Why The Hatred?
Who is this man and why do they hate him so much? What did he do to make them curse him from the pulpits for over 80 years? Why did they disassociate from him and punish the ones who loved him by death? Some they tortured by cutting out their tongues, others they killed, crucifying them, cutting off their heads and even burying some alive!
What did this man do to them for them to confiscate his wife’s property and source of income, leaving him and his family in the clutches of poverty? Why did they hate him so much that they waged civil wars against him? What drove them to set fire to his house, kicking the door in and smashing his beloved wife in-between, thus killing their unborn child?
Why did they hate him so much that they dragged him by the point of the sword to force his allegiance to the self-appointed ruler of the time? What did this man do to produce such hatred that they killed him while he was in prostration to his Lord?
Was this not the only man ever born inside the Holy Ka’bah? Was not this man raised by the Apostle of Allah (S) since he was five years old, following his every footstep? Was he not the first man to accept the message of Al-Islam? Was he not the first to offer salat with the Messenger of Allah? Was he not the only one, besides Prophet Muhammad (S), who never bowed down before an idol?
Was not this the same man who slept in the bed of the Prophet (S) readily risking his own life for the safety of Allah’s Messenger1? Was not this the greatest warrior in Al-Islam? Did not his steadfastness in battle earn him the title “Lion of Allah”? Was it not him who was the only one from amongst the Muslims to stand up against the pagan warrior, Amr, at the Battle of the Trench? Was it not him who cut this disbeliever in two saving the deen of Al-Islam? Was not this man the one who conquered the Jewish fort of Khaybar after others failed in their attempts?
Was not this man the same one Allah commands us to love in the Holy Qur’an2 , and purified him from all sins3, and made it binding on us to obey him4?
Was it not this man who married the leader of the women of paradise, who gave birth to his two sons, the leaders of the youths of paradise? Was this not the same person the Apostle (S) appointed as his successor on numerous occasions? Was this not the same man upon whom being appointed the successor, Allah perfected the religion5?
Was this not the same person Allah defines as the “self” of the Prophet (S), being that they were created from the same light6?
Was he not the one who, instead of rushing off for political power, stayed with the body of the Prophet (S) and performed his burial rights?
If all this is true, how can these people still hate this man and frown at the mention of his name? Did not the Prophet (S) say that without offering blessings on this man the salat will not be accepted? Was this man any other than the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet (S), ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib (‘a)?