Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Arabic: علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب; Transliteration: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, [ʕaliː ibn ʔæbiː t̪ˤɑːlib]; 13 Rajab, 24 BH–21 Ramaḍān, 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661) was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661. Sunni Muslims consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided Caliphs), while Shi'a Muslims regard Ali as the first Imam and consider him and his descendants the rightful successors to Muhammad, all of which are members of the Ahl al-Bayt, the household of Muhammad. This disagreement split the Ummah (Muslim community) into the Sunni and Shi'a branches.

Most records do indicate that during Muhammad's time, Ali was the only person born in the Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. 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, Muhammad's uncle. When Muhammad reported receiving a divine revelation, Ali was the first child to accept his message, dedicating his life to the cause of Islam.

Ali migrated to Medina shortly after Muhammad did. Once there Muhammad told Ali that God had ordered him to give his daughter, Fatimah, to Ali in marriage. For the ten years that Muhammad led the community in Medina, Ali was extremely active in his service, leading parties of warriors on battles, and carrying messages and orders. Ali took part in the early raids against caravans from Mecca and later in almost all the battles fought by the early Muslim community.

Ali was appointed caliph by the Sahaba (Muhammad's companions) in Medina after the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan. He encountered defiance and civil war during his reign. In 661, Ali was attacked while praying in the mosque of Kufa, dying a few days later.

In Muslim culture, Ali is respected for his courage, knowledge, belief, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, deep loyalty to Muhammad, equal treatment of all Muslims and generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies, and therefore is central to mystical traditions in Islam such as Sufism. 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 bin Abu-Talib (Arabic: علي بن أبي طالب) (c. 600 - 661) was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, as well as being the first Shī‘ah Imām and fourth Sunni Caliph. Ali was revered for his knowledge and wisdom, and also for his eloquence as an orator and a poet.

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See also: Nahj al-Balagha

Contents

• 1 Sourced
  • 1.1 The way of governance
  • 1.2 Regarding Knowledge & Wisdom
    • 1.2.1 General
    • 1.2.2 Religious
  • 1.3 Regarding the Qur'an
• 2 Unsourced
• 3 See also
• 4 External links

Sourced

• The best companion and helper is admirable morals.
  • Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.77, p.149

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Tue Jul 27 02:30:56 2010