There is no doubt among us that after our dear Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP), our twelve imams (AS) are the most important figures of our religion. Therefore, today we wish to learn more about Imam Ali (AS) , the first male convert of the religion, his birth, and conditions surrounding it.

The faithless say, ‘You have not been sent [by Allah].’ Say, ‘Allah suffices as a witness between me and you, and He who possesses the knowledge of the Book.’ The Holy Quran 13:43

And among the people is he who sells his soul, seeking the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is most kind to [His] servants. The Holy Quran 2:207

If the two of you repent to Allah... for your hearts have certainly swerved, and if you back each other against him, then [know that] Allah is indeed his guardian, and his supporters are Gabriel, the righteous among the faithful, and thereafter the angels... The Holy Quran 66:4

If we seek the true meaning of these three verses from our holy book, they all point towards Ali (AS) as their primary focus, guiding us to some aspects of his life. Our dear Imam has been implicitly described by The Quran multiple times, highlighting his great importance in our religion.  

No one can fully describe the contributions of Imam Ali (AS) to his religion and the people. If anyone dares to do so, they can only convey a fraction of his significance - like a drop in the sea. With that said, we are about to discuss the first question that may come to our mind: how was our first Imam born?

Birth of the son of Kaaba,Imam Ali b. Abi Talib

Thirty years after the “year of the elephant” (*) occurrence, specifically on the 13th of Rajab (March 8th), Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) was 30 years old. This was a decade before our dear The Prophet (PBUH&HP) received the initial revelation from the angel Gabriel and 23 years prior to the great migration of Muslims from Mecca to Medina.

At this juncture, our dear Imam's pregnant mother, Fatima Daughter of Asad, was praying at Kaaba. She experienced intense labor pains, leading her to seek refuge at the Kaaba from the pain.

Remarkably, the wall of Kaaba moved apart, providing shelter for her three whole days. After these days, she came out of Kaaba with her precious son, our first Imam, Ali b. Abi Talib (AS). Imam’s birth was an exceptional honor bestowed upon Islamic nation, and the extraordinary events –  the walls moving, his mother’s presence in the holy site of Islam, and his unique birth in the Kaaba - all signified the greatness of the son of the Kaaba.

Fatima Daughter of Asad was the second woman to convert to Islam (after Prophet’s wife, Khadija (SA)). She had the privilege of taking care of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) from the age of eight until his youth in the house of Abu-Talib. Their relationship was so close that Prophet (PBUH&HP) referred to her as “mother,” establishing the early bond that linked the Prophet (PBUH&HP) and Imam Ali (AS) as brothers.

Shia point of view regarding the Imam Ali’s birth

1. Sheikh Mofid (died in 413th AH): our first Imam, Ali b. Abi Talib (AS), was born on Friday the 13th of Rajab, thirty years after the Year of the Elephant in Mecca. No one ever had been born in the Kaaba before or after him. His birth was the great honor, showcasing his distinction over other men of his age.

2. Allamah Al-Hilli (died in 726th AH): Imam Ali (PBUH) was born on Friday the 13th of Rajab and thirty years after the Year of the Elephant. No one before or after him was born in the Kaaba during that time. The Prophet (PBUH&HP) was thirty years old back then.

Sunni point of view regarding the Imam’s birth

Many Sunni scholars believe that the Imam’s birth took place in the Kaaba. Some even hold the view that occurrence was exclusively for the Imam. A few of the scholars’ perspectives are as follows:

1. Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri (died in 658th lunar year): Numerous consecutive narrations indicate that Fatima bt. Asad gave birth to Ali b. Abi Talib in the Kaaba.

2. Sibt ibn al-Jawzi Hanafi (died in 654th lunar year): It has been narrated that when Fatima bt. Asad was pregnant and performing Tawaf around the Kaaba, she experienced intense labor pain. She sought refuge in the Kaaba, and suddenly, the Kaaba’s door opened for her, so she entered and gave birth to her child.

Poetry about the Imam’s birth

Syed Ismail Himayari (died in 173rd AH) was one of the greatest poets of Arabic literature. He composed a poem about this unique birth:

His mother bore him in the God’s safe site; God’s house and masque was his birth place
He was pure and noble; his mother, his child, and his birthplace too

On one of the darkest nights, he appeared with celestial purity

No child, except for Amine’s child, is honored like him.

