Imam Ali b. Abi Talib

ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Arabic: عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; c. 600 – 661 CE) was the last Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, the successor state to the Islamic prophet Muhammad's political dominions. He is considered by Shia Muslims to be the first Imam, the rightful religious and political successor to Muhammad.

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Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It has been narrated in al-Kafi concerning prayers in the month of Ramadan, that Imam Ali (as) near the end of his life would recite 1000 rakats during the day and night (meaning in a 24hr period).

The possibility of this is improved when the time of each rakat is adjusted. If each rakat took 15 seconds it would take around 4hrs if someone was constantly praying. If it took 30 seconds the 1000 rakats would take around 8hrs, and so on. 

May you always be successful

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I think it is good to look at these texts with a proverbial grain of salt and in the historical context, including but not limited to a common trend of denigrating certain enemies of the Imams (A) on the grounds that they were illegitimate, as well as a heavily tribal culture where once's ancestry generally affected one's social identity and life opportunities. In the time of the later Imams, there seems to have been a particularly strong focus on one's paternal ancestry.

Infants are obviously not born with a conscious hatred of Imam Ali (A) since they have to learn first who he is, and their opinions of him are generally shaped according to what they are told. Of course, one could argue that on an existential level, we encounter Imam Ali (A) prior to birth and thereby develop some relationship. One could also argue that one is born with an inherent disposition towards or against what he stood for (justice, truth, etc). Still, one finds, in practice, many people who are not born within the context of a marriage who do have a strong love for Imam Ali, and many people historically who were born within the context of a marriage who fought him. So it is worth considering these statements in more of a historical/cultural context rather than as absolutes.

It is more difficult to comment in practice regarding the latter since most people don't know whether or not they were conceived during that time. However one can glean the general idea that what happens during conception/pregnancy can leave an imprint on the child, and so one who is siring/carrying a child should be thoughtful of that. 

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Imam Al Mahdi (ATFS) will come to establish peace and justice all over
the world. He will not fight with people and will never endanger the
life of anyone except those who fight against him. Our responsibility
is to prepare ourselves to be strong practicing believers. Our real 
strength depends on th degree of our Imaan (Faith).

The secret of the strength of Imam Ali (AS) is his greatest degree of
humbleness to Allah (SWT) which is next only to the greatness of the
Holy Prophet (SAWA). And when we are unable to know the greatness of
the Holy Prophet (SAWA) and Imam Ali (AS) because of our limited
abilities of understanding, there is no question for us to understand
the secret of his extra-ordinary strength and power but only to say
that it is linked with his great humbleness and faith in Allah SWT).

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 anni fa

Allah (SWT) , The Glorious, gives names to his most humble servants as we
read in the Holy Qur’an that Allah (SWT) gave names to Prophet Isaa (AS)
and Prophet Yahya (AS) was given by Allah SWT, The Glorious. How did
this name was conveyed, it is a matter known to Allah (SWT) who gave the
name to the Holy Prophet (SAWA) when he was born. The names of all the
children of Imam Ali (AS) and Lady Fatemah (SA), i.e. Imam Hasan
(AS), Imam Husain (AS) , Lady Zainab (AS) and Hazrat Mohsin (AS) were
given by Allah SWT.

Wassalam.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 4 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There are traditions in Manaqib Al Abi Talib, vol 2, p 135; al-Burhan fi tafsir al-Qur'an, vol 3, p 578 and Bihar al-anwar vol 38, p 76 to the effect that Imam Ali (as) climbed on the shoulders of the Prophet (saw) to destroy the idol hubl (which was the biggest of the idols).

Below is one of the traditions in Manaqib Al Abi Talib:

May you always be successful.

