The Blessing and Mercy of
Allah swt, Ali ibn Abi Talib
by Mohammad AkhtarÂ
Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (as) is one of the greatest personalities in Islamic history. It is agreed by every school of thought that his
contribution to Islam was one of the greatest. The birth of Imam Ali (as) took place on the 13th of Rajab in the house of Allah, the holy
Kaaba. He passed away on the 21st of Ramadan in Najaf, Iraq. Imam Ali (as) was the closest companion of Prophet Muhammed
(sawa), which had been mentioned by the Holy Prophet (sawa) himself, "Ali is from me and I am from Ali and he is the WALI of
every believer after me"( Sunan Thirmidi, Chapter 19, Chapter al-Manaaqib, Hadith No. 3712). The hadith clearly depicts the status of
Ali (as) and how the Holy Prophet (sawa) considered Ali (as) as a part of himself.
The first male to declare belief in the Prophet Muhammed (sawa) was Imam Ali (as). At a time when the Prophet (sawa) announced
his mission to all of his close ones, no one listened but Ali (as), and he said "Though my eyes are sore, my legs are thin and I am the
youngest of all those present here yet I will stand by you, Oh Messenger of Allah." Looking at this saying of Imam Ali (as) it shows
that from the beginning he was a believer and a supporter of the Prophet (sawa) and he stayed that way until the end. Imam Ali (as)
was only at the age of 13 when he declared his belief in the Prophet Muhammed (sawa).
4