Ali displayed tremendous skill and physical prowess during the
many confrontations with the disbelievers, which surprised everyone except the Prophet (pbuh). Ali was known and distinguished as the hero of heroes and the
unconquerable. Ali was THE DEFENDER OF THE HOLY QURAN as long as it was being revealed, and after the revelations were
completed was THE DEFENDER OF ISLAM AGAINST ALL THOSE WHO MISUSED IT AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SACRED BOOK. Ali was also
the defender of Muhammad (pbuh) wherever Muhammad (pbuh) was.
All this and Ali was only in his twenties!
FATIMA (A.S.) MARRIES ALI (A.S.)
A number of notable Muslims wished to marry Fatima (a.s.) but she
did not accept. When Ali (a.s.) asked, however, the answer was yes.
Once married, Ali and Fatima lived in a modest home across from
the Prophet's house. Their life together was very modest, too, since both Ali and Fatima in their love to help others shared much, if not most of what they
had, with the poor and disadvantaged.
When a man of noble character marries a woman of noble character,
the environment within the house becomes exceptional—of purity, virtue, and righteousness.
And the Prophet (pbuh) often said:
فاطمة سيدة نساء العالمين
VERILY FATIMA IS THE FOREMOST OF WOMEN
(M.
J. Chirri, Amir Al-Mu'mineen Ali.
This Hadith
means that Fatima, Mary (the mother of Jesus the Messiah) along with two other women hold the highest honor in Islam.)
This Hadith meant that
Fatima (a.s.) was the foremost in her goodness of character, purity, piety, and virtue. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would visit their house often and enjoy
conversing with them; thus, the closeness of these three continued on a strong basis.
ALI'S ROLE AT THE BADR CONFRONTATION
Two years had passed since the Muslims left Mecca, and by now the
Meccans, led by Quraish, came with an army to destroy Islam. It was an army of almost 1,000 fighters, fully equipped and well prepared.
The Muslims had to defend Islam and themselves; otherwise they
would be destroyed. The Muslims knew that well. They numbered no more than 313 (The
number of Muslim fighters was 313, but the number of participants was 314. The Prophet (pbuh) was a participant but was not a fighter. He was the leader), who would face
about 1,000. Those few, though not well equipped, had very high spirits.
The place was
Badr,
situated between Mecca and Medina, and it was winter time. The temperature was around 68°
F, and it had just rained. The two forces faced one another, each with a different intention: one to assault, the other to defend; one was pagan, the other
Muslim.
By tradition, the most daring was to come forward and challenge
the other side. Thus, three veteran fighters from Quraish came forward, challenging the Muslims. To meet the challenge, Ali (a.s.), Al-Hamza (a.s.), and
Ibn Al-Harith moved forward and the duels started. Each duel was relentless, and Ali's was first. Ali (a.s.), who was most skillful and incisive, had the
upper hand and slew the challenger in a short time. Al-Hamza (a.s.) did likewise, then Ali helped Ibn Al-Harith to finish off the challenger.
Watching this, an alarmed Quraish led a charge against the Muslims
and the two sides engaged in a ferocious fight. Ali (a.s.) slew a second man, a third, a fourth and kept on and on. The challengers never knew of his
fighting skills before. They only knew Ali had never fought before. But none was a match to Ali, none could stand in his way. He was overwhelming!
Ali gave the disbelievers the surprise of their life. He did not
see just an enemy before his eyes; he and every Muslim saw their enemy as the devil, evil itself, an enemy who was trying to extinguish the light of Allah
(Islam). Each Muslim remembered the 13 years or so of abuses and degrading treatment that they had received at the hands of these disbelievers. Now that
Allah had allowed them to carry arms, they had their first chance, and what a way to express a 13-year build-up of emotion!
Ali (a.s.) was the forerunner. His sword was ready, his hit
incisive and swift, and his charge was like that of a lion; and his fighting skill was something to behold. Though on foot, Ali (a.s.) finished this one,
killed the other, dealt a mortal blow to one, and on and on.
