Ali bin Abi Talib (RA)

Ali was the son of Abu Talib, cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and is known as the first child to accept Islam. He was the fourth caliph of Islam.

Ali belonged to the clan of Banu Hashim, the most distinguished clan in all Arabia. He was born 23 years before the emigration and 10 years before the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was blessed with the revelation.

Ali grew up in the household of Prophet Muhammad because the Prophet decided to take care of him as a way to help his uncle, Abu Talib, who had several children and did not have enough means to take care of them all. The Prophet’s attitude and way of life influenced young Ali so much that he imitated the Prophet in all manners. Ali was ten years old when the revelation came to Prophet Muhammad. After Muhammad received revelation, Ali noticed that the Prophet and his wife Khadijah were leading a different life from the other people of Makkah. He was drawn by the way they both performed their prayers. Also the way the Prophet dealt with people impressed him. He was greatly inclined to the Prophet’s honesty, humility, just nature, and trustworthiness. He was deeply affected by the Prophet’s attitude in dealing with all the people justly; both rich and poor. When Ali saw Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah praying, he asked the Prophet about the prayer they were performing. The Prophet explained to him that Allah is the only one worthy of worship and that he was the messenger of Allah.  The Prophet invited Ali to accept Islam. Ali did not have any doubt in the Prophet’s words and immediately accepted Islam and offered his allegiance to the Prophet. Ali learned all the principles of Islam from the Prophet and his wife Khadijah. When the Prophet proclaimed Islam in public under Allah’s order, he became subject to oppression and insults from the Makkans.

Undoubtedly the noble Sahaabi ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib was one of the wisest and most determined of people. He is well known for his courage and bravery. He stayed close to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) before the Hijrah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) left Makkah, accompanied by Abu Bakr, he stayed behind and slept in the Prophet’s bed (thus fooling the mushrikeen who wanted to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)). Among his virtues are those mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, on the day of Khaybar, “I will give the flag to a man at whose hands Allaah will grant victory.” They got up, wishing to see to whom the flag would be given, each of them hoping that he would be given the flag. Then he said, “Where is ‘Ali?” He was told that he was suffering from eye-trouble. He ordered that ‘Ali should be called to him, then he spat in his eyes and he was healed immediately, as if he has never had any problem in his eyes. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2942; Muslim, 2406)

He became the Prophet’s son-in-law by marrying his fourth daughter Fatimah. He was the fourth Caliph of Islam and one of what Muslims regard as “the rightly guided Caliphs” of Islam. Although Ali and Fatimah were very poor, they lived a happy life. Too poor to afford servants, Ali helped Fatimah with the household responsibilities. They had three sons, Hassan, Hussain and Mohsin and two daughters, Zainab and Umm Kulthum from their marriage.

Ali distinguished himself as a great warrior in the battle of Badr, Uhud and The Ditch. During the year of Muhammad’s migration to Madinah, in 622, Ali  was willing to risk his life so that Muhammad could escape in safety. He tried to impersonate the Prophet in his bed so the enemy would attack him instead, in order to spoil an assassination plan.

The Prophet delivered a sermon at the Farewell Pilgrimage, and from the Prophet’s talk, Ali could guess that the Prophet was going to pass away soon. When they returned to Madinah, the Prophet fell ill. Ali, being the Prophet’s son-in-law and first cousin, kept himself beside the Prophet’s bed and served him. After a few days the Prophet died. Ali felt deep sorrow for the Prophet’s loss. To add to this grief, Ali lost his wife, Fatimah, six months after the Prophet’s death.

Simplicity was the keynote of his life. Even after becoming a Caliph, he did not change his simple way of life. He wore the most ordinary clothes and ate the simplest food.

Ali (ra) was assassinated by one of Al-Khawarij. He died at the age of 63 or 64. He lived his life as a truthful worshipper and a patient warrior. He lived an exemplary life and died as a martyr.