This chapter has been added by Translator

Since this translation work is related to the biography of Sayyid Radi who was the most prominent poet of his period and utilized his poetic talents for the advancement of Islam, the translator thought it appropriate to introduce our readers poetic works of some of the famous Iranian mystical poets.

Therefore, in this chapter some examples of hymns about Imam Ali (‘a) as composed by Sa'di, Molavi, and Sharyar have been translated from Persians into English.

After the conversion of Iran to Islam the Iranian mystical poets and artists played a significant role in enriching and enhancing the Islamic civilization and culture. In the 18th and 19th centuries many of the great Persian masterpieces like the Diwan of Hafiz, Gulistan of Sa 'di, and Rubaiyyat of Khayyam were translated into English in various European countries.

In the present situation when the surge if Islamic renaissance has engulfed the entire globe, and Islamic ideology is being sought seriously as an alternative to the present crises of the faith, these treasurers of Gnosticism should be introduced to the young Muslim generations being raised in the strictly materialistic societies.

Hymns of Sa'di

“Those who were pious and Godly were always inflicted with severe catastrophes. Their share was more in receiving Divine blessings but in the same proportion received too much pains and sorrows.

Who had the courage and power to eulogize Ali's 1character, who was bestowed the verse of Hal-Ata2in his praise by God Almighty.

Who broke the mighty gate of Khaybar3fort instantaneously, with his invincible powerful arms.

Who wore the shield only on the front side with a bare back - because he never tum his back towards the enemies in battlefield

The Lion of God, the valiant of the battlefield, and generous; who forget himself totally in prayer but in battlefield no one could escape from his destructive assault.

The preface of compassion; the book of enlightenment.

A perfect manifestation of generosity and the leader of the pious (Imam-ul-Muttaqeen).

Tomorrow, the Day of Resurrection, when every one would be looking for intercession. We will hold the hand of sinless Murtada Imam Ali (‘a).

The Prophet (S) is like a bright sun in the world.

His Ahl al-Bayt4(progeny) are like the luminous stars’ leaders (to be followed).

Oh God! By the sinless off spring of Fatimah (‘a)5

Oh God! By the pure blood of the Martyrs of Karbala6

Oh God! By the truthful chests of your righteous elderly persons.

Oh God! By the tears of those who are your familiar ones.

Oh God! We admit that we had committed a lot of shameful deeds against your commands.

But, still we hope and look forward for your benevolence pardon.

Please bestow upon our tiring and rending hearts peace and tranquility with your generosity.

Oh Whose Name is the Most-High; source of all the healing and cure.

If the others are counting upon the strength of their deeds.

Your blessing, mercy, and generosity is sufficient for us.

If the eyes of sinners are pinned down upon their sins.

Our eyes are pinned up towards Your blessings and mercy.

Oh God! Please cover up our shameful deeds and omissions

On the day when the curtain will be rolled up and shameful deeds will be exposed.

Always we hoped for Your generosity and pardon.

Otherwise, as far as our own deed Me concerned, we came empty-handed accompanied only with shameful deeds.

If You punish us for our sins it will be Your justice.

But if You pardon us, it will be Your blessing and mercy.

Men surpass the angels, if you support and encourage (through Your guidance).

With Your training an earthly creature could acquire the highest spiritual stations- the zenith of excellence perfection.”

Kulliyati Shaykh Muslehuddin Sa’di7

Hymns of Sharyar

Hymns of Sharyar8

“Oh Ali! The bird of blessing and good omen. What sort of God's sign are you?

That you have covered the entire existence under the shadow of blessing.

Oh, my heart! If you are searching for the God--- then look at Ali's face.

By God! Through Ali I was able to discover the God

By God! Destruction shall be wiped out forever from face of both worlds; only if--- Ali could take hold of the source eternity.

Oh, cloud of blessing (Ali)- rain to extinguish this hell's fire.

Otherwise, it will annihilate and burn our souls.

Oh, you poor destitute beggar! Go and knock the door of Ali 's home.

