Qur’an:

“Those, who disbelieved and kept away from the way of God, have gone far astray. Neither did God forgive those, who disbelieved and oppressed, nor did He guide them in any way, except the way to Hell, wherein they abide for ever and that was easy for God.” [An-Nisa’ 4:167-169]

إن الذين كفروا وصدوا عن سبيل الله قد ضلوا ضلالا بعيدا إن الذين كفروا وظلموا لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم طريقا إلا طريق جهنم خالدين فيها أبدا وكان ذلك على الله يسيرا

Sunnah:

Abu Basir reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The only thing that was revealed was: “But God bears witness, to what He has revealed to you with regards to Ali. He revealed it with His knowledge and the angels also bear witness to it and God was sufficient as a witness.” (4:166) Hereupon Abu Abdillah (a.) read: “Neither did God forgive those, who were disbelievers and oppressors of the right of the family of Muhammad (s.), nor did He guide them by any way except the way to Hell, wherein they abide for ever and that was easy for God.” (4:168-169) [Tafsir Al-Qummi, Vol. 1 page 159]

عن علي بن إبراهيم عن إبراهيم بن هاشم عن ابن أبي عمير عن أبي بصير عن الإمام الصادق عليه السلام قال: إنما أنزلت لكن الله يشهد بما انزل إليك في علي أنزله بعلمه والملائكة يشهدون وكفى بالله شهيدا وقرأ أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إن الذين كفروا وظلموا آل محمد حقهم لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم طريقا إلا طريق جهنم خالدين فيها ابدا وكان ذلك على الله يسيرا

Taqi Ibn Najm reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) was asked: “What is the matter with Abu Bakr and Umar?” He said: “They were our first oppressors, who snatched away our right, jumped on our necks and opened a gate against us which cannot be closed till the Day of Resurrection, so God does not forgive them because of their injustice against us.” [Taqrib-ul-Ma’arif of Al-Halabi, page 247.]

عن تقي بن نجم عن الإمام الباقر عليه السلام أنه سئل عن أبي بكر وعمر؟ فقال: هما أول من ظلمنا، وقبض حقنا، وتوثب على رقابنا، وفتح علينا بابا لا يسده شئ إلى يوم القيامة، فلا غفر الله لهما ظلمهما إيانا

Muhammad ibn Nu’man reported that Abu Shuburmah said: “I and Abu Hanifah entered Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.), whereupon a man asked him about the verse: “O you who believe, all of you enter into submission.” (2:208) He said: “By God, the submission is the closeness (Wilayah) to Ali, the son of Abu Talib (a.). Whoever has entered into it, he brought himself to safety.” By His statement “and follow not the footsteps of Satan” (2:208) is meant, those who separated themselves from Ali (a.) and every Satan, mentioned in His Book, is the same familiar person, whom He called a Satan.”About the verse: “Those who were disbelievers and kept away from the way of God, their deeds He causes to be lost.” (47:1) He said: “By this is meant, that they kept away from nearness (Wilayah) to Ali (a.) and Ali (a.) is the Way.” About the verse: “Neither did God forgive those who were disbelievers and oppressors, nor did He guide them of any way except the way to Hell.” (4:168-169) He said: “Those, who did not believe in the nearness (Wilayah) to Ali (a.) and oppressed the family of Muhammad (s.) and those whom God does not guide to their nearness (Wilayah) and who turn to none, except to their enemies, who are the way to Hell.” [Sharh-ul-Akhbar of Al-Maghribi, Volume 1 page 242 – 243]

عن محمد بن نعمان عن أبي شبرمة قال: دخلت أنا وأبو حنيفة على أبي عبد الله جعفر بن محمد عليه السلام فسأله رجل عن قول الله تعالى: يا أيها الذين آمنوا ادخلوا في السلم كافة فقال: السلم والله ولاية علي بن أبي طالب من دخل فيها سلم قال وقوله تعالى: ولا تتبعوا خطوات الشيطان يعني من فارق عليا قال: وكل شيطان ذكر في كتابه فهو رجل بعينه معروف سماه شيطانا وانه قال عليه السلام في قول الله تعالى: الذين كفروا وصدوا عن سبيل الله أضل اعمالهم قال: يعني صدوا عن ولاية علي عليه السلام، وعلي عليه السلام هو السبيل وقال في قول الله تعالى: الذين كفروا وظلموا لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم طريقا إلا طريق جهنم قال: الذين كفروا بولاية علي عليه السلام وظلموا آل محمد ولا يهديهم الله إلى ولايتهم ولا يتولون إلا أعداءهم الذين هم الطريق إلى جهنم

