
| NAME | ALI (A.S). |
|
FATHER'SNAME |
MOHAMMAD TAQI (A.S). |
| MOTHER'S NAME | SAMANA MAGHRABIA. |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 15th ZILHAJ 212 HIJRI / 5TH RAJAB 214 HIJRI. |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | MARYED NEAR MADINA. |
| WIVES NAME | SALEEL. |
| SON'S NAME | HASSAN ASKARI (A.S), HUSSAIN, MOHAMMAD, JAFER. |
| DAUGHTER'S NAME | MASUMA. |
| FAMILY NAME | ABUL HASAN. |
| TITLE | HADI, NAQI. |
| AGE | 42 YEARS. |
| MARTYRDOM | 3rd RAJAB 254 HIJRI. |
| BURRIED AT | SAMARAH (IRAQ).ADJACENT TO IMAM HASAN ASKARI (A.S). |
Imam Ali un Naqi (alaihis salaam), a brief look into his Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Ali.
Titles: An-Naqi, Al-Haadi.
Kuniyya: Abul Hasan.
Birth: Friday 15th Dhulhijjah 212 a.h. in Surba (Suburb of Madina).
Mother: Bibi Sumaana (Seyyida).
Father: Imam Muhammad At-Taqi (a.s.)
Death: 3rd Rajab 254 a.h. in Samarra aged 42 yrs. Poisoned by Mu'taz.
Buried: In Samarra in his house.
Parents, Birth & Childhood
Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.)'s mother was a very pious lady who spent her whole
life fasting. The 10th Imam has said that his mother was one of the ladies
of paradise and one of those from 'Ahlul Haqq' (people of truth).
Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.) became an Imam at the age of 8 years. The khalifa wrote to the governor of Medina asking him to send the young Imam to a person called Junaydi for tutorage (the governor of Madina was threatened that if he did not do this than the people of Madina would be annihilated). Junaydi was a well known poet of that time and 'anti - Ahlulbayt' and was 80 years old. The Khalifa felt that if this was done than anything that the Imam did or said could be attributed to Junaydi i.e. it was taught to Imam by Junaydi. When Junaydi was once asked about the progress of his student he said :
"I am the student and he is the teacher. I now know what
knowledge is. What I say is because of what I have been taught by Imam".
The Khalifa's plan had failed yet again.
For a while the Khalifa left Imam in peace and freedom as they were engrossed in sorting out their own affairs (Removing the Iranians from power; adding the Turks and establishing power in Samarra). Imam used the time to open Madrasas and the atmosphere in the mosque of the Prophet was once again like in the time of the 6th Imam Ja'fer As-Sadiq (a.s.)
Imamate - His Life & Works
Imam Ali un Naqi (as) served the longest period of Imamate (besides the 12th
Imam) - 34 years which can be divided into two parts - 17 years of freedom
and 17 years under arrest.
In 234 a.h. came one of the most tyrannical rulers of the Abbasid Khilafate - Mutawakkil. He ruled with tyranny, killing, looting and terrorising especially those who were the followers of Ahlulbayt. Mutawakkil is also the one who ordered the desecration of the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) wanting to remove Imam's body and burn it (He did not succeed). He tried running water over the grave so no traces of the grave would remain but was unsuccessful. He ordered that all those wanting to visit Kerbala would have their fingers cut off, then hand and feet cut then only be able to go if one other from the family was killed. Imam still asked Shias to visit Kerbala. When Mutawakkil saw that all had failed and it did not discourage the visits than he banned all visits to Kerbala completely.
Mutawakkil called Imam to Samarra. Imam was called under the pretext of respect and love towards him. Imam was aware of Mutawakkil's intentions but went knowing that this would be an opportunity to show the Turks too what true Islam was. On arriving in Samarra the Turkish spies sent with Imam were amazed at Imam's knowledge of the Turkish language when he had never visited the Turks before.
It was an opportunity for Imam to prepare the Mu'mineen in Samarra for ghaibat. Imam was put up in an Inn which was meant for beggars, destitute and criminals. From this Inn he was removed and put into the custody of an evil man called Zarraqui (who changed to be an avid supporter of Imam) and then a man called Seyyid.
Mutawakkil knew of the progress Imam had made in Madina in 14 years of spreading knowledge. In fact he himself had to ask Imam when the Caesar of Rome wrote to him (Mutawakkil) to ask him:
"I have heard that there is a chapter of a divinely revealed
book which does not contain the letters ( t d k S X ) and if this chapter
is recited it grants the reciter paradise! I would like to know which chapter
and in which book and why these letters are not present".