أَبُو بَكْرٍ الشِّيرَازِيُّ فِي نُزُولِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي شَأْنِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏ دَخَلْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ مَكَّةَ وَ فِي الْبَيْتِ وَ حَوْلَهُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ سِتُّونَ صَنَماً فَأَمَرَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَأُلْقِيَتْ كُلُّهَا لِوُجُوهِهَا وَ كَانَ عَلَى الْبَيْتِ صَنَمٌ طَوِيلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ هُبَلُ فَنَظَرَ النَّبِيُّ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ وَ قَالَ لَهُ يَا عَلِيُّ تَرْكَبُ عَلَيَّ أَوْ أَرْكَبُ‏ عَلَيْكَ‏ لِأُلْقِيَ هُبَلَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَلْ تَرْكَبُنِي فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ عَلَى ظَهْرِي لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ حَمْلَهُ لِثِقَلِ الرِّسَالَةِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَرْكَبُكَ فَضَحِكَ وَ نَزَلَ وَ طَأْطَأَ لِي ظَهْرَهُ وَ اسْتَوَيْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ لَوْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُمْسِكَ السَّمَاءَ لَأَمْسَكْتُهَا بِيَدِي فَأَلْقَيْتُ هُبَلَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ وَ قُلْ جاءَ الْحَقُّ وَ زَهَقَ الْباطِلُ إِنَّ الْباطِلَ كانَ زَهُوقاً

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 4 anni fa

The verse ( Surely, your only masters are Allah, His messenger, and Those who establish prayers and give Zakat during Rokoo’) (5:55) was revealed when Ali (AS) gave his ring to a poor person during Rokoo’.

This fact is mentioned in many Sunni books like: 

1. Al-Majma’ Al-Awsat by al-Tabaraani , Hadeeth number 6414.

2. Al-Majma’ Al-Kabeer by al-Tabaraani, Hadeeth number 948.

3. Tafseer al-Tabari, Vol 6, page 389 ( Arabic).

4. Tafseer al-Dorr al-Manthour by Al-Soyooti, 2: 293.

5. Tafseer ibn Katheer, 7:394.

6. Tafseer al-Qurtobi , 6:221.

7. Tafseer ibn Abi Haatam , Hadeeths 6583, 6585 and 6587.

8. Ma’rifat al-Sahabah by Abi Na’eem, Hadeeth 815.

9. Ma’rifat Oloom Al-Hadeeth by Al- Hakim, Hadeeth 210.

10. Hilyat al-Awliyaa’ , Hadeeth 3835.

11. Tafseer al-Baidhaawi in Tasfeer of 5:55.

12. Tafseer al-Fakhrudin Al-Raazi, 12: 25 to 31.

13. Noor al-Absaar by Shiblanji , page 86 and 87.

14. Tafseer al-Kashshaaf by Al-Zamakhshari, 1: 624.

15. Kanz al-Ommal, 13:108

and many other books.

Wassalam.

58318

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 4 anni fa

Bismillāh 

Thank you for your question. There is no correct chain for this Khutbah and so its contents have to be affirmed through other traditions or rational proofs. There are differences in opinion among the scholars as to how much or what parts are acceptable and what are not, based on their understanding of the stations of the Infallibles (as).

May you always be successful 

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 anni fa

1. Imam Ali (AS) did not marry any woman when his wife Lady Fatima Al-Zahra (AS) was alive.

2. After the martyrdom of Fatima Al-Zahra (AS), and according her will, Imam Ali (AS) got married with Umamah Bint Abi Al-Aas, who was daughter of Zainab, one of the three fostered daughters of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

Umamah remained with Imam Ali (AS) till his martyrdom.

3. Asmaa’ Bint Omais who was widow of Jafar Ibn Abi Talib, then was married under duress  to Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah of the Saqeefa. She had from Abu Bakr a son called Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, who was brought up by Imam Ali (AS) and became  one of the best of his followers.

4. Ummul Banin Bint Hizaam al-Kalbiyyah, mother of the great Saheed Abul Fadhl Al-Abbas and his three brothers who were martyred in Karbala.

