Ali ibn Abi Talib
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. The first male child to embrace Islam. Slept in the Prophet's bed on the night of the Hijra to save his life. Broke the gate of Khaybar. Fourth Rashidun caliph.
- Lived
- c. 601 - 661 CE
- Read next
- Meaning of the name Ali
Who was Ali ibn Abi Talib? Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. The first male child to embrace Islam. Slept in the Prophet's bed on the night of the Hijra to save his life. Broke the gate of Khaybar. Fourth Rashidun caliph.
Life
Ali was born inside the Kaaba itself, in the year of the Prophet's youth, and raised in the Prophet Muhammad's house. He was the first male child to accept Islam. The Prophet said of him: "I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate." Fatimah, the Prophet's beloved daughter, was given to him in marriage, and from them descended the Ahl al-Bayt, the family of the Prophet whose blessing is invoked in every Muslim's daily salat.
Ali's courage at Badr, at Uhud, at the Trench, and at Khaybar became the material of legend. At Khaybar, when the Muslim army could not break the fortress gates, the Prophet said: "Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love, and Allah will grant victory through his hand." He gave the banner to Ali. Ali is reported to have wrenched the gate of Khaybar from its hinges and used it as his shield.
He became the fourth Rashidun caliph in 656 CE after the assassination of Uthman. His caliphate was consumed by the first civil wars of the ummah, from the Battle of the Camel to Siffin. He was assassinated at fajr prayer in the mosque of Kufa in 661 CE by a Kharijite, Ibn Muljam, with a poisoned sword. When he lay dying, he asked that his assassin be given the same treatment as the Prophet had shown to prisoners, and that the man not be tortured. His famous words, recorded across every Islamic sect, echo through fourteen centuries: "By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded."
Stories
Each story below is drawn from the classical Islamic sources and is told in longer form on its own page.
The night of the bed
On the night the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ left Mecca for Medina, a group of Quraysh assassins surrounded his house waiting to strike him at first light. Ali ibn Abi Talib lay down in the Prophet's bed, wrapped himself in the Prophet's green cloak, and gave the Prophet the opening he needed to leave.
The gate of Khaybar
At the siege of Khaybar the Muslim army could not break the fortress. The Prophet ﷺ said: tomorrow I will give the banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger. That morning, Ali stood before him with eye pain so severe he could barely see. The Prophet blessed his eyes with his own saliva. Ali was healed. He was given the banner.