You’re awake again. Scrolling through stories of heroes—fictional characters with superpowers, warriors who saved kingdoms, legends who changed history. You feel inspired for a moment. Then you go back to your ordinary life feeling ordinary.
But what if I told you about a boy born inside the Kaaba—the House of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He)—the only person ever granted that honor? A boy who accepted Islam at age ten when it meant torture and death. A young man who volunteered to sleep in a bed surrounded by assassins so the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) could escape. A warrior so fierce in battle that the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) called him the Lion of Allah. A scholar so knowledgeable that the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.” A leader who died as a martyr, struck down while praying, his blood mixing with his prostration?
His name was Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). And his story of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion deserves to be carved into every Muslim’s heart.
The Child Born in the House of Allah
Around the year 600 CE, something unprecedented happened in Makkah. Fatimah bint Asad, wife of Abu Talib and aunt of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), was pregnant and near her time. As she walked around the Kaaba making dua, according to historical accounts preserved by early Islamic scholars, she suddenly felt the pains of labor so intensely that she couldn’t walk further.
In that moment, according to the narration documented in historical sources, the wall of the Kaaba miraculously opened. She entered, and the wall closed behind her. For three days, she remained inside the House of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). When she emerged, she was carrying a baby boy—Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Nobody before him was born inside the Kaaba. Nobody after him has been granted this honor. This wasn’t just a remarkable birth—it was a divine sign of the greatness this child would embody.
When Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was around six years old, Makkah faced a severe famine. Abu Talib, despite being from a noble family, had many children and was struggling financially. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), though not yet a prophet at this time, suggested to his uncle Abbas that they each take one of Abu Talib’s children to ease his burden.
Abbas took Ja’far. Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) took Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). From that moment, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was raised in the household of the man who would become the final Prophet. He grew up watching Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), learning from him, being shaped by his character before prophethood and during it.
Think about what this means. While other companions met the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) as adults with established worldviews, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was molded from childhood by the best human to ever exist. His entire personality, his values, his understanding of Islam—all formed under the direct supervision of the Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He).
The First Child to Surrender to Truth
When the first revelation came to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Cave of Hira, when he returned trembling to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), when Islam began in secret—Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was there. He was around ten years old.
Historical accounts document that after Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) became the first Muslim, and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became the first adult male Muslim, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) became the first child to accept Islam. Some scholars say he was the second or third person overall to accept Islam—while still a child.
A ten-year-old boy choosing truth when it meant his family would turn against him. When it meant danger. When it meant persecution. Most ten-year-olds are worried about play and friends. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was accepting a message that would cost him everything.
When his father Abu Talib discovered Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) praying with the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), according to historical narrations, Abu Talib asked what they were doing. The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) explained this was the religion of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), inviting Abu Talib to join them. Abu Talib didn’t accept Islam, but he told Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him): “He would never call you to anything but good. Stand by him.”
Even Abu Talib, who protected the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) but never accepted Islam, recognized the truth his nephew was following. And Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), despite being just a child, stood firm.
The Night He Chose Death Over the Prophet’s
Fast forward to the year 622 CE. The Hijrah—the migration to Madinah. The Quraysh had had enough. They couldn’t stop Islam. They couldn’t silence Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). So they decided to kill him.
The plot was coordinated according to historical accounts. Young men from multiple tribes would surround the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) house. When he emerged for Fajr prayer, they would attack simultaneously from all sides. That way, responsibility would be collective—no single tribe could be blamed, no blood feud would erupt.
But Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) warned His Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). That night, the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) needed to escape. He needed someone to stay behind, to sleep in his bed, to make it look like he was still there—knowing that when the assassins discovered the deception, that person would likely be killed.
Who did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) ask? Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Still in his early twenties. With his whole life ahead of him.
And Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) didn’t hesitate. According to authentic historical sources, he wrapped himself in the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) green cloak and lay down in the exact spot where the assassins expected to find Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). Outside, men with swords waited to kill whoever emerged.
