Hazrat Ali

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The First Imam Hazrat Ali -Al -Murtaza Alahis Salaam Amir -Ul-Momineen.

Name		Ali
Title		AI-Murtaza
Kunyat		Abul Hasan Abu Turab
Born		In the Holy kaaba at Makka on Friday the l3th Rajab
Father's Name		Abu Talib-Ibne Abdul Muttalib
Mother's Name		Fatirria bint-e-Asad
Died		At the same age 63 years, at Kufa, on Monday, the 21 st Ramaza 40 A.H., murdered by an assassin who mortally wounded him with a poisoned sword im the Mosques at Kufa during the morning prayers on the l9th Ramazan.
Buried		At Najaf, near Kufa.

Hazrat Ali was the cousin of our Holy Prophet. He was born on Friday, the l3th Rajab in the kaab. When his mother came to Kaaba, she felt weighed down by intense pain of pregnancy. She knelt down before the Holy structure and prayed huumbly to God.

Abbas, son of Abdul Muttalib, saw Hazrat Ali's mothers praying to God. No sooner has she raised her head from supplication, ihen the wall of sacred House split by a solemn miracle. Fatima entered the Kaaba and that portion returned to its normai position. Abbas and his companions flocked at the gate of the Sacred House which was locked, and tried to open it, but in vain. They then decided to give it up, considering the miraculous nature of the event and the Divine will in action, The news of this miraculous incident saon sp~read like wildfire in Makka.

Hazrat Ali was born within the Kaaba with his eyes closed and has body in humble prostration before the Almighhty. Fatima stayed in the Kaaba for three days and as the fourth day approached She stepped out, carrying her gem in her arms. To her great surprise, she found the Holy Prophet awaiting to receive the newly-born child in his anxious arms. Imamat feeling the subtle touch of Prophethood. Hazrat Ali opened his eyes and satuted the Divine Prophet "Assolamo Alaika Ya Rasoolallah" {Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah)."

Hazrat Ali's birth in the Kaaba is unique in the history of the world. Neither a Prophet nor a Divine Saint was ever blessed with such an honour.

He was brought up under the care and affection of the Holy Prophet. As Hazrat Ali says: "The Holy Prophet brought me up in his own arms and fed me with his own morsel. I followed him wherever he went like a baby camel following its mother. Each day a new aspect of his character would beam out of his noble person and l would accept it and follow it as a command:" (Nahj-ul-Balagha).

Ten years in the company of the Holy Prophet has kept him so close and inseparable, that he was one with him in character, knowledge, self-sacrifice, forbearance, bravery, kindness,generosity, oratory and eloquence, from his very infancy, he prostrated before God along with the Holy Prophet. As he himself said, "I was the first to pray to God along with the Holy Prophet".

"Hazrat Ali persevered in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet," says Allama Masoodi, "all along his childhood". God created him pure arid holy and kept him steadfast on the right path. Though Hazrat Ali is undisputable the first to embrace Islam when the Holy Prophet called upon his listeners to do so, with the Holy Prophet and followed him in every action and deed incising prostratiori before God,. he can be said to be born a Muslim.

Hazrat Ali, at all times, accompanied the Holy Prophet to help and protect him from his enemies. He used to write down the verses of the Holy Q.ur'an and discuss them with the Prophet as soon as they were revealed by the,Holy Messenger , the Angel Gabriel. He was so closely associated with the Holy Prophet that as soon as a verse was revealed to him during the day or night. Hazrat Ali was the first to hear it.

FIRST IMAM TO ACCEPT ISLAM

When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) was 40 years if age,. he (S.A.W), for t e first time, received a revelation from Allah S. .T. The Divine revelation descerided on the Holy ophet (S.A.W.) while he was meditat'ing in the cave of Hiraa.

When he (S.A.W) re'turned home and informed his wife Khad'ija of all that had occured, she received the new with great joy as she already believed in one God and denied Plytheism. Among the women Khadija was the first to believe in her husband's Prophetic mission while among men, Imam Ali (A.S.) who was then about 10 years of age, was the fiirst to accept Islam.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) used to say that three meri Viz, Ezakiel, Habib Najjar and Ali .(A.S), who came forward first to bear testimony to the faith of their Prophets, Musa, Issa and himself respectively were noted as Sidduque.

