IMAM ALI (AS)

"Ana Madinatul 'ilm wa Aliun Babuha"-"I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gate".

Why did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) described himself as "The City of knowledge" after he Became the "Chosen One". He did not use the term 'school' or college' or 'University' not even 'A city', but he said "I am The City of Knowledge"!

So why The City and not College or University for example? This is a metaphor to give people an understanding of the greatness and vastness of his knowledge. When we hear the word city, we immediately think of a huge place with lots of people. Here in Australia we think of Sydney, Melbourne etc... to visualise the concept of a city. So if we imagine in our own minds how big Sydney is, with all its roads, buildings, parks, schools, colleges, universities, people etc... we have an idea of how huge it is. When the Prophet (SAW) used the word City, it was to have this effect on us. His knowledge was so big that if it were to materialise (ie; to become something that we can see and touch) it would fill up an entire city.

In the past, when Kings used to build their cities, they would choose locations that the city would be protected from all sides and there would be only one access to the city. At this access they would put soldiers to protect the entrance. At this point they would also set up huge gates so that they could be closed or left opened as required. Sometimes, they would dig a trench all around the city, protected by a manmade river and they would build a bridge that was mobile and would give access to that city. This bridge would be used as a gate which could be withdrawn in emergencies (for example if the city was under attack, they would withdraw it or elevate it in order to cut off access to the city. Often they would still do that at night time to protect the city from unwanted visitors).

So from this concept we have nowadays events that take place where for example a person would visit Sydney and the Mayor of Sydney would present them with the "keys to the City".

Similarly, in certain European countries there are places where they talk about the doors of the city. For example King Louis 14 built the Palace of Versailles in the City of Versailles in Paris France. If you go and visit the Palace you have to go to the Portes De Versailles (the doors of Versailles) to enter the City of Versailles that would take you to the Palace. Believe me, you can look everywhere, you will not find any "Doors". But metaphorically speaking they are still there (even though they do not exist) and an entire town is there with shops, people houses, etc at "Les Portes de Versailles". The place is now called "Portes de Versailles".

The metaphor in "I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its gate..." is therefore used to describe that to get to the Prophet of God (SAW) one has to go through the 'Doors' or "Gate" of that "City of Knowledge". To get to the Prophet, one has to go through Imam Ali (AS)!

This is of course only one aspect of the "Gate of that City". Another aspect is that this "City of Knowledge", just like the cities built by the Kings need to be protected. It needs to have a gate and the gate is none other than Imam Ali (AS). However, the gate itself needs to be guarded and nobody can guard and protect this "Gate"

except Allah (SWT). Therefore the allegory here is that the "City of Knowledge" is the Prophet (SAW), its "Gate" and protector is Imam Ali (AS) and the guard of the "Gate" is Allah (SWT)!

A third aspect of course is that the Knowledge of the Prophet is so huge, that no one individual is able to contain it let alone grasp it. It needs a container (ie; a brain) as big as a city to contain it. The Prophet (SAW) had this knowledge simply because he was chosen by Allah (SWT). God Almighty gave him (the prophet) the ability and the capacity to grasp it and contain it in himself. This "Knowledge" was passed on to Imam Ali (AS) during the Prophet's lifetime and also at the time of his death.

During the last moments of the Prophet's life on Earth, Imam Ali (AS) was with him. The Prophet (SAW) had ordered that his "brother and companion" be called for him. The Prophet (SAW) was weakened by fever and he was passing out (fainting) and waking up. A'isha said call my father. When Abu Bakr came, the Prophet turned his face away from him and repeated his request "call my brother and companion". Hafsa said call my father. When Umar came, the Prophet (SAW) again turned his face away from him and repeated his request for the third time. Umm Salama (may God be pleased with her) then told them "call Ali for the Prophet does not mean anybody else"!

