Ali's Election
After Uthman's martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained
unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should
take up the office, but he was embarrassed by the fact thatthe people
who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at
first. When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him)
urgedhim, however, he finally agreed.
Ali's Life
Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (peace be on
him). More than that, he had grown up in the Prophet's own household,
later married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and remained in closest
association with him for nearly thirty years.
Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Muhammad (peace
be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing
and prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their
actions. The Prophet told him that they were praying to God Most High
and that Ali too should accept Islam. Ali said that he would first
like to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night, and in
the morning he went to the Prophet and said, "When God created me He
did not consult my father, so why should I consult my father inorder
to serve God?" and he accepted the truth of Muhammad's message.
When the Divine command came,"And warn thy nearest relatives"
[26:214], Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for a meal.
After it was finished, he addressed them and asked, "Whowill join me
in the cause of God?"There was utter silence for a while, and then Ali
stood up. "I am the youngest of all present here," he said, "My eyes
trouble me because they are sore and mylegs are thin and weak, but I
shalljoin you and help you in whatever way I can." The assembly broke
up in derisive laughter. But during the difficult wars in Mecca, Ali
stood by these words and faced all the hardships to which the Muslims
were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophet when the Quraish
planned to murder Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet entrusted,
when he left Mecca, the valuables which had been given to him for
safekeeping, to be returned to their owners.
Apart from the expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early
battles of Islam with great distinction, particularly in the
expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud he
received more than sixteen wounds.
The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many
fond names. Once the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He
brushed off Ali's clothes and said fondly, "Wake up, Abu Turab (Father
of Dust)." The Prophet also gave him the title of 'Asadullah' ('Lion
of God').
Ali's humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur'an and his
sagacity gave him great distinction among the Prophet's Companions.
Abu Bakr, 'Umar and Uthman consulted him frequently during their
caliphates. Many times 'Umar hadmade him his vice-regent at Medina
when he was away. Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature
and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches,
sermons and letters served for generations afterward as modelsof
literary expression. Many of hiswise and epigrammatic sayings have
been preserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality. In
spite of these attainments he remained a modest and humble man. Once
during his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man
stood up in respect and followed him. "Do not do it," said Ali. "Such
mannersare a temptation for a ruler and adisgrace for the ruled."
Ali and his household lived extremely simple and austere lives.
Sometimes they even went hungry themselves because of Ali's great
generosity, and none who asked for help was ever turned away from his
door. His plain, austere style of living did not change even when he
was ruler over a vast domain.
Ali's Caliphate
As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly.
Uthman's murder andthe events surrounding it were a symptom, and also
became a cause, of civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the
tragic situation was mainly due to ineptgovernors. He therefore
dismissed all the governors who had been appointed by Uthman and
appointed new ones. All the governors excepting Muawiya, the governor
of Syria, submitted to his orders. Muawiya declined to obey until
Uthman's blood was avenged. The Prophet's widow Aisha also took the
position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial/
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