Al-Hamza (a.s.) did exceptionally well too, and so did every other
Muslim. They did a remarkable job on their formidable enemy.
After a few hours, the enemy panicked. Each ran for his life
leaving the wounded and dead behind. They also left behind all their munitions, war material, and belongings, along with 70 prisoners of war!
Seventy disbelievers were killed—a very large number indeed. What
was amazing, however, was that Ali (a.s.) slew about 40% of the enemy. Remarkable! Thus, the charge of Ali (a.s.)
became known as the ruinous charge! The hero of the fight was Ali (a.s.). Ali was brave, fearless, heroic and bold. Ali
came out of this fight without even a scratch. No wounds, no cuts.
Ali's reputation flew high all over the country. He was called the knight of knights and the brave of the braves!! This was especially so after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
nicknamed him
أسد الله
THE LION OF ALLAH
(See
M. J. Chirri, Amir Al-Mu'mineen Ali)
meaning that his bravery and boldness were like the spirit of a
conquering lion.
FATIMA (a.s.) IS EXPECTING
Within a month or two of their marriage Fatima (a.s.) found out
she was pregnant. The news delighted everyone, especially the grandfather-to-be, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It was blissful news to all, and though Badr
gave them much happiness, this news added a great deal of joy on top.
On the 15th of Ramadhan, a baby was born, and he was named Al-Hasan.
The happiness of grandfather (pbuh), father (a.s.) and mother (a.s.), and the happiness of all knew no limits. Al-Hasan was a good looking baby, having
partly the looks of his father Ali (a.s.), and partly the looks of his grandfather, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). There was some degree of grace in him, even at
such an early age.
Within a few months, baby Al-Hasan was able to recognize people
and smile to them. Grandfather, as busy as he was, became attached to Al-Hasan from the very start. He would hold him, kiss him, let him be free to play
with his nose or pull his beard. Thus, the bond between Al-Hasan and the three adults became firmer, not only emotionally but also because of attractive
qualities Al-Hasan was showing.
Not too long afterwards Al-Hasan was able to sit. He had cute
baby teeth, and within a few more months he was crawling energetically.
By the time Al-Hasan was about 5-6 months old and able to sit,
Fatima (a.s.) discovered that she was blessed with her second pregnancy.
ALI'S ROLE IN
THE
OHOD CONFRONTATION
By now Ali (a.s.) was 26 years old, and the Prophet (pbuh) 56
years of age. It was a year since the Badr Confrontation had been fought, but its memory was fresh in everyone's mind. The new danger was a large
force of Meccans, led by a self-serving power-hungry man named Abu Sufyan, which was speeding toward Medina. Its purpose was to revenge Badr and to destroy
the Muslims altogether.
The Muslims began to prepare as fast as they could to confront the
ominous menace. They went to meet the enemy a few miles south of Medina, at a place called Ohod.
The enemy's force numbered 3,000, but the Muslims had mustered
700. Once more, the Muslims were small in number, not as well armed, but high in spirit. Their faith was the source of their strength.
The two sides stood face to face, the Muslims seeing every
disbeliever as the devil incarnate! Fifty of the best Muslim archers were to protect a strategic pass in the mountain, as the Prophet (pbuh) had strictly
ordered. They were to prevent the enemy from attacking the Muslims from behind.
Before the battle broke out, the Meccans (challengers) came
forward in the form of flag bearers. Being a flag bearer was a great honor in those days, and it meant very much, it was for the
very brave. The first of the flag bearers was met by Ali (a.s.) and in a duel of a few minutes, the opposer was slain. This man was followed by
another, then another, and Ali (a.s.) kept slaying one after another (a total of nine). The enemy seeing its flag bearers swiftly killed, became
demoralized. They considered this an unusually bad omen for them.
