He also wrote in his mushaf the interpretation of verses as...

He also wrote in his mushaf the interpretation of verses as taught to him by the Prophet (S). Therefore, his mushaf was the most complete among the masahif in respect of exposition and shan al-nuzul of the verses. Similarly, his compilation of the mushaf was in the order of the revelation at different times. Muhammad ibn Sirin reports from `Ikrimah that at the beginning of Abu Bakr's caliphate 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (A) stayed home to compile the Qur'an.

Ibn Sirin says that he asked `Ikrimah whether anyone else had compiled the Qur'an in the order of its revelation.

He replied: "Had all men and jinn joined hands to compile it in this manner, they would not have been able to do so.”42 Al-Mufid observes regarding `Ali's (A) mushaf, "He mentioned the Makki verses before the Madani, and the mansukh before the nasikh, and placed every part of it in its rightful place.”43 He also says: "That regarding which there is no difference of opinion among Muslim exe­getes is that deletion of the parts of Amir mushaf con­sisted of interpretations (tawai1) and the exposition of its meanings in accordance with the intent of the revelation.”44 This observation clearly shows that the claim that the Imam's mushaf contained certain texts that established his right to the khilafah pertains to ta'wai1 of the revealed text of the Qur'an.

Ibn Jazzi al-Kalbi is reported to have said, "Had `All's (A) mushaf been accessible, it would have been a source of much knowledge.'45 Regarding the difference present among the initial compilers con­cerning the order of the surahs, al-Suyuti says, "Among them was 'Ali's mushaf, which arranged the surahs in the order of their revelation.

It began with Iqra', followed by al-Muddaththir, Nun, al-Muzzammil, al-Takwir, and so on till the end of the Makki and Madani (surahs)."46 Also, Ibn Shin, on the basis of Ibn Ashtah's report, said: "Ali (A) had recorded in his mushaf the nasikh and the mansakh (verses)." Ibn Shin is also reported to have said, "I sought that book and wrote to Madinah concerning it, but was unable to find it."47 He is also reported to have said, "Had I been able to find that book, it would have been a source of knowledge."48 Now, did Ibn Sirin believe that `Ali's mushaf contained some verses which were not present in other masahif?

It wasn't so; rather, those additional material consisted of interpretations and facts revealed to the Prophet (S) concerning the verses.