HADRAT ALI IBN ABI TALIB
Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu
Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu
Birth of Hadrat Ali
Life of Hadrat Ali, a general review
Distinctions of Hadrat Ali
Hadrat Ali in the Noble Qur'an
For more information, the reader is advised to purchase the book Hadrat Ali r.a., by Prof. Madud-ul-Hasan, Published by Islamic Publications (Pvt) Limited, 13-E Shah Alam Market, Lahore, Pakistan [http://muslim-canada.org/hadratali.htm]
LOVE OF THE AHL AL-BAYT by 'Raees al Muhaqiqeen' Shaykh al Islam w'al Muslimeen
Parentage
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was the son of Abu Talib, a prominent Quraish chief and custodian of the Beloved Ka'bah. Abu Talib was so-called because he was the father of "Talib," the eldest brother of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. The real name of Abu Talib was 'Abd Manaf.' However, he was more popularly known by his surname than by his real name. Abu Talib was the son of Abdul Muttalib. Abdul Muttalib was also a surname, his real name being Shaybah. Abdul Muttalib was the son of Hashim. Hashim was a great man of his line, and his descendants came to be known as Hashimites.
The mother of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha. She was the daughter of Asad who was a son of Hashim. Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha was a cousin of Abu Talib. Thus, both the father and mother of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu were Hashimites, and that was a great honour.
Ancestry of Hadrat Ali
Ancestry of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu & the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was the son of Abdullah who was the son of Abdul Muttalib. Abdullah and Abu Talib were real brothers. Abu Talib was thus the real paternal uncle of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam of Islam. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was the first cousin of the Beloved ProphetSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu had a common grandfather who was Abdul Muttalib.
Abdul Muttalib was the son of Hashim, who was the son of Abd Manaf, who was the son of Qusay, who was the son of Murrah, who was the son a Kaab, who was the son of Luayy, who was the son of Ghalib, who was the son of Fihr, who was the son of Malik, who was the son of Nadr, who was the son of Kannah. Beyond Kannah, the ancestry extended to Hadrat Ismail, and Hadrat Ibrahim, who flourished some 2,500 years earlier.
Date of birth
The exact date of birth of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu is not known with any degree of certainty. According to Traditions, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was born on the 13th ofRajab in the 28th year of the Elephant era. The Elephant era, according to the annals of Arabia commenced when Abraha, the Christian Viceroy of Yemen, invaded Makkah with the intention of destroying the Ka'bah, and shifting the centre of pilgrimage to Yemen. The invasion failed, the Christian army had to beat a retreat without achieving its object. That marked the retreat of Christianity from the heartland of Arabia and paved the way for the rise of Islam.
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam of Islam was born in the 'Year of the Elephant'. According to scholars, 'The Year of the Elephant' corresponds to the year 571 of the Christian/Common Era [CE]. On this basis, the year of the birth of Hadrat AliRadi Allahu ta'ala anhu would have to be placed around 599 or 600 CE. In any case, Hadrat AliRadi Allahu ta'ala anhu was at the junction of two centuries, the sixth and the seventh.
Birth of Hadrat Ali
Birth of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was born in unusual circumstances. On the 13th day of the blessed month of Rajab, Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha, the mother of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, visited the Ka'bah to perform the pilgrimage. During the course of the pilgrimage and while circambulating the Ka'bah, Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha felt the pangs of childbirth. She retired to a secluded place in the precincts of the Blessed Ka'bah, and there Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was born. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu has thus had the unique honour to be born in the House of God. This unparalleled honour had endowed Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu with a halo of sanctity that has become the subject of many legends. A hundred years later, Hadrat Zain-ul-Abideen Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, a grandson of Ali (son of Hadrat Husayn), met an Arab woman at Najaf who told him that her grandmother had helped Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha on the occasion of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu's birth. She narrated that according to the account of her grandmother, the child was beautiful; a smile played on his lips; he did not cry like other children; and his birth did not cause any pain to his mother.
His Name
Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha wanted to name her child "Asad" after her father and Abu Talib wanted to name him Zaid. When both mother and the child returned home, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, and Hadrat Khadijah Radi Allahu ta'ala anha came to see her newborn child. Since his birth, he had not opened his eyes, and that worried both Sayyida Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha and Abu Talib. However, when the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam took the child in his lap, he then opened his eyes. So the first person that Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu saw after his birth was the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was asked whether he approved of the child being named either Asad or Zaid, he said that since the child was born in the House of God, he should be named Ali (the word Ali being a derivative of Allah). Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu had thus had the distinction of being named after Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. No one before him had ever been so named. Furthermore, the name acquired more sanctity because it was suggested by the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
The biographer & his hero
A biographer can be considered the alter-ego of the hero, whose biography is written. There is a common bond between the biographer and the hero which transcends the considerations of time and space. In writing this biography of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, I have had some communion with the soul of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, and in some mysterious way, I had the necessary guidance in appreciating such events in the life of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu which were otherwise obscure. Just as a lover locks the image of his beloved in his heart, thus the biographer locks the image of his hero in his heart, and he can enter into a dialogue with such image.
