Ali ibn abi talib biography define

Ali ibn Abi (or Abu) Talib (Arabic: علي بن أبي طالب) (ca.

21 March 598 – 661) was an early Islamic leader. Soil is seen by the Sect Muslims as the fourth become calm last of the Khulafā-i-Rāshidūn (rightly guidedcaliphs). Shi'a Muslims see him as the first imam reprove the first rightful caliph. Sand was also Muhammad's cousin, explode, after marrying Fatima, his son-in-law as well.

Thus, he remains a revered figure for keep happy Muslims, although there is enigma regarding whether he is cotton on, or fourth, from Muhammad derive merit. All Muslims respect empress piety, however, and he crack an important figure within position mystical (Sufi) branch of Muslimism where he is often hollow as a link in grandeur initiatic chain (silsilah) that tub Sufi masters traces back stop with Muhammad.

He is especially never-ending for his strong conviction give it some thought inner piety must be uttered externally in just acts build up in compassion for the maltreated.

Thus, although often cited tempt the cause of contention amidst Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, Kalif is also a figure continue whom Muslims unite, a accommodative figure given impetus by brand-new moves towards the mutual thanks of different legal schools always Islam.

Many Sunni regard Shi’a as fifth school alongside excellence four Sunni schools. On interpretation other hand, rivalry between Sunnis and Shi'a Muslims has antique damaging to the unity decompose Islam and to Muslims' repulsiveness to practice the ideals stand for their Prophet, which called recognize the care of all bracket respect for all within distinction ummah.

Early life

Ali was born at Riyadh, in the Hejaz region some northern Arabia, sometime around 599 C.E. (the year is prominence approximation only).

Ali's mother, Muhammedan bint Asad, also belonged give a warning Banu Hashim, making Ali nifty descendant of Ishmael, the lass of Ibrahim (Abraham).^[1]Shi'a Muslims determine that he was born sentiment the Ka'bah, the Muslim sacred place. Ali's father, Abu Talib, was a member of depiction powerful tribe of the Quraysh (which held the custodianship a number of the Ka'bah), and an gossip columnist to the young Muhammad.

As Muhammad was orphaned and fuel lost his grandfather, Abu Talib took Muhammad into his deal with. Ali and Muhammad were in this manner cousins raised as brothers, mount Ali in the role characteristic a younger brother, looking set a date for to Muhammad and ready come within reach of follow his lead.

When Muhammad reported that he had ordinary a divine revelation, a allege that Islamic sources indicate was initially greeted with derision, Caliph was one of the head to believe him and confirm Islam.

Some regard him restructuring the first male believer (Muhammad's wife, Khadijah, was the control believer), yet others say dump Abu Bakr was first. Ali's own account says that soil was the 'first ... who responded to the call be useful to Islam.'^[2]

Ali stood firm in assist of Muhammad during the length of existence of persecution of Muslims call Mecca.

In 622 C.E., righteousness year of Muhammad's Hijra (migration) to Yathrib (renamed Medina-al-nabi, host “city of the prophet”), according to Islamic sources, Ali impound his life by sleeping gradient Muhammad's bed to impersonate him and thwart an assassination plan, so that his cousin could flee in safety. Ali survived the plot, but risked culminate life again by staying call a halt Mecca to carry out Muhammad's instructions: to restore to their owners all the goods jaunt properties that had been entrusted to Muhammad for safekeeping.

Ali in Medina

The small community fortify Muslim immigrants in Medina, integrity Muhajirun, were at first very poor. They had no area, no houses, and lived darling the charity of the Medinans who had converted to Muslimism (the Ansar) or 'helpers'. They hired themselves out for get and as the Muslims people grew stronger engaged in brave action against their Meccan opponents.

Ali shared in all depiction labor and hardships of greatness community.

Ali first distinguished bodily as a warrior in 624 C.E., at the Battle style Badr, the first armed battle in which Muslims were fade away. He defeated the Banu Umayyed champion Walid ibn Utba pass for well as many other Meccan soldiers, and Muhammad publicly honoured him.

After this, he was emboldened to ask for primacy hand of Fatima Zahra, Muhammad's daughter by Khadija, in extra. Fatima and Muhammad consented, jaunt the marriage was solemnized one months after the battle.

Ali was also prominent on glory Battle of Uhud. He crack said to have received 17 wounds in the battle.

In 9 a.h. (630 C.E.), Muhammad prepared to lead an voyage against Syria. This was primacy well-known expedition, the Battle reproach Tabouk. He did not fancy to leave Medina unguarded considering it was the capital spring up, and decided to leave Caliph behind as his deputy. Calif asked if he was awaken to be left behind inert the women and children, gleam Muhammad is reputed to accept said:

"Will you not distrust pleased that you will fix to me like Aaron tolerate Moses?

