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The majority of Islamic commentators do not believe that ‘Ali is mentioned by name in the Qur’an. However, Shi‘ite scholars interpret many Qur’anic verses as referring to ‘Ali or other Imams, in which the Imams are entitled as "the signs of Allah, the way, the straight path, the light of Allah, the inheritors of the Book, the people of knowledge, the holders of authority and other such designations," Responding to this question of why the names of the imams are not mentioned in the Quran explicitly, Muhammad al-Baqir answers: "Allah revealed Salat to his Prophet but never said of three or four Rakats, revealed Zakat but did not mention to its details, revealed Hajj but did not count its Tawaf and the Prophet interpreted their details. Allah revealed this verse and Prophet said this verse is about ‘Ali, Al-Hasan, Al-Husayn and other the twelve Imams." Shi‘ite scholars, thus, have argued that a quarter of Qur’anic verses are stating the station of imams. Such a view is rejected by Sunni scholars, who argue that some of these verses instead refer to the Quraysh or Muhammad's wives. Nevertheless, there are a few verses, such as the verse of Mubahalah, the verse of Wilayah and the verse of purification, that some Sunni commentators interpret as referring to ‘Ali.
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The verse of Mubahalah
"But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars."[Quran 3:61 (Translated by Shakir)]
In the year 10 AH (631/32 CE) a Christian envoy from Najran (now in northern Yemen) came to Muhammad to debate doctrines regarding ‘Isa (Jesus). After Muhammad likened Jesus' miraculous birth to Adam's (Adem) creation,—who was born to neither a mother nor a father — and when the Christians did not accept the Islamic doctrine about Jesus, Muhammad was instructed to call them to Mubahalah where each party should ask God to destroy the false party and their families Sunnite historians, except Tabari who do not name the participants, mention Muhammad, Fatimah, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, and some agree with the Shi‘ite tradition that ‘Ali was also among the participants in this event on the side of Muhammad. Accordingly, in the verse of Mubahalah it is argued that the phrase "our sons" is representative of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, "our women" would refer to Fatimah, and that "ourselves" would be Muhammad and ‘Ali.
The verse of Wilayah
"Only Allah is Waliyyukum (Arabic: ولـيّـكـم, "your Wali" (masculine, plural tense)) and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay az-Zakah (Arabic: الـزّكـاة, the Poor-rate) while they bow."[Quran 5:55 (Translated by Shakir)]
Shi‘ite scholars, along with Sunni ones such as Tabari, Al-Suyuti and Razi, recorded that one day, when ‘Ali was performing the ritual prayers in the masjid, a beggar began to ask for alms. ‘Ali extended his finger, and the beggar removed his ring. Then Muhammad observed this, and a passage of the Qur’an was sent down upon him (5:55), According to Shi‘ites, in this verse, "obedience is absolute and conjoined with obedience to God and his messenger", so the person identified as Wali must be infallible. However, Ibn Kathir did not agree that ‘Ali was the only figure who gave Zakah while bowing down, stating in his tafsir (Arabic: تـفـسـيـر, interpretation) of the verse that "some people thought that they give the Zakah while bowing down. If this were the case, then paying the Zakah while bowing would be the best form of giving Zakah. No scholar from whom religious rulings are taken says this, as much as we know."
The verse of purification
"And qarna (Arabic: قـرنَ, 'stay' (feminine, plural tense)) in buyutikunna (Arabic: بـيـوتـكـنَّ, "your houses" (feminine, plural tense)) and do not tabarrajna (Arabic: تـبـرّجـنَ, "display your finery" (feminine, plural tense)) like the displaying of the Ignorance of yore; and aqimna (Arabic: أقـمـنَ, "keep up" (feminine, plural tense)) the Salah, and atina (Arabic: آتـيـنَ, 'pay' (feminine, plural tense)) the Zakah, and ati‘na (Arabic: أطـعـنَ, 'obey' (feminine, plural tense)) Allah and His Messenger. Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness ‘ankum (Arabic: عـنـكـم, from you (masculine, plural tense)), Ahlal-Bayt (Arabic: أهـلَ الـبـيـت, People of the House), and yutahhirukum (Arabic: يـطـهّـركـم, purify you (masculine, plural tense)) a (thorough) purifying."[Quran 33:33 (Translated by Shakir)]
Shi‘ite commentators, along with some Sunni ones, record that the people of the house in this verse are the Ahl al-Kisa’ (Arabic: أهـل الـكـسـاء, People of the Mantle): Muhammad, ‘Ali, Fatimah, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. According to Madelung "in spite of the obvious Shiite significance, the great majority of the reports quoted by al-Tabari in his commentary on this verse support this interpretation." However, Ibn Kathir, in his tafsir of the verse, says "the [Sunni] scholars are unanimously agreed that they (Muhammad's wives) were the reason for revelation in this case ... but others may be included by way of generalization."
The verse of Mawaddah
"That is of which Allah gives the good news to His servants, (to) those who believe and do good deeds. Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but al-Mawaddah (Arabic: الـمـودّة, the Love) for al-qurba (Arabic: الـقـربى, the near relatives), and whoever earns good, We give him more of good therein; surely Allah is Forgiving, Grateful."[Quran 42:23 (Translated by Shakir)]
Shi‘ite commentators and Sunni ones like Baydawi and Razi agree that the near relatives in question are ‘Ali, Fatimah, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. Such a view is rejected by Ibn Kathir, who claims the verse refers to the Quraysh, quoting hadiths from Sahih Bukhari and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. According to Madelung Shi‘ite and Sunni sources agree that by the near relatives in this verse and other similar verses were meant the descendants of Muhammad's great-grandfather Hashim ibn ‘Abd Manaf, and of Hashim's brother al-Muttalib.