In this article, we’re going to talk about the life of the fourth leader of Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (R.A) was born in Makkah on a special day, Friday, 13th of Rajab, in the year 599 CE, thirty years after something called the Elephant incident.
Praise be to Allah and blessings and peace be upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his pure and blessed Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and upon all their followers until the Day of Judgment.
Hazrat Ali’s Ancestry, Family and Attributes:
His full name is Ali Ibn Abu Talib Bin Abdul-Muttalib Bin Hashim. He came from a really important family in the Quraish tribe, called Banu Hashim. He was also the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali’s mom, Fatimah, was one of the first people to become Muslim and move to Madinah. His dad, Abu Talib, was a leader of their tribe and took care of the Kaaba. Abu Talib was also the uncle of Prophet Muhammad and was related to the Prophet Ishmael.
Hazrat Ali (R.A.) was really special. As, he was one of only ten people promised Paradise, and he married the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah. He became Muslim very early in his life. Hazrat Ali (R.A.) was known for being smart, brave, religious, and a great speaker. He even helped collect and revise the Quran with Prophet Muhammad.
Hazrat Ali belonged to the Quraish tribe and the Bani Hashim family in Mecca. He was born in the Holy Kaaba in Mecca on Friday, 13th Rajab 23 BH. His dad, Hazrat Abu Talib, was the uncle of Prophet Muhammad, who took care of the Prophet. His mom, Fatima bint-e Asad, was also from the noble Bani Hashim tribe, and Prophet Muhammad respected her a lot. Prophet Muhammad even suggested Ali’s name when he was born, showing how important he was. Hazrat Ali had the honor of being the Prophet’s cousin and being raised under his guidance for most of his life.
The First Young Man to Accept Islam at the Age of 10
Hazrat Ali was really special because he was the first young person to become Muslim when he was just 10 years old. When the Prophet Muhammad got the very first message from Allah, he was told to start spreading Islam among his family. So, he invited them to a meal and asked who would support him in this mission. Everyone was quiet, but little Ali bravely stood up and said, “Even though I’m young and small, I will stand with you, O Messenger of Allah.” This made him the first young person to join Islam.
This story shows how brave and smart Hazrat Ali was. He didn’t care if others disagreed; he knew what was right and stood up for it, even at a young age.
His Early Life and Acceptance of Islam:
When Ali was five years old, there was a big problem in Makkah because there wasn’t enough rain, making life hard for people. So, the Prophet Muhammad asked his uncle Al-Abbas to help Ali’s dad, Abu Talib. Al-Abbas decided to take care of Ali’s brother, Jafar, and the Prophet took care of Ali himself. The Prophet was nice to Ali and treated him like his own child. Ali grew up in the Prophet’s house, and when the Prophet started telling people about Islam, Ali was the first kid to believe in it, even though he was still very young.
One day, Ali came home and found the Prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadijah praying. Ali asked about what they were doing, and the Prophet explained that they were worshipping Allah, who is the only God. Ali had never heard about this before and wanted to tell his dad, Abu Talib, but the Prophet asked him to keep it a secret. The next morning, Ali went back to the Prophet and said he wanted to be Muslim too. At first, he kept it a secret because he was scared of his dad, but when Abu Talib found out, he supported Ali and told him to stick to his beliefs, even though Abu Talib himself didn’t become Muslim.
His Role in Prophet’s (S.A.W.) Migration to Madinah:
The Prophet Muhammad stayed in Makkah, waiting for Allah’s permission to move to Madinah, while his friends went there first. When some people in Makkah planned to hurt the Prophet, the Angel Gabriel told him about it and said not to sleep in his bed that night. So, the Prophet asked Ali to sleep in his bed to trick the plotters, while he quietly left Makkah and went to Madinah to be safe.
The people of Makkah trusted the Prophet Muhammad a lot, even though they didn’t believe in his message. They used to leave their valuable things like money and gold with him because they knew he was honest. When the Prophet left for Madinah, he asked Ali to return all these things to their owners. Later, Ali also went to Madinah to be with the Prophet. It was a tough journey for Ali, as he had to walk all the way. When he finally reached Madinah, the Prophet was really happy to see him and prayed for his well-being and blessings from Allah.