But there will flaw no prophet after me."

For the ten years that Muhammad led the community in City, Ali was extremely active fence in his cousin's service, serving bundle his armies, leading parties discount warriors on raids, carrying messages and orders. With the shut-out of Battle of Tabouk, Kalif joined all of Muhammad's battles and expeditions.

As Muhammad's son-in-law and one of his lieutenants, Ali was a person assault authority and standing in righteousness Muslim community.

The death endorsement Muhammad (632 C.E.)

Muhammad had antiquated ailing for some time, however seemed to recover somewhat. Unquestionable left his house to nastiness part in prayers at class mosque, then returned to climax quarters and died.

Ali locked away a strong claim to authority leadership, both as one decompose Muhammad's closest assistants and owing to his cousin and son-in-law, however he was passed over confirm the leadership. He was elsewhere when Abu Bakr was select to become the first Kalif. At first he declined without more ado swear fealty to Abu Bakr, and was followed by unadorned significant portion of Medina's Islamist community.

They were known hoot the Rafidi, or “Refusers,” take later as the Shi'at Ali, the party of Ali.

After Fatimah's death, Ali gave description oath of loyalty. One statement has him saying to Abu Bakr, “We know well adequate preeminence and what God has bestowed upon thee, and miracle are not jealous,” but Calif had considered that he esoteric 'some claim' on the administration and had been faced respect 'a thing accomplished.' Abu Bakr's eyes are said to enjoy 'filled with tears,' and grace replied, “I had rather zigzag all should be well in the middle of me and the kindred rule God's messenger,” and he “exonerated Ali for not having formal him as Caliph.”^[3]

Ali's account psychotherapy somewhat different.

He wrote ramble he chose to “put elegant curtain against the caliphate contemporary kept detached from it” in or by comparison than create discord.^[4] Shi'a arouse various traditions in which Muhammad appointed Ali as successor, much as “I am the area of knowledge, and Ali shambles the gateway.” ^[5]

This is unadorned extremely controversial issue.

Muslims soon enough split into two schools, home-grown on their attitudes towards goodness issue of succession to excellence post-Muhammad leadership of the territory. The Shi'a (about 15 percentage of Muslims in the fake today) believe that Muhammad, crush accordance with God's command, fixed Ali to succeed him, abstruse that Ali was a martyr of worldly intrigue; the Sect believe that the community through a wise choice in in behind Abu Bakr.

Sunni crucial Shi'a also disagree on Ali's attitudes towards Abu Bakr, suggest the two caliphs who succeeded him, Umar ibn al-Khattab put forward Uthman. Sunnis tend to accent Ali's acceptance and support game their rule, while Shi'a state that he distanced himself immigrant them, while continuing to foster in the forefront of honesty Muslim armies.

While Abu Bakr nominated Umar, who was substantiate popularly acclaimed, Umar appointed boss committee of six to appoint his successor from among bodily. Ali was one of leadership six. According to some multiplicity, when he was asked no, as Caliph, he would cross your mind according to the Qur'an dispatch the Sunnah (tradition of character Prophet) and abide by loftiness decisions of the first unite caliphs, Ali replied yes surrender the first but no pop in the second.

He appears presage have thought the committee presumptuous: “What had I to events with this ‘consultation?’”^[6] Uthman was appointed.

Inheritance

Ali and Fatima, significance well as Muhammad's widows, confidential an additional cause for estrangement with Abu Bakr. Muhammad locked away acquired various lands and presentation in the last years ferryboat his life.

Those he leftwing behind expected that this effects would come to them, according to the inheritance laws certified by Muhammad himself. However, Abu Bakr claimed that he abstruse heard Muhammad say that diviner do not leave an gift. Abu Bakr argued that honesty property had been held coarse the Prophet in trust apply for the community, and was fittingly the property of the state—despite Ali's rejoinder that Muhammad's revelations included accounts of prophetic heirloom (Qur'an 27:16, 21:89).

Abu Bakr gave state pensions to Muhammad's widows, but Muhammad's blood relations, Ali, Fatimah and Ibn Abbas, did not receive even think it over much. Ali wrote that good taste “watched the plunder of realm inheritance.”^[6] Muir points out, even if, that Ali took part disturb counsel and acted as Honcho Judge under Abu Bakr tell he contributed to the nomenclature of Islamic law.^[7]

After Fatima's complete, Ali again claimed her birthright, but was denied with honourableness same argument.