Seeing this, the disbelievers attacked, and Al-Hamza (a.s.) and
others became involved, as the two sides engaged in a relentless fight. The disbelievers numbered four for every Muslim, but the disbelievers were
psychologically broken, having seen many of their heroes fall dead. The enemy began to lose ground and its fighters were in disarray as they tried to flee.
They ran in all directions, leaving behind their munitions and food supply. The Muslims followed and began to enter the enemy's camp to capture the booty.
But two things happened at this time which proved devastating to
the Muslims.
·First, Al-Hamza (a.s.) was hit with a spear by someone who was hired
by the wife of Abu-Sufyan specifically for that. Al-Hamza was killed instantly. (She was the mother
of Mu'awiya, and an arch enemy of Islam.)
·Second, and more seriously, 4/5th of the fighting Muslim archers
guarding the pass left their post to join the victorious Muslims, despite the Prophet's strict orders to the contrary.
Noticing the weak spot, the enemy overwhelmed the few remaining
archers and attacked the Muslims from the back.
Seeing this, the fleeing enemy up front counterattacked. Now the
Muslims were suddenly under attack both from the front and back. The Muslims found themselves in confusion. They hardly knew who they were fighting, and
within a short time, most of the Muslims dispersed and ran for their lives. These included well-known people and close Companions like Abu Bakr (r), Omar
(r), Ubaida, Talha, and Zubair.
At this moment, Ali's role stood out once more. The Prophet
(pbuh) was wounded, he fell in a pit nearby, and none was there except Ali (a.s.), Abu Dajana, and a few others to protect him.
It was also at this critical moment that a group of disbelievers
attacked with the intent to kill the Prophet (pbuh). Ali (a.s.) sped toward them, single-handedly, killed their leader and forced the rest to flee. This
was followed by a second wave of attackers, then a third, and then a fourth. Each group was repelled by Ali as each swiftly lost its leader and immediately
fled.
As the Muslims regrouped, they repulsed the attacks of the enemy,
and the fight eventually halted. Neither side was a winner. The Muslims lost 10% of its force (a total of 70!). The disbelievers lost a smaller number,
though many of their leaders were killed.
Ali (a.s.) was the one who finished off the flag bearers, and by
doing so he broke the self- confidence of the enemy and paved the way for the Muslims' successfully attack.
Yet, when confusion ensued some time after and the Muslims were
near defeat, Ali was the one who remained steadfast and fearlessly stood by the Prophet no matter what the odds were! He was never unnerved by the near
catastrophic gravity of the moment. It was at such a frightening moment that Ali prevented a certain would-be death to the Prophet (pbuh) by singularly
repulsing the waves of attackers, one after another, and forced them to flee. No wonder he was called:
أسد الله
THE LION OF ALLAH
(See
M. J. Chirri, Amir Al-Mu'mineen Ali)
This is why the Prophet (pbuh) said of him with admiration:
لا فتى إلا علي ولا سيف إلا
ذوالفقار
YET FOR A MAN TO
EQUAL ALI
AND YET FOR A SWORD TO EQUAL ALI'S
SWORD
(See
M. J. Chirri, Amir Al-Mu'mineen Ali)
BACK IN MEDINA
The Muslims returned from the battleground at Ohod greatly
distressed; their faces were somber and their hearts were heavy.
►
They had come very close to losing the
Prophet (pbuh),
►
They had missed a very close victory, and
►
They had lost a good many Muslims,
all because of a seemingly simple mistake. The mistake was caused by
disobeying the strict instructions of Muhammad (pbuh) by the archers who were to guard the strategic pass! This disobedience led to such horrifying
consequences.
AT HOME
At home Ali's solace was baby Al-Hasan, who was walking, running,
and making his mother Fatima run after him. Fatima (a.s.) was due to deliver.
The new baby was a sweet looking boy, he was named Al-Husain.