Imam Ali (A.S) himself used to say; "I am the servant of the Almighty Allah and the brother of the Prophet (S.A.W). I am the sincerest and the truest of all. No one, except me, will claim this position, but he who is the greatest liar and the creator of mischief. I have prayed seven years prior to any other man

Service For Islam

Imam Ali (A.S)'s service for Islam cannot be enumerated. he started serving this Divine religion with great devotion ever since the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) distort preaching it and not stop until the last breath of his life.

The following are just' a few of the incidents and events duririg which Imam Ali (A.S) `s help was of immense value:

1.	When the Prophet (S.A.W) was first commanded by the Almighty toward his near relatives and invite them to Islam, the Prophet (S.A.W) arranged for a feast and invited all his relatives. The "event was known as "Da'wat- e-DhulAsheera". After the people had eaten, the Prophet (S.A.W) proclaimed his mission to them. He invited them to Islam and asked as to which one of them would support him. At this instance, when no one was ready to come forward, Ali (A.S) (who was only 13 years old then) stood up and said, "O" Prophet! I am the man, whosoever rises against you, I will dash out his teeth, tear out his eyes, break his legs, rip up his belly. "O" Prophet, I shall assist you and I will be your vazir over them." Thus Ali (A.S) supported Islam at time when no one was ready to do so.
2.	Again, on the night of Hijrat when assassins had surrounded the house of the Holy prophet (S.A.W), Ali (A.S) endangered his own life by sleeping on the Prophet's bed while the latter migrated to Madinah. This left the assassins thinking that the Prophet (S.A.W) was asleep on his bed on his bed (until it was too late). Undoubtedly by supporting and helping the Prophet (S.A.W), Ali (A.S) supported and helped lslam.
3.	Even after Imam Ali (A.S) joined the Prophet (S.A.W) iri Madinah, he continue to support the cause of Islam with the same devotion, A number of baftles were fought to defend Islam, including the battles of Badr, Cthud and Khandaq, Khaibar, Hunain etc. and in each 'battle Imam Ali (A.S) was of immense help. He killed giants who no one dares to face (e.g. Mazhab, Amr Ibn Abd Wadd). In some battles (e.g. Uhud), all the Muslim fled and deserted the Prophet and he supported Islam though thick and thin.
4.	In fact, one can not think of any incident during the Prophet's (S.A.W) life in which Imam Ali (A.S) was not there to help without any good reason. In all expeditions (e.g. Zat-al-Salasabil, Tabuk etc.) Ali (A.S) played an important role. He was there at the conquest of Makka just as he was at Mubahila. He was by Prophet (S.A.W) when the Treaty of Hudaibiya took place just as he was during the Prophet's (S.A.W) last Pilgrimage. And so the list of incidents where Imam Ali (A.S) supposed Islam (by supporting the Prophet) is endless.

If one were to consider and carry out a detailed research of the history starting from the time the first revelation of the Prophet (S.A.W) to the time of the Iast breath of the Hoty Prophet (S.A.W) and if after analysing this, one were to review it again - this time removing Imam Ali (A.S) from the scene comptetely - one would realise how important a role he played in the spread of Islam. However, Imam Ali (A.S)'s support for Islam does not stop here. He continued to serve it even after the Prophet's (S.A.W) death and this just proves that he was not only supporting and devoted to the Prophet (S.A.W) but was also devoted to Islam.

Imam Ali (A.S)'s silence over the caliphate for 25 years despite it being his right and despite the fact that he had the power to snatch his right, proves his (S.A.W) love for Islam and the Muslim unity. Until his last breath, he bore all sufferings with patience never hesitated to serve Islam. lf he ever unsheathed his sword or got angry, it was for Islam and not for his personal gain.

Appointment As Successor At Ghadir

On the l8th Zilhajj, the rophet (S.A.W) arrived at Ghadir-al-Khum, a barren t t on the outer skirts of Johfa Valley. Here he ordered a halt, having received the following revelation.

"O" Prophet! proclaim what has been sent down to you form your Lord; and if you do not, you would not accomplish the mission all; and God will defend you against men; verily God guides not the uribelieving people".

