12. (In the verse 55 of chapter 5) "Those who believe" is in the plural form. How can it be applicable to Imam Ali who is an individual?

Answer:

Arabs use plural form to denote an individual

Arabs apply the plural expression while addressing an individual due to the nice effect it produces [i.e. respect].

A testimony to this fact is what the Almighty says in chapter Al-i-’Imran:

"Those, to whom the people said," All the people have gathered against you; so fear them." That only increased them in faith, and they said," Allah is sufficient for us, and He is an excellent trustee." (Qur'an; 3:173)

All the scholars of exegesis, traditionists, and chroniclers agree that "the people" in this verse is none other than Na’im ibn Mas’ud. Allah Almighty has applied to him, the singular person that he is, the plural form just to express respect for those who did not listen to his statements nor heeded his dissuading calls.

In applying the word "people" for just one individual, a nice and divine point is made which is complimenting the seventy men who came out with the Prophet. This surely sounds more eloquent when used as such; it is better than saying: "Those to whom a man said that a large army had been raised..., etc.," as is obvious. There are numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an similar to this one, as well as in the Arabic language as a whole.

In the Mubahala verse, He has applied both the singular and the plural forms to the "sons," "women," and "selves" to the Hasanain, Fatimah, and ‘Ali in particular, just to honor to their lofty status, May Allah be pleased with them.

Examples for the application of the plural form for the individual wherever necessary are innumerable and beyond recounting, and they all prove the license to use the plural form while talking about one individual whenever there is a nice eloquent effect thereto.1

When the Almighty applied the plural rather than the singular form, as many do, then those who hated ‘Ali as well as all those who were envious of and in competition with Banu Hashim would not be able to tolerate hearing it in the singular form, for they would then be unable to hide the truth or water it down. Because of their desperation, they might even do something quite harmful to Islam. It is quite possible that it was for this reason that the verse was revealed in the plural form though applied to the singular; in order to avoid the harm resulting from disgracing those folks.

This is a sublime wisdom manifested in all the verses of the Holy Qur'an which were revealed to highlight the attributes of the Commander of the Faithful (Imam ‘Ali) and those among his purified household, as is obvious.

• 1. . In his Kashshaf, Zamakhshari mentions another nice point when he says, "If you wonder how it can be accurate to use the plural with ‘Ali, I will tell you that he is addressed in the plural form, although he is only one man, so that people may follow his example and earn rewards like his."