Does the Verse of Wilayah Denote Caliphate and Wilayah of Amir Al-Mu`minin?

Question: Does the verse of Wilayah denote caliphate and wilayah of Amir Al-Mu`minin?
Answer: The Exalted God says in the Holy Qur`an (surah 5:55-56) that: “only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. And whoever takes Allah and His Apostle and those who believe for a guardian, then surely the confederates of Allah are the triumphant.”
In his Great Commentary, Imam Abu-Ishaq Tha`labi quotes from Abu-Dharr Ghafari that he said: “I heard from the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) with my own ears- if I am lying, I will hope God makes me dumb- and I saw with my own eyes- if I am lying, I will hope God makes me blind- that said: ‘Ali is the leader of the good people and the murderer of the unbelievers. Whoever helps him, God helps him and whoever leaves him God leaves him. Beware! One day I prayed the noontime prayers with the messenger of Allah. A person in need asked people to help but no one gave him anything. Ali Ibn Abi –Talib was in the position of genuflection in the prayers. He pointed with his finger to the person, so he come near and took his ring and left. Then the Prophet (S.A.W) raised his head toward heaven and said: “oh God! My brother Moses said to Thee, “expand my breast and make easy my tasks and make my tongue eloquent as that they will comprehend my words, and appoint a successor to me from among my descendants, my brother Aaron, and make him my helper and You said: ‘beware o Moses! Your request was granted.’ Oh God! I am also thy Prophet, expand my breast and make easy my tasks and appoint a successor to me from among my descendants, Ali, and make him my helper.” Abu-Dharr says, “I swear by God that the words of the Prophet had not as yet finished when the trustee Gabriel came down and brought this verse: ‘only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle...’”(1)
It is noteworthy that regarding this matter there has been narrated 24 traditions by the methods of Sunnis and 19 traditions with the transmitters of Shi`ah in the Book of Ghayatulmaram.(2)
Shi`ahs all agreed that this verse has been recorded regarding Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.) and the Imams of the Household of the Prophet have narrated it and among them, this tradition is considered as one of the admitted opinions and it has been narrated in many of their valid books such as: Bihar al- Anwar by `Allamah Majlisi, Ithbat al-Hudah by Hurr `Amuli, Tafsir al- Mizan by `Allamah Tabatabai, Tafsir al- Kashif by Muhammad Jawad Mughniyah, Al-Ghadir by `Allamah Amini, and so many others of the ulama and noble men of Shi`ah.
Many of Sunnis ulama have also narrated that the cause of Revelation of this verse is Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.), such as:
Tafsir Kashaf Zimakhshari, Tafsir Tabari (volume 4, section 6, page 289), Zad Al-Masir Fi `Ilm Al-Tafsir by Ibn Jowzi, Tafsir Qartabi, Tafsir Fakhr Razi (volume12, page 28), Tafsir ibn Kathir (volume 3, page 129), Tafsir Nasafi, Shawahed Al-Tanzil by Haskani Hanafi, Al-Dur Al-Manthur by Siyuti (volume 3. page 105), Asbab Al-Nuzul by Wahidi, Ahkam Al-Quran by Jassas, Al-Tashil Li `Ulum Al-Tanzil by Kalbi, Zakha`ir Al- `Uqba by Muhib al- din Tabari, Tafsir Fath Al- Ghadir by Qazi Shukani, Labab Al-Manqul by Siyuti, Tazkerah Sibt by Ibn Jowzi (page 15), Nur Al-Absar by Shiblanji, Al-Kafi Al-Shaf by Asqalani, Mafatih Al-Ghayb by Razi, Musnad of Ibn Marduyah, Musnad of Ibn Al-Shaykh, Sahih of Nasai, the Book of Al-Jam` Bayn Al-Sihah Sittah, Managhib of Khawrazmi (page 248), The History of Damishq (volume 42, page 357).
Those who were mentioned above are just some of the Sunnis ulama. The number of Sunnis ulama agreeing with Shiah about the revelation of this verse regarding Ali (a.s), exceeds those who were mentioned. (3)
_____________________________
1- Al-Jam` Bayn Al-Sihah Sittah, Sahih of Nasai, Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Sawa`iq Al-Muhraqah by ibn Hajar, Sharh of Nahj Al-Balaqah by ibn Abi al-Hadid.
2- Minhaj al-Bara`ah (2), p. 350
3- With truthful people, p.89.
Ref: makarem.ir