The Third Infallible The First Imam, Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Name: Ali.

Title: al-Murtada.

Agnomen. Abul-Hasan.

Father's name: Abu Talib ibn Imam Abd al-Muttalib.

Mother's name: Fatimah bint Asad.

Birth: In the Holy Ka'bah in Mecca on Friday, 13th Rajab 23 BH.

            Imam Ali was the cousin of our Holy Prophet. He was born in the Sacred House (Kabah). Providence alone had a hand in bringing his mother towards the Ka'bah. When his mother came to Ka'bah, she felt weighed down by intense pain of pregnancy. She knelt down before the Holy Structure and prayed humbly to God. Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, saw the Imam's mother praying to God. No sooner had she raised her head from supplication, then the wall of the Sacred House split by a solemn miracle. Fatimah entered the Kabah and that portion returned to its normal position. Imam Abbas and his companions flocked at the gate of the Sacred House which was locked, and tried to open it, but in vain. They then decided to give it up, considering the miraculous nature of the event and the Divine Will in action. The news of this miraculous incident soon spread like wild fire in Mecca.
 

            Imam Ali was born within the Kabah with his eyes closed and his body in humble prostration before the Almighty. Fatimah stayed in the Kabah for three days and as the fourth day approached she stepped out, carrying her gem in her arms. To her great surprise, she found the Holy Prophet waiting to receive the newly-born child in his anxious arms. Imamate feeling the subtle touch of prophethood, Imam Ali opened his eyes and saluted the Divine Prophet: "Asalamu alayka ya Rasula'llah" (Peace be on you, O Messenger of Allah).
 

            Imam Ali's birth in the Ka'bah is unique in the history of the world. Neither a prophet nor a Divine saint was ever blessed with such an honour. He was brought up under the care and affection of the Holy Prophet. As Imam Ali says: "The Holy Prophet brought me up in his own arms and fed me with his own morsel. I followed him wherever he went like a baby-camel following its mother. Each day a new aspect of his character would beam out of his noble person and I would accept it and follow it as a command." (Nahju'l-balaghah)
 

            Ten years in the company of the Holy Prophet had kept him so close and inseparable, that he was one with him in character, knowledge, self-sacrifice, forbearance, bravery, kindness, generosity, oratory and eloquence.
 

            From his very infancy, he prostrated before God along with the Holy Prophet. As he himself said: "I was the first to pray to God along with the Holy Prophet."
 

            "Imam Ali preserved in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet," says al-Mas'udi, "all along his childhood." Allah created him pure and holy and kept him steadfast on the right path. Though Imam Ali is indisputably the first to embrace Islam when the Holy Prophet called upon his listeners to do so, yet by the very fact that since his infancy he was brought up by the Holy Prophet and followed him in every action and deed including prostration before Allah, he can be said to be born a Muslim, just like the Holy Prophet himself.
 

            Imam Ali, at all times, accompanied the Holy Prophet to help and protect him from his enemies. He used to write down the verses of the Holy Qur'an and discuss them with the Prophet as soon as they were revealed by the Holy Messenger, the Gabriel. He was so closely associated with the Holy Prophet that as soon as a verse was revealed to him during the day or night, Ali was the first to hear it.
 

            The Holy Prophet has said of Imam Ali: O Imam Ali, you are my brother in this world as well as in the Hereafter. I am the city of knowledge and 'Ali is the gate. Nobody knows Imam Ali except Allah and I. Nobody know me except Allah and Imam Ali. If you want to see the knowledge of Adam, the piety of Noah, the devotion of Abraham, the awe of Moses, and the service and abstinence of Christ, look at the bright face of Imam Ali.
 

            When the Holy Prophet reached Yathrib (Medina) and met his followers who had come from Mecca at his call, he immediately appointed for each such followers a person from the people of Yathrib known as Ansar (supporters), who had accepted his prophethood, to be a brother to him. His appointment of brothers was a great act of help for the refugees known as Muhajirun (Immigrants), who left their home and come to Yathrib. He made brothers of people who followed the same trade so that the Muhajirun could be usefully employed immediately. While the Prophet was appointing an Ansar a brother to a Muhajirun, Imam Ali who was present there, was not appointed as a brother to any Ansar. On being questioned as to why he had not appointed a brother for the Imam, the Prophet said: "He shall be mine."
 