When the Prophet Muhammad moved to Madinah, he began to set up the first Islamic community there. He made friends among his followers, built a mosque, made agreements with the Jewish people in Madinah, and started organizing groups for different tasks. This all helped to create a new society. Ali was very involved in helping the Prophet, always following his instructions and learning from his teachings because he was very close to him.
Ali was incredibly dependable and honest, so much so that the Prophet Muhammad chose him to be one of the people who wrote down the words of the Quran. This was a big responsibility because the Quran was revealed to the Prophet during his life. As Islam started to spread, Ali helped to set up the new Islamic way of life by spreading the Prophet’s messages and explaining Islamic rules. He even wrote down an important peace treaty called the Treaty of Hudaybiyah between the Prophet and the Quraish tribe. The Prophet also sent Ali to Yemen to tell people about Islam and to solve arguments between different groups. He was trusted to handle many important tasks.
Although, he knew a lot about family lines, wise sayings, and important events in history. He traveled to places like Syria and Ethiopia, where he met people from different backgrounds and learned about their cultures and ways of life. He managed the business he inherited from his dad and became wealthier. People respected him a lot, especially those from the Banu Umayyah group within the Quraish tribe. Uthman was highly regarded and loved by his community because of his high status and good character.
Risking his life for the Holy Prophet (SAW)
When the Prophet Muhammad started telling people about Islam, almost everyone opposed him, except for a few, like Hazrat Ali. Hazrat Ali always stood by his cousin, showing his love and loyalty to him. Whenever there were problems, he protected the Prophet, acting like a shield against any danger. Once, when enemies wanted to isolate and harm the Prophet and his family, Hazrat Ali was always there to keep them safe.
From a young age, Hazrat Ali had been protecting the Prophet, and the Prophet loved him dearly. On the night when the Prophet was leaving Makkah to go to Madinah, their enemies surrounded their house, planning to attack. The Prophet asked Hazrat Ali to sleep in his bed that night to trick the attackers, and without hesitation, Hazrat Ali obeyed, bravely facing the danger.
So, that night, the Prophet Muhammad asked Hazrat Ali to return all the valuable things to their owners because he was getting ready to leave Makkah with Hazrat Abu Bakr, following Allah’s instructions. Hazrat Ali risked his life to obey Allah and the Prophet, knowing that the enemies might attack him while he was pretending to be the Prophet in bed that night. This shows how incredibly brave and fearless Hazrat Ali was. He didn’t care about his safety; he was dedicated to serving the Prophet. The next day, he returned everything to its rightful owners and then left for Madinah with the Prophet.
Marriage of Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib with Hazrat Fatimah:
Ali married the Prophet Muhammad’s very dear daughter, Fatimah, who was known as one of the best women ever. Her mom was Khadijah. They got married in Madinah after the Battle of Ohud when Fatimah was fifteen years old. This was a very special marriage because, through Fatimah, Ali became the father of the Prophet’s grandchildren: Hasan, Husayn, Zainab, and Umm Kulthoom.
In the second year after moving to Medina, many people wanted to marry the Prophet Muhammad’s beloved daughter, Fatima. But the Prophet refused all those proposals. Instead, he decided that Fatima would marry Hazrat Ali, and they both agreed to it.
Hazrat Ali had the special honor of becoming the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law, which made their bond even closer, like family. They lived happily together and had five children: Hassan, Hussain, Zainab, Umm Kalthum, and Mohsin, who passed away when he was very young. Hazrat Imam Hussain, one of their sons, did something very important for Islam. He bravely stood up against a bad ruler named Yazid and gave his life for this cause, which was a great service to Islam.
Title of “Asadullah”- The Lion of Allah
Hazrat Ali was very brave, so people called him “Asadullah,” which means “The Lion of Allah.” During the war of Khaibar against the Jews, the Muslims wanted to capture a strong fort. The Prophet Muhammad said he would give the command to someone who truly loved Allah and him. The next day, he chose Hazrat Ali, even though he looked weak and sick. But the Prophet trusted Ali’s incredible fighting skills. The Jews sent their best fighter, Mahrab, to challenge Hazrat Ali. Everyone was amazed when Hazrat Ali defeated him with one powerful strike of his sword. Because of this, the Prophet gave him the title “Asadullah,” meaning “The Lion of Allah.”
