When Jibreel Held Back the Hand of Imam Ali (A.S.): The Hidden Power of Zulfiqar

In the vast treasure of Islamic history, few moments shine as brilliantly as the miraculous strike of Imam Ali (AS) at the Battle of Khaybar — an event that revealed the unmatched power of Zulfiqar, the legendary sword of Islam. Scholars and historians describe this moment as more than a battlefield victory; it was a divine sign of Imam Ali's spiritual rank, strength, and nearness to Allah. According to classical narrations, when Imam Ali (AS) lifted Zulfiqar against the warrior Marhab, the force of his strike was so mighty that Angel Jibreel (AS) was commanded to restrain it, the blow would split not only Marhab but even the seven layers of the earth.

This extraordinary incident, preserved in works like Mashariq-ul-Anwar-ul-Yaqeen, unveils the true meaning of Ali (AS) being Yadullah (the Hand of God) and Saifullah (the Sword of God). It stands as one of the most powerful episodes that highlights his divinely gifted strength, unmatched bravery, and the heavenly support that accompanied him.

In this article, we explore this miraculous event in depth — its historical background, spiritual significance, and why the angels themselves yet that the weight of Imam Ali's strike surpassed that of entire cities.

The Unmatched Sword and the Strike of Imam Ali (AS)

In the ancient world, especially among the Arabs, double-bladed swords were unknown. No warrior had ever imagined such a weapon, nor had any hand mastered its art. But Imam Ali (AS) elevated swordsmanship to a level that history had never remembered. Every thrust, every parry, every strike he performed became a standard unmatched in the chronicles of battle.

His hand was called Yadullah — the Hand of Allah. His sword, Zulfiqar, earned him the title Saifullah — the Sword of Allah.

It was during the confrontation with the giant warrior Marhab that this reality was revealed to the world in its most astonishing form.

According to Allama Rajab Barasi in Mashariq-ul-Anwar-ul-Yaqeen, when Imam Ali (AS) struck Marhab with Zulfiqar, the blow carried such unimaginable force that Allah commanded Jibreel (AS) to restrain Ali's hand.

If Angels didn't restrain Imam Ali's hand. , Zulfiqar would have split Marhab entirely in two and continued down through the seven layers of the earth.

At that moment, the battlefield of Khaybar witnessed not just a strike of steel, but a strike whose weight resonated through both worlds — the seen and the unseen

The Testimony of Jibreel: A Strike Heavier Than Seven Cities

Jibreel (AS), obeying the command of Allah, descended instantly to intercept the force of Ali's blow. Later, he described this moment to the Holy Prophet (SAW), revealing a truth that shook even the angels.

He said:

“I once lifted on my wings the seven cities of the people of Lut, along with the seven layers of earth beneath them. I raised them so high that the angels of the Throne heard the crowing of their roosters and the voices of their children.

I held them the entire night, awaiting Allah’s command, yet I never felt their weight.”

But when he was ordered to restrain the arm of Imam Ali (AS), Jibreel added:

“The intensity of Ali's strike was heavier upon my wings than the burden of those seven cities.”

And he was not alone — Mika'il and Israfil were behind him, assisting by Allah's command, helping to hold back the descending blow of Zulfiqar.

Before the strike of that sword, Marhab's steel helmet, his stone-reinforced armor, and even the swords of enemies — all proved powerless and fragile.

Zulfiqar carried a force that no earthly material, no warrior, and no armor could withstand.

In that moment, both earth and sky witnessed that the strength flowing through Imam Ali's hand was not ordinary strength — it was a strength supported by divine will.

Conclusion

The event of Zulfiqar striking Marhab is more than a battlefield scene; it is a moment where the power of the unseen revealed itself through the hand of Imam Ali (AS). When three of the greatest angels felt the weight of his blow, the world witnessed a truth that history could never deny: the strength of Imam Ali (AS) was not confined to human limits.

His courage, his precision in battle, and the divine force flowing through his arm made him a warrior unmatched in any era. The fact that Jibreel, who once lifted entire cities, found Imam Ali's (AS) strike heavier than all he had ever carried, shows that the hand of Imam Ali (AS) worked only through the permission and power of Allah.

Thus, the miracle of Khaybar stands eternal — a moment where earth, sky, angels, and every creation recognized the greatness of Yadullah and the unmatched power of Zulfiqar.

It remains a shining reminder that when Imam Ali (AS) fought, he fought not for glory, but for truth — and with every strike, the will of Allah moved with him.