'Ali (RA) ibn Abu T'Alib,

The 4th Caliph

Name & Patronage

• 'Ali (RA) was born 30 years after the birth of the Prophet
• Belonged to most respectable family of Quraish: Banu
Hashim
• Father: Abu T'Alib (paternal uncle of Prophet who
brought him up after death of his grandfather)
• Mother: Fatimah ibn Asad, also of Banu Hashim
• Known as Abul Hassan (RA). Prophet gave him another
name which he preferred: “Abu Turab”
• Prophet took 'Ali(RA) in his childhood from his father and
brought him up like his own son
• First youth to Accept Islam: 'Ali (RA) was only 10 years old
when Prophet received revelations
• Prophet disclosed his mission to 'Ali(RA) and he accepted
it immediately – 1 st Muslim youth
• When Prophet preached publicly, he invited all family
members to a feast. All mocked him except 'Ali(RA):
“Though my eyes are sore, my legs are thin and I am the
youngest of all those present here, yet I will stand by you,
O Messenger of Allah”
• Prophet loved him very much:
• At the night of Hijrah he gave to 'Ali(RA) to return deposits
(Amanats) of Makkans before his departure to Medina
 Life in Medinah
• 'Ali (RA) was very close to the Prophet and closeness
became permanent when he married his most
beloved daughter, Fatimah (RA)
• 'Ali (RA) also had the distinguished honour that the
progeny of the Prophet continued through his sons
from Fatimah (RA), Hassan (RA) and Hussain (RA)– two
children most beloved by the Prophet
• Tabuk Expedition: “You are in the same position in
relation to me as Haroon (AS)was with relation to
Musa (AS). But the only difference is: there is no
prophet after me”
 Bravery and “Zulfiqar”
• Stories of his bravery was well-known. He
participated in almost all battles.
• At Badr-He was holding flag of Islam
• At Uhud-When Mus’ab (RA) was martyred, ‘Ali
(RA) took over holding the flag
• Trench-Famous Abdwood challenged after
jumping on his horse after the trench. Prophet
warned him but he insisted. Prophet gave his
turban and the “Zulfiqar” to 'Ali (RA) and ‘Ali
(RA) eventually beheaded Abdwood
• “Asadullah” Due to his bravery, named
“Asadullah” (The Lion of Allah)
• Khaibar: Muslims tried to conquer the
strongest Jewish fort, Qumus, but were not
successful. Prophet said: “I will give the
command and the standard tomorrow to such
a brave person who loves Allah and His
Prophet and whom Allah and His Prophet
love”
• Everybody was hoping to be that person:
Prophet called on 'Ali(RA) who was sick and his
eyes were sore. Prophet wet his finger with his
saliva and put on 'Ali(RA)’s eyes and was cured
immediately
• “ First of all call them towards Islam. Even if
one man is guided towards Islam because of
you, it would be better than red camels”. In
one slew, Marhab was dead
• Great Scholar - 'Ali (RA) was not only a great
warrior but a great scholar “ I am the city of
knowledge and 'Ali(RA) is its gate”
• One of the great jurists amongst the
Companion
• Prophet appointed him as a Qazi of Medina
• Master of the Arabic language and his writings
were as effective as his speech
• Special Messenger of the Prophet
• In 9 AH, the first Hajj of Islam took place. Abu Bakr
(RA) was appointed as the leader of the Hajj
• After Abu Bakr (RA) left for Makkah, revelation
came to the Prophet with reference to treaty with
the non-believers had to be dissolved. To give
them 4 months’ notice. Announcement to be
made during Hajj
• Prophet sent 'Ali(RA) to carry the message of Allah
on his behalf. He gave 'Ali(RA) his own she-camel
“Qaswa” which he rode to Makkah to read out the
message to the people
• Excellence of 'Ali(RA) -When Prophet sent 'Ali(RA) to
Yemen: “O Allah, put truth on his tongue, and
enlighten his heart with the light of guidance.” Then
he himself put a turban on his head and gave the black
standard “ You belong to me and I belong to you”
• O 'Ali(RA): “You have a resemblance to Jesus whom
the Jews hated so much that they slandered his
mother and whom Christians loved so much that they
placed him in a position not rightly his.”
• 'Ali (RA) afterwards said: “Two (types of) people will
perish on my account: one who loves me so
