Ali Amir al-Muminin ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq, where Ali is buried. Other names Kunya: Abu al-Hasan Imam of Mosque Personal Born 13th Rajab 16 BH ≈ Jul. 17, 607 C.E.[1] Kaaba (Mecca, Arabia) Died 21st Ramadan 40 AH ≈ Jan. 27, 661 C.E. Resting place Imam Ali Mosque (Najaf, Iraq) Senior posting Title Amīrul Muminīn (Arabic: Commander of the Faithful) Bab-e-Madinatul- ilm[2] (Arabic: The door to the city of Knowledge) al-Murtadhā (Arabic: The Satisfied One) an-Nabaul ‘Adhīm (Arabic: The Great News) Mushkil-Kushā (Urdu: The Solver of Problems) Imāmul Muttaqīn (Arabic: Leader of the God-conscious) al-Wasī (Arabic:The Successor) Haydar (Arabic: Lion) as-Sādiq (Arabic: The Truthful) Period in office Imāmate: 29 years (11–40 AH) Family Spouse Fatimah Umamah bint Zainab Umm ul-Banin Khawlah bint Jafar Parents Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Father) Fatimah bint Asad (Mother) Childre n See descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a member of the Ahl al-Bayt.[3] Ali is regarded as the first Imam and is considered, along with his descendants, to be one of the divinely appointed successors of Muhammad who are considered the only legitimate religious and political leaders of the Muslim community.[4] Although Ali was regarded, during the lifetime of Muhammad, as his initial successor, it would be 25 years before he was recognized with the title of Caliph (successor). Like the rest of his household, Ali is considered infallible and sinless and is one of The Fourteen Infallibles of the household of Muhammed. Tradition states that Ali was born inside the Kaaba in Mecca,[5] and was a member of the Quraysh tribe. Alis father and Muhammads uncle, Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, was custodian of the Kaaba and a sheikh of the Banu Hashim; an important branch of the powerful tribe of the Quraysh. His mother, Fatimah bint Asad, was also from the Banu Hashim. In Arab culture it was a great honor for Ali that both of his parents belonged to the Banu Hashim. Ali was also one of descendants of Ishmael (Ismail) the son of Abraham (Ibrahim). During his childhood, Ali spent his first six years under his fathers roof. Then, as a result of famine in and around Mecca, Muhammad asked his uncle, Abu Talib, to allow Ali to come and live in the house of his cousin.[6] It would be another four years until Muhammad would announce his Prophethood. When the divine command came for Muhammad to begin to preach, Ali, only a child of ten years, was the first male to publicly announce his support for his cousin.[7] Over the coming years, Ali stood firmly in his support of Muhammad during the persecution of Muslims by the Meccans . Ali migrated to Medina shortly after Muhammad. There Muhammad told Ali that he had been ordered by God to give his daughter, Fatimah, to Ali in marriage.[8] For the ten years that Muhammad led the community in Medina, Ali was extremely active in his service, leading parties of warriors on raids, and carrying messages and orders. With the exception of the Battle of Tabouk, Ali took part in all the battles fought for Islam during this time. After the assassination of the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, the Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad) in Medina selected Ali to be the new Caliph. He encountered defiance and civil war ( First Fitna) during his reign. Tragically, while Ali was praying and bowing to God in the Great Mosque of Kufa, Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite assassin, struck him with a poison-coated sword. Ali died on the 21st of Ramadan in the city of Kufa in 661 CE. Ali is highly regarded for his knowledge, belief, honesty, devotion to Islam, loyalty to Muhammad, his equal treatment of all Muslims, and his generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies. In addition, he is respected as the rightful successor of Muhammad.[9] Ali retains his stature as the foremost authority on the Tafsir (Quranic exegesis), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and religious thought. The compilation of sermons, lectures, and quotations attributed to Ali are compiled in the form of several books. Nahj al-Balagha is the most revered of them. It is considered by historians and scholars to be an important work in Islamic literature.