When Imam Ali (AS) came, the Prophet (SAW) summoned him to bend down and sit close to him so that he can speak with him privately. A while later the Prophet (SAW) told him "put my head on your lap for the order of God (for my death) has come. When my soul departs, take it with your hands and rub your face with it...." Later on people asked Imam Ali (AS) "O Abul Hassan, what did the Prophet (SAW) entrust to you before his death when he was talking to you privately"? Imam Ali (SA) said "the Prophet has taught me a thousand doors of knowledge and each door opened for me another thousand doors"! So in another words, in the span of a few minutes only the Prophet (SAW) taught Imam Ali (AS) one million "doors" of knowledge! Again the metaphor here is that the word "doors" stands for books of knowledge or chapters of knowledge! The prophet of God (SAW) has said: "I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gate. If you want to get (close) to me you have to come through the Gate (Ali)"!

Another example would be if I wanted to practice medicine I would have to be a qualified doctor. I would have to acquire the necessary knowledge before I am allowed to treat people (and make lots of money). To be a doctor I have to study at a University and graduate. To study at a University I have to pass my HSC with a very high TER (or aggregate mark).

The metaphor here would be that Imam Ali (AS) is the HSC pass mark to the only University that can teach us the required knowledge to graduate and practice this profession, namely be close to the Prophet (SAW). Without his (Imam Ali's) knowledge, there is no way anyone can get to the Prophet. It is as simple as that! It does not matter who we are or how good and religious we are. If we do not follow Imam Ali (AS) (not just in theory But most importantly in practice) we cannot get to the Prophet and as a consequence there would be no Heaven for us!

We all know that on the Day of Judgement, those who "pass the test" and are directed towards Heaven will meet the Prophet (SAW) at the "Gate" (another metaphor here). The Prophet (SAW) will ask Imam Ali (AS) "is this person one of our true followers who upheld the truth after my death"?

If Imam Ali (AS) says "Yes ya Rassul Allah, he/she is one of your Shia", then the Prophet will welcome that person and show them their palace(s) in Heaven.

If on the other hand Imam Ali (AS) says "No, ya Rassul Allah, this is one of those hypocrites who denied your teachings and turned against your family (your Ahl Leil Beit)" then the Prophet (SAW) will ask God to cast that infidel straight into His Hell!

I could go on and give more examples about the meaning of the words particularly chosen by the Prophet of God (SAW) "Ana Madinatul 'Ilm, wa Aliun Babuha", however the end result is basically the same: Even though we may have passed the test during our lifetime, if we do not pass through "the Gate" (ie; Imam Ali) then we can kiss Heaven goodbye!

I would like to cite only a few examples of Imam Ali's knowledge that was passed onto him by the Prophet (SAW) both during and upon his death. Entire books have been written about his knowledge (AS) but due to time constraint I will limit myself to a selected few only.

The first one is during the time when Abu Bakr was the khalifa:

A Jewish Rabbi came to Abu Bakr and said "you are the Prophet's successor (ie; the Khalifa of this community)". Abu Bakr said "yes".

The Rabbi said: "we find in the Torah that the su(Kh) of prophemost knowledgeabofthe communities, therefore tell me about God, the Exalted. Where is He? In heaven or on earth"? Abu Bakr said "in heaven, on the Throne".

The Rabbi said "then I should consider that the earth is without Him and I should consider according to this statement that He is in one place only".

"That is the doctrine of atheists" said Abu Bakr. "Go away from me or I will have you killed".

The Rabbi went away amazed at Abu Bakr ignorance and mocking Islam for having a leader who does not know much about God's whereabouts! Imam Ali (AS) (who was not present when this discussion took place) met the Jew as he was leaving town. He called him and said "I know what you have asked about and did not get an answer for. In Islam we say that God, the Mighty and High, is the whereness of whereness, there is no where for Him (ie; God is everywhere). He avoids any place containing Him while He is in every place, without contact with anything and without being next to anything. He encompasses knowledge of what is there and nothing of it is outside His provenance. I am telling you what is written in your books which attests to the truth of what I have told you. If you know it, do you believe in it"? "Yes" said the Jew. Then Imam Ali asked him: "Didn't you find in one of your books that Moses, the son of Imran, peace be on him, was sitting down one day when an angel came to him from the East. Moses asked him 'From where have you come' and the angel said 'From God, the Mighty and High'. Then another angel came to him from the West. Moses asked him 'from where have you come' and the angel said 'from God the Mighty and High'. Then again a third angel came to him and said 'I have come to you from the Seventh Heaven, from being with God the Mighty and

High'. Then a fourth angel came to him and said 'I have come from the Seventh Firmament (the vault of Heaven-ie; the 7th Heaven), from being with God, the Mighty and High'. At that time Moses (AS) said: "praise be to God, no place is without Him and He is not nearer to one place than another".

