Ali ibn Abi Talib

Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin of the Prophet ﷺ (of Banu Hashim), was one of the very first to believe in him, as a child. Raised in the Prophet's ﷺ household, he slept in his bed the night of the Hijra. He married Fatima, the Prophet's ﷺ daughter, by whom he had al-Hasan and al-Husayn. Standard-bearer at Khaybar and designated 'in relation to me as Aaron was to Moses,' he became the fourth caliph and was assassinated in year 40 H. He is among the 'people of the House' of the verse of purification (33:33).

Ali ibn Abi Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib belonged to Banu Hashim: he was the first cousin of the Prophet ﷺ. Raised in the Prophet's ﷺ household before Islam, he was among the very first to believe in him, when he was about ten years old.

On the night of the Hijra, while the Qurayshites plotted to kill the Prophet ﷺ, Ali slept in the Prophet's bed to deceive the watchers, while the Prophet made his way to the cave.

He married Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, by whom he had al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the two grandsons of the Prophet ﷺ.

His rank was underscored by several prophetic words. At Khaybar, the Prophet declared: 'I will give the standard to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love' — and he gave it to Ali. During the expedition of Tabuk, he said to him: 'Would it not please you to be in relation to me as Aaron was to Moses?'

Ali is among the 'people of the House' (ahl al-bayt). According to Umm Salama, when the verse 'Allah only wishes to remove all impurity from you, O members of the family of the Prophet' (33:33) was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ gathered Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan and al-Husayn and said: 'O Allah, these are the people of my House.'

After the assassination of Uthman, Ali became the fourth caliph; his caliphate lasted about five years. He was assassinated in year 40 of the Hijra by Abd ar-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite, and designated his son al-Hasan as his heir.

Ali is not named in the Quran. His best-established Quranic connection is his belonging to the 'people of the House' (verse of purification, 33:33), from the hadith of Umm Salama reported by al-Hakim (al-Mustadrak no. 3558). He is also among the ten Companions whom the Prophet ﷺ named as announced to Paradise (Tirmidhi, from Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Awf and Sa'id ibn Zayd; Ibn Maja).

Ali illustrates early faith and total devotion: as a child he believes; as a young man he risks his life by taking the place of the Prophet ﷺ; as an adult he bears the standard then the burden of the caliphate. His place among the people of the House recalls the honour of the prophetic family — an honour the Quran associates with a demand for purity.

Demeurez dans vos foyers, ne vous exhibez pas à la manière des femmes de l'époque préislamique. Accomplissez la prière, acquittez-vous de l'aumône et obéissez à Allah et Son Messager. Allah veut seulement vous préserver de toute souillure, membres de la famille du Prophète, et vous purifier entièrement du péché.

33:33