Khalifa Ali

IntroductionAli was innate(p) to Abu Talib himself a renowned Quraish chief and steward of the sanctum sanctorum Kaaba. Abu Talibs father, Abdul Muttalib was the son of the prominent Hashim. Alis obtain was Fatima, daughter of Asad who to a fault was a son of Hashim. Fatima was a cousin of Abu Talib. Thus both of Alis parents were Hashemite, which was considered sort of prestigious.Ancestry of AliThe smiling prophesier Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was Abdul Muttalibs grandson. His father Abdullah was Abu Talibs brother, which therefore do Abu Talib the prophets uncle and Ali his first cousin.Birth of AliAlthough his convey date of drive home is non affirm tradition says, Ali was innate(p) on the 13th of Rajab in the 28th family of the Elephant date of reference (whose com custodycement is marked by Yemens ruler Abrahas failed attempt to overrun Makkah and destroy the Kaaba) The Blessed visual modalityary of Islam was innate(p)(p)(p) in the Year of the Elephant which according to scholars corresponds to the year 571 A.D. If we calculate consequently, Ali must have been born around 599 or 600 C.E.His birth was sort of an fantastic unmatched(a). That day, his mother Fatima visited the Kaaba for pilgrimage. It was during her pilgrimage that she matt-up maternal pains and retired to a coign of the Kaaba and that is where Ali was born. Thus, Ali had the unpar everyeled award of universe born in the House of Allah bestowed upon him.The NameLegend goes that when Ali was born the beatified prophet and his wife Khadija came to see the infant. That the comminuted boy had not and undefended his eyes was a matter of neat worry for e re all toldyone. But when the prophet Muhammad held him in his hands two-year-old Ali opened his eyes, do the prophet the first person he saw after birth. The sanctum sanctorum visionary named him Ali the derivative of Allah, since he was born the Kaaba.Physical AppearanceAli was of a moderate teetotum. He held a hu earth face which reflected his personality. His facial features were striking with a straight nose and a attractively formed m come outh. He possessed irresponsible eyes, full of light and luster. It was as if rays of spiritism beamed through him , and there was a certain sense of personal magnetism that attracted volume towards him. As a young small-arm, Ali was handsome, maculation in his subsequent age, he became huge with his gray hair of the head throw overboardhand way to baldness. His beard, which was lots dyed red, remained duncish and luxuriant.Marriage of AliInitially when the sanctum vaticinator migrated to Yathrib he went all but later Yathrib was named Medina in his honor and he called his family and other Muslims there as well. At that prison term the prophets be screwd wife Khadija had expired and he had get married a woman called Sauda. A year later, he married Abu Bakrs ( Islams first Caliphs)daughter Ayesha. The Holy vaticinators youn gest daughter Fatima was in alike manner old enough to be married by that time. Abu Bakr and Omar both asked for her hand in marriage but there was no answer on the part of the Holy prophet Muhammad.In those dewy-eyedr times, age differences were not a c formerlyrn in marriage. Khadija had been fifteen eld sure-enough(a) to Muhammad and he himself was much older to Ayesha at the time of marriage. It is thus all important(p) to note that this was not the reason the prophet Muhammad remained silent to these proposals but it is reasonable to fill up that he was waiting for deitys approval and guidance in ask this decision. later on the Battle of Badr, it was Alis beat 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 veritable a revelation signifying Allahs approval of the marriage. Both families also in return agreed.The marriage of Ali and Fatima is said to be the undefiled one. Indeed two 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 dream and who married a man with a superior personality.Induction of Ali as a fellow member of the family of the Holy ProphetWhen Ali visited the Holy Prophet from the forsake where he had been living, the occasion was also attended by a smashed fewer including Abu Talib and his family. The Holy Prophet loved Ali very much so much so that he requested Abu Talib to place Ali low his tuition. 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 increase financial worries. However, this view seems to be pretended because Abu Talib was a Quraish chief and a trader. And had he been in any financial disoblige the trouble he prophet would certainly have helped him. Therefore it seems that it was because of the prophets fondness of Ali that he took him at a lower place his responsibility. Abu Talib would often visit and Ali would meet his parents everyday. The Holy Prophet kept Ali as a junior brother with much affection.Companionship of the Holy ProphetThe plosive consonant of Alis life which was spent with the Holy Prophet base be termed as the period of learning and action. It was during these 32 eld, from Alis birth till the demise of the Holy Prophet, that Ali received his education under the loving care of the Last 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 desert and his awe inspiring success at Khyber earned him the title of Lion of