His relationship with the holy Prophet On opening his eyes after his birth, the first person who he saw was the holy Prophet. The holy Prophet gave him his name. As an infant he had the honour of sucking the tongue of the holy Prophet. He was the first cousin of the holy Prophet. He became a ward of the holy Prophet, and was brought up as a family member of the household of the holy Prophet. He received his training under the loving care and guidance of the holy Prophet. When the holy Prophet declared his mission, he was the first teenager to be converted to Islam. Hadrat Khadijah and Hadrat Ali were the first two persons to pray behind the holy Prophet. When the holy Prophet invited the Hashimites to a dinner, and aked them to aid him in his mission, Hadrat Ali was the only person to respond to the call of the holy Prophet. He risked his life for the sake of the holy Prophet and slept on his bed when the holy Prophet left for Medina and the Quraish youth besieged the house with a view to killing the holy Prophet. When the holy Prophet left for Medina, he entrusted to Hadrat Ali the task of returning the belongings of the people. They had placed their belongings in the custody of the holy Prophet for safekeeping. When the holy Prophet joined the Muhajirs and the Ansars in fraternity in Medina, he allied himself in fraternity with Hadrat Ali. The holy Prophet married his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra to Hadrat Ali. He was commissioned by the holy Prophet to write the agreement which came to be known as the Hudaybia Pact. After the conquest of Mecca, he had the unique distinction of standing on the shoulders of the holy Prophet and destroying the idols in the Kabah. He was entrusted by the holy Prophet with the special mission of announcing the Quraish Sura Al Baraat (Immunity) to the people on the occasion of the pilgrimage. He was the only person to whom the holy Prophet referred to as the Maula [Master] of the Ummah When the holy Prophet proposed Mubahala [a special kind of debate] with the Christians and the Najran, he chose Hadrat Ali as his second man. The progeny of the holy Prophet descends through Hadrat Ali. He was the only person to whom the holy Prophet imparted inward knowledge. The holy Prophet conferred many appellations on Hadrat Ali such as Hidar-iKarrar, Abu Turab, Asad-ullah, Syedul Arab, etc. The holy Prophet declared his relationship to Hadrat Ali as that of Moses and Aaron. When the holy Prophet died, Hadrat Ali washed him and prepared his dead body for burial. His valour He participated in all the wars of early Islam which were fought under the command of the holy Prophet. In all the battles, Hadrat Ali was the flag-bearer for the forces of the Muslims. He was the greatest man among the Muslims. For his unusual bravery, he won such titles as Asad Allah, (the Lion of God) or Haidar-e-Karrar (the warrior who nobody could match.) During his lifetime, he killed over 1000 enemies. In the Battle of Badr alone killed two dozen people. He fought over a hundred duels and in all the duels, his adversaries, however strong, were killed. He was the conqueror of the Khyber. His knowledge He was the most learned man of his age. He was a living encyclopaedia of knowledge and learning. After the holy Prophet, he was the most eloquent person of the age. Because of his knowledge and wisdom he is known as the Second Solomon. His wise sayings and aphorisms have attained the status of classical proverbs. He was the first person to write a grammar of the Arabic language. Among the early Muslims, he was the only person whose collections of writings have come down to us and this collection [is] preserved under the title of Nahj-ul-Balagha. He was a distinguished poet. He enjoys fame as the father of rhetoric. He was an authority on Mathematics. He was a master of the science of Physics. He had a deep medical knowledge. After the holy Prophet, he is regarded as the greatest philosopher of Islam. He was a calligrapher and wrote in a beautiful hand. His spiritual attainments He was the first person to learn the Quran by heart. According to the commentators, there are at least 300 verses in the holy Quran which have an implied reference to Hadrat Ali After the holy Prophet, he was the Chief Judge among the early Muslims. He is regarded as the father of fiqh. [jurisprudence] He is the first revivalist among the Muslims. He interpreted the doctrines of Islam and systematized them. He is regarded as the father of Sufism. All schools of Tasawwuf [authentic Sufism] trace their origin to him. His Appellations Because of his multidimensional greatness and outstanding qualities, Hadrat Ali is known by many appellations, and each appellation illuminates one particular aspect of his excellence. Some of these appellations are as follows: (1) Murtada - he with whom God is pleased (2) Maula - the master (3) Haidar-i-Karrar- the brave warrior against whom no one could stand (4) Asad Allah - the lion of God (5) Al-Ghalib - the victorious (6) Sher-i-Yazdan - the bravest man of the age (7) Mushkil Kusha - wine whom resolves the difficulties of the people (8) Shah-i-Awlia - the king of saints (9) Shah-i-Mominin - the king of the pious (10) Abu Turab - father of the earth (11) Amir-ul-Momineen - leader of the faithful (12) Amin-ul-Momineen - the trustee of the faithful (13) Imam-ul-Muttaqeen - the leader of the God-fearing (14) Sayyid-ul-Arab - the chief of the Arabs (15) Al Wasi - the beneficiary under the Prophets