A prelude to the 7th-century ‘Battle of Nahrawan’ led by Hazrat Ali (a.s), it remains a powerful anecdote highlighting the multiple qualities of the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
As Muslims celebrate Hazrat Ali's birth anniversary on the 13th day of the Islamic month, ‘Rajab ul Murajab’, observed in Pakistan today (Tuesday), scores of pilgrims have visited the Holy Kaaba in Makkah to pay their respects.
It was here around 600 AD when Bibi Fatima binte Asad, the mother of Hazrat Ali (a.s) while performing the ‘tawaaf’ (circumambulation) entered the Holy Kaaba through a split wall and gave birth to the youngest of her sons.
The life of Hazrat Ali (a.s), which began from the Holy Kaaba is widely remembered as a shining example of courage, wisdom and knowledge. During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Hazrat Ali (a.s) remained on his side as the Prophet’s (pbuh) deputy. His relationship with the prophet was further consolidated when Hazrat Ali married Bibi Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Bibi Khadija.
On his own, Hazrat Ali (a.s) is widely remembered for living up to his claim "Saluni, Saluni qabla 'an tafqiduni" (Ask me before I am not amongst you) underlining his status as the fountain of unlimited knowledge.
Time and again, a galaxy of notable scholars and interested individuals have studied ‘Nahjul Balagha’ – a book originally compiled in Arabic and translated into other languages containing the letters, commandments and lectures of Hazrat Ali (a.s) delivered to his followers.
In one widely recorded event just ahead of the Battle of Nahrawan, a fortune teller approached Hazrat Ali (a.s) and urged him to delay the encounter as his stars dictated against going into battle. Hazrat Ali (a.s) rejected that advice and rode into battle leaving his destiny to Allah, before returning with a conclusive victory.
From a force of about 4,000 fighters against Hazrat Ali in that conflict, a third surrendered while most of the others were killed or captured. The victory of Hazrat Ali in that battle is still remembered among the finest examples of leadership, rarely seen in the history of Islam.
In rejecting astrological guidance, Hazrat Ali (a.s) was famously quoted in historical texts where he said; “Do you think you can tell the time when a man goes out and no evil befalls him, or can warn of the time at which if one goes out, harm will accrue? Whoever testifies to this, falsifies the Quran and becomes unmindful of Allah in achieving his desired objective and in warding off the undesirable”.
Away from the battlefield, Hazrat Ali (a.s) laid the foundation of a structure of the state during his caliphate, that remains widely acknowledged to this day as an ideal framework for running a fair government.
Historians have frequently cited a letter written by Hazrat Ali (a.s) to one of his closest companions, Maalik al-Ashtar upon the latter’s appointment as the governor of Egypt – then a province of the Islamic empire. The letter remains a widely quoted example of guidelines for the successful administration of an Islamic state.
In addressing Malik al-Ashtar, Hazrat Ali (a.s) wrote: “ The richest treasure that you may covet would be the treasure of good deeds. Keep your desires under control and deny yourself that which you have been prohibited from, for by such abstinence alone you will be able to distinguish between what is good to them [citizens] and what is not”. He went on to add: “Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them. Do not behave with them like a barbarian, and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them”.
Inspired by Hazrat Ali’s guidance, the late Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations publicly acknowledged the contribution of Hazrat Ali (a.s) in presenting the ideal framework of a state structure.
“The Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib is considered the fairest governor who appeared during human history (after Prophet Muhammad)”, said a UN declaration overseen by Annan. During Kofi Annan’s tenure, the UN urged Arab countries to use the letter Hazrat Ali (a.s) wrote to Malik al-Ashtar as a model to be embraced in running their own governments.
Throughout history, well-placed individuals have praised Hazrat Ali (a.s) recognising his multi-faceted personality.
Edward Gibbons, the famous 18th-century English historian and politician wrote: “He [Hazrat Ali ] united the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings". And Washington Irving, the respected American writer wrote; “He [Hazrat Ali ] possessed the three qualities most prized by the Arabs: courage, eloquence, and munificence".
A widely read book titled ‘The Voice of Human Justice: A Biography of Imam Ali’ originally published as ‘Sautul Adalatil Insaniyah’ in Arabic by Lebanese Christian scholar George Jordac, presented a detailed account of the values of justice articulated by Hazrat Ali (a.s) for all times to come. Jordac wrote; “Ali occupies the highest position not only among the philosophers of Islam but also among the unique personalities of the human race. Philosophy comes into existence by means of wisdom and intelligence and strong power of perception and inference. A philosopher is he who mentioned a number of important matters in a brief narrative and endeavours to live according to his words”.
As Muslims today face unprecedented challenges around the world, notably the carnage of more than 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza since late 2023, it is time for contemporary Muslim governments to draw lessons from the wisdom and courage of Hazrat Ali (a.s). Throughout the previous centuries, titles such as Asadullah (the lion of Allah) and Fataeh Khyber (conqueror of the Jewish-held fort of Khyber outside Madinah) bestowed upon Hazrat Ali (a.s) have repeatedly drawn inspiration from his many virtues, remembering Hazrat Ali (a.s) as a towering figure for all times to come.
The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist who writes on political and economic affairs. He can be reached at: farhanbokhari@gmail.com
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