ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Exemplary Youths during the Early Days of Islam ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib (‘a), the Incomparable One of the youths who can be introduced as an exemplary youth is ‘Alī ( ‘a ). ‘Alī ( ‘a ) is a good example of an ideal adolescent and one from whom other youths can profit by imitating his ways. From the very beginning up to the end of his life, he was always beside the Noble Prophet (S) and continually rendering valuable services to Islam.

The Noble Prophet (S) admired ‘Alī ( ‘a ) because he played a vital and effective role in all the scenes of activity or conflict. We shall now recount some of the activities of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ( ‘a ). ‘Alī ( ‘a ) was the son of Abū Tālib. Abū Tālib came from the biggest and most famous Arab tribe called the Quraysh. ‘Alī’s ( ‘a ) mother was a great and honorable woman called Fātimah, the daughter of Asad ibn Manāf. She, too, came from the tribe of Quraysh.

That is why ‘Alī ( ‘a ) is considered as the first baby from Hashemite father and a Hāshimite mother.[^1] ‘Alī was born miraculously in the Ka‘bah. The honor of being born in the House of Allah (the Ka‘bah) has not been granted to any one else in the entire history of the world save ‘Alī ibn Abū Tālib ( ‘a ). He stayed in the Ka‘bah for three days after birth. After that, held firmly in his mother’s arms, he was brought out of that holy place.

There are a lot of sources that prove this assertion.[^2] Abū Tālib, ‘Alī’s ( ‘a ) father, defended and protected Allah’s Prophet (S) during the days when Islam suffered ostracism and at a time when everyone had united against the Noble Prophet (S). He passed away in the tenth year of the prophetic mission. After a short period of time, the honorable wife of Allah’s Prophet (S) Khadījah also passed away in the same year that Abū Tālib died.

That is why the Holy Prophet (S) named that year ‘The Year of Sorrow’. After the death of Abū Tālib, Allah’s Prophet (S) brought ‘Alī ( ‘a ) to his house. It is for this reason that ‘Alī ( ‘a ) was brought up in the Prophet’s (S) house.

He grew up, received instruction and developed under the Prophet’s (S) direct supervision.[^3] When the archangel Gabriel (Jibrā’īl) descended from heaven upon Allah’s Prophet (S) in the cave of Hirā’ and that noble man got appointed to the prophetic mission, ‘Alī ( ‘a ) was ten years of age.