Deviation Actions
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The Verse of Bowing (Ruku)
Verily, your guardian (wali) is Allah, His messenger, and the believers; those who perform the prayers and give zakat (alms) while bowing down (in ruku).6
Numerous commentators of the Qur’an from all schools of thought identify the one referred to in this verse is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. The famous commentator, Zamakhshari says about this verse, “It was revealed in favor of ‘Ali (may Allah enlighten his face). When a beggar asked him for alms in the masjid and ‘Ali was in the position of ruku during the prayers, he gave away his ring while in that position.
It seems it was loose on the little finger, for he did not exert any effort in taking it off, which would have nullified his prayer. If you ask how it could be in favor of ‘Ali since the wording is in the plural form, I would say that the form is plural although its instigator is a single man to encourage people to follow his example and earn a similar reward; and also to draw attention to the fact that the believers must be extremely mindful and benevolent towards the poor such that if a situation can not be postponed until after the prayer, then it should not be delayed until having finished it.”7
Similarly, al-Wahidi in his book on the commentary of the Qur’an entitled, Asbab al-Nuzul, cites Kalbi’s narration, that the cause of this revelation was Imam ‘Ali. Kalbi says, “The later part of this verse is in favor of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be gracious to him) because he gave his ring to a beggar while in the state of rukuduring the prayers.”8
Many other commentaries also hold that this verse refers to Imam ‘Ali including: Sunan al-Nisa΄i, Tafsir al-Kabirby Tha΄alibi, Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal,9 Musnad ibn Marduwayh, and Kanz al-‘Ummal.10
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Abu Dhar Ghifari says, "That one day he was praying with The Prophet when a beggar came to the Prophet's mosque and begged for alms(charity). Nobody gave him anything. The beggar raised his hands towards heaven and said, "God! be a witness that I came to Thy Prophet's mosque and nobody gave me anything." Ali was bowing in the 'Rukuu' at that time. It was the order from Allah to Ali in the prayer to give him alms. He pointed his little finger which had a ring, towards the beggar who came forward and took away the ring. This incident happening in The Prophet's presence he raised his face towards Heaven and prayed as follows:[1]
"O Lord! my brother Musa had begged of Thee to open his breast and to make his work easy, to loose the knot of his tongue that people might understand him, and to appoint from among his relations his brother, as his Wazier, and to strengthen his back with Aaron and to make Aaron his partner in his work. O God! Thou said to Musa, We will strengthen thy arm with thy brother. Nobody will now have an access to either of you! O God! I am Mohammad and thou hast given me distinction. Open my breast for me, make my work easy for me, and from my family appoint my brother Ali as my Wazier. Strengthen my back with him."
The Prophet had not finished his prayers when Jabraeel brought the above quoted verse i.e. Quran 5:55.
The status and meaning of this event is a matter of discussion amongst scholars of Islam.[2]