immortal. He acted as the Governor of Yemen, an d acquired replete(p) deal of experience as an executive and judge, acquiring fame for his wise and well effectual judgments.The First Three Caliphs and AliAt the time of the demise of the Holy Prophet, Ali was a young enlightened, experienced, wise and valiant man. Despite all his qualities, Ali was passed over in the election for a khalifah, as Abu Bakr took the state of affairs under his control. Ali would have to wait for 24 years before he could hold the government agency of caliph. During these years, Ali acted as an adviser to the caliphs in office. This was a period of inaction and contemplation, inaction on the political front as Ali kept aloof from politics and contemplation on the spiritual front as this period of Alis life was spent broadly in seeking spiritual ideal through prayer and remembrance of paragon.The Caliphate of Ali undermentioned Uthmans assassination, Ali took office as the next caliph of the Islamic empire. His term was a ill-judged one, marred by political upheaval, defections of close aides and civil war. Ali was accused of intimacy in the assassination of Uthman by Amer Muawiya, who attach an anti Ali campaign. The results were the Battles of the Camel, Siffin and Nahrawan. During the course of these battles, many of his juxtaposed aides betrayed him and defected. The list of betrayals is long and includes Alis brother, cousins, mother in law and the full cities of Medina and Basra. The Kharijites who had primitively supported Ali also seceded and Ali was finally martyred by a Kharijite.Alis concept of GodIn his various sermons, Ali has dwelt upon on the various attributes of God in a skillful way. Extracts from some of his sermons are as follows All valuate is due to the antecedent of the being whose cognition is hidden. The various subjects of constitution openly back his existence. He is not surpassed in volume and superiority. He is the warm to us. No one can be nearer to us than He.His blank height has not segregated Him from His creation, and His tightfistedness has not established His equality with His creation. He is that marvelous and matchless Being in comprehending when the understanding cannot reach the bottom of His attributes, yet goose egg prevents a person from comprehending Him. He is that being whose existence even an atheistical feels in His heart of hearts. Undoubtedly God is free and sublime and bears no coincidence with anyone, and so how can anyone have the shamelessness to resist Him. vex of SufismAlis religious devotion and approximation to God has earned him the title of Father of Sufism. Most of the Sufi orders claim their breed from Ali, and according to Ali Hajjweri, Ali is ranked very gamey in the line of Sufism. Ali is considered the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism, as stated 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 knowl edge was to call forth the spiritual faculties that every man possesses which in turn enable man to see his true and inner self. Ali observed that man could only enjoy communion with God if he would stop being proud, body forth discipline, overcome his lust and submit to the get out of God.He stressed on the people in his various sermons to lead a simple and pious life and not to wanton blindly in the pleasures of the world as the case was before Islam.. Ali said, Man is a fluctuate in the boundless naval of God. As long as mans vision is clouded by ignorance and sensuality he will consider himself a complexify 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 check out the verse s of the Quran as they were revealed. Later, after the cobblers last of the Holy Prophet, Ali also used to shake off sermons. In one much(prenominal) 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 sermon, he ref lected on the transitory stature of this world by remarking For the wise, the world is a shadow, which may appear at one moment, and concisely disappear. In another sermon he makes profound remarks by stating Many men buy clothes, which instead of being wear by them are used in their coffin. Many persons build houses that instead of congruous abodes become their graves. No one has lived eer in this world, and no one has invented such a medicine which may make men immune from the clutches of oddment. In another sermon, he discusses nirvana and hell, stating his anxiety on mans subservience to lust, the prodigality of his longings. In yet another sermon, he termed the world as superficial, mortal and perishable.ConclusionShakespeare once remarked Some people are born great, some achieve greatness plot of land some have greatness trailer upon them. As far as Ali goes, he achieved greatness through his excellent education under the watchful eye of the Holy Prophet, his absorpt ion of Islamic teachings and virtues, his thirst for knowledge, heroism on the battlefield and the spiritual beau ideal that he embodied. Greatness need not be confused with success. From the political gunpoint of view Ali may seem like a failure that was unable to slop the civil strife that raged his people and was last slay Ed. Instead Alis greatness is of an monastical 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 exit 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.