Commentators unanimously hold that this verse refers to Ali when he gave his ring to a beggar while bowing in Rukoo' (in the course of his prayer). [3]
The Occasion:
Abu Dhar Al‑Ghifari, a highly regarded Sahaabi, was quoted to have said that he heard the Holy Prophet saying, “Ali is the beacon of the righteous and the destroyer of the infidels. He who helps him is victorious and he who abandons him is vanquished.” Abu Dhar continued, “One day while I was saying my prayers in the company of the Prophet, a beggar came to the Masjid asking for alms, but nobody gave him anything. Ali, while in a state of Rukoo' in the prayer, pointed out his ring‑finger to the beggar. The beggar approached Ali and removed the ring from his finger.
At this occasion, the Holy Prophet prayed to Allah to delight his heart and make his task less arduous by appointing from among his kinsmen, Ali, as his Wazir (representative and helper). This was to reinforce and strengthen his endeavor, just as Allah has done so with Prophet Musa by appointing Haroon to strengthen him. Abu Dhar continued, “By Allah, the Prophet had not yet finished his supplication when the trustworthy Jibreel descended to him with the verse saying: Verily, verily, Allah is your Wali (Overlord), and so is His Messenger, and those who believe and establish prayer, and give the poor‑rate while in state of Rukoo' [state of bowing down].[4]
Commentary:
In this Ayah the word Wali means the one vested with authority over others (the Master). Allah is the One with absolute authority (the Overlord), so we must obey Him. In addition the Prophet (pbuh) is to be obeyed too, for he was assigned with absolute authority in this Ayah. Then Ali is to be obeyed too, for he also was assigned with authority, because he was the only charitable person during Rukoo' that the Quran had thus specified. (Al‑Tha'labi in Tafseer al‑Kabir).
At other occasions the same term was used by the Prophet (pbuh) in reference to Ali. As one example, the Prophet declared, “After me, O' Ali! You are the Wali (of supreme authority) over all faithful”.[5]
Zamakh'shari, (Tafseer Al‑Kash'shaf), says, “If you inquire how this plural word is appli cable to Ali, I shall say that though this verse is about Ali —an individual— the plural form is used in order to persuade others to act similarly and give alms as readily as Ali did.”
The Imams among Ahlul Bayt have frequently referred to this verse as a testimony of their rightful Imamah and have assigned the same meaning to the word Wali as appears above.
[3] (See Nisaa'i in his Sahih. Also Tha'labi in Tafseer Kabir. Also Ibn Hanbal's Mus'nad, Vol. 5, Page 38. Also Al‑Wahidi's Asbaab al Nuzool (the circumstances of revelations). Also Ibn Marduwayh in his Mus'nad. Also Kanz Al‑Ummal, Vol. 6, Page 391, Tradition #5991.)
[4] (See Ibn Khallikan commenting about Al‑Tha'labi Tafseer Al‑Kabir. Also Al‑Tibari, Tafseer, Vol. 6, Page 165. Also Al‑Razi, Tafseer, Vol. 3, Page 431. Also Al‑Neisapoori, Tafseer, Vol. 3, Page 461.)
[5](See Haakim, Mustadrak, Vol. 3, Page 134. Also Nisaa'i, Khasa'is Al‑Alawiyah Page 6. Also Ahmad, in Mus'nad, Vol. 1, Page 331.)
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