            The character and calibre of Imam Ali as judged by al-Mas'udi is, "If the glorious name of being the first Muslim, a comrade of the Prophet in exile, his faithful companion in the struggle for faith, his intimate associate in life, and his kinsman; if a true knowledge of the spirit of his teachings and of the Book; if self-abnegation and practice of justice; if honesty, purity, and love of truth; if a knowledge of law and science, constitute a claim to pre-eminence, then all must regard Imam Ali as the foremost Muslim. We shall search in vain to find, either among his predecessors (save one) or among his successors, those attributes. "
 

            Gibbon says: "The birth, the alliance, the character of Imam Ali which exalted him above the rest of his countrymen, might justify his claim to the vacant throne of Arabia. The son of Abu Talib was in his own right the chief of Banu Hashim and the hereditary prince or guardian of the city and the Ka'bah."
 

            " Imam Ali had the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the Apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses."

Successor and Caliph
 

According to the Holy Qur'an, Prophets and Apostolic Imams are chosen by Allah and not elected, selected, nominated or appointed by men.
 

1. When under Divine instructions the Prophet invited fourty Arab chieftains and delivered the message of Islam, he proclaimed Ali as his Successor and Caliph.
 

 2. When the Holy Prophet of Islam was returning to Medina after his last pilgrimage to Mecca in 11 AH, he, under Divine instruction, stopped at Ghadir Khumm and in the midst of about 124,000 Muslims, he officially and finally proclaimed 'Ali as his Successor and Caliph. (Besides these two occasions, the Holy Prophet has on hundreds occasions, either directly or indirectly, appointed Ali as his Successor and Caliph.)

Happy Days
 

            The infant Imam passed very happy days in the laps of his mother Fatimah bint Asad, father Abu Talib and cousin Muhammad. Under love, care and happiness, Imam Ali flowered into a handsome, eloquent, strong and courageous young man at the age of thirteen. At this time Muhammad had started preaching Islam and naturally, Imam Ali was the first to declare his belief in Allah and His Apostle.

Persecution
 

            Gone were the days of tranquillity and peace. The unbelievers started persecuting the Prophet in numerous ways, for no fault other than that of delivering to them the message of God. 'Ali helped and supported the Prophet whenever necessary.
 

            The unbelievers made the boys and the riffraffs of Mecca abuse the Holy Prophet and pelt stones at him. Loyal and brave 'Ali always defended the Prophet. With his strong fists, he gave the rascals severe beatings, after that none of them dare molest the Prophet.

Persecution
 

            The days of tranquillity and peace were over when the unbelievers began persecuting the Prophet in numerous ways, for no reason other than that of delivering to them the message of God. When Imam Ali saw this, he helped and supported the Prophet whenever necessary.
 

            The unbelievers made the boys and the riffraffs of Mecca abuse the Holy Prophet and pelt stones at him. Loyal and brave 'Ali always defended the Prophet. With his strong fists, he gave the rascals severe beatings, after that none of them dare molest the Prophet.

Hijrah (Migration)
 

            In Mecca, life for the believers and the Apostle became unbearable due to the cruelties and persecution of the unbelievers; so the Holy Prophet decided to migrate to Medina.
 

            On the night of his departure from Mecca, the Holy Prophet asked Imam Ali to sleep in his place on his bed, so he could leave for Medina without the unbelievers having any knowledge of his absence. Though 'Ali knew that the house was surrounded with forty armed enemies, he slept the whole night and said that he had never slept better. The Holy Prophet reached Medina safely and soon after, Imam Ali joined the Apostle at Medina.

Warrior

'Ali executed every order, command and injunction of the Holy Qur'an and the Apostle, as it should be done and none was his equal.

