The 4th Caliph of Islam Hazrat Ali (RA)

The Qazi's court in Madinah was packed to its capacity. The Qazi had summoned Hazrat Ali (RA), the Caliph of Islam, to appear in a case filed against him by a Jew who had claimed the Caliph's armor. The Caliph arrived at the court and stood by the side of the plaintiff without caring about his own exalted position. The claimant produced several witnesses in support of his claim. The learned Qazi, then asked Hazrat Ali (RA) if he had to say anything in his defense. Hazrat Ali (RA) replied in negative. There upon the Qazi divided the case in favor  of the Jews and awarded the armor to the Jewish,  which, Hazrat Ali (RA) had actually purchased from him. The Jewish was taken aback by the impartial judgement of the Qazi and returned armor to the Caliph saying that the illustrious Caliph had actually purchased the armor from him. He had filed the suit in order to test the impartiality of the Caliph and his courts which, had magnificently withstood the test.

Hazrat Ali (RA) was, the Fourth 4th Caliph of Islam, was a versatile genius. Few persons have ever been endowed with the unsurpassed traits of chivalry and learning, piety and clarity of thought and imagination that distinguished the illustrious son-in-law of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) who had brought him up under his own fostering care and ideal guardianship. Hazrat Ali (RA) has universally been acclaimed as one of the best products of Islam. His bravery had won him the title of 'Lion of God.'

Hazrat Ali ibn Abu Talib (RA) whose kunniyat was Abul Hasan, was born in the 13th year of the Year of Elephant. He was a cousin of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his clan Banu Hashim having been entrusted with the high function of the custody of the sacred Kaaba, was held in high esteem, throughout Arabia. Abu Talib, who had a large family entrusted his son Ali (RA) to the care of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Hazrat Ali (RA) was brought up by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself from his very childhood -- a factor,  which greatly contributed to cultivating extraordinary virtues in him. According to reliable historical sources, Hazrat Khadija (RA) was the first woman, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA), the first man and Hazrat Ali (RA) was the first child to embrace Islam. Hazrat Ali (RA) played a conspicuous role at the time of the Prophet's migration from Makkah.
While Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) accompanied the Prophet (PBUH), constantly harassed and hunted by the Quraish of Makkah, on his perilous journey to Madinah, Hazrat Ali (RA) was kept behind to return to the owners the valuables they had entrusted to the custody of the Prophet (PBUH), It speaks volumes for the intergrity of the Prophet (PBUH) that even his sworn enemies reposed full trust in his honesty and deposited their valuables with him. Hazrat Ali (RA) slept soundly in the house of the Prophet (PBUH) besieged by his enemies. The next morning he cleared the accounts and departed for Madinah.              

The Prophet (PBUH) selected the young talented Ali (RA), as the life partner for his favorite daughter Fatima az-Zahra (RA), the beautiful. The nuptial ceremony was performed with utmost simplicity, which will serve as an example for all times to come. The dowry given to the beloved daughter of the Prophet consisted of a sheet of cloth, a few earthen utensils and a grinding stone. Three sons, Hazrat Imam Hassan (RA), Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and Hazrat Mohsin (RA) and two daughters Hazrat Zainab (RA) and Hazrat Umme (RA) Kulsum were born.
The lineage of the Prophet continued through Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), hence their descendants are called Syed (Master).

Hazrat Ali (RA) lived a humble and simple life;he earned his living through manual labour. He could not add anything to the property of the house and his beloved wife performed all household duties with her own hands. Faced with extreme poverty, the humanitarianism and the spirit of charity and self-sacrifice and self-denial of this ideal couple of Islam have hardly any parallel in the annals of mankind.

Hazrat Ali (RA) was chosen by the Prophet (PBUH) to carry the message of Islam to the people of Yemen, where earlier Muslim missionaries had failed. There he met with great success and the tribe of Hamdan embraced Islam the same day.


The Prophet (PBUH), he took a leading part in all defensive campaigns except Tabuk, when reluctantly he had to stay back in Madinah under the orders of the Prophet (PBUH) who said, "You stand to me in the same relation in, which Aaron stood to Moses, except that there is to be no Prophet after me."

Hazrat Ali (RA) unique valor for the first time in the battle of Badr, when he overpowered Waleed and Sheba, the renowned warriors of Arabia in single combats. In the battle of Ohad, when the standard bearer of Islam fell fighting, he took hold of the standard and killed the enemy standard bearer. This exceptional heroism made people declare, 'La fata llla Ali' (There is no youth like Ali). Two years after, he met Amr ibn Abad Wudd, the greatest known warrior of Arabia in a duel and killed him. Of all his marital exploits, the most outstanding was the capture of the citadel of Khaibar, which was regarded impregnable. It was strongly fortified by the Jews and withstood repeated attacks by Muslims under the command of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqui and Umar. Thereupon the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Tomorrow the standard of Islam will be entrusted to a person who would capture it and who loves God and His Messenger whom God and His Messenger also Love."  The next morning Hazrat Ali (RA) was summoned in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH). Incidentally he was suffering from bad eyesore. The Prophet (PBUH) applied his saliva to his eyes, and placed the standard in his hands. Hazrat Ali (RA) made a dash and captured the fort by tearing asunder the huge gate, which could not be moved by dozens of men.

