Sayyiduna Ali Murtadha radi allahu anhu - The Fourth Caliph of Islam
ELECTIONS
After Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) passed away,
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was elected as the fourth
Caliph by the Muslims. During the period of the first three
Caliphs, Madinatul Munawwarah continued to be the capital of
the Muslim world, but Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu)
transferred the Islamic capital to Kufah in Iraq.
EARLY LIFE
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was the son of Abu Taalib,
an uncle of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam). Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was married to
Sayyadah Bibi Fathima (radi Allahu anha), the daughter of
Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They
had 3 sons, Sayyiduna Hassan, Sayyiduna Hussain and
Sayyiduna Mohsin (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).Sayyiduna Ali
(radi Allahu anhu) took part in the battle of Badr, Khandaq
and Khaibar. At Khaibar, it was Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu
anhu) who subdued the Jews with his furious assault. He also
held many important positions during the time of Sayyiduna
Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and the first 3
Caliphs before him.
He had a love for learning and was a great and learned
person himself. He had been given the title of "Baabul I'lm"
or "Gate of Learning" by Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). He was also called "Asaadullah" or "Lion
of Allah."
OPPOSITION
The situation in Madinatul Munawwarah after the murder
(Shahaadah) of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) was
serious. Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu's) first task was
to rid Madinatul Munawwarah of the rebels and to return the
situation to normal.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was able to force the
rebels to withdraw from Madinatul Munawwarah and to
establish peace and order in the city. The powerful governor
of Syria, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu), challenged
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and refused to pay homage
to him. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) insisted that
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) arrest the murderers of
Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu) and hand them over to
him.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was a man with a deep sense
of justice and did not want to accuse the wrong people. He
needed a peaceful period to trace the culprits. But,
Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) began accusing him of
protecting the murderers, and in this way the old enmity
between the two families were revived.
SAYYIDUNA MU'AWIYAH (RADI ALLAHU ANHU)
Unlike most of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu's)
governors, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) displayed
great administrative ability and was very popular. He was a
God-fearing man and especially known for his mercy.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was very strict in piety
and straight forward. Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu)
declared his disobedience to him, because he felt that he
was better qualified to lead the Muslim world.
BATTLE OF THE CAMEL
Another serious development took place. Sayyadah Aishah
(radi Allahu anha) and two leading Sahaba, Sayyiduna Talha
and Sayyiduna Zubair (radi Allahu anhuma) declared their
opposition to the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu
anhu). They left Madinatul Munawwarah for Makkatul
Mukarramah and from there travelled to Basrah where they
rallied men and new supporters.
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) had to crush all
opposition. A bloody battle took place near Basrah on the
9th of December 656 A.C. This battle was sparked off by a
third force who were the real troublemakers. Just before the
battle, both parties had already reached an agreement to
settle the dispute. But this third force, the real
assassinators of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhu),
launched an overnight attack on both camps simultaneously.
Each side were under the impression that the other had
attacked. The battle began. Several thousand men were lost
including the two Sahaba. Sayyadah Aishah (radi Allahu anha)
was safe. She was riding a camel during the battle-hence the
name "Battle of the Camel." Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu)
treated her in a most noble and dignified manner and
respectfully sent her back to Madinatul Munawwarah. She
praised him and deeply regretted opposing Sayyiduna Ali
(radi Allahu anhu). Kufa was now made the capital of the
Islamic world.
BATTLE OF SIFFIN
Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) rallied an army to
face Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). A battle took place
at Siffin on the Syrian border in the July of 567 A.C.
Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) was no match for
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and began to retreat. By
the clever proposal of Sayyiduna Amr bin Al As (radi Allahu
anhu), the retreating army raised pieces of the Holy Quran
on their spears demanding judgement between the two parties.
Many pious Muslims on the side of Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu
anhu) refused to fight seeing the Holy Quran displayed in
the air.
JUDGEMENT
Two men, one from each side, were appointed to settle the
dispute. Sayyiduna Abu Musa (radi Allahu anhu), a pious
Sahaba from Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu's) side, and the
skilled Sayyiduna Amr (radi Allahu anhu) from Sayyiduna
Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu's) side. Sayyiduna Musa (radi
Allahu anhu) declared in front of the Muslims that it was
decided to recommend the removal of both Sayyiduna Ali and
Sayyiduna Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhuma) and that the
Muslims should select another man for the Khilaafat.
Sayyiduna Amr (radi Allahu anhu) replied that: "He has
declared the removal of his leader, while I would conform
Muaawiyah as the Caliph." Chaos followed.
KHAARIJEES
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) prepared to meet Sayyiduna
Muaawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) again in battle, but he was
moved from his task by a serious conflict that occurred
among his men. Some narrow-minded people accused Sayyiduna
Ali (radi Allahu anhu) of accepting a man-made judgement.
Their slogan was: "There is no judgment but with Allah."
They declared that Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Muaawiyah and
Sayyiduna 'Uthman (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in) were
unbelievers and that Jihad should be declared against them.
Ever since this event, they have been known as the
"Khaarijees", which means, "those who left the fold." They
maintained that the Khilaafat should be given to the most
eligible Muslim, regardless of his origin. The Kharijees are
not regarded as Muslims.
ASSASSINATION
On the 17th of July 659 A.C., Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu
anhu) overcame the Khaarijees in a battle near Nahrawan, in
which, it is said, that 40 000 lives were lost.
In the early morning of the 24th of January 661 A.C., Abdul
Rahman bin Muljim, a Khaariji fanatic lay in ambush in the
Masjid of Kufah and stabbed Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu)
when he entered the musjid. He passed away from the wound.
He was 63 years old.
PERSONAL LIFE
Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) lived a simple life. He
refused any luxury food and wore simple clothes thinking of
the poor. He should sleep on the ground and even sit on the
floor. He repaired his own clothes and shoes and even did
manual labour. He spent nights in Salaah and should fast for
three days in a row. Honesty, piety, justice and love of
truth were the main marks of his character.