Islamic Perspective of Imam Ali (A.S.)
No one in Islam has ever received such praise and esteem as Imam Ali bin Abi-Talib (A.S.) received in the Islamic message, which asks its followers not only to evaluate and endear him, but also to adhere to his example and follow in his footsteps.
Of the "medals" which Imam Ali (A.S.) received from Allah, the Exalted, and the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), we can mention the following:
The Verse of Purification:
Allah, the Almighty says:
"...verily Allah intends but to keep off from you (every kind of) uncleanness, O people of the house, and purify you (with) a thorough purification." Holy Qur'an (Ahzab 33:33)
Commentators on this verse say it refers specifically to the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), Ali, Fatima. Hasan and Husain (peace be upon them all), when the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) demanded a cloak and covered them all with it. When this verse was revealed, Umme Salama, the Messenger's wife asked: "Am I among your household?"
"No" the Messenger replied, "but you are all right."
Indeed, the commentators, commenting on the verse: "And enjoin prayer on your followers and steadfastly adhere to it..."
Holy Qur'an (Taha 20: 132) say that after its revelation the Prophet used to go to Ali and Fatima every morning and call them to prayer: "To prayer, O Ahlul-Bait, to prayer; verily Allah intends but to keep off from you (every kind of) uncleanness, O people of the house, and purify you (with) a thorough purification."
This is how the Qur'an refers to the Ahlul-Bait (A.S.), and makes clear their infallible personalities, which are far from uncleanness, disobedience, error, sin and personal whim.
The Verse of Malediction:
"But whosoever disputes with you (O Muhammad) in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: 'Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our selves and your selves, then let us beseech Allah and invoke His curse upon the liars.'"
Holy Qur'an (Ale Imran 3: 61)
Islamic commentators of all sects confirm that this verse was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), accompanied Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain, went to meet the Christians of Najran for malediction. Thus, the verse mentioned above expresses about Hasan and Husain as the Messenger's sons, about Fatima as his women and about Ali as his self. Thereby, no one else has reached such a lofty position.
Malediction (mubahala) means to call Allah to reveal wrath on the liars.
When the pontiff of the Christians of Najran saw the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) coming with his household, they were afraid of the consequences and excused themselves for not going through with the malediction, saying: "O Christians, I am beholding such faces that if Allah wishes (for their sake), He would move mountains from their places. Do not accept their challenge for mubahala for if you do you would all perish and there would remain no Christian on the face of the earth till the Day of Resurrection."
3. The Almighty Allah in Chapter of Dahr of the Holy Qur'an said:
"And they give food out of love for Him to the poor, and the orphans and the captives: We only feed you for Allah's sake: we desire from you neither reward nor thanks: surely we fear from our Lord a stern, distressed day. Therefore, Allah will guard them from the evil of that day and cause them to meet with ease and happiness." Holy Qur'an (Dahr 76: 8-11)
Once Hasan and Husain fell sick and the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) together with some of his companions visited his sick grandsons. He (S.A.W.) suggested that Ali should make a vow to Allah for his son's health. Heeding the Prophet's suggestion Ali, and Fatima along with their maid, Fizza, took a vow that if the boys recovered, they would fast for three consecutive days. Eventually Hasan and Husain recovered and to fulfill the vow they also fasted along with their parents and maid. Since there was nothing in the house to eat, Ali borrowed from Sham'un, a Khaibarian Jew, three measures of barley. Fatima ground one measure into flour and baked it into five loaves (of bread) equal to their number, and placed before them for breaking the fast. Just then a beggar stopped at their door and said: "Peace be upon you (assalamu alaikum), O Ahlul-Baith of Muhammad (S.A.W.), (I am) one of the poorest of Muslims (so), feed me, may Allah feed you of the food of Paradise. I So they gladly gave him all the food and slept that night, tasting nothing but water.
They fasted again the next day and at sunset as they placed the bread before them to break the fast, an orphan knocked on the door asking for food and they cheerfully fed him, themselves going without food for yet another day. On the third day of the fast, as the breaking time approached, and the food was spread, a prisoner (of war) suddenly at their door and the same scenario was repeated, with the Prophet's Ahlul-Bait passing the third successive night without tasting a morsel of food. When dawn broke, Ali holding the hands of Hasan and Husain came to the Prophet's house, The Prophet seeing their pale countenances and noting that they were trembling from hunger, expressed dismay and at once accompanied them to their house. On entering the house he was shocked to see the sight of his daughter Fatima, sitting hollow-eyed on her prayer mat, her back stuck to her stomach. It was then that the angel Gabriel came down with this chapter, saying: "Take it, O Muhammad, Allah congratulated you for (the sacrifice of) your household.' Then he recited the (chapter)".
Hence, the revelation of these generous verses regarding Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain, glorifies them, extols their deed, and singles them out as exemplars for others to follow.
The Verse of Guardianship:
The Almighty, Allah says:
"Verily, your guardian is (none else but) Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad) and those who believe, those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate while they be (even) bowing down (in prayer)." Holy Qur'an (Ma'ida: 5: 55)
Interpreters of the Qur'an say that this verse was revealed especially about Imam Ali bin Abi-Talib (A.S.), confirming the compulsion of adhering to him as an Imam, an ideological authority and a social and political leader of the nation. It was revealed when Imam Ali (A.S.) took off his ring from his finger, while kneeling in his prayer, and gave it to the poor, in charity. The verse was revealed on this very occasion, and it confirmed the leadership of Imam Ali (A.S.) and his guardianship over the faithful.
These are a few of many revealed verses concerning the Prophet's holy family (Ahlul-Bait) (peace be upon them all) in general and about Imam Ali (A.S.) in particular. Therefore, whoever wants to have further knowledge, let him refer to the detailed books.
If the Holy Qur'an praises such beautiful glory about Imam Ali (A.S.), the Prophetic Traditions also contained more of the like. In this regard, we recount some traditions stating the same fact:
1. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
"I am the city of Knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever wants to enter the city, let him enter through its gate."
2. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, only there is no prophet after me."
3. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
"Only the faithful (believers) will love you and only hypocrites will hate you."
4. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
"You are my brother and I am your brother. If anybody asks you, tell him: I am the servant of Allah and the brother of His Messenger. No one would claim this after you but a liar."
5. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) in the Ghadeer ceremony said:
Whosever I have authority over, Ali has also authority over him. O Allah! befriend whoever befriends him and be hostile to whosoever is hostile to him."
6. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
"Ali is with the truth, and the truth is with Ali. They will never separate until they join me at the Pool of Kawsar (Abundance) in the Hereafter."
7. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:
Every prophet has a vicegerent and inheritor and Ali is my vicegerent and inheritor."
These are a few of the many confirmed authentic Islamic texts attested to by all Muslims.
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