Yousuf N. Lalljee Ali (a.s) the Magnificent www.islamic-sources.com Chapter 1 ALI, THE MAGNIFICENT The life of Hazrat Ali stands out as a beacon, radiating its light into the darkness of this world. A world torn asunder by strife, struggle and wars, a world in which the value of human life is regarded as next to nothing. It must be borne in mind that it was Ali who gave a distinctive out- look to the intellectual, social, cultural and political concepts of his times. He was the Warrior-Saint of Islam, who spent his entire life fighting the holy wars and who in spite of his multifarious activities lit the torch of knowledge which gave unprecedented impetus tolearning-a marvel of the times in which he lived. (The wonderful personality he possessed has made him the greatest hero of all times.) In the world of today, his many- sided spiritual precepts might help to solve some of theproblems with which the world is faced today. His ideas were conciliatory and his mes- sage was always one of peace. He lived for justice and was very firm in his belief that every one should have a right to live in security, that there should be food, shelter and clothing for all. Humanity he considered as one family where there should be tolerance for all-irrespective of race, creed and colour and irrespective of wealth or adversity. Nowhere was his humane attitude more apparent than when he was dispensing justice. He had the strictest ideas of duty and responsibility and even the poorest and most insignificant of suitors always found him ready to give his case a fair and prompt hearing. He was quick to forgive an offender as he was slow to resent an injury, a humane attitude which too many of his contemporaries were prone to interpret wrongly as a weakness; it was this humaneattitude which above all stamped Ali as the ideal man. 2 In order to keep his finger on the pulse of the people, Ali often dis- guised himself as a traveller, perambulating thelanes of the city at night to find out for himself the condition of the poor and the needy, and to lend succour to themand at the same time to bring the delinquents to book. His tremendous physical energy thus found an outlet in the performance of many a philanthropic deed, but even so, his sense of responsibility to his people was so great that hewas frequently struck with remorse for what he had left undone. Hence the bitter tears of self- deprecation which heso often shed at his prayers. He sought always to prevent those civil wars in which blood would be shed in vain, but in his fight against theforces of evil and barbarity he showed extraordinary determination, unwavering purpose and an iron will. He was atonce a recluse and a warrior, a thinker contemplating in the wastes of the desert and a commander fighting the Lord's battle against heretical foes. In his personality he combined a pious resignation to God with the greatest heroism in combat. In his attempts to establish God's kingdom on earth, he was con- stantly beset by enemies who wanted to extinguishthe torch of Islam, and whose activities were the more resented as they were carried out in the name of God andreligion. Pitched as he was against envy, hatred and malice, he never permitted himself to falter or to stray from the path of right, even though this singleness of purpose was to cost him his life. In the words of Gibbon, "The birth, the alliance, the character of 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 Bani Hashim and the hereditary prince or guardi- an of the city and temple of Mecca. Hazrat Ali had thequalification of a poet, a soldier and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in 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 Muhammad was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he de- lighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and a faithful Aaron of a second Moses." 3 Chapter 2 BIRTH OF ALI Hazrat Ali (A.S.) was born in the Holy Kaaba at Mecca on Friday, the 13th day of Rajab, 600 A.D. Both the Holy Prophet and Hazrat Ali be- longed to the same clan. They were Hashimites, the clan of Bani Hashim. Muhammad's father was Abdulla, and that of Hazrat Ali, Abu Talib. They were brothers and their father was Abdul Muttalib. Thus the Holy Prophet and Hazrat Ali were cousins. Hazrat Ali had two brothers, Ja'far and Aquil. Hazrat Ali's mother Fatima was the daughter of Asad, a famous magnate of the Quraish clan. She was also the aunt of the Holy Prophet, being the wife of Abu Talib, the Prophet's paternal uncle. When she was pregnant, she promised Muhammad to make over to him whatever child was born to her, be it male or female. Muhammad, awareof the issue that would be brought forth, gladly accepted the offer . Ali's holy personality began its wonderful manifestation even during the period of his mother's pregnancy. At that timer Muhammad had not yet announced his prophet hood, and yet when he passed before Fatima, who being his aunt was senior to him, she used to stand up in reverence and respect for him, and somehow something within her never allowed her to turn her face away from Muhammad as long as he was around. When people asked her about this peculiar behaviour of hers, she would say that she could not help it, that someirresistible urge from within made her do so. This statement was disbelieved by those who wished to test her. So one day they made her sit and they asked two strong men to hold her down when Muhammad passed by. Then they asked Muhammad if he 4 would walk in frontof he f, to which he gladly agreed. As he came in front of her, Fatima began to rise and she stood erect throwingboth men aside. Muhammad who alone was aware of this mystery, used to smile. He was keenly awaiting the birth of his cousin Ali. During her pregnancy whenever Fatima was alone, she heard from within her a mysterious whisper which was tothe glorification of God. To understand the significance and importance of his place of birth, it is essential to know a little of the history of the Kaaba. The first House of God was rebuilt and renovated at the command of Allah by the Prophet Abraham assisted by his worthy successor, his son Ismail, under the supervision and guidance of the Angel Gabriel. The verses of the Koran say : "And remember when Abraham raised the foundation of the House with Ismail, (Praying) Our Lord! accept (this service) from us; verily Thou and Thou (alone) art the All-hearing and All-knowing." Chap. 2-Verse 127. "And remember when we made the House a resort for mankind and a sanctuary (saying), Take ye the station ofAbraham a place of prayer (For you); and covenanted with Abraham and Ismail (saying) purify ye two my House for those who make the circuit, and for those who prostrate (adoring)". Chap. 2-Verse l25. This verse clearly depicts the purpose of the Kaaba, namely that it was to be a place of worship and that it was pure and sacred. It was to this sacred place, the Holy Kaaba, that Providence led the mother of Hazrat Ali. She felt weighed down by intense pain when Ali was due to be born. She knelt to pray. When she raised her head from her supplication, the wall of the House split as if by a miracle, to admit her within, and a portion of the wall returned to its normal position. The Kaaba was sealed, with Fatima within. This news spread fast all over Mecca. The keys of the shrine were brought to unlock the door but all efforts ended in failure. 5 On the third day of this happening, with awe the wonder-struck crowds surrounding the Kaaba witnessed the lockfalling of its own ac- cord, and to their surprise Fatima emerged radiant from the sacred premises, cheerfully holding her new-born babe in her arms. Muhammad was waiting to receive her and her new-born child, and the first face that little Ali saw in this world was the smiling face of the Apostle of God, Muhammad, whom he greeted thus : "Assalaamo alaika ya Rasoolallah" (Peace be upon thee 0 Prophet of Allah). Thus it is an undisputed fact that Ali was born a Muslim, and his first words testified to the Prophethood of Muhammad. Muhammad lov- ingly took himinto his arms. Ali's first bath after his birth was given by Muhammad with a prediction that this babe would give him his last bath. This Prophecy was fulfilled on the death of the Holy Prophet. The child accepted no other food other than the moisture of Muhammad's tongue, which he sucked for several days after his birth. Muhammad fondled him in his lap in his infancy, and chewed his food and fed Ali on it; he often made him sleep by his side, and Ali enjoyed the warmth of Muhammad's body and inhaled the holy fragrance of his breath.