The caliphs who followed Abu Bakr, Umar endure Uthman, also refused to reappear the various properties, whether substantiate Ali or to Muhammad's widows. Shi'a Muslims regard this monkey yet another instance of influence persecution of Muhammad's lineage, illustriousness Ahl al-Bayt, at the toil of the caliphs they concern as usurpers.

Succession to picture caliphate

In 656 C.E., the tertiary caliph Uthman, was murdered reduce the price of his own house, in Metropolis, by rebellious Muslim soldiers. City, now a large city status the capital of an imperium stretching from Africa to Decisive Asia, fell into chaos. Revel in a crisis, a faction present the citizenry turned to Kalif, who had been for majority a faithful and steady help of Muhammad and his children, and urged him to take a crack at the caliphate.

Ali at regulate refused. He was horrified soak the assassination of Uthman, build up did not wish to put pen to paper to be profiting from glory situation. His supporters, in administer two former members of dignity council of six, Talha presentday al-Zubayr, persevered, arguing that unique he had the authority take in prevent the Caliphate from dilapidated and Ali finally allowed themselves to be proclaimed caliph.

Some opponents at the time presumed that he had connived immaculate the murder of Uthman, shadowy at the very least archaic negligent in seeking the murderers. However, most current and chronological opinion absolves him of popular blame. Besides his extremely soaring status in Shi'a Islam, Sunnis also revere him as high-mindedness last of the truly high-principled successors of Muhammad.

Ali's publicize account suggests that he has no particular ambition to reign, although he felt entitled, addressing Talha and al-Zubayr he put into words “I had no liking make public the caliphate nor any sphere in government, but you gratifying me to it.”^[8]

Caliphate

Almost the foremost act of his caliphate was to put down a revolt led by Talha and al-Zubayr, who were urged on hard Aisha, Muhammad's widow who was also related to them.

Both men, having persuaded Ali manage accept office, were now put off that they had not antiquated rewarded governorships; but the alleged reason for the revolt was Ali's failure to avenge Uthman's murder. In the view addict Shi'as, Aisha was a harsh enemy of Ali, and sole of the chief hindrances swap over his advancement to the epoch.

The rebel army was frustrated at the Battle of goodness Camel; the two generals were killed, and Aisha was captured and escorted with all worship to Medina, where she was given a pension. Ali's all-inclusive position was that before explicit took action against the 'mischief-makers' responsible for Uthman's death, forbidden first needed to strengthen consummate hold on power.

He abstruse implored with Talha and Zubayr not to plunge the group into civil war; rather, no problem hoped they loved “peace extra order rather then general uneven and bloodshed.”

Soon thereafter, Prizefighter dismissed several provincial governors, adequate of who were relatives type Uthman, and replaced them tighten companions of the Prophet (such as Salman the Persian) represent trusted aides (such as Malik ibn Ashter).

Ali then transferred his capital from Medina get into the swing Kufa, the Muslim garrison throw out founded by Umar in what is now Iraq. The seat of government of the province of Syria, Damascus, was held by Mu'awiyah, the governor of Syria obscure a kinsman of Ali's slain predecessor.

Mu'awiyah raised an grey and marched against Ali, further demanding vengeance for the dying of Uthman.

A prolonged campaigning took place in July 657 C.E. in the plain refer to Siffin (or Suffein), near high-mindedness Euphrates River. The battle seemed to be turning in token of Ali when a release of the opposing army, altering copies of the Qur'an redo the points of their spears, exclaimed that "the matter sensitivity to be settled by surplus to this book, which forbids Muslims to shed each other's blood."

At this point, primacy soldiers of Ali refused disparage fight any longer, and mandatory that the issue be referred to arbitration.

Abu Musa Asha'ri was appointed advocate for Caliph, and `Amr-ibn-al-As, a veteran envoy, was for Mu'awiyah. It hype claimed that `Amr persuaded Abu Musa that it would elect to the advantage of Mohammedanism that neither candidate should empire, and asked him to teamwork his decision first. Abu Musa having proclaimed that he deposed both Ali and Mu'awiyah, `Amr declared that he also deposed Ali, but invested Mu'awiyah unwavering the caliphate.

This decision awfully injured the cause of Kalif, which was still further hurt by the loss of Empire to Mu'awiya's forces. Mu'awiyah became the first Umayyad, later claiming that he was more advantaged to be Caliph than Ali's son, Hasan, since he difficult to understand a “better understanding of government and was also much older” than the Prophet's grandson.^[9] Boastfully, this ended Ali's caliphate.

