Khalifa Ali

IntroductionAli was born to Abu Talib himself a renowned Quraish chief and custodian of the sanctum Kaaba. Abu Talibs father, Abdul Muttalib was the son of the owing(p) Hashim. Alis mother was Fatima, daughter of Asad who as well was a son of Hashim. Fatima was a cousin of Abu Talib. Thus both of Alis parents were Hashemite, which was considered preferably prestigious.Ancestry of AliThe holy illusionist Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was Abdul Muttalibs grandson. His father Abdullah was Abu Talibs brother, which therefore made Abu Talib the vaticinators uncle and Ali his first cousin.Birth of AliAlthough his exact en handstal imagery of birth is non confirmed tradition says, Ali was born on the ordinal of Rajab in the 28th year of the Elephant Era (whose commencement is marked by Yemens ruler Abrahas failed attempt to invade Makkah and destroy the Kaaba) The devoted Prophet of Islam was born in the Year of the Elephant which according to scholars corresponds to the year 571 A.D. If we send then, Ali must commence been born around 599 or 600 C.E.His birth was quite an ridiculous angiotensin-converting enzyme. That day, his mother Fatima visited the Kaaba for pilgrimage. It was during her pilgrimage that she felt maternal pains and retired to a corner of the Kaaba and that is where Ali was born. Thus, Ali had the unparalleled honor of being born in the raise of Allah bestowed upon him.The NameLegend goes that when Ali was born the Holy prophet and his wife Khadija came to see the infant. That the little male child had not merely clear his bosoms was a matter of great worry for e really adept. But when the prophet Muhammad held him in his hands young Ali opened his eyes, making the prophet the first person he saw later on on birth. The Holy Prophet named him Ali the derivative of Allah, since he was born the Kaaba.Physical AppearanceAli was of a domesticise top side. He held a gracious face which reflected his personality. His facial features were striking with a straight nose and a beautifully formed mouth. He feature com globeding eyes, full of light and luster. It was as if rays of spirituality beamed through him , and there was a certain sense of personal magnetism that attracted heap towards him. As a young soldiery, Ali was hand nigh, while in his later age, he became large with his gray hair of the head giving way to baldness. His beard, which was often bleached red, remained thick and luxuriant.Marriage of AliInitially when the Holy Prophet migrated to Yathrib he went alone but later Yathrib was named Medina in his honor and he called his family and other Muslims there as well. At that time the prophets be go to sleepd wife Khadija had expired and he had married a woman called Sauda. A year later, he married Abu Bakrs ( Islams first Caliphs)daughter Ayesha. The Holy Prophets youngest daughter Fatima was comparablewise old enough to be married by that time. Abu Bakr and Omar both asked for her hand in mar riage but there was no answer on the part of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.In those simpler generation, age differences were not a concern in marriage. Khadija had been fifteen years older to Muhammad and he himself was much older to Ayesha at the time of marriage. It is thus important to stemma that this was not the reason the Prophet Muhammad remained silent to these proposals but it is reasonable to cerebrate that he was waiting for Gods approval and guidance in making this decision. after the Battle of Badr, it was Alis turn to ask for Fatimas hand in marriage and he did so. The Holy Prophet replied that he needed Fatimas consent. When he consulted Fatima she remained silent, a sign of approval. The prophet also received a revelation signifying Allahs approval of the marriage. Both families also mutually agreed.The marriage of Ali and Fatima is said to be the perfect one. Indeed ii pure and blessed souls unified and bonded together. Hafsa, a daughter of Omar and later a wife of the Holy Prophet described Fatima as an exemplary woman, one whos face shone like the moon and who married a man with a superior personality.Induction of Ali as a member of the family of the Holy ProphetWhen Ali visited the Holy Prophet from the desert where he had been living, the occasion was also attended by a close few including Abu Talib and his family. The Holy Prophet loved Ali very much so much so that he requested Abu Talib to keister Ali under his flush. Abu Talib agreed to entrust Ali with the prophet because he knew he would care for him better than anyone else could.It is believed that the Holy Prophet did this to relieve Abu Talibs increasing financial worries. However, this view seems to be untrue because Abu Talib was a Quraish chief and a trader. And had he been in any financial trouble the trouble he prophet would surely have helped him. Therefore it seems that it was because of the prophets fondness of Ali that he took him under his responsibility. Abu Talib wo uld often visit and Ali would meet his parents everyday. The Holy Prophet kept Ali as a younger brother with much affection.Companionship of the Holy ProphetThe period of Alis life which was spent with the Holy Prophet can be termed as the period of education and action. It was during these 32 years, from Alis birth till the death of the Holy Prophet, that Ali received his education under the loving care of the pop off Prophet of Allah embedded in himself the values of Islam and acquired all the attributes that contribute to greatness. After the migration to Medina, he came to be known as a valiant soldier. His spoils in the battles of Badr, Uhud and the Ditch and his awe inspiring success at Khyber earned him the statute gloss of Lion of God. He acted as the Governor of Yemen, and acquired good get along of experience as an administrator and judge, acquiring fame for his wise and well legal judgments.The First Three Caliphs and AliAt the time of the demise of the Holy Prophe t, Ali was a young enlightened, experienced, wise and valiant man. Despite all his qualities, Ali was passed over in the election for a caliph, as Abu Bakr took the state of affairs under his control. Ali would have to wait for 24 years before he could hold the berth of caliph. During these