The meaning of the word "Mawla" in the Hadith of Ghadir
What is the evidence for the correctness of the Shi’a interpretation of the Hadith of Ghadir, which understands Mawlā to mean “guardian” or “leader”?
Careful attention to the connected and disconnected, vivid and clear evidence and indications present in the Hadith of Ghadir leads us to the conclusion that Mawlā means Imamate and one who has authority to govern. Below are several points supporting this:
1. The Hadith of Hudhayfah ibn Asid It is authentically narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:“Do you not bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger?” They replied, “Yes, we bear witness.” Then the Prophet said:“O Allah, be witness. O people, Allah is my Mawlā, and I am the Mawlā of the believers. I am more entitled to the believers than they are to themselves. So whoever I am his Mawlā, Ali is his Mawlā.” Placing Wilayah (authority) in the context of the testimony of monotheism and prophethood, and alongside the Mawlā of Allah and the Prophet, is proof that Wilayah here means Imamate and one who has authority to govern. There is no evidence to say that the meaning of Mawlā regarding the Prophet differs from its meaning regarding ‘Ali (PBUH).
2. The Verse of Proclamation (Ayat al-Tabligh) Allah says in the Qur’an:“O Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people.”(Surah al-Ma’idah 5:67) This verse commands the Prophet to convey a very important and critical matter, so important that failure to convey it is equated to not conveying the message of the mission at all. The danger of opposition from the people and Allah’s guarantee of protection shows this matter was weighty and sensitive — namely the announcement of ‘Ali’s Imamate and leadership. According to Sunni narrations, including those of Ibn ‘Asakir and al-Hibari, this verse was revealed on the day of Ghadir specifically concerning ‘Ali. It would be unreasonable and absurd for someone to say that this verse commands the Prophet to convey only love and friendship toward ‘Ali, and that the Prophet was so fearful of conveying that friendship that Allah had to reassure him, and the Prophet halted the Hajj caravan under the hot sun to hold a ceremony declaring: “Whoever I am his Mawlā, ‘Ali is his friend.”
3. The Verse of Completion (Ayat al-Ikmal) After the Prophet’s declaration at Ghadir, the following verse was revealed:“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.”(Surah al-Ma’idah 5:3) This verse, revealed after the Ghadir sermon, is a clear and convincing proof that Mawlā means Imamate. No meaning other than Imamate and leadership justifies the description of religion as “completed.”
4. The Narration of Abu Hurairah on Fasting the Day of Ghadir Al-Hakim al-Hasakani narrates authentically from Abu Hurairah: Whoever fasts the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah will receive the reward of sixty months of fasting. This is the day of Ghadir when the Prophet took ‘Ali’s hand and said: “Am I not the Mawlā of the believers?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “Whoever I am his Mawlā, ‘Ali is his Mawlā.” At that moment, Umar said: “Blessings, O son of Abu Talib! You have become the Mawlā of me and every Muslim.” Then the verse of completion was revealed. The revelation of the verse of Ikmal after the Ghadir sermon is a strong indication that the meaning of Mawlā is Imamate, since nothing but Imamate can be called “the perfection of religion.”
5. The Incident of Harith ibn Nu‘man Abu Ishaq Tha‘labi relates: When the news of the Ghadir declaration reached Harith ibn Nu‘man, he came angrily to the Prophet, dismounted from his camel, and said: “O Muhammad! You ordered us to testify to God’s oneness and to the Prophethood — we accepted. You commanded us to pray, fast, give zakat, and perform Hajj — all accepted. But now you raise your cousin above us and say: ‘Whoever I am his Mawlā, this ‘Ali is his Mawlā.’ Is this from you or from God?” The Prophet replied: “By Him besides whom there is no god, it is from God.” Harith then turned away murmuring: “O Allah, if what Muhammad says is true, then rain down stones from the sky upon us or punish us severely.” Before reaching his camel, a stone came down from the sky and killed him. Clearly, Harith understood Mawlā here as authority and guardianship, because his anger and prayer for destruction would make no sense if the Prophet only meant friendship.
6. Understanding of Caliph Umar The clearest evidence that Mawlā means Imamate is Umar’s own understanding. When the Prophet asked for pen and paper to write a will to save the Ummah from error, Umar told Ibn Abbas: “I realized the Prophet wanted to assign leadership to ‘Ali, but I prevented him.” This confirms that Umar understood the Hadith of Ghadir as appointing leadership and succession to ‘Ali.
Conclusion Therefore, the connected and disconnected evidence shows that the Shi’a interpretation of the Hadith of Ghadir is correct and true, and the companions themselves understood the Hadith as Shi’a do — that Mawlā means leader, guardian, and one with divinely appointed authority, not merely a friend.
Resources
- This passage is adapted from the book "Responding to Questions and Doubts Regarding Ghadir Khumm."