Outline
- Introduction
- The Beginning
- Who is Ali ibn Abi Talib?
- Sayyidunā Ali When Islam Came
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Role Before Hijrah
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Role After Hijrah
- Sayyidunā Ali During the Prophet’s Passing
- Sayyidunā ‘Ali in the Caliphates of Abu Bakr, Umar and ‘Uthman
- Sayyidunā Ali: The 4th Caliph of Islam
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Household
- Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s Siblings
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Virtues
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Legacy
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Narration of Ḥadīth
- Sayyidunā Ali’s Passing
- 13 Facts About Sayyidunā ‘Ali
- The Takeaway…
Introduction
If you’re holding a public, political or an organizational post or office, then you have a lot to learn from him.
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam once sent Khālid ibn al-Walīd to Yemen to invite the Tribe of Hamdān to Islam. Khālid’s detachment succeeded not in inviting the tribe of Hamdan to Islam . But when our Shining Star was sent, he succeeded in inviting them to Islam, by the will of Allah.
On the day of Khaybar, the Prophet sent some of the greatest companions, but they succeeded not in penetrating into the fort of the Jews of Khaybar. However, when out Shining Star was appointed, he succeeded in doing just that and more.
Our Shining Star in this episode was a cousin to the Prophet. He was raised by the Prophet. He later became the Prophet’s son-in-law. He was later promoted to be the fourth caliph of Islam. He had the honour to be among the first five to accept Islam in the first week of Islam.
On top of that, he is one of the 10 who were given glad tidings of Paradise in one ḥadīth.
You have guessed right. He’s Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib.
Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib is our Shining Star for this episode of The Shining Stars Series brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
The Beginning
In the episode of Sayyidatunā Barakah, Ummu Ayman, we learned that the Prophet Muhammad was taken care of, by his uncle Abī Ṭālib, at the age of 8, after the passing of his grandfather, ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib. Later on, after Muhammad had grown up, it so happened that Abū Ṭālib was impoverished as there was scarcity in Makkah. With four children at that time, Muhammad offered to take the youngest of his children into his custody. And the youngest was ‘Ali who aged 6 at that point of time.
Fast forward to four years later, when the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam had the encounter of the first revelation with Jibril in the Cave of Ḥirā’, he hurried home terrified and shivering. At home, he asked to be covered.
After he recollected himself and told his story, members of his household were the first to believe and accept Islam.
Among them was the 10-year-old cousin of his, Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib.
With his Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib was registered as the first child to embrace Islam. And we count him after Sayyidatunā Khadījah, Sayyidunā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, Sayyidatunā ‘Ummu Ayman and Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum. Thus, he becomes the fifth person to embrace Islam on the first week, if not the first day of Islam.
But wait… who is actually Sayyidunā ‘Ali?
Who is Ali ibn Abi Talib?
Sayyidunā Ali (‘Aliyy ibn Abī Ṭālib) was born 10 years before Islam. This means, Sayyidunā Ali was 10 years-old the day or the year the Prophet was formally sent as the final Messenger to mankind.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali and the Prophet share the same grandfather, and thus they both meet at ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib. In other words, they are paternal cousins.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s father was Abū Ṭālib. Abū Ṭālib’s real name was ‘Abd Manāf. Therefore, Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s long name is ‘Ali ibn ‘Abd Manāf ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim ibn ‘Abd Manāf, ibn Quṣay ibn Kilāb, ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ay ibn Ghālib ibn Fihr ibn Mālik ibn al-Naḍr.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s mother was Fāṭimah bint Asad ibn Hāshim ibn ‘Abd Manāf ibn Ibn Quṣay… Clearly, both Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s paternal and maternal grandparents (‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim and Asad ibn Hāshim) were cousins. Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah bint Asad (Ali’s mother) embraced Islam and migrated to Madīnah with her son, Sayyidunā ‘Ali. And she passed on in Madīnah during the lifetime of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Sayyidunā Ali When Islam Came
Although at a young age of 10, Sayyidunā ‘Ali had the honour to be the fifth to embrace Islam, thanks to the fact that he was staying with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Considering his age, I claim that his Islam came after Sayyidah Khadījah, Sayyidinā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, Sayyidatunā Barakah, Ummu Ayman and Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq’s Islam.
