`Ali in the School of Muhammad A devastating famine occurred...

`Ali in the School of Muhammad A devastating famine occurred in Mecca after the reconstruction of the Kaaba and several years before Muhammad's prophethood. Abu-talib, the Holy Prophet's uncle, was insolvent. Muhammad made the proposal to his other uncle `Abbas who was one of the richest members of Quraysh that each one of them would take one of Abu-talib's children to his home to protect them against famine. `Abbas accepted this proposal. Both of them went to Abu-talib and offered so.

Thus, `Abbas took Ja`far, and Muhammad (s) took `Ali home to protect and educate. `Ali stayed at Muhammad's home until he was promoted to the status of prophethood. Then, `Ali confirmed and followed him.[^88] At that time, `Ali (a.s) was six years old and his personality was in the making.[^89] Muhammad (s) wanted to compensate for the hardships Abu-talib and his wife, Fatimah bint Asad, had gone through when he was young by adopting one of his children, namely `Ali.

He saw `Ali as the most competent of Abu-talib's children. This is evident by Muhammad's remark after he had adopted `Ali, “I have selected the one…