It is evident to everyone that Imam `Ali was the most pious of his time. He has left behind a heritage of night prayers and supplications. He was so devoted in his prayer that he did not pay attention to anything but Allah. He was detached from the world and so absorbed in Allah that he did not feel the pains. Once he was hit
دُنْيَا غُرِّي غَيْرِي! أَبِي تَعَرَّضْتِ أَمْ إلَيَّ تَشَوَّقْتِ! هَيْهاتَ هَيْهاتَ! قَدْ تُبْتُكِ ثَلاثاً لاَ رَجْعَةَ فِيهَا؛ فَعُمْرُكِ قَصيرٌ، وَخَطَرُكِ كَثيرٌ، وَعَيْشُكِ حَقيرٌ. آهٍ مِنْ قِلَّةِ الزَّادِ وَبُعْدِ السَّفَرِ وَوَحْشَةِ الطَّريقِ.
فَبَكى مُعاوِيَةُ وَقالَ: رَحِمَ اللهُ أَبَا الحَسَنِ، كَانَ وَاللهِ كَذَلِكَ. فَما حُزْنُكَ عَلَيْهِ يَا ضِرارُ؟ قَالَ: حُزْنُ مَنْ ذُبِحَ وَلَدُها فِي حِجْرِها، فَلا تَرْقى عَبْرَتُها وَلا يَسْكُنُ حُزْنُها.
فِي الْحِلْمِ:
لاَ خِلافَ فِي أنَّ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ أَحْلَمَ النَّاسِ. فَإنَّهُ أُخِذَ حَقُّهُ وَقُهِرَ عَلَيْهِ وَمُنِعَ مِنْ مَرْتَبَتِهِ وَصَبَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَكَظَمَ الغَيْظَ وَحَلِمَ.
وَرَوى صَاحِبُ المَناقِبِ عَنْ أَبِي أيُّوبٍ الأنْصارِيِّ: أنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَرِضَ مَرَضَهُ فَأَتَتْهُ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ تَعودُهُ. فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ مَا بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الجَهْدِ وَالضَّعْفِ إسْتَعْبَرَتْ فَبَكَتْ حَتَّى سالَتِ الدُّموعُ عَلَى خَدَّيْها. فَقالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ إنَّ لِكَرامَةِ اللهِ إيَّاكِ زَوَّجْتُكِ مِنْ أقْدَمِهِمْ سِلْماً وَأَكْثَرِهِمْ عِلْماً وَأَعْظَمِهِمْ حِلْماً. إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى إطَّلَعَ إلَى أهْلِ الأَرْضِ إطِّلاعَةً فَاخْتارَنِي مِنْهُمْ فَبَعَثَنِي نَبِيَّاً مُرْسَلاً. ثُمَّ إطَّلَعَ إطِّلاعَةً فَاخْتارَ مِنْهُمْ بَعْلَكِ، فَأَوْحَى إلَيَّ أنْ أُزَوِّجَهُ إيَّاكِ وَأَتَّخِذَهُ وَصِيَّاً وَأَخاً.
فِي الفَضائِلِ البَدَنِيَّةِ:
العِبادَةِ:
وَمِنَ المَعْلومِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ أَحَدٍ أنَّ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ أَعْبَدَ أَهْلِ زَمانِهِ وَمِنْهُ تَعَلَّمَ النَّاسُ صَلاةَ اللَّيْلِ وَالأَدْعِيَةَ الْمَأْثُورَةَ فِيهَا وَالْمُنَاجَاةَ وَالأَدْعِيَةَ فِي الأَوْقاتِ الشَّريفَةِ وَالأَماكِنِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ. وَبَلَغَ فِي العِبـادَةِ إلَى أَنَّهُ إذَا تَوَجَّـهَ إلَى اللهِ تَعالَى فِي صَـلاتِهِ تَوَجَّهَ بِكُلِّيَّتِهِ
with a lance in the leg in one of the battles and no one was able to pull the lance out of his leg because of much pain. It was decided to do so when he was in his prayer. They knew that only in prayer, `Ali’s spirit took distance from his body making him not feel the pain.[149]
Imam Sajjad (a.s) used to perform one thousand Rak`ah prayer, tolerating much hardship. If he was benevolently asked not to tolerate this much hardship, he would say: Have a look at the record of prayer of my grandfather Amir al-Mu’minin. After opening the book and looking like one who was unable to do anything, he would put down the book, saying: Who has the merit of `Ali in praying? What is my prayer as compared to that of my grandfather, `Ali.[150]
Imam Musa ibn Ja`far has been quoted as saying: The verse “You will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure, their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration” (48:29) was revealed in honor and dignity of `Ali.[151]
Ibn `Abbas has been reported as saying: The verse “And they say: we believe in Allah and in the apostle and we obey” (24:47) was revealed in honor of `Ali.[152]
Mujahid has been quoted as saying: The verse “And he who brings the truth and accepts it as truth” (39:33) was revealed in honor of `Ali.[153]
Imam Baqir (a.s) has been quoted as saying: The verse “and he who brings the truth” was revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a) and “accepts it as truth” was revealed in honor of `Ali.[154]
Ibn `Abbas has been reported as saying: The verse “and bow down with those who bow down” (2:43) was exclusively revealed in honor of the Holy Prophet and `Ali, for they were the first who bowed down.[155]
Imam `Ali never abandoned the recommended night prayer even at that most horrible night during Siffin battle, which is called laylat al-harir.
