In Shia Islam, Tawalli and Tabarri are among the practical laws and branches of religion (Furu -u-Din) and obligatory acts based on the Shia jurisprudence. They are considered as the fundamental conditions for the acceptance of good deeds in the sight of Allah and without them, no deed can be accepted.
Meaning of Tawalli and Tabarri
In a literal sense, the term “Tawalli” is an Arabic infinitive derived from the root of “w-l-y” which means to accept the guardianship of someone or to choose a person as a friend. In light of this, the fact that the noun “Wali” could mean a friend, helper, or guardian in Arabic, and the term “Tawalli” also could mean accepting the friendship or guardianship of another person. In Shi’a terminology, the term “Tawalli” means to love and associate oneself with the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) and the leaders of religion and to submit to their guardianship (Wilāyah) in both religious and secular affairs. In other words, “Tawalli” means to love, obey and accept the authority and guardianship of Allah, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and the Imams (peace be upon them), which is indeed the same love in the way of Allah.
On the other hand, the term “Tabarri” is an Arabic infinitive derived from the root “b-r-ʾ” which means “avoiding and dissociating”. Thus, the term “Tabarri” is to dissociate oneself from the enemies of God and the enemies of religion’s authorities. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention that the two terms “Tawalli” and “Tabarri” are originally derived from the glorious Qur’an and narrations from the Infallible Imams. In Shi’a terminology, the term “Tabarri” means the obligation of disassociation with those who oppose God, Prophet Muhammad and the pure Prophet’s progeny (Ahl al-Bayt) and those who caused harm to the religion. In other words, “Tabarri” which is the opposite of the term “Tawalli” means to hate and dissociate oneself from the enemies of Allah, His Prophet and the purified Household of Prophet Muhammad [Ahl al-Bayt], peace be upon them.
The Philosophy of Tawalli and Tabarri
It should be mentioned that the reason for the inclusion of these two principles in the basic principles of Islam is that the followers of truth, justice, freedom, purity and goodness can create unity among their ranks and that the impure, oppressive, and unjust ones are boycotted in a way they are socially and morally subjugated by the unity of the good people.
However, if these two principles are abandoned in any society while everyone agrees with every school of thought (good or bad) and human society does not get close to useful things and does not keep away from harmful things, humanity will definitely be destroyed. Thus, for the world to be a better place to live for all and likewise, the our final return to Allah to be prosperous, we should love and associate with the friends of Allah, those who desire truth, the righteous people and supporters of truth and justice and at the same time, we should hate and dissociate from the evildoers, oppressors, and the enemies of Allah, His Prophet and the pure progeny of the Prophet.
Tawalli and Tabarri in the Qur’an
In the glorious Qur’an, Allah, His Apostle and the faithful are mentioned as the guardians of a believer: “Your guardian is only Allah, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakat while bowing down.” (Qur’an 5: 55)
According to the verse, the guardianship (Wilāyah) over the believers belongs firstly to Allah, secondly to the Prophet (PBUHH), and then to the Imam and thereafter to the jurists. In particular, this guardianship (Wilāyah) of the Infallible Imam has been ordered in the same row as the guardianship of the Prophet (PBUHH) and the guardianship of Allah, and these three are stated in one sentence.
Meanwhile, it should be stated that the term waliyy, mentioned in this verse, does not mean ‘friend’ and ‘helper’ since friendship and helping refer to all Muslims, not to those who give charity while bowing down in prayer.
However, verse 56 of Qur’an 5, “Whoever takes for his guardians Allah, His Apostle and the faithful [should know that] the confederates of Allah are indeed the victorious” is a complement to the content of the previous verse, as it emphasizes and pursues its meaning. It informs the believers that those who accept the guardianship (Wilāyah) of Allah, the Messenger of God (PBUHH) and the infallible Imams will become victorious because the party of Allah are indeed the victor.