He looked slightly different from his brother, having more of his father's looks and delineations. The Prophet (pbuh) said the Athan in his right ear and
the Iqaama in his left, just as he had done to Al-Hasan when he was born.
Grandfather Muhammad was drawn to Al-Husain just as he was to his
brother. He visited them almost daily to enjoy them and play with them. He saw them develop and slowly unfold through the various stages of childhood. The
babies added immeasurable source of happiness to their house and the house across the way where grandfather Muhammad lived.
THE NEXT TWO YEARS
Because of the Muslims' setback at Ohod, many tribes near Medina
were emboldened and they attacked the Muslims, destroyed property, or stole their belongings. Therefore the Muslims, with Ali in the lead, were busy
defending their community, or forming preemptive missions to undo their would-be adversaries.
The two years following Ohod were hard and the bitter memory lay
heavy on the hearts of everyone, it was an unsettled time.
At the same time the Quranic Revelations kept coming steadily.
The design and framework for a stable righteous Islamic Community or Ummah
was laid methodically by applying the Directives of the Holy Quran under the leadership and guidance of the Prophet (pbuh).
Al-Hasan and Al-Husain grew into active children, who talked in
sentences at an early age. They were attached to their grandfather Muhammad and he to them. He called them "my children", and would often hug
and kiss them, or tease and play with them. This raised a sense of jealousy with his wife, A'isha, especially when Muhammad (pbuh) was noticed to love,
respect, and deservedly praise Fatima and Ali.
The close relationship between Muhammad (pbuh) and the two
children became a model for other people to emulate. The Muslims started to pay closer attention to their own children and to give them better care. The
close relationship was such that once in a congressional Salat, during Sujood, the Prophet (pbuh) took a long time before sitting up. People wondered if he
was receiving a Revelation. When asked, Muhammad (pbuh) replied, "No, but one of my children was on top of me while I was in Sujood and I dislike to even
disturb him or to make him fall."
ALI'S
ROLE IN
THE
ENCOUNTER
OF THE DITCH
Twenty nine year old Ali (a.s.) was working hard to help dig a 15
foot wide, 15 foot deep ditch which would stretch between two mountains that enclave Medina. This was being done because a very large force from Mecca was
heading toward them. Ali, along with other Muslims, and even the Prophet himself, were in a race with time trying to finish off the ditch that would act as
a barrier from the disbelievers, to protect the Muslims and help prevent war. The forces as organized by and with the help of Jewish tribes were coming to
destroy the Muslims and to end Islam. This force consisted of 10,000 fighters, a size unheard of before.
On the 6th day and shortly before the forces of the disbelievers
arrived the ditch was finished. Heading the force of the disbelievers was Abu Sufyan,
the self-styled, power-hungry, arch enemy of Islam. (Abu Sufyan was the father of Mu'awiya.)
The fifteen hundred Muslims stood on the inner side of the ditch
to defend Medina and the Muslims that were besieged. This siege took a long time.
Abu Sufyan thought of building a bridge over the ditch, or
destroying a section of the ditch but all these unrealistic plans were dropped. Amr
ibn Abd Wid along with two others successfully crossed the ditch at its narrow spot. They wanted to show others that it was possible to cross the
ditch, and where it would be feasible. Everyone was tense and seized with excitement.
THE UNEXPECTED SURPRISE
Unexpectedly Amr ibn Abd Wid
crossed the ditch and Ali (a.s.) immediately saw the danger of this vulnerable spot. Amr's crossing stunned everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, but
Ali's mind went beyond that. Ali immediately took a number of Muslims and stationed them to defend this vulnerable part before the enemy used it to their
advantage. Armed and ready, they were to repulse any of the disbelievers.
While Ali (a.s.) was placing the Muslims in the new defensive
spots, he heard Amr, the arrogant and defiant, screaming for a duel. Amr was known to be the brave and unconquerable, for he had killed every challenger.
