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Sometimes when we
sit down, and pick up our pen to write about someone, we find it hard to
gather the right words and to arrange them in the correct manner. This
is what happens to me when I sit down to write about Ameer al Mumineen
Ali ibn Abi Talib (as).
Imam Ali ibn abi Talib (as), the cousin of the holy prophet (PBUH) was
born in Makkah in Bayt al haram, on Friday the
13th of Rajab (3rd year of the Elephant.
His father is Abd al Mutalib Bin Hashim Bin Abd Munaf, and his mother is
Fatima Bint Assad Bin Hashim Bin Abd Munaf.
Imam Ali (as) – the first male to pay allegiance to the prophet
The imam was the first male to give is allegiance
to prophet Mohammed (PBUH) when the prophet announced is prophet-hood.
The prophet held a family festivity through which he announced his
prophet hood; he announced that he had been sent by god to the people
(Arabs). The elders at the meeting namely Abu Jahel and Abu Laheb,
taunted him and mocked his message. The prophet continued in his
announcement and asked them who out of them is going to be his vice
regnant, successor, the executor of his will and the one who will help
him uphold hid message. Only one handsome youth stood up and accepted
this blessed invitation, after which the prophet told him to sit down,
but the young imam Ali stood up another two times as a result the
prophet accepted his offer and immediately announced to the gathered
audience that verily this man will be my successor, the executor of my
will and the one that safe guards my religion after me. Some of the
prophet’s uncles taunted Abu Talib and asked him how he can pay
allegiance and follow his younger son.
Imam Ali (as) – A Imam
1) The verse of purity in the Quran which was sent down about the
prophet (PBUH), his daughter Fatima Al Zahra (as), Imam Ali (as), Imam
Hassan (as) and Imam Hussein (as)
((
إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس (1) أهل
البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا ))
Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of
the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying
This verse was sent down when the prophet (peace
and blessing be upon) got these members of his family under a garment
called a kisa in Arabic. This verse proves that these five Allah has
purified them.
2) The prophet (PBUH) has a famous hadith (saying):
(
لا ينبغي أن أذهب
إلا وأنت خليفتي )
I can not leave without you being my successor
This clearly verifies that the prophet appointed
Imam Ali (as) as his successor, and that the prophet could not leave
Islam in the hand of any one other then Imam Ali (as), and this is
because Allah (swt) commanded that Ali (as) is to be the successor of
the prophet. This is proven by the Quranic verse which says:
((
يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن
لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته))
O Messenger! deliver what bas been revealed to you from your Lord; and
if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah
will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the
unbelieving people.
And of course we can not forget prophet Mohammed’s
(PBUH) saying:
((
أنت ولي كل مؤمن
بعدي))
You are the wali (leader) of every believer after me.
Quranic verses revealed about Imam Ali (as)
1-
(( إنما وليكم
الله ورسوله والذين آمنوا الذين
يقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة وهم راكعون))
Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those
who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow
This verse was sent down when Imam Ali (as) was
praying in the mosque one day and a poor person walked in, and whilst in
the position of ruqu the imam stretched out his little finger which had
a ring on it for the poor person to take. i.e. the Imam (as) payed zakat
whilst in ruqu, as the quranic verse says.
2- ((
فمن
حاجك فيه من بعد ما جاءك من العلم فقل تعالوا ندع أبناءنا
وأبناءكم ونساءنا ونساءكم وأنفسنا وأنفسكم ثم نبتهل
فنجعل لعنة الله على الكاذبين))
But whoever disputes
with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then
say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your
women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest
in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.
A few of the many qualities of the Imam (as)
Imam Ali (as), ameer al mumineen the greatest man
after the prophet PBUH, was admired and still is for the many qualities
which he possessed, which now days we see ourselves striving just to
hold on to one these qualities - if we have it.
1.Faith (al iman) – Imam Ali was the first male to believe in allah and
the prophets message after the prophet PBUH.
2. Knowledge (al 3ilm) – After the prophet, imam Ali (as) was the most
knowledgeable man, and many of his friends and people at his time used
to turn to him for guidance. We can not forget the famous saying of the
prophet about the great knowledge of Imam Ali (as).
The prophet said
(
أقضاكم علي )
the best of you is Ali.
The prophet PBUH also said
(
أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها ) I am
the City of knowledge and Ali is its gate.
3. Abstention (al zuhd) – Despite being the cousin
and son in law of the prophet PBUH and the imam of his time, Imam Ali
(as) was so simple. He payed no importance to materialism, eating the
dry bread with water, and dressing in the simplest clothes was enough
for him.
4. A true worshiper – Imam Ali (as) worshiped Allah swt like no man,
Imam Ali (as) was a true believer who dedicated most of his time to
worshiping Allah. Imam Ali (as) also taught many people how to pray and
taught them various supplications.
5. Bravery – There is little I can say about Imam Ali (as) and his
bravery, just hearing the name of the Imam we automatically remember how
bravely he fought in the wars, and stood by the prophet PBUH form a
young age.
6. Jihad – Imam Ali (as) is sayid al Mujahideen, he witnessed the many
battles the prophet took. In the battle of Tabook the Prophet PBUH
appointed Imam Ali (as) as his right wing. The prophet PBUH said
(
أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى
إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي)
You are to me as Haroon was to Mosa, but after me there shall be no
Prophet
7. Just (3adil) –
The Imam (as) was one of the most just humans to have lived. He did not
differentiate between people, treating everyone equally, this is one of
the main reasons of why he was loved so much and respected so much by
all.
8. Generous – This is one of the most known qualities of the Imam (as),
and a verse was even revealed about Imam Ali’s generosity:
((
ويطعمون الطعام على حبه مسكينا ويتيما وأسيرا
إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله لا نريد
منكم جزاء ولا شكورا ))
And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and
the captive
9. Well Mannered – Always smiling, being down to
earth and respecting all, Imam Ali (as) had manners of gold.
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