Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

علي بن أبي طالب

رضي الله عنه

Ali ibn Abi Talib

Ali ibn Abi Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim al-Qurashi al-Hashimi

Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge, courage and steady night worship.

  • Abu Turab
  • Amir al-Mu'minin
  • Fourth Rightly Guided Caliph
A day in his footsteps

Introduction

Ali was born into the household of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, and grew up closer to the Prophet than almost any other child. When revelation came he was a boy, and he is counted among the very first to believe. He spent his whole life in the shadow and service of that early certainty.

He was known for courage on the battlefield and, just as much, for his understanding of the religion. He married Fatimah, the Prophet's daughter, and their home was a simple one in which the couple did their own domestic work. The Prophet himself taught them a short remembrance to say at bedtime, and Ali kept it up for the rest of his life.

After the martyrdom of Uthman, Ali took on the caliphate in a period of deep division and civil strife. He was struck down by an assassin in the month of Ramadan in 40 AH. Those who knew him remembered a man who spoke carefully, taught people at their own level, and refused to attribute anything to the Prophet that he was not sure of.

The story

  1. Childhood, Makkah

    Grew up in the Prophet's household and was among the earliest to accept Islam.

  2. After the Hijrah

    Married Fatimah, the Prophet's daughter; he describes preparing for the marriage from his share of the spoils of Badr.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3091Sahih
    Arabic text

    … مِنَ الْخُمُسِ، فَلَمَّا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَبْتَنِيَ بِفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاعَدْتُ رَجُلاً صَوَّاغًا مِنْ بَنِي قَيْنُقَاعَ، أَنْ يَرْتَحِلَ مَعِيَ فَنَأْتِيَ بِإِذْخِرٍ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَبِيعَهُ الصَّوَّاغِينَ، وَأَسْتَعِينَ بِهِ فِي وَلِيمَةِ عُرْسِي، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَجْمَعُ لِشَارِفَىَّ مَتَاعًا مِنَ الأَقْتَابِ وَالْغَرَائِرِ وَالْحِبَالِ، وَشَارِفَاىَ …

    “When I intended to marry Fatima, the daughter of Allah's Apostle”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. 7 AH / 628 CE, Khaybar

    Given the standard at Khaybar after the Prophet said he would hand it to a man through whom Allah would grant victory.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3701Sahih
    Arabic text

    أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" لأُعْطِيَنَّ الرَّايَةَ غَدًا رَجُلاً يَفْتَحُ اللَّهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ" قَالَ فَبَاتَ النَّاسُ يَدُوكُونَ لَيْلَتَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يُعْطَاهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ، غَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كُلُّهُمْ يَرْجُو أَنْ يُعْطَاهَا فَقَالَ" أَيْنَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ". فَقَالُوا يَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. …

    “Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man with whose leadership Allah will grant (the Muslims) victory”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  4. 35 AH / 656 CE

    Became caliph after the death of Uthman, in a time of serious division among the Muslims.

  5. 40 AH / 661 CE

    Fatally struck by an assassin and died in Ramadan, aged about sixty.

A day in their footsteps

8 small, repeatable practices from Ali ibn Abi Talib's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Bedtime tasbih (33-33-34)

    The Prophet taught Ali and Fatimah to glorify Allah thirty-three times, praise Him thirty-three times and say Allahu Akbar thirty-four times when they went to bed. Ali said he never skipped it after that, even on the night of the battle of Siffin.

    Try this today

    Make a short, fixed remembrance part of your last minutes before sleep, and keep it even on your hardest day.

    Sit with this

    Can the last minutes before you sleep be kept for 33, 33 and 34?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 5362Sahih

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم تَسْأَلُهُ خَادِمًا فَقَالَ " أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكِ مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكِ مِنْهُ، تُسَبِّحِينَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ مَنَامِكِ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتَحْمَدِينَ اللَّهَ ثَلاَثًا وَثَلاَثِينَ، وَتُكَبِّرِينَ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعًا وَثَلاَثِينَ". ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ أَرْبَعٌ وَثَلاَثُونَ ـ فَمَا تَرَكْتُهَا بَعْدُ، قِيلَ وَلاَ لَيْلَةَ صِفِّينَ قَالَ وَلاَ لَيْلَةَ …

    “I have never failed to recite it ever since.”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  2. Waking for night prayer, and honest humility about it

    The Prophet came to Ali and Fatimah one night and asked if they would pray. Ali answered that their souls are in Allah's hands. The Prophet left without objecting, but was heard reflecting that man is the most argumentative of creatures. Ali took the gentle reminder as a lesson, and the report is preserved to show the Prophet waking his own family for prayer.