One day, Imam `Ali was involved in the battle of Siffin, he was closely watching the sun to see when it passes by the middle of sky
وَيَنْقَطِعُ نَظَرُهُ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى أنَّهُ لاَ يُدْرِكُ الأَلَمَ لأَنَّ النُّشَّابَ إذَا أُريدَ إخْراجُهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ الشَّريفِ يُتْرَكُ حَتَّى يُصَلّي فَإذَا اشْتَغَلَ بِالصَّلاةِ وَأقْبَلَ عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى أَخْرَجوا الحَديدَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ. وَكَانَ مَوْلانَا زَيْنُ العَابِدينَ صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ يُصَلّي فِي اليَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ أَلْفَ رَكْعَةً وَيَدْعو بِصَحيفَةِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ثُمَّ يَرْمي بِهَا كالْمُتَضَجِّرِ وَيَقُولُ: أنَّى لِي بِعِبادَةِ عَلِيٍّ.
وَكَانَ طَويلَ الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ، كَثيرَ الخُضُوعِ وَالتَّذَلُّلِ فِيهِما.
وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ مَوْلانا مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الكاظِمِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلام أنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعالَى: ﴿تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلاً مِنْ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ﴾ نَزَلَ فِي أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أنَّ قَوْلَه تَعالَى ﴿وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا﴾ أَنَّها نَزَلَتْ فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.
وَعَنِ البَاقِرِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعالَى ﴿وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ﴾ نَزَلَ فِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقَوْلَهُ ﴿وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ﴾ نَزَلَ فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.
وَعَنْ مُجاهِدٍ أَنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعالَى ﴿وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ﴾ نَزَلَتْ فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.
وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعالَى ﴿وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾ نَزَلَ فِي رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاةِ وَالسَّلامِ خَاصَّةً. وَهُما أَوَّلُ مَنْ صَلّى وَرَكَعَ.
وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ صَلاةَ اللَّيْلِ قَطُّ حَتَّى لَيْلَةَ الْهَريرِ.
وَكَـانَ يَوْمـاً فِي حَـرْبِ صِفِّيـنَ مُشْتَغِـلاً بِالْحَـرْبِ وَالقِتـالِ وَكَانَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ
so as to be prepared for prayer. Ibn `Abbas who had him under watch said: O `Ali, why are you looking so much at the sun? The Imam said: To perform prayer. Ibn `Abbas said: Is this a proper time for performing prayer? Imam `Ali said: O Ibn `Abbas! What are we fighting these people for? Is it not for performing the prayer that we are fighting them?[156]
Jihad in the Way of Allah
Muslims unanimously believe that the pillars of Islam were strengthened by the sword of `Ali. In this relation, no one preceded him nor did anyone reach his position after him. He was courageous and valorous in the battlefields, Allah’s sword and remover of sorrow from the face of the Holy Prophet (s.a) in a way he amazed the angels in attacking the atheists.