His Bravery and Struggle to Support Islam:
Ali was very brave and fought in almost all the battles alongside the Prophet Muhammad against those who didn’t believe. The only time he didn’t fight was during the Battle of Tabuk because the Prophet put him in charge of the city. In these battles, Ali not only carried the flag but also led groups of soldiers into enemy territory. At the Battle of Badr, he defeated many enemies, including a famous one named Walid Ibn Utba. In the Battle of Uhud, when the person holding the Islamic flag was killed, Ali lifted it and fought bravely, even defeating an unbeliever named Talha Ibn Uthman. During the chaos of that battle when many ran away, Ali stayed with the Prophet Muhammad, showing his loyalty and bravery.
In the Battle of the Trench, Ali bravely fought and defeated a strong leader of the unbelievers named Amr Ibn Wudd. Then, in the Battle of Khaybar, he defeated a great Jewish commander called Marhab. When the Muslim army couldn’t conquer a Jewish fortress even after trying twice, the Prophet Muhammad gave Ali the command. With Ali leading, the Muslims were able to conquer the fortress and win the battle. Also, Ali stood firmly beside the Prophet Muhammad in the Battle of Hunain, showing his loyalty and bravery once again.
Hazrat Ali wasn’t just a brave fighter, he was also a wise scholar. The Prophet Muhammad once said, “I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate.” This means Ali had a lot of knowledge, especially about Islam and the Quran. He was good at speaking in public, writing letters, and recording his teachings. People still follow his words today because they are well-preserved and important. Hazrat Ali was also really good at writing in Arabic, and his writings were just as powerful as his speeches.
Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr (R.A.):
After the Prophet Muhammad passed away, most of his companions pledged their loyalty to Abu Bakr, except for Ali. Ali was busy arranging the Prophet’s funeral and had made a promise to focus only on prayers until he finished compiling the Quran. Later, Ali pledged his loyalty to Abu Bakr and helped him during his time as Caliph.
When Abu Bakr stopped the Usamah expedition, he sent Ali with a group of companions to protect the city’s borders during a dangerous time. Abu Bakr also consulted Ali before fighting against apostasy and the Romans. It’s said that Ali was appointed as a judge during Abu Bakr’s rule.
Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (R.A.) During the Caliphate of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (R.A.):
After Abu Bakr’s death, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab became the second Caliph. Ali pledged his loyalty to Umar and served as his trusted advisor. During Umar’s time as Caliph, the Islamic army achieved great victories. They conquered lands belonging to the Roman and Persian empires, including Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Iraq, Persia, Khurasan, and even reached the borders of Turkey and India. Throughout his rule, Umar often sought advice from wise companions of the Prophet, like Ali, especially on important political matters.
It’s said that Ali advised Umar to start the Islamic calendar from the Hijra. He also suggested to Umar to go to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Mosque from the Romans. While Umar was away, he put Ali in charge of Madinah. Later, when Umar set up a council to choose the next caliph, Ali was part of it. Uthman and Ali were the two main candidates for the position.
Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (R.A.) During the Caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan (R.A.):
Uthman Ibn Affan became the third Caliph after being elected. Ali pledged his loyalty to Uthman and stayed in Madinah to support him. During a time of unrest and rebellion against Uthman, Ali played a significant role. He stood by Uthman, offered him advice, and faced opposition from regions like Egypt and Iraq. Some rebels wanted to replace Uthman with Ali, but Ali firmly refused their demands. However, these rebels didn’t give up; they pretended to leave but returned after three days to besiege Uthman and his family in Madinah. Ali and his sons defended Uthman strongly and were ready to fight the rebels, but Uthman chose not to shed blood for his sake. This period was a difficult time in Islamic history, and it ended tragically with the murder of Uthman.
The Fourth Caliph: Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (R.A.)