This is so, if we take into consideration, that Sayyidatunā Khadījah was the person who received the Prophet and calmed him down after his return from the cave. Also, Sayyidunā Zayd was 33 years old, 23 years older than Sayyidunā ‘Ali, and he was the Prophet’s adopted son at that time. Furthermore, Sayyidatunā Barakah, Ummu Ayman was the Prophet’s freed mother at that time. Also, in addition to the fact that he was prepared and waiting for the day the Prophet will announce his prophethood, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr was the Prophet’s closest friend.
Moreover, Ibn Kathīr reports that, when the Prophet invited ‘Ali to Islam and enjoined him to prayers, he asked the Prophet to give him some time to take his father’s consent (permission). He however came the next day to embrace Islam.
Having said that, for Sayyidunā ‘Ali to accept and embrace Islam at the age of ten, is an indication of his early maturity and how bright of a person he was, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Role Before Hijrah
With Islam, Sayyidunā ‘Ali became matured ahead of his age. This is because he took up responsible roles in supporting the Prophet in propagating and defending Islam. This is in addition to him being the one who the Prophet would send to invite his relatives when the Prophet wanted to introduce them to Islam.
The most outstanding role played by Sayyidunā ‘Ali was when he replaced the Prophet on his bed in the night of his hijrah, so to keep the disbelievers’ attention away from the Prophet, as he escaped their plan to assassinate him. Sayyidunā ‘Ali dared to risk his life, not knowing what could have happened to him. Especially if the disbelievers realized that he was collaborating with the Prophet to mislead them.
After accomplishing this deadly mission, Sayyidunā Ali’s next role was to give back all trusts (amānah) that were given to the Prophet to keep for their owners. After that, he was set to migrate. He migrated three days after the Prophet, who waited for him in Qubā’, so they could arrive in Madīnah together.
In his hijrah journey to Madīnah, Sayyidunā ‘Ali accompanied four Fāṭimahs with him. The four Fāṭimahs were his mother, Fāṭimah bint Asad, the Prophet’s daughter, Fāṭimah bint Muḥammad who later on became his wife, Fāṭimah bint al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām and Fāṭimah bint Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Role After Hijrah
Sayyidunā ‘Ali, despite his young age, remained by the Prophet’s side through thin and thick, just like the older ones who embraced Islam. This continued from Makkah and extended to Madinah.
When Madīnah was established after the migration, the Prophet formed brotherhood and bond between the Muhājirīn and the Anṣār. The Prophet took Ali as his brother in that process. For that he said to Ali,
أَنْتَ أَخِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ.ـ
“You are my brother in this life and in the next.”
Sayyidunā ‘Ali was a learned and lettered person. This qualified him to be among those who documented revelations and the Qur’an. And he had the honour to document the historical treaty of Hudaybiyah, which occurred in the sixth year after hijrah.
Furthermore, Sayyidunā ‘Ali was among the messengers and ambassadors of the Prophet, who carried Islam to the various Arab tribes. In fact, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam consulted him (as well as he consulted others) when no revelation was involved.
As a fierce warrior, Sayyidunā ‘Ali participated in all battles with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The only battle he couldn’t participate was the Battle of Tabūk. When the Prophet noticed that ‘Ali preferred joining him to the battle rather than staying back in Madinah (even if it’s to be in-charge of Madīnah), he said to him:
أَنْتَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي.ـ
“You are to me, like Hārūn was to Mūsā, only that’s there will be no Messenger after me.”
Sayyidunā Ali During the Prophet’s Passing
The companions knew that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam would pass on one day. However, they were never prepared for it. How could they when the affection they have developed for the Prophet and the experience of revelation descending from the skies can’t be replaced?!
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam took his final breath on this earth in the house of Sayyidatunā ‘Āishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā. And that is where he was buried. Sayyidunā ‘Ali was part of the Prophet’s household who took charge of the Prophet’s funeral. In fact, he had the honour of participating in bathing the noble body of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali in the Caliphates of Abu Bakr, Umar and ‘Uthman
As an extension from his position in the sight of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Sayyidunā Ali continued to earn that respect and admiration from all the caliphs who came before him.
