FUN FACTS

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam) said: “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its gate.” No doubt – Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) was a great scholar and jurist of Islam. He had memorised whole of the Holy Qur’an during the time of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam) and knew its commentary including the order of descent and the time of revelation of various verses. It is given in Tabqat Ibn Sa’d that Hazrat Ali said, “I could tell for each and every verse of the Holy Qur’an why and when it was revealed.” Hazrat Ali has been counted among the top most commentators of the Holy Qur’an. Nobody among the Companions with the exception of Abdullah ibn Abbas was so learned in the Holy Qur’an as Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu). His commentaries of various verses of the Holy Qur’an have been given in a number of books like “Ibn-i-Jarir,” “Ibn Abi Hatim”, “Ibn Kathir” etc. He had confined himself to his home for six months after the death of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi we Salaam) only to collect various parts of the Holy Qur’an. He was excellent in deducing law from the verses of the Holy Qur’an. When he argued with “Khawarili” on the question of Arbitration they could not stand before him. He was also very learned in the knowledge of “Nasikh” and “Mansukh” i.e. the knowledge of such verses of the Holy Qur’an outdating the laws given in Other verses.
Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) spent thirty years of his life with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam) and knew all the manners and practices of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam). He stood next to Abu Bakr (Radi Allah Anhu)as far as the knowledge of sayings, practices and orders of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam) were concerned. During the period of the first three caliphs and also during his time he was the great Mufti (Jurist) of Islam. He performed this service for about thirty years after the death of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam). In the narration of Hadith he was very cautious like three of his predecessors. For this reason only 586 Ahadith, narrated by Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) have been mentioned in the books of Hadith. He has also mentioned a number of sayings of various Companions as well. Hazrat Shah Wall Ullah of Delhi says: “Most of the Ahadith in connection with the appearance of the Holy Prophet, his method of offering Salat and praying to Allah etc. have been mentioned by Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) because of the fact that he was with him not only in his public but also in the private life. Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) was one of the few Companions who were having collections of Hadith recorded during the time of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam).
Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) was not only a great scholar but a great Jurist as well. He was famous for giving correct verdicts of different problems very quickly which were based upon the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam). Great Companions used to visit him for seeking solution of different problems of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence. Hazrat Umar remarked, Ali is the greatest jurist and judge among all of us”. Hazrat ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said, Ali’s decision is the most authentic.” Because of his vast knowledge of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith, he became the greatest jurist of his time, as Islamic Jurisprudence requires knowledge of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith to the fullest possible extent. On many occasions he corrected the decisions given by great Companions like Umar and Usman (Radi Allah Anhu). Even though Amir Mu’awiyah was having differences with Ali, he sometimes referred some of the complicated problems of Islamic Law to Hazrat Ali(Radi Allah Anhu) and admitted his profundity in this field.
Hazrat Ali (Radi Allah Anhu) was a great orator as well. On many occasions mobs of people were changed because of his effective speeches. Arabic knowing persons can note the beauty of his speeches. He was a wonderful master of the Arabic language. His writings were as effective as his speech. He had also composed a few poems as well. He also framed rules of Arabic syntax and appointed Abul Aswad to compose a book on the basis of the rules he framed.
No doubt Hazrat Ali was one of the greatest sons of Islam, Very few Companions equalled him in his closeness to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam), which burrished qualities of head and heart. Muslims are forever indebted to him.