[10] Early life Fatimah bint Asad, the wife of Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, pregnant with Ali, completed her pregnancy term of 270 days but had not yet been induced into labor to give birth to the post- term baby. Abu Talib suggested to his wife that she perform circumambulations around the Kaaba and pray for divine assistance. In the midst of performing her rounds, she went into labor; at one corner of the Kaaba, designated as the Rukne Yamani, the Kaaba split open and she was given a push from behind towards the direction of the opening.[citation needed] Inside the Kaaba, Fatimah gave birth to Ali, and it wasnt until Muhammad had looked upon the infant that the infants eyelids opened. At the time of Alis birth a special relationship was hence imparted between Muhammad and Ali, and would be manifested from the time of the Muhammads call in the year 610 A.D. until his death in the year 632.[11] Ali would be given the privilege of being to only person to be born inside the Kaaba.[12] In a Muslim tradition regarded as authentic by Shias and included in Mawaddat al-Qurba and Peshawar Nights, Alis mother Fatimah bint Asad named him after her father, Asad. Abu Talib did not agree with her and said: The answer to the prayer was Ali, derived from one of 99 Names of God, Al Ali (The Exalted).[13] Upbringing When Ali was about six years of age, Muhammad was granted permission from his uncle Abu Talib to bring him up as his own child. For ten years, Ali stayed in Muhammads care and became inseparable, taking on the character of Muhammad, going so far as to state;[14] Muhammads era Main article: Hadith of warning Ali was the first person to declare in public his belief in Muhammad, and his message of Islam— though Ali had been born a Muslim.[15] His announcement came with Muhammads first speech, directed to his family, about his divinely appointed mission. Tradition states that when the verse And admonish thy nearest kinsmen,[16] was revealed to Muhammad, he called Ali and said to him, Once Muhammad had gathered the members of Banu Abd al- Muttalib he spoke to them, saying, They all held back from the words of Muhammad, and though Ali was the youngest, he replied, Some Banu Abd al-Muttalib rose up laughing and saying to Alis father, Abu Talib, Marriage with Fatimah The Shia believe that the decision of Ali to marry Fatimah was a perfect union decreed by God in the seventh heaven and given to the angel Gabriel (Jibral) to transmit directly to Ali. It is also believed, that due to their sinless and infallible nature, there were never any arguments or differences between Ali and Fatimah,[18][19] and believe that Ali never sought the hand of Amr ibn Hishām daughter in marriage, as that would, by definition make him fallible, as asking for the hand of marriage to an idol worshipper is a sin.[20] They also believe that Muhammad did not grant him the title Abu Turab in displeasure, but rather from his delight at the battle of al-Ashira. [21] Boycott of Banu Hashim Muhammads denunciation of the Meccan traditional religion was especially offensive to his own tribe, the Quraysh, as they were the guardians of the Kaaba. So they persecuted the Muslims. According to the tradition, the leaders of the Banu Makhzum and Banu Abd-Shams, two important clans of the Quraysh, declared a public boycott against the clan of Banu Hashim, their commercial rival in order to put pressure on the clan. At this time, Muhammad arranged for some of his followers to emigrate to Ethiopia. The boycott lasted for three years. Ali stood firmly in support of Muhammad during the years of persecution of Muslims and the boycott of Banu Hashim in Mecca. Migration to Medina In 622 CE, the year of Muhammads migration to Yathrib (now Medina), Ali risked his life by sleeping in Muhammads bed to impersonate him and thwart an assassination plot, so that Muhammad could escape in safety.[22][23] This night is called Laylat Al-mabit. According to some hadith a verse was revealed about Ali concerning his sacrifice on the night of hijrah which says And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah[24][25] Ali survived the plot, but risked his life again by staying in Mecca to carry out Muhammads instructions: to restore to their owners all the goods and properties that had been entrusted to Muhammad for safekeeping. Then he went to Medina with Fatimah bint Asad (his mother), Fatimah (the daughter of Muhammad), and two other women.