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Dhū l-Fiqār, a fictional representation of the sword of Ali.

Zulfiqar "bifurcated" (Arabic: ذو الفقار Ḍū al-Fiqār) is the sword of the Islamic leader Ali. In Arabic the name is commonly transliterated as Dhu al-Fiqar, Thulfeqar, Dhulfiqar, Zoulfikar etc. "Zulfiqar" and phonetic variations have been popular given names, as with former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This two-blade or bifurcated sword in Arabic is called: kilij.

Origin

According to the Twelver Shia, Zulfiqar is currently in the possession of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, as part of his collection called al-Jafr.^[1]

Shia (Shiite) Muslims believe that when the Islamic prophet Muhammad was nearing death, he appointed his son-in-law Ali as his successor, and handed him his sword named Zulfiqar. Frequently, reproductions of this sword will have the following expression engraved upon it: "There is no man like Ali, there is no sword like Zulfikur' - "la fata ella Ali la saif ella zulfiqar".

Recent usage

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, renamed the military order Portrait of the Commander of Faithful to Order of Zolfaghar.^[2] During the Bosnian War, a Bosnian army's special unit was named "Zulfikar". In 2010, The Islamic Republic of Iran revealed the attack boat dubbed the Zolfaghar, likening it to the sword as an unstoppable weapon of its time. The Iranian Zulfiqar main battle tank is also named after the sword.

References

^ Islam, Misbah (30 June 2008). Decline of Muslim States and Societies. Xlibris Corporation. p. 333. ISBN 978-1-4363-1012-3. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
^ "Order Of Zolfaghar". Iran Collection. Retrieved 16 January 2013.

[Islam2008-1] Islam, Misbah (30 June 2008). Decline of Muslim States and Societies. Xlibris Corporation. p. 333. ISBN 978-1-4363-1012-3. Retrieved 16 January 2013.

[2] "Order Of Zolfaghar". Iran Collection. Retrieved 16 January 2013.

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 ==Recent usage==
+[[File:Persia. Johnson's new chart of national emblems, 1868.jpg|thumb|The Zulfiqar appears on the flag of [[Persia]] in 1868.]]
 [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], the last Shah of Iran, renamed the military order ''Portrait of the Commander of Faithful'' to ''Order of Zolfaghar''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irancollection.alborzi.com/RezaShahorder/pages/Zolfaghar.htm|title=Order Of Zolfaghar|publisher=Iran Collection|accessdate=16 January 2013}}</ref> During the [[Bosnian War]], a [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian army]]'s special unit was named "Zulfikar". In 2010, [[The Islamic Republic of Iran]] revealed the attack boat dubbed the Zolfaghar, likening it to the sword as an unstoppable weapon of its time. The Iranian [[Zulfiqar (tank)|Zulfiqar]] [[main battle tank]] is also named after the sword.