Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه was the fourth Khalifah of Islam.
He succeeded Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه and was approximately thirty years younger than the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
From a very young age, Ali رضي الله عنه had a very close relationship with the Prophet ﷺ.
This was because Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ and the father of Ali رضي الله عنه, went through financial hardship.
So he approached Muhammad ﷺ and asked:
“Would you take care of one of my children?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“I will take care of Ali.”
So Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه grew up in the home of Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها.
When the Prophet ﷺ received Prophethood from Allah, Ali رضي الله عنه became the first boy to accept Islam.
One day, Ali رضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ praying Salah.
He asked:
“What are you doing?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“I am worshipping Allah, the One who created me,
and I do not worship idols.”
Immediately, Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه accepted Islam.
At the time of the Hijrah, when the Quraysh plotted to assassinate the Prophet ﷺ, Allah instructed the Prophet ﷺ to leave Makkah.
That night, the Prophet ﷺ asked Ali رضي الله عنه to sleep in his bed.
The disbelievers surrounded the house thinking Muhammad ﷺ was still inside.
Only later did they discover that it was Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه lying in the bed.
Ali رضي الله عنه later married Fatimah رضي الله عنها, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ.
When he approached the Prophet ﷺ for marriage, the Prophet ﷺ asked him:
“O Ali,
what do you have to give as mahr?”
Ali رضي الله عنه replied:
“I have nothing.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“You own an armor.
Sell it and use the money as mahr.”
So Ali رضي الله عنه went to the market to sell his armor.
Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه saw him and asked:
“O Ali,
what are you doing?”
Ali رضي الله عنه replied:
“I am selling my armor because I am going to marry the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Uthman رضي الله عنه became very happy.
He said:
“How much do you want for it?”
Ali رضي الله عنه replied:
“400 dirhams.”
Uthman رضي الله عنه gave him the money.
Then after purchasing the armor, he called Ali رضي الله عنه back and said:
“O Ali,
this armor is my gift to you.”
So Ali رضي الله عنه returned with both the armor and the 400 dirhams.
When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه had the honor of washing the blessed body of the Prophet ﷺ.
Ali رضي الله عنه was also known as one of the scribes of revelation.
During the Battle of Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ announced:
“Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man whom Allah loves and who loves Allah and His Messenger.”
The next morning, the Prophet ﷺ asked:
“Where is Ali?”
Ali رضي الله عنه was then called.
The Prophet ﷺ handed him the flag and said:
“O Ali,
go forward in the name of Allah.”
And Allah granted victory at Khaybar through him.
After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, when Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه became Khalifah, Ali رضي الله عنه was among the first to pledge allegiance to him.
There was no dispute after that.
Ali رضي الله عنه later married the widow of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and raised Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr as his own son.
Ali رضي الله عنه also named his own sons after the great companions:
Abu Bakr ibn Ali,
Umar ibn Ali,
and Uthman ibn Ali.
One day, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, the son of Ali رضي الله عنه, asked his father:
“Who are the best people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?”
Ali رضي الله عنه replied:
“Abu Bakr.”
He then asked:
“And after him?”
Ali رضي الله عنه replied:
“Umar.”
The son became worried and thought his father might mention himself next.
So he asked:
“And then you, O my father?”
Ali رضي الله عنه humbly replied:
“I am only one man from among the Muslims.”
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه was eventually martyred at the age of approximately 63 years old.
A man named Abdulrahman ibn Muljam bought a sword and poisoned it heavily.
Then he struck Ali رضي الله عنه with it.
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه passed away three days later.