Thus, he was among the right-hand men of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr, whom he consulted and valued their advice and inputs.
Similarly, Sayyidunā Ali was among the cabinet of the Caliphate of Sayyidunā ‘Umar. In fact, Ali was also one of the supreme judges upon whom ‘Umar depended in sophisticated issues.
Sayyidunā ‘Umar included Ali in a 6-member committee that was tasked to elect a successor who would be the third caliph after ‘Umar. This committee consisted of:
- ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān
- ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf
- ‘Ali ibn Abī Tālib
- Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwām
- Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ
- Ṭalḥah ibn ‘Ubayd Allāh.
The six-member committee eventually elected Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān to be the third caliph of Islam after Sayyidunā ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali continued to be among the right-hand man of Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān. There’s no record that he opposed the Caliph, ‘Uthmān, neither in compiling the Qur’an in one book, nor in other major issues.
Sayyidunā Ali: The 4th Caliph of Islam
35 years after Hijrah, 25 years after the passing of the Prophet, and at an estimated age of 58, Sayyidunā ‘Ali became the fourth caliph of Islam. This happened after Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān, the third Caliph was assassinated.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali took over the job when the Muslim Ummah had started to be weakened by fitnah (tests and trials), which led to the killing of Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān. So, his task of unifying and uniting the Ummah was, indeed, an uphill one.
While trying to unify the Ummah, some misunderstandings happened between him and his camp. Those who defied his instructions became the Khawārij, the first Khawārij in the Ummah.
Eventually, Sayyidunā ‘Ali was also assassinated, after being the caliph for five years and a few months.
During the caliphate of Sayyidunā ‘Ali, the Islamic State witnessed modernization to some extent.
Sayyidunā Ali used Kūfa in Irāq as the capital of his Caliphate. Perhaps, this step allowed and opened the room for the lots of modernizations that took place in Kūfa at that point of time. With that, the Islamic Caliphate embraced a new era win handling political, economic, warfare, educational and many other affairs and issues.
This goes without mentioning, that security was tackled differently. As for the first time Police Force was established, in addition to prisons that were built. (Of course, one can argue that crime rates also went on the rise). And for the first time in the Islamic history, there was state house, from where the Caliph governed.
During that era, modern styles of schools were built. Sayyidunā ‘Ali instructed for Abū al-Aswad al-Du’alī to revisit the text-formatting of the Qur’an. It was then that the modern symbols were added to the Qur’an text and subsequently to Arabic alphabets.
At the same speed that the Islamic Caliphate witnessed modernization and development, conspiracies were cooked rapidly to further deepen the disunity among the Ummah and, if possible, bring an end to Islam.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Household
Sayyidunā ‘Ali migrated to Madīnah at the age of 23. Two years later, at the age of 25, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam married him to his beloved daughter, Fāṭimah bint Muḥammad.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali and Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhumā led a truly maternal life, that serves as an example for any Muslim home which wants to survive trials and difficult times against all odds.
It may interest you to know, that despite being the cousin of the Prophet, and the son-in-law of the Prophet, Sayyidunā ‘Ali and Fāṭimah led a financially troubled household. And they chose with dignity to not use their relationship with the Prophet nor their social ranking in any way to gain them wealth and richness they deserved not. In other words, they preferred the life of material poverty in this world over attaining unlawful wealth of any kind, which will definitely affect their position in the Hereafter.
Sayyidah Fāṭimah and Sayyidunā ‘Ali was blessed with al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn, the most beloved grandchildren to the heart of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
In addition to al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn, they were also blessed with Zaynab, and Ummu Kulthūm.
After the passing of Sayyidah Fāṭimah, six months after the passing of the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Sayyidunā ‘Ali married multiple wives and made a couple of dozens of children.
