[Pooya/Ali Commentary 33:6] This verse was revealed when some of the Holy Prophet's companions made excuses to avoid the march the Holy Prophet ordered to meet the enemy at Tabuk. The word awla refers to mawla, the term the Holy Prophet used for himself and Ali ibn abi Talib at Ghadir Khum (see commentary of Ma-idah: 67). This verse decisively establishes the superior authority of the Holy Prophet over the selves or souls of all the believers. Even the considerations, pertaining to the nearest blood relatives are subjected to his superior authority. There is a complete surrender of self to the commands of the Holy Prophet in all material and spiritual matters. The Holy Prophet said: "None among you can ever be a true believer unless he accepts and obeys me as his master." The wives of the Holy Prophet are the mothers of the believers. It is a well known tradition that the Holy Prophet gave Ali the authority to divorce any of his (the Holy Prophet's) wives. According to Imam Muhammad bin Hasan al Qa-im the Holy Prophet said: "O Abul Hasan, Allah has bestowed honour on my wives, but if they disobey the laws and commands of Allah, made known through me, they come out of the sacred range of the divine grace. At anytime, after me, if any of them rebel against you, you have the authority to divorce her on my behalf." Please refer to the commentary of Anfal: 75 for "blood relations are nearer one to another in the book of Allah than the believers and muhajirs" Refer to the commentary of Ma-idah: 67 for "the prophet has a greater or nearer claim over the believers than they have on their own selves." Also refer to the commentary of Anfal: 24 and 27. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: This verse makes known the basis of the wilayah and imamah (the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet and of Ali as declared at Ghadir Khum) over the believers. Refer to the commentary of Anfal: 75 to know the principle of inheritance-he who is closer and nearer to him in wisdom and character should be his spiritual heir, and the closest relation in blood should inherit his property, therefore he in whom both "nearnesses" are combined should inherit his position as well as his property. Also refer to the introduction of surah al Bara-at for the closeness to the point of indivisible oneness between the Holy Prophet and Ali ibn abi Talib. "His wives are their mothers" has been mentioned to say "you should not marry his widows after him at any time" in verse 53 of this surah. There is no significance in it other than the fact that whatever is associated with the Holy Prophet is to be respected and honoured even if the thing or person possesses no merits of his own just like the "black stone" which was fixed by Ibrahim and Ismail in the house of Allah by His command. Safiya daughter of Hayy ibn Akhtab.