Amr had emboldened the enemy and upset the Muslims.
Amr, a big man, with a large slightly curved nose, bushy eyebrows,
and beady eyes, was masculine but with a grotesque and overpowering appearance.
Amr recited a poem in which he bragged that even his voice had
become hoarse from the challenges he had given to the Muslims, yet none dared to take the challenge. In this manner of boasting he was insulting the Muslims
and scaring them.
It was at this moment that Ali arrived, having just finished
stationing the Muslims at the vulnerable point of the Ditch. Ali took permission from the Prophet (pbuh) to fight Amr and rushed to face him.
►
Amr a huge giant-like man faced Ali, a small but muscular
figure, just as Goliath had faced David. Amr scornfully said, "I don't want to kill you, especially since I used to be your father's guest many times!"
(meaning Ali was too insignificant of a fighter). Ali answered, "But I accept your challenge!" Amr, feeling insulted, got furious, and the fight
between the two started. Amr's sword swished through the air, but Ali being swift, avoided the hit. Ali was just too fast for Amr. Ali
moved his sword firmly and incisively and the ominous clanks of the swords could be heard from a distance. The two could hardly be seen because by
their quick movements they stirred a cloud of dust around them. Ali (a.s.) received a small nick on his forehead, during the duel the relentless
attacks of Ali caused Amr to lose balance and fall on his back. Instantly Ali was on top of him saying,
"Will you now say:
لا إله إلا
الله
محمد رسول الله
No deity is
there but Allah
and
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?"
Amr found himself humiliated unexpectedly, for he had been outdone
by a man half his size. Feeling furious, Amr spat in Ali's face. Ali (a.s.) got up, gave the sword back to Amr rather than kill him then and there. Amr,
huffing and buffing from exhaustion, started to fight again, just to see Ali doing the seemingly impossible. soon Amr was hit with Ali's lightning-quick
sword. Amr's vision became blurred, his flabby legs sagged under him, and this ox-sized man fell to the ground with a thud, dead!
Like lightning, Ali fell on this enemy and swiftly killed the giant
hero of the disbelievers.
Ali shouted Allaahu
Akbar.
The spirit of the enemy was immediately crushed, for they knew their unbeatable hero lay dead. Now they could not think a general attack to be possible.
The Muslims became excited and with spirits shooting sky high,
their fear and anxiety were replaced by a spirit of pride and self-confidence.
Within a few weeks, dispirited and feeling low, the enemy left the
area. Grateful to Allah, the Prophet (pbuh) and the happy Muslims also left the area to return to their families. Everyone was thinking, "Ali did it
again", Ali had saved the day, one man had been the undoing of an army, what a feat!
QUESTIONS
Whom did Ali marry?
Was Fatima asked in marriage before she married
Ali?
Describe Badr battle with the disbelievers.
Describe Ali's role in the battle of Badr.
What did the Prophet (pbuh) nick-name Ali at the
battle of Badr?
Who was the first born to Fatima and Ali?
Describe the Ohod Confrontation with the
disbelievers.
What was Ali's role in the Ohod battle?
How was Al-Hamza killed during the battle of Ohod?
What words of admonition did the Prophet (pbuh)
deliver about Ali at the battle of Ohod?
Who was the second son to Fatima and Ali?
How was the relationship of Muhammad (pbuh) to his
grandchildren?
Describe the two years after the Ohod Confrontation
with the disbelievers.
Describe the Ditch Encounter with the disbelievers.
What did Ali immediately do when Amr ibn Abd Wid
crossed the ditch?
Describe how Ali dealt with Amr at the Ditch
Encounter.
After Amr spat in Ali's face, Ali gave Amr the
sword he lost. Why did Ali do that for a second round of fighting?
Why was Amr reputed to be the unconquerable?
Describe the feeling of the disbelievers when their
hero Amr was slain by Ali.
Describe the effect on the Muslims when Amr was
slain by Ali.
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