al-Najm

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَی

إِنْ هُوَ إِلاّ وَحْيٌ يُوحَی

3. Nor does he speak of concupiscent desire.

4. His word is only a Revelation revealed to him.

The words of the Noble Prophet (S) arise from neither personal desires nor social milieu. Thus, the blessed Verses in question say that the Noble Prophet (S) does not speak of concupiscent desires but he merely imparts Divine Revelation. In this respect, he is different from common people who speak out of their natural inclinations and concupiscent desires, rather his words arise from the Noble Prophet's (S) heart connected to the higher world. In this vein, a number of traditions will be quoted.

The late scholar, Saduq in his Amali narrates a tradition according to which the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) turned to people after early and late evening prayers saying:

"A star (light) will descend upon the house of one of you at day break and the owner of the house will be my successor."

All people were awaiting the descent at day break. Ibn ‘Abbas is quoted as saying that his father, the Noble Prophet's paternal uncle, was most eager to see upon whose house the star will descend. However, it descended upon the house of Imam ‘Ali (as) and the Noble Prophet (S) said:

"O ‘Ali! By Allah Who called me to Prophethood, it is certain that you will be my successor."

Some hypocrites claimed that the Noble Prophet (S) praised his cousin out of concupiscent desires when these blessed Verses were revealed to the Noble Prophet (S).² Regarding the fact that the satisfaction of all people may not be obtained nor may their tongues be checked, Saduq in his Amali says that some people even attributed entertaining concupiscent desires to the Noble Prophet (S). Thus, God Almighty defended his Messenger (S) by saying:

"Nor does he speak of concupiscent desire. His word is only a Revelation revealed to him." ³

It is narrated that Hamza asked the Noble Prophet (S):

"Why did you blocked all the gates opening to the mosque but left intact that of ‘Ali's (as) house?"

The Noble Prophet (S) recited these Verses from Surah al-Najm:

"His word is only a Revelation revealed to him."

Thus, he intended to say that he did so based on Divine Command.⁴ According to the fourth tradition, in response to disbelievers who said that;

"Indeed, this [the Holy Qur'an] is not but the legends of the ancients"

God Almighty decisively says:

"His word is only a Revelation revealed to him." ⁵

When Imam ‘Ali (as) was assigned as the Imam and successor of the Noble Prophet (S) at the Ghadir Khum, the latter was criticized, but he recited the blessed Verse:

"His word is only a Revelation revealed to him." ⁶

Footnotes

1. 2. Tafsir Nur al-Thiqalayn and other Shi‘i and Sunni exegetic works.
2. 3. Tafsir Kanz al-Daqa’iq.
3. 4. Tafsir Durr al-Manshur by Suyuti.
4. 5. Tafsir Nur, under the blessed Verse in question.
5. 6. Tafsir Nur al-Thiqalayn and other exegetic works.