The Rabbi replied: "I testify that this is the truth and that you have more right to (occupy) the place of your Prophet than the one who currently has control over it".

The second example is during the time of Umar.

Umar summoned a woman who apparently had been conversing with men at her house. When she was brought to him she was so scared and afraid that when she saw him she had a miscarriage. Her baby fell to the floor and died. Umar gathered the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) and asked them if there were any laws concerning this issue and what he should do. They said to him that he was only trying to do good to her. It was not his fault, therefore there is no blame on him.

Imam Ali (AS) who was present did not say anything. Umar turned to him and asked him: "what is your view O Abul Hassan"?

Imam Ali (AS) said: "you have heard their view". Umar insisted: "but what is your view"? Imam Ali again said "the people have said what you have heard". Umar said: "I adjure you to give your view". Imam Ali (AS) then said to him: "if people were trying to get close to you, then they have deceived you. If they thought about their advice, they have discarded the fact that the blood-wit is required of you as the one responsible for the death of the unborn child because his killing was as a result of a mistake connected with you". Umar said "by God you have advised differently from them. I will not delay for the blood wit to be paid by my clan the Banu 'Adi".

Of course there are many more stories during the time of Umar so much so that Umar confessed publicly that "Lawla Ali can halaqa Umar - Had it not been for Ali, Umar would have been destroyed".

Once two women were disputing over a child. They were both saying that it was theirs. They were brought to Umar to sort out the dispute. He said "call Abul Hassan". After questioning both women and seeing that they both persisted in their claim, Imam Ali (AS) asked for a saw to be brought to him. One of the women asked him what he wanted to do and he said "I will cut it in two halves and you can each have one". She said "O God, please Abul Hassan, if there is no other verdict, then let her have the child". Imam Ali (AS) said "Allahu Akbar. You are indeed the real mother and she is the liar! because had it been her son, she would have had pity on him and said something". Upon this the other woman admitted her lie.

Umar asked imam Ali (AS) how come he never needs to ponder on an issue and always give the solution immediately. Imam Ali (AS) asked Umar how many fingers he had in his right hand and Umar immediately said "five". Imam Ali (AS) said to Umar "this is how long I need to find solutions for problems".

As I said, there are several other incidences were had it not been for the knowledge of Imam Ali (AS) great mistakes and injustices would have taken place.

Imam Ali (AS) had told his faithful retainer (servant) Qambar that al-Hajjaj would kill him. He had also foretold the same thing to his follower Kumayl and indeed several others of his followers.

Imam Ali (AS) was the only one, after the Prophet's death, to declare publicly to the Muslim Community "Isaluni abla ma tistaffiduni" - "Ask me, before you lose me". "Ask me anything, ask me about any topic, ask me about the Qur'an. Ask me so that you may broaden your intellect and knowledge! Ask me now that you have the opportunity! etc...". When Mu'awiah and his soldiers raised the Holy Qur'an above their heads as a last desperate attempt to stop Imam Ali's forces from slaughtering them at the battle of Siffin, and upon Imam Ali (AS) seeing his soldiers hesitating to attack, he (AS) told them "I am the spoken Book"! "Ask me anything about the Qur'an, ask me about any surah (Chapter), ask me when it was revealed, ask me where it was revealed, ask me what it means"!

