Date: 7/15/2008
TUMSPR News: Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) Public Relations congratulate all Muslims for the Imam Ali's birth anniversary and the Fathers' Day.
Ali ibn Abu Talib, (approximately March17, 599 or 600 – January 27, 661) was the cousin, son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, reigning over the Rashidun empire from 656 to 661. Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first of twelve infallible Imams and consider him and his descendants as the rightful successors to Muhammad. Sunni Muslims consider Ali as the fourth and final Rashidun.
Most sources record that Ali was the only person born in the Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca. His father was Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and his mother was Fatima bint Asad but he was raised in the household of Muhammad, who himself was raised by Abu Talib. When Muhammad reported receiving a divine revelation, Ali was among the first to accept his message, dedicating his life to the cause of Islam.
Muslims greatly respect Ali for his knowledge, belief, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, deep loyalty to Muhammad, equal treatment of all Muslims and generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies. Ali retains his stature as an authority on Qur'anic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence and religious thought. Ali holds a high position in almost all Sufi orders which trace their lineage through him to Muhammad. Ali's influence has thus continued throughout Islamic history.
Ali was 22 or 23 years old when he migrated to Medina. When Muhammad was creating bonds of brotherhood among his companions (sahaba) he selected Ali as his brother.
For the ten years that Muhammad led the community in Medina, Ali was extremely active in his service as his secretary and deputy, serving in his armies, the bearer of his banner in every battle, leading parties of warriors on raids, and carrying messages and orders.
Missions for Islam
Muhammad designated Ali as one of the scribes who would write down the text of the Qur'an, which had been revealed to Muhammad during the previous two decades. As Islam began to spread throughout Arabia, Ali helped establish the new Islamic order. During the Conquest of Mecca in 630, Muhammad asked Ali to guarantee that the conquest would be bloodless. He ordered Ali to break all the idols worshiped by the Banu Aus, Banu Khazraj, Tayy, and those in the Kaaba to purify it after its defilement by the polytheism of the pre-Islamic era. Ali was sent to Yemen one year later to spread the teachings of Islam.
he decided to, it would have caused a civil war amongst the Muslims. Ali also believed that he could fulfill his role of Imam'ate without this fighting .
According to historical reports, Ali maintained his right to the caliphate and said:
Another part of Ali's life started in 632 after death of Muhammad and lasted until assassination of Uthman Ibn Affan, the third caliph in 656. During these years, Ali neither took part in any battle or conquest.[5] nor did he assume any executive position. He withdrew from political affairs, especially after the death of his wife, Fatima Zahra. He used his time to serve his family and worked as a farmer. Ali dug a lot of wells and gardens near Medina and endowed them for public use. These wells are known today as Abar Ali ("Ali's wells"). He also made gardens for his family and descendants.
Ali was caliph between 656 and 661 CE, during one of the more turbulent periods in Muslim history, which also coincided with the First Fitna.
Muawiyah's army invaded and plundered cities of Iraq, which Ali's governors could not prevent and people did not support him to fight with them. Muawiyah overpowered Egypt, Hijaz, Yemen and other areas.
This civil war created permanent divisions within the Muslim community regarding who had the legitimate right to occupy the caliphate.
On the 19th of Ramadan, while Ali was praying in the mosque of Kufa, a Kharijite Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam assassinated him with a strike of his poison-coated sword. Ali, wounded by the poisonous sword, lived for two days and died in Kufa on the 21st of Ramadan in 661 CE.
Ali ordered his sons not to attack the Kharijites, since the assassination was performed by a single member of the group. They had to take vengeance against only Ibn Muljam.
Ali is respected not only as a warrior and leader, but as a writer and religious authority. Numerous range of disciplines from theology and exegesis to calligraphy and numerology, from law and mysticism to Arabic grammar and Rhetoric regarded as having been first adumbrated by Ali.
Shia and Sufis believe that Muhammad told about him "I'm the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate”. Muslims regard Ali as a major authority on Islam.
In later Islamic philosophy, especially in the teachings of Mulla Sadra and his followers, like Allameh Tabatabaei, Ali's sayings and sermons were increasingly regarded as central sources of metaphysical knowledge, or divine philosophy. Members of Sadra's school regard Ali as the supreme metaphysician of Islam. According to Henry Corbin, the Nahj al-Balagha may be regarded as one of the most important sources of doctrines professed by Shia thinkers especially after 1500AD. Its influence can be sensed in the logical co-ordination of terms, the deduction of correct conclusions, and the creation of certain technical terms in Arabic which entered the literary and philosophical language independently of the translation into Arabic of Greek texts.
Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches, sermons and letters served for generations afterward as models of literary expression.
Even workers in the Divan of Umayyad recited Ali's sermons to improve their eloquence. Of course, Peak of Eloquence (Nahj al-Balagha) is an extract of Ali's quotations from a literal viewpoint as its compiler mentioned in the preface. While there are many other quotations, prayers (Du'as), sermons and letters in other literal, historic and religious books.
The compilation of sermons, lectures and quotations attributed to Ali are compiled in the form of several books.
Nahj al-Balagha (Way of Eloquence) contains eloquent sermons, letters and quotations attributed to Ali. This book has a prominent position in Arabic literature. It is also considered as an important intellectual, political and religious work in Islam
Except for Muhammad, there is no one in Islamic history about whom as much has been written in Islamic languages as Ali. Ali is revered and honored by all Muslims. Having been one of the first Muslims and foremost Ulema (Islamic scholars), he was extremely knowledgeable in matters of religious belief and Islamic jurisprudence, as well as in the history of the Muslim community. He was known for his bravery and courage.(1)
Imam Ali (as) First in many Fields
1. He was the only man to be born in the Kabah (The house of God)
2. He was the first to offer homage to the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF)
3. He was the first to offer prayers after the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF)
4. He was the first to offer his services for Jihad.
5. He was the first to receive religious instructions from the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF)
6. He was the first to compile and codify the Quran
7. He was the first to be styled as "brother" by the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and on every occasion
8. He was the first to give burial to the Prophet (PBUH&HF)
9. He was the first to offer to sleep in the Prophet's (PBUH&HF) bed on the night of his emigration to Medina, risking his life in an assignation attempt to Muhammad (PBUH)
10. He was the first to be appointed commander in all those battles in which the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) did not participate personally
11. The honor of the propagation of the Quranic Sura, "al Bara'at" fell to Imam Ali's (as) lot
12. He was the only man to be titled as the "Second Aaron" by the Prophet (PBUH&HF)
13. The honor of owning a house which opened into the courtyard of the Prophet's (PBUH&HF) mosque was reserved for Imam Ali (as) alone
14. He was the first to have the honor of being nominated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) as his successor, testator and vice regent.
... and many more.(2)
Some quotes by the Imam:
Anger is a kind of insanity because it makes you feel sorry afterwards. However, if you do not feel sorry, your lunacy is confirmed
Inability is a disaster; patience is bravery; abstinence is a treasure, self-restrain is a shield; and the best companion is submission to Divine Will
He who adopts greed devalues himself; he who discloses his hardships to others will face humiliation
Socialize with people in such a manner that when you die, they should weep for you and as long as you live, they should long for your company
Two kinds of greedy people never get satisfied; the seeker of knowledge and the seeker of this world
The worst sin is that which the sinner takes lightly
Contentment is a wealth that is not exhausted
The worst friend is he for whom formality has to be observed
He who guards his secrets retains control in his own hands
Abstention from wrongdoing is easier than seeking help afterwards
Greed is a permanent slavery
Vanity prevents improvement
Inflexibility destroys good advice
The outcome of fear is disappointment and of shyness is frustration
The best form of piety is to conceal it
Submission to God's will is the cure of the misery of the heart
Grief accelerates the aging process
He, who does not know his own worth, is doomed to destruction
Opportunity moves quickly and rarely comes back
Good physical health comes from lack of jealousy
When you fall in poverty, trade with God through charity
The best deed is the one which you have to force yourself to do.(3)
Some points from Imam Ali - Peak of Eloquence (Nahjul Balagha)
One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure. (Every kind of complex, superiority or inferiority is harmful to man).
A greedy man will always find himself in the shackles of humility.
The sin which makes you sad and repentant is more liked by Allah than the good deed which turns you arrogant.(4)
1. Ali ibn Abu Talib: Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali.
2. The Life of the Commander of the Faithful; Ali b. Abu Talib. Available from: http://www.warispak.com/hazratali.html.
3. Quotes of Imam Ali Bin Abu Talib, the first Shia Imam and successor of the prophet Mohammed. . Available from: http://www.clubvibes.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=451020.
4. Memorable Quotes and quotations from Imam Ali. Available from: http://www.memorable-quotes.com/imam+ali,a3104.html.
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