Biography & history
There are differences in the approach between a biographer and a historian. A biography is usually an exercise in hero worship and the biographer is prone to paint the picture of his hero in bright colours. On the other hand, the approach of a historian is for the most part objective and constructively critical. Every hero of a biographer may not necessarily be a great men from the viewpoint history. Where the hero is a great man in history, his biography has to be projected in the context of history. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu is indeed a great man in the history of mankind in general and the history of Islam in particular. In undertaking this study in the life of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, I have had to act not only as a biographer, but as a historian as well. This means that besides narrating the main events in the Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu's life, I must examine the impact of such events on history. As such, I must critically examine the main events in Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu's life in order to ascertain their causes and effects. Of course such criticism has to be constructive.
Greatness of Hadrat Ali
Greatness is a phenomenon in which specially gifted persons who are endowed with extraordinary qualities appear on the world stage from time to time. History is the science which studies this phenomenon of greatness. Usually every person who scales the heights of greatness and acquires a place in history is a success from the worldly point of view. Here there is a peculiarity in the greatness of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. He was great, indeed very great, but he was not a success from the worldly point of view in the conventional sense that the word 'success' is understood. We have thus to undertake a study to probe into the causes that militated against the success of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu from the worldly point of view in spite of his greatness. We will also have to consider how he is great when he did not succeed in the worldly sense.
Periods in the life of Hadrat Ali
The life of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu can be divided into three distinct periods. The first period comprises the first 32 years of his life and extends from 600 to 632 CE. I call this period the period of the education and action. It was during this period that he received his education under the loving care of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam; imbibed with values of Islam; and acquired all the attributes that contribute to greatness. In the post-Hijri years, he emerged as the greatest warrior of the age. He distinguished himself as a great warrior in the battles of Badr, Uhud and the Ditch. His crowning success was his conquest of the Khyber. In battle he killed more men [through hand-to-hand combat] than any other single man in history. All those who fought in the duels against him were invariably killed. He came to be known as the "Lion of God."
He acted as a Justice, and acquired fame for his wise and well-reasoned judgments. He acted as the Governor of Yemen, and acquired a good deal of experience as administrator. He had the honour of announcing the verses of the Noble Qur'an about the "Declaration of Immunity" to the people on behalf of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam on the location of the Hajj. When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam died, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was in the prime of his youth and he was enlightened, experienced, wise, valiant -- the embodiment of virtue. He had expected that because of his outstanding qualities and his relationship to the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he would be chosen as the Caliph. He was however, passed over, and this state of affairs continued for 24 years when the office of the caliphate was held by Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar and Hadrat Uthman Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum.
This period constitutes the second period of the life of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. During this time, although Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu acted as the Counsellor to Caliphs, he generally kept aloof from active politics. I call this period as the period of inaction and contemplation. It was a period of inaction from the political point of view, because he kept aloof from politics. It was the period of contemplation from the spiritual point of view, for this period was spent by Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu mostly in prayer, religious exercises and dialogue with God. The further he went from the world, the nearer he got to God.
The third period began when Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was elected as Caliph. This period only lasted for five years. I call this period the period of frustration. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu found the caliphate to be a bed of thorns.
During those five years, he fought three battles:
During those five years, he fought three battles:
(i) the Battle of the Camel,
(ii) the Battle of Siffin, and
(iii) the Battle of Nahrawan.
All three battles were fought against Muslims and led to considerable bloodshed. It was a matter of great shock for him, that instead of fighting against non-Muslims, he had to fight against Muslims. During this period, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu had to suffer from frustration because of repeated and continuous betrayals, even by men close to him. At the outset of his caliphate, he was betrayed by Banu Umayya when Hadrat Muawiyah Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu defied him and accused him of involvement in the murder of Hadrat Uthman Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. He was betrayed by the people of Medina who did not respond to his call to undertake 'jihad' against Hadrat Muawiyah Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. He was betrayed by Talha and Zubair Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum, who took the oath of allegiance [from] him and later defected. He was betrayed by Hadrat A'isha Radi Allahu ta'ala anha his mother-in-law, who took top arms against him. He was betrayed by the people of Basra who had taken the oath of allegiance [from] him but later defected. At Siffin he was betrayed by his own army who would not fight when the victory was in sight. In the matter of arbitration, he was betrayed by his umpire Abu Musa Ashari, who instead of defending his cause, deposed him. He had to face the succession of the Kharijites who had originally fought on his side at the battle of Siffin. He was betrayed by Khurrity b. Raashid who had been his ally, but later revolted against him, and created trouble in Basra. He was betrayed by his own brother Aquil who was not satisfied with the allowance that Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu gave him, and joined Hadrat MuawiyahRadi Allahu ta'ala anhu who rewarded him handsomely. He was betrayed by his cousin Abdullah b. Abbas Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu when he had appointed as the Governor of Basra, and who left his post after misappropriated heavy fines from the Bait-ul-Mal. The final active betrayal came when Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was married, by a fanatic Kharijite.
