Evaluating the reasons for the revelation of the verse "Awliya' al-Amr" in the traditions of the Sunnis by the method of presenting it to the Holy Quran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Graduated with a PhD in Quran and Hadith Studies, Islamic Studies University, Senior Professor at Qom Seminary, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith, Islamic Education University, Qom, Iran
10.30497/qhs.2026.248163.4132
Abstract
The narrations—especially those in Sunni sources—face challenges such as fabrication, distortion, misreading, and incorrect paraphrasing. The prevalence of such issues after the Prophet (PBUH) highlights the necessity of scrutinizing narrations, including those related to the causes of revelation (asbab al-nuzul) of the verse “Uli al-Amr.” To identify and counter fabricated causes of revelation, content criticism—centered on the method of comparing hadiths to the Quran (as recommended by the Prophet (PBUH) and the Imams (AS))—was adopted as the main evaluative approach. This research aims to identify the causes of revelation for the verse “Uli al-Amr” that align with or contradict the Quran, and to distinguish authentic reports from inauthentic ones, thereby removing obstacles to understanding the true cause and meaning of the verse. For this purpose, the present study is organized using a descriptive-analytical method with a critical approach. According to the findings, two types of causes of revelation are reported in Sunni sources for this verse: 1. Related to “Abd Allah ibn Hudhafa,” commander of the Muslim army, and his soldiers. 2. Concerning “Khalid ibn al-Walid,” commander of the army, and Ammar ibn Yasir granting amnesty without his permission. Upon comparison with the Quran, both causes were found invalid due to several reasons—such as their contradiction with the infallibility implied by the verse, the difference between obeying a military commander and obeying God and His Messenger, and the fact that the obligation to obey Uli al-Amr is encompassed within the obligation to obey God and His Messenger (PBUH), making repetition unnecessary and thus unfavorable.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 July 2026