24 Virtues of Imam Ali (a) in the Quran (Lite Edition)

Even though the Quran does not directly mention the name of Imam Ali (a), many references to his holiness praise him for his good deeds and virtues. In this article on Islam4u, we will look at 24 verses of the Quran that have been revealed in honor of Imam Ali (a). We have only used narrations by Sunni narrators and historians.

1: The Verse of Tabligh

Verse 67 of Surah Maidah reads:

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ ‎﴿٦٧﴾

O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot. (67)

The verse of Tabligh (conveyance) as mentioned by Tha’labi in his Tafsir, Tabari in his book “Al-Wilayah,” Ibn Sabbagh Maliki, and others, refers to verse 67 of Surah Al-Ma’idah regarding Ali (a). It is narrated that this verse was revealed about Ali (a), and the Messenger of Allah (s) took the hand of Ali and said, “Whoever I am his master, this Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend whoever befriends him…” This happened at Ghadir Khumm, where the Prophet (s) officially announced Ali (a) as his immediate successor.

2: The Verse of Purification (Tatheer)

The third and last passage of verse 33 of Surah Ahzab (after two waqf signs) speaks of Allah purifying the Ahlul Bait (a) from every impurity. The Allah states in this verse:

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ‎﴿٣٣﴾

Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification. (33)

Allah revealed this verse when the Prophet (s) asked his daughter Lady Fatima (a) for his Yemeni cloak and gathered al-Hassan (a), al-Hussain (a), Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), and Lady Fatima (a) under it. Then he prayed to Allah and asked Him to purify him and his household who were under his cloak. Then the angel Gabriel descended to him and revealed the verse of purification. Thus, the purification of these noble personalities was announced through the verse of purification. These individuals were purified from every evil and impurity. They became known as Ashab al-Kisa’, meaning the people of the cloak. Imam Ali (a) had the honor to be one of those whom this verse addresses. This is one of the greatest virtues of Imam Ali (a). That is, to be one of the ones whom Allah purified from every impurity.

3: The Verse of Guardianship (Wilayah)

Another famous verse that has been revealed in honor of Imam Ali (a) is verse 55 of Surah Maidah that is known as the verse of guardianship. The verse reads:

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ ‎﴿٥٥﴾

Your guardian is only Allah, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakat while bowing down. (55)

The story of this verse is that Imam Ali (a) was once praying when a beggar came into the mosque and asked for money. No one paid attention to him. At that moment, Imam Ali (a) was bowing down in ruku‘. He gestured to the beggar and offered his ring even as he was in the bowing position. The beggar happily took the ring from Imam Ali (a). Thereat, verse 55 of Surah Maidah was revealed to the Noble Prophet (s). Interestingly, both the Shia and the Sunni acknowledge that this verse has been revealed concerning Imam Ali (a). This verse proves that Imam Ali (a) is the guardian of believers after the Prophet (s). Guardian means someone who has authority and whom everyone must obey as the leader and ruler over Muslims.

4: The Verse of Those Vested With Authority (Ul al-Amr)

One of the verses of the Quran speaks of three authorities whom everyone must obey. This verse is known as the verse of ul al-amr, meaning those vested with authority. Verse 59 of Surah Nisa’ reads:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا ‎﴿٥٩﴾‏

O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favorable in outcome. (59)

The commentators and exegetes have said that according to narrations from the Prophet (s), those vested with authority are the successors to the Prophet (s) with the first one among them being Imam Ali (a). Those vested with authority must be special people who are righteous, religious, knowledgeable, just, and most importantly infallible just like the Prophet (s) himself. Those vested with authority who come after the Prophet (s) are indeed the twelve Imams, starting with Imam Ali (a).

5: The Verse of Mubahala (Incitement of Curse Upon the Liars)

The story of Mubahala goes that a group of Christians from Najran went to the Prophet (s) and started debating with him about various inconsistencies that exist between Muslims and Christians. However, they did not accept the words of the Prophet (s) and started presenting fallacious arguments. At this moment, the verse of Mubahala was revealed, instructing the Prophet (s) to challenge them to a duel with the help of their sons, women, and those who they cherished as if they were their own souls. Then they would curse each other until the liars would be destroyed.

Verse 61 of Surah Al-i ‘Imran reads:

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ ‎﴿٦١﴾‏

Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly, and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’ (61)

The Noble Prophet (s) brought with him Imam Ali (a) as someone he considered his own soul, his two grandsons Imam Hassan (a) and Imam Hussain (a), and his daughter Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a). When the heads of the Christians of Najran saw the illuminant faces of these five infallibles, they forfeited and decided not to do the mubahala. Imam Ali (a) in this verse has the virtue of being named as the soul and existence of the Prophet (s). This shows his lofty status.

