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Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA), cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet of Islam (SAWS) was elected the fourth Caliph. He reigned from 656 to 661.
Ali was a profoundly religious man devoted entirely to the cause of Islam. He was born in Makkah about the year 600 to Abu Talib, chief of the clan of Banu Hashim.
Ali was adopted by the Prophet (SAWS) and lived with him in the same house. Once Makkah suffered from economic depression. Abu Talib, Prophet's uncle had a very large family, therefore the Prophet took Ali into his care to lighten the burden of Abu Talib.
The First Muslim Boy:
One day when the Prophet and Khadija were worshipping together, Ali happened to see them kneeling and prostrating themselves and reciting Qur'anic revelations. Ali found it very strange. He asked the Prophet: "to whom you were prostrating yourself." The Prophet answered. We have prostrated ourselves to God."
The Prophet then explained to him about Allah and the revelations he had received. Then the Prophet invited him to worship God alone without associating anyone with Him.
Ali was excited but thought that he ought to consult his father about it. However he could not wait any longer. The very next morning he came rushing to the Prophet and declared to him his conversion. Saying: 'Allah created me without consulting my father. Why then should I consult him in order to worship Allah.'
Ali was the first youth to enter the fold of Islam at the age of 10. He remained a lifelong devoted follower of the Prophet. On the night of the emigration in 622 it was Ali (RA) who risked his life by sleeping in the Prophet's bed at a time when his house was surrounded by blood thirsty men with drawn swords with the plot of assassinating the Prophet. Ali lay there so that the Prophet may leave unnoticed.
The Prophet further asked him to stay in Makkah in order to restore all things, entrusted to the Prophet, to their rightful owners in Makkah. Only after carrying out this request of the Prophet, Ali (RA) left for Madinah. In Madinah Ali married Prophet's daughter Fatima. Two sons, Hasan and Husain were born to them in Madinah.
Ali (RA) was extremely brave. He used to display great feats of courage and bravery during the military campaigns. He was also one of the Prophet's scribes. He was chosen by the Prophet for several important missions. After the conquest of Makkah when the Makkans converted to Islam it was Ali who destroyed the idols in the Ka'bah.
The Fourth Caliph:
Ali was invited by the Muslims of Madinah to accept the Caliphate after the murder of Uthman, the third Caliph. For three days after Uthman's murder Madinah remained completely in the grip of rioters. In such a state of affairs when Ali's name was proposed he refused at first. But the people of Madinah prevailed upon him to give second thought and come forward to serve the people. Ali therefore agreed reluctantly after a long hesitation.
His brief reign was beset by difficulties. The forces of lawlessness had been unleashed. Ali (RA) wanted first to concentrate on consolidating his administration and after that to take action against Uthman's murderers. He wanted to wait until the conditions were normalized. But the supporters of Uthman did not listen to what Ali had to say. They thought that Ali was trying to evade the issue. It was this group led by Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufiyan (RA) that demanded the immediate trial of the murderers of Uthman.
The murder of Uthman had far reaching effects on Islamic history. The united and determined Muslim community was divided forever. Instead of going out to the frontiers they were involved in internal clashes!
Instead of concentrating on consolidation Ali had to spend all his time in pacifying the warring factions. He did his best to restore peace but he failed to do so without receiving the support of the people.
The Revolt against Ali (RA):
When Ali (RA) refused to bring the murderer to book without delay they revolted against Ali. Aisha, Prophet's wife, Talha, and Zubayr, prominent companions of the Prophet, also took a leading part. This rebellion, known as "the Battle of the Camel" was suppressed, although after much bloodshed.
Ali (RA) had now established himself as caliph by defeating his rivals. He had shifted the capital from Madinah to Kufah. The first priority in the state was given to the dismissal of the provincial governors. Mu'awiya, governor of Syria and a relative of Uthman, too was dismissed.
But Mu'awiya who had established himself securely in Syria did not accept the dismissal order. He came out openly to avenge the martyred caliph. It was an issue on which he could mobilize the support of a great majority of Muslims.
He took the stand that since the new Caliph is evading the issue of producing the assassins, which is the demand of justice, the Caliph therefore stands disqualified for the office of the caliphate. In this way Mu'awiya justified his insurrection against the elected Caliph.
Mu'awiya gathered a large army of Syrians while the army of Ali comprised 50,000 Iraqis. The forces of Ali (RA) and Mu'awiya (RA) met at Siffin. The encounter took place on July 28, 657. Malik al Ashtar was commanding Ali's forces. Ali was on the point of victory. When Mu'awiya realized that he was going to lose the battle he managed to force the end of the fighting by having pages of the Qur'an fixed to the lances of his troops.
Mu'awiya (RA) and his supporter Amr ibn al A's (RA) managed to avert defeat by proposing arbitration. Ali (RA) through this offer. But his army forced him to accept the principle of arbitration. This greatly weakened his position.
The Kharijites:
When Ali agreed to this some of his supporters abandoned him. The Kharijites (Dissenters) maintained that Ali should not have accepted arbitration. They were not willing to accept compromise and submit the will of God to human judgement. In the months of discussions between the arbiters, Ali's alliance grew weaker. They became so deadly against the caliph that anyone who said that he was the follower of the Caliph was mercilessly killed!
Ali (RA) inflicted the Kharijites a decisive defeat at Nahrawan. Thousands of them were killed in the battlefield. But this defeat did not end the Kharijite opposition for they were spread out in different parts of the country. The extremist among them preached lawlessness, saying: "All authority belongs to Allah, so there should be no government."
Ali (RA) was engaged in extirpating the kharijites and Mu'awiya found enough time to increase his influence among the people. Ultimately by the end of 600 Ali had lost control of Egypt and Hijaz. His popularity was diminishing day by day.
His Death:
The Kharijites ultimately decided to assassinate Ali (RA). Early one morning while he was praying in a mosque at Kufa in Iraq, a Kharijite struck him with a poisoned sword to avenge the men slain at Nahrawan. Two days later Ali (RA) died and was buried near Kufah. The most glorious chapter in the history of Islam came to an end by the death of Ali (RA).
Ali's caliphate lasted for four years and nine months. According to the famous historian, Philip Hitti, "Ali dead proved more effective than Ali living. As a canonized martyr he retrieved at once more than he had lost in a lifetime… He still possessed the qualities of an ideal Arabian. Valiant in battle, wise in counsel, magnanimous to his foes. He became both the paragon of Muslim nobility and chivalry."
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