was revealed, the [[Prophet (s)]] was asked, "O the Messenger of God (s)! Who are the relatives, whose love is incumbent upon us?" and the Prophet (s) answered, "'Ali (a), Fatima (s), al-Hasan (a) and al-Husayn (a)".<ref>ʿAllāma al-Ḥillī, ''Nahj al-Ḥaq'', p. 175.</ref> Ibn Hanbal (the Sunni founder of [[Hanbali School]]) has narrated this hadith from Ibn 'Abbas, too.<ref>Ibn Ḥanbal, ''Faḍāʾil Amīr al-Muʾminīn ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib'', p. 295.</ref>

Hakim al-Haskani, one of the [[Sunni]] scholars has mentioned seven traditions in the commentary of the verse, suggesting that "al-Qurba" referred to [[Imam Ali (a)|'Ali (a)]], [[Fatima (a)]], [[al-Hasan (a)]], and [[al-Husayn (a)]].<ref>Ḥākim al-Ḥaskānī, ''Shawāhid al-tanzīl'', vol. 2, p. 189-196.</ref>

Also [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] narrated that, when al-Mawadda verse was revealed, [[companions]] of [[the Prophet (s)]] asked him, "O the Messenger of God (s)! Who are your relatives, whose love is incumbent upon us?" and the Prophet (s) answered, "'Ali (a), Fatima (a) and their two sons" and he (s) repeated this three times.<ref>ʿAllāma al-Ḥillī, ''Nahj al-Ḥaq'', p. 175.</ref>

==The Reason for the Obligation of Loving Ahl al-Bayt==

A careful consideration of hadiths from the [[Prophet (s)]] in Shiite and Sunni sources to the effect that people should consult [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] in order to understand the [[Qur'an]] as well as the principles and ancillaries of Islam, such as [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]] and [[Hadith al-Safina]], leaves no doubt that love of Ahl al-Bayt (a) is obligatory as a reward for the Prophet (s) in order to make people consult them to understand the religion. Thus, the love of Ahl al-Bayt (a) is in continuity with prophethood, and thus, the verse is not contradictory to other verses according to which there is no reward for prophethood. Thus, although love of Ahl al-Bayt (a) is taken to be a reward, it is indeed in the interest of people, rather than Ahl al-Bayt (a).<ref>Ṭabāṭabāʾī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 18, p. 46.</ref>