THE ISLAMIC MESSAGE IN CONFIDENTIALITY
The first three years following the 1st Revelation to
Muhammad (pbuh) the message of Islam was propagated in confidentiality. There were many converts, but the disbelievers treated them harshly. Ali saw how the
disbelievers of Mecca dealt cruel abuses to the new Muslims. He saw the clashes, the ill-treatment, the slander, and the oppression. He saw
Bilal
suffer, and how Sumieya
and her husband, Yasir, were put to death.
Ali also witnessed Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) receiving
Revelations from Gabriel, and how Muhammad (pbuh) became motionless as if a mysterious superior power held him, as sweat poured down his face even on the coldest day
of winter! Anxiously Ali would wait to hear what Gabriel had brought. To Ali, this period brought a stream of Divine Directives, not only to him, but to everyone.
Ali was an enthusiastic student and eager to learn.
Ali's mind grew with the growth of Islam and his mind-set and psychological framework became firmly molded by the very lines of Islam. No one had ever had such an
inner molding along the Islamic lines as Ali did.
Ali was shaped and constructed by Islam during the most
sensitive years of his life, when the psychological make-up usually takes shape. This is one reason why the ideals of Islam were Ali's ideals by nature, and quite
different from those adults converting to Islam.
It is noteworthy that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) never
asked any child other than Ali to embrace Islam. Why? Ali's maturity was far above his chronological age and may have been that of an adult many times his age.
THE
ISLAMIC MESSAGE IN THE OPEN
Ali was 13 years old, accelerating in his growth, with
only fuzzy hairs on his chin and a voice that had not yet changed. He was among the 30-40 people from Benu
Mut'talib who were invited to dinner by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Muhammad (pbuh) wanted to openly declare
to them the message of Islam, since he had just received a Revelation from Allah instructing him to do so. The guests were his close relatives: uncles, cousins, and
others.
Muhammad (pbuh) talked to them about his Prophethood and
about Islam, and when he approached the end of his speech, he asked:
فأيكم يؤازرني على هذا الأمر على أن
يكون: أخي ووصيِّ وخليفتي فيكم؟
"WHO WOULD THEN UPHOLD ME
SO THAT HE BECOMES MY BROTHER MY
DEPUTY, AND
THE ONE TO SUCCEED ME?"
There was complete silence, expressions of ridicule, and
looks of anger. Some were in disbelief at the nerve of Muhammad (pbuh) to bring such a matter to them! Some felt insulted, "After all," they thought, "what is better
than our idols and our way of life?"
But the silence was suddenly ripped. It was a boyish
voice, yet bold, firm and forward with a tone of seriousness and defiance. It was the voice of the 13-year-old Ali, who said to the elders,
أنا يا رسول الله
"I WILL BE, O' MESSENGER OF ALLAH."
Muhammad (pbuh) repeated the question for a second time
and the answer was the same.
All faces turned to Ali, to discover a determined look on his face, indicating he meant
every word of it. The Prophet then answered him
إنّ هذا
أخي ووصيّ وخليفتي فيكم ، فاسمعوا له وأطيعوا
VERILY,
THIS IS MY BROTHER
MY DEPUTY AND
THE ONE TO
SUCCEED ME
THEREFORE LISTEN TO HIM
AND OBEY HIM
(See Tibari,
History of Countries, Vol. 2, Page 216. Also Ibn Atheer, Al-Kaamil, Vol. 2, Page 21):
The guests laughed in sarcasm. They thought it was
comical to see a seemingly powerless, young boy speak so boldly, while Muhammad (pbuh) appeared weak, with only a handful of followers, few of whom were of importance.
What they didn't understand was that Ali's promise was
so committal and binding that he meant every word of it. And though Ali looked small and young, and though they took him lightly, Muhammad believed in him.
Ali's commitment proved steadfast throughout every
moment of his life. No matter what the case was, Ali's commitment to the support of Islam and the defense of the Prophet (pbuh) was firm and unbending.
As history unfolded, the support Ali gave to Islam was
unparalleled. Ali supported Islam:
►
As long as the Quran was Revealed;
►
afterwards against those who exploited it;
►
or used the Quran to their advantage.