5. Layla Bint Masood.

6. Um Sa’eed Bint Orwa al-Thaqafi.

7. Khawlah Bint Jafar ibn Qays.

8. Al-Sahbaa’ Bint Rabee’ah.

9. Mihyaat Bint Emri’ Al-Qays.

Wassalam.

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 4 anni fa

According to Shaykh al-Mufid (Kitab al-Irshad):

The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, had twenty-seven children, male and female:

1. Al-Ḥasan

2. Al-Ḥusayn

3. Zaynab the elder

4. Zaynab the younger, who was given the kunya Umm Kulthūm.

Their mother was Fāṭima, the blessed, mistress of the women of the worlds, daughter of the master of those sent by Allāh and the seal of the prophets, the Prophet Muhammad.

5. Muḥammad, who was given the kunya Abū al-Qāsim. His mother was Khawla, daughter of Ja‘far b. Qays al-Ḥanafī.

6. ‘Umar

7. Ruqayya They were twins.

Their mother was Umm Ḥabīb, daughter of Rabī‘a.

8. Al-‘Abbās

9. Ja‘far

10. ‘Uthmān

11. ‘Abd Allāh

(The last four) were martyrs with their brother al-Ḥusayn on the plain of Karbalā’. Their mother was Umm al-Banīn, daughter of Ḥizām b. Khālid b. Dārim.

12. Muḥammad, the younger, who was given the kunya Abū Bakr.

13. ‘Ubayd Allāh

Both of these were martyrs with their brother al-Ḥusayn on that plain. Their mother was Layla, daughter of Mas‘ūd al-Dārimī.

14. Yaḥyā

His mother was Asmā ̓, daughter of ‘Umays al-Khath‘amī, may Allāh be pleased with her.

15. Umm al-Ḥasan

16. Ramla

The mother of these two was Umm Sa‘īd, daughter of ‘Urwa b. Mas‘ūd al-Thaqafī.

17. Nafīsa

18. Zaynab, the youngest

19. Ruqayya, the younger

20. Umm Hānī ̓

21. Umm al-Kirām

22. Jumāna, who was given the kunya Umm Ja‘far.

23. Umāna

24. Umm Salama

25. Maymūna

26. Khadīja

27. Fāṭima

These, the blessings of Allāh be on them, had different mothers. Among the Shī'a, there are those who mention that Fāṭima, the blessing of Allāh be on her, after the Prophet had a miscarriage with a son, whom the Prophet, may Allāh bless Him and His Family, had (already) named during her pregnancy as Muḥsin. 

According to this group there were twenty-eight children of the Commander of the Faithful, the blessing and peace of Allāh be on him. Allāh knows and judges best.

(End quotation from Kitab al-Irshad)

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 4 anni fa

Imam Ali (AS) was buried in Najaf , in Iraq, and his grave in Najaf was visited by infallible Imams, so there is no question of any other place. Nevertheless, history says that a Sayyed pious person by similar name, Sayyed Ali son of Sayyed Abu Talib (Ali Ibn Abi Talib), was buried in Afghanistan before about five hundred years from now which means 8 to 9 centuries after the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS) . Muslims of the area saw many blessings from visiting his grave and built on his grave a big Masjid and the whole city then was called Mazar Shareef.

Wassalam.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 4 anni fa

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The relationship Imam Ali (as) had with the first three Caliphs was cordial, but that doesn’t mean that he condoned their usurping the Caliphate. Rather, the Imam (as) was careful not to sow the seeds of discord in the Muslim Community and after the people had decided not to follow the advice of the Prophet (saw), he worked for Islam within the parameters of the situation he faced. The Shia disapprove of the actions of first three Caliphs as they went against what they consider the express guidance of the Prophet (saw).

May you always be successful.

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 4 anni fa

Although this statement is popularly attributed to Imam 'Ali (A), as far as I know, there is no source clearly relating this source from Imam 'Ali (A).

However, if I recall correctly, it is attributed to him (without a chain of narration or the like) by Ibn Abi al-Hadid in Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah.

It is also attributed to Plato by some other classical Arab authors.

Allah knows best.