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Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a): Difference between revisions
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== Martyrdom == | == Martyrdom == | ||
On the morning of [[Ramadan 19]], [[40]]/[[January 26]], 661, (during the days in which 'Ali (a) was mobilizing an army for Siffin), he was struck with a sword by [[Abd al-Rahman b. Muljam al-Muradi]] and martyred from its injury two days later. After the [[Battle of Nahrawan]], 'Ali (a) tried again to mobilize the Iraqis for a battle against Mu'awiya. However, none except a few accompanied him. On the other hand, [[Mu'awiya]], who was aware of the situation in Iraq and their passivity, invaded regions under 'Ali's control (a) and attempted to debilitate his power by invading Iraq.<ref>Ja'fariyan, ''Guzida-yi hayat-i siyasi wa fikri-yi Imaman-i Shi'a'', p. 53-54</ref> | On the morning of [[Ramadan 19]], [[40]]/[[January 26]], [[661 CE|661]], (during the days in which 'Ali (a) was mobilizing an army for Siffin), he was struck with a sword by [[Abd al-Rahman b. Muljam al-Muradi]] and martyred from its injury two days later. After the [[Battle of Nahrawan]], 'Ali (a) tried again to mobilize the Iraqis for a battle against Mu'awiya. However, none except a few accompanied him. On the other hand, [[Mu'awiya]], who was aware of the situation in Iraq and their passivity, invaded regions under 'Ali's control (a) and attempted to debilitate his power by invading Iraq.<ref>Ja'fariyan, ''Guzida-yi hayat-i siyasi wa fikri-yi Imaman-i Shi'a'', p. 53-54</ref> | ||
Historical accounts have reported the collaboration of three [[Kharijites]] in an attempt to kill three individuals: 'Ali (a), [[Mu'awiya]], and [['Amr b. al-'As]]. Ibn Muljam was the one who chose to kill Ali (a). Some accounts have also mentioned the role of a woman named [[Qutam]] in this assassination, however, this seems to be more of an embellishment as opposed to fact.<ref>Ja'fariyan, ''Guzida-yi hayat-i siyasi wa fikri-yi Imaman-i Shi'a'', p. 55</ref> | Historical accounts have reported the collaboration of three [[Kharijites]] in an attempt to kill three individuals: 'Ali (a), [[Mu'awiya]], and [['Amr b. al-'As]]. Ibn Muljam was the one who chose to kill Ali (a). Some accounts have also mentioned the role of a woman named [[Qutam]] in this assassination, however, this seems to be more of an embellishment as opposed to fact.<ref>Ja'fariyan, ''Guzida-yi hayat-i siyasi wa fikri-yi Imaman-i Shi'a'', p. 55</ref> | ||
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=== Will and Advice === | === Will and Advice === | ||
There are a few hadiths narrated from 'Ali (a) that contain his advice to his children with regards to his funeral rites: the way of his burial, ablution, | There are a few hadiths narrated from 'Ali (a) that contain his advice to his children with regards to his funeral rites: the way of his [[burial]], [[Ghusl of the Dead|ablution]], [[Shroud]] and the performing of [[funeral prayer|prayers]] over his body.<ref>Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', vol. 36, p. 5</ref> He also asked al-Hasan (a) and al-Husayn (a) to refrain from mutilating Ibn Muljam and to strike him only once. Imam Ali (a), moreover, emphasized in his final words on paying attention to the Quran, prayer, commanding good and forbidding evil, jihad, and visiting the House of God, as well as fearing God, being organized, reconciliation, and caring for the orphans and neighbors. | ||
When he was wounded by [[Ibn Muljam]], 'Ali (a) advised his sons, [[al-Hasan]] and [[al-Husayn]]: | When he was wounded by [[Ibn Muljam]], 'Ali (a) advised his sons, [[al-Hasan]] and [[al-Husayn]]: | ||
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Then he said: O' sons of [['Abd al-Muttalib]], certainly I do not wish to see you plunging harshly into the blood of Muslims shouting "'Amir al-Mu'minin has been killed!". Beware, do not kill anyone because of me except for my killer. Wait until I have died by his (Ibn Muljam's) strike. Then, strike him once for his strike on me, and do not dismember his limbs, for I have heard the [[Messenger of Allah (s)]] saying, "Avoid cutting limbs even if it is a rabid dog."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', Letter 47</ref> | Then he said: O' sons of [['Abd al-Muttalib]], certainly I do not wish to see you plunging harshly into the blood of Muslims shouting "'Amir al-Mu'minin has been killed!". Beware, do not kill anyone because of me except for my killer. Wait until I have died by his (Ibn Muljam's) strike. Then, strike him once for his strike on me, and do not dismember his limbs, for I have heard the [[Messenger of Allah (s)]] saying, "Avoid cutting limbs even if it is a rabid dog."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', Letter 47</ref> | ||
