According to verse 25 of Surah al-Ahzab, many exegetes have pointed to the important role of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in protecting Islam and his effective participation in the battles during the time of the Messenger of God. Particularly in the Battle of the Parties (Ahzab), Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in his duel with Amr ibn Abd Wudd was one of the heroes and turning points of that historical event.
Verse 25 of Surah al-Ahzab
وَ رَدَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا خَيْراً، وَ كَفَى اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ، وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ قَوِيّاً عَزِيزاً
“And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And Allah sufficed the believers in battle. And Allah is ever Strong and Mighty.”
Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him), on the day of Eid al-Ghadir, visited his noble grandfather, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), reciting the Al-Ghadir Pilgrimage prayer.
In a passage of the Al-Ghadir Pilgrimage prayer, it is stated:
فَقَتَلْتَ فَارِسَهُمْ وَ شَرَّدْتَ جَمْعَهُمْ، وَ رَدَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا خَيْراً، وَ كَفَى اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ، وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ قَوِيّاً عَزِيزاً
“So you killed their champion and scattered their multitude, and Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And Allah sufficed the believers in battle. And Allah is ever Strong and Mighty.”
Some exegetes, referring to verse 25 of Surah al-Ahzab – which is considered one of the ‘Alawi verses of the Noble Quran – have also interpreted the courageous action of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in the Battle of the Parties (Ahzab) in a symbolic manner, considering it a manifestation of divine support alluded to in the verse.
Ali ibn Ibrahim, a Shia narrator and exegete, said regarding the occasion of revelation of verse 25 of Surah al-Ahzab:
لْآيَةُ: وَ رَدَّ اللهُ الَّذینَ کَفَرُوا بِغَیْظِهِمْ لَمْ یَنالُوا خَیْراً وَ کَفَی اللهُ المُؤْمِنینَ الْقِتالَ) یَعْنِي بِقُوَّةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) (1)
“The verse: ‘And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And Allah sufficed the believers in battle’ – means by the strength of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).”
Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him), referring to verse 25 of Surah al-Ahzab and addressing Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), said:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ)، لَكَ الْمَنَزِلَةُ الظَّاهِرَةُ وَ الْمَقَامَاتُ الْمَشْهُورَةُ، وَ الْأَيَّامُ الْمَصْدُورَةُ، مِنْهَا يَوْمُ بَدْرٍ وَ يَوْمُ الْأَحْزَابِ الَّذِي قَتَلْتَ فِيهِ عَمْراً وَ شَرَّدْتَ الْجَمْعَ، وَ رَدَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا خَيْراً، وَ كَفَى اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ، وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ قَوِيّاً عَزِيزاً (2)
“Peace be upon you, O Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). You possess the manifest station and renowned ranks, and the momentous days – among them the day of Badr and the day of Ahzab, on which you killed Amr and scattered the host. And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And Allah sufficed the believers in battle. And Allah is ever Strong and Mighty.”
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), on the Day of Ghadir, visited the shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) and said:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مَنْ كَفَى اللَّهُ بِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ يَوْمَ الْأَحْزَابِ (3)
“Peace be upon you, O one through whom Allah sufficed the believers in battle on the Day of Ahzab.”
- Tafsir Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), vol. 12, p. 128; Al-Qummi, vol. 2, p. 189; Al-Burhan; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 20, p. 233; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 41, p. 87; Al-Manaqib, vol. 3, p. 134; Nur al-Thaqalayn
- Tafsir Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), vol. 12, p. 128; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 97, p. 364
- Tafsir Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), vol. 12, p. 128; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 97, p. 373