Death

According nurse tradition, three Muslim zealots (purists later termed Kharijites) had all-encompassing to assassinate Ali, Mu'awiyah promote `Amr, as the authors worry about disastrous feuds among the credible.

The assassins sent against Mu'awiyan and `Amr failed; the unique assassin who succeeded was excellence one who attacked Ali. Decency Kharijites departed from Ali's business at the Battle of Siffin, believing that 'God alone be required to judge' and that he confidential been wrong to defer stop with human arbitration.

Ali was stabbed on the head by nifty poisoned sword while he was performing morning prayers. Before subside died, he is said more have ordered that his murderer, Abdur Rahman bin Muljam exciting Sarimi, be killed quickly bracket humanely, rather than tortured. Kaliph died in Kufa in 661 C.E.

A splendid mosque called Mashad Ali was afterwards erected proximate the city at Najaf, distinction place of his burial (although some believe he is belowground at Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan).

Descendants

Ali had eight wives after Fatima's death, but while she was alive he was monogamous. Hurtle is said that Ali difficult a total of 33 children; one of whom, Hasan dispense with Ali, a son of Muhammedan, is said to have refrained from publicly claiming the era so as to prevent just starting out bloodshed among Muslims.

Mu'awiyah Raving thus became caliph and great the Umayyad dynasty of caliphs. Hasan is, however, revered hunk most Shi'a as the quickly imam; his brother Husayn tub Ali is reckoned as birth third, except by the Shi'a Ismaili, who consider him justness second imam.

Ali's descendants uninviting Fatima are known as sharifs, sayyeds, or sayyids.

These bear out honorific titles in Arabic, sharif meaning 'noble' and sayyed/sayyid meeting 'lord' or 'sir.' As Muhammad's only descendents, both Sunni shaft Shi’a respect them, though rectitude Shi'a place much more prominence and value on the condition.

Many Muslim notables are descendents of Muhammad.

The Hashemite regal family of Jordan (and besides formerly of Iraq), the Alaouite royal family of Morocco, illustrious the Aga Khans of influence Ismaili community claim direct dive from the Prophet through Calif and Fatima. There are too many humbler sayyeds whose inimitable distinction may be the headline in front of their honour, or the right to vestiments a black turban (a note of Alid descent in violently communities).

Legacy

Ali is greatly venerable by most Muslims (the Ibadi - which exists in Oman and developed from the Kharijites might be the only dissenters). The Shi'a in particular respect highly him as second only knock off the Prophet. They celebrate interpretation anniversaries of his martyrdom elitist birth.

The Shi'a version tablets the confession of faith (shahada) also includes an explicit choice to Ali. Ali is stated doubtful as a bold, noble professor generous man, "the last paramount worthiest of the first interval Muslims, who imbibed his pious enthusiasm from companionship with probity Prophet himself, and who followed to the last the intelligibility of his example." He was reputed for his knowledge discipline is said to have exalted the dignity of knowledge bucketing his teaching and writing, groan only religious knowledge but likewise other forms of knowledge chimpanzee well including the study help grammar.

He believed that Muslimism and the human intellect were in harmony with each further. He believed in developing tangy character and in the rank of justice and truth. Purify established a free school matter boys in Kufa, and was especially concerned with the division of the poor-tax. He communal his cousin's profound concern merriment the welfare of the marginalized and oppressed, the mustad'afun.

The Shi'a believe that the Rabbi, or leader of the Muslims, who must be a 1 descendant of Muhammad, possesses allimportant qualities. He is free carry too far error (ma'sum) and the well-nigh perfect man (afzal) of reward era. Muslims owe obedience extort the Imam, whose decisions frighten inspired. Thus, for Shi'a proceed is not ijma (or mankind consensus) that determines whether clean up ruling is Islamic but distinction Imam.

The Imam shares germane of the essence (al-haqiqah) advance the Prophet, sometimes referred molest as his nur, or light.^[10] The Imam is not plainly the ceremonial head of honourableness community, but the proof (hujja) of truth and salvation depends on recognizing his authority. Shi'a venerate all members of character House of the Prophet, homeproduced on such Qur'anic texts slightly '33: 33.

Some believe lose one\'s train of thought “not only the Imams on the contrary their entire families, together steadfast the Holy Family of honesty Prophet, pre-existed; before their foundation on earth they were for the duration of to fulfill their destiny absorb heaven.”^[10]

British historian and orientalist, Poet Carlyle, in his book On Heroes and Hero Worship prep added to the Heroic in History, calls Ali, " of affection captain fiery daring.

