Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS)

Ali (AS) was the son of Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle and protector, and Fatima bint Asad. He was born in Mecca around 600 CE. Shia historians, and many Sunni scholars, report that he was born inside the Ka‘ba. [WikiShia] [WikiShia]

He grew up in the Prophet’s own household and was among the very first to accept Islam. He later married Fatima al-Zahra (AS), the Prophet’s daughter. Their children included Imam Hasan (AS), Imam Hussain (AS) and Lady Zaynab (AS). Every later Imam descends from him. [WikiShia] [WikiShia]

When the Quraysh plotted to kill the Prophet (s), Ali (AS) slept in his bed so that the Prophet could leave Mecca unseen. In Medina, when the Prophet paired the Muslims as brothers, he chose Ali (AS) as his own brother. [WikiShia]

He fought in every major battle of the Prophet’s lifetime except Tabuk, when the Prophet left him in Medina as his deputy. He was also one of the scribes who wrote down the Qur’an. [WikiShia] [WikiShia]

Shia Muslims believe that the Prophet (s) designated Ali (AS) as his successor, most publicly at Ghadir Khumm on the return from the Farewell Pilgrimage in 10 AH. They hold that this leadership (imamate) was appointed by God rather than chosen by people. [WikiShia]

After the Prophet’s death, a gathering at Saqifa gave allegiance to Abu Bakr. For about twenty-five years, through the caliphates of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman, Ali (AS) held no political office. [WikiShia]

After the killing of ‘Uthman in 35 AH (656 CE), Ali (AS) accepted the caliphate at the insistence of the Muslims. He governed from Kufa. His short rule was marked by three conflicts: the Battle of the Camel (Jamal), the Battle of Siffin against Mu‘awiya, and the Battle of Nahrawan against the Kharijites. [WikiShia]

His letters to his governors survive from these years. The best known, to Malik al-Ashtar, is quoted in the sayings below.

At dawn prayer in the mosque of Kufa, on 19 Ramadan 40 AH, the Kharijite Ibn Muljam struck him with a sword. He died two days later and was buried in secret at Najaf. Before he died he left a final will to his sons, quoted below. [WikiShia] [WikiShia]

Scholars of Arabic, theology, law and Qur’anic interpretation have traced their learning back to Ali (AS). About three and a half centuries after him, al-Sharif al-Radi gathered a selection of his sermons, letters and short sayings into Nahj al-Balagha (“The Peak of Eloquence”). [WikiShia]