All in all, Sayyidunā ‘Ali had 40 children, 21 males and 19 females. The following is a list of some of them.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali had Muhammad al-Akbar (whose mother was Khawlah bint Ja’far). He also had ‘Ubayd Allāh and Abū Bakr (whose mother was Laylā bint Mas’ūd). Sayyidunā ‘Ali also had Al-‘Abbās al-Akbar, ‘Uthman, Ja’far al-Akbar and ‘Abdullāh (whose mother was Umm al-Banīn bint Ḥizām). Alongside them, he had Yahya and ‘Awn (whose mother was Asmā’ bint ‘Umays).
Additionally, Sayyidunā ‘Ali was blessed with ‘Umar al-Akbar and Ruqayyah (whose mother was Umm Ḥabīb al-Ṣahbā’ bint Rabī’ah). He also had Muḥammad al-Awṣaṭ (whose mother was Umāmah bint Abī al-‘Āṣ ibn al-Rabī’). Sayyidunā ‘Ali was also gifted with Umm al-Hasan and Ramlah al-Kubrā (whose mother was Umm Sa’īd bint ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ūd al-Thaqafī), and many children from many marriages.
Here, it may interest you to know that, some of Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s children carry the same names. For instance, he had more than one child carrying Muhammad, more than one child carrying ‘Umar, more than one child carrying al-‘Abbas and so on. These are the names of the people he loved and admired. Names like Muhammad, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, al-‘Abbās, Ja’far, Ramlah and others. A gesture that leaves no doubt of the love and respect in addition to the admiration he had for those names.
SubḥānAllāh, it’s like he was inspired to give duplicated names to some of his children, so to expose the hypocrites who will come later on to insult those names and forbid such names on themselves and their children.
It’s also worth indicating, that whoever, holds Sayyidunā al-Hasan and al-Ḥusayn in high esteem, he should also regard all the other children of the Ali the same way. Yes, not all the household of the Prophet are of the same ranking (even from the children of Fāṭimah, i.e., Zaynab and Umm Kulthūm), but for you and me, anyone in the household of the Prophet must be regarded highly. Sayyidunā ‘Ali was from the household of the Prophet automatically, whether or not he married Fatimah, therefore, all his children must be regarded highly.
This is to say, it’s not acceptable to call some of Ali’s children after their mothers and not after Ali. Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah is a good example.
Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s Siblings
Sayyidunā ‘Ali’s father Abū Ṭālib or you still remember, ‘Abd Manāf, had six children. They are:
- Ṭālib ibn Abī Ṭālib
- ‘Aqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib
- Ja’far ibn Abī Ṭālib
- ‘Aliyy ibn Abī Ṭālib
- Fākhitah (Umm Hāni’) bint Abī Ṭālib, and
- Jumānah bint Abī Ṭālib.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Virtues
Here are four virtues of Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Tālib
#1: He Was The Prophet’s Son-in-Law
If Sayyidunā Abū Bakr had the honour to give his daughter to the Prophet in marriage and be his father-in-law, then Sayyidunā ‘Ali had the honour that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave him his daughter Fāṭimah in marriage. This was the best that could happen besides their blood relation.
Here, the virtue is him being the Prophet’s son-in-law, not him being the Prophet’s cousin. This is because, if Sayyidunā ‘Ali happened to have rejected Islam, he would remain the Prophet’s cousin. But never his son-in-law. Got it?!
#2: He Was Beloved of the Prophet
In a ḥadīth reported by Imām Aḥmad, Sayyidunā Buraydah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu narrates that he was once in the company of Sayyidunā Ali in a battle in Yemen. But he noticed that Sayyidunā ‘Ali was not so pleased with him. Therefore, when he returned to the Prophet he spoke negatively about Ali ibn Abi Talib. He then saw a frown in the face of the Prophet. The Prophet then asked him, “am I not more worthy of the believers than themselves? Buraydah responded, “Yes.” The Prophet then said:
مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ.ـ
“Whoever I am more worthy to than himself, then ‘Ali is more worthy to him than himself.”
#3: He Was from The Prophet’s Household
The Prophet would wake Sayyidunā ‘Ali and Fāṭimah up for fair. And he would read:
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّـهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ﴿٣٣﴾ـ
“Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O the household of the Prophet’s, and to purify you extensively” (Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, 33:33).