===Burial Place=== | |||
{{main|Holy Shrine of Imam 'Ali (a)}} | |||
Imam Ali (a) was martyred in [[40]]/[[661 CE|661]] and was buried secretly at his request. The Imam's (a) grave remained hidden for about one century. With the decline of the Umayyad dynasty, the hiddenness of the Imam's grave was no longer necessary. It is not known for sure when exactly the burial place of the Imam (a) was made known to the people. The meeting between [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] and [[al-Saffah]], the first Abbasid caliph (r. 131/748 – 136/753) in Kufa during the reign of the latter is suggested by some scholars as the time when the burial place of Imam Ali (a) was disclosed by Imam al-Sadiq (a). However, other scholars maintain that Imam al-Sadiq (a) revealed the burial place of his forefather during the reign of [[al-Mansur]], the second Abbasid caliph (r. 136/753 – 158/775). Despite this difference, all agree that it was Imam al-Sadiq (a) who made known the burial place of Imam Ali (a). | |||
==Virtues== | ==Virtues== | ||
'''Birth Inside the Ka'ba''' | |||
{{main|The Child of Ka'ba}} | |||
According to [[Allama Amini]], sixteen Sunni sources, fifty Shiite sources, and forty-one poets since the second/eighth century have mentioned the birth of Imam Ali (a) inside the [[Ka'ba]]. [[Allama Majlisi]] also reports the birth of Imam Ali (a) inside the Ka'ba from eighteen (mostly Shiite) sources. According to these reports, [[Fatima b. Asad]], the mother of Imam Ali (a), prayed to God near the Ka'ba to make the delivery easy for her. Afterwards, the wall of the Ka'ba was torn, and Fatima went inside. She stayed there for three days, and on the fourth day she came out while holding her son, Ali (a), in her arms. | |||
'''The First Muslim''' | '''The First Muslim''' | ||
{{main|The First Muslim}} | {{main|The First Muslim}} | ||
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===Other Virtues=== | ===Other Virtues=== | ||
'''The Founder of Islamic Sciences''' | |||
Imam Ali (a) is believed to have been the founder of many Islamic sciences. [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]], a [[Mu'tazila|Mu'tazili]] scholar, maintains that Imam Ali (a) was the pioneer of all virtues, and thus all sects and denominations try to attribute themselves to him. This is why despite all the hostilities towards him and his followers, his reputation has remained high. Ibn Abi l-Hadid also believes that Ali (a) was the founder of Islamic sciences such as theology, jurisprudence, exegesis, recitation, and Arabic grammar and rhetoric. He states that Ali (a) started the elaboration of theological issues, and that the Mu'tazila are his students through Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya. [[Ash'arites]], [[Twelver Shiites]], and [[Zaydis]] are similarly his students. In jurisprudence, [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]], [[Malik b. Anas]], [[al-Shafi'i]], and [[Abu Hanifa]] were indirectly his students. In the science of recitation, the reciters are his students through [[Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami]]. Finally, Ali (a) is regarded as the founder of Arabic grammar, since his student [[Abu l-Aswad al-Du'ali]] disseminated the rules of this discipline. | |||
'''Sufi Orders''' | |||
The majority of Sufi orders trace back their chains of spiritual descent (silsila) to the Prophet (s) through Imam Ali (a). | |||
== Imamate and Wilayah == | |||
== Imamate == | |||
{{main|Imamate|Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a)}} | {{main|Imamate|Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a)}} | ||