Badr

            The idolaters of Mecca would not allow Islam to grow and spread in peace. Abu Sufyan, the chieftain of the Umayyad tribe, a bitter enemy of the Holy Prophet and Islam marched to Medina at the head of one-thousand well-armed and trained fighters with the intention of killing the Apostle of Allah and the believers.
 

            The Holy Prophet collected his small band of three-hundred and thirteen faithful followers. The defence was made up of ill-equipped fighters, including young boys and old men. Instead of waiting for the attackers, the Prophet decided to meet them at a little distance from Medina at a place called Badr (150 Km from Medina).
 

            The fighting was fast and furious and the unbelievers were defeated. Imam Ali made a name for himself for his bravery. It was his sword that routed the enemy.

Uhud

            Next year Abu Sufyan came again with 10,000 men. The Prophet met him at Uhud with a 1,000 believers who were posted at various strategic places of defence. A few Muslims were given specific instruction not to leave their position, no matter what happened.
 

            The battle began and with the help of Allah, the believers inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, who began to flee. In spite of the strict instructions of the Holy Prophet, a few Muslims deserted their post and ran after the enemy to loot.
 

            Khalid ibn al-Walid, one of the officers of Abu Sufyan, seeing the position occupied by Muslims undefended, attacked the believers. Many believers were killed including Hamzah, the brave uncle of the Prophet and winning fight began to become a losing one. Imam Ali came to the rescue (of the life of the Prophet) and beat off the attack.
 

            After Hamzah and Ja'far, 'Ali was the flag bearer of Islam. Ali was the only commander of the Holy Prophet during his life and no other person was given the command of the Prophet's armies in the battles in which the Holy Prophet was himself taking part.
 

            The wife of Abu Sufyan, cut open the liver of Hamzah and drank his blood. Then she made a necklace of the ears and noses of the martyrs and wore it round her neck.
 

            When the Muslims returned to Medina to weep and mourn for their dead, the Apostle ordered that the mourning of Hamzah be observed before the mourning of their own dead.

Khandaq

            The battle of Khandaq took place because Abu Sufyan collected many infidel tribes against the Prophet and invaded Medina. To make Medina safe the Prophet ordered a trench (Khandaq) to be dug around a part of the City, and therefore this battle is called the Battle of the Trench. In this battle the enemy warrior Amr ibn `Abdawad challenged the Muslims to a single combat. All the companions of the Prophet were present, yet none stirred except Imam Ali. But Muhammad restrained him. The challenge was repeated for the second time, even then no one moved to accept it but Imam Ali. Again the Apostle stopped him. When they were challenged for the third time and again there was a silence from all, and again 'Ali offered to face `Amr, the Prophet gave him the permission. The Lion of Allah jumped to the battlefield and accepted the challenge.
 

            The Holy Prophet of Islam said: Total Iman(faith) is now going to fight total kufr (disbelief) and one stroke of Imam Ali's sword is better than all the prayers and worship of those in heaven and earth.
 

            Imam Ali with one strike of his sword, Dhul-Faqar, killed the warrior. In the general encounter the enemy was defeated.

Khaybar

            The Jews of Khaybar breached their agreement with the Prophet and started harassing and killing the Muslims. An army led by the Apostle surrounded the fortresses of Khaybar. Imam Ali was at Medina because of pain in his eyes.
 

            For many days, the Muslims attacked the fort but were unsuccessful. After some days the Holy Prophet declared: Tomorrow, I will give the flag to one who will not run away. He will attack repeatedly and Allah will crown him with victory. Allah and the Apostle are his friends and he is their friend.
 

            Next morning soon after prayers, a horseman came galloping, a cloud of dust flying behind him. It was Imam Ali and when he dismounted, Muhammad asked him about his eyes. When Imam Ali said that they were still paining, the Prophet applied his saliva. The pain vanished and Imam Ali said that his vision had never been better.
 

