Who is Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH)?
The Imam was born in the year 599 AD, and he is one of the noblest and masters of the Arabs from Bani Hashem, whose origin goes back to the descendants of the Prophet Ibrahim, through his son Ismail, peace be upon them both.
The Imam refused since his childhood the worship of idols, and he abstained from prostration to idols, so he was like the Messenger of Allah, contemplating the creation of Allah. He knew monotheism even before the revelation and the Qur’an were revealed to the Messenger Allah, may Allah prayers be upon him, as most of the Bani Hashem members followed the religion of the Prophet Ibrahim, may Allahs peace be upon him, while most of the Quraish worshiped idols and prostrated to them.
Moreover the Imams father is Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet who protected Muslims from persecution in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, which is located in the Hijaz region - the Tihama region of the Arabian Peninsula. Although historians differ regarding the Islam of Abi Talib or not, it is well established that he is a believing Muslim. His mother is Fatimah bint Asad, who is also one of the masters of Bani Hashem, and one of the nobles of Quraish and its descent. She converted to Islam among the first ten who embraced Islam by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace. After the death of her husband Abu Talib, she and her children emigrated with the Prophet. Furthermore Fatimah bint Asad had acquired upon the birth of her son Imam Ali, peace be upon him, a miracle recorded by the majority of historians, even the most hostile to the Imam. Because - simply - they couldnt deny it, or withhold it due to the desires of their kings and sultans, as labor came to her while she was pregnant with the Imam (PBUH) while she was circling around the ancient house in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, which is sanctuary - all Muslims believe - that it was built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail Peace be upon them both, it was the first mosque built for Allah Almighty, and it was dedicated to prayers in that part of the planet. Therefore Fatimah bint Asad entered through a crack that was opened for her in the ancient wall of the "Kaaba", and Ali, peace be upon him, was born inside the Kaaba itself.
After the Prophet received a revelation from Allah Almighty, he called for those who were the first to invite them to believe in Islam, his wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid, and Imam Ali, peace be upon them both, so Amir al-Mu’minin was the first to convert to Islam, and the third Muslim after the Prophet and Khadija his wife. But even though he was a child, there was something special about his Islam. He told the Prophet that he would consult his father, but he returned hours later, saying to the Prophet, may Allahs prayers be upon him: “Allah Almighty didnt consult my father when he created me, so how can I consult him to believe that you are the Messenger of Allah?”
The Imam lived with the Prophet, and in his home, so he was his companion, spiritual son, assistant, writer, bearer of his banner, and the Prophet let him to marry his daughter, the pure saint Fatima al-Zahraa, so Allah’s peace be upon him became his son-in-law, and the father of the “Sibtain”, the masters of the youth of Paradise. So, the Imam had been completely accompanying the Prophet since he was five years old, and until his death, may God bless him and his family and grant them peace. The imam was then thirty-three years old.
What is distinctive about the biography of the Imam, peace be upon him, is that those who recognize his merit and greatness arent only followers of his religion, nor of those who say they are of his sect. Rather, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and non-religious people are those who consider that he is one of the greatest personalities in human history who has been able to practice intellectual reform, and to apply it as a real pragmatic approach. Indeed, the great thinkers and philosophers had said without hesitation, that the greatest human on the face of the earth is Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, because he was the perfect human in whom all the moral virtues were combined in theory and practice.
The most important writers of the world and its greatest thinkers wrote in his greatness, so that in 2002 the United Nations General Assembly approved a document in which it considered that Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is the most just ruler in human history. It also considered that the document "The Imams Message to Malik al-Ashtar" is the most important legal rule for ruling in human history.
