Imam Ali (a.s.), the partner of the “First Light” – Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), was born inside the House of Allah, Khana-e-Kabah, on 13
Rajab in the 30th Aamul Feel (Year of Elephant). The world has never
seen such a birth in a sacred place like this and will never see it again. When
Bibi Mariyam was pregnant with Prophet Issa, she was ordered by Allah to vacate
the place of worship, Baitul Muqaddas, and go out to deliver the baby.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Commander of the Faithful
were created by Allah as a single light (Noor) long before the creation of
Prophet Adam and the universe. This partner of the “First Light” was delivered
to this world through Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and Bibi Fatima Binte Assad
(s.a.).
When Hazrat Fatima Binte Assad felt the delivery pain, she
proceeded towards Khana-e-Kabah in accordance with the command and advice of
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.). She approached the Sacred House of Allah to
perform “Tawaaf”. Afterwards she leaned against the wall of Kaabah and
supplicated to Allah in these words: “My creator and my Lord, I have faith in
You, in all the Holy Prophets You have sent and faith in all the Holy Books You
have revealed. I pray by the Truth of the Builder of Khana-e-Kabah, Hazrat
Ibraheem (a.s.) and by the Truth which is with my child who is inside my womb,
please make my delivery easy. Before Bibi Fatima uttered her last word of
supplication, the wall of Kabah opened up for her and Bibi Fatima stepped
inside. When she entered the wall of Kabah was closed and turned into its real
position. We are all aware of how pure the Sacred Khana-e-Kabah is, and then
can we understand the purity of the Holy mother of our First Imam (a.s.) who
was invited inside the Holy Kabah to give birth to her child? No we cannot. She
gave birth to not an ordinary child but to an infallible Imam, brother and
successor of the Last Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
She stayed inside the Holy Khana-e-Kabah for three days and
survived by eating the food of Heavens. At his birth, the Holy Imam prostrated
before Allah and testified that there is no God but Allah and Hazrat Muhammad
Mustafa (s.a.w.s.) is His Prophet. Bibi Fatima Binte Assad said: “When Ali was
born, he did not open up his eyes for three days. I was very worried but soon
our Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) arrived when he was informed by Allah that his
successor had been born. As the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.s.) took the new born
Imam in his arms immediately my child opened up his eyes.” Imam Ali had seen
the “Other part of the Light” – the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and was happy to
lay his eyes on him and saluted him and recited verses from all the Divine
Scripts. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) embraced
Imam Ali (a.s.) and said: “O’ Ali, when you are mine, I too am yours.” After
these words, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) gave his tongue to Imam Ali for him
to suckle. The tongue of the Prophet Hood was in the mouth of the Imamate when
twelve springs opened up and Imam Ali was satisfied and pleased by his Holy saliva.
On the fourth day Bibi Fatima Binte Assad stepped outside
the Holy Kabah to go home.
When the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) asked Bibi Fatima Binte
Assad as to what name they had given to the new born, Bibi replied: “The father
has named him Zaid, and the mother has named him Assad.” Then the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said: “You should also name him Ali” No one before him was given
this name. Bibi Fatima Binte Assad said: “This is indeed what I heard when I
was inside Khana-e-Kabah that a concealed voice was telling that his name
should be Ali but I kept it secret until now.” Another famous name of Imam Ali
was Haider.
When Imam Ali was a baby, one day his mother went out of her
house to a neighbor and Imam Ali was in the cradle. A huge snake came in the
house and tried to get into his cradle. Imam Ali caught the snake and tore open
its mouth. When Bibi Fatima Binte Assad returned and saw the dead snake in the
cradle, she cried loud “You are Haider”
Another distinction bestowed by God on Imam Ali was that he
never bowed in front of any idol. For this reason, Muslims call him “Karram
Allahu Wajha” meaning “He whose face was honored by Allah”
Imam Ali’s other
epithets and names are many, some of them are:
Abul-Hasan,
Abu-Turab, Ameerul Mumineen, Imamul Muttaqeen, Al-Mutaza, Asadullah, Yadullah,
Nafsullah, Haider-e-Karrar, Nafse Rasool, and Saqi-e-Kausar.
Imam Ali was brought up by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and
the Fountains of all Divine Knowledge was opened up to him. The Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) had said: “ Ana Madinat ul Ilme wa Aliun Babuha” meaning “I am the City of Knowledge
The Khateeb-e-Member-e-Salooni, has himself said: “The Holy
Prophet has fed me with his knowledge like a dove feeds a young dove with bird’s
seeds.”
On the pulpit of Masjid-e-Kufa, he said: “Saloni Qabla An
Tafqiduni” meaning “Ask me before you lose me, I am more aware of
the knowledge of the Heavens than the knowledge of the earth.” Point to
remember is that he did not say “Ask me before I die!” He did not use the
word death!
When Imam Ali was five years old, he was adopted by the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and from that moment they were never to part with each
other. The Noble Prophet and Bibi Khadija adopted the young Imam Ali after the
death of their sons. Imam Ali filled the void in their lives. Another reason
why The Noble Prophet picked up Imam Ali was that he wanted to educate him and
groom him for the great destiny that awaited him in the times to come. Dr. Taha
Hussain of Egypt
says that the Messenger of God himself became Ali’s guide, teacher and
instructor, and this is one more distinction that he enjoys, and which no one
else shares with him (Imam Ali).
Sayings of Imam Ali
(a.s.):
The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets;
cheerfulness is the key to the friendship; patience and forbearance will
conceal many defects.
Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of
fat (eyes), hears through the bone (ears), and speaks through a lump of flesh
(tongue).
When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away
through thanklessness.
If someone’s deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot
elevate it.
Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out
the secrets of your hidden thoughts.
When you get ill, do not get nervous about it and try as
much as possible to be hopeful.
The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to
make a show of it.
Take warning! He has not exposed so many of your sinful
activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has
given you time to repent).
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