Hazrat Imam Ali was the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law. Prophet Muhammad raised Hazrat Ali at a young age. Hazrat Ali married Prophet Muhammad's daughter, Bibi Fatima. He has 2 sons, Hazrat Hassan, and Hazrat Hussain. Hazrat Ali was also considered as Prophet Muhammad's brother because they were so close.
The relationship between the Prophet and Hazrat Ali was that they were cousins, and later Hazrat Ali became the Prophets son-in-law. They were very close and considered each other as brothers.
Hazrat Ali was the first Imam. He was the first person to accept Prophet Muhammad's revelations and he helped Prophet Muhammad with his missions. Hazrat Ali risked his life to save Prophet Muhammad, while he was departing for the hijra.
Caliph Hazrat Ali, was and wasn't legitimately appointed. The shia's thought that when Prophet Muhammad appointed Hazrat Ali, they thought the phrase "mawla" meant leader. So when Prophet Muhammad passed, they thought that the right thing to do was to appoint Hazrat Ali. The sunni's thought that the phrase "mawla" meant friend. So when the Prophet passed they knew that Hazrat Ali would always be there, but they decided that the right thing to do was to appoint someone else as their leader.
Hazrat Ali's governance promoted and hindered peace and progress because in the muslim community, it hindered it because there were many people that were against Hazrat Ali, because their interpretation of "mawla" was different. His governance promoted peace and progress, because the shura, and the message he was spreading, which brought equality and unity amongst people.
The senior leaders of the Quraysh Tribe, Zubayr and Talha, led a rebellion against Hazrat Ali. The rebellion was held because they wanted Hazrat Uthman's murderers to get justice. They also wanted the caliphs to be appointed by the laws of the shura. In 656, the troops of Hazrat Ali defeated the Quraysh troops at the battle of the Camel. Hazrat Ali ordered his soliders not to pursue the defeated armies or take their families captive or to take their belongings except their weapons. Muslims have pointed out that Hazrat Ali's actions at this Battle set an ethical behavior in later times in conflict. It's called the battle of the camel because Bibi Aisha rode a camel into the battle. Talha had lost his life, and Zubayr was eventually killed.
The battle of Siffin started because Muawiyah, governor of Syria, was against the idea of Hazrat Ali becoming the next imam, and replacing him. Uthman's army and Ali's army met along the Euphrates river at Siffin. This battle was a major turning point in the history of Islam. During the battle Hazrat arbitrated and was defeated by the troops.
As muslims today, we look up to Ali, because he is our first Imam. In many different he sets a good example even though he has passed away. One example would be having humility because he risked his life for the Prophet. Each time we think of him, we see Hazrat Ali through a different lense by analyzing and observing his qualities and actions.
- A risk he took is when he slept in Prophet Muhammed's bed in the middle of the night when the same night, the prophet's enemies had planned to kill him in his sleep.
- Ali was the first to accept Islam
- Became the 4th caliph
- Part of the Rashudin
- Better perspective of being a leader
Hazrat Imam Ali hoped to turn his attention to mu'awiya and the syrian threat once again. For two years he was busy leading an army against the syrians from his base in Iraq. On Friday 17th, Ramadan, 661, a Khariji struck him with a poison sword in the great mosque of Khufa. It is claimed that this was an act of revenge for the Khaiji's who had been killed at Nahrawan. Hazrat Ali was badly wounded, and he died two days later. He had been Caliph for almost 5 years, from 656 to 661.
As the cousin, son-in-law, and companion of the prophet, today as muslims, we admire Hazrat Ali very much. He was the last of the four rashidun caliphs. It is said that when Hazrat Ali became caliph, he distributed money from bayt al-mal (treasury) with fairness rather than thinking about his family relationships. It is also said that Hazrat Ali always had a solution to any problem, that was also understood by his companions. Hazrat Ali was always putting everyone before him, and always helping others.
It split the community by forcing others to believe or not believe in Ali. While Hazrat Ali was spreading the message of Islam, some people were against him and some people believed him, because of their different interpretations of the phrase "mawla"
Hazrat Ali as a Caliph
Hazrat Ali's contributions
Battle of Siffin
Life of Hazrat Ali
How does the leadership of the Caliph impact Muslims today?
The relationship between Prophet Muhammad and Hazrat Ali
Hazrat Ali's Appointance
Battle of the Camel
How does the leadership of the caliph influence the identity of the muslim community?
Hazrat Ali's governance
What are some facts bout the caliph and his leadership?
End of Hazrat Ali's Caliphate