    Try this today

    Wake your household for night prayer with kindness, and accept a reminder without defending yourself.

    Sit with this

    How do you take a reminder about worship without defending yourself?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1127Sahih

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم طَرَقَهُ وَفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ النَّبِيِّ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ لَيْلَةً فَقَالَ" أَلاَ تُصَلِّيَانِ". فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَنْفُسُنَا بِيَدِ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَنَا بَعَثَنَا. فَانْصَرَفَ حِينَ قُلْنَا ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَىَّ شَيْئًا. ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُهُ وَهْوَ مُوَلٍّ يَضْرِبُ فَخِذَهُ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ"وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَىْءٍ …

    “Won't you pray (at night)?”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. Asking for guidance and a straight aim

    Ali was taught a short supplication asking Allah for guidance and for the straight path, with the image of guidance as a traveller on a road and straightness as an arrow flying true.

    Try this today

    Begin your day by asking Allah to guide you and to keep your actions on target.

    Sit with this

    Have you asked Allah today for guidance and for a straight aim?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2725Sahih

    قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي وَاذْكُرْ بِالْهُدَى هِدَايَتَكَ الطَّرِيقَ وَالسَّدَادِ سَدَادَ السَّهْمِ".

    “O Allah, direct me to the right path and make me adhere to the straight path”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  4. The dua for debt and lawful provision

    When a man struggling to pay off his contract of freedom came to him, Ali taught him the words he had learned from the Prophet: a plea that Allah suffice him with what is lawful in place of what is forbidden and enrich him by His favour so that he needs no one else.

    Try this today

    When you are in financial pressure, turn to a short sunnah dua before any other solution.

    Sit with this

    Before any other plan for a money worry, have you made this du'a?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3563Hasan

    أَنَّ مُكَاتَبًا، جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ عَجَزْتُ عَنْ كِتَابَتِي فَأَعِنِّي. قَالَ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ عَلَّمَنِيهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَوْ كَانَ عَلَيْكَ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ صِيرٍ دَيْنًا أَدَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ قَالَ " قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ.

    “O Allah, suffice me with Your lawful against Your prohibited, and make me independent of all those besides You”

    Grade: Hasan (al-Albani)

  5. Teaching wudu by demonstrating it

    Ali once called for water after he had already prayed and washed each part of his body in turn so that the people with him could see how the Prophet performed ablution. He taught by showing, step by step.

    Try this today

    Teach by doing: when you want someone to learn a practice, show them the practice in full.

    Sit with this

    Who could you teach by showing rather than telling?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 111Sahih

    … وَنَثَرَ مِنَ الْكَفِّ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ غَسَلَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ يَدَهُ الشِّمَالَ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَدَهُ فِي الإِنَاءِ فَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى ثَلاَثًا وَرِجْلَهُ الشِّمَالَ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ وُضُوءَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَهُوَ …

    “If one is pleased to know the method of performing ablution of the Messenger of Allah, this is how he did it”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  6. Strict honesty in reporting the Prophet

    Ali told his listeners that he would rather fall from the sky than attribute a statement to the Prophet falsely. He kept a firm line between what he had heard from the Messenger and what was his own opinion.

    Try this today

    Do not pass on a religious claim you are not sure of; verify before you share.

    Sit with this

    Do you check a religious claim before you forward it?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3611Sahih

    … عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِذَا حَدَّثْتُكُمْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلأَنْ أَخِرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثْتُكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الْحَرْبَ خَدْعَةٌ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يَأْتِي فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ حُدَثَاءُ الأَسْنَانِ، سُفَهَاءُ الأَحْلاَمِ، يَقُولُونَ مِنْ …

    “I would rather fall from the sky than attribute something to him falsely”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  7. Carrying out the Prophet's charity faithfully

    The Prophet trusted Ali to oversee the slaughter and distribution of the sacrificial camels from the farewell pilgrimage, and Ali handed out their meat, skins and coverings as charity without paying the butcher from the animals themselves.

