Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Imam Ali’s Silence on Caliphate Usurpation Was to Protect the Prophet’s Companions

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi held another daily scholarly session in his honourable residence on Wednesday, Jamad al-Awwal 24, addressing various jurisprudential questions from attendees.

During the session, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi discussed the usurpation of the caliphate from Imam Ali (peace be upon him). He referenced verse 14 of Surah Yunus, which states that Allah appointed humans as Divine Caliphs and Successors on Earth, observing their actions. He noted that following the usurpation, many of the Holy Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions went astray.

Regarding Imam Ali’s silence in the face of the caliphate’s usurpation, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi explained that such an outcry could have led to the deaths of many companions, a fate the Prophet sought to avoid. He had advised Imam Ali, peace be upon them both, to refrain from any actions that might cause harm.

He further elaborated that, as stated in a narration from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), the Divine will was for all Infallibles, peace be upon them, to either be martyred or poisoned, emphasizing that this was a matter of Divine decree (Takwin), not a legislative approval from the Shari’ah (Tashri’), with witch God would be pleased.