Think about that night. The assassins surrounding the house. The swords ready. Death waiting. And Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) lying there, perfectly still, knowing that discovery meant probable death. He wasn’t being forced. He volunteered. Because if his death meant the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) safety, it was worth it.
Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) was so pleased with this sacrifice that He revealed verses about it:
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:207]
“And there is a kind of person who would sell themselves to seek the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is Ever Gracious to His servants.”
Islamic scholars of tafsir have documented that this verse was revealed specifically about Ali’s (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrifice that night—selling his life, willing to die, purely to seek Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) pleasure by protecting His Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him).
When morning came, the assassins burst in. They found Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Not Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him). Their shock. Their rage. But Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was alive. Protected by Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) because his intention was pure.
The Lion Who Made Enemies Tremble
If you know anything about early Islamic military history, you know Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was there in every major battle except Tabuk—and he only missed that one because the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed him as guardian of Madinah, which disappointed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) so much that the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) had to console him.
At the Battle of Badr, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was everywhere. At Uhud, when Muslims were scattering and the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) was injured and surrounded, who stayed? Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Fighting desperately to protect the Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), receiving wound after wound, refusing to abandon his position.
At the Battle of Khaybar, the Muslim army was struggling to breach the fortified Jewish stronghold. For days, the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) sent different commanders—they all came back unsuccessful. Then came one of the most famous declarations in Islamic history.
According to the authentic hadith narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’d and recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3009, and by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2405, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him. Through his hands, Allah will grant victory.”
Everyone spent the night hoping they would be chosen. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: “Where is Ali?” They said Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was suffering from severe eye pain. The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) called for him, applied his blessed saliva to Ali’s (may Allah be pleased with him) eyes, and they healed instantly.
Then he gave Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) the flag. That day, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) fought with such ferocity that he ripped the gate of the Khaybar fortress off its hinges and used it as a shield. Historical accounts document that it took eight men to lift that gate after the battle. One man had wielded it during combat.
This wasn’t just physical strength. This was divine assistance. This was a warrior who fought with complete reliance on Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), with no fear of death, with absolute conviction that victory comes from Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) alone.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him the title Asadullah—the Lion of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). Not lion of war. Not lion of men. Lion of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). Because his courage came from faith, not ego.
The Gate to All Knowledge
But Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) wasn’t just a warrior. He was a scholar of the highest caliber. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said in a hadith documented by scholars including Imam al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak: “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever seeks knowledge should come through its gate.”
Think about what that means. All Islamic knowledge flows through the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him)—but if you want to access it properly, you go through Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He was the doorway. The portal. The one who understood the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) teachings so deeply that accessing them required his understanding.
Historical accounts document that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would say: “Ask me about the Book of Allah. There is not a verse in the Quran except that I know where it was revealed—in the night or during the day, in the mountains or on the plains.” His knowledge of Quran was encyclopedic.
His judgments were so wise that Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)—the second Khalifa known for his own brilliant rulings—would repeatedly say: “May Allah never confront me with a problem in which Abul-Hasan (Ali) is not present to solve it.” This is documented across authentic historical sources as Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) frequently consulting Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) on complex legal matters.
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) combined warrior strength with scholar wisdom. Lion in battle. Gate of knowledge in peace. Both flowing from the same source: complete submission to Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He).
The Sacred Marriage
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) had a daughter named Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her)—known as Az-Zahra, the Radiant One. She was so beloved to her father that the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand when she entered the room and kiss her forehead.
Several prominent companions asked for her hand in marriage. The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) gently declined each proposal. Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), despite his poverty, despite having almost nothing to offer materially, asked for her hand.
The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled and accepted. This wasn’t about wealth. This was about character. About who was worthy of the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) most beloved daughter.
Their marriage became one of the most blessed in Islamic history. From this union came Hassan and Hussein (may Allah be pleased with them both)—the grandsons of the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him), leaders of the youth of Paradise according to authentic hadith, and through them, the lineage of the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) continued.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said about Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) in an authentic hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3556: “Fatimah is part of me. Whatever pleases her pleases me, and whatever angers her angers me.”
