Muhammad's Era
Ali was the first person to declare in public his belief in Muhammad, and his message of Islam—though Ali had been born a Muslim. His announcement came with Muhammad's first speech, directed to his family, about his divinely appointed mission. Tradition states that when the verse "And admonish thy nearest kinsmen," was revealed to Muhammad, he called Ali and said to him,
"Ali, God has commanded me to warn my tribe of near kindred. I was troubled by this, since I knew that when I discuss the matter to them they would respond in a way which I would not like. I kept silent until Gabriel came to me and said "If you do not do what you are commanded, your Lord will punish you." So prepare a measure of wheat for us, add a leg of lamb to it, fill a large bowl of milk for us, and then invite sons of Abd al-Muttalib for me so that I may speak to them what I have been commanded to tell them."Once Muhammad had gathered the members of Banu Abd al-Muttalib he spoke to them, saying,
"Banu Abd al-Muttalib, I don't know of any young man among Arabs who has brought for his people something better than what I have brought to you. I bring the best of this world and the world after, since God has commanded me to summon you to him. Which of you will aid me in this matter, so that he will be my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you?"They all held back from the words of Muhammad, and though Ali was the youngest, he replied,
"I will be your helper, O' Prophet of Allah." He put his hand on the back of Ali's neck and said "This is my brother, my executor (Wasi), my successor (Caliph) among you, so listen to him and obey him."Some Banu Abd al-Muttalib rose up laughing and saying to Ali's father, Abu Talib,
"He has commanded you to obey your son and to obey him!"Read more about this topic: Shi'a View Of Ali
Famous quotes containing the word era:
“...I had grown up in a world that was dominated by immature age. Not by vigorous immaturity, but by immaturity that was old and tired and prudent, that loved ritual and rubric, and was utterly wanting in curiosity about the new and the strange. Its era has passed away, and the world it made has crumbled around us. Its finest creation, a code of manners, has been ridiculed and discarded.”
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945)