            Muhammad gave the flag of Islam to Imam Ali and prayed for him. The Imam dauntlessly marched to the fort. Marhab, the brave enemy warrior, came out to meet Imam Ali in a single combat. According to the Arab custom, Marhab talked of his deeds of bravery and said that his mother called him Marhab (frightful). The Imam responded that his mother called him Haidar (Furious Lion). Imam Ali cut Marhab into two pieces and the fort of Khaybar was conquered by Yadu'llah (Imam Ali).

Statesman

            At Hudaybiyyah, Imam Ali was asked by the Holy Prophet to draft and write the peace treaty.
 

On the occasion of Mubahilah with the Christians of Najran, the Holy Prophet asked the Imam to give them the terms of settlement.

Imam Ali is the founder of the land revenue system which protected the rights of the tillers of the soil. He gave the world this system, for it was unknown before.
 

Imam Ali is the father of the Arabic Grammar. He gave the language its grammar.

            The Chapter of Repentance (al-Bara'ah or at-Tawbah) had to be recited to the people of Mecca, Abu Bakr offered to do so and started on his way. The angel Gabriel came with a message from God, asking the Prophet to recall Abu Bakr and to go himself or to send a person like him. As the Holy Prophet could not go, he decided to send 'Ali and Imam Ali represented the Holy Prophet to carry this Chapter to the Quraysh.

Marriage

            Under Divine instruction, the Apostle of Allah married his beloved daughter Fatimah to Imam Ali. Among their children, Imam Hasan, Imam Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum have left their marks on the history of the world.
 

            By his other wife, Ummul-Banin, Allah gave him Abbas who was so handsome that he was fondly called Qamar Bani Hashim (The Moon of Banu Hashim) and he personified his loyalty and bravery in the battlefield of Karbala'.

Hadith

            When the Apostle led his army to Tabuk, he left Imam Ali in charge of Medina as his Deputy, Vicegerent and Caliph. On this occasion the Apostle of Allah said:
 

            Ali's position with me is the same as Harun's was with Musa, with only this difference that there will be no prophet after me.

            He (the Prophet) said: I leave behind Two Precious Things; one is the Holy Qur'an and the other are my descendants. Hold fast to them both, then you will not go astray.
 

            And he (the Prophet) again said: I, Imam Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn are from the same Nur (Light).
 

            But like the ever-shifting sands, the people of Arabia disregarded the sayings of the Holy Prophet and introduced innovations which irretrievably divided the Muslims.

Leadership:

            Among sufferings and chaos, the Muslims clamoured to elect Imam Ali as the successor of the Holy Prophet and caliph of Allah. Looking to the condition of the society, how everyone was running after this world, The Imam at first refused to accept the responsibility of the State, but on the third day with great reluctance, he agreed to take up the charge and to accept their oath of allegiance as a caliph.
 

            Following the footsteps of the Holy Prophet, Imam Ali established the Islamic tolerance and justice, brotherhood and goodness. He re-lit the torch of Islamic learning and progress.
 

            The Imam's famous sermons and lectures given from the minbar (pulpit) of the mosque of Kufah and on other occasions, have been published in a book called Nahju'l-balaghah (which are worth reading).
 

            In his old age, Imam Ali had to fight three major battles of Camel, Nahrawan and Siffin against the hypocrites, who rebelled and revolted against the commands of the Holy Qur'an and the Apostle of Allah.

Murder

            Ali's effort to establish the Kingdom of Allah on earth, was cut short by the assassin's sword. Ibn Muljam, the tool of Mu'awiyah, murdered 'Ali while he was saying his morning prayer and was crowned with martyrdom on 21st Ramadan 40 AH, and was buried in an-Najaf al-Ashraf (Iraq).
 

            Born in the House of Allah, the Ka'bah and was killed in the House of Allah, the Mosque of Kufah, the Lion of Allah, the most brave-hearted and gentle Muslim that ever lived, began his glorious life with devotion to Allah and His Apostle and ended it in the Service of Islam.
 

            And do not think of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead; nay (they are) alive, but you do not perceive. (2:154)