And who did she choose? Who did the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) choose for her? Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). That tells you everything about his character.
The Caliphate He Never Sought
After Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred in the year 656 CE, the Muslim community was in chaos. Civil unrest. Uncertainty. Danger everywhere. The senior companions came to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asking—begging—him to become Khalifa.
He refused initially according to historical accounts. Not because he didn’t want responsibility—because he saw what was coming. He knew the political situation was explosive. He knew the fitna (civil war) was brewing. He told them: “Leave me alone and seek someone else. We are facing a matter that has many faces and colors. Neither hearts can stand it, nor minds be patient about it.”
But they insisted. The overwhelming majority in Madinah pledged allegiance. On the 25th of Dhul-Hijjah, 35 AH, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reluctantly accepted the position of fourth Khalifa. He was in his mid-fifties. Most of his caliphate was spent dealing with internal strife—the First Fitna, civil wars between Muslims, political maneuvering, rebellion.
The Battle of the Camel. The Battle of Siffin. The rise of the Khawarij. All of this happened during his caliphate. He spent more time trying to unify Muslims than expanding the empire. More time dealing with rebellion than conquest.
And through it all, he maintained justice. He refused to give special treatment to family. He distributed wealth equally. He lived simply despite being the leader of a vast empire. Historical accounts document how he would patrol the markets of Kufa personally, checking for fraud, helping the needy, ensuring justice.
His speeches and letters—compiled in the famous book Nahj al-Balagha—show profound wisdom, deep spirituality, and unwavering commitment to justice even when it cost him politically.
The Prayer That Became His Last
Ramadan, 40 AH (year 661 CE). Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was leading Fajr prayer in the mosque of Kufa. He was 63 years old. He had spent his entire life in service of Islam—from childhood acceptance to warrior courage to scholarly wisdom to difficult leadership.
A man named Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Khariji who opposed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), waited with a poisoned sword. As Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) stood in prayer, leading the congregation, ibn Muljam struck him on the head.
The wound was deep. Fatal. The poison spread. But Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) didn’t scream. Didn’t break the prayer. According to historical accounts, he completed his prostration and only then said: “I have won, by the Lord of the Kaaba!”
Won. Dying. Bleeding. In pain. And he said he won. Because he was dying as a martyr, in prayer, in the holy month of Ramadan. He knew where he was going.
For two days, he lingered. Giving final instructions. Forgiving even his assassin—commanding his followers not to mutilate ibn Muljam but to execute him quickly and mercifully if his wound proved fatal. Preparing his sons for what was coming. Making sure justice would be served but mercy would be maintained.
On the 21st of Ramadan, in the year 661 CE, Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) died. He was buried in Najaf in present-day Iraq, though the exact location of his grave was kept secret initially to prevent desecration by his enemies.
What Ali Proves About Courage
You’ve read about a man who volunteered for death at twenty-three. Who fought in battles that would make trained soldiers flee. Who ruled justly despite political chaos. Who died in prostration, martyred while worshipping.
What’s your excuse for lacking courage? You’re not facing assassins. You’re not sleeping in death beds. You’re not fighting empires. Your tests are smaller. Your trials are manageable. If Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) could face what he faced with complete trust in Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), what stops you from facing your challenges?
That job interview terrifying you? That difficult conversation you’re avoiding? That sin you need to quit? That change you need to make? Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) chose death over the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) safety. You’re just choosing discomfort over growth.
So stop making excuses. Stop waiting for courage to magically appear. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s trusting Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) despite the fear. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was terrified that night in the Prophet’s ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) bed. But he did it anyway. Because love for Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) overpowered fear of death.
Channel that. Today. Now. Face what you’re avoiding. Do what you’re delaying. Change what needs changing. And trust that Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) who protected Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) surrounded by assassins will protect you through whatever you’re facing.
The Lion of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) proved courage is born from faith. Now go live it.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. Readers should consult qualified Islamic scholars for specific religious rulings and personal guidance. Verification of hadith authenticity is encouraged through recognized Islamic authorities and institutions.
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