Lion of Allah, Hazrat ‘Ali Karramallahu Ta’ala Wajhahul Kareem

The personality of Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu needs no introduction. Even the smallest of children in Muslims households know of him and believe in him. The date of his martyrdom is in Ramadhan, therefore I am including some details about his blessed life. Read it and try and act according to his blessed life and teachings.

Name and Lineage

His name is ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, and his appellations (nicknames) are ‘Abul Hasan’ and ‘Abu Turaab.’ He is the son of Abu Talib, who is the paternal uncle of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam; therefore he is the cousin of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam. His mother’s name is Fatimah bint e Asad bin Hashim, and she was the first lady from the Hashmi tribe to accept Islam and migrate. (Taareekh ul Khulafa)

Genealogy and Birth

His name by genealogy is ‘Ali bin Abu Talib bin ‘Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim bin ‘Abd e Munaf. He was born on the 30th day of the ‘Year of the Elephant’. He came under the guardianship of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam before the proclamation of Prophethood. When the Quraish were stricken by a drought, Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam took over responsibility of Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu upon himself to make it easier for Abu Talib to provide for the rest of his family. In this manner, he was raised under the shade and guidance of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam and grew up in the blessed lap of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the universal beauty and majesty of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam, he heard his words and learnt the blessed habits of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam. This is why his lap was never soiled with the impurity of idols, meaning he never worshipped them, and that is why his title became ‘Karramallahu Ta’ala Wajhahul Kareem.’

Acceptance of Islam

Hazrat ‘Ali Karramallahu Ta’ala Wajhahul Kareem was the first youngster to accept Islam. It is reported in ‘Taareekh ul Khulafa’ that he accepted Islam at the age of 10. Some narrators have stated that he was 9, some others narrate that he was only 8 when he accepted Islam, whilst others state that he was even younger than this. A’ala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan ‘Alaihir Rahmah writes that ‘When he accepted Islam, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu’s age was between 8 and 10.’

Muhammed bin Ishaq has written about the acceptance of Islam by Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu in the following words:
“One night, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu saw Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam and Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anha praying Namaz. When they had finished, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu asked, “What were you doing?” Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “This is the religion that Allah Ta’ala has chosen for us, and has sent His Prophet to propagate and spread this religion. Therefore, I am inviting you to the One true Lord Who has no partner, and I am ordering you to worship Him alone.” Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu said, “I can not make any decision on that until I talk to my father, Abu Talib.” Due to fact that Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam did not want to reveal Islam publicly at that time he said, “’Ali, if you do not want to accept Islam at this time then keep it a secret for now, do not tell others about Islam just yet.”

Even though Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu did not verbally accept Islam at that time, Allah Ta’ala had established faith in his heart. The first thing that he did the following morning was that he presented himself to Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam, accepted everything that Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam had said the night before and he accepted Islam.

Migration

When Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam was about to leave Makkah and migrate to Madinah on the orders of Allah Ta’ala, he called Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu and said, “I have been ordered to migrate by Allah Ta’ala, therefore I am leaving for Madinah tonight. You sleep on my bed tonight under my green blanket and you will not be troubled at all. Return all the valuables of the Quraish that were given to me for safekeeping and then you also come to Madinah.”

The situation at that time was very dangerous and frightening. Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu knew that the Quraish had planned to assassinate Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam whilst he was sleeping and that is why Allah Ta’ala forbid Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam from sleeping in his own bed. On this night, the bed of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam was a killing field but the words ‘You will not be troubled at all. Return all the valuables of the Quraish that were given to me for safekeeping and then you also come to Madinah’ filled Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu with complete faith and confidence that the enemies would not be able to harm him, and that he would remain safe and would go to Madinah. Therefore, the blessed bed of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam that seemed to be a bed of thorns on this night became a bed of roses for Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu. This is because his faith and belief was that the sun could rise from the West instead of the East, but the words of Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam could not be wrong.

Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu states that, “I slept peacefully all night and began returning the valuables to their owners the next morning without hiding from anybody. In that manner, I remained in Makkah for three days, returned all the belongings to their rightful owners and then headed towards Madinah. No one confronted me along the way and I reached Quba safely, where Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam was staying at the home of Hazrat Kulsoom Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anha and I also stayed there with him.”

Hazrat ‘Ali and Ahadith Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu

There are many Ahadith that extol the virtues and qualities of Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu. Imam Ahmed Raza ‘Alaihir Rahmah has stated that no other Companion has more Ahadith praising their qualities than Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu. Bukhari and Muslim report on the authority of Hazrat Sa’ad bin Waqas Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu that when Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam did not take Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu to participate in the Battle of Tabook, and instead ordered him to remain in Madinah, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu pleaded and said, “Ya Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam! You are leaving me here in charge of the women and children as your deputy?” Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Are you not pleased with the fact that I am leaving you here just as Hazrat Moosa ‘Alaihis Salaam left Hazrat Haroon ‘Alaihis Salaam? The only difference is that there is no Prophet after me.”

This means that ‘Just as Hazrat Moosa ‘Alaihis Salaam left his brother Hazrat Haroon ‘Alaihis Salaam as his successor over the Children of Israel, I am leaving you in charge as my successor and deputy as we are leaving for the Battle of Tabook. Consequently, your status in my court is the same as the status that Hazrat Haroon ‘Alaihis Salaam enjoyed in the court of Hazrat Moosa ‘Alaihis Salaam. Therefore O ‘Ali! You should be happy.’ This is what happened and these words comforted and reassured Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu. Hazrat Umm-e-Salma Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anha narrates that Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The person who abuses ‘Ali, verily he has abused me.” (Mishkat)

This means that Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu was granted such closeness and proximity to Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam that insulting or disrespecting him was classified as insulting and disrespecting Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam. In short, insulting Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu is like insulting and disrespecting Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam

Hazrat Abul Tufail Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu narrates that, “One day, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu gathered many people in an open field and said, ‘I give you an oath in the Name of Allah Ta’ala, what did Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam say about me on the day of Ghadeer e Khum?’ Thirty people from the group stood up and said, ‘’Ali is the master (Maula) of all those whose master (Maula) I am. O Allah! You love those who love ‘Ali and You have enmity with those who have enmity with ‘Ali.’”

Martyrdom

Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu woke up early on the 17th Ramadhan 40 AH and said to his oldest son Hazrat Imam Hasan Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu, “I saw Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam in my dream last night and I said ‘Ya Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam! Your Nation has become very unprincipled towards me and have made things very difficult for me.’ Rasool Allah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said. ‘O ‘Ali, supplicate for the tyrants’ and I supplicated in the following manner, ‘O Lord! Take me away from these people and take me towards better people then these.’”

Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu was still narrating this dream when the Mu’azzin, Ibn Nabah, called out ‘Prayer, Prayer.’ Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu left his house to go for Prayer and was waking people up along the way as he was heading towards the Mosque. Suddenly, Ibn Muljim approached him and attacked him viciously with a sword. The attack was so severe that the sword sliced through his forehead and penetrated his brain. As soon as the sword struck him, Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu said, “I swear by the Lord of the Ka’aba, I am successful.” (Taareekh ul Khulafa)

Organise gatherings for the remembrance of Hazrat ‘Ali Radiallaho Ta’ala ‘Anhu on the anniversary of his martyrdom; live your lives according to his bright and luminous example and become successful and triumphant. May Allah Ta’ala guide us all, Aameen.