Day: August 21, 2025

10th A. H.

During this year Ali was sent once again on a propagation mission to Yaman and thence on an expedition against Amer-ibne-M’adee Kurb. He performed both the duties successfully. Imam Ahmed ibne-Hambal in his Masnad Vol. V page 356, Imam Nisa’ee in Khasa’es and Allama Ibne Hajr-e-Mukki in Sawa’eq-e-Mohrayqua Chap. II, say that from the later expedition Khalid-ibne-Waleed sent a letter containing complaints of Hazrath Ali to the Holy prophet (A.S.). This letter was carried by Boraeda, a companion of the Holy prophet (A.S.). On receipt of this letter the apostle of God was annoyed and got angry and said “You are fabricating lies and ficticious complaints againt Ali, he is from me and I am from him, he is your lord (Valee) after me. Whoever annoys him actually annoys me and whoever forsakes him forsakes me. He is made of the same material that I am made of and I am made of the same material that Abraham is made of and my status before God is superior to that of Abraham”.

The end of the 10th A.H. saw the Holy prophet (A.S.) performing the “Farewell Pilgrimage” and while returning from there he for the last time designated Hazrath Ali as his Vicegenerent. I have narrated this incident in Section 16 page 30).

11th A.H.

The year 11th A.H. was the saddest year of Hazrath Ali’s life. He lost two of his best friends. One of whom he loved and venerated like a father, like a master and like the dearest friend, the Holy prophet (A.S.) who died during the early months of the year. His death was followed by the death od Hazrath Ali’s dearest companion, his wife, Fatima, the lady of the Light.

The last year of Holy Prophet’s life was spent at Madina. An envoy of his was killed by the Syrians and he had ordered an expedition against the Byzantines under Osama Ibne Zaid and he had ordered all his companions except Hazrath Ali join this ‘expedition, and had ordered the troops to be encamped outside the city (Tareekh-e-Tabaree, Tareekh-e-Kamil Ibne Aseer. Tabaquath-e-Ibne-Sa’d and Seerath-e-Halabia, Madarej- ul-Naboovath Vol. II page 766). Though he was ill yet inspite of his weakness he came out, arranged the flag (the Insignia of the command) with his own hands and handed it over to Osama. He felt that people were not willing to join this expedition, because of the young age of Osama, he got annoyed and said “Curse of God be on those who forsake the army of Osama”. (Millal-o-Nahal of Allama Sharistance and Sharahe Mo’aquef-ud-Dunia).

Cause of this illness was the poison which had been given to him and which had slowly penetrated into his system and had now begun to show its effect, and it became evident that he had not long to live. The news of his approaching end led to the stoppage of the expedition (The Spirit of Islam). At the last stage of illness the Holy prophet (A.S.) was staying at the house of Ummul Momineen Bibi Aiyesha. From there he came out for the last time to lead the prayers. He was so weak that he was actually carried there by the sons of Abbas-Ibne-Abdul Muttalib. He, himself, led the prayers (Fath-ul- Bari. Sharahe Sahee-e-Bukhari, Para 3 page 372).

This exertion proved too much for the Apostle of the Lord and when he returned home from the mosque he was fainted. His condition was very serious at that time and fainting fit was of long duration. His children and members of family, and his companions started weeping and lamenting. He came out of the swoon and looked at those tear sprinkled faces around him and said “Bring pen, ink and paper so that I may write a will for you that will keep you on the straight path”. Some of his companions wanted to of fer the pen and paper while Hazrath Omer was of opinion that he was talking insanely on account of the intensity of illness, they have the Holy Quran with them which would suffice them. This discussion took a serious turn and people started arguing in loud voices. The Apostle of God got annoyed at this and asked them to go away and to leave him alone. (Sahee-Bukhari Para 12 page 126, Para 8 page 100, Para 23 page 384, Minhay- ul-Sunnath of Allama Ibne Themia, Sharahe Sahee Muslim of Allama Noodi, give a detailed account of this event).

