Seraje Monir

Evaluation of the Approaches to the Testimony of Imam Ali (AS) on the Authenticity of the Holy Quran in Verse 43 of Surah Ra'ad

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad Afi Khorasani 1
Fathollah Najjarzadegan 2

1 Phd student of Quran and Hadith Studies, Farabi College, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

2 Professor of Quran and Hadith Studies, Farabi College, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/ajsm.2025.78767.2024
Abstract
Proving the truthfulness of the Holy Quran is one of the most important issues that Muslim scholars have been paying attention to for a long time. In the meantime, sometimes, other than the reason of Taḥaddī, other reasons have been mentioned for this authenticity; Among other things, some Muslim researchers, emphasizing the testimony of God Almighty and Imam Ali (a.s.) on the truthfulness of the Qurʾan in the last verse of Surah Raʿd, and arguing about the breadth of knowledge and the height of Imam Ali's (a.s.) eloquence, Their testimony that the Holy Quran cannot be except from Allah is an independent proof against the enemies of Islam. In the following article, an attempt has been made to analyze this idea and according to the intra-textual factors (analysis the context of the verse and comparing it with similar verses), it was concluded that the testimony in the verse, apparently in the context of an address and It was to psychologically influence the enemies of Islam or to consolation the Prophet (PBUH) and it was not in the context of expressing an independent proof of the truthfulness of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Holy Qur'an.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Proving the truthfulness of the Holy Quran is one of the most important issues that Muslim scholars have long examined. Sometimes, reasons other than Taḥaddī are mentioned for this authenticity. For example, some Muslim researchers emphasize God's testimony and that of Imam Ali (AS) on the truthfulness of the Qurʾan in the last verse of Surah al-Raʿd. By considering Imam Ali's (AS) vast knowledge and distinguished eloquence, they argue that his testimony, alongside God's, serves as independent proof against the enemies of Islam. The following article attempts to analyze this idea.
Literature Review
Discussions about the last verse of Surah al-Raʻd have a long history in the Shia and Sunni heritage. However, almost all of these studies have focused primarily on determining the example of "Man ‘indahū ‘Ilm al-Kitāb." However, there is no research in this regard as to what the proof of " Man ‘indahū ‘Ilm al-Kitāb " means in this verse and whether it can be an independent proof to prove the authenticity of the Qur'an. Only Ayatollah Misbah has mentioned this perspective in some of his works, which, on the one hand, deals only with the meaning of a part of the verse, and on the other hand, overlooks historical and textual correlations. This article aims to solve this deficiency.
Methodology
Paying attention to the triple evidence: the intra-textual factors (analysis the context of the verse and comparing it with similar verses), Extra-textual factors (un-justification of the argument to the beneficial witness in the eyes of the general public and the need to eliminate the duality between God's testimony and the Imam's testimony in the verse) and historical factors (examination of the time of revelation of the verse and Is this verse Meccan or Madani? and comparison with the conditions of Imam Ali (AS).
Conclusion
Other evidence proves the authenticity of the Holy Quran. However, the testimony of Imam Ali (AS) in Surah al-Ra’d cannot be seen as a separate proof. Surah Ra’d and similar verses suggest this verse was not meant as a logical argument. Instead, it likely serves a rhetorical purpose those appeals to emotions. Evidence also suggests this Surah was Meccan. There are no reports of Imam Ali’s (AS) eloquence being recognized at that time. His testimony about the Quran’s rhetorical miracle is unlikely to be seen as an argument from a person whose rhetorical skills are clear. Imam Ali (AS) had a close relationship with the Prophet (PBUH) due to their kinship, upbringing, and family ties. For this reason, his testimony is unlikely to serve as logical evidence for the Prophet’s (PBUH) truthfulness against the disbelievers.
There is additional evidence that Allah Almighty’s testimony in this verse is not meant as a logical reason. Therefore, Imam Ali’s (AS) testimony in the verse also cannot be considered a logical reason. These two testimonies are presented together, in the same context. It would not be customary to see one as a logical argument while the other is of a different kind.
Therefore, it becomes clear that the reference to the testimony of Allah Almighty and Imam Ali (AS) in this context is apparently not presented as a proof of the miracle or truthfulness of the Holy Quran. Hence, it seems that the content of the verse is trying to convey the following meaning: "O Prophet! Now that the disbelievers do not listen to logical arguments and are constantly looking for excuses, leave them alone and say that it is enough that Allah and the one who has the knowledge of the Holy Quran witness to my truthfulness." In this way, on the one hand, the Prophet (PBUH), who was suffering from the persecution of the disbelievers, is consoled, and on the other hand, it can be an emotional and motivating expression to shake the hearts of the disbelievers

Keywords

Man ‘indahū ‘Ilm al-Kitāb
Verse 43 of Surah al-Raʻd
Imam Ali (AS)
Quran’s IʻJāz
authenticity of the Holy Quran
Subjects
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Seraje Monir
Volume 16, Issue 51
September 2025
Pages 205-230

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