سورة يونس

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Mufaddal ibn Umar: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the meaning of the verse ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَیْرِ هذا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ [Bring a Quran other than this or change it]. He said: "They used to say: either bring another Quran or change Ali (peace be upon him) [from being your successor, and appoint someone else in his place]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Abu al-Safatij from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) regarding the interpretation of this verse ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَیْرِ هذا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ [Bring a Quran other than this or change it] [that he said]: The intended meaning is Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) [for the opponents were demanding a change in his position of successorship], and قُلْ ما یَکُونُ لِی أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُ مِنْ تِلْقاءِ نَفْسِی إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا ما یُوحی إِلَیَّ [Say: It does not beseem me that I should change it of myself; I follow naught but what is revealed to me] means concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib, Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) [his appointment to the successorship was not from me (the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family))].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): It has been narrated from Abu Hamza al-Thumali: I asked Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) about the verse ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَیْرِ هذا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ [Bring a Quran other than this or change it]. The Imam said: "This is the statement of the enemies of Allah [addressed] to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) behind his back, concerning his successor, where [they said]: 'If only the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had appointed an imam (a person) other than Ali (peace be upon him), or had put someone else in his place'; while they knew that Allah would not accept their words. And Allah, in refutation of their words, said: قُلْ ما یَکُونُ لِی أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُ مِنْ تِلْقاءِ نَفْسِی [Say: It does not beseem me that I should change it of myself] — meaning the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) — and إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا ما یُوحی إِلَیَّ [I follow naught but what is revealed to me] concerning Ali (peace be upon him). This is the very intent of the verse ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَیْرِ هذا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ [Bring a Quran other than this or change it]."

The Messenger (peace be upon him and his family): It is narrated from Hudhayfa: One day Ali (peace be upon him) turned toward the Qiblah and began to pray. When he went into ruku, a poor man came to him and Ali (peace be upon him) gave him his ring as charity. At that moment Allah revealed this verse: 'Your guardian and wali is only Allah, and His Messenger, and those who believe — those who establish prayer and give zakat while in ruku.' (al-Ma'idah/55) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said takbir and recited the verse to us. Then he said: 'Rise up so that we may go to the one who possesses this quality about whom Allah [has revealed this verse].' When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) entered the mosque, a poor man came toward him. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) asked: 'Where are you coming from?' He said: 'From this one who was praying, who gave me this ring as charity while in ruku.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said takbir and moved toward Ali (peace be upon him) and said: 'O Ali (peace be upon him)! What new good deed have you done today?' Ali (peace be upon him) described his encounter with the poor man. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said takbir for the third time. At this the hypocrites looked at one another and said: 'Our hearts will never be content with obedience to Ali (peace be upon him). So let us come and ask the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) to change him.' So they came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and informed him of this matter. At that moment Allah revealed this verse: قُلْ ما یَکُونُ لِی أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُ مِنْ تِلْقاءِ نَفْسِی إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا یُوحَی إِلیَ‌َّ إِنیّ‌ِ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَیْتُ رَبیّ‌ِ عَذَابَ یَوْمٍ عَظِیم [Say: It does not beseem me that I should change it of myself; I follow naught but what is revealed to me; surely I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a mighty day]. Jibra'il said: 'O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Complete the task [and introduce Ali (peace be upon him) as your successor].' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'My friend, Jibra'il! You heard their conspiracies.' At this Jibra'il the Trustworthy (peace be upon him) departed from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family).

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): The Quraysh said to the noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): 'Bring us a Quran other than this, because this [Quran that you recite to us] you have learned from the Jews and the Christians!'

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) continually recited this verse: إِنِّی أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَیْتُ رَبِّی عَذَابَ یَوْمٍ عَظِیمٍ [Surely I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a mighty day], until Surah al-Fath was revealed, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) no longer repeated that statement.