Home › Al Ibn Abi Talib

Al Ibn Abi Talib

Abu al-Hasan Al ibn Abi Talib (c. 600-661) (in Arabic : in Persian ), often referred to simply by his first name Ali ( Al) was the son of Abu Talib , uncle of the Prophet of Islam Mohammed , who raised and protected as his own son after the death of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Ali was born about 600 in Mecca , a decade before the beginning of the prophethood of Mohammed. He has been both a protg's cousin, the spiritual brother, the disciple and the son of Mohammed marrying his daughter Fatima was born from his first wife Khadija in 622.

It was the fourth Caliph of Islam ( 656 - 661 ). Ali was the first Imam of the Shiites and the rest is the ascendancy of the imams. He was the father of al-Hasan and al-Hussein.

Its name means "high". In black Africa, we find this name in the forms Alioune or Aliou.

Biography

Obverse and reverse of a medallion Ali, back with the phrase "There is no hero like Ali, there is no sword as Zulfikar. Slogan Shia on the structure of the Muslim profession of faith and quoting Muhammad

The exact date of the birth of Ali is unknown: it is also an object of controversy between the different branches of Islam because it has consequences for the image of the character. Indeed, more than his birth date (around 600) is old, the more it can be considered to have joined voluntarily and knowingly to the Muslim religion, which increases its merits: the conversion of a thoughtful young person is indeed considered more meritorious than the accession of a child under the authority of the Prophet (since around the age of six he had left the house of his father to be placed under the protection of Muhammad ).

Member of the household of Muhammad Ali has been among the first to join the new religion preached by him (the first man after Khadija according to tradition Shia , the first child according to some traditions Sunni ). He remained in the company of Muhammad during his ministry, including Medina. He participated in the same wars that Mohammed, except at the Battle of Tabuk because Muhammad had appointed head of Medina in his absence: Ali protested after people have spread the rumor that Muhammad did not want that getting rid of him leaving him behind, Muhammad told him, "Are not you satisfied to be to me what Aaron was to Moses except that there will be no Prophet after me?" "

On the death of Mohammed in 632 , came the question of succession of the caliph and the choice of the community is on Abu Bakr , and the latter at his death, named Omar in 634. After the assassination of the third Caliph Uthman in 656 , Ali came to power but was met with demands to implement the law of retaliation to the murderers of Uthman. Among them, Aisha Muhammad's widow, combined with the Companions of Muhammad which, Talha and Al-Zubayr , he defeated near Basra at the Battle of the Camel ( 656 ).

During the Battle of Siffin (657), he must confront the governor of Damascus, the son of Abu Sufyan, Mu'awiya family member of 'Uthman. Then he had the advantage, he accepts the idea of arbitration, but it is turning against him. Ali retains a certain power and folds in the city of Kufa he had made his capital.

Among his followers, some criticized him for agreeing to submit to arbitration and human left its ranks, they will call kharidjites (leavers). Later, they went openly rebelled against Ali who defeated them at the Battle of Nahrawan (en) (658). Determined to avenge their deaths, kharijites assassinate Ali did when he prostrated himself in prayer at Al-Fajr by Abdurrahman Ibn Muldjam. It is estimated that Ali was then 62 or 63 years.

Ali remains an iconic figure in Muslim history, imbued with an undeniable charisma. Most of the chains of transmission in the Sufi esoteric doctrine and chains of transmission among Sunni dates back to Ali. However, the Shiites consider him as the holder of divine secrets and esoteric meaning of Islam, which would be transmitted by Muhammad.

Ali is considered the master of Arabic rhetoric. He is the author of numerous quotations, sermons and reflections that were collected from various books such as al Nahj Balagha (The Way of Eloquence), mainly studied by Shiites.

The tomb of Ali

Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif

Mausoleum of Ali in Najaf

The character of Ali enjoys great popularity in the Muslim world, but it is especially revered by Shiites as the first imam. His mausoleum, which is the subject of great devotion in the Shiite pilgrimage, is located in the city of Najaf , in what is now Iraq, heavily damaged by the Iraq war in 2003.

Many Shiites believe that Ali did not want one knows the exact location of his grave, lest his enemies do not desecrate. The location of the grave site of the city of Najaf , was revealed later.

One story says that the Caliph Harun ar-Rashid during a hunt would have discovered a mound with his dogs refused to approach. The locals had told him that it was the tomb of Ali.
Another story says that the secret was passed down from father to son and that the Imam Jafar as-Sadiq told the caliph that this was grave.
A tradition of Afghan origin would have the body of Ali was transported and buried at Mazar-e-Sharif in the Blue Mosque Rawze-i-Sharif.