The Seal of the Prophets (PBUH&HP) had initially entrusted this task to Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah, but by God’s command he withdrew it and placed it upon Amir al-Muminin (AS). This event is counted among the proofs of the worthiness and superiority of Amir al-Muminin (AS) over Abu Bakr in the matter of succession and caliphate of the Messenger of God.
The One Commissioned to Deliver the Message of Disavowal
The verses of Bara’ah were revealed at the end of the ninth year of Hijra, and the Seal of the Prophets was commanded to deliver them to the polytheists during Dhu al-Hijjah of that same year, when they would gather in Mecca. (1)
Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated this event as follows:
“The Prophet of God (PBUH&HP) sent Abu Bakr with Surah Bara’ah (Tawbah) during the Hajj season to recite it to the people. Gabriel descended and said: ‘No one can deliver it on your behalf except Amir al-Muminin (AS).’ Then the Prophet (PBUH&HP) summoned Amir al-Muminin Ali (AS) and ordered him to mount the she-camel al-‘Adba’, catch up to Abu Bakr, take Surah Bara’ah from him, and recite it to the people in Mecca. So Amir al-Muminin Ali (AS) took the message and rode swiftly toward Mecca. When he arrived in Mecca, it was the afternoon of the Day of Sacrifice (‘Eid al-Adha), which is considered the ‘Greater Hajj’ (al-Hajj al-Akbar). He stood up and announced: ‘Indeed, I am the messenger of the Prophet of God (PBUH&HP) to you.’ Then he recited the opening verses of Surah Bara’ah to them: “A declaration of disavowal from God and His Messenger to those polytheists with whom you had made a treaty. So travel freely in the land for four months…”
Then he said: ‘After this year, no naked man or woman, nor any polytheist, shall perform Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Ka’bah. Know that whoever has a covenant with the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP), its term is these four months’ – which include twenty days of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, Rabi’ al-Awwal, and ten days of Rabi’ al-Thani – and he continued the narration to the end.” (2)
Content of the Message of Disavowal
Zayd ibn Baqi’ said:
“We asked Amir al-Muminin Ali (AS): ‘For what purpose were you sent in Dhu al-Hijjah?’ He replied: ‘I was sent for four things: That no one but a believer shall enter the Kabah; that no naked person shall circumambulate the Kabah; that after this year, believer and disbeliever shall not gather together in the Sacred Mosque; and that whoever has a covenant with the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP), that covenant shall run its full term, while whoever has no covenant shall be given four months’ respite.'”
It is also narrated that Amir al-Muminin (AS) stood by Jamrat al-‘Aqabah and said:
“O people! I am the messenger of God to all of you, O people!” (Quran 7:158) “After this, no disbeliever shall enter the Kabah, no polytheist shall perform Hajj around the House, and no naked person shall circumambulate the Kabah. Whoever has a covenant with the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP) has four months’ respite, and whoever has no covenant, the remaining sacred months will be his term.”
Then he recited Surah Bara’ah to them. (3)
Appeal to the Event of the Verses of Bara’ah
Amir al-Muminin (AS) said during the six-member Shura (council of succession):
“I ask you by God: Is there any one of you besides me of whom it is true that on the day when God commanded His Prophet (PBUH&HP) to send someone with Surah Tawbah, and he sent it with Abu Bakr, then Gabriel came to him and said: ‘O Muhammad, this mission can only be carried out by you or by a man from your household’ – whereupon he sent me, and I took it from Abu Bakr, carried the surah with me, and delivered it to the people on behalf of the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP), and thus God proved by the tongue of His Prophet that I am from him?” They replied: “God knows that this is not true of anyone else.” (4)
A Virtue of Amir al-Muminin (AS)
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) said:
“Amir al-Muminin (AS) was asked: ‘Which of your virtues is the greatest?’ He replied: ‘The greatest of my virtues is that in which I had no hand.’ Then he mentioned many virtues, among them: ‘When God revealed to the Prophet (PBUH&HP) to disavow the polytheists, he sent Abu Bakr to the people of Mecca. When Abu Bakr had set out, Gabriel descended and said: “O Muhammad, only Ali can deliver this message on your behalf.”
So the Prophet (PBUH&HP) summoned me and ordered me to mount his she-camel (al-‘Adba’), catch up to Abu Bakr, and take the delivery from him. I did so.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘What has happened? Have I incurred the wrath of God and His Messenger?’ I replied: ‘No. Rather, Gabriel descended to the Seal of the Prophets and said that only someone who is from him should deliver this message.’
Jumay’ ibn ‘Umar narrated:
“I was praying in the Grand Mosque when I saw Ibn ‘Umar. After the prayer, I sat with him and said: ‘Tell me about Amir al-Muminin (AS).’ He said: ‘The Messenger of God (PBUH&HP) sent Abu Bakr with Surah Bara’ah (Tawbah) to recite it to the people of Mecca and the pilgrims to the House of God. But when he reached Dhu al-Hulayfah, the Messenger sent Amir al-Muminin (AS) after him to take the surah from him and deliver it to the people of Mecca.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘O Ali, what has happened? Has a verse been revealed concerning me?’ Amir al-Muminin (AS) replied: ‘No, but the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP) said: “This mission must be carried out either by myself or by a man from my Ahl al-Bayt (household).”‘ Then Abu Bakr returned to the Messenger of God (PBUH&HP) and said: ‘O Messenger of God, has something been revealed concerning me?’ The Seal of the Prophets replied: ‘No, but this mission can only be carried out by me or by a man from my household.'” (5)
1. Daneshnameh-ye Imam Ali, 2001, vol. 8, p. 209; see also Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 1978, vol. 5, pp. 36–37.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 95, p. 190; Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, vol. 1, p. 158; ‘Ilal al-Shara’i’, vol. 1, p. 190.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 21, p. 267.
4. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 31, p. 321.
5. ‘Ilal al-Shara’i’, vol. 1, p. 189; Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalayn, vol. 2, p. 178.