HOW ABOUT MUHAMMAD'S DECLARATION?
For Muhammad (pbuh) to declare that Ali was his a)
brother, b) deputy and c) the one to succeed him was a very profound statement, especially in these early years of Islam when there were fewer than 50 Muslims all
together, most of whom were the weak and un-influential. Though neither Muhammad (pbuh) nor Ali had any idea of the course of events ahead of them, history proved
Muhammad's statement to be true.
The Holy Quran says of Muhammad (Surah 53: Ayah 3):
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلاّ وَحْيٌ
يُوحَى
VERILY (MUHAMMAD) SAYS NOT OF
HIMSELF
HE IS DIRECTED BY WAY OF REVELATIONS
which means that Muhammad's pronouncement was from a
Divine Source through Gabriel.
ALI OBSERVES AND FEELS THE PAIN
As an adolescent Ali was muscular, strong, and
good-looking, with a face radiating with charm. He was also a bit short.
During the unforgettable early years of Islam, Ali saw
the severe suffering of the Muslims at the hands of the idolaters. It was family against family, brother against brother, and even son against father. Such was the
strength and forcefulness of Islam in society.
The disbelievers escalated their brutality when they
noticed that persuasion and arguments were of no help. The Muslims, however, took the brunt with courage and patience. The brutality became so severe that two groups
of Muslims finally left Mecca for Abyssinia where the Christians there gave them safety and security. One of these Muslims was the brother of Ali, Ja'far, who led the
group at the urging of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Ali witnessed all this with much pain, and even though
he was not harassed (physically) by the disbelievers, he was persistently pained to see the brutality dealt to Muhammad (pbuh) and the Muslims—a brutality beyond
belief.
Ali loved Islam so much that he developed a feeling of
repulsion toward the disbelievers.
When Muhammad (pbuh) and Benu Hashim were inhumanely
boycotted for 3 long years, Ali suffered with them. The Muslims endured this cruel and harsh boycott patiently, though they suffered dearly. The pain of this
suffering cannot be forgotten or erased easily. Ali saw his father and the wife of the Prophet (pbuh), Abu Talib and Khadija, wither and die, for such was the
boycott! (For more detail see Book 4 of the Series of Islamic Books for Beginners)
ALI IN HIS BED
The Muslims suffered for thirteen years at the hands of
the disbelievers. Islam had some success, but at the expense of much abuse, both verbal and physical. Allah had not yet ordered Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to use force,
even for self defense. Instead, Jubra'eel came with commands for the Muslims to leave Mecca for a city about 300 miles to the north, called Yathrib (later namedMedina).
Most Muslims left Mecca in groups or alone, leaving
behind homes, belongings, relatives, and businesses. The Prophet (pbuh), Ali, Abu Bakr and a few others stayed behind.
At the same time, the disbelievers were secretly
planning to murder the Prophet (pbuh). Jubra'eel, however, revealed their plan to Muhammad, and the stage was set to outsmart the disbelievers.
Ali was 23 years old, and he was to play a crucial role,
for the Prophet (pbuh) had been given these instructions from Jubra'eel. The Prophet asked Ali to:
sleep in Muhammad's bed, and
deliver the trust (Jewelry) which had been
entrusted with Muhammad (pbuh), to their rightful owners the next day.
Without hesitation or doubt Ali answered, "Certainly." But
the first question that came to Ali's mind was, "Will you be safe, O' Messenger of Allah?"
►
In Ali's mind the safety of Islam was paramount, and its success was a necessity.
►
Ali never thought of excuses to save himself in the face of an expected onslaught of that night!
►
Ali never answered Muhammad (pbuh) with excuses or apologized to escape this dangerous mission.
►
The only question in Ali's mind was the safety of Islam and the continuation of its message.
Ali slept in the Prophet's bed with expectation. He had the
Prophet's blanket over him even though it was summer. He wrapped himself in the blanket as instructed, to trick the assassins into believing he was Muhammad. Ali's
life was at stake, it is true, but what a privilege it would be to save Islam at the expense of own life!
