Rajab Bursi writes in Mashariqul Anwaar that when Almighty Allah commanded Musa and Harun to approach Firon and invite him to belief in God, both of them set out towards the royal court, but they were apprehensive internally as to how Firon would respond and how he would conduct with them.
Suddenly they saw a rider dressed in brocade and wielding a sword of gold approach them. He told them to follow him without fear.
On reaching there the rider said to Firon: Obey these two or I would kill you.
Firon was terrified on this threat and after that the rider vanished from there.
He told Musa and Harun: Come tomorrow and say whatever you want to say.
When the brothers went away from there, Firon asked his sentries: Why did you allow that rider to approach me?
They said: We swear by your honor, we did not see anyone enter. We only saw these two brothers arriving to meet you.
That rider was a likeness of Ali (a) through whom Almighty Allah helped his prophets secretly and helped Muhammad Mustafa openly.
It is so because only Ali is that great word of God that Almighty Allah sent to help His friends in various periods and in various forms. And Ali helped the friends of Allah in every period and the friends of Allah beseeched God in the name of this very great name.
Allah accepted their entreaties and saved them from difficulties. This is what is hinted at in the
following verse of Quran:
…. وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا ۚ بِآيَاتِنَا…
“…and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you; (go) with Our signs…”1
Ibne Abbas said: That mounted rider was the ‘sign’ and ‘authority’ for Musa and Harun.2
1 Surah Qasas 28:35.
2 Mashariqul Anwaarul Yaqeen, Pg. 81.
2- Bursi writes:
Interpreters of Quran have mentioned in the exegesis of this verse: This ‘sign’ and ‘authority’ was in the form of Ali. In the same way Ali continued to assume the form of a great sign for other prophets as well.
3- Bursi writes that Messenger of Allah (s) said: O Ali, (through you) Allah supported the prophets secretly and helped me openly.