Causes for the failure
Causes for the failure of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu from the worldly point of view
The usual phenomenon of greatness is that men succeed in life, and because of such success may acquire greatness. The usual law is that greatness is the consequence of success.Nothing succeeds like success and nothing fails like failure. This means that if you succeed, you become great, but if you fail, you are pushed aside and are forgotten. In Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu's case we come across an extraordinary exception to this law of success and greatness. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu's greatness was of a different species. His greatness did not flow from success in life. Such greatness was inherent in him. It preceded his encounter with the world and it outlived his death, although he did not succeed in his worldly life as the word 'success' is usually understood. Instead Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu became more famous after death than when he was alive.
We will now consider the causes which militated against Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu'ssuccess in spite of his greatness. His greatness was of such a dimension that he towered extremely high above the people around him. It was a case of Gulliver in the land of dwarfs. He was so high that he could not bend to meet the people, and that people were so low that they could not rise to meet him. As such, a proper equation could not be established between Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and the people around him, and this was the main cause as to why he was frequently betrayed, and why he did not succeed in the worldly affairs like ordinary people. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu [was] very much ahead of his time and the people in that era simply could not keep up with him.
By the time Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu came to office, a generation had passed since the death of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. During this period, the Muslims had made large conquests. This had brought great wealth, and wealth had changed people's lives. A capitalist class sprang up among the Muslims. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, a great Muslim of the old type, wanted to enforce the austere discipline of the original Islam. He himself lead a very simple life, and aimed to follow in the steps of Hadrat Umar. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, however, lacked the harshness of Hadrat Umar Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, and could not enforce the reforms he had in mind.
There was a gulf between Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and the capitalist class who wielded considerable influence. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was very parsimonious in the spending of public funds; while Hadrat Muawiyah Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, who himself had lead a luxurious life, was quite liberal in the spending of public funds. The capitalist class among the Muslims preferred Hadrat Muawiyah Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as they were given to the worldly way of life. While Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was more concerned with the Hereafter than this world, people around him were more concerned with the world than the Hereafter. This difference in outlook could not be bridged, and that is why there were many betrayals in the camp of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. These betrayals weakened his position of considerably for he was a man of strong principles and would not compromise with those principles. The people who were opposed to him were masters in propaganda and they didn't hesitate to adopt any means, whether fair or foul, to gain their ends. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu lost the game because he would not abandon his principles at any cost.
Opposition of the Quraysh
The Quraysh had played the leading role in the extension of the Muslim dominion. Although Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was a Quraysh, he could not win their support.
Admin Note:
It has belatedly come to our attention that there was an inaccurate statement given here (by the writer of a certain book) which the author of this article had quoted. We have subsequently deleted that section so as not to cause any confusion.
The Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l Jama'ah do not consider Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as the most afzaal(superior) amongst the khulafa-e-Rashideen.
Admin Note:
It has belatedly come to our attention that there was an inaccurate statement given here (by the writer of a certain book) which the author of this article had quoted. We have subsequently deleted that section so as not to cause any confusion.
The Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l Jama'ah do not consider Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as the most afzaal(superior) amongst the khulafa-e-Rashideen.
Physical appearance
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was of medium-high height. He had a superb head with a face as noble as the man himself. His nose was straight, and his mouth was beautifully formed. His eyes were most commanding, being full of light and luster. There was an note of music in his voice. There was an aura of spirituality and a strong personal magnetism about him. In his youth he was handsome and full of fiery vigour. When he was older he became corpulent and bulky. His gray hair gave way to baldness. His beard, however, remained thick and luxuriant, and he often dyed it red. He was stout, genial, charitable, meditative, reserved, and he was a man who towered high above the people around him because of his intellectual and spiritual attainments.
Hadrat Ali, the Man
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was endowed with all the qualities that make a man great. He was not only great, he was regarded as a superman, an ideal man. He was the paragon of virtue. He enjoyed fame for his piety and religious devotions. He was the embodiment of Islamic values.
In his love of God and His Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he was second to none. When praying to God, his absorption was so intense that he often lost consciousness. His mind was so sure that he could hold communion with God. He had learned the Noble Qur'an by heart, and he could quote appropriate verses to suit every occasion. He was most truthful and honest. He was most humble. He was simple in his habits. He avoided display and luxury. He lived the life of an ascetic. Even when he was Caliph he lived in an ordinary house. The door of his house remained open to everyone at all times. He was most generous. He was most liberal in giving charity. He always came to the help of those who were distressed and involved in any difficulty. He looked after widows and orphans as if they were members of his own household.
He was a warrior, a general, and a man conspicuous for his bravery and valour. Indeed he was braver than any other man in history. He fought hundreds of duels in his lifetime, and in all such encounters his rivals were always worse off. In the various battles, he killed a record number of enemies. He was skilful swordsman and his sword never missed its mark. In the various battles that he fought, he never turned his back. In the battle of Uhud, he received so many wounds that the nurses were unable to dress them. He bore the pain with great patience. When people around him misunderstood him, yet he did not lose patience. He was most chivalrous, and forgiving. He would forgive even his worst enemies.
