Imam Ali (AS) the personification of Islam

Today is the 13th of the sacred month of Rajab in Iran, a blessed day on which the holy Ka’ba came alive with the birth within its most sacred spot of a spotlessly pure person whose dynamic personality continues to transcend history and all historical developments despite the passing of a millennium and four centuries.

Yes, he is none other than the One and Only Commander of the Faithful, the Leader of the Pious, the Symbol of Justice, the Epitome of Valour, the Model of Wisdom, the Master of Eloquence, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the cousin, son-in-law, and divinely-designated vicegerent of the Almighty’s Best of creation, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Before we present you a special programme on this joyous occasion, we invite you to listen to ayah 68 of Surah Aal-e Imran where God Almighty says: 

"Indeed the nearest of all people to Abraham are those who follow him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who have faith; and Allah is the guardian of the faithful."

We are celebrating the anniversary of that blessed day in history when the wall of Allah's Symbolic House, the Holy Ka'ba, had miraculously parted for an Immaculate Lady of the monotheist Hashemite Clan, and miraculously closed behind her as she entered its sacred precincts, to the utter bewilderment of the pagan Arabs engaged in idol-worship around Abraham's Edifice to the One and Only God.

It was the Year 30 Aam al-Feel (around 600 AD). The Lady was the wife of the Noblest Chieftain of Mecca, Abu Taleb. She was Fatema bint Asad, the virtual mother for the person who as the Best of creation would ten years later publicly proclaim his mission as the Last and Greatest of Prophets. For the past 22 years, she and her husband had brought up as their own son, the 8-year orphan of Abdullah and Amena bint Wahb, following the death of his grandfather, Abdul-Muttaleb, and arranged his marriage with the Richest Lady of Arabia, the monotheist Khadija bint Khuwailed. And now, while praying to God at the Edifice of Abraham, Divine Providence had invited her into the sancta sanctorum for the blissful delivery of her youngest child, at the place where no one had born before and none will ever be born.

The birth of Imam Ali (AS), was indeed a miracle, and remains to this day as a beacon of guidance for the seekers of truth, in the same way that the site where he was born, serves as the focal point of worship for Muslims all over the globe.

It would be repetitive to say that when his mother came out with him three days later from the Holy Ka'ba, again to the stupefaction of the pagan Arabs, his 30-year old first cousin was present along with Uncle Abu Taleb, and stepped forward to take the newborn in his arms from his aunt and virtual mother.

Only God knows what transpired between the two cousins when their eyes met each other with smiles on their lips.

Much has been said and written about the virtues of the One and Only Commander of the Faithful. Throughout history, scholars, researchers, poets and others have focused through different angles in their efforts to fathom the multi-sided personality of the Vicegerent of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

The different aspects presented by different writers speaks of the dynamic characteristics of the man who continues to shine like the resplendent sun despite the frenzied efforts made by his enemies, both in his lifetime, after his martyrdom, and till this day, to belittle his merits and even to slander him.

Anyone who attempts to write something about Imam Ali (AS) will admit that he was a perfect man of God, obedient to the Creator in all aspects of life to the extent that he would not even entertain the idea of committing the most minute act of disobedience. He himself says in sermon 224 of the famous book Nahj al-Balagha:

"By Allah even if I am given all the domains of the seven (stars) with all that exists under the skies in order that I may disobey Allah to the extent of snatching one grain of barley from an ant I would not do it. For me the world is lighter than the leaf in the mouth of a locust that is chewing it."

He was a paradigm of piety and excelled all others in the worship of God. He lived according to the commandments of God and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet and because of his commitment to these factors he refused to accept his denied right of the caliphate on the death of the second caliph when the condition set by the 6-man council was that the new caliph should be bound to the behaviour and patterns set by the two preceding rulers.

Although justice is regarded as a much-cherished humanitarian principle there are very few who really adhere to justice and practice justice. History bears witness that persons in power show respect for justice and implement justice as long as it is in their interests. Justice in the lexicon of such persons has definite limits.

But for Imam Ali (AS), whom the Prophet on the express commandment of God Almighty proclaimed at Ghadeer-Khom on 18^th Zilhijja 10 AH as his heir, justice had a transcendental meaning where self-interests cease to exist. During his four-and-a-half year rule as Head of the Islamic Realm, he was the epitome of the just ruler and spared no effort for the implementation of justice.

For instance, when he heard that the agents of the rebel Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan had plundered the city of Anbar and snatched the jewelry from the women including those non-Muslims living under the protection of Islam, he said:

"If any Muslim dies of grief after all this he is not to be blamed but rather there is justification for him before."

In another place, Imam Ali (AS) says:

"By Allah, I would rather like to pass the night in wakefulness on the thorns of Sa'dan or to be driven in chains as a prisoner than meet Allah and His Prophet on the Day of Judgement as an oppressor over any person or a usurper of anything out of the worldly wealth. And how can I oppress anyone for (the sake of a life) what is fast moving towards destruction and is to remain under the earth for a long time." (Nahj al-Balagha Sermon 224)

This lofty sense of justice for restoring people their denied rights, if it endeared him to the oppressed masses it made the oppressors his open enemies. This is the reason his right of leadership of the Muslim society was usurped by a group of neo Muslims who had spent the greater part of their life in idolatry and sins.

The person, who as a ten-year boy was present on Jabal an-Noor when the Archangel Gabriel descended upon his cousin with the first rays of Divine Revelation, says:

"O Allah I am the first to come towards You by hearing Your call and responding to it. No one has precedence over me in performing the prayer except the Messenger of Allah."

So firm was the bond between the two cousins that the Prophet said: "Aliyun minni wa ana min Ali (Ali is from me and I am from 'Ali)

The affinity between the two was a great blessing for Islam, and it remains till this day, as is clear to anyone that Imam Ali (AS), who continues to transcend history and historical developments. He stands head and shoulders above all other Muslims and could rightly be called the personification of Islam and its egalitarian values.

To end our brief radio programme, we present you a gem of an aphorism from him as mentioned in the Nahj ul-Balagha, where Imam Ali speaks of those who practice piety, will easily bear the difficulties of life. When asked about faith in Religion, he replied:

“The structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad. Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). So whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds”.

AS/SS