The most sacrificing figure for Islam and Muslims
The sacrifices that the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) made for Islam, for religion, for saving the Holy Prophet’s (s.w.a.) life, for preserving his religion and for the honor and greatness of the Islamic Ummah are jihadi acts and they are really beyond the capability of humanity. During his childhood, from the moment that he began to know the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) as his teacher, during the time he was raised by him, when he accepted Islam during his childhood, during the difficult thirteen-year era of his life in Makah, during the difficult event of migration to Madina, during the ten-year era of the Holy Prophet’s (s.w.a.) auspicious life in Madina and during all the wars, sacrifices and difficulties, this individual stood on the peak of sacrifice.
He made the same sacrifices after the Holy Prophet’s (s.w.a.) demise. The patience of the Commander of the Faithful was a sacrifice. His measures were a sacrifice. His cooperation was a sacrifice. His acceptance of caliphate was a sacrifice. The measures that he adopted during his short era of caliphate were sacrifices one after the other. The book of the sacrifices that the Commander of the Faithful (peace and greetings be upon him) made is a long and voluminous book for any reader and it really astonishes one. It is astonishing to see that an individual can offer – with firm determination – his life, his reputation, his capability and his whole existence in the way of God. Understanding this is beyond me and people like me.
This is another chapter of the Commander of the Faithful’s (a.s.) life which forms many long books.
One chapter is the spiritual positions of the Commander of the Faithful including his monotheistic understanding, his act of worship, his closeness to God and his purity. These are things whose depth and truth are really beyond our reach. All outstanding ulama – including Shia and Sunni ulama and even non-Muslim scholars – have said that they are not able to understand this part of the Commander of the Faithful’s (a.s.) personality. This part of his life catches everyone’s eyes with its loftiness and enlightenment. They cannot understand the different dimensions of his life. This is one part of his life. When Ibn Abi al-Hadid, a Sunni and Mu’tazili scholar, narrates one of the sermons of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) – which is about monotheism – in his commentary on Nahjul Balaghah, he says, “Ibrahim al-Khalil al-Rahman should be proud of having such a son”. Many prophets emerged from Ibrahim’s descendants. However, he says this only about the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.). He says, “Ibrahim al-Khalil al-Rahman should say to this son of his, you made certain statements in your monotheism sermon about the Arabs’ follies. I could not make such statements about Nabts’ [a Bani Israel tribe] follies and I could not illustrate the same truths as you did'”. Notice that the narrator is a Sunni and Mu’tazili scholar. This is one part and one chapter of the Commander of the Faithful’s (a.s.) life and it has many unknown dimensions. This part of his life is really a deep ocean.
