In the concluding part of the al-Ghadir sermon, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), referencing verse 153 of Surah al-Anam, warned everyone not to deviate from the path of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
Verse 153 of Surah al-Anam
” وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًۭا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٥٣
“Indeed, that is My Path—perfectly straight. So follow it and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will be conscious ˹of Allah˺.”
According to the narration of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him) in the al-Ghadir supplication, this verse recalls the lofty station of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
A passage from the al-Ghadir supplication reads:
“I bear witness that you are the intended meaning in this saying of God, the Exalted, the Merciful: ‘Indeed, that is My Path—perfectly straight. So follow it and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way. (al-Anam/153)”
Verse 153 of Surah al-Anam is one of the Alawi verses in the Holy Quran that points to the divine straight path. On the day of al-Ghadir, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) introduced Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as his successor, and this message is in line with guidance towards that same divine straight path.
Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him) performed pilgrimage to Amir al-Muminin on the day of al-Ghadir, referencing this verse with these words, and said:
“O Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), I bear witness that one who doubts you has not believed in the Trustworthy Messenger (peace be upon him and his family), and one who equates others with you has deviated from the steadfast religion which the Lord of the worlds approved for the faithful and completed it through your guardianship on the day of al-Ghadir.
I bear witness that you are the intended meaning in this saying of God, the Exalted, the Merciful: “Indeed, that is My Path—perfectly straight. So follow it and do not follow other ways, for they will lead you away from His Way (al-Anam/153).” By God, one who followed other than you went astray and led others astray. And one who showed enmity towards you deviated from the truth. O God, we heard Your command, obeyed, and followed Your straight path.”
