In this part of the article titled “Who was Imam Ali”, we shall continue with other aspects of the biography of the Commander of Faithful.
It was in this period that the prophet (A.S) issued the decree of Moslems brotherhood, concluded the contract of brotherhood with his holiness Ali (A.S) and said to his holiness Ali (A.S): “You are my brother in this world and in the hereafter, swearing by the Allah who has appointed me with the truth. I choose you as my brother, a brotherhood that is to the extent of both worlds”. His holiness Ali (A.S) the son-in-law of the honoured prophet (A.S): Umar and Abu-Bakr with the consolation with Saad Math the head of the tribe of Aws realized (found out) that there is nobody other than Ali (A.S) competent (appropriate) for Zahra (A.S).
Therefore, when Ali (A.S) was among the trees of the garden of one of the Ansar busy watering. They suggested this subject to him and he said: “I love the daughter of the prophet (A.S). And went towards the house of the prophet (A.S). When he reached the honoured prophet (A.S) the glory of the presence of the prophet (A.S) prevented him from speaking until the honoured prophet (A.S) asked for the reason for his return; then his holiness Ali (A.S) depending on his virtues, piety, and bright past in Islam said: “do you deem it wise for me to marry Fatima”. After the acceptance of Zahra (A.S) and his holiness, Ali (A.S) became the son-in-law of the honoured prophet.
The pond of Khumm
In the last year of his holiness the prophet’s (A.S) life, after finishing the rituals of pilgrimage and when returning in a place called the Khom pond close to Johfah, he ordered to stop, because the revelation commanded the prophet (A.S) to complete his message. After the noon prayer, the prophet went up the (minbar) pulpit of the camels’ saddles and said: “O people, it is soon that I answer the call of Allah and go from among you. What do you think about me”?
People said: “we witness that you have propagated the religion of Allah”. Prophet (A.S) said:” Don’t you witness that there is no Allah but the One Allah and Mohammad is his slave and messenger”. People said:”Yes, we witness”. Then the prophet (A.S) raised the hand of his holiness Ali (A.S) and said: “O People! among the believers who is more worthy than themselves. People said: “Allah and his prophet know better” .Then the prophet said:” O People whoever I’m his master and leader; Ali is his master and leader. In addition, repeated this sentence three times. Then the people congratulated this selection to his holiness Ali (A.S) and swore allegiance to him.
His holiness Ali (A.S) after the death of the honoured Prophet (A.S)
After the death of the honoured prophet (A.S) because of special conditions that raised, his holiness Ali (A.S) withdraw from the scene of the society and choose silence; He neither participated in any struggle nor spoke officially in the society. He put the sword in the sheath and engaged with individual duties and educating the individuals.
Activities of Imam Ali (A.S) in this period were/briefly as follows
1- Worshiping Allah, according to the level of his holiness Ali (A.S).
2- Interpretation of the Quran, solving religious problems and decreeing the rule of incidents that didn’t have a resemblance along the 23 Years of the prophet’s life.
3- Answering questions from scholars from other religions and other towns.
4- Expressing the rule for many of the new events that didn’t occur previously in Islam.
5- Solving the problems when the caliphate system faced dead ends in political matters and some other problems.
6- Educating and raising a group who have a pure conscience and prepared souls for the spiritual journey.
7- Work and strife to secure the life of many of the poor and disabled to the extent that he would establish gardens and extract aqueducts and then would give them as endowments in the way of Allah.
Period of the caliphate of his holiness Ali (A.S) in the time of his holiness caliphate many wars occurred as Seffin, Jamal and Nahrawan which had specific consequences following. After the war of Nahrawan and the suppression of the Kharijites, some of the Kharijites among whom was Abdul-Rahman bin Moljam Moradi and Barak bin Abdulla Tameemi and Amr bin Bakr-Tamimi in one of the nights got together and considered the cerium’s chances of that time the blood-sheds and civil wars.
They remembered Nahrawan and their deads and finally reached the conclusion that the reason for this blood-shed and brothers killing are his holiness Ali (A.S), Moawiah and Amr bin Aass and if these three were removed the Muslims will know their duties, therefore. They concluded the treaty that each one of them he responsible for killing one of the three. Ibn-Moljam undertook killing Imam Ali (A.S) and on the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan accompanied by some stayed in the mosque of Koofah. That night his holiness Ali (A.S) was a guest of his daughter’s and was aware of the morning accident. When he mentioned this subject to his daughter. Om-Kolthoom said: Tomorrow send Joada to the mosque.
His holiness Ali (A.S) said: It is not possible to escape Allah’s decree, then he fastened his belt and while humming these two verses he went to the mosque. Fasten your back firmly for death Because death will meet you and when death comes to you don’t fear or scream While his holiness Ali (A.S) was in prostration, Ibn Moljam hit him with the sword on his forehead and blood from his holiness head streamed in the altar and blood dyed his honoured beard. In this condition, his holiness said: I swear by the Allah of Kaaba that I won. Then relate verse 55 from Surah Taha: From it we created you and into it we shall send you back and from it we raise you a second time.
The holiness Ali was at his last moment of his life still thinking of the welfare and happiness of the people advised his children relatives and all the Muslims saying: I advice you of piety and to organize your deeds and always think of causing reconciliation among the Muslims. Don’t forget the orphans, regard the rights of the neighbours. Make Quran the practical program for you. Respect (honour) praying because it is the pillar of your religion. His holiness Ali (A.S) attained martyrdom on the 21 St of the month of Ramadan and was buried in the honoured Najaf. His shrine became the tryst for the lovers of the truth and reality.
01- Soora Ahzab, verse: 21.
02- Foroogh welayat, p.35 (kashf Al-Ghoma v.1 , p.9)
03- Aftab welayat, p.19 (Al-Kharaej and Al-Jaraeh v.1 , p.171)
04- Aftab welayat, p.19 (Behar Al-anwar v.35 , p.18)
05- Aftab welayat, p.37 (seerah bin Hesham v.1 , p.236)
06- Aftab welayat, p.38.
07- Aftab welayat, p.131 (Soora Bakara , verse:148)
08- Aftab welayat, p.86 (Mostadrak Hakem v.3 , p.14 Isteeaab , v.3 , p.35)
09- Aftab welayat, p.141 (Soora Maeda , verse:47)
10- Aftab welayat, p.697.
11- Aftab welayat, p.697 (Behar Al-Anwar quoting from Amali , v.9 , p.650)
12- Aftab welayat, p.697.
