Ulu l-Amr Verse: Difference between revisions

''''Ulu l-Amr verse''' (Arabic: {{ia|آیة أولي الأمر}}) or the '''Iṭāʿa''' (Arabic: {{ia|إطاعة}}, obedience) [[verse]] is the verse 59 of [[Qur'an 4]] (Sura al-Nisa') which commands believers to obey [[God]], the [[Prophet (s)]], and Uli l-Amr (those vested with authority). The verse is one of the Qur'anic proofs for the [[infallibility]] and [[imamate]] of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and other [[Twelve Imams (a)]].

[[File:آیه اولی الامر.jpg|thumbnail|Uli l-Amr Verse]]

"O, you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority ('Uli l-Amr) among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favorable in outcome." ([[Quran 4]]:59)

One [[Muslim]] and a [[Jew]] got disagreement on a subject. The Jew said, "Let's go to [[Muhammad (s)]] for judgment", the Jew knew that the Prophet (s) would not accept bribe; but the Muslim said, "Let's go to Ka'b b. Ashraf" because the Muslim knew that he will accept bribe and will judge for him. After the event, the verse of "'Uli l-Amr" [[revealed]] and commanded the [[believer]]s to obey God, the Prophet (s), and Uli l-Amr; and in times of any dispute refer to God and his Prophet (s).<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 2, p. 264.</ref>

==Indication that 'Uli l-Amr are Infallible ==

In the view of the [[Shi'a]] [[exegete]]s, there's no doubt that the verse indicates the [[infallibility]] of Uli l-Amr. The reasoning is based on two main points:

* The word ''Uli l-Amr'' is mentioned immediately after the word ''al-Rasul'' (Prophet) and because the obedience of the Prophet (s) is unconditionally necessary, due to his infallibility, so the obedience of Uli l-Amr is also unconditional. So it results in the infallibility of Uli l-Amr.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 2, p. 64.</ref>

In addition to Shi'a scholars some [[Sunni]] scholars, like [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]] accepts that the verse indicates the infallibility of Uli l-Amr.<ref>Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Mafātīḥ al-ghayb'', vol. 10, p. 113.</ref>

==Instances of Uli l-Amr==

Although Fakhr al-Din al-Razi accepts that the verse indicates the infallibility of Uli l-Amr; he considers its instance, the [[consensus]] of Muslims and claims that we cannot identify the infallible and recognize them.<ref> Fakhr al-Rāzī, ''Mafātīḥ al-ghayb'', vol. 10, p. 113.</ref> However, there are many [[hadith]]s in Shi'a sources which explain that the instance of Uli l-Amr are the Shia Imams (a):

* [[Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari]] says, "When the verse revealed, I asked the [[Prophet (s)]], 'We know God and his Prophet (s), but who are Uli l-Amr that God attached their obedience to your obedience?', the Prophet (s) said, 'They are my successors and imams of Muslims after me, first of them is [[Imam 'Ali (a)|'Ali]], then [[Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a)|al-Hasan]], then [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|al-Husayn]], then [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)|'Ali b. al-Husayn]], then [[Imam al-Baqir (a)|Muhammad b. 'Ali]],…'<ref>Qundūzī, ''Yanābīʿ al-Mawadda'', p. 494.</ref>

* [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] says in the exegesis of the verse, "Uli l-Amr are from the children of 'Ali (a) and [[Fatima (s)|Fatima (a)]], till the [[Day of Judgment]]." He also said, "By Uli l-Amr, God only intended us and commanded all the faithful to obey us until the Day of Judgment."<ref>Baḥrānī, ''al-Burhān'', p. 383, 386.</ref>

* [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] says, "Uli l-Amr are 'Ali b. Abi Talib, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, 'Ali b. al-Husayn, Muhammad b. 'Ali and me, praise God that introduced your imams and leaders to you when people deny them.<ref>ʿAyyāshī, ''Tafsīr al-ʿAyyāshī'', p. 252.</ref>