Mutawakkil's 'Ulema' were confused and eventually Mutawakkil turned to Imam.
Imam told him that the chapter was Suratul Fatiha in the Qur'an and the above
letters were not present because it was a chapter of mercy and each of the
above letters represented words of Adhab (punishment) or Ghadhab (anger of
Allah).
e.g.*- jaheem (hell), *- khusr (loss), *- zaqqum (fruit of Jahannam)
Mutawakkil seeing that he could not humiliate Imam in any was he announced his arrival in Samarra as Ibnur Ridha (son of 8th Imam) and subjected him to things such as handing him a glass of wine in his hands in his court, asking him to sing, making him run in front of his (Mutawakkil's) carriage..etc. Imam Hasan Al-Askery (a.s.) was placed under separate house arrest than his father at the young age of 5 years as Mutawakkil did not want the birth of the 12th Imam.
Whilst under house arrest Imam Ali An-Naqi (a.s.) arranged for the coming of Bibi Nargis to Samarra and for her to be well versed in Fiqh by his learned sister Bibi Hakima.
Imam spent his life making the imminent ghaibat of the 12th Imam easier. Soon after Mutawakkil was killed by his own son who could not withstand the behaviour of his father.
After Mutawakkil's death his son Muntasir was the successor and he lifted the restrictions of visiting Kerbala. His rule was unlike his father's tyranny but remained in power for only 6 months and died at the age of 25 years. Then came Mustan Billah (Ahmed bin Mo'tasam) followed by Mo'taz Billah who continued his tyranny on Imam and his followers.
Martyrdom
Mo'taz arranged for the poisoning of Imam through an ambassador and Imam was
martyred on Monday 3rd Rajab 254 a.h. nobody except Imam Hasan Askery (a.s.)
was present at the time of his death. he gave his father ghusl and kafan and
wept bitterly.
Children of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.)
It is reported that Imam had 5 children
Imam Hasan Al-Askery (a.s.) the Eleventh Imam.
Husayn.
Muhammad (known as Syed Muhammad - Tomb near tomb of Balad).
Ja'fer.
Aaliya.
Sayings of Maula Hazarath Imam Ali Naqi (AS)
The one who thinks he is obliged to commit sin has attributed the responsibility
of his sin towards Allah and has accused Him of cruelty and excess upon His
servants.
Whosoever has the fear of Allah, people fear him and the one who obeys Allah,
people obey him.
Compensate and remind yourself of regrets and envoys of dissipations by giving
priority and preference to farsightedness, resolution, and sound judgment.
Jealousy is the cause of erosion of good deeds and the attracter of chastisement.
The torturing and teasing of parents is followed by shortage (of sustenance)
and being driven towards belittlement and humiliation.
Wrath and anger is the key to difficulties and hardships but (at the same
time) it is better than nursing grudge (malice).
Mind the time when you would be lying before your family members and there
would be no physician to stop (death) and no friend to benefit you.
The one who performs a deed and his heart does not believe in that deed, Allah
will not accept any of his practices, but that it be along with the sincerity
of intention.
The one who considers himself to be safe from the planning of Allah and his
painful chastisement and wrath commits arrogance till His divine will catches
hold of him. And His ordinance gets implemented.
Wealth (means) the scarcity of your aspirations and longings and getting contented
with what could be sufficient for you.
To be enraged and angry with somebody who is under your hand is reprehensible
and blamable.
Beware of jealousy for its effect will appear upon you and it shall not effect
your enemy.
Wisdom does not have effect upon the perverse and corrupt natures.
Talking nonsense and futile things is the enjoyment and pleasure of foolish
and insane ones, and the activity of ignorant ones.
Self-conceit stops and restrains from seeking knowledge and becomes the cause
of (people’s) despise, scorn, and ignorance.
There is no security from the evil of the one who is disregarded and humiliated
in his own eyes. The world is a market, a community reaps benefit in it and
there is another one, which faces loss. Poverty and adversity is the cause
of getting the soul’s rebellion and revolt and the gravity of dismay.
Waking up in the night makes the sleep sweeter and hunger increases the nicety
and decency of food.
Imam addressing to caliph Mutawakil:
1.They made the lofty and high peaks their residence and permanently stationed
armed guards to watch that, but none of those could stop the death from approaching
them.
2.Finally and consequently after all that grandeur, they were dragged from
their grand palaces into the ditches of graves, and how unfortunately they
fell into those bad steeps.
3.After the burial the voice of the caller of Allah raised, saying: Where
did those decorations, crowns, ostentation go?
4.At the time of their being questioned the grave answers eloquently, "These
are the faces which are presently the attacking spot of the worms and insects."