शहादत हज़रत अली रज़ी अल्लाहु अन्हु

Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib R.A, the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and one of the greatest figures in Islamic history, was struck with a poisoned sword by the Kharijite Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam while leading the Fajr prayer in the Grand Masjid of Kufa on the 19th of Ramadan, 40 AH. He passed away two days later on the 21st of Ramadan at the age of approximately 63. He was the first child to accept Islam — raised in the household of the Prophet ﷺ himself from the age of six, he never prostrated to an idol in his life.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate" — earning him the title "Bab-ul-Ilm" (Gate of Knowledge). He was also known as "Asadullah" (the Lion of Allah) and "Haidar-e-Karrar" (the Charging Lion) for his unmatched bravery. At the Battle of Khaybar, when the Muslim army had failed for days to conquer the fortress, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and whom Allah and His Messenger love" — and gave it to Ali R.A, who single-handedly uprooted the massive fortress gate and conquered Khaybar.

He was the scribe of many Quranic revelations, the Prophet's ﷺ standard-bearer in battles, and the one chosen to sleep in the Prophet's ﷺ bed on the night of Hijra while assassins surrounded the house — risking his life without hesitation. The Prophet ﷺ declared at Ghadir Khumm: "Whoever considers me his master, Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend whoever befriends him and oppose whoever opposes him." His caliphate (35–40 AH) lasted approximately five years, during which he faced numerous trials including the Battle of Jamal, the Battle of Siffin, and the emergence of the Kharijites — yet through all these he remained a paragon of justice, wisdom, and piety, never compromising his principles.

He was known for his extraordinary eloquence — his sermons, letters, and sayings are compiled in Nahj al-Balagha, considered one of the most eloquent works in Arabic literature after the Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ. When struck by Ibn Muljam, his first words were: "By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have succeeded!" — and he instructed his sons to treat his assassin with kindness. He is buried in Najaf, Iraq, where his magnificent shrine is one of the most visited holy sites in the Muslim world, drawing millions of pilgrims annually.