Imam Ali (a.s.), Part II Chronology: after the Prophet (pbuh)

A.S. Hashim, MD

After The Prophet: The Aftermath

Without a job, Ali finds a job at an orchard belonging to a Jewish person

Fatima is sick

Ali Tutors his children, along with Ibn Abbas

Ali buys one slave each week then set him free

Ali Writes the Quran according to the order the Ayahs were revealed

After the Prophet: The aftermath

Ali Under pressure to give allegiance to Abu Bakr Fatima campaigns for AliFatima gives a stirring speech at the Masjid of the ProphetFatima’s health deteriorates fastTough times:– Financially– Politically– At home

Ali during Khilaafah of Abu Bakr

Ali Finishes writing the chronology of the Quran

Fatima dies: Ali left with four children

Fatima buried at night according to her Will

Only few are notified and attend burial

Ali gives Allegiance to Abu Bakr

War of the renouncers! حروبالرده

For sake of Islam’s wellbeing, Ali gives support to Abu BakrAli begins writing Tafseer of the Quran called Mus’haf Fatima in Fatima’s honorContinues tutoring his childrenContinues to tutor Ibn Abbas after workContinues to buy then free a slave every week

Ali during Abu Bakr’s reign

Al-Hasan and Al-Husain learn to write

Ibn Abbas heads toward being scholarly

Ali the Marji' (the Reference)

Ali frees an average of one slave per week (about 100 during Abu Bakr’s Khilaafah)

Condition of the Ummah seems to stabilize

Omar appointed as Khalifa

Abu Bakr appoints Omar to Khilaafah

Ali gives support to Omar

Ali active in Omar's Council

Ali teaches and educates

Ali now married again

Ali's family expands, he teaches at home

Ali’s during Omar’s reign

Ali finishes off writing Tafseer of the Quran

Ali writes the wealth of Hadith

Ali starts writing the Ah'kaam

Al-Hasan helps his father in the writing

Omar marries Ali’s daughter: Umm Kalthoom

Ali continues to buy then free one slave per week (520) during Omar's Reign

Ali’s writings

Ali’s writings during Abu Bakr and Omar’s Khilaafah:

Corpus of Knowledge consists of the

following:

1. Quran in chorological order

2. Tafseer (Mus’haf Fatima)

3. Hadith (Saheefa of Ali)

4. Ah’kaam

Ali during Uthman’s Reign

Ali advises Uthman at firstAli detects a mellow ruler in UthmanAl-Hasan and Al-Husain are marriedAl-Hasan and Al-Husain in North Africa's campaign against the Byzantine. They reach Carthage in Libya to-days.Carthage battle decisive, Muslims victorious

Ali and Umm Al-Baneen

Ali Marries Umm Al-Baneen

Ali has 5 boys through Umm Al-Baneen:– Al-Abbas, 13 Years younger than Al-Husain

– One (nicknamed) Abu Bakr

– One (nicknamed) Omar

– One (nicknamed) Uthman

– Ali

Uthman in mid-term I

Uthman listens to his relative Marwan,

Ali’s advice is ignored frequently

Uthman appoints corrupt relatives as State Governors

Uthman mistreats Ibn Masood and Abu Dhar

Uthman in mid-term II

People object to Uthman’s rule and revoltAli tries to help UthmanUthman surrounded by the rebels, is defended by Al-Hasan and Al-Husain among othersAl-Hasan gets wounded defending UthmanUthman is killed by the rebellious menAli is upset to the extreme

Ali during Uthman’s reign I

Ali finishes writing Al-Ah'kaam

Ali writes the Jafr:– White Jafr

– Red Jafr

Ali compares the Quranic text he wrote with the one written during Khilaafah of Uthman. Surahs were the exact replica

Ali’s writings

Ali’s writings during:Abu Bakr,Omar, and

Uthman’s Khilaafah:

Corpus of Knowledge consists of the

following:

1. Quran in chorological order

2. Tafseer (Mus’haf Fatima)

3. Hadith (Saheefa of Ali)4. Ah’kaam5. Al-Jafr

1. White Jafr: Prophets and early times

2. Red Jafr: Rules of war in Islam

Ali during Uthman’s reign II

Worrisome conditions of the Ummah

Ali trying to diffuse discord

Continues to be the Marji’

Tutors the new children born to him

Ali continues to buy then free one slave per week. He freed 600 during Khilaafah of Uthman.