He was a great scholar. His book Nahj ul-Balagha is a living proof of his scholarship and erudition. There was a sense of humour about him, and sometimes he said things in a lighter vein to bring home the point he had in mind. He was a master of the simile and metaphor, and when bringing home a point he always illustrated it with appropriate metaphors and similes. He was a great philosopher, and there was great depth in his thoughts which were expressed in his writing. He was known for his wisdom. He was indeed wiser than Solomon. Most of his wise sayings have attained the dimensions of proverbs. He was a great orator. His sermons were most impressive. He was a master of rhetoric. He is regarded as the father of Islamic learning. He has left a deep mark on Islamic theology. He was the founder of Arabic grammar. He was a great poet. He was the Father of Sufism. He was the father of Islamic jurisprudence. He was in impartial judge and his famous judgements are the most valuable assets of Islamic jurisprudence. He was a skilful administrator. He introduced numerous reforms. He was an eminent political thinker for his political thought had an air of modernity about it.
The greatness of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as a man is multi-dimensional in character, and after the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he was one of the greatest Muslims whose memory is honoured by Muslims all over the world.
In his love of God and His Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he was second to none. When praying to God, his absorption was so intense that he often lost consciousness. His mind was so sure that he could hold communion with God. He had learned the Noble Qur'an by heart, and he could quote appropriate verses to suit every occasion. He was most truthful and honest. He was most humble. He was simple in his habits. He avoided display and luxury. He lived the life of an ascetic. Even when he was Caliph he lived in an ordinary house. The door of his house remained open to everyone at all times. He was most generous. He was most liberal in giving charity. He always came to the help of those who were distressed and involved in any difficulty. He looked after widows and orphans as if they were members of his own household.
He was a warrior, a general, and a man conspicuous for his bravery and valour. Indeed he was braver than any other man in history. He fought hundreds of duels in his lifetime, and in all such encounters his rivals were always worse off. In the various battles, he killed a record number of enemies. He was skilful swordsman and his sword never missed its mark. In the various battles that he fought, he never turned his back. In the battle of Uhud, he received so many wounds that the nurses were unable to dress them. He bore the pain with great patience. When people around him misunderstood him, yet he did not lose patience. He was most chivalrous, and forgiving. He would forgive even his worst enemies.
He was a great scholar. His book Nahj ul-Balagha is a living proof of his scholarship and erudition. There was a sense of humour about him, and sometimes he said things in a lighter vein to bring home the point he had in mind. He was a master of the simile and metaphor, and when bringing home a point he always illustrated it with appropriate metaphors and similes. He was a great philosopher, and there was great depth in his thoughts which were expressed in his writing. He was known for his wisdom. He was indeed wiser than Solomon. Most of his wise sayings have attained the dimensions of proverbs. He was a great orator. His sermons were most impressive. He was a master of rhetoric. He is regarded as the father of Islamic learning. He has left a deep mark on Islamic theology. He was the founder of Arabic grammar. He was a great poet. He was the Father of Sufism. He was the father of Islamic jurisprudence. He was in impartial judge and his famous judgements are the most valuable assets of Islamic jurisprudence. He was a skilful administrator. He introduced numerous reforms. He was an eminent political thinker for his political thought had an air of modernity about it.
The greatness of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as a man is multi-dimensional in character, and after the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he was one of the greatest Muslims whose memory is honoured by Muslims all over the world.
Wives & Children
The principal wife of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha, the beloved daughter of Sarkar-e-Do-Alam, Tajadar-e-Madina, Huzoor Nabi al-AkramSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa saabihi wa Sallam. During the lifetime of Hadrat FatimaRadi Allahu ta'ala anha, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu at one stage proposed to marry a daughter of Abu Jahl. When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallamcame to know of this proposal, he became annoyed and declared that if Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu wanted to marry another wife, he should divorce Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha first. Thereupon Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu abandoned the idea of marrying another wife. Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha was the mother of three sons and two daughters. The sons were Sayyadina Hasan, Sayyadina Husayin, and Sayyadina Mohsin Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum. Sayyadina Mohsin died during childhood. The daughters were Sayyida Zainab and Sayyida Umm Kulthum Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum.
After the death of Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhumarried a number of wives. They were*:
(1) Umm-ul-Bunian Radi Allahu ta'ala anha who was the daughter of Hazam b. Khalid. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu had five sons from her, namely: Abdullah, Jafar, Abbas, Uthman, and Umar. All of them except Abbas were martyred in the battle of Karbala along with Hadrat Husayn.
(2) Khaula Radi Allahu ta'ala anha was the daughter of Jafar Hanfiyah. She was the mother of the son known as Muhammad b. Hanfiyah.
(3) Umm Habib Radi Allahu ta'ala anha who was the daughter of Rabiah. She gave birth to a son Umar, in the daughter Ruqiya.
(4) Asma Radi Allahu ta'ala anha who was the daughter of Umais. She was in the first instance married to Hadrat Jafar, an elder brother of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. On the death of Hadrat Jafar, Hadrat Abu Bakr married her. After the death of Hadrat Abu Bakr she married Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. She had two sons from Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, namely: Yahya and Muhammad Asghar.