excessively that he praises me for what I do not
possess, and one who hates me so much that he will
be impelled by his hatred to slander me”
 Pledged to all Caliphs
• The demise of the Prophet shocked him as he had
attended to him day and night. He even bathed
the Prophet and enshrouded it
• 'Ali (RA) took pledge of loyalty on the hands of all
Caliph. However, he was late in taking pledge at
the hand of Abu Bakr (RA).
• When asked by Abu Bakr (RA): “I do not dislike
your leadership but the fact is that I had taken an
oath after the death of the Prophet not to put on
my sheet (engaged in any work) except for
performing prayers until I have collected all the
parts of the Qur’an
• Then he took the bay’ah of Abu Bakr (RA) and helped him
throughout his Caliphate.
• He was very active during the reign of ‘Umar(RA) and also
married his daughter (Ummi Kulthum) to ‘Umer (RA). He
voted for ‘Uthman(RA)
• He was a great jurist (Mufti) of Medina during the
Caliphates
• Was one of the 6 members to chose a Caliph after
‘Umar(RA)
• Uthman (RA) had great regard for him and consulted him in
all matters.
• His sons were the main guards at ‘Uthman (RA)’s’ house
during the siege
 'Ali (RA) as the 4 Caliph th
• Death of ‘Uthman(RA) was a shock to 'Ali(RA)
• Insurgents then virtually controlled Medina
• Insurgents approached 'Ali(RA) to be the Caliph
• Put the matter before the public
• 21st Dzul Hijjah 35 AH: bay’at taken from 'Ali(RA)
• Some refused
• Disobedience of Abdullah bin Saba
• 'Ali (RA) seeks to ascertain assassins of ‘Uthman (RA)
• 'Ali (RA) dismisses the governors
• Mu’awiyah (RA)’s demand for assassins
• Aishah (RA)’s demand for punishment of assassins
• Aishah (RA) goes to Basrah
• Aishah (RA) takes over Basrah
 Civil War
• 'Ali (RA) seeks peace. Tried to avoid bloodshed
• Sent cousin, Abdullah ibn Abbad and Qa’qa ibn Amr
to negotiate peacefully with Aisha (RA), Talha (RA)
and Zubair (RA)
• Assured them that 'Ali (RA) would avenge assassins of
Uthman(RA) once peace was established in the state.
Initially they were satisfied with the response.
• But Abdullah ibn Saba was in the army. He sent spies
to Basrah to incite Muslims by saying that 'Ali (RA)
would enslave inhabitants and kill all youths if he
entered Basrah
• 'Ali (RA) then entered Basrah: “I am but your brother…
I will avenge Uthman(RA)’s assassins”
• Returned to camp satisfied
• Ibn Saba made a sudden attack on Aisha (RA)’s army
saying that 'Ali (RA) had ordered the attack. On the
other hand, he told 'Ali (RA) that Aisha (RA)’s army was
preparing an attack
• The Battle of the Camel (Jamal)
• Full scale war started. Hundreds of Muslims fell on
both side
• 'Ali (RA) was greatly pained by the situation. Tried to
stop but battle had already flared up
• Advisor advised her to put on the purdah and
mount a camel to the battlefield to ease the
situation.
• Instead, troops thought that she had joined the
battle and it became more intense
• During the battle, 'Ali (RA) reminded Talha (RA)
and Zubair (RA) of the Prophet’s words: “One day,
you (Talha (RA) and Zubair (RA)) will fight 'Ali (RA)
wrongly”
• They remembered but when Talha (RA) was
leaving, he was killed
• Zubair (RA) was on his way to Makkah.
Murdered while praying. 'Ali (RA) rebuked: “I
have seen him fight for the Prophet of Allah
several times. I give the murderer the news of
the Hellfire”
• As the fight did not come to an end, 'Ali (RA)
ordered his men to cut off the camel’s hind
legs which Aisha (RA) was on
• Aishah (RA) was then carried out of the
howdah with due respect
• The battle came to an end and Aishah (RA)
was sent with due respect to Medina
escorted by her own brother, Muhammad
ibn Abu Bakr (RA)
• 10,000 Muslims were slayed
• He then took Pledge from the people of
Basrah and gave amnesty to all who fought
against him
• He gave an address which moved everyone
and won their support as a Caliph
 Change of Capital
• 'Ali (RA) was very grieved on seeing the
disrespect of the Haram of Medina when
insurgents laid siege to the Caliph’s house and
assassinated him
• With more support he received from Kufa, he
decided to transfer the capital to Kufa in Rajab
35 AH