Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the year
600 A.D. on 13 Rajab 30th Year of Elephant in Makkah. His father was the
Protector of the Noble 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 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 Prophet (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.). Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Assalaamu
alaika ya Rasool Allah” Thus it is confirmed that he (a.s.) was a born Muslim. Imam
Ali (a.s.)’s first food was the saliva of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) when
he gave his tongue into the mouth of the baby. 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.
Titles of Imam Ali (a.s.) are:
Babul Ilm-The Gateway of Knowledge
Haider-e-Karrar-The Charging Lion
Waliullah-The Friend of Allah
Mazhar al-Aja’ib- The Manifest of Wonders
Murtaza-The Chosen one of Allah
Imam al-Muttaqeen-The Guide of the Pious
Imamul Aulia-The Guide of the Saints
Asadullah al-Ghalib-The Triumphant Lion of Allah
Siddiq-e-Akbar-The Greatest Truthful
Nafse Rasul-The Soul of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
Lisanullah- The Tongue of Allah
Yadullah-The Hand of Allah
Wajhullah-The Face of Allah
AbuTurab- The Father of the Soil
Farooq-e-Azam-The Greatest Distinguisher
Fath-e-Khaiber-The Conqueror of Khaiber
Abul Aimmah-The Father of Holy Imams
Sources used:
Imamreza Network, The birth of Ali Ibn Abi Talib by Sayyid Ali
Asghar Razwy, WIKIPEDIA
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