“Whoever I am his Mawla (Master), then Ali is his Mawla.”

The meaning of this is that whoever covenants with the Messenger and obeys him on the basis that he is a Prophet deserving of submission and obedience, also covenants with the Commander of the Faithful and obeys him on the basis that he is a God (Ilah) deserving of submission and worship.

The Master Messenger—Exalted is His might—and the group of believers undertook the pledge of allegiance to our Master—Exalted is His might—four times, which are known as the "Four Pledges": outwardly for Imamate and Succession, and inwardly for Divinity and Spirituality.