(5) Laila Radi Allahu ta'ala anha who was the daughter of Masud. She was the mother of two sons, namely Ubaidullah and Abu Bakr.
(6) Umama who was a daughter of Abi Al Aa's and Hadrat Zainab Radi Allahu ta'ala anhaand elder sister of Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha. Her son from Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu bore the name of Muhammad Awsat.
(7) Umm Saeed Radi Allahu ta'ala anha who was a daughter of Urwa. She bore Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu two daughters, namely: Umm-ul-Hasan and Rumia.
(8) Muhyat Radi Allahu ta'ala anha was a daughter of the famous Arab poet Imra-ul-Qais. She gave birth to a daughter who expired in infancy.
*Allah Almighty be pleased with them all.
*Allah Almighty be pleased with them all.
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu married nine wives in all including Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha. The number of wives at a time however did not exceed four. He had a few slave girls of whom Humia and Umm Shuaib bore him 12 daughters, Nafisa, Zainab, Ruqiya, Umm-ul-Karaam, Humaira, Umm Salma, Sughra, Khadija, Umm Hani, Umm Kulthum Jamana and Maimuna. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was, in all, the father of 15 sons and 18 daughters. [total = 33 children]
Man of many distinctions
Hadrat Ali karam Allahau ta'ala wajahu was a man of many distinctions. He owed his distinctions to his relationship with the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa saabihi wa Sallam, his valour, his knowledge and his spiritual attainments.
His birth
His blessed birth
- He had the distinction of being a Hashimite both on the side of his father as well as his mother.
- He had the distinction of having a name which was derivative of the name of AllahSubhanahu wa Ta'ala. No other person before him bore the name of Ali.
Relationship with Nabi
His relationship with the Beloved Messenger of Allah
- On opening his eyes after his birth, the first person who he saw was the BelovedProphet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam gave him his name.
- As an infant he had the honour of sucking the tongue of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- He was the first cousin of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. He became a ward of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, and was brought up as a family member of the household of the BelovedProphet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- He received his training under the loving care and guidance of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam declared his mission, he was the first teenager to convert to Islam.
- Hadrat Khadijah Radi Allahu ta'ala anha and Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu were the first two persons to pray behind the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam invited the Hashimites to a dinner, and aked them to aid him in his mission, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was the only person to respond to the call of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- He risked his life for the sake of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and slept on his bed when the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam left for Madina and the Quraysh youth besieged the house with a view to killing the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam left for Madina, he entrusted to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu the task of returning the belongings of the people. They had placed their belongings in the custody of the Beloved ProphetSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam for safekeeping.
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam joined the Muhajirs and the Ansars in fraternity in Madina, he allied himself in fraternity with Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
- The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam married his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra Radi Allahu ta'ala anha to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
- He was commissioned by the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam to write the agreement which came to be known as the Hudaybia Pact.
- After the conquest of Makkah, he had the unique distinction of standing on the shoulders of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam and destroying the idols in the Ka'bah.
- He was entrusted by the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallamwith the special mission of announcing the Quraish Sura "Al Bara'at" (Immunity) to the people on the occasion of the pilgrimage.
- He was the only person to whom the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam referred to as the "Maula" [Master] of the Ummah
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam proposed "Mubahala" [a special kind of debate] with the Christians and the Najran, he chose Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as his "second man."
- The progeny of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallamdescends through Hadrat Ali.
- He was the only person to whom the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam imparted "inward knowledge."
- The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam conferred many appellations on Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu such as Hidar-iKarrar, Abu Turab, Asad-ullah, Syedul Arab, etc.
- The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam declared his relationship to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as that of Moses and Aaron [Peace be upom them].
- When the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam left this world, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu 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 Beloved of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
- In all the battles, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu 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, it is said he killed over 1000 enemies of Islam. In the Battle of Badralone, he killed two dozen people.
- He fought over a hundred duels and in all the duels, his adversaries, however strong, were defeated.
- 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 Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, 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 Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, 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 Qur'an by heart.
- According to the commentators, there are at least 300 verses in the Noble Qur'an which have an implied reference to Hadrat Ali
- He was the Chief Judge among the early Muslims. He is regarded as the "father offiqh." [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 - one whom resolves the difficulties of the people(8) Shah-i-Awliya - the king of saints(9) Shah-i-Momineen - the king of the pious(10) Abu Turab - father of the earth(11) Amir al-Momineen - leader of the faithful(12) Amin al-Momineen - the trustee of the faithful(13) Imam al-Muttaqeen - the leader of the God-fearing(14) Sayyad-ul-Arab - the chief of the Arabs(15) Al Wasi - the beneficiary under the Prophet's 'testamentary statement'(16) Al Hadi - the guide(17) Al Zahid - the chaste(18) Al Abi - the pious(19) Al Salah - the reformer
In the Qur'an
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu in the Qur'an
According to the commentators of the Qur'an al-karim, there are numerous verses in al-Qur'an which have implied references to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. According to the Shi'ahcommentators there are as many as 300 verses in the al-Qur'an which have an implied reference to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. However according to the Sunni commentators this number is considerably smaller.