It’s known that the Prophet’s household who Allah seeks to remove from impurity are those who have believed in his message and died as Muslims. These are the ones we seek Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings for, anytime we seek peace, mercury and blessings upon the Prophet, especially in our prayers, the minimum of five times a day.
#4: Allah and His Messenger Love Ali
Imām al-Bukhārī reports from the narration of Salamah and many other companions, that during the Battle of Khaybar, all attempts to penetrate into the forts of the Jews of Khaybar went unsuccessful. Until the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said one night.
لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا ـ أَوْ لَيَأْخُذَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا ـ رَجُلٌ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، يُفْتَحُ عَلَيْهِ.ـ
“I will give the flag tomorrow, or tomorrow the flag will be taken by a man who is loved by Allah and His Apostle, and (Khaybar) will be conquered through him, (with Allah’s help)”
And Sayyidunā Ali happened to be that man, who Allah and his Messenger love and who conquered Khaybar by the will of Allah.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Legacy
Sayyidunā ‘Ali was one of the most trusted people to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Furthermore, he was intellectually vibrant. Considering his age at the time of the arrival of Islam, Ali, likewise most Muslim children who were born after the arrival of Islam had the privilege of education. This has qualified him to be one of the most outstanding intellectuals among the companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu’ alayhi wa sallam.
Thus, it’s not surprising to know that Sayyidunā Ali was one of the companions who were entrusted to document the Qur’an and revelations as they were descended upon the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It also explains his opportunity to be selected to document the treaty of Hudaybiyah.
Furthermore, the Prophet engaged him in many administrative, military, political, and diplomatic missions and affairs.
The entire tribe of Hamdān of Yemen embraced Islam in the hands of Sayyidunā ‘Ali. By the will of Allah, of course.
You’ve seen earlier, how Allah used him to grant the Muslim camp victory in the Battle of Khaybar.
Sayyidunā Ali’s Narration of Ḥadīth
Besides the fact that he received and learnt the Qur’an directly from the Prophet, Sayyidunā ‘Ali has also narrated a number of dozens ḥadīth.
It’s worth noting, that the companions who had leadership qualities were engaged in leadership duties. And those who dedicated the time for knowledge narrated more ḥadith. As a matter of fact, those who lived longer have narrated more hadith than those who died earlier. With that, we can see that Sayyidunā ‘Ali, among the four guided caliphs, has narrated the biggest number of ḥadīth. This is close to a thousand ḥadīth with all the duplicated one combined.
Here are five ḥadīth from the narrations of Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Hadith #1:
Imām Muslim reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ ذَبَحَ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ، وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنَ لَعَنَ وَالِدَيْهِ، وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا، وَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ غَيَّرَ مَنَارَ الأَرْضِ.ـ
“Allah has cursed him who sacrifices for anyone besides Allah; and Allah has cursed him who curses his parents; and Allah has cursed him who accommodates an innovator; and Allah has cursed him who changes the boundary lines (of the land he possesses).”
Hadith #2:
Imām Aḥmad reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتي، لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاةٍ، وَلَأَخَّرْتُ عِشَاءَ الآخِرةِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيلِ الأَوَّلِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا مَضَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيلِ الأَوَّلِ هَبَطَ اللهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى السَّماءِ الدُّنْيا، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ هُناكَ حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الفَجْرُ، فَيَقُولُ قَائِلٌ: ألَا سَائِلٌ يُعْطَى، ألَا دَاعٍ يُجَابُ، ألَا سَقيمٌ يَستَشْفي فَيُشْفَى، ألَا مُذنِبٌ يَسْتَغْفِرُ فَيُغْفَرُ لَهُ؟.ـ
“Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the siwāk at every prayer, and I would have commanded them to delay the ‘Isha’ prayers to the first third of the night. Because when the first third of the night passes, Allah descends to the Lowest Heaven. He remains there until it’s Fajr. And a voice would call out: Is there anyone asking, is there anyone praying, is there any sick person seeking to be cured, so he will be cured, is there any sinful person seeking forgiveness, so he will be forgiven?.”
