Story No. 249 – Amir al-Muminin, Imam Ali (as) the great scholar of Islam

Amir al-Muminin, Imam Ali (as) was not only a great warrior but a great scholar as well. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said about him, “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.” He was one of the great jurists among the Companions. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) appointed him as the Judge of Yemen during his life time. He was a master of Arabic and his writings were as effective as his speech.

On many occasions Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) had prayed for him. When he sent Imam Ali (as) to Yemen in Ramadan (10 AH), he blessed Imam Ali (as) with the following prayer: “Oh Allah (SWT) put truth on his tongue and enlightens his heart with the light of guidance.” Then he himself put turban on his head and gave the black standard.

On one occasion Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said to Imam Ali (as), “You pertain to me and I pertain to you.” At another place, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “Only a hypocrite does not love Ali and a believer does not hate him.”

According to a Hadith Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said to Imam Ali (as), “You have a resemblance to Prophet Jesus whom the Jews hated so much that they slandered his mother Mary and whom Christians loved so much that they placed him in a position not rightly his. Ali afterwards said, “Two (types of) people will perish on my account, one who loves me so excessively that he praises me for what I do not possess, and one who hates me so much that he will be impelled by his hatred to slander me.”