The heart of Islam’s spiritual reality is the concept of Wilayah—the divine guardianship entrusted by Allah to His chosen. This trust, described in the Holy Qur’an and explained by the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them), is both a privilege and a heavy responsibility. The abandonment of Wilayah has far-reaching consequences, not just for history, but for the soul of the Ummah.
The Qur’anic Trust
Allah says in His Book:
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمانَةَ عَلَى السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ الْجِبالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَها وَ أَشْفَقْنَ مِنْها وَ حَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسانُ إِنَّهُ كانَ ظَلُوماً جَهُولاً
“Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and feared it, but man undertook to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.”
(Qur’an 33:72)
The Imams of Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) have explained that this trust (amanat) is Wilayah—leadership and loyalty to the rightful representatives of Allah. This Wilayah is so weighty that even the mighty heavens, earth, and mountains shrank from it, but mankind, out of ignorance and injustice, took it up, often without comprehending its significance.
Imam Husain (peace be upon him) said:
وَ لَوْ صَبَرْتُمْ عَلَى الْأَذَى وَ تَحَمَّلْتُمُ الْمَئُونَةَ فِي ذَاتِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ أُمُورُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ تَرِدُ وَ عَنْكُمْ تَصْدُرُ وَ إِلَيْكُمْ تَرْجِعُ
“And if you were patient in the face of harm and endured hardship for the sake of Allah, then the affairs of Allah would come to you, originate from you, and return to you.”
Reference: Tohful Uqool, page 238
Imam Husain (peace be upon him) describes how the Shia were meant to be the axis of Allah’s affairs—had they held fast to Wilayah with patience and endurance. The Divine order would descend upon them, issue from them, and return to them.
Yet, as the Imam (peace be upon him) continues:
وَ لَكِنَّكُمْ مَكَّنْتُمُ الظَّلَمَةَ مِنْ مَنْزِلَتِكُم
“But you enabled the oppressors to take your position.
(ibid)
It was by abandoning patience and endurance for the sake of Wilayah that the Ummah gave power to the oppressors and descended from their own status.
The Reality of Doubt (Shubha)
Once Wilayah is surrendered, confusion arises, and truth becomes hard to distinguish from falsehood.
Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) said:
وَ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَتِ الشُّبْهَةُ شُبْهَةً لِأَنَّهَا تُشْبِهُ الْحَق
“A doubt is called a doubt only because it resembles the truth.”
Reference: Nahjul Balagah, Sermon 38
When true leadership is lost, the community is thrown into a state where doubts prevail, and only those anchored in certainty and Wilayah are guided aright.
ْ فِيهَا الْيَقِينُ وَ دَلِيلُهُمْ سَمْتُ الْهُدَى
“Their outward state is certainty; their guide is the path of guidance.”
(Ibid)
But as for those who have abandoned Wilayah:
وَ أَمَّا أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ فَدُعَاؤُهُمْ فِيهَا الضَّلَالُ وَ دَلِيلُهُمُ الْعَمَى
“As for the enemies of Allah, their supplication in it (the worldly life) is misguidance, and their guide is blindness.”
(Ibid)
Qur’anic Parallels
Just as Bani Israel were made to wander for 40 years after turning away from Allah’s representative, so too does any community lose direction when Wilayah is abandoned.
قالَ فَإِنَّها مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَرْبَعينَ سَنَةً يَتيهُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْفاسِقين
He said: So it shall surely be forbidden to them for forty years, they shall wander about in the land, therefore do not grieve for the nation of transgressors.”
(Qur’an 5:26)
Recognizing the value of the Shia
Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) said:
رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ وَ لَمْ يَتَعَدَّ طَوْرَه
“May Allah have mercy on one who knows his worth and does not exceed his limits.”
(Ghurar al-Hikam saying 4666, page 233)
Abu Basir, a great companion, despite his immense service, was reminded by the Imam that all the verses of virtue in the Qur’an are for the Shia, and that the Shia should know their own worth.
Patience and Endurance—The Conditions for Wilayah
Imam Husain (peace be upon him) set forth two essential conditions:
- Patience in the face of harm
- Endurance for the sake of Allah
When these are fulfilled, the affairs of Allah come to, flow from, and return to the followers of Wilayah.
The Consequences of Abandoning Wilayah
The Imams (peace be upon them) teach that when the trust of Wilayah is surrendered, the Ummah becomes prey to oppression, humiliation, and confusion. The right to spiritual leadership is lost, and society falls into the hands of those unworthy and unjust.
Conclusion
Wilayah is the axis and trust upon which the fate of the Ummah depends. It is to be upheld with patience and endurance, recognizing the worth of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) and of the Shia themselves. The Qur’an, the hadith, and the legacy of Karbala all point to this enduring reality.
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتي وَ رَضيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلامَ دينا
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
(Qur’an 5:3)
May Allah grant us steadfastness in Wilayah and the ability to uphold this divine trust.