12. “And now, I confess to my servitude to Him, so do I confess to the Divinity
of His: and I carry out my duty concerning the Revelation has announced to me,
in fear that if I were not to execute it, such a torment might befall on me that
no one could eliminate it – even though having a great astuteness, and his
friendship be sincere [to me]! There is no God but Him, for He has announced to
me that if I do not proclaim to you [the Fact] that concerning Ali, (peace be
upon him) has been stated to me, I have not fulfilled my mission as a Messenger
of God. And God has guaranteed me of His protection against the people"s
corruption, for God is Generous, all-Sufficient. So, God has revealed to me
thus:
‘In the name of Allah (Who"s) the most Merciful Bountiful
(O Messenger of Us)!
Announce this Message that; to you
Being sent from your Great Lofty Lord:
[Regarding Ali, and Command of Ali]
Or else, then you have not carried
Your own task as a right Messenger of His;
‘DEFENDER’, from reproach of men, God is.’ (The Table: 5/67)
13. “O people! I have not been neglectful about publicizing what has been
delivered to me by God. Now, I am to explain to you the cause of the Revelation
of this Verse: Gabriel, bearing His Command, came down to me thrice from
‘Peace’, the Creator – for only He is [the source of] Peace – he brought it to
me that to stand amid this vast mass and deliver God"s Command. Now, I announce
you the coloured or white that: Ali, the son of Talib, is [as] a brother to me,
and he is my executor, and successor to lead my people as an Imam after me! His
relation to me is as Aaron to Moses is, except for no other messengers will
follow me. After God and His Messenger, Ali is going to be your Conserver, and
God has sent down a Verse saying: ‘Verily, your Guardian is Only God, His
Messenger and the believers who pray and pay alms while are bowing down,’ (The
Table: 5/55). Surely it is Ali who did set up prayer, and while bowing [down to
pray], paid out alms, and always sought the Will of Almighty God.”
14. “And I
asked Gabriel to beseech Almighty God so that He may discharge me from this duty
of mine, because I well knew the scarcity of the virtuous, but the excess of the
deceivers; and the vices of the blamers, as well who scald, and the deceit of
those who insult Islam – those whom God has defined in His Book that: ‘They say
what does not exist in their hearts, and they take it of very little importance,
while it is of the utmost importance to God,’ (The Light: 24/25).
15. Also because the frauds have always annoyed me, and have called me: ‘He is
all ears, listening to every word!’ [It was] just because of Ali"s following me,
and because of my deep attachment to him, and my fond attention toward him, and
because of my approval of him. It was until then God sent this Verse down
saying: ‘And of those some annoy Messenger and say, "He is only an ear.’" [But o
Messenger] say: "An ear, yes, but it is good for you; for he [listens but to the
Revelations of God], which is of your benefit. [He] believes [in God], and
trusts [the believers] – taking them all the serious righteous. Surely for them
is a painful chastisement …” (The Repentance: 9/61).
Had I wished, I could name those who use these words, or I could point them out
to you one by one; and had I wished, I could lead you to them but I swear to God
that I have behaved gracefully and generously towards them.
16. But, despite
this, God may not be pleased with me if I do not let you know what has been
revealed to me, about Ali, [then he recited God"s Words]: ‘…
O Messenger! Announce what has been sent down to you from Your Lord [about Ali,
(peace be upon him). And if you do not then, you would not have fulfilled your
duty as the Messenger of God. Surely God protects you from the annoyance of the
mischievous people;’” (The Table: 5/67).