testamentary statement (16) Al Hadi - the guide (17) Al Zahid - the chaste (18) Al Abi - the pious (19) Al Salah - the reformer The Sayings of Hadrat Ali Hadrat Ali was the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom. Some of the Sayings of Hadrat Ali, which breathe wisdom and have attained the dimension of aphorisms are on record. Some of these are: Fear God and you will have no cause to fear anyone. Resignation to the Will of God is the cure for the disease of the heart. The Word of God is the medicine of the heart. Lead such a life that when you die people will mourn you, and while you are alive they long for your company. The days of your life pass away like clouds, so do good while you are alive. Of all follies, the greatest is to love the world. Opportunity is swift of flight, but slow to return. The most happy is he to whom God has given a good wife. He who knows himself knows God. Do not sell your conscience for anything but heaven. The disease of the heart is worse than the disease of the body. To fight against ones desires is the greatest of all fights. The strongest among you is he who subdues himself. Wealth and greed are the roots of all evil. Riches without faith are the greatest poverty. A mans worth depends upon the nobility of his aspirations. Knowledge enlivens the soul. The learned lives although he dies. The sum total of excellence is knowledge. To respect the learned is to respect God. Generosity hides shortcomings. The wealth of a miser is as useless as a pebble. Desire is ones most inveterate enemy. Those who walk on the surface of the earth shall one day be interred in it. Every breath of man brings him nearer to death. People are asleep as long as they live. They are awakened when they die. Patience is the fruit of faith. Virtue never dies. A mans glory from his virtue is greater than the glory of his pedigree. No shelter is safer than piety. A mans behaviour is the index of his mind. Courtesy costs nothing but buys everything. Clemency graces power. Jealousy devours virtue as fire devours fuel. He that lends a listening ear to reproach is one of those [who] deserves reproach. Forgiveness is the crown of greatness. Carnal appetites are nets spread by the devil. Every arrow does not hit [its] mark, nor is every prayer granted. Ostentatiousness spoils prayer. Fear none but your sins. He who praises you murders you. A man who praises himself displays his deficiency of intellect. Honour your parents and your sons will honour you. A man is hidden under his tongue. The tongue of a wise man lies behind his heart. The tongue pierces deeper than [a] spear. He who purifies his heart from doubt is a believer. The opinion of a wise man is [like] an oracle. To seek council is to go to the fountain of guidance. Association with a fool is tyranny to the soul. God hastens the fall of tyrants. Tyranny leads to moral cowardice. A tyrants success is his moral defeat. It is better to die than to beg. When a man begs, he loses his faith. Hajj is the jihad of every believer in faith. A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. Silence is the best reply to a fool. The best speech is one that is short and reasonable. Speech is like a medicine, a small dose will cure but an excess will kill. He that has no courage has no religion. His grief is long whose hope is short. The right of freedom of speech consists in speaking the truth. Repentance washes away sin. Folly is an incurable disease. To assist the wrong is to oppress the right. Sinning is a disease, repentance is its medicine, and abstinence from it is a sure cure. Sorrow makes a man old before his time. Pride impedes progress and mars greatness. To forgive is the crown of greatness. He who understands humanity seeks solitude. Right is the best argument. Misrepresentation spoils narration. As a mans wisdom increases so his desire to speak decreases. He who seeks to do justice with men, let him desire for them what he desires for himself. The greatest sin is the sin which the sinner considers to be ordinary. Contentment is an asset which is never exhausted. Governments are a trial for man. He who fights against the truth, the truth will defeat him. Finding fault with others is ones greatest fault. Haste is a [kind] of madness. Greed is perpetual enslavement. He who does not know his own worth, is doomed to destruction. The best investment is one with which duties are performed. Anger is a fire kindled, he who restrains anger extinguishes the fire; he who gives vent to it is the first to be consumed by it. Jihad is the highway of prosperity. None is more solitary than a miser. Knowledge is the ornament of the rich and the riches of the poor. Knowledge is the sum total of excellence; he who teaches you a letter binds you with a fetter of gratitude. As long as we do not hope we do not fret. He who indulges in jokes and loose talk loses a part of his wisdom. Truth [may be] bitter, but its a result is sweet; falsehood appears to be sweet but it is poisonous in its effect. Miserliness is the root of many evils. Knowledge and practice are twins, and both go together for there is no knowledge without practice, and no practice without knowledge. He who dissembles, plays with his honour. When God wants to humiliate a person, He deprives him of knowledge. When your power increases, decrease your desires accordingly. He who listens to a backbiter loses a friend. It is not justice to decide a case on mere conjecture. He who does not know his