6: The Verse of Mawaddah (Act of Love and Obedience)

Prophet Muhammad (s) is the only prophet who asked for a recompense from his nation. However, it was not a material recompense but a spiritual one. The second passage of verse 23 of Surah Shura reads:

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ

Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives.’

This verse is about the Ahlul Bait (a). All Muslims agree that loving the Ahlul Bait (a) is a religious obligation mentioned in the Quran. Who are the Ahlul Bait (a)? From the verse of purification, we learn that five of the members of the Ahlul Bait (a) are the Prophet (s), Imam Ali (a), Lady Fatima (a), Imam Hassan (a), and Imam Hussain (a). Therefore, this verse was also revealed in honor of Imam Ali, too because he is a member of the Ahlul Bait (a). However, it must be noted that the word mawaddah in Arabic does not just mean love. Rather, it means something that you do to prove your love for someone. Therefore, obedience and surrendering to the will of the Ahlul Bait (a) is also needed to prove your love for them. As a result, every Muslim should both love Imam Ali (a) and obey him.

7: Ali (a) Has Knowledge of the Book

There is a verse in the Quran that refers to Imam Ali (a) as the one having knowledge of the book of Allah. Verse 43 of Surah Ra‘d reads:

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ ‎﴿٤٣﴾‏

The faithless say, ‘You have not been sent [by Allah].’ Say, ‘Allah suffices as a witness between me and you, and he who possesses the knowledge of the Book.’ (43)

Many Sunni narrators of hadith have said that the one who possesses the knowledge of the Book is Ali ibn Abi Talib (a). Of course, they say this based on narrations where the Prophet explicitly states this. For example, Abu Sa‘eed Khudri says that he asked the Messenger of Allah (s) who is the one who has knowledge of the Book? The Prophet replied, “He is my brother Ali ibn Abi Talib.”

What an honor and virtue Imam Ali (a) has that Allah describes him as a person who has knowledge of His own book, such as its interpretation, esoteric interpretation, the abrogating verses (nasikh), and the abrogated verses (mansukh).

8: The Verse of the Witness From the Prophet’s Family

Verse 17 of Surah Hud reads:

أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ مِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوْعِدُهُ ۚ فَلَا تَكُ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ‎﴿١٧﴾

Is he who stands on a manifest proof from his Lord, and whom a witness of his own [family] follows? And before him there was the Book of Moses, a guide and mercy. It is they who have faith in it, and whoever defies him from among the factions, the Fire is their tryst. So do not be in doubt about it; it is the truth from your Lord, but most people do not have faith. (17)

Narrators of hadith from both the Shia and Sunni have stated that the witness mentioned in this verse is Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a).

9: Those Who Give to Charity by Night and Day

Verse 274 of Surah Baqarah reads:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ‎﴿٢٧٤﴾‏

Those who give their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve. (274)

Khwarazmi, Tha’labi, Maliki, Abu Na’im, and others have narrated from Ibn Abbas that Ali (a) had four dirhams. He gave one in charity during the night (for the sake of Allah), one during the day, one secretly, and one openly. Then the above verse was revealed regarding him.

10: The One Who Sells His Soul Seeking Allah’s Pleasure

Verse 207 of Surah Baqarah reads:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ‎﴿٢٠٧﴾

And among the people is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants. (207)

This verse was also revealed exclusively in honor of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (a). The polytheists of Mecca did not know that the Prophet was migrating to Medina. That is why they went to his house to kill him. When they arrived at his home, they were shocked to find out that Imam Ali (a) was sleeping in the Prophet’s bed. Due to this sacrifice made by Imam Ali (a), Allah revealed an entire verse, extolling the virtue of Imam Ali’s outstanding bravery.

11: Ali (a) and the Ahlul Bait (a): The Best of Creation (Khayr al-Bariyyah)

Verse 7 of Surah Bayyinah reads:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ ‎﴿٧﴾‏

Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds—it is they who are the best of creation. (7)

This verse, according to both Shia and Sunni narrators of hadith, has been revealed in honor of Imam Ali (a) and the Ahlul Bait (a).

12: Stop Them!