THE MURDERERS ATTACK
It was early morning and the would be murderers entered
Muhammad's house with violently beating hearts and the intent to kill. They entered with caution, making as little noise as possible. They rushed into the room to
fell their swords on their victim. Out of curiosity, one of them wanted to see the look on Muhammad's face in the final minute. He took hold of the blanket and jerked
it away, and the suspense of the moment immediately gave way to the biggest surprise! It was Ali in bed, they discovered, it wasn't Muhammad (pbuh)! How ingenious!
Oh what a letdown, and how could that ever have happened!?
They shouted in anger at Ali's face. They were in a
rage, indignant at their own failure. They shouted furiously, "Where is Muhammad?!"
Calmly and seemingly undisturbed, Ali answered, "How
do I know, you were the watchers, not I!" His answer fell like a heavy load on their hearts. It made them feel worse. Oh, the agony of failure.
ALI GIVES BACK THE TRUST, HEADS NORTH
Feeling relieved that the Prophet (pbuh) was not
discovered or harmed, Ali embarked on his assignment for the next day. He took the trust (jewelry) back to their owners. Muslims and non-Muslims alike trusted Prophet
Muhammad so much that he was the only one with whom they kept their trusts without fear of loss or foul play. Their feeling of trust in Muhammad (pbuh) was justified,
since even at such a perilous moment, Muhammad (pbuh) returned the trust to their rightful owners!
Once the trust was returned, Ali headed toward Medina,
not knowing of his beloved Muhammad's safety or whereabouts.
Medina was a long way north, and to go on foot was very
difficult. The terrain was rocky, rough, and filled with the danger of thieves and killers. Ali, though, had a nagging worry about Muhammad's (pbuh) safety.
Finally, after a strenuous two-week journey on foot, Ali
arrived at his destination. What a wonderful relief it was to see a crowd of Muslims, and there was Muhammad (pbuh) in person, safe and sound. "O' Glory be to Allah,"
Ali said to himself as he let out a sigh of relief. "Muhammad is safe."
Ali's feet and ankles were swollen, bleeding in some
spots, bruised in others. He walked with pain, slightly limping. He saw from a distance his beloved Muhammad hurrying toward him as the Muslims followed, with Allaahu
Akbar as their song of happiness. Muhammad (pbuh) was moving fast, rushing to embrace Ali! He felt for Ali, sat him down, and insisted on washing his feet, despite
Ali's objections.
Ali felt honored, and had such comfort in his heart. It
simply felt good.
BUT WHY WAS ALI THE CHOICE?
If Jubra'eel (Gabriel) had told the Prophet (pbuh) to
have Ali as the choice to be in his bed, or if Muhammad (pbuh) had taken on himself such a choice, we must ask why? The answer is that Ali was the only person who fit
4 fundamental conditions:
The man should love
Allah, His Messenger, and Islam more than he loves himself, hence his readiness for the expected sacrifice. And such was Ali.
The man's convictions in
his faith should be so deep and solid that he is willing to sacrifice for the faith. And such was Ali.
The man's courage is so
great that he can stand in the face of many would-be assassins if necessary. And such was Ali.
No matter how much they
torture him to reveal the whereabouts of the Prophet, he will never tell. And such was Ali.
No other Muslim was fit for this position except Ali,
and no one could have ever taken this bold and brave stand except Ali.
THE REVEALED AYAH
While Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Abu Bakr (r) were
escaping from the hostile hordes of Mecca to a new area whose future was unknown, a special Ayah was revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). The Ayah (Surah 28: Ayah 85) said:
إِنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لَرَادُّكَ إِلَى مَعَادٍ
قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ مَن جَاء بِالْهُدَى وَمَنْ هُوَ فِيٍ ضَلالٍ مُّبِينٍ
HE WHO OBLIGED YOU WITH THE QURAN
VERILY HE WILL RETURN YOU BACK
No one knew at that moment what the future would be.
Would the people of Medina cooperate fully or would they be as hostile as the Meccans? The Muslims, who were 350-450 at that time, were on the run, dejected,
dispersed, and practically penniless. The future seemed bleak.
The only great possession the Muslims had was their
faith, the faith of Islam. At such a bleak point, a Revelation from Allah came to the Prophet (pbuh) promising that the Muslims would be
victorious, and that they would triumphantly enter Mecca, achieving a seemingly impossible task. This Revelation was extremely comforting, very assuring,
very supportive, and its recitation to the believers was like cool water to their hearts!!
