Hazrat Ali or simply known as “Ali” was the fourth caliph (successor of Muhammad) from 656 to 661. Ali was also the son in law of Muhammad and was a companion of latter’s daughter Fatimah Bint Muhammad. Ali is believed to be the first man who had accepted Islam; hence he is also believed to be the first Muslim.
Ali fought many battles for the small Muslim community and was highly revered and respected.
He was born on 15th September 601 in holy Kabba and died on 29th January 661, three days after being wounded in an assassination attempt by the Kharijites.
Birthday of Hazrat Ali is grandly celebrated in the Mosques and Muslim households.
Hazrat Ali’s Birthday 2019
Hazrat Ali’s birthday this year will be celebrated on Thursday, 21st March 2019.
When is Hazrat Ali’s Birthday Celebrated?
Hazrat Ali was born 15th September in 601 Century. The date corresponds to 13 Rajab in Islamic calendar. Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. Ali was born inside the holy Kabba as a child to Abu Talib and Fatimah Bint Asad.
The Birth of Hazrat Ali
The legend has it that Fatimah Bint Asad was performing rituals at Kabba when she felt the pain of delivery. But the doors of Kabba were securely closed and she was stranded outside. Miraculously, the wall of the Kabba opened up to let her enter. The wall got closed again after she got inside and she gave birth to Imam Ali.
After Ali’s birth, no one entered the Kabba neither could open the gate for three days and the mother and child both stayed inside. After three days, the first man to enter Kabba and pick Ali in his lap was none other than Prophet Muhammad. The first man, to whom Ali looked after opening his eyes for the first time after birth, was Prophet Muhammad.
Life of Hazrat Ali
Father of Hazrat Ali – Abu Talib was a custodian of Kabba. Abu Talib was also the uncle of Prophet Muhammad who had raised him after death of Abdul Mutallib (Muhammad’s grandfather and Abu Talib’s father). Ali’s mother was also a descendent of Abraham’s son Ishmael. When Ali was around five years old, Muhammad took him to Mecca.
Hazrat Ali protected Muhammad from a very early age and fought many battles along with the Muslim community. He migrated to Medina in 622 with Muhammad when latter was warned of a possible assassination bid. While in Medina, Ali married Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah bint Muhammad.
Subsequently, Hazrat Ali was appointed as the fourth Caliph by Muhammad’s companions in 656 century after the third caliph Uthman Ibn Affan was assassinated. Ali too was assassinated while praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa. His killer was a Kharijite named Abdur Rahman ibne Mujlim.
Since the age of five years, Ali had been living with Muhammad and his wife Khadija. When Ali was around nine years old, Muhammad declared himself as the Prophet of Islam and Ali was the first man to accept Islam after Muhammad’s wife Khadija.
While in Medina, Ali also saved the life of Muhammad, by sleeping in the place of Muhammad as latter’s personification. This night is called Laylat-al-Mabit and falls on 1st Rabi-al-Awwal.
Ali was around 22 years old when Prophet Muhammad declared him as one of his own or a successor. Hence, Ali became extremely active and started leading the troops under Muhammad, and became his most important assistant.
Muhammad declared in 623 that he wanted to marry his daughter Fatimah Zahra to Ali. Zahra later died when caliph Umar attacked their house after Muhammad’s demise. The marriage of Ali to Fatimah lasted for only ten years but it was filled with love and companionship. Ali didn’t marry other woman until her death. Though, after Fatimah’s death, he married many women and fathered many children.
How is Hazrat Ali’s Birthday Celebrated?
Hazrat Ali is revered as a close successor of Prophet Muhammad and the first man to accept Islam after Muhammad’s wife. His birthday is grandly celebrated by both the Shia and Sunni denominations of Muslim religion. Houses and mosques are decorated with lights and flowers on his birthday. Devotees go to the mosques to offer prayers and greet each other.
Hazrat Ali is considered by Muslims as the true heir apparent because of the knowledge he possessed. Muslims believe that he was a great philosopher and a pure Muslim, given to the way he lived his life.
The shrine of Hazrat Ali in Afghanistan known as Mazar-i-Sharif is especially cleaned and decorated to mark his birthday. Prayers are organized and Sufi saints receipt the teachings of Ali. Qawalis could be heard in mosques and Muslim houses in celebration to the birthday of Hazrat Ali. Though, some sections of Muslim community believe that Hazrat Ali was buried in Imam Ali Mosque, Najaf, Iraq.
Significance of Hazrat Ali Birthday
Hazrat Ali is considered as the direct descendent of Prophet Muhammad and the first man to accept Islam, hence is birthday holds much significance for the Muslims. Moreover, his teachings and his obedience to Allah and an Islamic way of living is an inspiration for Muslims throughout the world.
Sunni Muslims consider Ali as the fourth and last rightly guided caliph while Shia Muslims consider him as the first Imam succeeding Prophet Muhammad.
The birthday of Hazrat Ali gets more significant for Muslims, given to the fact that he was born in holy Kabba in the city of Mecca. Many Muslims belonging to the Shia denomination also observe Imam Ali’s birth anniversary as the father’s day.
Hazrat Ali throughout his life had been a true follower of Islam and a companion of Prophet Muhammad, his birthday signifies the essence of Islamic teachings and teaches Muslims to stay on the path of Islam and honesty.