Islam is a discipline of life

Islam is a discipline of life, which is in consonance with the human nature, and the temperament of the Universe. It does not neglect the requirements of nature at any stage. The aims of Islam and the Nature are identical and their destination is the same! Therefore, in the Holy Qur’an “Din-Religion” is also called Islam:

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلامُ.

The Religion for Allah is only Islam. (3:19)

It is described as Nature too.

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا.

Turn your face from everything else and turn towards ‘Din’. This is the ‘Nature’ of Allah on which men are created. (30:30)

The Prophet of Islam (a.s) says:

Every child is born on ‘Nature.’[1]

Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked, “What is ‘Nature’? He replied,

“It is only Islam!”

When Islam is Nature and Nature is Islam, then being born on ‘nature’ will mean that every child, whether he is born to Muslim parents or not, is a Muslim at birth. When he comes under the influence of the non-Muslim parents, and their society, he picks up thoughts and ways of that environment. He moves away from the way of ‘Nature’ and adopts the way of his ‘parents’ and starts practicing their faith. If a child gets the right environment after birth, he will then, having taken birth on ‘Nature’ will be attached to Islam internally and externally.

`Ali (a.s) was born on the Din al-Fitrah and received his upbringing in such a congenial environment that in accordance wit his own words:

“I was born on the Din al-Fitrah and therefore I had precedence In Faith and Hegira.”[1]

From his early days `Ali (a.s) was with the Prophet (a.s). He received his upbringing under the watchful eyes of the Prophet (a.s) and followed his thoughts and beliefs. He never had anything to do with infidelity and idolatery. Therefore, Ahmad ibn Zainy Dahlan writes:

“`Ali was never under the influence of polytheism because he was under the care and supervision of the Prophet (a.s) like his own son. He emulated him in all matters.”[2]

Once Sa`id ibn Musayyab asked Imam Zayn al-`Abidin (a.s) at what age `Ali (a.s) embraced Islam? The Imam (a.s) replied,

Was he ever an infidel that you ask such a question? However, when Allah had Ordained Muhammad (a.s) the Prophet, `Ali (a.s) was ten years old and he was not an infidel then!”[3]

This question can be asked only about the persons who were infidels and polytheists and had embraced Islam leaving behind their evil ways. If `Ali (a.s) is recognized as the first to embrace Islam, and the earliest Muslim, it is because when the Prophet (a.s) was Ordained in to the Faith, he was the first to endorse his allegiance. Even otherwise `Ali (a.s) was on the same Faith as was the Prophet (a.s) prior to his Annunciation!

After the Annunciation, the Prophet (a.s) started his campaign of propagation of the Faith from his home only. It is quite natural that the best persons to vouch for the honesty and integrity are the immediate members of his family. Therefore, when the Voice of Islam had not yet left the four walls of the Prophet’s home Khadijah and `Ali (a.s), who was eagerly waiting the felicitous moment, embraced Islam. Neither `Ali (a.s) doubted the veracity of the claims of the Prophet (a.s), as some others did later on, nor did he express surprise over his claims. These two personalities were the closest to the Prophet (a.s) and had precedence over all the others in embracing the True Faith! Amir al-Mu’minin says:

“At that time Islam was not there in any place outside the four walls of the Prophet (a.s) And Khadijah’s home. However the third Person in their group was I.”[4]

Besides this precedence in embracing Islam, these two had the privilege of being the first to offer the Islamic Prayer along with the Prophet (a.s). For a long time after the Annunciation, these were the only two who were seen praying along with the Prophet (a.s). Therefore, Isma`il ibn Iyas says that his grandfather, `Afif, narrated that he used to visit Makkah for trading and used to be the guest of `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib. Once, near the Ka`bah he spotted a handsome, young person looking towards the sun and then facing the Ka`bah, saying “allahu-akbar”. In a while, a child came and stood on the right behind the young person. Then a lady came and stood behind both of them. The young person did a genuflection and both the persons behind him followed suit. When he raised his head, they did the same. Then he prostrated and the two behind him prostrated too. `Afif was much impressed with this way of offering prayer. He asked `Abbas, who those three persons were? He informed, “The youth is my nephew Muhammad (a.s) ibn `Abdullah, the child is another nephew of mine, `Ali (a.s) ibn Abi-Talib and the lady is the wife of Muhammad (a.s), Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Muhammad (a.s) has advised me that this method of prayer was communicated to him by Allah!” He added:

“By Allah! I do not know if there is another person, besides these three, on the face of the earth who is a follower of this Faith.”[1]

When `Afif became a Muslim later on, he used to say with great craving:

“How I wish I had embraced Islam on that Day to be the third person to join the Fold.”[2]

`Afif had witnessed the scene when on the land, and under the sky, there were only three persons praying to Allah and he always nursed the feeling of regret that if he had received the Guidance, he would have become the fourth person in the Faith and his name would have gone down in the roster of Muslims after `Ali (a.s) and Khadijah (a.s). If someone else had embraced Islam in that period, his name too would have appeared in these narrations. `Abbas too mentioned only the names of these in his narration. Precedence in Islam of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) has been recognized by almost all the historians and biographers. Therefore, Ibn Husham says:

“Amongst men the first person to embrace Islam, to join him in his prayer and witness what all Allah sent through the Prophet (a.s) was `Ali (a.s). At that time his age was ten years.”[1]

In this regard, the evidences of certain important companions of the Prophet (a.s) too are mentioned here:

The Prophet (a.s) himself said:

“The first Muslim amongst you is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[2]

Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) says:

“I was the first to embrace Islam on the call of the Prophet (a.s).”[3]

`Abdullah ibn `Abbas says:

“First of all `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s) embraced Islam.”[4]

Abū-Dharr al-Ghifari says:

“I have heard the Prophet (a.s) say to `Ali (a.s), ‘You were the first to accept the Faith and bear my witness.’”[5]

Salman al-Farisi says:

“In this Ummah the first to reach near the Prophet (a.s) at the Cistern of Kawthar and the first to embrace Islam is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[6]

Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari says:

“The first person to profess Faith on the Prophet (a.s) was `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[7]

Zayd ibn Arqam says:

“The first to witness faith on the Prophet (a.s) was `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s).”[8]