Earliest Commentary Upon the Quran by the 4th Rightly Guided Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib

Description

In the Introduction we detail the problem of injustice against all women and exonerate Ali from having had any part in the discrediting of all women. Interestingly enough, the arguments come from the same Nahj al-Balagha text, but follow the Quranic dictum say what is fairer (Q17:53). In this case, it would be to follow the words that clearly respect the reputation of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a man of wisdom and justice. My challenge to the reader is to undertake the same exercise I have taken. That is, to place the closest words from the Nahj al-Balagha (Path of Eloquence) that reflect the Quranic verses underneath the specific Quranic verse(s) as a commentary upon that particular verse. The person who does this will find that there are no Quranic verses to which one can apply the forged words denigrating women. The person who accepts this challenge will have to conclude, as I have done, that the words that mis-characterize all women could not have been said by either the Prophet, peace and the mercy of God be upon him, or Ali ibn Abi Talib as both were models of fairness and justice.