Verse 24 of Surah Saffat reads:

وَقِفُوهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُم مَّسْئُولُونَ ‎﴿٢٤﴾

[But first] stop them! For they must be questioned.’ (24)

A famous sahabi of the Prophet (s), Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri narrates from the Prophet (s): “That which people will be questioned about is the wilayah (guardianship) of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a).”

13: The Friends of the Beneficent One

Verse 96 of Surah Maryam reads:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا ‎﴿٩٦﴾

Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds—the All-beneficent will endear them [to His creation]. (96)

A man went to the Commander of the Faithful (a) and said, “O Abul Hassan! You should know that I love you in the way of Allah.” Then, Imam Ali (a) went and told the Prophet (s) what had happened. The Prophet (s) said, “Maybe you have done good to him.” Imam Ali (a) said, “By Allah I have not done him any good.” At that moment, the Prophet said, “Praise the Lord who has filled the hearts of believers with love for you.” Thereat, the abovementioned verse was revealed.

14: Cling to the Rope of Allah

The first passage of verse 103 of Surah Al-i ‘Imran reads:

وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا

Hold fast, all together, to Allah’s cord, and do not be divided [into sects].

Once an Arab visited the Prophet (s) and asked him what Allah means by His rope in the above verse. The Prophet (s) placed his hand on Ali’s hand and said, cling to Ali as he is the strong rope of Allah.

15: The Warner and the Guide

A part of verse 7 of Surah Ra‘d reads:

إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ ‎﴿٧﴾

You are only a warner, and there is a guide for every people. (7)

The interpreters of the Quran, based on narrations from the Prophet (s), have said that mundhir in this verse refers to the Prophet (s) while hadi refers to Imam Ali (a).

16: The Two Individuals Who Never Worshipped Idols Even Before Islam

Verse 35 of Surah Ibrahim reads:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ ‎﴿٣٥﴾‏

When Abraham said, ‘My Lord! Make this city a sanctuary, and save me and my children from worshiping idols. (35)

Ibn Maghazili, from his chain of narration from Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, narrates from the Noble Prophet (s) who said, “The supplication of Ibrahim who said, ‘My Lord! Save me and my children from worshipping idols,” ended with me and Ali. We never prostrated toward any idol and as a result, Allah made me a prophet and Ali a vicegerent.”

17: The Righteous Among the Believers

Verse four of Surah Tahrim reads:

إِن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ ‎﴿٤﴾

If the two of you repent to Allah… for your hearts have certainly swerved, and if you back each other against him, then [know that] Allah is indeed his guardian, and his supporters are Gabriel, the righteous among the faithful and, thereafter, the angels. (4)

Sunni exegetes and scholars have said that the Noble Prophet (s) said that what this verse means by the righteous among the faithful is Ali ibn Abi Talib (a).

18: The Inhabitants of Paradise Are the Prosperous

Verse 20 of Surah Hashr reads:

لَا يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏

Not equal are the inmates of the Fire and the inhabitants of paradise. It is the inhabitants of paradise who are the successful ones. (20)

Muwaffaq ibn Ahmad narrates from Jabir who said that we were in the company of the Prophet (s) when Ali (a) joined us. The Noble Prophet (s) said, “By the same God who my life is in His hand, this man and his followers will be successful on the Day of Judgment.”

19: The Receptive Ears

Verse 12 of Surah Haqqah reads:

لِنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً وَتَعِيَهَا أُذُنٌ وَاعِيَةٌ ‎﴿١٢﴾‏

That We might make it a reminder for you, and that receptive ears might remember it. (12)

Tabari and Suyuti have written in their tafsir that when this verse was revealed, the Noble Prophet (s) said, “O Allah! Make those ears the ears of Ali.” Ali (a) said from that moment on, I remembered everything I heard.

20: A Believer Is Not the Same as a Transgressor

Verse 18 of Surah Sajdah reads:

أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًا ۚ لَّا يَسْتَوُونَ ‎﴿١٨﴾

Is someone faithful like someone who is a transgressor? They are not equal. (18)

Ibn Abi al-Hadid in his commentary on Nahj al-Balagha, Ibn Kathir in his tafsir, and Khatib Baghdadi in his history of Baghdad have said that Walid ibn Uqbah started boasting about himself in front of Ali (a) and said, “My tongue is more eloquent than yours, my spear is sharper than yours, and I am braver than you in battle.” Ali (a) said, “Be quiet you transgressor!” Thereat, Allah revealed verse 18 of Surah Sajdah to verify Imam Ali’s words.

