The first verse of Ma`arij is one of the verses dealing with Imam Ali`s appointment to imamate on the day of ghadire khom. Commentators have spoken on the background of the verse differently. Some clearly and some other with a hint have known the background of the verse to be the event of Ghadir. Again some other have considered it dealing with one of the Prophet`s companions requesting punishment from God as a proving reason for the event. And finally, some have deliberately regarded the traditions in the field as false. Surveying the views of Sunnis, this paper has studied and criticized them. As is understood in the paper, the background of the verse consists in the event of ghadir and Imam Ali`s imamate.