It was the result of this unity of thoughts that no sooner the Prophet (a.

It was the result of this unity of thoughts that no sooner the Prophet (a.s) proclaimed his Message, `Ali (a.s) accepted it and gave the proof of his adherence to the Truth by being the first person to join the Prophet (a.s) in the prayers. In his early days Imam `Ali (a.s) dedicated himself to the task of propagating Islam as a universal movement. He became a pillar of support for the Prophet (a.s) to confront and fight against the enemies of the Cause.

At the Feast of al-`Ashirah when the Quraysh were dumbfounded at the Prophet (a.s)'s Declaration, Imam `Ali (a.s) faced their piercing eyes and stood firmly to witness the Prophet-hood of Muhammad (a.s). He publicly declared his support to the Prophet (a.s) and remained steadfast in his resolve until the end.

History bears witness to the fact that when the infidel Quraysh exceeded all bonds of decency in torturing and ridiculing the Prophet (a.s) and his followers, they had to take shelter in a cave. Imam `Ali (a.s) braved all these hardships and never left the side of the Prophet (a.s) for a moment. He faced untold hardships but remained firm in his resolve. He was scared neither of the hardships nor the blatant threats of the enemies. He bore the difficulties with absolute equanimity.

During the days in Medina, when the different tribes in Arabia kept aside their long drawn differences and joined to confront and harm the Prophet (a.s) and his Cause, Imam `Ali (a.s) stood firm as a wall of steel in the battlefield to vanquish and chase them away. He laid to dust the false pride of the infidels of Quraysh, who in the end capitulated to lay down arms and hypocritically professed allegiance to the New Creed!

The atmosphere was not congenial for Imam `Ali (a.s) after the closing of the eyes of the Prophet (a.s), the greed for power and pelf turned the Divinely commissioned leadership into worldly rule. These circumstances forced him into self-imposed isolation. But whenever the greater interests of Islam were at stake, he came out of his seclusion and gave invaluable advice to the “powers-that-be” in times of important expeditions and economic or religious matters.

During these years of seclusion Imam `Ali (a.s) busied himself in study of Islamic tenets and thoughts. He always preferred collective rights to individual desires. When at the ripe old age of fifty-eight he ascended to the worldly caliphate, he found the State in turmoil.