Ali ibn Abi Talib: Difference between revisions

'''Ali ibn Abi Talib''' (عَلِيّ ٱبْن أَبِي طَالِب) was [[Muhammad]]'s cousin and son-in-law, and was the fourth of the "four rightly guided [[caliph]]<nowiki/>s". The [[Shias|Shia]], emphasizing his status as a member of the prophet's family or "household" (''ahl al-bayt''), consider him the first Imam and rightful successor to Muhammad.

Ali was one of the first of Muhammad's contemporaries to accept [[Islam]], had great repute amongst Muhammad's followers, but was ultimately assassinated by a group called the Kharijites during the civil war that erupted upon his ascension to the seat of the caliph. This group of Kharijites were not from among Ali's primary opposition as a caliph (this being Mu'awiyah's supporters), but were rather defectors who had once sided with Ali against Mu'awiyah.

[[Hadith|Hadiths]] and traditions descriptive of and attributed to Ali are among the most contested between [[Sunni]] and Shi'ite sources, as both had and continue to have political and theological stake in the matter.

{{Quote|{{Muslim|9|3601}}. See also [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529140610/https://sunnah.com/muslim/20/24]|Ibrahim al-Taimi reported on the authority of his father:

'Ali b. Abu Talib (Allah be pleased with him) addressed us and said: He who thinks that we (the members of the Prophet's family) read anything else besides the Book of Allah and this Sahifa (and he said that Sahifa was tied to the scabbard of the sword) tells a lie. (This Sahifa) contains (problems) pertaining to the ages of the camels and (the recompense) of the injuries, and it also records the words of the Prophet (ﷺ): Medina is a sacred territory from 'Ayr to Thaur (it is most probably Uhud). He who innovates (an act or practice) or gives protection to an innovator, there is a curse of Allah and that of His angels and that of the whole humanity upon him. Allah will not accept from him (as a recompense) any obligatory act or supererogatory act, and the responsibility of the Muslims is a joint responsibility; even the lowest in rank can undertake the responsibility (on behalf of others), and he who claims anyone else as his father besides his own father or makes one his ally other than the one (who freed him), there is a curse of Allah. that of His angels and that of the whole of mankind upon him. Allah will not accept the obligatory act of the supererogatery act (as a recompense) from him.}}

{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||3|15|1458}}|Narrated 'Ikrimah: That '''Ali burnt some people who apostasized from Islam'''. This news reached Ibn 'Abbas, so he (Ibn 'Abbas) said: "If it were me I would have killed them according to the statement of Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever changes his religion then kill him.' And I would not have burned them because the Messenger of Allah said: 'Do not punish with the punishment of Allah.' So this reached 'Ali, and he said: "Ibn 'Abbas has told the truth." (Sahih)}}