References:

1.  Kitab al-Kafi (first Volume – page 452)
2. Kitab al-Irshad (first Volume – page 5)
3.  I'lam al-Wara bi A'lam al-Huda (first Volume – page 306)
4.  Bihar al-Anwar (35th Volume – page 182)
5.  Description of Nahj al-Balagha (first Volume – page 6)
6.  Manaqib Ale Abi Talib (third Volume – page 307)
7. Rawżat al-Vaeezin (page 81)

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* In that year, Kaaba invaded by faithless king Abraha and his great elephant army and ironically saved by Allah himself with an army of birds carrying small stones by their pecks that penetrate the elephants body and skull and all of them got killed and Kaaba was saved.
 

The Arab society during the time of the Holy Prophet(PBUH&HP), considered it a matter of pride to have male children and considered boys as the inheritors of the legacy of the fathers. Thus, having daughters was considered a matter of disgrace in the pre-Islamic Arabian society. After the demise of the two sons of the Holy Prophet(PBUH&HP) - at very young age - the community of polytheists of Mecca thought that with the eventual death of the  noble Prophet, his mission of spreading Islam would also cease to exist since he had no male children to carry on his message and this greatly pleased  those polytheist Arabs and they would often mock the Holy Prophet by calling him ‘abtar’ meaning the ‘cut off,’ assuming that his progeny and  noble mission would be cut off/truncated after him. However, Surah Al-Kawthar (Surah number 108 of Holy Qur’an) was revealed as a reply to these individuals to let them know that It is the enemies of the Prophet who will eventually become ‘abtar’ or cut off in progeny, and that the program of Islam and the Qur’an will never come to a halt!

The revelation of this chapter was in fact, a fitting reply to the enemies of the Apostle of Allah to inform them that Islam and the Qur’an will  survive forever. Apart from being a reply to  polytheists, this Surah was revealed as a consolation to the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HP).  
Allah (SWT) consoles his beloved Prophet in the following words:
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful. Indeed We have given you abundance. (1) So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice [the sacrificial camel]. (2) Indeed it is your enemy who is without posterity. (Holy Qur’an 108:1-3)

‘al-Kawthar’ (translated as abundance in ayat [verse] no.1) has a vast, inclusive meaning which is ‘goodness in abundance’ and the examples are many.

 A large number of scholars believe that one of the  clearest examples of this word is the auspicious existence of Lady Fatima Al-Zahra (SA), because the occasion of the revelation of the verse indicates that the enemies accused the  noble Prophet of being without offspring to which the Holy Qur’an replied with this surah  and this verse upon which we understand that this ‘abundance of good’ is the daughter of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), Lady Fatima Al-Zahra (SA)’.
Moreover, this abundance is not only limited to the physical and biological offsprings of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HP), but also to the abundance of his followers who  practice  Islam and are responsible for the preservation of all of its values  and continue to convey it to the future generations!(1)

Auspicious Birth and the Status of Fatima Zahra ( SA)

When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) was informed that his wife Khadijah ( SA) gave birth to their daughter, he quickly went home and took his newborn daughter, kissed her, recited the adhan (the call for prayer) in her right ear, and recited the iqama (similar to adhan but recited between the adhan and salat) in her left ear. Thus the first voice Lady Fatima (AS) heard was that of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) and the first words (she heard) were “Allah is the greatest” and “there is no God but Allah”. After this, angel Gabriel   revealed upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) with glad tidings and blessings from Allah (SWT). 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and his beloved wife, Lady Khadija ( SA) enthusiastically received and cherished the birth of their child, Fatimah (SA). The Holy Prophet ( PBUH&HP) was aware that his  new-born daughter would have a very high status on the earth  besides in the heavens, that she would be unequalled in purity, chastity and faith from among all the women of the  world, and that his pure progeny would be (continue) from her. He was very delighted for the coming of this pure child, and loved and adored her till he left this world.

Fatimah (SA) was nurtured by her father, the master of all creation. He fed her with his talents and ethics , taught her the Holy Qur'an and all things about the verses of verdicts, the causes of the revelation of verses and every other issues  concerning the Holy Qur'an, educated her with the rulings of the Sharia, the nobilities of character, and high morals and principles. He nurtured her with sincere faith in Allah, the Creator of the universe, and Giver of life. Lady Fatima (SA) was known by many ephitets? nicknames/titles namely: Al-Zahra: the shinning, Al-Kawthar: goodness in abundance, Al-Siddika: the truthful, Al-Mubarakka: the blessed, Al-Tahira: the pure, Al-Zakiya: the chaste, Al-Radhiya* Al-Raadhiya?: the satisfied, Al-Muhaddathah: the one talked to (by angels), Al-Batool: the devoted (to Allah). )2(