However I just want to finish by reproducing this particular example about Imam Ali's knowledge (AS), it is called "the Miracle of Moving the Rock and the Water under it". This is the story of the monk who lived in the area of Karbala. When Imam Ali (AS) headed towards Siffin, a terrible thirst came upon his followers. There had run out of water and were suffering greatly under the heat of the sun. Imam Ali (AS) turned off the main road and a within a short distance a hermitage appeared before them. Imam Ali (AS) called out for its occupant and a hermit appeared before him. Imam Ali (AS) greeted him and asked him whether there was water near his residence that would quench the thirst of his soldiers. The hermit said that the nearest waterhole was more than six miles away and he had only water for himself until his next trip there. He usually fetches enough water to sustain himself for a month. Upon hearing this, Imam Ali's followers said "order us to go to the place which he indicated. Perhaps we will reach water while we still have strength".

:There is no need for you to do that" said Imam Ali (AS). He turned the neck of his mule in the direction of the Qibla ie; towards Mecca) and directed them to a place near the hermitage. "Uncover the ground in this place" he ordered. A group of them got their shovels and started digging. They came upon a great shiny rock. They tried with all their might but could not move it. They reported that to Imam Ali (AS) who told them "the rock is over water. If it moves from its position you will find the water". All the people there gathered together and struggled to move but to no avail! Seeing that, Imam Ali (AS) "put his leg over his saddle until it reached the ground. Then he rolled up his sleeves. He put hid fingers under the side of the rock and he moved it. He removed it with his hand and pushed it many yards away. When it had moved from its position, the white (glitter) of water appeared before them. They hurried to it and drank from it. It was the sweetest, coolest and purest water they had ever drunk". When they had all quenched their thirst and got supplies for the rest of their journey, Imam Ali (AS) "went to the rock with his and replaced it where it originally was. Then he ordered thathe traces be removed wear".

Thermit who had been calleout "people help me come down, help me come". They did that and he came to Imam Ali (AS). He stood before him and said: "Man, are you a prophet sent (by God)?" Imam Ali (AS) said "No".

"Then are you an angel who is close to God?" Again Imam Ali (AS) said "No".

"Then who are you?" asked the hermit.

"I am the testamentary trustee (wasi) of the Apostle of God, Muhammad bin Abd Allah, the seal of the prophets, may God bless him and his family" replied Imam Ali (AS).

"Stretch out your hand," said the hermit, "so that I may submit to God, the Blessed and Exalted, at your hands." Imam Ali (AS) stretched out his hand and ask the monk to make the twofold testimony. The hermit said "I testify that there is no god but God alone without any partner to him. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Apostle. I testify that you are the testamentary trustee of the Apostle of God, the one with the most right among the people to authority after him".

Having said that, Imam Ali (AS) asked the monk what prompted him to accept Islam after having been in opposition to it for so long. The hermit said "I will tell, Commander of the faithful. This hermitage was built to seek out the one who would find that rock and remove it so that water would come from underneath it. Scholars before me died and they did not attain that knowledge, but God the Mighty and High has provided me with it. We find in one of our books and a prose writer of our scholars that in this land there is a spring with a rock over it. No one knows its place except a prophet or the testamentary trustee pf a prophet. He must be a friend of God who calls men to truth, whose sign is the knowledge of the place of this rock and his ability to remove it. When I saw you do that, I realised what we had been waiting for. The object of desire had been attained. Today I am a Muslim (converted) at your hands, a believer in your right and your servant (mawla)".

When Imam Ali (AS) heard this, he wept until his beard was all wet from his tears. He looked up to the heavens and raising his hands said "Praise be to God, by Whom I have not been forgotten. Praise be to God in Whose books I have been mentioned".

The hermit joined Imam Ali's followers and went on to Siffin and fought bravely until he was martyred. Imam Ali (AS) carried out the prayers over him and buried him whilst seeking much forgiveness for him. Whenever the monk was mentioned in front of Imam Ali (AS), he used to praise the Lord and say "that was my servant (mawla).

May the lord give is the honor to be the humble servants of such a great character like Imam Ali (A.S) so that we may succeed in this world and the here after for his is the most powerful and most giving.

Munir Bahsoun