During the reign of the first two Caliphs, Hazrat Ali (RA) was the principal adviser of the State. He solved all knotty problems and important decision was taken by the Caliphs without his advice. His advice was sought on all matters, especially legal and religious on which he was considered an authority. After the death of the Prophet (PBUH), he mostly devoted his energies to the development of the moral and intellectual life of the adherents of the new faith and seldom took part in warfare. Most of the great administrative works during the reign of Hazrat Umar (RA) were undertaken at his instance.

Hazrat Ali (RA) was elected Caliph after, the martyrdom of Hazrat Usman (RA), at a time when the world of Islam was in great turmoil and Madinah; the Metropolis, was besieged by insurgents. The inhabitants of Madinah and neighboring provinces vied with on another in taking the oath of allegiance to him, as he was the most deserving person for the high post among and faithful. But Muawiya, who had gathered great power around himself, clamoured for avenging the blood of Hazrat Usman (RA). Muawiya, being a clever person, realized that he had hardly any chance for the exalted position in the presence of Hazrat Ali (RA), hence he devised this means of winning popular support. The insurgents were two powerful to be dealt with and a hasty step would have culminated in the disintegration of the Empire. This restrained Ali's (RA) hands, The situation had become so critical and the political atmosphere was so much explosive, that any drastic action taken against the insurgents would have endangered the security of the new state. Hazrat Ali (RA) opponents had, however, resolved to exploit the situation to their advantage.

His demand for avenging Usman's blood was not inspired by high motive. Hazrat Ali (RA) explored all possibilities of amicable settlement before declaring war against Muawiya  in the interest of national solidarity. On 12th Rajab 36 A.H. Kufa accorded a royal welcome to the Caliph and made elaborate arrangements for his entertainment in the local palace. But being a saintly person, Hazrat Ali (RA) shunned all pageantries and preferred to camp in an open field. The two forces lay facing each other, as Hazrat Ali (RA) and Hazrat Aisha (RA) wanted to avoid a clash and negotiate for a settlement. She was respectfully sent back to Madinah escorted by noble ladies and the Caliph in person saw her off for a considerable distance.

Hazrat Ali (RA) now diverted his attention to Muawiya, the rebel Governor of Syria, who was threatening the solidarity of the young state. Being humane by nature. Hazrat Ali (RA) tried his level best to bring about a peaceful settlement and avoid shedding of Muslim blood. But Muawiya advanced impossible conditions. Hazrat Ali offered to end the quarrel by personal combat, but the Umayyad declined the Challenge. At last the fateful hour arrived and the two forces fought a bloody battle. "The rebels were defeated in three successive battles" says a well-known historian, and Muawiya was ready to fly from the field. when a trick of his accomplice Amr, son of Aas, saved them from destruction.

These internal dissensions within the house of Islam gave birth to a new fanatical horde called Kharijis, which probed to be a great menace for the administration of Hazrat Ali (RA). They spread disorders throughout the domains of the Caliph, killing innocent people and converting them to their fanatical creed by force. The Caliph, who faced the turmoils and turbulence around him with extraordinary courage and patience dealt with the Khariji fanatics with a strong hand and exterminated them after a bloody battle.

Hazrat Ali (RA) was elected as a Caliph in the most stormy period of Islamic History. He was a versatile genius. Being brought up by the Prophet (PBUH) himself and having had the chance of spending about 30 years in his company, Hazrat Ali (RA) occupies the unique position of being the greatest intellectual among the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH). Like Aristotle he is known as the father of Islamic learning.. He was the greatest Mujtahid and jurist of his time and one of the greatest of all times. He solved all vexing and complicated problems, which defied solution. As already stated he was the principal of adviser on religious and legal matters during the reign of the first three Caliphs. All knotty problems were referred to to him and his verdict was considered final. Evan such high personalities as Hazrat Umar (RA) and Hazrat Aisha (RA) referred their difficulties of him. All schools of religious though regard him as the father of Islamic mysticism.
Hazrat Ali was undoubtedly the greatest jurist of early Islam. Once two women who were quarrelling over an infant child -- each claiming it, were produced before him. On hearing the statements of both the claimants, Hazrat Ali ordered the child to be cut to pieces. The real mother was overwhelmed with grief and weep only pleaded to the Caliph to spare the child. Hazrat Ali awarded the child to its real mother and punished the other woman.

During his Caliphate, he had to offer even his favourite sword for sale in order to purchase a piece of cloth. In spite of being extremely poor, he never turned away in disappointment anyone who knocked at his door.  One night he watered a garden of Madinah and received grain as his wage. The next morning when he returned home he got a portion of grain boilded. But he gave the whole of it to a beggar who knocked at his door. This was repeated on three successive days with the result that he himself had to go without food for three days.


His administration steered clear of partisanship, favouritism or nepotism. He was particularly severe on his Governors and kept a regular watch on their actions. Once his own cousin Ibn Abbas, the Governor of Basra, drew some money from the Baitul Mat for his personal expenses.
Hazrat Ali (RA) questioned his action and He strengthened his frontiers and raised impregnable fortifications on the northern frontiers of Persia. With the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA), ended the glorious regime of the pious Caliph.