[22] Then Muhammad went on his final Hajj (pilgrimage) and when returning, he called all those who were ahead to come back and those who were behind to come ahead. They had stopped at a place called Khumm. Muhammad sat on a pulpit made of saddles. He then said man kuntu mawla hu fa hadha aliun mawla. which is translated as whoevers master I am, Ali is also his master. The Sunnis translate it however as whoevers friend I am Ali is also his friend. Succession to Muhammad After Muhummads death, a sudden panic overcame the many tribes within the Arabian Peninsula.[citation needed] The question of succession as to who would receive the caliphate. Though it was well known through many traditions related by Muhammad and in the Quran as to who was to succeed Muhammad (Ali[26]), a small number of prominent companions took to the Saqifah Banu Saida or Saqifah, a roofed building used by the tribe of Saida, in the city of Medina, to decide amongst themselves as to who was going to lead the Muslims. Such companions as Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Sad ibn Ubadah, who was killed later, were present. The small secret band of companions exchanged arguments until the majority gave their bayat (allegiance) to Abu Bakr.[citation needed] After uniting the Arabian tribes into a single Muslim religious polity in the last years of his life, Muhammads death in 632 signalled disagreement over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community.[27] While Ali and the rest of Muhammads close family were washing his body for burial, at a gathering attended by a small group of Muslims at Saqifah, a close companion of Muhammad named Abu Bakr was nominated for the leadership of the community. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first caliph. The choice of Abu Bakr disputed by some of Muhammads companions, who held that Ali had been designated his successor by Muhammad himself.[28] [29] 18th century mirror writing in Ottoman calligraphy. Depicts the phrase Ali is the vicegerent of God in both directions. Later When Fatimah and Ali sought aid from the Companions in the matter of his right to the caliphate, they answered, O daughter of the Messenger of God! We have given our allegiance to Abu Bakr. If Ali had come to us before this, we would certainly not have abandoned him. Ali said, Was it fitting that we should wrangle over the caliphate even before the Prophet was buried?[30][31] Following his election to the caliphate, Abu Bakr and Umar with a few other companions headed to Fatimahs house to force Ali and his supporters who had gathered there give their allegiance to Abu Bakr. Then, it is alleged that Umar threatened to set the house on fire unless they came out and swore allegiance with Abu Bakr.[32] Then Umar set the house on fire and pushed the burnt door on Fatimah. Some sources say upon seeing them, Ali came out but was put in chains by Umar and his companions.[citation needed] Fatimah, in support of her husband, started a commotion and threatened to uncover her hair, at which Abu Bakr relented and withdrew.[33] Ali is reported to have repeatedly said that had there been forty men with him he would have resisted.[32] When Abu Bakrs selection to the caliphate was presented as a fait accompli, Ali withheld his oaths of allegiance until after the death of Fatimah[citation needed]. Ali did not actively assert his own right because he did not want to throw the nascent Muslim community into strife.[34] Fatimah had asked Ali not to allow the caliphate or any of his followers to join in her burial. Two to three months after her fathers death Fatimah herself died. As Ali was readying her body for burial he felt her broken ribs (done when she was wounded by Umar and those who tried to take her house) and started crying. At night Ali took her body for burial. The next day the Caliph and his followers wanted to disinter her body to pray over it, but Ali did not allow this.[citation needed] This contentious issue caused Muslims to later split into two groups, Sunni and Shia. Shias believe that Muhammad explicitly named Ali as his successor at Ghadir Khumm and Muslim leadership belonged to him which had been determined by divine order.