Grand Ayatollah Shirazi remarks on Prophet’s proclamations of Amir al-Mo’mineen’s Wilayah
The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadegh al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Sunday, the 16th of Dhu Hajjah. In this session, like the previous meetings, the Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudential issues.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized that the issue of the succession of Amir al-Mu’minin, peace be upon him, has been repeatedly proclaimed by the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family. He said: It is stated in Sunni and Shia traditions that the Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family, reiterated on multiple occasions the Wilayah (guardianship) of Amir al-Mo’minin, peace be upon him. The first occasion was at the beginning of the Prophet’s mission, that is, when the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, was authorized to officially commence his Mission at the age of forty. In those days, he invited his relatives, some of whom were disbelievers, to his home, and while serving them meals, he made an announcement that he had been chosen as a prophet by God Almighty.
The grand Marja continued: The Prophet, in the same assembly, asked the crowd which of them would help him to be the Prophet’s successor, and Amir al-Mu’minin, who was no more than ten years old at the time, declared his readiness to help the Holy Prophet. And right there, the Holy Prophet introduced Amir al-Mu’minin as his vicegerent, and the idolaters mockingly said to the honourable Abu Talib: From now on, you must obey your son, who is no more than ten years old.
The supreme religious authority also emphasized: After this incident, which was the first, dozens of times on different occasions, the Messenger of God introduced Amirul Momineen as his successor, and the Day of Ghadir marked the last time that this announcement was made by The Holy Prophet.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi further mentioned that sending salutations (Salawat) to Muhammad and ‘Ale Muhammad has been highly recommended by the Ma’sumeen, peace be upon them, on Eid al-Ghadir, for which abundant rewards and virtues have been mentioned.