Aisha, one of the wives of Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH&HP) says: ‘I have not seen anyone more similar to the messenger of Allah (SWA) in straightness, guidance, and talking in his sitting and standing than Fatimah, his daughter. When she came to the messenger of Allah ( SWA), he got up, kissed her, and seated her in his place. When the messenger of Allah ( SWA) came to her, she got up, kissed him, and seated him in her place.’)3( 

Lady Fatimah ( SA) led an ascetic life and lived in satisfaction, devoiding of worldly pleasures or any kind of luxury just like her father, Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH&HP) and her husband Imam Ali ( AS) who had divorced this world and been abstinent from its pleasures. She was an example for all Muslims especially the women in all her conducts, she presented the true picture of Islam and taught  Muslim women about how to be  content with the blessings of Allah (SWT). For instance, despite  enjoying the privilege of being the daughter of the Holy Prophet ( SWA) she lived a simple life just like many other Muslims, devoiding luxuries,. She was a source of solace for her father during her lifetime and was the best companion and spouse to Imam Ali ( AS) while   performing the duties of a spouse in the best way and setting an example for generations to come. When Islam was in its nascent stage, she not only took care of her home, but also supported her husband in fulfilling his duties of Jihad and propagation of Islam. Despite her responsibilities of motherhood, home-maker and a spouse she also took upon herself to teach the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and other sciences to the Muslims of her time. Even when the position of caliphate -bestowed by the Holy Prophet ( PBUH&HP) through revelation- was snatched away from Imam Ali ( AS) she stood like a mountain defending her husband and his divine authority and even laid down her life protecting the rights of the true leader of the Muslim Ummah. She was the mother Imam Hasan and Imam  Hussain( PBUT), two great personalities who  devoted/dedicated their lives  defending the lofty values of Islam as Islam and Muslims are greatly indebted to Lady Fatima Al-Zahra ( SA) for her  devotions and services in protecting and preserving  these values  through her words, deeds and her teachings. Apart from nurturing children like Imam Hasan, Imam Hussain ( PBUT) she also gave the world, Zaynab (SA) who spread the message of Karbala and became the voice of Imam Hussain ( PBUH) after Karbala. (Lady Fatima ( SA) abstained from all desires of life in food, clothes, and others and she turned sincerely to Allah and preferred pleasing Him to everything else.)** …here it comes the matter of logic in writing so, in my belief. With all respect it neither sounds logical, nor seems professional to write this way, though the author indeed has been trying to seem so through writing this passage which can simply be found with even a glance at some explicit flaws such as redundancy and numerous examples of overrepetiotion! 

She was the most charitable woman and no one returned from her house empty- handed. Many a times when the Holy Prophet didn’t have anything to offer in charity, he guided people to his  daughter/daughter’s.

Fatimah ( SA) was the best example in chastity, honor and veiling for all Muslim women. Imam Ali ( AS) said, ‘Once, a blind man asked permission to visit Fatimah (SA), but she asked him to stay behind a screen. The messenger of Allah ( SWA) asked Fatimah ( SA), ‘Why did you screen him though he is blind and could not see you?’ She said, ‘He could not see me, but I could see him. (4)
Lady Fatima’s status is   ?! (Please have a closer look and define what exactly was employed by this very word?! I do wonder if I could get the proper meaning or maybe nor do the readers…)in this world and hereafter, and truly so the Holy Prophet ( PBUH&HP) says: “He, who has known Fatimah has known her, and he, who has not (let him know her); she is Fatimah bint Muhammad. She is a part from me and she is my heart and my soul that is between my two sides. Whoever harms her harms me, and whoever harms me harms Allah.(5)

References:

1.  https://www.al-islam.org/fatima-zahra-noble-quran-naser-makarem-shirazi/surah-al-kawthar-abundant-good 
2. https://www.al-islam.org/life-fatimah-az-zahra-principal-all-women-study-and-analysis-baqir-sharif-al-qurashi/fatimahs-birth 
3. Thakha’ir al-Uqba, p.40, al-Istee’ab, vol.4 p.450, Sunan of at-Tarmithi, vol.5
4.   https://www.al-islam.org/message-thaqalayn/vol-14-no-1-winter-2013/fatima-zahra-words-infallibles/fatima-zahra-words
5.  Noor al-Absar, p.41.
6. . https://www.al-islam.org/fatima-gracious-abu-muhammad-ordoni