This was Sunday the 27th Safar, after the above incident the Apostle of God called Ali and said “Ali you will be first to meet me on the fountain of Kauser. After me when hardship and reverses face you then do not lose patience and when you find people running after worldly gains then you busy yourself in the way of truth and God” (Roaz-ul-
Ahlab Vol. 1 page 559, Madarej-ul-Naboovath Vol. II pag 551) Next day, Monday the 28th of Safar, the Apostle of God passed away to the realm of His Grace, Blessings and Majesty.

Last moment and the last rights of Holy Prophet (A.S.)

Allama Mohammed-Ibne-Sa’d in his famous book Thabaquath (Vol. II. Section 2, pages 51 and 61) relates that during the caliphate of Hazrath Omer once the famous Jew Ka’b-ul-Akbar (who later embraced Islam) asked of the caliph “Sire please tell me what were the last words of the Holy prophet”. The caliph told him to ask Hazrath Ali abou it. Ka’b came to him and asked him the same question. Hazrath Ali replied “during the last moments of the Holy prophet (A.S.) his head was resting on my shoulder and his words were Namaz, Namaz (prayers, prayers)”. Ka’b declared “verily last moments of prophets have always been thus, they are ordained for it and they carry the message even with their last breath”. Then Ka’b went to Hazrath Omer and asked him “Sire who performed the abolutions of the body of the prophet after his death”. The caliph told him to ask Hazrath Ali about that also. He again came to Hazrath Ali and repeated the question. Hazrath All replied “The Apostle of God had willed that none but I should perform those ablutions; because if any other person looked at his naked body he would get blind. A curtain was hanged and from the other side of the curtain Fazl-Ibne-Abbas and Osaama, blind-folded, were handling over water to me and I was performing the ablutions”.

These facts, that Hazrath Ali was the only person to be with the Holy prophet (A.S.) at his last moments and to have performed the last rights, are also borne out by the books Thazkeray Khasul A’imma Chap. 11 page 16, Kunzul Ammal Vol. IV page 55. Musthadrik of Imam Hakim Vol. III page 139, Riaz-ul-Nazarah, printed in Egypt, page .80 and Mo’jum-e-Kabeer of Thabrance.

After the last ablutions and after shrouding the august of the Apostle of God as per his will, first Hazrath Ali performed the ‘Death prayers’ alone and then parties of Mu- slims came and offered death prayers without any leader (Imam). Allama Ibne Abdul Bar in Isthee’ab says that after Hazrath Ali offered his ‘Death prayers’ alone then Bani Hashim offered the prayers, then Mohajirs and then Ansars.

Burial of the Holy Prophet (A.S.)

After the death prayers were said. Hazrath Ali, Abbas, Fazl-Ibne-Abbas and Osaama-Ibne-Zaid got busy with the arrangements of burial of the Apostle of God, and at the request of Ansars, Aos-ibne-Kholee Ansari who was also a Baderee, was allowed to join them. Osaama dug the grave in the house of Ummul Momineen Bibi Aiyesha. Aos got into the grave and Hazrath Ali lifted the august body in hands and lowered it into the grave. He stayed in the grave for some time, he was weeping bitterly, Osaama says that “I have never seen Ali weeping like that before or after this occasion”, and then he came out of the grave and lifting his hands said, “Lord! he was Thy first creation, his apparent death is not a sign of his mortality, he lifted the gloom prevailing before the creation started, he was a proof of .hy Glory and Benevolence, he had come to us from the Realm of Thy Love and Glory, and was our guide towards that Realm. His soul was the Emblem of Thy Supreme Might, his body was the master-piece of Thy Creation and his mind was Thy Treasure house”. Then he closed the grave (Irshad-e-
Shaikh Mofeed).