The Prophet's (s) repeated designation of Imam Ali (a) (s) as his successor shows, according to some scholars, that the Prophet's (s) greatest concern was the leadership of the Muslim community after himself. These recurrent designations started since the early years of the Prophet's (s) mission when he gathered his close kin and invited them to Islam, and continued until the final days of his life when he asked the Companions to bring him a [[Hadith of pen and ink|pen and ink]] to write them something that would protect them against deviation. | |||
Some of the evidence for the Imamate of Ali (a) explicitly indicate his designation for [[imamate]] and [[wilaya]] after the Prophet (s) and some indicate his virtues and excellence. The former includes the [[Wilaya Verse]] (Qur'an 5:55), which was revealed when Ali (a) gave his ring, while bowing down in his prayer, to a poor man; [[Qur'an 5:3]] "Today the faithless have despaired of your religion. So do not fear them, but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion" and [[Qur'an 5:67]] "O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot," which were revealed during the [[Event of Ghadir]], in which the Prophet (s) was tasked by God with designating Ali (a) as his successor; and [[Hadith al-Ghadir]], which is the most important proof for the imamate of Ali (a) and which occurred in the final year of the Prophet's (s) life. | |||
Other evidence that are regarded as indirect indications of the imamate and wilayah of Ali (a) are the following verses and hadiths that point out his virtues and excellence: [[Quran 33:33]]; [[Quran 3:61|3:61]]; [[Qur'an 9:119|9:119]]; [[Qur'an 98:7|98:7]]; [[Qur'an 16:43|16:43]]; [[Qur'an 2:207|2:207]]; [[Qur'an 58:12|58:12]]; [[Qur'an 66:4|66:4]]; [[Qur'an 4:59|4:59]] (Uli l-Amr Verse); [[hadith al-Thaqalayn]], the [[hadith of the City of Knowledge]], the [[hadith of Flag]], [[hadith al-Kisa']], [[hadith al-Wisayah]], [[hadith Yawm al-Dar]], the [[hadith of Brotherhood]], [[hadith al-Manzila]], [[hadith al-Wilaya]], the [[hadith of the Vessel]], and the [[hadith of Closing the Doors]]. | |||
== Moral Characteristics == | == Moral Characteristics == | ||
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== | == Sayings and Writings == | ||
During the lifetime of Imam Ali (a), the people transmitted his sayings, sermons, and poems orally. Later, Muslim scholars (both Shiite and Sunni) wrote down and collected the Imam's (a) words. | |||
===''Nahj al-balagha''=== | ===''Nahj al-balagha''=== | ||
{{Main|Nahj al-balagha}} | {{Main|Nahj al-balagha}} | ||
''Nahj al-balagha'' is the most famous collection of some of Imam 'Ali's (a) sayings and writings which has been compiled by [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]], a scholar who lived in the fourth/tenth century. It is one of the most sacred Shi'a texts and widely considered to be the greatest literary text in Arabic, after the [[Quran]]. The book is divided into three sections: sermons, letters, and some short sayings which have all been attributed to 'Ali (a): | ''Nahj al-balagha'' is the most famous collection of some of Imam 'Ali's (a) sayings and writings which has been compiled by [[al-Sayyid al-Radi]], a scholar who lived in the fourth/tenth century. It is one of the most sacred Shi'a texts and widely considered to be the greatest literary text in Arabic, after the [[Quran]]. The book is divided into three sections: sermons, letters, and some short sayings which have all been attributed to 'Ali (a): | ||
# Sermons: 239 sermons which are divided into three parts based on their time in history | # Sermons: 239 sermons which are divided into three parts based on their time in history | ||
# Letters: 79 letters of which almost all of them were written during his caliphate | # Letters: 79 letters of which almost all of them were written during his caliphate | ||
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===''Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim''=== | ===''Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim''=== | ||
{{main|Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim}} | {{main|Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim}} | ||
''Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim'' was compiled by [['Abd al-Wahid b. Muhammad al-Tamimi al-Amidi]], a scholar of the sixth/twelfth century. In this book, almost 10,760 hadiths of Imam 'Ali (a) have been organized alphabetically by subjects of theology, worship, morality, politics, economy, and society.<ref>Damiri, Muhammad Rida, ''Kitab shinasi-yi tafsili-yi madhahib Islami'', p. 375</ref> | ''Ghurar al-hikam wa durar al-kalim'' was compiled by [['Abd al-Wahid b. Muhammad al-Tamimi al-Amidi]], a scholar of the sixth/twelfth century. In this book, almost 10,760 hadiths of Imam 'Ali (a) have been organized alphabetically by subjects of theology, worship, morality, politics, economy, and society.<ref>Damiri, Muhammad Rida, ''Kitab shinasi-yi tafsili-yi madhahib Islami'', p. 375</ref> | ||
===''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam wa ma'sur makarim al-shiyam''=== | ===''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam wa ma'sur makarim al-shiyam''=== | ||
''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam wa ma'sur makarim al-shiyam'' was compiled by Qadi al-Quda'i. He was a [[Shafi'i]] scholar who lived in the fourth/tenth century and was considered to be reliable among traditionists. Some scholars regard him as a [[Shi'a]].<ref>Nuri, Husayn b. Muhammad Taqi, ''Mustadrak al-wasa'il'', vol. 3, p. 367</ref> | ''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam wa ma'sur makarim al-shiyam'' was compiled by Qadi al-Quda'i. He was a [[Shafi'i]] scholar who lived in the fourth/tenth century and was considered to be reliable among traditionists. Some scholars regard him as a [[Shi'a]].<ref>Nuri, Husayn b. Muhammad Taqi, ''Mustadrak al-wasa'il'', vol. 3, p. 367</ref> | ||
The book is divided into nine chapters: 'Ali's (a) beneficial maxims, his denunciation of this world, his aversion to it, his sermons, his advice and prohibitions, his answers to questions, his peculiar words, his rare words, his prayers and supplications, and a poem attributed to him.<ref>Qadi al-Quda'i, ''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam''. in Introduction</ref> | The book is divided into nine chapters: 'Ali's (a) beneficial maxims, his denunciation of this world, his aversion to it, his sermons, his advice and prohibitions, his answers to questions, his peculiar words, his rare words, his prayers and supplications, and a poem attributed to him.<ref>Qadi al-Quda'i, ''Dastur ma'alim al-hikam''. in Introduction</ref> | ||
===Collection of Poems=== | |||
{{main|Collection of Poems of Imam 'Ali (a)}} | |||
The poems attributed to Imam Ali (a) are collected in one book and published repeatedly by various publications. | |||
===Writings=== | |||
In Shiite and some Sunni sources the following written sources are attributed to Imam Ali (a): | |||
'''Jafr and Jami'a''' | |||
[[Jafr and Jami'a]] are the titles of two hadith collections in which Imam Ali (a) wrote down the hadiths that the Prophet (s) dictated to him. These two books are from the [[Trusts of Imamate]] and the sources of an Imam's knowledge. The content of Jafr is an account of the future events until the [[Day of Judgment]]. According to [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]], only the Prophet (s) and his successors can read this book. | |||
Jami'a also contain the news of the past and future events until the Day of Judgment, as well as the esoteric meanings of all Quranic verses and the names of the Imams from the family of the Prophet (s) and what happens to them. A number of people saw the book of Jami'a. | |||
'''Mushaf Ali''' | |||
[[Mushaf Ali]] refers to the first complete copy of the Qur'an, which was transcribed by Imam Ali (a) after the Prophet's (s) demise. This copy is not available today, but it is reported that the order of the Quranic chapters was based on the order of the revelation and that the occasion of the revelation of the verses and also information about the abrogated and abrogating verses were recorded in it. The Shia believe that this copy of the Qur'an has been with the [[Infallible Imams (a)]], and today it is with [[the Twelfth Imam (a)]]. | |||
'''Mushaf Fatima''' | |||
[[Mushaf Fatima]] is the title of a book whose content was conveyed by an angel ([[Gabriel]], according to some hadiths) to Lady Fatima (a) and transcribed by Imam Ali (a). The book contains an account of the future events and of the place of the Prophet (s) in [[Paradise]]. This book also has been with the Infallible Imams (a) and it is with the Twelfth Imam (a) today; no other person has had or will have access to this book. | |||
===Other Collections=== | ===Other Collections=== | ||