References to Hadrat Ali
According to the consensus of commentators, some of the verses which refer to Hadrat AliRadi Allahu ta'ala anhu are as follows:
Verse 33, Sura 33
"Allah's wish is but to remove uncleanness far from you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a thorough cleansing."
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu is obviously included in the expression "Folk of the Household."
Verse 61, Sura 3
"And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie."
This verse alludes the deputation of the Christians of Najran who came to Madina to hold a discussion with the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallamabout the truth of Islam. In this verse, the reference to "our sons, and our women" includes references to Hadrat Ali, Hadrat Fatima, Hasan and Hussain [Allah be pleased withem all].
Verse 3, Sura 9
"And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve."
In pursuance of this verse, the Beloved Prophet commissioned Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to go to the 'Greater Pilgrimage' to announce the verses of the Sura "Immunity" wherein God absolved the Muslims from all obligations under treaties previously concluded with the idolators.
Verse 23, Sura 42
"Say O Muhammad to mankind: 'No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin.' "
According to Traditions, when the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam was asked as to who were the relatives alluded to in the verse, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said,
"Verily, the reference is to Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain."
Verse 21, Sura 45
"Do those who commit evil deeds suppose that We shall treat them like those who believe and do good deeds - that their lives and their deaths shall be equal.No, bad is their judgment."
According to Ibn Abbas, "the doers of good" cited to in this verse, refer to to to Hadrat Ali, Hadrat Hamza and Hadrat Ubaydah b. Harith.
Verse 17, Sura 11
"Is he to be counted equal with those who rely on a clear proof from his Lord and the witness from Him recites it, and before it was the Book of Moses, and example and a mercy? Such believe therein. Whoso disbelieves therein, the Fire is his appointed place. So be not you in doubt concerning it. Lo, it is the truth from your Lord, but most of mankind believe it not."
One day, in one of his sermons, Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu said that there was hardly a man from among to the Quraysh who had not been referred to in the Noble Qur'an. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was asked to recite some verse which alluded to him. Thereupon he recited the above verse.
Verse 4, Sura 66
"Now if both of you turn to Allah repentant, it will be better for you as your hearts are already so inclined. But if you backup each other against him, surely Allah is his helper, and Gabriel and the righteous among the believers, and furthermore, all other angels too are his helpers."
According to Ibn Abbas, the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said that the "righteous men" alluded to as "helper" in this verse, refers to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Verse 18, Sura 32
"Is he who is a believer like him who is an evil doer? Verily they are not equal."
According to Ibn Abbas, "believer" in this verse refers to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, and "evil doer" refers to Walid b. Utba.
Verse 54, Sura 25
"And He it is Who created man from water, and has appointed for him kindred by blood, and kindred by marriage, and your Lord is all powerful."
According to the Traditions, "kindred by blood and kindred by marriage" refers to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Verse 36, Sura 24
"The lamp of light is lit in houses which Allah has allowed to be exalted so that His name be remembered in them. Therein He is glorified in the mornings and evenings."
According to the Traditions, the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said that be "houses" referred to in this verse include the house of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha.
Verse 55, Sura 5
"Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger, and the believers who observed prayer and pay the poor rate."
According to the Traditions, "the believers" referred to in this verse includes a reference to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Verse 12, Sura 58
"O ye who believe! When you consult the Messenger in private, give alms before your consultation. That is better and purer for you. But when you do not find the wherewithal, Lo! Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
According to the Traditions, when this verse was revealed the Beloved Prophet wanted to fix an amount which every person who consulted the Beloved Prophet should pay. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu contended that since the people were generally poor no amount should be fixed and the option should rest with the person concerned, to pay whatever alms he could.
Verse 181, Sura 7
"And of those We have created, there are people that guide men in the truth, and do justice therewith."
According to the Traditions, the reference to "people that guide men with truth" includes a reference to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Verse 57, Sura 43
"And when the son of Mary is cited as an example, lo, the people jeer thereat."
According to the Traditions, the Beloved Mesenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is said to have told Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu that one day his example would be like that of Jesus Christ. A section of the people would love him so much that they would willingly die for him, whereas there would also be other people who would fight against him.
Verse 29, Sura 48
"Muhammad is the Apostle off God. And those with Him are firm against the disbelievers, and Merciful amongst themselves. Thus see them bowing down, and prostrating themselves in prayer, seeking grace from Allah and His pleasure. Their mark is upon their faces, being the traces of prostrations. Such is their description in the Torah. And their description in the gospel is like a seed that sends forth its sprout, then makes its strong; it then becomes thick, and stands on its stem, delighting the sowers, and causing the disbelievers to burn with rage at the sight of them. Allah has promised to those of them who believe and do good works, forgiveness and a great We reward."