Hadith #3:
Imām al-Bukhārī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib. He says, “I used to get the emotional urethral discharge frequently, so I requested Al-Miqdād to ask the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam about it. Al-Miqdād asked him and he replied:
فيه الوُضُوءُ.ـ
“One has to perform ablution (after it).”
Hadith #4:
Imām Muslim reports, that Sayyidunā Ali bin Abi Talib said:
نَهَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ القِرَاءَةِ فِي الرُّكُوعِ والسُّجُودِ ولَا أقُولُ نَهَاكُمْ.ـ
“The Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam forbade me from reciting Qur’an while in rukū’ and sujūd, and I do not say that he forbade you.”
Hadith #5:
Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr reports, that Sayyidunā ‘Ali said:
يَقْرَأُ الإمَامُ وَمَنْ خَلْفَهُ فِي الأُوْلَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالعَصْرِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ، وَفِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ. وَيَقْرَأُ الإمَامُ فِي المَغْرِبِ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ وَيُنْصِتُ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ، وَيَقْرَأُ الإِمَامُ وَمَنْ خَلْفَهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ. وَيَقْرَأُ الإِمَامُ فِي العِشَاءِ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ وَسُورَةٍ، وَيُنْصِتُ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ، وَيَقْرَأُ الإِمَامُ وَمَنْ خَلْفَهُ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الكِتَابِ، وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يُنْصِتُوا فِي الفَجْرِ.ـ
“The Imām and those behind him read al-Fātiḥah and Sūrah in the first two rak’ahs of Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr, and only al-Fātiḥah in the last two. And the Imām reads Al-Fātiḥah and Sūrah in Maghrib in the first two rak’ahs while those behind him remain silent, and he and those behind him read only al-Fātiḥah in the third raka’ah. And the Imām reads al-Fātiḥah and Sūrah in the first two rak’ahs of ‘Ishā’ while those behind him remain silent, and he and those behind him read al-Fātiḥah in the last two raka’ah. And he ordered them (those behind the Imām) to be quiet in Fajr prayers.”
Sayyidunā Ali’s Passing
In the month of Ramadan, 40 years after Hijrah, at the age of 63, Sayyidunā ‘Ali was stabbed, and he died from wounds he incurred from the poison of the sward. His body was bathed by ‘Abdullāh ibn Ja’far, al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum.
13 Facts About Sayyidunā ‘Ali
Here are 13 things you may want to remember about Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the first child to be Muslim.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the fifth in Islam.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the son of Fatimah.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the husband of Fatimah.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the Prophet’s cousin.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the Prophet’s son-in-law.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib married at 25.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was Prophet’s brother in Madinah brotherhood exercise.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib had the honour to document the treaty of Hudaybiyah.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was one of those who documented the Qur’an and revelation.
- The Prophet has testified that Allah and His Messenger love Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was one of the 10 who were given glad tidings of Paradise in one ḥadīth.
- Sayyidunā Ali ibn Abi Talib was the fourth caliph of Islam.
The Takeaway…
As you’ve seen and known, Sayyidunā was, one of those Allah and His Messenger love. Furthermore, he was granted a good news of his place in Paradise. Sayyidunā ‘Ali was the Prophet’s cousin. More significant than that, he was the Prophet’ son-in-law. His children were the most beloved to the Prophet.
If there was anyone who could enrich himself and his household for whom he is and whom he knows, Sayyidunā ‘Ali could have been the one. But the truth is, Sayyidunā ‘Ali led what can be described as a financial constraint life. This continued throughout his life. Even after he became the caliph of Islam. Because the money the flowed in his hands belonged to the Ummah, not to him. And as a trusted person, he handled it as the reserve for the Ummah and not for his household.
Likewise, neither the scarcity in material possession, nor his relationship with the Prophet prevented him from working hard to achieving the best a believer can hope for. And that is: Allah’s love for you. The Messenger’s Love for you. And above all, a glad tiding of your place in paradise.
If you’re watching or reading this, and you’re holding a public, political or an organizational office or post, then you have a lot to learn from Sayyidunā ‘Ali.
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Until we meet in our episode to take another glimpse of another shining star, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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