After the departure of the Holy Prophet (s.a) from this world, Imam `Ali went through trials the most important of which were fighting the breakers of promise (the companions of camel), the deviators (Mu`awiyah and his aides), and apostates (those fighting `Ali in Nahrawan), but Imam `Ali was victorious and reached the highest position.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal reports: Hasan ibn `Ali, following the martyrdom of his father, preached a sermon among people, saying: O people, yesterday, a man departed from among you who had no peer in knowledge in the past nor will have in the future, for he was the foremost. My grandfather, the Messenger of Allah repeatedly entrusted the standard of Islam to him. Gabriel safeguarded him on the right side and Michael safeguarded him on the left side from the harms of enemy. He never backed down in the battlefield till he achieved victory.[157]
Wahidi reports: `Ali, `Abbas and Talhah were engaged in self-glorying. Talhah said: What a better honor is there for me than having the key of God’s House and its opening on my order! `Abbas said: It is an honor for me to provide the Hajj pilgrims with the water of ZamZam which is solely at my disposal! `Ali said: I have no idea of what you are speaking about. But I started to worship Allah six month before other people. I had an active participation in the battlefields in a way God Almighty states: “What! Do you make one
يُراقِبُ الشَّمْسَ. فَقالَ لَهُ ابن عَبَّاسٍ: يَا أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ مَا هَذَا الفعل؟ فَقالَ: انظر إلَى الزوال حَتَّى نصلي. فَقالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: هَلْ هَذَا وَقْتُ صَلاةٍ؟ إنَّ عِنْدَنا لَشُغْلاً بِالقِتالِ عَنِ الصَّلاةِ. فَقالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: فَعَلَى مَا نُقاتِلُهُمْ؟ إنَّما نُقاتِلُهُمْ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ.
فِي الجِهادِ:
لاَ خِلافَ بَيْنَ المُسْلِمينَ كافَّةً أنَّ الدِّين إنَّما تَمَهَّدَتْ قَواعِدُهُ وَتَشَيَّدَتْ أرْكانُهُ بِسَيْفِ مَوْلانا أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عليهِ أَفضَلُ الصَّلاةِ والسَّلامِ لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُ فِي ذَلِكَ سابِقٌ وَلا لَحِقَهُ لاحِقٌ. كَانَ رابِطَ الْجَأْشِ قَوِيَّ الْبَأْسِ سَيْفَ اللهِ وَكاشِفَ الْكُرَبِ عَنْ وَجْهِ رَسُولِ اللهِ. تَعَجَّبَتِ الْمَلائِكَةُ مِنْ حَمْلاتِهِ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكينَ وَابْتُلِيَ بِجِهادِ الْكُفَّارِ وَالْمَارِقينَ وَالْقَاسِطيـنَ وَالنَّاكِثيـنَ.
رَوَى أحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ فِي مُسْنَدِهِ قَالَ: خَطَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ فَقالَ: لَقَدْ فارَقَكُمْ بِالأَمْسِ رَجُلٌ لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُ الأَوَّلُونَ بِعِلْمٍ وَلا يُدْرِكُهُ الآخِرونَ. كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَبْعَثُهُ بِالرَّايَةِ، جِبْريلُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَمِيكائِيلُ عَنْ شِمالِهِ، لاَ يَنْصَرِفُ حَتَّى يُفْتَحَ لَهُ.
وَنَقَلَ الواحِدِيُّ قَالَ: إنَّ عَلِيّاً وَالعَبَّاسَ وَطَلْحَةَ افْتَخَروا. فَقالَ طَلْحَةُ: أنَا صَاحِب البَيْتِ بِيَدي مِفْتاحُهُ. وَقالَ العَبَّاسُ: أنَا صَاحِبُ السِّقايَةِ وَالقائِمُ عَلَيْها. وَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: مَا أَدْري مَا تَقُولانِ، لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتُ سِتَّةَ أشْهُرٍ قَبْلَ النَّاسِ وَأنَا صَاحِبُ الْجِهادِ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَـالَى: ﴿أَجَعَلْتُـمْ سِقَـايَةَ الْحَـاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ
who undertakes the giving of drink to the pilgrims and the guarding of the sacred mosque like him who believes in Allah and the latter day and strives hard in Allah’s way? They are not equal with Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people. Those who believed and fled their homes, and strove hard in Allah’s way with their property and their souls, are much higher in rank with Allah; and those are they who are the achievers of their objects.” (9:19-20)
God Almighty revealed this verse in judgment among them and in honor of `Ali, praising his pride in terms of faith, immigration and fighting in the way of God.[158]
Battle of Badr
What is Badr? Abu’l-Yaq¨an says: Badr is the name of a man of Ghifar, the tribe of Abu-Dharr Ghifari.[159] Shi`bi says: Badr is the name of a well attributed to a man called Badr.[160]
The battle of Badr was the most horrific among the other battles, the first trial of Muslims, and the one taking place vehemently between the Holy Prophet and the atheists of Quraysh.
