Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the year
600 A.D. in Makkah. His father was the Protector of the Noble Messenger
(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 the Prophets of Allah.
She went to the Sacred Ka’ba 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 the Scripts
You have sent. I believe in what my grandfather Ibrahim, who built the Ancient
House (Ka’ba), believed in. 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’ba to
rest. Miraculously, the wall cracked opened. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.)
entered and the wall closed behind her. Hazrat Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’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 Divinity was at work there, he and his
companions ceased to interfere. The news of this miracle spread throughout
Makkah like wild fire.
Imam Ali (a.s.) was born within the Ka’ba with his eyes closed and
his body in humble prostration before the Almighty Allah. Hazrat Fatima bint Asad (s.a.)
stayed in Ka’ba for three days and as the fourth day approached, she stepped
out carrying her baby in her arms. She found the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
waiting to receive the new-born child in his anxious arms. Hence, the first
face that little Imam Ali (a.s.) saw in this world was the smiling face of his
cousin the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The Muslims use the phrase
“Karramallahu Wajha” for Imam Ali (a.s.) 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’ba 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’ba.
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’ba. He witnessed the rise of
Islam; he witnessed the Dawah 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’ba 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’ba,
Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Abu Talib tried to open the door but it will not open,
why? On the fourth day, the wall of Ka’ba again opened to give passage to her and
the Priceless baby. From the time of construction of Ka’ba, no one had ever
been born inside the Sacred Ka’ba 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 Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) took
him in his arms and saw his sacred face when opened his eyes. He (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 Asghar
Razwy, WIKIPEDIA
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