Al-Tabligh Verse: Difference between revisions

The verse of Tabligh (propagation) is the 67th verse of Surrat al-Ma’ida and one of the last verses revealed to the Prophet (s).

According to this verse the Prophet (s) was obliged to proclaim an important message. The verse explicitly denotes the importance of the message that if the Prophet (s) does not proclaim it, he did not performed his mission. According to Shi’a and some Sunnis, it is revealed in Hajjat al-Wida’ (Hajj of farewell) and just before the 18th Dhu al-Hajja 10.

Shi’a believe that the subject of the message was succession of Ali (a), so after the revelation of this verse the Prophet (s) announced Ali (a) as his vicegerent and successor in Ghadir Khumm. (See: [[The event of Ghadir]])

“ O, Apostle! Proclaim that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not you will not have proclaimed His message and Allah shall protect you from people, indeed Allah do not guide the faithless lot.”

Shi’a exegetes and narrators believe that the verse of Tabligh was revealed in Hajjat al-Wida’ (Hajj of farewell) in Ghadir Khumm regarding the announcement of Imam Ali’s (a) succession of the Prophet (s). Some Sunni exegetes have agreed with that as well.

According to Shi’a sources, after that the Prophet (s) postponed the announcement of Imam Ali’s succession because he was afraid of hypocrites conspiracy, Gabriel delivered this verse to him in which God has emphasized on proclaiming of Ali’s guardianship and protecting the Prophet (s) from hypocrites. Based on this, “Proclaim that which has been sent down to you from your Lord” means the guardianship and succession of Ali (a) which was revealed to the Prophet (s) earlier but he was worried about its announcement as people might have said he had chosen his cousin for his succession.

Based on some hadiths, it is said that the verse of Tabligh was sent down in Mecca obliging the Prophet (s) to propagate Islam among unbelievers and polytheists. According to these hadiths, the Prophet (s) had appointed some guards for protecting him from his enemies, but after revelation of this verse he discharged them and said that God will protect me from my enemies. Also, he was obliged to inform unbelievers and polytheists about the principles of the religion without any fear.

Exegetes unanimously believe that Surat al-Ma’ida was revealed in Medina and according to some hadiths, such as one narrated by ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, it was the last revealed Sura. On the other hand, assuming that the verse of Tabligh was sent down in Mecca and was recited alone without being joined to any Sura during these years is completely unacceptable. Moreover, some scholars counted the hadiths about the guards protecting the Prophet (s) in Mecca as Gharib (strange) and Munkar (denied).

[[Abu Hayyan]] said that it was revealed in Medina and it obliged the Prophet (s) to propagate among Ahl al-Kitab (the people of the book i.e. Jews and Christians) with no fear. According to him, the message was the ruling of Rajm (stoning) and Qisas (death penalty), which was sent down in Torah and Evangel but were distorted and changed.

According to historical sources, after the battles between Muslims and Jews, such as the battle of Khaybar and Bani Qurayza, they lost their power and by occupation of their castles and expulsion many of them their influence waned.

Christians also did not have power in Hijaz and especially in Medina. The only instance they confronted Muslims was the event of Mubahala, which was canceled at their request.

Considering the fact that Muslims were very powerful in the last years of the Prophet’s life, it sounds very unreasonable that the Prophet (a) was afraid and worried about propagating Islam among Ahl al-Kitab and God promised to protect him.

Moreover, the verse of Tabligh is not different from the preceding and following verses in subject. The context of the verses is about rebuking Jews and Christians and probably that they think as the Prophet (s) passes away Muslim will lose their power and domination so they can return back to the power. But the verse of Tabligh, which is about appointment of a leader for the Islamic Umma succeeding the Prophet (s), foils their plans. This interpretation is also consistent with the verse of Ikaml, which was revealed after the announcement of Imam Ali’s guardianship.

==Important Points in the Verse==

This verse explicitly denotes the importance of the message as not delivering it is equal to not fulfilling the apostleship mission. Based on this, the message could not have been about theological or jurisprudential issues as they have been sent down before the revelation of Surat al-Ma’ida, rather it was about something more important and new to people and a complement to the Prophet (s) apostleship. It cannot be about anything except for the leadership after the Prophet (s).

===The Prophet’s Worry===

Due to the sensitivity of the subject, the Prophet (s) was worried about delivering the message, but God dispelled his worry by this phrase “Allah shall protect you from people.”

As it was demonstrated,that the verse is not about the polytheists of Quraysh nor about Ahl al-Kitab the referent of “people” is hypocrites in Islamic society.

- Imam Ali (s) was known as a serious and inflexible person.

- New Muslim had grudge against Ali (a) as he had killed their relatives in the battles.

- Ali was very young (when the Prophet (s) passed away he was 33). The Arab society was not going to accept him, as they believed advanced age is one of the most important requirement for leadership. The belief that occurred twice during the Prophet’s life: during the battle of Tabuk when Ali (a) was appointed as the Prophet (s) successor in Medina, and appointment of Usamat b. Zayd as the commander of the army in the last days of the Prophet’s life.