God Almighty states about the trial of Muslims: “Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse; They disputed with you about the truth after it had become clear, and they went forth as if they were being driven to death while they saw it.” (8:5-6). This battle happened eighteen months after the immigration of the Holy Prophet (s.a) to Medina and `Ali was twenty seven years old.[161]
The atheists of Quraysh insisted on fighting this battle, for they outnumbered the Muslims, though among them, there were far-sighted men who were not ignorant of the consequences of this battle, had taken part reluctantly, had been forced into the battle and challenged only their peers. The Messenger of Allah too warned his army not to fight them, saying: They only challenge their peers. Hence, the first person who was given mission to fight them was `Ali and his match was Walid ibn `Utbah, a man of courage and valor but he was killed by `Ali after a short fighting.[162]
Al-`As ibn Sa`id ibn al-`As was a man of courage and horror. For this reason, no one was ready to fight him. He too was killed by `Ali. [163]
وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ يَسْتَوُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ. الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْفَائِزُونَ…﴾ إلَى قَوْلِهِ: ﴿أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾ فَصَدَقَ اللهُ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي دَعْواهُ وَشَهِدَ لَهُ بِالإيمانِ وَالمُهاجَرَةِ وَالجِهادِ.
وَغَزَواتُهُ مَشْهورَةُ:
فَفِي غَزاةِ بَدْرٍ:
قَالَ أَبُو اليَقْظانِ: إنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ غِفارٍ رَهْطِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الغِفارِيِّ.
وَقالَ الشِّعْبِيُّ: (بَدْرٌ) بِئْرٌ كَانَتْ لِرَجُلٍ يُسَمّى بَدْراً.
وَهَذِهِ الغَزاةُ هِيَ الدَّاهِيَةُ العُظْمى وَأَوَّلُ حَرْبٍ كَانَ بِهِ الإمْتِحانُ حَيْثُ قَالَ الله تَعالَى: ﴿كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ. يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَ مَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ.﴾
كَانَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِ ثَمانِيَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْراً مِنْ قُدومِهِ الْمَدينَةَ وَعُمْرُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ سَبْعَ عَشرَةَ سَنَةً. وَكَانَ الْمُشْرِكونَ قَدْ أَصَرُّوا عَلَى القِتالِ لِكَثْرَتِهِمْ وَقِلَّةِ المُسْلِمينَ، وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ خَرَجَ كارِهاً. فَتَحَدَّتْهُمْ قُرَيْشٌ بِالبِرازِ وَاقْتَرَحَتِ الأَكْفاءَ. فَمَنَعَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَقالَ إنَّ القَوْمَ طَلَبوا الأَكْفاءَ. ثُمَّ أَمَرَ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَبْرُزُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَبارَزَهُ الوَليدُ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ، وَكَانَ شُجاعاً جَريئاً، فَقَتَلَهُ.
وَقَتَلَ العَاصَ بْنَ سَعيدِ بْنِ العاصِ بَعْدَ أنْ أحْجَمَ عَنْهُ النَّاسُ لأَنَّهُ كَانَ هَوْلاً عِظيماً.
Hanzalah ibn Abi-Sufyan too fought `Ali but he was killed. `Ali injured ibn `Adi, too.[164] Then, Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid, who was highly-esteemed and obeyed by people of Quraysh, entered the battle. Nawfal was very clever and a mischief-maker and the one who had tied down Abu-Bakr and Talhah with a rope and had tortured them till he set them free with the mediation of others.[165]
Once the Messenger of Allah found out that Nawfal had taken part in this battle, he raised his hands in prayer, saying: O Lord, eradicate him. Soon, he was killed by Imam `Ali in a hand to hand fighting. After Nawfal’s perdition, the Holy Prophet said: Who will bring me the news of Nawfal? `Ali said: O Messenger of Allah, I killed him. While rejoicing and saying: Allah is the Greatest, the Holy Prophet said: Thanks Lord who answered my prayer.[166]
Imam `Ali was in the front line of the battle fighting the atheists of Quraysh and killing them one after the other. In this battle, seventy of Quraysh leaders were killed by `Ali and the rest were killed by Muslims and three thousand angels who had taken part in the battle.[167]
Following the killing of seventy courageous men of Quraysh, the Holy Prophet (s.a) threw a handful of small sands on them, saying: May your faces turn ugly thereby they were all defeated and started fleeing.[168]
source : http://www.maaref-foundation.com
