In sum, there is a distinction between walī (ally), mawlā, and similar terms, on the one hand, and wālī (governor) on the other. The sphere of loyalty—which is the opposite (1) of enmity—is one thing, while the sphere of authority—that is, governance—is another.

The hadith concerns only the former, not the latter. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—did not say, “Whoever’s wālī I am, Alī is his wālī.” Rather, its wording is:

“Whoever’s mawlā I am, Alī is his mawlā.” (2)

As for claiming that mawlā (3) means wālī, this is false, for the relationship of loyalty is reciprocal: the believers (4) are Allah’s awliyā (allies), while He is their mawlā.

By contrast, his having a greater claim over them than they have over themselves applies only from his side—peace and blessings be upon him. His having a greater claim over every believer than the believer has over himself is one of the distinctive prerogatives of his prophethood. Even if one were to suppose that he had explicitly designated a successor after him, that would not entail that the successor had a greater claim over every believer than the believer had over himself, just as the successor’s wives would not thereby be their mothers.

Had this meaning been intended, he would have said, “If I have a greater claim over someone than he has over himself, then Alī has a greater claim over him than he has over himself.” Yet he did not say this, nor has anyone transmitted it. Its meaning is unquestionably false, because the Prophet’s having a greater claim over every believer than the believer has over himself—peace and blessings be upon him—holds true both during his lifetime and after his death. Alī’s caliphate—even if one were to suppose that it existed—could have existed only after the Prophet’s death, not during his lifetime. Alī could not therefore have been caliph during the Prophet’s lifetime and consequently could not then have had a greater claim over every believer than the believer had over himself (5). Indeed, he would not even have been the mawlā of any believer if what were meant (by it) (6) was the caliphate.