Imam Ali (A.S)
The great scholar of Islamic learning
Love for Imam Ali (A.S) is an article of faith. Imam Ali (A.S), the first Imam, was the son of Abu Talib and the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (
S.A.W.A). He was born on Friday, the 13th Rajab in the Holy Ka"bah. From his very childhood, he was brought up in the house of the Holy Prophet who imparted the best education to him. Even after he grew up, he spent most of his time with the Holy Prophet. He was the first among men to accept Islam and offer prayers in the company of the Holy Prophet. He had complete mastery of the verses of the Holy Qur"an and Islamic Laws. After the Holy Prophet of Islam, he was the greatest scholar of Islamic learning.
He was unmatched in his piety, learning, kindness, justice, contentment, toil, forbearance, self-sacrifice and bravery and enjoyed the highest position among the Muslims.
Before saying or doing anything, he gave serious thought to all its aspects. As such, whatever he said was correct and whatever he did was according to Islamic teachings and justice.
He spent the whole of his life fighting against injustice and always upheld truth and justice.
He was polite and modest and treated everyone like a brother and a friend. He was never unfair to anybody and did not displease anyone.
He used simple, but clean clothes. His diet was also very simple. He usually ate barley bread. He was so just and contented that he once said,
"If you give me the whole world, to snatch away just one grain from the month of an ant, I will never do so".
Under Allah"s command, the Holy Prophet nominated Imam Ali (A.S) as his successor and the leader of the Muslims. He lived for about thirty years after the Holy Prophet.
On the 19th of Ramadan 40 A.H., while offering his prayers in the Masjid al-Kufa, he was struck with a poisoned sword by a Kharejite, Abd al Rahman son of Muljim. He breathed his last on the 21st of Ramadan. His sacred tomb is in the city of Najaf al-Ashraf, in Iraq.
