IMAM ALI (A.S.), THE FIRST TESTIFIER OF THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM

Surah al-Zumur, Ayah 33 says: “Wallazi Ja’a Bissidqe Wa Saddaqa Behi U’la’ika Humul Muttaqoon.” “And he who brings the truth and he who testifies it-These are they that are the pious ones.”

By the phrase “he who brought the truth” is meant the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) of Islam and it is the most undeniable fact of Islamic history that the first to testify and believe among the males was Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s.)

The prominent narrator Ibne Abbas says, when on the night of Ascension (Me’raj) the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) visited the Kingdom of God in the heavens, God told him (s.a.w.a.s.): “Go on and inform your people on earth what you have seen in the Heavens”, to which the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) submitted : “Who would vouch my statement O Lord?” The reply came: “Ali would do it.”

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “There are three Truthful ones – (1) Ezkhiel the “Momin-e-Ale Firaun, (2) Habib Najjar, the Momine-Aale-Yaseen, (3) and Ali ibne Abi Talib who is Siddiqul-Akbar, (i.e., the Greatest of the Truthful ones). There is no expedition of any battles which Islam was forced to fight when (Imam) Ali was not placed at its command.”

Once, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked the audience, “Who among you would relate to me the distinguishing points of excellence of my cousin Ali?” Ammar-e-Yasir stood up and said, “I shall do it.”He recited this Ayah.

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) also said, “I am the Siddiqul Akbar – The Greatest Truthful and the Faruqul Azam, The Great Distinguisher between right and wrong – and none shall claim these titles besides me save a liar.”

Tabrasi in his book “Majma-ul-Bayaan” and Abul Futuh Razi in his book “Ruhul Jinan” have narrated the same meaning through the Infallible Imams (a.s.). Similarly, our Sunni brothers had narrated through Abu Hurairah in “Manaqib” of Ibne Mughazili, in Kifayatul Talib by Allama Ganji, in Tafsi by Qartabi, in “Darul Manshur by Allama Suyuti, Hafiz ibne Marduya, and Tafsir Dure Mansoor (volume 6, page 328 line 24 printed in Egypt)

Let us comprehend the status of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) as mentioned in Surah al-Jumah Ayah 1, which mentions the “Asma’al Husna” the Attributes of Allah and correlate with the duties of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) in Ayah 2.

Ayah 1: “All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, the King, al-Quddus, the Majestic and the All-Wise.” Ayah 2: “It is He who has sent to the illiterate (people without a heavenly book) a messenger from among their own people to recite to them His revelations and purify them. He will teach the Book to them and wisdom, even though before this they had been in plain error.”

“King” in Ayah 1 relates to “revelations” in Ayah 2.

“Al-Quddus” in Ayah 1 relates to “purify” in Ayah2

“Majestic” in Ayah 1 relates to “Book” in Ayah 2

“All-Wise” in Ayah 1 relates to “wisdom” in Ayah 2
Similarly, in Surah al-Ra'd Ayah 43, which reads, "(Muhammad), the unbelievers say, "You are not a Messenger."Say, "Allah and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my Prophet-hood)."
Abu Saeed Khidri asked the Noble Messenger in whose honor this Ayah was revealed. He (s.a.w.a.s.) said: "This was revealed favoring my brother Ali ibne Abu Talib." (al-Mizan volume 11 page 427)

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an English Translation by S.V.Mir Ahmed Ali & Ayatullah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

The Glorious Qur’an Urdu Translation by Sayyid Farman Ali

An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur’an