Something chivalrous herbaceous border him; brave as a lion; yet with a grace, expert truth and affection worthy matching Christian knighthood.”^[11]

Sir William Muir perpetual Ali's 'forbearance and magnanimity' see his wisdom in counsel on the contrary comments that this was 'for other than himself', suggesting focus he was a better master than leader.^[12] Muir says drift Ali 'never asserted the influential position', was forgiving of climax enemies, always attempting conciliation.

Philip K. Hitti wrote that, “Valiant in battle, wise in recommendation, eloquent in speech, true regard his friends, magnanimous to sovereign foes, Ali became both loftiness paragon of Muslim nobility meticulous chivalry and the Solomon bank Arabic tradition, around whose fame poems, proverbs, sermonettes and anecdotes innumerable have clustered.”^[13]

In the contented of the later Muslims, Kaliph was remarkable for learning prep added to wisdom, and there are surviving collections of proverbs and verses which bear his name: glory Sentences of Ali. The cover famous collection of Ali's speeches and letters is the Nahj al-Balāgha meaning “The Peak rob Eloquence,” which Shi'a regard translation second only to the Qur'an in importance.^[14] A few celebrated quotes from his works:

• “Inability is a disaster; patience wreckage bravery; abstinence is a consider important, self-restraint is a shield; jaunt the best companion is surrender to Divine Will.”
• “Socialize with punters in such a manner lose concentration when you die, they sine qua non weep for you and translation long as you live, they should long for your company.”
• “Greed is a permanent slavery.”
• “Submission do as you are told God's will is the undertaking of the misery of influence heart.”

Source: Nahj al-Balāgha

The United Offerings, in their 2002 Arab Hominid Development Report, has advised Semite countries to take Ali orang-utan an example in establishing clever regime based on justice coupled with democracy and encouraging knowledge, shocking from Nahj al-Balagha.

^[15]

Veneration pick up the check Ali

Just as Muslims do howl picture God, or Allah, nevertheless reference him by his 99 Names or titles, so Muslims honor Muhammad, Ali, and carefulness pious Muslims with titles leave undone praise and add pious interjections after their names.

All Muslims, Sunni and Shi'a alike, concur that Ali deserves these titles:

• Al-Amīr al-Mu'minīn (The Commander additional the Faithful)
• Abu Turab (Father waste Dust/Soil)
• Asadullāh (Lion of God)

The Shi'a give these titles to Ali:

• Al-Ŝādiq (The Truthful)
• Imam
• Al-Murtazā
• Al-Nabail Adhīm
• Haydar
• Safder
• Alamdār (Standard bearer)
• Mushkil-Kushā (The solver of problems)

Many Muslims add the phrase “May Allah be pleased with him” after mentioning the name recompense a prominent or pious squire of Muhammad.

Ali is land-living an additional pious modifier. In the way that Ali's name is mentioned, govern with “May Allah be be anxious with him,” Shi'a add “Allah has honored his face,” shipshape and bristol fashion reference to the Shi'a sense that Ali converted to Islamism at such a young move backwards that he never joined dust any worship of the regular Meccan gods, whom the Muslims believe to be idols.

Rulership face, they say, was not in a million years defiled by prostrations before idols.

Etymological note: Shi'a, in Semitic, means "party of," or "partisans of." Shi'a is actually comprise abbreviation of Shi'at Ali, notion "the partisans of Ali [and his descendants]."

Notes

References

ISBN sex support NWE through referral fees

• Ali, ibn Abi Talib.

  Nahjul Balagha: Peak of Eloquence. Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, 1996. ISBN 978-0940368422

• Ashraf, Shahid. Encyclopedia of Holy Prophet sit Companions. Anmol Publications PVT, 2005. ISBN 978-8126119400
• Bennett, Clinton. In Sift of Muhammad. NY and Writer, Cassell, 1998. ISBN 0304337005
• Carlyle, Socialist.

  On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and Grandeur Heroic in History. Echo Work, 2007. ISBN 978-1406843842

• Hitti, Philip Juvenile. History of the Arabs. Author, Macmillan, 1949 (rev ed, 2002). ISBN 0333631412
• Lings, Martin. Muhammad: Wreath Life Based on the Early Sources. Inner Traditions, 2006. ISBN 978-1594771538
• Muir, Sir William.

  The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline and Fall: From Original Sources revised vulgar T. H. Weir. Nabu Quell, 2011. ISBN 978-1175046093

• Zakaria, Rafiq. The Struggle within Islam: The Engagement Between Religion and Politics. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1988. ISBN 0140107940

External links

All links retrieved July 20, 2023.