Commander of Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the
year 600 A.D. in Makkah. His father was the Protector of the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.), Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and his mother was Sayyida Fatima Bint
Asad (s.a.). Her grandfather was Hazrat Hashim (a.s.). She was a monotheist
like all the ancestors of all Prophets.
She went to Holy Ka’abah and while she was
circumambulating, she felt the pains of delivery. She prayed to Allah: “O Allah! I believe in You, and in the Messengers
and Scripts You have sent. I believe in what my grandfather, Ibrahim who built
the Ancient House (Ka’abah). So, for the sake of the Builder of this House, and
for the sake of the child in my womb, who talks to me and who is my helper and
friend, I implore You to make my labor easy. The child I am carrying is a sign
of Your Greatness and Power.” (Al-Arbili, Kashf Al-Ghummah, volume 1 chapter on
Imam Ali)
Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) leaned against the wall of
Ka’abah to rest. Miraculously, the wall opened. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.)
entered and the wall closed behind her. Abbas ibn Abdul Mutallib, the Prophet’s
uncle witnessed this miracle. He and his companions rushed to the gate of the
Sacred House, which was locked, and tried in vain to open it. Understanding
that the Divine was at work there, he and his companions ceased to interfere.
The news of this miracle spread throughout Makkah.
Imam Ali (a.s.)
was born within the Ka’abah with his eyes closed and his body in humble
prostration before the Almighty Allah.
Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.) stayed in Ka’abah for three days and as the
fourth day approached, she stepped out carrying her baby in her arms. She found
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) waiting to receive the new-born child in his
anxious arms. So the first face that little Ali (a.s.) saw in this world was
the smiling face of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Muslims use the phrase
“Karramallahu Wajha” meaning the one who never prostrated to idols!
No one has ever
born or will ever be born inside the Sacred House of Allah. This unique
distinction was reserved for Imam Ali (a.s.). Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.)
had said about this special privilege Allah had granted to her and said: “Allah
preferred me to all women before me. Assiyah (wife of the Pharaoh) performed
the acts of worship in seclusion where Allah did not like to be worshiped
except in case of necessity. Mary (s.a.), the daughter of Imran, shook the
trunk of the Pam- tree and ripe dates fell upon her. I entered the House of
Allah and ate fruits of Paradise, when I was about to leave the place, I heard
the Divine call: O Fatima! Name your son Ali because he is high and his Lord
Most High. I gave him a name derived from My Own Name. I cultured him the way I
willed. I made known to him the intricacies of My Own Omniscience. He is the
one to crush the idols in My House. He is the one to call the people to prayer
from the roof of My House. He worships Me. Blessed are those who love him, and
woe to those who are his enemies.”
His birth in Ka’aba
had been reported both by Shi’i and Sunni scholars. To name a few as under:
Masoodi in
Murroj-udh-Dhahab, Muhammad ibn Talha al-Shafei in Matalib-us-Saool, Hakim in
Mustadrak, Al-Umair in Sharh Ainia, Halabi in Sira, Sibt ibn al-Jauzi in
Tadhkira Khawasil Ummah, Ibne Sabbagh Maliki in Fusoolul Mohimma, Muhammad bin
Yousuf Shafei in Kifayat al-Talib, Shablangi in Nurul Absar, Ibne Zahra in
Ghiythul Ikhtisar.
Among the modern
historians Abbas Mahmood al-Akkad of Cairo (1970), Egypt writes in his book
Al-Abqarriyet al-Imam Ali that Ali ibne Abi Talib was born inside the Ka’aba.
Another
contemporary historian, Mahmood Saeed al-Tantawi, of the Supreme Council of
Islamic Affair, Arab Republic of Egypt writes: “May God have mercy upon Ali ibne
Abi Talib. He was born in Ka’aba. He witnessed the rise of Islam; he witnessed
the Dawa of Muhammad, and he was a witness of the Wahi (Revelation of Quran
al-Majid). He immediately accepted Islam even though he was still a child, and
he fought all his life so that the word of Allah would be supreme.”
Miraculous birth
of Imam Ali has many important points to ponder:
Sayyida Fatima
bint Asad did not enter the Holy Ka’aba through the door but Allah opened an
unusual opening. When Prophet Isa was born, Lady Mariam was told to leave the
place of worship and go outside. What was the sustenance of Sayyida Fatima bint
Asad for three days? When she entered the Ka’aba, Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Abu
Talib tried to open the door but it will not open, why? On the fourth day, the
wall of Ka’aba again opened to give passage to her and the Priceless baby. From
the time of construction of Ka’aba, no one had ever been born inside the Holy
Ka’aba nor will ever be born till the Day of Judgment. Imam Ali (a.s.) did not
open his eyes for three days while he was inside the Kaaba, and opened only
when the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) took him in his arms and saw his sacred
face when opened his eyes. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) placed his noble
tongue in Imam Ali (a.s.)’s mouth.
Sources used:
ImamReza Network, The birth of Ali Ibn Abi Talib by
Sayyid Ali Asgar Razwy, WIKIPEDIA
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