After halting, a make-shift pulpit was made and Bilal, the Muazin, called the people. Those who had gone ahead were summoned back and those who followed gathered round casting inquiring glances at each other. Thus Hai AI.AA KHAIRUL Amal has added to Adhan.

After the people gathered round the pulpit, the Prophet (S.A.W) ascended it and addressed the multitude. He (S.A.W) first praised Allah and then brought the People to witness that he had done his duty towards them. He (S.A.W) then advised the people to hold fast to Ahl-ul-Bayt and the Qur'an after him. After this, the Prophet (S.A.W) bent down and lifted Ali (A.S) who was on his right and showing him to the crowds on all sides of the pulpit, the Prophet (S.A.W) proclaimed :-

"Of whomsoever I am the Master ( Maula ), this Ali is his Master ( Maula )"

So saying the Prophet (S.A.W) raised up his hands heavenwards and prayed, "O" our God,love those who will love Ali, despise those who will despise him; support who those who will support him and reject those who will reject him."
Announcing this thrice, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) got down from the raised platform and seated Ali (A.S) in a tent, where the people paid him homage.
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The Prophet has said of Hazrat Ali

"O Ali, you are my brother in this world as well as the Hereafter".

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gate".

Nobody knows Ali except Iand Ali.
Nobody knows Ali except Allah and I.
Nobody knows me except Allah and Ali".

"If you want see the knowtedge cf Adam, the piety of Noah, the devotion of Abraham, the awe of Moses, and the service and abstinence of Christ, look at the bright face of Ali"

When the Holy Prophet reached Yathrib (Medina) and met his follawers whr~ had come from Makka at his call, the immediately appointed for each such follower a person from the people of Yathrib who had accepted his prophethood .to be a brother to him. His appointment of brothers was a great act of help fot the refugees (know as Ansar), who had left their home and come ta Yathrib. He made brothers of people who followed the same trade so that the Ansar could be usefully employed immediately. While the Prophet was appointing an Ansar a brother to Muhajirin (converts of Yathrib), Hazrat Ali (A.S) who was present there, was not appointed as a brother ta any Muhajirin On being questioned as to why he had not appointed a brother. for Hazrat A!i (A.S), the Prophet said: "He shall be a brother of me".

The character and ,calibre of Ali (A.S) as judged by Allama Massodee is:, "lf the glorious name of being the first Muslim, a comrade of the Prophet in exile, his faithful companion in the sfruggle for faith, his intimate associate in life, and his kinsman; if a true kriowledge of the spirit of his teachings and of the Book; If self-ahnegation and practice of justice; if honesty; purity; and love of truth; if a knowledge of law and science; constitute a claim to pre-eminence then all must regard Ali as the foremost Moslem. We shall search in vain to find, either among his predecessors (save one) or among his successdrs, those attributes".

Gibbon says "The birth, the alliance, the character of Ali which exalted him above the rest of his ~ountrymen, might justify his claim to the vacant throne of Arabia. The son of Abu Taleb was in his own right the chief of Bani !Hashim and the hereditary price or guardian of the city and temple of Makka.

Hazrat Ali (A.S) has the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint, his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the Apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, who he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerenct, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses".

Marriage

Under Divine instructions, the Apostle of Allah married his beloved daughter Fatima to Ali, though others vainly tried for her hand. Among their children, Imam Hasan ,Imam Husain, Janb-el-Zainab and Ume-Kulsum have left their marks on the history of the world.

After the death of Janab-el-Fatima, Hazrat Ali Abbas was born out of this wedlock and was so handsome that he was fondly called Qamar-e-Bani Hashim. He personified loyalty and bravery and proved it in the battlefield at Kerbala.

Wafat

In the 40th year of Hijri, in the small hours of the mooring of l9th Ramazan, Hazrat Ali was struck with a poisoned sherd by a Kharejite while offering his prayers in the Mosque at Kufa. He died on the 2lst day of Ramazan 40 A.H. and was buried in Najaf-ulAshraf. He was bom in the House of God, the Kaaba and martyred in the House of God, the Masjid-elKufa. The Lion of God, the most brave-hearted and gentle Moslem that ever lived began his glorious life with devotion to Allah and his Apostle and ended it in the service of Islam.

"And do not speak of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead; may they are alive but you do not perceive".