own worth is shameful. He who practices thrift will never be in want. He who does not know should not be ashamed to learn. Patience is to faith what the head is to the body. When patience goes, faith goes [and] when the head goes, the body goes. The grace of God is the best guide. A good disposition is the best companion. Wisdom is the best friend. Good breeding is the best inheritance. There is nothing more hateful than pride. Be among men like a bee among birds. Mix with the people with your tongue, but be separate from them in your deeds. Be generous, but do not be a spendthrift. Do not run after the world, let the world to run after you. A wise man is he who does not despair of the bounty and mercy of God. He who is aware of his own faults is oblivious to the faults of others. What the eye sees the heart preserves. The vision of the eye is limited; the vision of the heart transcends all barriers of time and space. Do not be misled by appearances for these are apt to be deceptive. Do not have too many irons in the fire; concentrate on one thing at a time. What you do not like for yourself, do not like it for others either. Contentment is the treasure which is never exhausted. The advice of old men is dearer than the bravery of young men. That knowledge is superficial which is merely on the tongue; that knowledge is real which demonstrates itself in your practice. To waste time is ones greatest loss. He who knows to keep his secret, knows the way to success. Foresight is the way to safety. No relationship is stronger than the relationship that exists between man and God. Enlighten the heart with prayers. Strengthen your heart with faith. Suppress all lust with piety. Do not sell the Hereafter for the world. Do not speak in a state of ignorance. Refrain from unnecessary talk. Do not tread the path from which you can apprehend the danger of running astray. In the affairs of God, do not be afraid of the accusations of evil mongers. In all that you do, seek the protection of God. Do not covet what is undesirable. If you seek the truth, neither stray from the right path nor be assailed by doubts. Do not become a slave to your desire. That wealth is no wealth which brings dishonour. Whatever harm accrues of silence can be remedied. But whatever harm is done because of speech cannot be remedied. It is better to restrain your desires than to stretch your hand before others. A little that is burned because of honest labour is better than a larger amount gained through dishonest means. Guard well your secret. He who seeks more than what is necessary indulges in error. To oppress the weak is the worst tyranny. Do not bank on false hope, for that is the capital of the dead. A wise man takes a lesson even from a minor lapse. Overpower desire and suspicion by patience and faith. He who does not take the middle course strays. A stranger is he who has no friends. When hopes are frustrated despair becomes the way of life. He who trusts the world the world betrays him ELECTIONS After Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) passed away, Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was elected as the fourth Caliph by the Muslims. During the period of the first three Caliphs, Madinatul Munawwarah continued to be the capital of the Muslim world, but Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) transferred the Islamic capital to Kufah in Iraq. EARLY LIFE Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was the son of Abu Taalib, an uncle of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was married to Sayyadah Bibi Fathima (radi Allahu anha), the daughter of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They had 3 sons, Sayyiduna Hassan, Sayyiduna Hussain and Sayyiduna Mohsin (radi Allahu anhumul ajmain). Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) took part in the battle of Badr, Khandaq and Khaibar. At Khaibar, it was Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) who subdued the Jews with his furious assault. He also held many important positions during the time of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and the first 3 Caliphs before him. He had a love for learning and was a great and learned person himself. He had been given the title of Baabul Ilmor Gate of Learning by Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). He was also called Asaadullah or Lion of Allah. OPPOSITION The situation in Madinatul Munawwarah after the murder (Shahaadah) of Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) was serious. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhus) first task was to rid Madinatul Munawwarah of the rebels and to return the situation to normal. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was able to force the rebels to withdraw from Madinatul Munawwarah and to establish peace and order in the city. The powerful governor of Syria, Sayyiduna Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu), challenged Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and refused to pay homage to him. Sayyiduna Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) insisted that Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) arrest the murderers of Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) and hand them over to him. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was a man with a deep sense of justice and did not want to accuse the wrong people. He needed a peaceful period to trace the culprits. But, Sayyiduna Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) began accusing him of protecting the murderers, and in this way the old enmity between the two families were revived. SAYYIDUNA MUAWIYAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHU) Unlike most of Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhus) governors, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) displayed great administrative ability and was very popular. He was a God-fearing man and especially known for his mercy. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was very strict in piety and straight forward. Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) declared his disobedience to him, because he felt that he was better qualified to lead the Muslim world. BATTLE OF THE CAMEL Another serious development took place. Sayyadah Aishah (radi Allahu anha) and two leading Sahaba, Sayyiduna Talha and Sayyiduna Zubair (radi Allahu anhuma) declared their opposition to the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). They left Madinatul Munawwarah for Makkatul Mukarramah and from there travelled to Basrah where they rallied men and new supporters. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) had to crush all opposition. A bloody battle took place near Basrah on the 9th of December 656 A.C. This battle was sparked off by a third force who were the real troublemakers. Just before the battle, both parties had already reached an agreement to settle the dispute. But this third force, the real assassinators of Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhu), launched an overnight attack on both camps simultaneously. Each side were under the impression that the other had attacked. The battle began. Several thousand men were lost including the two Sahaba. Sayyadah Aishah (radi Allahu anha) was safe. She was riding a camel during the battle-hence the name Battle of the Camel. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) treated her in a most noble and dignified manner and respectfully sent her back to Madinatul Munawwarah. She praised him and deeply regretted opposing Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). Kufa was now made the capital of the Islamic world. BATTLE OF SIFFIN Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) rallied an army to face Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). A battle took place at Siffin on the Syrian border in the July of 567 A.C. Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) was no match for Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and began to retreat. By the clever proposal of Sayyiduna Amr bin Al As (radi Allahu anhu), the retreating army raised pieces of the Holy Koran on their spears demanding judgement between the two parties. Many pious Muslims on the side of Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) refused to fight seeing the Holy Koran displayed in the air. JUDGEMENT Two men, one from each side, were appointed to settle the dispute. Sayyiduna Abu Musa (radi Allahu anhu), a pious Sahaba from Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhus) side, and the skilled Sayyiduna Amr (radi Allahu anhu) from Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhus) side. Sayyiduna Musa (radi Allahu anhu) declared in front of the Muslims that it was decided to recommend the removal of both Sayyiduna Ali and Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhuma) and that the Muslims should select another man for the Khilaafat. Sayyiduna Amr (radi Allahu anhu) replied that: He has declared the removal of his leader, while I would conform Muaawiyah as the Caliph. Chaos followed. KHAARIJEES Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) prepared to meet Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) again in battle, but he was moved from his task by a serious conflict that occurred among his men. Some narrow-minded people accused Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) of accepting a man-made judgement. Their slogan was: There is no judgment but with Allah. They declared that Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah and Sayyiduna Uthman (radi Allahu anhumul ajmain) were unbelievers and that Jihad should be declared against them. Ever since this event, they have been known as the Khaarijees, which means, those who left the fold. They maintained that the Khilaafat should be given to the most eligible Muslim, regardless of his origin. The Kharijees are not regarded as Muslims. ASSASSINATION On the 17th of July 659 A.C., Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) overcame the Khaarijees in a battle near Nahrawan, in which, it is said, that 40 000 lives were lost. In the early morning of the 24th of January 661 A.C., Abdul Rahman bin Muljim, a Khaariji fanatic lay in ambush in the Masjid of Kufah and stabbed Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) when he entered the masjid. He passed away from the wound. He was 63 years old. PERSONAL LIFE Sayyiduna Ali (radi allahu anhu) lived a simple life. He refused any luxury food and wore simple clothes thinking of the poor. He should sleep on the ground and even sit on the floor. He repaired his own clothes and shoes and even did manual labour. He spent nights in Salaah and should fast for three days in a row. Honesty, piety, justice and love of truth were the main marks of his character.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:57:16 +0000
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