Obedience Verse


The Verse of Obedience is verse 59 of Surah An-Nisa in the Quran and known as Uli al-Amr Verse. The verse orders the believers to obey Allah, to obey the prophet and those vested with authority. In Shi'ite sources, this verse is introduced as one of the proofs for the Ismah and Imamah of Ali and other Imams.

The verse

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّ‌سُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ‌ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُ‌دُّوهُ إِلَى اللهِ وَالرَّ‌سُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ‌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ‌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا

4:59) O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

Sunni view

scholars in their interpretations of the verse say the term of Uli-al Amr has general application and is not specific. According to Sunni interpretations the meanings of Uli al-Amr included various subject to the Shariah and incorporates various aspects of leadership. The sunni interpretations have narrated Rashidun, army commanders, Sahabah, political leaders, and scholars as the meaning of Uli-al Amr term while some of them have interpreted certain persons as the Uli al amr. According to Ibn Taymiyyah, the verse calls upon Muslims to confide only in Muhammad, and no other person, for their religious differences; this precludes any other person from being infallible. Because the word 'ati' is not placed before 'olil-amr', it becomes 'mashroot'. Muslims are required to conform with the 'uli al-amr', only if those in authority, are observant Muslims who obey Allah and obey his Messenger.

Shia view

Almost all Shia scholars have said the Uli al-Amr in this verse are the Imamas from family of Muhammad. They believe that one of the important terms of Uli al-Amr is the Ismah, and Twelvers generally believe that only the Twelve Imams should have this term.