According to the commentary of Imam Abu Musa, this verse was revealed in favour of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu
Verse 43, Sura 13
"And those who disbelieve say 'you are not a Messenger' say to them, 'sufficient is Allah as the witness between me and you, and so is he who possesses knowledge of the Book."
According to commentators, the phrase "whosoever has the knowledge of the Book" alludes to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Verse 64, Sura 8
"O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for you and for such of the followers as follow you."
According to commentators, the phrase "such of the followers as follow you" alludes to Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.
Gate of Knowledge
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was the most learned man of the age. He was a living encyclopaedia of knowledge. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said,
"If I am the City of Knowledge, verily Ali is the Gate of it."
He was the first person to have learned the Qur'an al-karim by heart. He possessed a prodigious memory and he was a keen observer; he was a deep thinker; he had an enlightened mind and he carried a vast storehouse of knowledge in his brain. He was a versatile genius and he exhibited extraordinary talents in all disciplines of knowledge. He was a master of philosophy and rhetoric. He was a distinguished poet. He was a great teacher and preacher. His knowledge extended to such disciplines as logic, mathematics, physics, astronomy, medicine and history.
His concept of Knowledge
Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu held that the principal aim of knowledge was the inculcation of virtue, promotion of faith, and understanding of God. He held that knowledge enlivens the soul, for it kills ignorance. He defined knowledge as the sum total of excellence. He held that the pursuit of knowledge is better than the pursuit of riches, that knowledge is the ornament of the rich and the riches of the poor and that knowledge is better than riches. He held that the learned live even after their death. He maintained that the learned were the living ones in the dead mass of ignorance. He observed that to respect the learned was to respect God. With regards to the respect of the teacher, he held that one who teaches you a letter binds you with the fetter of gratitude. He maintained that the talk of the learned man carried within it the fragrance of the garden of Paradise.
knowledge over wealth
Superiority of knowledge over wealth
It is related that once ten learned men approached Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. They wanted to know how knowledge was better than wealth and they requested that each one of them be given a separate answer. Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu answered them as follows:
(1) Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophet, whereas wealth is the inheritance of the Pharaohs. As the prophets are superior to the Pharaohs, so knowledge is better than wealth.
(2) You have to guard your wealth, but knowledge will guard you. Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth.
(3) When knowledge is distributed it increases. When wealth is distributed it decreases. As such knowledge is better than wealth.
(4) A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has many friends. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.
(5) A learned man because of his wider outlook is apt to be generous, while a rich man because of his love for money is apt to be miserly. As such knowledge is better than wealth.
(6) Knowledge cannot be stolen, but wealth is constantly exposed to the danger of being stolen. Accordingly, knowledge is better than wealth.
(7) With the lapse of time, knowledge gains in depth and dimension. Hoarded coins get rusty or cease to be legal tender. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.
(8) You can keep account of wealth because it is limited, but you cannot keep account of knowledge because it is boundless. That is why knowledge is better than wealth.
(9) Knowledge illuminates the mind, while wealth is apt to darken it. Therefore knowledge is better than wealth.
(10) Knowledge is better than wealth, because knowledge induced the Beloved ProphetSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam to say to God "We worship Thee as we are Thy servants," while wealth engendered and Pharaoh and Nimrod caused the vanity that made them claim godhead.
Assesment by Muslims
Abdullah b. Masud used to say that throughout Arabia there was not a more impartial judge than Ali. He also said that Hadrat Ali was the founder of Arabic grammar.
Abu Saeed Khudiri held that he could easily detect a hypocrite by his enmity towards Ali.
Umar b. Abdul Aziz, the Umayyad Caliph was asked who he considered to be the most pious man in the world. He said:
"Ali excelled mankind in piety. Not only did he practice its virtues, but he tried zealously to reform his friends, associates, acquaintances, and all those who came into contact with him."
Masudi, the great historian wrote,
"If the glorious name of being among the first Muslims, a comrade of the Prophet in exile, his faithful Companion in the struggle for the faith, his intimate friend in life and his kinsman, is he truth knowledge of his teachings and of the Book, if self abnegation and practice of justice, if honesty, purity and love of truth, if the knowledge of law and science constitutes a claim to pre-eminence, then all must regard Ali as one of the foremost Muslims."
Shah Wali Ullah [d.1176 AH] observed:
"Chivalry and strength of character, humanity and sincerity which are the attributes of great men were represented in abundance by Hadrat Ali. He is the father of Islamic learning, and his intellectual attainments were due to the ideal training of the holy Prophet. He was a Hafiz and a great authority on the Qur'an."
Sayyad Amir Ali assessed the achievements of Hadrat Ali in the following terms:
"His bravery won him the title of the "Lion of God," and his learning that of the "Gate of Knowledge." Chivalrous, humane, forbearing to the verge of weakness as a ruler, he was a man before his time. Most of the grand undertakings initiated by Umar for the welfare of the people were due to his counsel. Always ready to succour the weak and to redress the wrongs of the injured, the accounts of his valorous deeds are recited with enthusiasm from the bazaars of Cairo to those of Delhi. With his dying breath he inculcated lessons of charity, love, humility and self abnegation to his sons. He expressly ordered them that no harshness should be shown towards his murderer, who should be executed with one blow."
