Ali عليه السلام: The Lion Whom History Cannot Contain

مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاَهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاَهُ‏

"For whomever I am his Mawla then 'Ali is his Mawla."

History bears witness to the greatness of great men. Imam Ali عليه السلام is not merely among those men. The word greatness itself falls short of describing him. I cannot do justice to him through words of praise or admiration. I eulogize him because it is a matter of faith for me. Yet even those who do not share my faith seldom miss an opportunity to praise him.

Some call him "the fairest governor in human history"; others say that he "unified within himself the qualities of a poet, a soldier, and a saint." He has been described as noble-minded, brave as a lion, and much more. The question remains: why do millions revere him, place their faith in him, and hold him in such profound devotion and respect?

He was the man nurtured and raised by the Prophet ﷺ himself. He was the cousin of RasoolAllah ﷺ. Both his followers and his enemies stood in awe of him. One of the greatest injustices committed by the Muslim community has been its failure to take his personality seriously, instead viewing him primarily through the lens of sectarian discord.

He was, in himself, an institution. Students come to an institution to learn, and from him one learns justice, faith, bravery, God-consciousness, and every dimension of human life. He cannot be confined by historical ruptures or controversies. Definitions come from him. Standards come from him. He is not merely to be revered or venerated, but to be followed in every aspect of life.