Imam Ali (a.s.) the Khalifa

Ali's administration: Exceptionally fairWants to distribute the wealth fairly but many wealthy people objectA'isha, Talha, and Zubair agitateA'isha, Talha, and Zubair revolt, claiming to avenge Uthman’s bloodBenu Umayya join the rebels full forceMu’awiya rebels in a sneaky way

Confrontation at Basra

Ali’s Forces

12,000

Includes numerous Sahaaba (said 300)– Al-Hasan and Al-

Husain– Muhammad son of

Abu Bakr

Ali’s forces Prevail

The other side:– Includes Talha,

Zubair, and A’isha– Local people of

Basrah– Most of Benu Umayya

clan– The fired governor of

Yemen who stole the treasury of Yemen

Jamal Battle

Protracted negotiationsPersuades Zubair not to fightZubair quitsThe battle: Goes fast and about to endA’isha: On top of a camel urges to go on fightingPeople rally around the camelIncapacitating the camel ends the fight

Jamal Sequence

5. Battle ends abruptly4. A’isha’s camel is incapacitated3. A’isha on camel urging to fight2. Fight with many casualties1. Zubair quitsNegotiations to stop fight fail

Jamal Battle II

Ali lets A’isha be at home in Basrah to rest40 Guards in company of A’isha on her way to MedinaBrother of A’isha in charge of the escorting guards (Muhammad son of Abu Bakr)Al-Hasan and Al-Husain escort A’isha to the boundary of BasrahThe 40 guards turn out to be women dressed as men

Jamal Battle III

Benu Umayya, forming large part of the forces– Set free after the Battle

Talha: was Killed by Marwan ibn HakamZubair: Did not participateThe casualties: Fairly highThe aftermath: Benu Umayya now join Mu’awiya to fight Ali in Siffin

Kufa the Capital

Kufa the New Capital because:– Kufa is central in the Islamic Ummah

– Center of the bread basket of the area (Iraq)

– Closer to areas of revolts

– Possibility of better support to Ali

Proved less disciplined and less reliable

Mu’awiya and Siffin

Mu’awiya claiming revenge for Uthman’s bloodMu’awiya’s forces move north to SiffinMu’awiya cuts off water supply to AliAli’s forces reach Siffin, overpower guards preventing waterAli’s side generously allows water to Mu’awiya forces

Siffin

Ali, trying to prevent bloodshed, sends negotiating delegates to Mu’awiya

Negotiations continue for one month

Negotiations fail

Battle of Siffin starts

Siffin II

Siffin Battle:– Duration: 9 Days

– Severity: Severe in many days

– Casualties: Thousands dead and wounded

Ammar Unique Role.

Siffin Sequence

6. Arbitrations to take place5. Qurans on tip of spears4. Ali almost winning3. Numerous casualties2. Ammar charges1. 9 days fighting severeNegotiations to stop fight fail

Importance of Ammar

Ammar was in Ali’s campThe Prophet (pbuh) told Ammar 30 Yrs earlier:

الباغيه الفئة تقتلك سوف عمار يا”O’ Ammar, you will be killed by the malicious

group.”Ammar along with 400 companions fought Mu’awiya bravely until Ammar was killed.A lot of Commotion was the result in Mu’awiya’s camp.

Near the end of battle

As Ali’s forces reach near Mu’awiya’s Headquarters in victory:– Mu’awiya knows how religious Ali’s side is

– Mu’awiya gives commands to lift 500 Qurans on tips of Spears (thus desecrating them)

– Mu’awiya asks for arbitration

– Commotion is the result in Ali’s Camp

Ali is forced for Arbitration by his troops

Tricking Ali’s forces

Ibn Ash’ath and other undercover agents in Ali’s camp cajoled and bribed by Mu’awiya, they work for himIbn Ash’ath and Khariji insist on their demands to arbitrateAli is forced toward ArbitrationAli chooses the brilliant Ibn Abbas to represent him

Arbitration

Ali wanted Ibn Abbas, but Khariji insisted instead on Al-Ashari to represent Ali Al-Ashari was not so brightAli had to consentMu’awiya chose Ibn Aas to represent himIbn Aas is very cunningBoth sides met a year later in a far away place to negotiate

Arbitration II

The cunning Ibn Aas tricks Al-Ashari– Ibn Aas let Al-Ashari proclaim both Mu’awiya

and Ali are to leave office then let people choose a Khalifa

– Ibn Aas followed by saying: Ali should leave office but Mu’awiya is to stay in Power