When Ali with Bani Hashim were busy with the last rites of the burial of the Apostle of God, some Mohajirs and some Ansars gathered at ‘Saqueefa’ and decided that Hazrath Aboobaker be the first caliph. Hazrath Ali was asked to accede to this decision. He refused. Abu Sufyan came to Madina and went to Abbas (uncle of the Holy prophet (A.S.) and told him “these people have taken away the caliphate from Bani Hashim. You are uncle of the Apostle of God and oldest among the Quraish, you have been kind to them also, they will accept your lead. Let you and I swear allegiance to Ali. If anybody opposes us we shall kill him”. They both came to Ali and Abu Sufyan told him “Ali, if you like I shall overflow Madina with infantry and cavalry, accept our proposal. put out your hand and let us swear the oath of allegiance”. Hearing this Ali replied “Abu Sufjan, I swear by God the Almighty that you, through this proposal, want to create serious dissension amongst the Muslims. You have always tried to harm Islam, I do not need your sympathies and your help”.

A detail account of this event may be found in:

1. Tabaree Vol. III pages 202 and 303 2. Tareekh-e-Khulafa page 45 3. Kunz-ul-Ammal Vol. III page 140.

Hazrath Ali realised that any serious dissension at this stage would harm the cause of Islam considerably. He had before him the example of the Holy prophet (A.S.) and treaty of Hudaibia and had been foretold by the Holy prophet (A.S.) of all that would happen. Allama Ali-Ibne-Mohammed (630 A.H.) in Asad-ul-Ghaba Fee Thameez-e- Sahaba (Vol. IV page 31) says “The Holy prophet (A.S.) had told Hazrath Ali your status is like that of Ka’aba. People (Muslims) go to Ka’aba but that august house never approaches anybody. Therefore after my death if people come to you and swear the oath of allegiance you accept it and if they not come to you then you do not go to them”.

Allama Shaikh Abdul Haq Mohaddis Dehlavi in Madarej-ul-Naboovath (Vol. II page 511) says that the Holy prophet had advised Hazrath Ali “after me you will have to face extremes of suffering, do not get disheartened and do not lose patience; and when you find people craving for and trying their utmost to secure worldly power and wealth you mould your life for the hereafter”.

Hazrath Ali loved Islam as intensely as the Holy prophet (A.S.) had loved it, he could not, therefore, for the sake of worldly kingdom endanger Islam. He fully well knew that a civil war at that stage would give chances to the Jew clans of Bani Nazir and Bani Khareza on one side and the Christian tribes of Najran and Syria by the Byzantine armies on the other, and the Munafiqueen (hypocrites) and fresh converts on the third to simply take advantage of the situation. When they would find the Muslims busy killing each other they would literarily cut them to pieces and Islam would totally disappear as a messenger of peace. He wanted the Arabs to remain in the fold of Islam even with the desires of making their worldly position good, and wanted the enemies of Islam to realize that Islam was powerful enough to defend itself even after the sad demise of the Apostle of the Lord. Therefore, he was willing to accept every wrong for the Islam and
to retire to seclusion of his house. The advice he gave to his uncle Abbas is to be found in Nahjul Balagha wherein he told him not to join the turmoil.

According to the famous Arab philosopher, mathematician and physician Ave Sena (Bu Ali Sena) Hazrath Ali and Holy Quran were the two miracles of Mohammed (A.S.), the Apostle of God. Life of Hazrath Ali at every stage was a mirror like reflection of the life of the Holy prophet (A.S.). The days of Bader, Ohad, Khyber, and Humain were not long passed and their hero still had the same courage, valour, bravery and strenght with him, he could have jumped at the proposal of Abu Sufyan. But had he done so he would not have been Ali-ibne-Abu Talib, the man “who loved God and His apostle and was loved by God and His apostle”. (Me’araj-ul-Naboovath).

Death of Fatima

But, unfortunately, his feelings were not reciprocated. Folowing books give an account of vey serious events which happened at Hazrath Ali’s refusal to accede to the decision of Saqueefa.

