Ali The Magnificent by : Yousuf N.

Lalljee ALI,THEMAGNIFICE NT
The life of Hazrat Ali stands out as a beacon, radiating its light into the darkness of this world. A world torn asunderby strife, struggle and wars, a world in which the value of human life is regarded as next to nothing.It must be borne in mind that it was Ali who gave a distinctive outlook to the intellectual, social, cultural andpolitical concepts of his times. He was the Warrior-Saint of Islam, who spent his entire life fighting the holy warsand who in spite of his multifarious activities lit the torch of knowledge which gave unprecedented impetus tolearning-a marvel of the times in which he lived. (The wonderful personality he possessed has made him thegreatest hero of all times.) In the world of today, his many-sided spiritual precepts might help to solve some of theproblems with which the world is faced today. His ideas were conciliatory and his message was always one of peace. He lived for justice and was very firm in his belief that every one should have a right to live in security, thatthere should be food, shelter and clothing for all. Humanity he considered as one family where there should betolerance for all-irrespective of race, creed and colour and irrespective of wealth or adversity.Nowhere was his humane attitude more apparent than when he was dispensing justice. He had the strictest ideas of duty and responsibility and even the poorest and most insignificant of suitors always found him ready to give hiscase a fair and prompt hearing. He was quick to forgive an offender as he was slow to resent an injury, a humaneattitude which too many of his contemporaries were prone to interpret wrongly as a weakness; it was this humaneattitude which above all stamped Ali as the ideal man.In order to keep his finger on the pulse of the people, Ali often disguised himself as a traveller, perambulating thelanes of the city at night to find out for himself the condition of the poor and the needy, and to lend succour to themand at the same time to bring the delinquents to book. His tremendous physical energy thus found an outlet in theperformance of many a philanthropic deed, but even so, his sense of responsibility to his people was so great that hewas frequently struck with remorse for what he had left undone. Hence the bitter tears of self-deprecation which heso often shed at his prayers.He sought always to prevent those civil wars in which blood would be shed in vain, but in his fight against theforces of evil and barbarity he showed extraordinary determination, unwavering purpose and an iron will. He was atonce a recluse and a warrior, a thinker contemplating in the wastes of the desert and a commander fighting theLord's battle against heretical foes. In his personality he combined a pious resignation to God with the greatestheroism in combat.In his attempts to establish God's kingdom on earth, he was constantly beset by enemies who wanted to extinguishthe torch of Islam, and whose activities were the more resented as they were carried out in the name of God andreligion. Pitched as he was against envy, hatred and malice, he never permitted himself to falter or to stray from thepath of right, even though this singleness of purpose was to cost him his life.In the words of Gibbon, "The birth, the alliance, the character of Ali which exalted him above the rest of hiscountrymen, might justify his claim to the vacant throne of Arabia. The son of Abu Talib was in his own right, thechief of Bani Hashim and the hereditary prince or guardian of the city and temple of Mecca. Hazrat Ali had thequalification of a poet, a soldier and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings;and every antagonist, in combats of the tongue or of the sword was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From thefirst hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the Apostle Muhammad was never forsaken by a generousfriend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and a faithful Aaron of a second Moses." Ali The Magnificent Page 1 of 98 Presented by www.ziaraat.com

CT HO AA TF PL EI R :H I B R

Hazrat Ali (A.S.) was born in the Holy Kaaba at Mecca on Friday, the 13th day of Rajab, 600 A.D. Both the HolyProphet and Hazrat Ali belonged to the same clan. They were Hashimites, the clan of Bani Hashim. Muhammad'sfather was Abdulla, and that of Hazrat Ali, Abu Talib. They were brothers and their father was Abdul Muttalib.Thus the Holy Prophet and Hazrat Ali were cousins. Hazrat Ali had two brothers, Ja'far and Aquil.Hazrat Ali's mother Fatima was the daughter of Asad, a famous magnate of the Quraish clan. She was also the auntof the Holy Prophet, being the wife of Abu Talib, the Prophet's paternal uncle. When she was pregnant, shepromised Muhammad to make over to him whatever child was born to her, be it male or female. Muhammad, awareof the issue that would be brought forth, gladly accepted the offer .Ali's holy personality began its wonderful manifestation even during the period of his mother's pregnancy. At thattimer Muhammad had not yet announced his prophet hood, and yet when he passed before Fatima, who being hisaunt was senior to him, she used to stand up in reverence and respect for him, and somehow something within hernever allowed her to turn her face away from Muhammad as long as he was around.When people asked her about this peculiar behaviour of hers, she would say that she could not help it, that someirresistible urge from within made her do so.This statement was disbelieved by those who wished to test her. So one day they made her sit and they asked twostrong men to hold her down when Muhammad passed by. Then they asked Muhammad if he would walk in frontof he f, to which he gladly agreed. As he came in front of her, Fatima began to rise and she stood erect throwingboth men aside. Muhammad who alone was aware of this mystery, used to smile.He was keenly awaiting the birth of his cousin Ali.During her pregnancy whenever Fatima was alone, she heard from within her a mysterious whisper which was tothe glorification of God.To understand the significance and importance of his place of birth, it is essential to know a little of the history of the Kaaba.The first House of God was rebuilt and renovated at the command of Allah by the Prophet Abraham assisted by hisworthy successor, his son Ismail, under the supervision and guidance of the Angel Gabriel. The verses of the Koransay :"And remember when Abraham raised the foundation of the House with Ismail, (Praying) Our Lord! accept (thisservice) from us; verily Thou and Thou (alone) art the All-hearing and All-knowing." Chap. 2-Verse 127. "And remember when we made the House a resort for mankind and a sanctuary (saying), Take ye the station of Abraham a place of prayer (For you); and covenanted with Abraham and Ismail (saying) purify ye two my Housefor those who make the circuit, and for those who prostrate (adoring)". Chap. 2-Verse l25. This verse clearly depicts the purpose of the Kaaba, namely that it was to be a place of worship and that it was pureand sacred.It was to this sacred place, the Holy Kaaba, that Providence led the mother of Hazrat Ali. She felt weighed down byintense pain when Ali was due to be born. She knelt to pray. When she raised her head from her supplication, thewall of the House split as if by a miracle, to admit her within, and a portion of the wall returned to its normalposition. The Kaaba was sealed, with Fatima within.This news spread fast all over Mecca. The keys of the shrine were brought to unlock the door but all efforts endedin failure. Ali The Magnificent Page 2 of 98 Presented by www.ziaraat.com