THEY ENTER MEDINA
It was Friday when Ali (a.s.) arrived at the outskirts
of Medina. Once washed and somewhat rested, all the Muslims, under the leadership of the Prophet (pbuh), performed Friday congregational Salat. It was done in full
freedom. This was the first time in their history that they performed Friday Salat in freedom!
After they had finished, the Muslims marched with relief
and gratitude toward Medina proper. There, the Prophet (pbuh) brought forth the concept of effecting
brotherhood among Muslims, that is: a Muslim from Medina was to host a Muslim from Mecca to live in the same
house and act like brothers.
As a result, solidarity developed
in the community, a solidarity that endured through the years. It was a solidarity of love and cooperation.
But of all the wonderful Muslims
around, the Prophet himself did not choose any brother except Ali. This fulfilled the first point of what the Prophet (pbuh) promised 10 years earlier during the
invitation of Benu Mut'talib to his house to publicly declare the message of Islam. At that time no one committed himself to support Prophet Muhammad except the
13-year-old Ali, and the Prophet's answer to Ali was:
إنّ هذا
أخي ووصيّ وخليفتي فيكم ، فاسمعوا له وأطيعوا
VERILY,
THIS IS MY BROTHER
MY DEPUTY AND
THE ONE TO
SUCCEED ME
THEREFORE
LISTEN TO HIM AND OBEY HIM
(Tibari,
History of Countries, Vol. 2, Page 216. Also Ibn Atheer, Al-Kaamil, Vol. 2, Page 21)
Now it was 10 years later, Ali 23
years old, and the Prophet (pbuh) had effected his brotherhood with Ali. This was not done because the two were cousins and simply close; rather, it was done
because of the unique qualities and firmness of belief that Ali possessed.
EARLY DAYS IN MEDINA
Medina was, and still is, a
cheerful town. The Muslims in Mecca were under the constant threat of death for 13 years, but now they found sudden freedom. In Medina they found:
a freedom from anxiety and worry,
a welcome relief from the oppressive treatment of the Meccans, and
a taste of overall freedom.
Within a few months in Medina the
new and the old Muslims adjusted well to each other. They enjoyed a close sense of brotherhood under the umbrella of freedom. Ali noticed that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
had lost no time in signing treaties with the three major Jewish tribes of Medina. They were the seat of power, extremely influential, and with a lot of wealth,
largely through the outrageously high rate of usury.
FATIMA, THE PROPHET'S
DAUGHTER
Ali and
Fatima
grew up together. Fatima, being the youngest of the Prophet's daughters, was also younger than Ali by a few years. She was tender, lean,
and somewhat small in size. She was very close to her father. By now Fatima was reaching the marriageable age.
Fatima had a charming personality
and her presence could always be felt. This delicate and attractive girl was not only tender and pleasing but also tidy and trim. Her closeness to her father was not
on an emotional basis. Rather, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) saw high qualities in her, qualities which would later contribute to Islam. When Muhammad (pbuh) said
فاطمة بضعةٌ مني
VERILY FATIMA
IS A PORTION OF MYSELF
(Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Page 206, Manaaqib Aal Al-Rasool.)
he meant that her
personal qualities were as sublime as his, and that through her, a progeny of the Prophet (pbuh) would come to light. This progeny would become the model for Islamic
teachings, and they would carry on the Islamic Message as intended.
Fatima, always close to her
father, became even closer after her mother had died from the suffering of the boycott only a few years back.
ALLAH'S PERMISSION TO FIGHT
Things in Medina were moving along
well. The Quranic Revelations continued in a steady manner, and a sizable part of the Quran was received by now. The Muslims endured harassment for 13-14 years
because no Revelation had come down to allow them to fight, even for self defense.
To their relief and joy, such a
Revelation finally came down. It came just in time. It was revealed right before the disbelievers of Mecca decided to fight the Muslims and annihilate them. The
Muslims could now defend themselves and stand in the face of aggression. This state of affairs was not expected by the disbelievers of Mecca. They thought
annihilating the Muslims would be easy. They thought the Muslims would continue to be the victims, just as before, without any response.
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