Allama Iqbal In his poem "Asrar-i-Khudi," Allama Iqbal paid tribute to Hadrat Ali in the following terms:
"Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet was a man of many qualities.He gave fresh vigour to Faith.And brought honours to the community of the faithful.He developed self-disciplines and killed avarice.A person who knows and controls himself rules the world."
Admin Note:
It has belatedly come to our attention that there was an inaccurate statement quoted here (allegedly attributed to the muslim scholar;Ibn Athir) which the author of this article had quoted. We have subsequently deleted that quotation so as not to cause any confusion.
The Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l Jama'ah (the greater majority of muslims - The People of the Sunnah) do not consider Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu as the most afzaal (superior) amongst the khulafa-e-Rashideen.
Assesment of western scholars
Philip Hitti In his book History of the Arabs, Professor Hitti assessed the character of Hadrat Ali as follows:
"Valiant in battle, wise in council, eloquent in speech, true to his friends, magnanimous to his foes, Ali became both the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry, and the Solomon of Arabic tradition around whose name, poems, proverbs, sermonettes and anecdotes innumerable have clustered. He had swarthy complexion, large black eyes, bald head, a thick and long white beard, and was opulent and of medium stature. His sabre Dhul Fiqar, which was wielded by the Prophet on the battlefield of Badr, has been immortalized in the words of this verse found engraved in many medieval Arab records, "no sword can match Dhul Fiqar, and no young warrior can compare with Hadrat Ali."
Sir William Muir In his book, The Caliphate, its Rise, Decline and Fall, Sir William Muir paid his tribute to Hadrat Ali in the following words:
"In the character of Ali, there are many things to commend him for. Mild and beneficent, he treated Basra when prostrate at his feet with a generous forbearance. Towards theocratic fanatics, who wearied his patience by incessant intrigues and senseless rebellion, he showed no vindictiveness. In compromise indeed and in procrastination lay the future of his caliphate. With greater vigour, spirit, and determination, he might have averted the schism which for a time threatened the existence of Islam, and which has never ceased to weaken it. Ali was wise in counsel and many an adage and astute proverb have been attributed to him. But like Solomon, his weakness was for others more than himself.
Professor Nicholson In his book A Literary History of the Arabs, Nicholson remarked:
"Ali was a gallant warrior, a wise counsellor, a true friend and generous foe. He excelled in poetry and in eloquence. His verses and sayings are famous throughout the Muhammadan East, though few of them can be considered authentic. He can be compared with Montrose and Bayard in the fineness of spirit. On the other hand he has exerted down to the present-day a posthumous influence only second to that of Muhammad himself.
Thomas Carlyle In his book On Heroes and Hero Worship, Thomas Carlyle observed:
"As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards, full of affection, of fiery daring something chivalrous in him, brave as a lion, yet with a grace, truth and affection worthy of Christian knighthood. He died by assassination in the mosque at Kufa, death occasioned by his own generous fairness, confidence in the fairness of others. He said: if the wound proved not unto death, they must pardon the assassin, but if it did, they must slay him straightaway, so that the two of them in the same our might appear before God, and see which side of that quarrel was the just one."
Dr. Henry Stubbe In his book An Account of the Rise and Progress of Muhammadanism, Dr. Henry Stubbe observed:
"Ali was of a brown complexion, a little man with a somewhat large belly, he had a contempt of the world, its glory and pomp. He feared God much, gave many alms, was just in all his actions, humble and affable, of an exceedingly quick wit, and of an ingenuity that was not common. He was exceedingly learned, not only in those sciences that terminate in speculation, but those which extend to practice."
Major Price In his book Memoirs of the Principal Events of Muhammadan History, Major Price observed:
"His virtues and extraordinary qualities have been the subject of voluminous panegyrics, and his war-like exploits from his youth upwards have been particularly celebrated in the "Khawer Nama," a poem well-known in the East and which may perhaps contend in extravagance with the wildest effusions of European romance. With his acknowledged talents and magnanimity, it is however, difficult to account for the train of civil mischief and perpetual discontent which continued to disturb him for the whole of his reign. His gallant spirit was probably incapable of bonding to the ordinary shifts of political craft, and it is perhaps true that the Arabian chiefs were not yet sufficiently disciplined to see the sovereign authority quietly monopolized by any particular family."
J.J. Saunders In his book A History of Medieval Islam, J.J. Saunders observed:
"His moral qualities were respectively recognized. He was a brave fighter and an eloquent orator and a loyal friend. Many things of his are quoted to prove his mastery of proverbial wisdom, a gift highly honoured among the Semites. He displayed towards his foes a patience and magnanimity expressive of a humane and generous disposition. His religion was founded on genuine piety. He was shocked by the growing luxury and corruption of the age. As his temper was indolent, he drifted rather than led. He was easily outmatched by the astute and the forceful, and he lacked the commanding personality to impose his will on a turbulent society.
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