After the third Caliph, Hazrat Usman was martyred in the year 35 A.H., Hazrat Ali took charge and became the fourth Caliph of Muslims. This was a challenging time for him as he had to deal with rebellions and maintain peace. He decided to move the Muslim capital to Kufa in Iraq because he had a lot of support there. Hazrat Ali faced many difficulties during his rule. Despite being the highest authority in Islam, he lived a simple life, promoted equality, and earned his living through hard work.
He didn’t mind sitting at shops and selling dates, wore simple clothes, and ate with poor people. He made sure that the funds of Baitul Mal reached those in need quickly and didn’t want the government treasury to grow too much. On the 25th of Dhul-Hijjah in the year 35H (which is June 24th, 656 CE), people pledged their loyalty to Ali. Hazrat Ali’s reign lasted for about 5 years.
When Ali became the new Caliph, he faced many challenges. First, he had to bring peace to the state and improve the worsening political situation. Second, he needed to deal with the people who had killed Uthman.
In Madinah, there was trouble because of a group led by Abdullah ibn Saba. This group had run away from their bosses and villages to support Abdullah. Ali told them to leave Madinah and go back home, but they didn’t listen. They pretended to be friends with Ali but actually wanted to cause problems among the Muslims. When they didn’t listen to Ali, he gave freedom to everyone, including Talha and Al-Zubair, who wanted to punish Uthman’s killers. But they soon realized it was too hard to find the killers in such a difficult situation.
Tough Life as Caliph
During Ali’s time as Caliph, there were many troubles among Muslims, and a big reason for this was the Sabites group. This group was supported by runaway slaves and people from villages. Their leader, Abdullah ibn Saba, was originally Jewish but pretended to convert to Islam during Uthman’s rule. His main goal was to divide Muslims and cause chaos in society. He encouraged people to kill Uthman because he thought Uthman had taken Ali’s place as Caliph. Abdullah was the main troublemaker during Ali’s rule.
During Ali’s time as Caliph, there weren’t any new conquests, but he achieved a lot in civil and cultural areas. He set up a police force, built a court for solving disputes, and constructed jails. Ali also moved the capital of the Caliphate from Madinah to Kufah in Iraq because it was in a better location. Kufah became a center for learning, with schools for studying law and grammar. Additionally, Ali ordered that vowel signs be added to the letters of the Holy Quran for the first time.
Martyrdom of Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib:
On the night that Ali (R.A.), Ibn Al-Tiyah came to him to call him for the prayer when the dawn appeared. At this time, Ali (R.A.) was reclining heavily. So he returned the second time while Ali (R.A.) was still in the same position and again he returned the third time. After the third time, Ali (R.A.) rose and walked to the mosque. When he got to the small door, Ibn Muljam sprang out and struck him.
Ali (R.A.) died on the 17th of Ramadan, 40H (25th January, 661CE). His Caliphate continued for five years.
An elder from the Quraishi reported that when Ali (R.A.) was struck by Ibn Muljam, Ali (R.A.) said:
“I have succeeded by the Lord of the Kabah.”
When Ali (R.A.) was struck, he advised his sons and then he never said any other words except:
“No God but Allah”
Until his soul was taken. He was washed by his sons Hasan (R.A.) and Hussain (R.A.) and Abdullah Ibn Jafar (R.A.). Al-Hasan (R.A.) led the funeral prayer for him.
Ibn-e-Muljim Killed Hazrat Ali (R.A)
One of the rebels, named Ibn-e-Muljim, killed Hazrat Ali (R.A.) with a poisoned sword while he was praying in the mosque on the 19th of Ramadan, in the year 40 A.H. Hazrat Ali (R.A.) endured two agonizing days on his sickbed in severe pain and distress. Eventually, the poison spread throughout his body, and he passed away on the 21st of Ramadan, during the Morning Prayer. He was buried in Najaf.
Hazrat Ali (R.A.) was renowned for his bravery in battles against non-believers. He also possessed qualities like a strong faith in Allah and His Messenger (SAW), humility, gratitude, and a deep understanding of Quranic teachings. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to serving Islam.
May Allah have mercy on Ali Ibn Abu Talib and be pleased with him and assemble us among his company.