[28][35] The two groups also disagree on Alis attitude towards Abu Bakr, and the two caliphs who succeeded him: Umar and Uthman Ibn Affan. Sunnis tend to stress Alis acceptance and support of their rule, while the Shia claim that he distanced himself from them, and that he was being kept from fulfilling the religious duty that Muhammad had assigned to him. Sunnis maintain that if Ali was the rightful successor as ordained by God Himself, then it would have been his duty as leader of the Muslim nation to make war with these people (Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman) until Ali established the decree. Shias contend that Ali did not fight Abu Bakr, Umar or Uthman, because he did not have the military strength and, if he had decided to, it would have caused a civil war amongst the Muslims.[36] Ali also believed that he could fulfil his role of Imamate without fighting.[37] Ali himself was firmly convinced of his legitimacy for caliphate based on his close kinship with Muhammad, his intimate association and his knowledge of Islam and his merits in serving its cause. He told Abu Bakr that his delay in pledging allegiance ( bayah) as caliph was based on his belief of his own prior title. Ali did not change his mind when he finally pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr and then to Umar and to Uthman but had done so for the sake of the unity of Islam, at a time when it was clear that the Muslims had turned away from him.[28][38] According to Shia historical reports, Ali maintained his right to the caliphate and said: Abu Bakrs era Abu Bakr dispatched Ali, who did participate during the Ridda wars against the forces of Tulayha, a self-proclaimed prophet in July 632. Ali did participate during the Ridda wars in July 632, against the forces of Tulayha, a self- proclaimed prophet. In the third week of July 632, the apostate army moved from Dhu Qissa to Dhu Hussa, from where they prepared to launch an attack on Medina. Abu Bakr scraped together a fighting force mainly from the clan of Mohammad, the Banu Hashim. The army had stalwarts like Ali ibn Abi Talib, Talha ibn Ubaidullah and Zubair ibn al-Awam (who would later in the 640s) conquer Egypt). Each of them was appointed as commander of one-third of the newly organised force. Before the apostates could do anything, the Muslims of Medina launched an army against their outposts and drove them back to Dhu Hussa. This discredits some Shea sources that claim, Ali did not give his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr until some time after the death of his wife, Fatimah in the year 633. Umars era Ali Asgher Razwy a 20th-century Shia Twelver scholar states: Uthmans era Etiquette When the Shia refer to Ali, they normally add peace be upon him (‘alayhis salām) after it. Alternatively, the phrase Allah has honoured his face (karram- allāhu wajhahu) is also used after his name, in reference to the Shia belief that Ali converted to Islam before the prophet was sent the message and never joined in any idol worship of the traditional Meccan gods. His face, they say, was never defiled by prostrations before the idols. Famous Hadith used by the Shia Hadith of the pond of Khumm Hadith of the two weighty things Hadith of the ship Hadith of truth Hadith of position Hadith of the dinner invitation Hadith of the Twelve Successors Hadith of the Imam of Time Hadith of Mubahala Hadith of the Cloak Works Shia say that Ali is the source of the following: the Quran, see Shia view of the Quran[42] Al-Jafr: compiled by Ali from Muhammad. Al-Jamia: compiled by Ali from Muhammad. Nahj al-Balagha Dua Kumayl See also Family tree of Ali Sunni view of Ali Non-Muslim view of Ali Shia view of Abu Bakr Shia view of Umar Umayyad tradition of cursing Ali Ghurabiyya Shia, who believed Ali should have solely been the last prophet and messenger. References 1. ^ Abu Mikhnaf, Lut bin Yahya. Kitab Maqtal Ali (144 AH / 761 CE). Hashami, Ibrahim bin Sulayman. Kitab Maqtal Amir Al-Muminin (183 AH / 799 CE). Al-Kalbi, Hisham ibn Muhammad. Maqtal Amir ul- Muminin (201 AH / 817 CE). Reference: I.M.A.M. (Imam Mahdi Assoc. of Marjaeya) Publication (Muharram-Safar 1427 AH), Vol. 2-Issue 5. 