In addition, love and affection for the Messenger of God (PBUHH), and his purified progeny [Ahl al-Bayt] are greatly emphasized in the Qur’an. For instance, the Prophet (PBUHH) was directed to ask the entire Muslim community thus: “Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives.’ Whoever performs a good deed, We shall enhance its goodness for him. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-appreciative.” (Qur’an 42: 23)
In this glorious verse, love and affection of the nearest kinship of the Prophet are considered a reward for the divine message preached by the Messenger of God (PBUHH). In the explanation of the verse, Ahmad narrates in his Fada’il al-Sahaba on the authority of Sa’id ibn Jubayr who in turn narrates from ‘Amir thus: “When the Verse ‘Say [O Muhammad! Say unto people]: ‘No reward do I ask of you for this [Divine Call] except to be kind to my close relatives’ was revealed, the Companions of the Prophet (PBUHH) said unto him: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Who are your relatives whose love is incumbent upon us?’ He replied: ‘Ali and Fatima and their two sons (PBUH).’ He reiterated the sentence thrice.”
Al-Shaykh Yusuf al-Bahrani in his al-Shahāb al-Thāqib says about Tawalli thus: “It can be inferred that the love for the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) is the acceptance of their Imamate and placing them in their due position. Therefore, preferring anyone over the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) in this matter, in fact, removes a person from being among the lovers of the Imams (a.s)” (Baḥrānī, al-Shahāb al-thāqib fī bayān maʿna al-nāṣib, p. 144).
It is mentioned by the scholars of the Qur’an that the paronyms of “Tabarri” was cited in the Qur’an around thirty times (cf: Muṣṭafawī, al-Taḥqīq, vol. 5, p. 34). For instance, there are several indications in the Qur’an of dissociating polytheism and its leaders by avoiding their gods. Verse 4 of Qur’an 60 explains the dissociation of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) thus: “There is certainly a good exemplar for you in Abraham and those who were with him, when they said to their own people, ‘Indeed we repudiate you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We disown you, and enmity and hate have appeared between you and us forever unless you come to have faith in Allah alone,’ apart from Abraham’s saying to his father, ‘I will surely plead forgiveness for you, though I cannot avail you anything against Allah.’ ‘Our Lord! In You do we put our trust, and to You do we turn penitently, and toward You is the destination.“
Similarly, verse 1 of Qur’an 9 [Surah al-Tawbah] begins with the repudiation of the polytheists by Allah and His noble Prophet (PBUHH): “[This is] a [declaration of] repudiation by Allah and His Apostle [addressed] to the polytheists with whom you had made a treaty“
The Messenger of God (PBUHH) making a declaration of dissociating from the actions of the polytheists: If they deny you, say, ‘My deeds belong to me and your deeds belong to you: you are absolved of what I do and I am absolved of what you do.’ (Qur’an 10:41)
Tawalli and Tabarri in the Hadith
There are numerous hadiths from both the Messenger of God (PBUHH) and the Infallible Imams (PBUT) in which the instances of Tawalli and Tabarri which are two antonymous concepts, could be identified or described as an obligatory duty, and even one of the most important obligations. In numerous hadiths and traditions, the love for the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) and in particular the love for the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH), has been mentioned as being obligatory.
Imam Husain ibn Ali (peace be upon him) was reported to have quoted the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, to have said: “Remain steadfast on our love, the Ahl ul-Bayt. For he who meets Allah with our love, will enter the Paradise with our intercession. By He Who controls my soul, a servant (of Allah) does not benefit from his deeds except by knowing us (and our stature).”
Ibn Abbas was quoted to have said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny said: “Cling steadfastly to the affection for us Ahlul Bait. For whoever meets Allah with our love in his heart shall enter Paradise by our intercession. By He Who controls Muhammad’s breath, the acts and deeds of a servant shall not benefit him, except when coupled with our recognition and our love.”
In a nutshell, the two concepts of Tawalli and Tabarri mean that someone who has belief and direction in life, should not be indifferent when facing the truth and falsehood, as these two realities are not equal.
