MEANING OF ALLEGIANCE WITH IMAM MAHDI (A.S.)

The meaning of allegiance between two parties is the commitment of the one who pledges allegiance, and his firm vow and strong covenant that he will support the person with whom he has pledged allegiance through his life and wealth, and does not commit any mistake in what he performs for him, and assist him to whatever extent he can, and sacrifice his life and wealth for safeguarding him. And the allegiance of this meaning has been mentioned in the supplication of Ahd which should be recited daily, and in the supplication of Ahd which should be recited continuously for forty days.

            And the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had invited all the people, irrespective of those who were present or not, during his sermon of Ghadeer towards such allegiance with the Holy Infallibles (peace be upon them).

            Doubtlessly, such an allegiance is one of the conditions and signs of faith, or rather, without it faith cannot be accomplished.

            The person who pledges allegiance (the seller) is a believer, and the purchaser is the Almighty Allah. Therefore, He said in the Holy Qur’an that:

« إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ ... »

{Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise}^[1]

Allah (S.W.T.) has sent down the Prophets and Messengers for the purpose of renewing this allegiance, and to lay emphasis on it. Therefore, whoever pledges allegiance to them, has pledged allegiance to Allah. And whoever turns away from them, has turned himself away from Allah. Hence, Allah said in the Holy Qur’an:

«إِنَّ الَّذينَ يُبايِعُونَكَ إِنَّما يُبايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْديهِمْ فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّما يَنْكُثُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَوْفى بِما عاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتيهِ أَجْراً عَظيماً ».

{Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah - He will give him a great reward}.^[2]

            This verse implicates that the meaning of allegiance here is that firm vow and strong covenant with the Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and those who fulfilled this covenant, have been promised a great reward.

            This allegiance will be completed by the following two things:

A firm and eternal inner decision to follow the Imam, and to support him with life and wealth; just as Allah has indicated in the following verse:

« إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوالَهُمْ ...».

{Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise}.

As it is obligatory on a seller to handover the sold product to the purchaser on his demand, without any thought and delay, and to fulfil that which is concealed in his inside.

The second stage is to express the internal intention and to verbalize the inner decision, it should be kept in mind while pledging allegiance, and this is how the allegiance will be completed. Just as the contract of selling a good is completed with the following two things:

The intention of ‘Insha’ and its initiation according to the demands of the two parties of the transcation.

To verbally pronounce that which is intended and believed inwardly.

Sometimes, it is said that one should place hand for pledging allegiance; just like the Arab tradition common between a few tribes, when the shake hands firmly after completing a deal.

            It can be derived from the word ‘Yad’ used in the Qur’anic verse:

« إِنَّ الَّذينَ يُبايِعُونَكَ إِنَّما يُبايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْديهِمْ ... » .

{Indeed those who swear allegiance unto you (Mohammad), swear allegiance only unto Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands}.

In addition to this, it has also arrived in the traditions that the companions pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) with their hands.^[3]

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