2. ^ I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate . Retrieved 20 December 2012. 3. ^ Who are Ahlul-Bayt? 4. ^ Who is the successor of the Prophet 5. ^ Birth of Ali (a) in Ka’ba – A unique distinction 6. ^ The birth of Ali ibn Abi Talib . Restatement of History of Islam. Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. 7. ^ Ali (AS) The First Imam 8. ^ On The Way to Marriage 9. ^ Designation of Ali as successor to the Prophet 10. ^ The Glimpses of Nahj al Balaghah 11. ^ The Rightful Successor 12. ^ History of The Holy Kaaba 13. ^ Abu Talib was Guided by Allah 14. ^ Imam Alis (a) Upbringing 15. ^ Ali (a) was Born a Muslim 16. ^ Quran 26:214 17. ^ The Prophet Announcing His Successor in His First Preach 18. ^ Husayn, Mufti Ja‘far (2006). Biography of Imam Ali ibn Abi- Talib. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. p. 119. 19. ^ Ordoni, Abu-Muhammad. 30. Fatimah The Gracious. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. p. 140. 20. ^ Ordoni, Abu-Muhammad. 31. Fatimah The Gracious. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 141– 144. 21. ^ Husayn, Mufti Ja‘far (2006). Biography of Imam Ali ibn Abi- Talib. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 119–120. 22. ^ a b Tabatabae (1979), p. 191 23. ^ Ashraf, (2005) pp.28–29 24. ^ Quran 2:207 25. ^ Tabatabae, Tafsir Al- Mizan 26. ^ Conspiracy Against Imam Ali (AS) 27. ^ Lapidus 2002, p. 31 and 32 28. ^ a b c Diana, Steigerwald. Ali ibn Abi Talib. Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world; vol.1. MacMillan. ISBN 0-02-865604-0. 29. ^ See: Holt, Lambton & Lewis 1970, p. 57 Madelung 1997, pp. 26–27, 30–43 and 356–360 30. ^ Ibn Qutaybah, al-Imamah wa al-Siyasah, Vol. I, pp. 12–13 31. ^ Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh; Vol. II, p.5. 32. ^ a b Madelung 1997, p. 43 33. ^ Vaglieri, Veccia. Fatima. Encyclopedia of Islam. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. p. Vol. 2 844–850. ISSN 1573-3912 . 34. ^ Ali ibn Abitalib . Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 2010-12-16. 35. ^ Sunnite . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 36. ^ Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:50 Sahih Bukhari 5.57.50 37. ^ Chirri 1982 38. ^ See: Madelung 1997, p. 141 and 270 Ashraf 2005, p. 99 and 100 39. ^ Nahj Al-Balagha Nahj Al- Balagha Sermon 3 For Isnad of this sermon and the name of the names of scholars who narrates it see Nahjul Balagha, Mohammad Askari Jafery (1984), pp. 108– 112 40. ^ A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims on Al-Islam.org Umar bin al-Khattab, the Second Khalifa of the Muslims 41. ^ Ibn Abu al-Hadid, Sharh Nahjul Balagha, Vol. 5, p. 346, as quoted in Tragedy of al-Zahra 42. ^ The Quran Compiled by Imam Ali (AS) External links The Sayings and Wisdom of Imam Ali Website devoted to the Life of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Sayings of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Imam Ali foundation Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Nahjul Balagha Imam Ali ibn Abi Talibs status Mobile Desktop Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Terms of Use Privacy O Fatima! Let us go to the Qubais hills, and invoke Allah (some reporters say that he said they should go to the Al-Masjid al-Haram). He may tell us the name of this child. “ ” I was the first to pray to God along with the Holy Prophet. “ ” Ali, God has commanded me to warn my tribe of near kindred. I was troubled by this, since I knew that when I discuss the matter to them they would respond in a way which I would not like. I kept silent until Gabriel came to me and said If you do not do what you are commanded, your Lord will punish you. So prepare a measure of wheat for us, add a leg of lamb to it, fill a large bowl of milk for us, and then invite sons of Abd al-Muttalib for me so that I may speak to them what I have been commanded to tell them. “ ” Banu Abd al-Muttalib, I dont know of any young man among Arabs who has brought for his people something better than what I have brought to you. I bring the best of this world and the world after, since God has commanded me to summon you to him. Which of you will aid me in this matter, so that he will be my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you? “
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