There are many verses in the Holy Quran that highlight Imam Ali’s unmatched virtues, sacrifices, and his role as a leader and symbol of justice in Islam. While these verses hold deep meanings that deserve a detailed explanation, we’ll keep it brief in this short video.
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:55)
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ
Translation:
“Your guardian is none but Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed—those who establish prayer and give zakat while bowing [in worship].”
This verse highlights the concept of wilaya (authority) of Allah, the Prophet (PBUH), and those believers who establish prayer and give zakat while in ruku’. According to commentaries, this verse was revealed when Imam Ali (AS) was performing his prayer, a poor man entered the mosque seeking charity. Imam Ali (AS), while in the state of ruku’ (bowing), extended his hand and gave the man his ring as an act of charity.
Surah Al-Ahzab (33:33)
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah only intends to keep away from you all impurity, O People of the Household, and to purify you with a thorough purification.”
The verse declares Allah’s will to purify the “household” of the Prophet (PBUH) from all impurities. The term “Ahlul Bayt” (household) in this verse specifically refers to the People of the Cloak, which included Imam Ali (AS), and signifies their infallibility.
Surah Al-Insan (76:8–9)
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
Translation:
“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.'”
These verses tell the story of Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima (AS), and their servant fasting for the recovery of Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husayn (AS). For three consecutive nights, as they prepared to break their fast, they gave their meal to a needy person: a homeless man on the first night, an orphan on the second, and a captive on the third. This act of selflessness and devotion to Allah is praised in the verses.
Surah At-Tawbah (9:119)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
Translation:
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.
This verse commands believers to be with the truthful. Narrations specify that “the truthful” refers to the Ahlul Bayt (AS), including Imam Ali (AS).
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:207)
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
Translation:
“And among the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants.”
This verse refers to Imam Ali (AS) through the event of Laylat al-Mabit, when he willingly slept in the bed of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the enemy plotted to assassinate the Prophet. Imam Ali (AS) risked his life for the safety of the Prophet, seeking only Allah’s pleasure.
Surah Al-Imran (3:61)
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
“Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you—say, ‘Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly together and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars.
This verse is about the event of Mubahala, when the Prophet (PBUH) invited a Christian delegation from Najran to invoke Allah’s curse on the liars. To accompany him, the Prophet (PBUH) chose Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima (AS), Imam Hasan (AS), and Imam Husayn (AS). According to commentators, the phrase “ourselves”, (wa anfusana) in the verse refers to Imam Ali (AS), highlighting his unique closeness to the Prophet (PBUH)
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:274):
الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Those who spend their wealth [in Allah’s way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly—they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
According to commentators, this verse was revealed about Ali (AS), who had four dirhams and gave one for God’s sake at night, one during the day, one secretly, and one openly.
Surah Ash-Shura (42:23):
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ
Translation:
“That is [the bounty] of which Allah gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, ‘I do not ask you for it [the message] any payment but love for my near relatives.'”
The phrase “love for my near relatives” refers to the Prophet’s (PBUH) family, particularly Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima (AS), Imam Hasan (AS), and Imam Husayn (AS), who are considered the closest relatives to the Prophet (PBUH).
Surah Maryam (19:96)
Arabic:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَ لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
Translation:
“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – for them there is forgiveness and mercy, and ever is your Lord Forgiving and Merciful.”
According to some narrations, the Prophet (s) told Imam Ali (AS) to say, “O God, put my love in the hearts of believers!” and then this verse was revealed.
Surah Al-Nahl (16:43)
Arabic:
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِيٓ إِلَيْهِمْ فَسْئَلُوا۟ٓ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Translation:
And (O Messenger!) All of the men whom We sent (to people) before you, We gave revelation (too). So (O People!) If you do not know, ask those who are mindful.
In this verse, Allah advises those who are unsure to ask, “those who are mindful” (Ahl al-Dhikr). “Ahl al-Dhikr” refers specifically to the Prophet’s family, the Ahlul Bayt, which includes Imam Ali (AS).
Surah Al-Ra’d (13:43):
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسۡتَ مُرۡسَلًاۖ قُلۡ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدَۢا بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ وَمَنۡ عِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ
Translation:
“And those who have disbelieved say, ‘You are not a messenger.’ Say, ‘Sufficient is Allah as Witness between me and you, and [also] those who have knowledge of the Book.'”
In many interpretations, the phrase “those who have knowledge of the Book” is understood to refer to Imam Ali (AS)
Surah An-Nisa (4:59)
يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡۖ
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.
Narrations interpret uli al-amr (those in authority among you) refers to the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt (AS), beginning with Imam Ali (AS).
Surah Al-Mujadilah (58:12)
يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نَـٰجَيۡتُمُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُواْ بَيۡنَ يَدَىۡ نَجۡوَٮٰكُمۡ صَدَقَةًۚ
O you who have believed, when you privately consult the Messenger, present before your consultation a charity
The verse commanded the believers to give charity when they wanted to talk secretly to the Prophet (PBUH). According to narrations, Imam Ali (AS) was the only one who obeyed this command.
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:67):
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ
O Messenger, convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people
This verse is widely understood to have been revealed during the significant event of Ghadir Khumm, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was instructed by Allah to announce Imam Ali (AS) as his successor and the leader of the Muslim community.
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:3)
ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬اۚ
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.
This verse was also revealed on the day of Ghadir Khumm, after the Prophet (PBUH) publicly declared Imam Ali (AS) as his successor and the leader of the Muslim community.
Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:214)
وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ
Translation:
“And warn your closest kindred.”
This verse refers to the event where the Prophet (PBUH) invited his family to Islam and declared Imam Ali (AS) as his successor during the Feast of Dhul-Ashira.
Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:7)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ
“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds are the best of creation
Narrations tell us that khayrul bariyyah “the best of creation, refers specifically to Imam Ali (AS) and his followers.
Surah Al-Tahrim (66:4)
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ
Then indeed Allah is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous among the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.
The phrase “the righteous among the believers” (ṣāliḥul-muʾminīn) is widely interpreted in Islamic tradition to specifically refer to Imam Ali (AS).
Surah Al-‘Araf (7:181)
وَمِمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَآ أُمَّةٞ يَهۡدُونَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِهِۦ يَعۡدِلُونَ
And among those We created is a community who guide by the truth and by it establish justice.
This verse is widely interpreted to refer to the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt (AS), with Imam Ali (AS) being the foremost example of one who guided by truth and upheld justice.
Surah Al-‘Adiyat (100:1-5)
وَالْعَادِيَاتِ ضَبْحًا
فَالْمُورِيَاتِ قَدْحًا
فَالْمُغِيرَاتِ صُبْحًا
فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعًا
فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا
I swear by the charging, panting horses
And striking sparks of fire (with their hooves)
charging, ambushing at dawn
Raising clouds of dust
penetrating through the middle (of the enemy)
According to interpretations, these verses describe the bravery and speed of warriors in the path of Allah, with a specific reference to Imam Ali (AS) and his companions during key battles.
To wrap up, these were just some of the verses mentioned in the Quran about Imam Ali (AS), though there are many more that highlight his virtues, leadership, and role in Islam. His connection to the Quran is deep and undeniable, and understanding these verses deepens our appreciation of his significance in the religion.