Zulfiqar 1432700 221366017 2008-06-24T05:40:13Z Alan Liefting 36352 rm dead ext link, rm split (very little text to split off) {{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}} {{Shia Islam}} '''Zulfiqar''' ({{lang-ar|ذو الفقار}}) is the legendary sword of the [[Islam]]ic leader [[Ali]]. In [[Arabic language|Arabic]] the name is commonly transliterated as '''Thulfeqar''', '''Dhulfiqar'''. The [[scimitar]] is one of the oldest and best known symbols of [[Islam]], and is particularly important to [[Shiite]] and [[Alevi]] [[Muslims]]. [[Image:Dhulfiqar.png|thumb|left|350px|Zulfiqar, a fictional representation of the sword of Ali.]] [[Imam]] [[Husayn bin Ali]] used Zulfiqar in the [[Battle of Karbala]], and as a consequence, seen as a symbol of honour and martyrdom. A few conflicting images of the sword exist. While some show two parallel blades to emphasize its mystical abilities and speed, while others portray a more traditionally-shaped scimitar. Some depict a split, V-shaped blade. [[Shi'a]] Muslims, who consider [[Ali]] as the [[Caliph|rightful successor]] to [[Muhammad]], consider the sword to be exceptional because its bearers were both Muhammad and Ali, who was highly regarded among Muslims and non-Muslims. [[Image:The Message - Muslim Warriors.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Scene of [[Battle of Badr]] from the film ''[[Mohammad, Messenger of God (film)|The Messenger of God]]'': The Muslim army sends out its champions including [[Ali]]. [[Zulfiqar]] is in the foreground.]] <!-- FAIR USE of THE MESSAGE - MUSLIM WARRIORS.jpg: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:The Message - Muslim Warriors.jpg for rationale --> {{Ali}} By most accounts, Muhammad presented Zulfiqar to a young Ali at the [[Battle of Uhud]]. During the battle, Ali struck one of the fiercest adversaries, breaking both his helmet and his shield. Seeing this, Muhammad was reported to have said "La fatà illa Ali, la saif illa Zulfiqar" ( لا فتى إلا علي لا سيف إلا ذو الفقار ), meaning "There is no hero but Ali, and no sword except Zulfiqar". This is widely engraved on weapons and has become a battle cry for some Muslims. "Zulfiqar" and phonetic variations have been popular given names, as in former [[Pakistan]]i Prime Minister [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]]. Various spelt variations exist in modern language scripts, including "Zulfikar", "Thulfiqar", "Dhulfaqar", "Zolfaqar", etc. "Thulfiqar", though, is the most common spelling amongst Arabs. "Zulfiqar", however, remains the most widely used rendition of the Arabic word amongst Desi and Persians reflecting the pronunciation of the Arabic letter dhal in these languages. ==History== The name is variously explained, but is generally thought to mean [http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=zulfiqar "cleaver of the spine"], "the two-pronged one" or "double-edged one". It is sometimes also interpreted as "sharp distinction between right and wrong" or "the one who distinguishes between right and wrong", or "trenchant". By most historical accounts, Ali used the sword at the Battle of the Trench to cut a fierce Meccan opponent and his shield in two halves. The opponent was Amr ibn Abdawud, whose strength was often compared to that of a thousand men. No one had dared to fight him except Ali, who killed him with one powerful blow. Though Amr wore strong armor and carried powerful weapons, he is said to have been no match to [[Ali]] and his sword. ==Recent times== [[Image:Zolf medal,.png|left|thumb|Obverse and reverse of the military order]][[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|The last Shah of Iran]] renamed the military order ''Portrait of the Commander of Faithful'' to the new reference, ''Order of Zolfaghar''. In 2004, [[Iran]] revealed a new [[Zulfiqar tank]] model; in August 2006, the nation announced a massive [[War exercise|war games]] operation entitled ''The Blow of Zolfaghar''. Pakistan navy also keeps a ship named PNS Zulfiquar Moreover Pakistan's highest military medal is named after bearer of sword of Zulfiquar namely Nishan-e-Haider. Nishan-e-Haider means Order of The Lion, [[Ali]] was given the name Haider which means Lion because of his outstanding bravery and courage. [[Category:Shi'a Islam]] [[Category:Mythological weapons]] [[Category:Middle Eastern swords]] [[Category:Islamic Swords]] [[ar:ذو الفقار]] [[de:Dhu l-faqar]] [[fa:ذوالفقار]] [[fr:Zulfikar]] [[nl:Zulfikar]] [[pl:Zulfikar]] [[tr:Zülfikar]]