Abu Hamzah reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: “But God bears witness to what He revealed to you about Ali. He has revealed it with His knowledge and the angels also bear witness to it and God was sufficient as a witness.” (4:166) He said: “Gabriel (a.) came down with this verse just like this: “Neither did God forgive those, who were disbelievers and oppressors of the right of the family of Muhammad (s.), nor did He guide them of any way except the way to Hell wherein they abide for ever, and that was easy for God.” (4:168-169) Then He said: “O people, the Messenger has already come to you from your Lord with the truth about the nearness (Wilayah) to Ali, therefore believe, this is better for you! But even if you do not believe in the nearness (Wilayah) to him, what is in the heavens and what is in the earth belongs to God and God is the knowledgeable and the wise.” (4:170) [Tafsir Al-Ayyashi, Volume 1 page 285 Hadith 307]

عن محمد بن مسعود عن أبي حمزة عن الإمام الباقر عليه السلام قال: لكن الله يشهد بما انزل إليك في علي أنزله بعلمه والملائكة يشهدون وكفى بالله شهيدا قال: وسمعته يقول: نزل جبرئيل بهذه الآية هكذا إن الذين كفروا وظلموا آل محمد حقهم لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم طريقا إلى قوله يسيرا ثم قال: يا أيها الناس قد جائكم الرسول بالحق من ربكم في ولاية على فآمنوا خيرا لكم وان تكفروا بولايته فان لله ما في السماوات وما في الأرض وكان الله عليما حكيما

Taqi Ibn Najm reported that Hajar Al-Bajali said: “I had doubts about the two men. Therefore I went to Medina and heard Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir (a.) say: “The first to oppress us and steal our right and set the people on our necks, were Abu Bakr and Umar.” [Bihar-ul-Anwar of Al-Majlisi, Volume 30 page 383]

عن محمد بن محمد عن تقي بن نجم عن حجر البجلي قال: شككت في أمر الرجلين، فأتيت المدينة فسمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام يقول إن أول من ظلمنا وذهب بحقنا وحمل الناس على رقابنا أبو بكر وعمر

Abu Hamzah reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Gabriel (a.) descended with this verse precisely like this: “Neither did God forgive those who were oppressors of the right of the family of Muhammad (s.), nor did He guide them by any way except the way to Hell, wherein they abide for ever and that was easy for God.” (4:168-169) Then He said: “O people, the Messenger has already come to you from your Lord with the truth about the nearness (Wilayah) to Ali, therefore believe, this is better for you! But even if you do not believe in the nearness (Wilayah) to Ali, what is in the heavens and what is on earth belongs to God.” (4:170) [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 1 page 424 Hadith 59]

وبهذا الاسناد عن عبد العظيم بن عبد الله الحسني عن محمد بن الفضيل عن أبي حمزة عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: نزل جبرئيل عليه السلام بهذه الآية هكذا إن الذين ظلموا آل محمد حقهم لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم طريقا إلا طريق جهنم خالدين فيها ابدا وكان ذلك على الله يسيرا ثم قال: يا أيها الناس قد جاء كم الرسول بالحق من ربكم في ولاية علي فآمنوا خيرا لكم وإن تكفروا بولاية علي فإن لله ما في السماوات وما في الأرض

Abu Al-Hasan Al-Qummi writes: “As for the verse: “Those who believed, then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, then increased in disbelief.” (4:137) So he said: “It was revealed for those, who believed in the Messenger (s.) with lip service, while not believing (in him). After that they became disbelievers, when they compiled the document among themselves, to never leave the authority of the command to the people of his house.” Then when the nearness (Wilayah) was revealed and the Messenger (s.) received the covenant for the Commander of the Believers (a.) of them, they believed (in it) with lip service, while (they did not) believe him. When the Messenger (s.) died, they proved to be disbelievers and increased in disbelief: “Neither did God forgive them nor did He guide them of a way.” (4:168) By which is meant: “Nor (did He guide them) of a way except the way to Hell.” (4:169) [Tafsir Al-Qummi, Volume 1 page 156]

قال أبو الحسن القمي: وقوله ان الذين آمنوا ثم كفروا ثم آمنوا ثم كفروا ثم ازدادوا كفرا قال نزلت في الذين آمنوا برسول الله اقرارا لا تصديقا ثم كفروا لما كتبوا الكتاب فيما بينهم أن لا يردوا الامر إلى أهل بيته ابدا فلما نزلت الولاية واخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله الميثاق عليهم لأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام آمنوا اقرارا لا تصديقا، فلما مضى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله كفروا وازدادوا كفرا لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم سبيلا يعني طريقا إلا طريق جهنم