Before reading the text, look at the title of this unit and answer questions.

I. Pre-Reading tasks.

V. Critical Thinking.

Read again through the stories of the first three caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman). If you could have been one of these three heroes of Islam, which one would you prefer to have been?

1. In groups, discuss the various qualities and life stories of the three caliphs. Look also at the contribution each made to Islam. Then as a group, decide which one you would prefer to have been. Write down as many reasons as you can for your choice.

2. Explain your choice to the class and justify your reasons. Be prepared to answer questions from other groups on your choice. Also, ask questions to other groups to challenge their reasons.

3. With the class, decide why each of these men was a hero of Islam in his own way.

Unit 11. ALI bin ABU TALIB (RAA).

1. You will read about the first child to embrace Islam who later became the fourth caliph. What do you know about this person? What people or events do you think of when you hear this person's name?

2. Work in groups. List your pieces of information about Ali bin Abu Talib in order of importance.

3. Compare your list with other groups. How are they similar or different?

II. Reading. Develop your Reading Skills: As you read, try to find the information you listed above in the text.

Ali bin Abu Talibwas the Prophet’s (SAAS) cousin. Later, he married Fatimah (RAA) and became the Prophet’s (SAAS) son-in-law. In fact, Аli was already like a son to the Prophet (SAAS). Ali’s real father, Abu Talib, had so many children that he could not feed them all. The Prophet (SAAS) wanted to help his uncle. He invited Ali to live with him. Ali was only a young boy at this time.

Life with the Prophet (SAAS).

Ali was always with Muhammad (SAAS), He was the first boy to become a Muslim. On many occasions he witnessed revelation. The Prophet (SAAS) would talk to him about them. He, therefore, became an authority on the meaning of many revelations and why they were made.

The Prophet (SAAS) loved him very much. One day, Muhammad (SAAS) received a revelation from Allah (SWT).

"And Allah only wishes to remove All the faults you have,

All the members of the household of the Prophet,

And to make you pure and faultless."

(Surat Al-Ahzab, 33)

The Prophet (SAAS) immediately called Ali, his daughter Fatimah, and his grandchildren Hassan and Hussein (RAA), covered them with a cloak, and said, “My Lord, these are my household”.

As far as the Prophet (SAAS) was concerned, Ali was more than just a cousin or son-in-law. After the Prophet (SAAS) had settled in Yathrib, he brought the Ansar and Muhajirin together, and introduced Ali to them as his brother. The Prophet (SAAS) showed how much he trusted Ali by asking him to marry Fatimah, his youngest daughter.

The Warrior.

Ali was a fine wrestler. Nobody ever beat him at wrestling. He was also well-known for his courage. He always fought on the front line in a battle. The Prophet (SAAS) once said, "There is no courageous man equal to Ali and there is no sharper sword than his." In addition, he was also a very clever and thoughtful person. He was a convincing speaker and rarely lost an argument. His knowledge of the Qur'an and Sunnah was second to none. One day a surah was revealed to the Prophet (SAAS):

"That we might remind you

And that ears should hear the story
And store it in your memory

So that its lessons will be remembered"

(Surat Al-Haqqah, 12)

After this revelation the Prophet (SAAS) said to Ali, “I have asked Allah (SWT) to make those ears yours”.

Ali later said, “Since that day I have forgotten nothing of the Quran and Sunnah”. WhenAli became caliph, he encouraged scholarship. He himself was very interested in fiqh, language studies, arithmetic, and zuhd. He encouraged scholars to develop these subjects further.

The Judge.

The Prophet (SAAS) decided to send Ali to Yemen to be a judge. However at that time, Ali had no experience in judging. He said, “Dear Messenger of Allah (SWT), I know nothing about pronouncing judgments”.

The Prophet (SAAS) knew that he would make an excellent judge and replied, “May Allah (SWT) guide your heart and direct your tongue”.

Later Ali said, “Since that day, I have never doubted any judgment I have made”. As a result of Ali’s work in Yemen, most of the Yemenis became Muslim. This is because they knew they would be treated fairly. They trusted Ali. When the Prophet (SAAS) heard that his cousin was popular in Yemen, he said, "Ali is the best of them all in judgment."

Ali used his great sense of fairness when he became caliph. He was always able to see beyond his own point of view. When a group of people refused to give their loyalty (bai’ah) to him he was not angry. He could see that they were not harmful. He said, “Those are peoplewho do not want to support us, but they also do not support the wrongdoers. They do not want to hear the truth, but they are not wicked people”.

The Controversial One.

Ali was a person who was either loved or hated. People loved him because of his great kindness to them but others hated him out of envy. Once, he bought an Abyssinian slave. He taught the slave all the Islamic principles and set him free. The slave loved Ali so much he decided to stay. Later, the King of Abyssinia died. The Abyssinians looked for the king’s son but they could not find him. Eventually, they found out that he had been kidnapped by slave traders and brought to Makkah. They found him at Ali’s house. He was the slave that Ali had bought. When the Abyssinians asked him to become king, he refused. He preferred to stay with Ali and remain a Muslim.

On the other hand, Ali was sometimes accused of arrogance. One day, the Prophet (SAAS) was walking with Ali’s cousin, Az-Zubair (RAA). Аli passed by and the Prophet (SAAS) smiled at him. Ali smiled back but did not stop to show his respect to the Prophet (SAAS). Az-Zubair said, “The son of Abu Talib never stops being arrogant”.

The Prophet (SAAS) replied, “He is not proud. Listen to me. One day you will fight him and you will be the unjust one”. Later the Prophet's (SAAS) foretelling came true. When Ali became caliph, Az-Zubair sided with Ali’s enemies.

Ali loved the Prophet (SAAS) both in life and death. When the Prophet (SAAS) died, it was Ali who washed his body.

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