Full Name: ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib ibn ‘Abd al Mutalib ibn Haashim ibn ‘Abd al Manaaf.
Kunya: Abu al Hassan al Hashimee. The leader of the believers.
The Messenger of Allaah -صلى الله عليه وسلم - gave him the kunya of Abu Turaab as is known from a well known narration.
Mothers Name: Faatimah bint Asad ibn Haashim. She embraced Islaam and died during the life time of the Messenger -صلى الله عليه وسلم - and he prayed over her and visited her grave.
He had twenty one sons, five of them had children and they are the five who narrated on his authority, al ‘Abbaas being the fifth.
He had eighteen daughters, amongst them were Zaynab, Ummu Kalthoom, Umaamah and others.
A number of [historians] stated that ‘Alee was the youngest of Abu Taalib’s children.
Ibn ‘Abd al Barr stated that it was narrated on the authority of Salmaan, Abu Dhar, al Miqdaad, Khabaab, Abu Sa’eed, Jaabir and Zayd ibn al Arqam that ‘Alee was the first to embrace Islaam. Likewise did Abu Raafi’ but after Khadeejah embraced Islaam.
Ibn Ishaaq stated: “The first to embrace Islaam amongst men was ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib.”
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “’Alee was the first person to believe in Allaah after Khadeejah.”
This narration may outwardly contradict another narration by ibn ‘Abaas that Abu Bakr was the first to believe, but the correct understanding is that Abu Bakr was the first person to outwardly proclaim his Islaamic faith.
Ibn ‘Umar narrated that ‘Alee embraced Islaam at the age of thirteen.
Ibn Fudayl narrated that…Habbah ibn Juwayn said: I heard ‘Alee saying: “I worshiped Allaah for five years before anyone else from this Ummah worshiped him. ”
Shu’bah narrated that…Habbah ibn Juwayn narrated that ‘Alee said: “I was the first person to pray with the Messenger of Allaah. ”
Ibn ‘Abd al Barr stated: “The scholars are in agreement that he was the first to pray towards both Qiblahs, he migrated, participated in the battle of Badr, Uhud as well as all the other battles. He battled fiercely during the battle of Badr, Uhud and al Khandaq. The banner of the Messenger of Allaah -صلى الله عليه وسلم – was in his hands in many battles, and he never stayed behind except in the Battle of Tabuk as the Messenger of Allaah - صلى الله عليه وسلم – requested of him to stay behind and rule over Madeenah in his absence and said to him:
“You are to me as Haroon was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me.”
Ibn ‘Abd al Barr said: It was narrated with a number of chains that ‘Alee used to say: “I am the servant of Allaah and the brother of his Messenger, and no one other than me can say that except that he is a liar. ”
The Messenger of Allaah -صلى الله عليه وسلم-married his daughter Faatimah to him and said to her:
“I have married you to a leader in the life of this world as well as the next.”
He narrated a Hadeeth along with Abu Hurayrah, Jaabir, al Baraa and Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allaah -صلى الله عليه وسلم- said:
“Whoever has me as a Mawlaa, then ‘Alee is his Mawlaa.”
Sa’eed ibn abee Waqaas, Abu Hurayrah, Sahl ibn Sa’d, Burayday, ibn ‘Umar and others narrated that the Messenger of Allaah -صلى الله عليه وسلم- said in the battle of Khaybar:
“Tomorrow, I shall give the banner to a man who loves Allaah and his Messenger and who is loved by Allaah and his Messenger. Allaah shall grant victory at his hands.”
He gave it to ‘Alee.
He sent him to Yemen while he was still a young man to judge between them, so he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, I do not know how to judge.” So the Messenger struck him lightly on the chest and said: “O Allaah! Guide his heart and make his tounge firm.”
‘Alee said: “I never had doubt when judging between anyone after that. ”
It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said:
“I am the city of knowledge, and ‘Alee is its door.”
‘Umar said: “’Alee is the best judge amongst us and Ubay is the best recitor amongst us. ”
Sa’eed ibn Jubayr narrated that ibn ‘Abbaas said: “If a ruling came to us from ‘Alee we wouldn’t forsake it for anything. ”
To be updated gradually from a number of sources…