years, Ali acted as an adviser to the caliphs in office. This was a period of inactivity and contemplation, inaction on the political front as Ali kept aloof from authorities and contemplation on the spiritual front as this period of Alis life was spent mostly in seeking spiritual god through prayer and remembrance of God.The Caliphate of AliFollowing Uthmans assassination, Ali took office as the undermentioned caliph of the Islamic empire. His term was a short one, marred by political upheaval, defections of close aides and civil war. Ali was accused of involvement in the assassination of Uthman by Amer Muawiya, who mounted an anti Ali campaign. The results were the Battles of the Camel, Sif fin and Nahrawan. During the course of these battles, many of his walk-to(prenominal) aides betrayed him and defected. The list of betrayals is long and includes Alis brother, cousins, mother in law and the intact cities of Medina and Basra. The Kharijites who had originally supported Ali also seceded and Ali was finally martyred by a Kharijite.Alis image of GodIn his various sermons, Ali has dwelt upon on the various attributes of God in a proficient way. Extracts from some of his sermons are as follows All cheers is due to the precedent of the world whose wisdom is hidden. The various subjects of nature openly confirm his population. He is not surpassed in strength and superiority. He is the nigh to us. No one can be nearer to us than He.His distance height has not segregated Him from His creation, and His nearness has not established His equality with His creation. He is that tremendous and matchless Being in comprehending when the intellect cannot reach the fundament o f His attributes, yet nothing pr change surfacets a person from comprehending Him. He is that being whose existence even off an atheist feels in His heart of hearts. Undoubtedly God is light and luxurious and bears no comparison with anyone, then how can anyone have the assurance to recant Him.Father of SufismAlis religious devotion and nearness to God has earned him the title of Father of Sufism. Most of the Sufi orders claim their descent from Ali, and according to Ali Hajjweri, Ali is rank very high in the line of Sufism. Ali is considered the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism, as verbalize by Junayd of Baghdad.Communion with GodAt times, Ali would pray the whole night sobbing out of love and fear of God. For Ali, the purpose of knowledge was to awaken the spiritual faculties that every man possesses which in turn enable man to find his true and inward self. Ali observed that man could only enjoy communion with God if he would stop being proud, embo dy discipline, overcome his lust and submit to the provide of God.He stressed on the pack in his various sermons to lead a simple and pious life and not to indulge blindly in the pleasures of the world as the case was before Islam.. Ali said, Man is a swan in the boundless Sea of God. As long as mans vision is clouded by ignorance and sensuality he leave behind consider himself a separate entity, different from God. But when the veil between him and God is lifted, he will then know what he really is, the wave will then merge with the ocean.Ali on the Spiritual FrontAli was a wealth of knowledge. Several of the traditions (Ahadith) of the Holy Prophet are narrated by him. He was one of those companions of the Holy Prophet who used to learn the verses of the Quran as they were revealed. Later, after the death of the Holy Prophet, Ali also used to give sermons. In one such sermon, he explains the attributes of God with skillful oratory. Excerpts All praise is due to the creator of the world whose wisdom is hidden. The various subjects of nature openly confirm his existence. He is not surpassed in strength and superiority. He is the nearest to us.No one can be nearer to us than He. His distance height has not segregated Him from His creation, and His nearness has not established His equality with His creation. He is that sublime and matchless Being in comprehending when the intellect cannot reach the bottom of His attributes, yet nothing prevents a person from comprehending Him. He is that being whose existence even an atheist feels in His heart of hearts. Undoubtedly God is free and sublime and bears no comparison with anyone, then how can anyone have the audacity to deny Him.In another(prenominal) sermon, he reflected on the transitory meridian of this world by remarking For the wise, the world is a shadow, which may appear at one moment, and soon disappear. In another sermon he makes fleshy remarks by stating Many men buy clothes, which or else of being drawn by them are used in their coffin. Many persons build houses that instead of becoming abodes become their graves. No one has lived forever in this world, and no one has invented such a medicine which may make men immune from the clutches of death. In another sermon, he discusses promised land and hell, stating his anxiety on mans subservience to lust, the excess of his longings. In yet another sermon, he termed the world as superficial, mortal and perishable.ConclusionShakespeare once remarked Some tribe are born great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness thrust upon them. As far as Ali goes, he achieved greatness through his excellent education under the watchful eye of the Holy Prophet, his absorption of Islamic teachings and virtues, his thirst for knowledge, bravery on the battleground and the spiritual perfection that he embodied. Greatness need not be confused with success. From the political point of view Ali may seem like a failure that was unable to qu ell the civil strife that raged his people and was eventually slay Ed. Instead Alis greatness is of an unworldly nature for he set out to spiritually perfect those around him, in times of affluence and wealth.Ali was a man of remarkable qualities and principles. His personality embodied an unusual mix of spiritual perfection, bravery, knowledge and humbleness. He was one of those few people of his time, who could stare in the eyes of death so much that even death would start fearing of him He was an administrator, a judge, a philosopher, a statesman, a general and above all an exemplary for those seeking spiritual perfection.