Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a): Difference between revisions

=== After Hijra ===

When the Prophet (s) reached Quba region on his way to [[Medina]], he waited fifteen days so that Ali (a) joins him.<ref>Rajabī, "Imām ʿAlī dar ʿahd-i Payāmbar," vol. 8, p. 161.</ref> In Medina and after he constructed [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|his mosque]], the Prophet (s) set up the formal [[pact of brotherhood]] between the [[Ansar|Helpers]] and the Immigrants; however, he chose Ali (a) as his brother.<ref>Maʿādīkhāh, ''Tārīkh-i Islām'', p. 188.</ref> In [[2]]/[[624 CE|624]], in the [[Battle of Badr]] between the Muslims and the polytheists of Mecca, a large number of the latter's troops, including some of the chiefs of Quraysh, were killed by Ali (a).<ref>Qanawāt, "Dar kinār-i pidar," vol. 8, p. 166; ʿAmilī, ''al-Ṣaḥīḥ min sīrat al-nabīyy'', vol. 5, p. 60; Shahīdī, "Zīstnāma-yi Imām ʿAlī," vol. 8, p. 16.</ref> After the battle,<ref>Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī, ''Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn'', p. 59.</ref> Ali (a) at the age of 25 married Fatima (a) the daughter of the Prophet (s),<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 2, p. 410.</ref> despite the fact that there were several prominent figures who had proposed marriage to her.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 16; Qazwīnī, ''Faṭima al-Zahrāʾ'', p. 192.</ref> The Prophet (s) himself solemnized their marriage.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Alī b. Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 3, p. 350.</ref>  

Historians disagree on the date of the [[marriage of 'Ali (a) and Fatima (a)]]. Some have mentioned that it was on [[Dhu l-Hijja 1]], [[2]]/[[May 25]], [[624 CE|624]].<ref>Mufīd, ''Masar al-Shi'a'', p. 17</ref> Others have mentioned that it was in [[Shawwal]] or on [[Muharram 21]].<ref>Al-Sayyid b. Tawus, ''Farhat al-ghari'', p. 584</ref> Together, they had five children named [[Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a)|al-Hasan]], [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|al-Husayn]], [[[Zaynab al-Kubra|Zaynab]] and [[Umm Kulthum bt. 'Ali|Umm Kulthum]] and also [al-Muhsin b. 'Ali (a)|al-Muhsin]], who was aborted before his birth.

====Other wives====

Imam Ali (a) did not marry another woman during the life of Fatima (a). After her martyrdom, 'Ali (a) married other women, namely:

== Participation in Battles ==

'Ali (a) had an influential role in the [[Ghazwa]]s (battles in which the Prophet himself was also present), save for the [[Battle of Tabuk]].<ref>Muhammad b. Sa'd. ''al-Tabaqat al-kubra'', vol. 3, p. 24</ref>in which he remained in [[Medina]] as the deputy of the Prophet (s). He was the main Standard-bearer of the Islamic army in many Ghazwas. He remained with the Prophet (s) in the battles that other Muslims escaped, and continued to fight.

== Caliphate ==

{{main|Caliphate of Imam Ali (a)}}

{{Template:Imam 'Ali (a)-Vertical}}

After the assassination of [['Uthman]] in [[35]]/[[656 CE|656]], a group of the companions came to Imam 'Ali (a) and said, "we do not know anyone better than you for the [[caliphate]]". He responded by saying, "it is better for me to be your helper as opposed to your leader." They said, we will not accept anything short of pledging our [[allegiance]] to you as the next [[caliph]]." However, he said that this allegiance would have to be given to him publicly in [[the mosque]], as opposed to secretly.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh al-rusul wa l-muluk'', vol. 4, p. 429</ref> Except for few, all of the [[Ansar]] pledged allegiance to Imam 'Ali (a). But he did not make the opposition to allegiance.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh al-rusul wa l-muluk'', vol. 4, p. 427- 431</ref>