1. Tabari Vol. III page 198 2. Aqd-ul-Fareed of Ibne Abd-e-Rubbabo, Vol. II page 179, printed in Egypt. 3. History of Abul Fida Vol. I page 156 printed in Egypt. 4. Kitabul Imamuth-wo-Siyasuth of Allama Ibne Quateeba Vol. I page 20, printed

in Egypt (this book gives a very detailed account)

5. Morravej-ul-Zahab Musoodee page 159

6. Millal-wo-Nahal of Shahristany Vol. I page 25 printed in Bombay, India. 7. Al-Farooq of Shibli Naomani, printed in India

8. Ibne Abil Hadeed in commentary of Nahjul Balagha.

What one could gather, from various accounts which these books have given, is a sad and pathetic episode. It appears that though Hazrath Ali decided to retire to the seclusion of his house and not to take any part in power politics yet his house was burnt down on the head of his family, and either the burning door or a hard hit from the hilt of a sword or a heavy push or all together broke the ribs and hand of Hazrath Fatima (daughter of the Holy prophet (A.S.) and caused her such a serious injury that the baby she was carrying was a still birth. Allama Shahristany in Millal-wo-Nahal (Vol. 1 page 25) says that there was nobody in the house but Ali, Fatima and their children (who were between the ages of 4 to 8). Apparently the assault was sudden and unexpected, nobody was ready for it. The resulting confusion could be better imagined than narrated. The lady of the house was seriously hurt, and had fainted, the house was full of smoke, the children were frightened. Ali was attending to his wounded wife and suffocating children he was overpowered and dragged from the house. Later Hazrath Fatima was refused her heritage. The physical injury and the mental shock laid her low and after a short illness she passed away on the 14th of Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 11 A.H. She was buried in the dead of the night. Besides Bani Hashim only following companions of the Holy prophet (A.S.) attended her funeral:- Sulman, Abuzar, Ammar and Miqdad. Before her death she had expressed her sufferings in a poem, a verse of which has come down in the Ara- bic language as a proverb. She says “so many sufferings have descended upon me that if they had descended upon bright days they would have been turned into dark nights”.
The account of the last day of her life clearly show what kind of a lady was this daughter of the Holy prophet (A.S.). She told the household that she was feeling better, the pain in her ribs and in her hand was not so severe and that her fever had come down. Then she started bathing the children, immediately Ali and Fizza came to her assistance. She got those children bathed, dressed and fed, then sen them away to her cousin. Then she called Hazrath Ali to her side and said “Ali, my dear husband, you know very well why I did all that. Please excuse my fussiness, they have suffered so much with me and during my illness that I want to see them happy on the last day of my life. Yes, Ali you know also that this is the last day of my life, I am happy and also I am sad. Happy I am that my troubles will shortly be over and I shall meet my father and sorry and I am to part with you. Please, Ali, make a note of what I say and do as I wish you to do. After me you may marry anybody you like but you must marry my cousin Yamama, she loves my children ans Hussain is very much attached to her. Let Fizza remain with you even after her marriage, if she so desires, she was more than a mere servant to me. I loved her life my daughter. Ali, bury me in the night and do not let those who have been so cruel to me attend my burial, let my death do not dishearten you, you have to serve Islam and humanity for a long time to come. Let not my sufferings embitter your life, promise me Ali. Hazrath Ali said “yes Fatima I promise” “Ali”, she continued “I know how you love my children but be very careful of Hussain. He loves me dearly and will miss me sadly, be a mother unto him. Till my recent illness he used to sleep on my chest, he is already missing it”. Ali was caressing the broken hand, his hot and big tears dropped on her hand. She looked up and said “Do not weep Ali, I know with a rough outward appearance what a tender heart you possess. You have already borne too much and will have to bear more. Farewell my lord, Farewell my dear husband, Farewell Ali. Say Good-bye Fatima”. Hearing this she said “May the Merciful Lord help you to bear these sorrows and sufferings patiently. Now let me be alone with my God”. Saying this she turned towards her prayers carpet and prostrated before God. When after a little time Hazrath Ali entered the room he found her still in prostration but the soul had departed to join her Holy father in the Realm of His Grace, Mercy and Might. She died very young as Hazrath Ali says “A flower nibbed in the bud, it was from Junnath (the Heaven) and it went to Junnath, but has left its fragrance in my mind”.