    Try this today

    When you are trusted with charity, distribute all of it exactly as intended.

    Sit with this

    When you are trusted with others' charity, does every part reach its place?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1717Sahih

    أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَقُومَ عَلَى بُدْنِهِ، وَأَنْ يَقْسِمَ بُدْنَهُ كُلَّهَا، لُحُومَهَا وَجُلُودَهَا وَجِلاَلَهَا، وَلاَ يُعْطِيَ فِي جِزَارَتِهَا شَيْئًا.

    “ordered me to supervise the (slaughtering) of Budn (Hadi camel) and to distribute their meat, skins and covering sheets in charity”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  8. Knowledge from the Book and understanding

    Asked whether he had any secret revelation beyond the Quran, Ali said no: only Allah's Book, the understanding Allah gives a Muslim, and a short written sheet on legal matters such as blood money and the ransom of captives.

    Try this today

    Hold to the Quran, and ask Allah for understanding, rather than chasing secret or special knowledge.

    Sit with this

    Are you looking for special knowledge when the Quran is still waiting to be understood?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 111Sahih

    قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ كِتَابٌ قَالَ لاَ، إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، أَوْ فَهْمٌ أُعْطِيَهُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ، أَوْ مَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ. قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ، وَفَكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَلاَ يُقْتَلُ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ.

    “No, except Allah's Book or the power of understanding which has been bestowed (by Allah) upon a Muslim”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Virtues

  • The Prophet told him that he held to him a position like that of Aaron to Moses, in reassurance when he left Ali in charge of Madinah.

    “Will you not be pleased from this that you are to me like Aaron was to Moses?”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِعَلِيٍّ " أَمَا تَرْضَى أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى".

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3706Sahih

  • Ali reported a promise from the Prophet that only a believer would love him and only a hypocrite would hold a grudge against him.

    “no one but a believer would love me, and none but a hypocrite would nurse grudge against me”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ إِنَّهُ لَعَهْدُ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَىَّ أَنْ لاَ يُحِبَّنِي إِلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يُبْغِضَنِي إِلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ.

    Sahih Muslim 78Sahih

  • The Prophet said that whoever has him as a protecting friend (mawla) has Ali as a protecting friend.

    “For whomever I am his Mawla then 'Ali is his Mawla”

    Arabic text

    … زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاَهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاَهُ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ. وَقَدْ رَوَى شُعْبَةُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ مَيْمُونٍ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. وَأَبُو سَرِيحَةَ هُوَ حُذَيْفَةُ بْنُ أَسِيدٍ صَاحِبُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه …

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3713Sahih

  • He is one of the ten given the good news of Paradise.

    “'Ali is in Paradise”

    Arabic text

    … عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ. قَالَ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ …

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3747Sahih

Sayings and moments

  • He would rather fall from the sky than attribute something false to the Prophet.

    “I would rather fall from the sky than attribute something to him falsely”

    Arabic text

    … عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِذَا حَدَّثْتُكُمْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلأَنْ أَخِرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثْتُكُمْ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الْحَرْبَ خَدْعَةٌ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يَأْتِي فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ حُدَثَاءُ الأَسْنَانِ، سُفَهَاءُ الأَحْلاَمِ، يَقُولُونَ مِنْ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3611Sahih

Words on this page

Badrبدر
The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
Du'aدعاء
Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Mawlaمولى
A freed slave or client attached to a tribe or family; also used for a patron or protector.
Ramadanرمضان
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Sunnahالسنة
The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Tahajjudتهجد
Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.
Takbirتكبير
Saying "Allahu akbar", Allah is the greatest.
Tasbihتسبيح
Glorifying Allah by saying "SubhanAllah" (glory be to Allah); also used for counted dhikr.
Wuduالوضوء
The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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