Commotion was the result because of the lies and deception of Ibn AasThey return disappointed and disillusioned

Khariji

Khariji revolt against AliAli argues with Khariji, many decide not to fight against Ali 3000 Khariji insist of fighting Ali in Nahrawan, in IraqAli Defeats Khariji in Nahrawan Looks for the crippled man the Prophet foretold: They find him after 3 day search

Nahjul Balaaghah

Nahjul Balaaghah is a collection of 54 Sermons, 212 sayings, and 48 letters by AliCollected by Al-Shareef al-Radhee Full of Gems of Wisdom, it deals with numerous subjects:– Theology– History– Human Relationship

Taught all over in universities over the past centuries

Prediction of the Prophet About Ali’s end

30 years earlier, the Prophet said to Ali:

The most evil of evildoers is the one who will wet this (beard) with the blood From this (forehead)

األشـقـيين أشقى إَّن#هذه )خِّض*ُب) ي َم-ن

  بهذهثم لحيته إلى وأشار

رأسه

Ibn Muljim, the Khariji

Ibn Muljim, one of the deviators (Khariji), Along with 2 others planned to kill– Ali– Mu’awiya– Ibn Aas

These Khariji were involved in NahrawanThey planned to avengeMu’awiya and Ibn Aas escaped being killed

Ali assassinated

Ibn Muljim with a poisoned sword, was in hiding to kill AliAli in Kufa Masjid had come to lead morning prayer, it was dark with poor visibilityIt was the 19th of Ramadhan, Yr 40 HijriWhile Ali was in Sujood absorbed in prayerIbn Muljim jumped and hit Ali at the head

Ali’s assassination I

Upon being so wounded Ali said:الكعبه ورب فزت

I have won by the Lord of the Ka’baA lot of commotion ensuedTaken home Ali gave final advice to his son Al-Hasan, and other childrenTwo days later he died on Leilatul Qadr 21st of Ramadhan

Ali’s assassination II

Ali’s last words were:

ه) -ر- ي ا :ر9 ي َخ- ٍة> َذ-ر# :ق-اَل- َمAْث -ع:م-ْل: ي ف-م-نه) -ر- ي ا Cر ش- ٍة> َذ-ر# :ق-اَل- َمAْث -ع:م-ْل: ي و-َم-ن

He with the slightest act of goodness will so be rewarded

And he with the slightest act of evil deeds will so be rewarded

Site of Ali’s Assassination

Ali is buried

Ali was taken to Najaf for burial, many miles from KufaBurial place remained secret, known to family and few othersYears later Imam Al-Saadiq declared the whereabouts of the burial siteA tomb was established then a town arose around itIt became the center of visitation and learning

Ali’s Shrine

Ali’s tomb nowadays

Ali the person

Imam Ali's self was molded completely by the Islamic ideals Ali's personality was overpowering, he was an overachieverAli's brilliance and farsightedness were striking Ali set to teach, inform, and help others learn about IslamAli was an idealist, and nothing could influence him to deviate from these ideals

Ali the person II

Ali's ideals had to be in a head-on clash with the opportunist, demagogues, and power-hungry,

Ali stood in the face of deceit, duplicity, trickery, hypocrisy, greed, and treachery, of corrupt Benu Umayya

Ali was a compulsive perfectionist when it came to Islam

Ali stood for justice and freedom of choice, and the Holy Book and Sunnah

Ali assassinated III

Ali lived to be 63 year old, just as the Prophet (pbuh)– He designated Al-Hasan as the 2nd Imam

– He gave advice to Al-Hasan as written in Nahjul Balaaghah

After Al-Hasan’s agreement with Mu’awiya, the family returned to Medina to resume teaching Islam

Ali’s Shrine in Najaf

Imam Ali’s Shrine: Multitudes of visitors every year.

Inside it reflects reverence that uniquely affects the heart.

KhilaafahA birds-eye view

Khilaafah means the phenomenon of succession to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

This phenomenon is viewed in certain ways as explained in the next two slides:

Khilaafah: A birds-eye view #1

• VIEW POINT I • The phenomenon, the circumstance, the

mode of choice and selection of the Khalifas are to be taken as they are

• This view is taken by the Sunni

Khilaafah: A birds-eye view #2

VIEW POINT II– The phenomenon would have been

remarkably different had the wishes of Prophet Muhammad been observed.

This view is taken by the Shi’a 

BE IN ALLAH’S CARE

Thank you and May God Bless you.

Dr. A.S. Hashim