21: Ali’s Friends Will Be in Paradise and His Enemies in Hell

Verse 24 of Surah Qaf reads:

أَلْقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ ‎﴿٢٤﴾

[The two angels who accompany him will be told,] ‘Cast every obdurate ingrate into hell. (24)

Hakim Hasakani quotes from Abu Saeed Khudri in his book “Shawahid al-Tanzil” that the Messenger of Allah (s) said, “When the Day of Judgment comes, Allah, the Most High, will say to me and Ali, ‘Throw into the fire whoever is your enemy, and admit into Paradise whoever is your friend.'” And, Allah, the Most High, has said: “Cast every obdurate ingrate into hell.”

22: Bow Down With Those Who Bow Down

Verse 43 of Surah Baqarah reads:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ ‎﴿٤٣﴾

And maintain the prayer, and give the zakat, and bow along with those who bow [in prayer]. (43)

Muwaffaq bin Ahmad and Abu Na’im Isfahani, with their chains of transmission, have narrated from Ibn Abbas that this verse was revealed regarding the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and Ali (peace be upon him), and they were the first to perform prayers and bow down.

23: You Will Be Questioned Concerning the Blessing

Verse 8 of Surah Takathur reads:

ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ ‎﴿٨﴾‏

Then, on that day, you will surely be questioned concerning the Blessing. (8)

Abu Na’im and Hasakani quote from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) that the intended meaning of “the Blessing” in this verse is the guardianship of Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali) and us (i.e. the Ahlul Bait), for which they will be questioned.

24: The Punishment Sure to Befall (the Enemy of Ali)

Verse 1 of Surah Ma‘arij reads:

سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ ‎﴿١﴾

An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall. (1)

Tha’labi, Ibn Sabbagh, and others have written that when on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, the Messenger of Allah (s) appointed Ali (a) as his successor and said, “Whomever I am his master, this Ali is his master,” Harith bin Nu’man came to serve him after hearing this news and said, “We accepted your testimony regarding the oneness of Allah and your prophethood from Allah, then you ordered us towards prayer, almsgiving, pilgrimage, jihad, and fasting, and we accepted these. But about this young man whom you have appointed as the leader, is this your decision or the command of Allah?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “I swear by Allah, besides whom there is no other deity, that this is by the command of Allah.” While Harith was returning to his camel, he said, “O Allah, if this matter is true, send a stone from the sky upon us or inflict a painful punishment upon us.” His camel had not reached him when a stone fell from the sky and immediately killed him. Then this verse was revealed: “An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall.”

Why Deny the Truth?

Now we must ask the gentlemen (Sunnis): Despite all the verses that indicate the leadership and superiority of Ali (a), and you yourselves would accept the validity of this matter if you refer to your authentic books, how do you consider Abu Bakr as the caliph instead of Ali (a)? Isn’t your stance and belief in this matter somewhat inconsistent and ambiguous?

In conclusion of this section, it is inevitable to mention that some may wonder why Allah did not explicitly mention the name of Ali (a) in the Quran, given that he is the Prophet’s successor, so that Muslims wouldn’t fall into disagreements.

The response to this concern or objection is that first, the issue of the leadership of Ali (a) is a test for people. As indicated by other verses, the noble verse: “Do people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tried?” (29:2), according to the statements of scholars and commentators, specifically refers to the leadership of Ali (a) and how people would be tested concerning it.

Second, even if the name of Ali (a) were mentioned in the Quran, people would still oppose it due to their love for worldly power and greed.

Third, the Quran contains general rulings, and its details were explained by the Prophet (s). The principle of leadership and Imamate, just like in this chapter, has been clearly stated in several verses with explicit indications. The Prophet (s) conveyed to people the substance and implications of those verses that apply to Ali (a). Scholars and Sunni commentators acknowledge this fact, yet they practically oppose it.

Conclusion

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a) was the immediate, rightful, and worthy successor to the Noble Prophet (s). As was mentioned above, Imam Ali (a) has been praised in numerous verses of the Quran. Allah commanded the Prophet (s) to announce his successorship in a place where a large gathering of Muslims was present. Allah said, “If you do not announce to people (the successorship of Ali), it is as though you have not accomplished your prophetic mission.” Subhanallah. This is how high a station Imam Ali (a) enjoys. After the Prophet (s) announces to people that Ali (a) is his successor, Allah reveals another verse stating that now your religion has been perfected (5:3). This is how important it is to believe in Imam Ali (a) as the successor to the Prophet (s) whom we must all follow.