Hazrat Ali’s martyrdom

The words spoken memorably by Hazrat Ali (a.s) after he was struck with a poison-laced dagger more than 1300 years ago, remain well preserved as evidence of the rich wisdom of one of the most towering personalities in history.

“Fuztu wa Rabbil Kaa’ba” (By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded) he announced immediately, as he lay in the lap of his son Imam Hasan (a.s), blood profusely oozing from his forehead. As Muslims begin three days of mourning today (Ramazan 19) remembering the terrible injury to Hazrat Ali (a.s) that led to his martyrdom just two days later on the 21st of Ramazan, historical accounts recall his powerful legacy.

The occasion draws scores of visitors to his final resting place in Najaf, Iraq and nearby Kufa from where Hazrat Ali (a.s) — son of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s), the paternal uncle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) — ruled as caliph and where he was brutally martyred by Abdul Rehman ibne Muljim.

Even in his final moments, Hazrat Ali (a.s) exhibited complete satisfaction over a life well served on the side of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the years before and after his marriage to Bibi Fatima (a.s), the Prophet’s (pbuh) daughter. His martyrdom ended a unique existence which began with his miraculous birth inside the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.

Memorable accounts from his lifelong journey notably include events surrounding the Hijrah or migration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Makkah to Madina, where the Prophet (pbuh) founded the first ideal Islamic state.

That journey gave the Prophet (pbuh) a headstart as Hazrat Ali (a.s) slept in the Prophet’s (pbuh) bed to create a cloak of deception for the non-Muslims of Makkah, who advanced in darkness to take the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) life.

Before his departure, the Prophet (pbuh) assigned Hazrat Ali (a.s) to return the belongings of the people of Makkah to their owners, earlier placed with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for safekeeping. It was a powerful reminder of the Prophet’s (pbuh) standing as ‘Ameen’ or trustworthy for the people of Makkah, despite their unwavering grudge against him. And for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), no one else was worthy of fulfilling this responsibility than Hazrat Ali (a.s).

Scores of pilgrims regularly visit the historic mosque in Kufa, Iraq where Hazrat Ali (a.s) led his last prayers. These visits draw out a set of mixed emotions pointing towards the rich and multi-faceted personality of Hazrat Ali (a.s). For some, he is remembered for his unparalleled courage, best demonstrated in events such as the final outcome of the battle to conquer the well-fortified Jewish fort at Khyber just outside Madina.

After laying siege to the fort for days, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave the flag of the Muslim army to Hazrat Ali (a.s) to lead a final charge. Hazrat Ali (a.s) led the Muslims to advance successfully and earned the title ‘Faatah-e-Khyber’ — the 'Conqueror of Khyber'. The credit for this event was a powerful addition to honorific titles previously bestowed upon Hazrat Ali (a.s) such as Asadullah (Lion of Allah) or Haider (Lion) — a title given to him by his mother Sayeda Fatima binte Asad.

Elsewhere, Hazrat Ali (a.s) earned the reputation of being the most knowledgeable among Muslims, only second to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). A profound saying attributed to the Prophet (pbuh) powerfully narrates: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gateway to that city".

'Nahjul Balagha', a widely acknowledged book containing sermons, letters and commandments of Hazrat Ali (a.s) has inspired intellectual discussions for centuries. For the followers of Hazrat Ali (a.s), Nahjul Balagha offers a unique insight into key matters, from the lives of individuals and households, communities, and wider entities to matters of the state. Even after martyrdom, Hazrat Ali (a.s) has remained a trailblazer who has inspired many well-acknowledged students of history to pay their homage to his life and multiple achievements.

In a memorable sermon on the virtue of acquiring knowledge, Hazrat Ali (a.s) said; “Remember, knowledge is better than wealth, because knowledge protects you while you have to guard wealth. Wealth decreases if you spend it, but the more you make use of knowledge, the more it increases”. Together, such powerful guidelines have lifted the persona of Hazrat Ali (a.s) and drawn unending acknowledgements from thought leaders worldwide.

In his widely publicised book ‘Ali the Magnificent’, Yousuf Lalljee wrote: “…it was Ali who gave a distinctive outlook to the intellectual, social, cultural and political concepts of his times. He was the Warrior-Saint of Islam who spent his entire life fighting the holy wars and who, despite his multifarious activities, lit the torch of knowledge which gave unprecedented impetus to learning – a marvel of the times in which he lived”.

Some of the most memorable lessons left by Hazrat Ali (a.s). remain significant for a cross-section of his followers. A widely remembered sermon delivered just before the Battle of Nahrawan offered guidance against superstition as Hazrat Ali (a.s) narrated alternative standards for all times to come.

Answering a fortune teller who urged Hazrat Ali (a.s) to step back from going into battle as the stars dictated against his assured victory, he firmly stated; “Fortune telling is the practice of the ignorant. Those who trust in omens lose their reliance on Allah. Do you think you can learn the unseen from a fortune teller? No. The decision of war or peace belongs to Allah and is based on justice and wisdom”.

As Muslims today fight oppression across the world, the sacred legacy of Hazrat Ali (a.s) is powerful enough to fuel their resistance indefinitely. The memory of Hazrat Ali (a.s) on the commemoration of his martyrdom must revive multiple lessons for the downtrodden among Muslims and non-Muslims alike to stand up boldly for their rights.

The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist who writes on political and economic affairs. He can be reached at: farhanbokhari@gmail.com