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The Visage of Imam Ali (A.S.) in the Holy Qur’an
Compiled by: Ahmad Ahmadi Birjandi
Based on authentic documents, there are over 100 verses which have been revealed in relation to ‘Ali (as).
Several verses which, according to both Shi‘a and Sunni, are about ‘Ali (as), are as follows: ﴾Is someone who is faithful like someone who is a transgressor? They are not equal.﴿ Al-Qur’an, 32: 18.
﴾You are only a warner, and there is a guide for every people.﴿ Al-Qur’an, 13: 7.
Fakhr al-Razi, in his interpretation of this verse, maintains that “a guide” is meant to be ‘Ali (as). (Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn, vol.3, p. 129. See also: Tafsir-i Nimuna, vol. 10, p. 131.
﴾Your guardian is only Allah, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakat while bowing down.﴿ Al-Qur’an, 5: 55
Fakhr al-Razi quotes Abu Dharr al-Ghifari as saying that this verse is revealed for Amir al-Mu'minin ‘Ali (as). Similarly, Zamakhshari says in tafsir al-Kashshaf the same about this verse. (Tabari, Tafsir, vol. 6, p. 186. See also: Tafsir Nimuna, vol. 4, p. 428).
‘Ali (as) was an interpreter of the Qur’an and knew its mysteries and secrets because he had drunk his fill and saturated from the fountainhead of the Prophet (S)'s knowledge and insight. ‘Ali (as) had been at all moments with the Prophet (S) and witnessed the revelation of the Holy verses.
The Prophet (S) has told about ‘Ali: “‘Ali is with the Qur’an and the Qur’an is also with ‘Ali; the two will not separate until they arrive at Kawthar.”
‘Ali (as) was himself the Prophet (S)'s scribe of revelation, memorizing and recording, upon the Prophet (S)'s order, the verses revealed to the Apostle of Allah (S). Right after the Prophet (A.S.W.)'s demise, he stayed home and started compiling the verses of the Qur’an in order to prevent it from being dispersed and distorted.
Both Shi‘a and Sunni scholars agree that ‘Ali (as) was the most competent in the interpretation and commentary of the Nobel Qur’an.
After the Passing Away of the Holy Prophet (S)
According to the Prophet (A.S.W.)'s advice, ‘Ali (as) was to be the Caliph of the Muslims. But when other persons surpassed him in taking over the rule, although he viewed caliphate as his own right and some of comrades and companions admitted and even insisted on this, ‘Ali (as) practiced patience and tolerance in order to prevent differences and civil wars, interpreting the situation as “having thorn in his eyes and a sharp piece of bone in his throat”; and proceeded to defend his right by presenting logical reasons and proofs.
According to what is recorded in historical documents, ‘Ali (as) didn't swear allegiance to Abu Bakr until after Fatimah (as)'s death and refrained from interference in public affairs during the caliphate of Abu Bakr. For about 25 years (11-35 AH), during which the three caliphs ruled, ‘Ali (as) lived a thoroughly humble, benevolent, and reputable life. In this period, he attended to people's problems and teaching his companions.
He also spent his time in planting trees, farming, digging qanats (subterranean fresh water canals), doing charitable work, and worshipping the Almighty God, until his time for caliphate arrived.
As soon as ‘Ali (as), at the request of people, took over the rule, he declared: “I will take and return to public treasury whatever has been unduly given to you, even though spent on dowries or buying slave-maids”. Upon this, a group of people turned up in Basrah and the battle of Jamal started. In this battle, 13 thousand Muslims from both sides were killed. Later on, the battle of Siffin began and brought about so many problems for ‘Ali (as) and the world of Islam.
The event of arbitration, which inflicted a great loss on Islam, was the consequence of this war, leading to dominance of Mu‘awiya on Sham (Syria) with intrigue and deceit. Shortly afterward, the battle of Khawarij at Nahrawan broke out, and thereby another predicament came about for Imam ‘Ali (as).
He talked to the Khawarij and delivered an ultimatum onto them. Some repented and admitted the rightfulness of Amir al-Mu’minin (as), but others insisted on fighting and killed several of Imam ‘Ali (as)'s comrades. Thereupon, ‘Ali (as) was forced to order defense and war which finally led to the defeat of Khawarij.
These fights, indeed, materialized the Holy Prophet (as)'s foresight. He had told ‘Ali (as): “After my death you will wage war upon three groups. On nakithin, namely the breakers of pledge, i.e. companions of Jamal who first made a pledge and later broke it; on qasitin, that is the rebels and tyrants, Mu‘awiya and the people of Sham, who had since the beginning engaged in rebellion and mutiny; and on mariqin, i.e., those who disobeyed the Imam of their time and the legal rule and law, or the Khawarij of Nahrawan.
Ali (A.S.)'s Murder and the End of His Rule
Three of the Khawarij vowed to kill three of the then rulers, namely Mu‘awiya, ‘Amr b. ‘As, and Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as), and thus, supposedly redeem the Muslims from disturbances. Of the three evil-starred, Abdul Rahman b. Muljam Muradi agreed to kill Amir al-Mu’minin. Ibn Muljam arrived in Kufa and got acquainted with a beautiful woman called Quttam, daughter of Akhdhar Taimi, from among the tribe of Taim al-Rabab.
The woman, having a chronic vendetta against ‘Ali (as), demanded the murder of ‘Ali (as) as her bridal gift. Accepting the proposal, Ibn Muljam with two others and the seditious woman went into the Kufa Mosque on the eve of the 19th of Ramadan, the year 40 AH, and waited for ‘Ali's coming for the morning prayer. Ibn Muljam, with his sword already envenomed, jumped out of his hiding place, and cleaved ‘Ali (as)’s head open with his sword in his mihrab (prayer niche). ‘Ali (as) was in bed from the morning of 19th till some time before midnight of 21st of Ramadan.
Though he was badly injured and weakened, he would talk, give advice, especially to his dear sons, al-Hasan (as) and al-Husayn (as). He said to them: “Always be adorned with taqwa (piety), do not pursue the world [i.e., worldly attachments and pleasures], and do not pity for whatever of the world that you lose. Tell the truth…, fight with the tyrants, and help the oppressed.
He said to his beloved sons, al-Hasan (as) and al-Husayn (as): “Be enemy to the oppressor and supporter of the oppressed.”
Truly, ‘Ali (as) lived in purity and departed from the world in purity. He was always with the Truth, and the Truth was with him. Verily, as he himself said at his martyrdom “Fuztu wa Rabb al-Ka‘ba” (I triumphed, by the Lord of Ka‘ba), indeed he attained salvation.
His name is one of the holiest, greatest, and most respected of human names not only with God, God's angels and Muslims, especially Shi‘as, but also with all human beings by and large; the word “‘Ali” has given a fascinating luminosity to the pages of history, which is admitted not only by Muslims and Shi‘as but also by followers of other religions.
While on his deathbed, he opened his eyes and cast a look at his children one after another and then the following verse was uttered through his lips: ﴾Let all the workers work for the like of this!﴿ Al-Qur’an, 37: 61.
Then, he bade farewell to all, and repeated the sacred Word, la ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah) so far as his spirit left his body and rushed to the Eternal Paradise. ‘Ali (as)'s sacred body was buried in Najaf al-Ashraf, Iraq. May God's blessings be eternally with him.
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