He is the generous one - who bestows his kingly precious ring upon the beggar.9

There is no body, except Ali who will plead mercy for his own murder.

Instructing his son to be kind towards his captive (i.e. Ibn Muljam).10

There is no one, except Ali who will present the humanity a brave son (like ai-Husayn).11

Who will arise together with other martyrs of Karbala (to insure God's religion forever).

There are some righteous ones who are committed to their promises.

But no one could match with Ali in fulfillment of promises towards his friends.

Neither we may call your universal existence as God - nor the word human being is quite sufficient to cover your supernatural personality. We are confused--- what to name the Shah of invincible domain?

Oh the cool breeze of blessing, Ali! Please look at my heart – rending condition - eyes shedding tears of blood

I wish, may be the blowing wind will bring some of your alley's dirt (collyrium of the eyes) - for their cure.

Hoping, that it might carry them for you.

What sort of burning intimate messages 1 entrusted to the morning breeze.

Since your intercession (with God Almighty) may change the Divine decree.

Therefore, listen to the prayers of inflicted ones, and rescue their souls from the destined calamities of fate.

With the desire of catching your attention I play compose these hymns).

But the composer by the “'mystical tongue” (Hafiz12) is sweeter and pleasing (as compared to me.)

In the hope that the morning breeze will bring an intimate message from the familiar one.

Somehow, I was able to pass the intense dark night.

In the midst of intense darkness of night -the beautiful sound of ringdove singing- Ya doostu! Yn doostu!,. Oh God! Oh God!

Reminds Sharyar, how sweet and comforting it is; to be to share the heart's pains, sorrows and anguish one's beloved"

-Sharyar’s Poetic Words, vol. 1, p. 98

Hymns of Molavi

Hymns of Molavi13

The King who was, with the wisdom and Religion – was Ali.

The one who was prostrated by angels, who prostrated God Almighty - was Ali.

The one who was the brightening sun and was the king of both worlds - was Ali.

The one who was the shining moon upon the sky of benevolence - was Ali.

The one who was the king of destiny, possessor of dignity and magnificence; surpassed the other creatures in excellence ­ was Ali.

That point of climax (of research) for searching the most sublime realities; certainly, the perfect manifestation of truth and knowledge14 - was Ali.

That point of climax of pure Monotheism, whose breath never proclaimed other than unity - of God - was Ali.

The one whose existence was the reason and meanings for the creation of both worlds; but for him the existing worlds would have not been created - was Ali.

The one who was the holder of riches and possessor of keys of prosperity and salvation, resolver of difficulties and comforter - was Ali.

The king whose sword15 cleansed the religion’s mirror from the trust of tyranny and religious innovation – was Ali.

That heavenly light which accompanied prophets Moses, Jesus, and Hud in all the situations -was Ali.

That purified spirit; praised by God Almighty in the Holy Qur'an through revelations of several glorious16verses - was Ali.

The one who was truthful as well as patient; the contended as well as benevolent; the guide; the witness as well witnessed - was Ali.

The one who was the first as well as the last, the apparent as well as the hidden; the promise as well as promised - was Ali.

The one who was with Solaman's Kingdom and with John's purity; with the honor of Adam and David - was Ali.

The one who was the image and link of the (created) world; and whose existence covered all the traces of time and place - was Ali.

The King who was the successor and guardian- of the Prophet (S.A. W); the King of generosity and benevolence ­ was Ali.

The one who was Adam as well Seth; Joab as well as Enoch (Idris); the one who was Joseph , Jonah and Hud – was Ali.

The one who was Moses as well as Jesus; Khizr as well as Elias; the Saleh as well as David – was Ali.

The ascetic17prostrator whose door's dust in merit surpassed with the celestial beings upon the thrown - was Ali.

When the Prophet Jesus defended her mother in the cradle; that speech and eloquence - was Ali.

The Moses, his stick, white miraculous hand, and prophethood; the one who confronted with Pharaoh of Egypt- was Ali.

When I pondered and discovered the sublime realities. It became certain that the manifestation which exists over all the created beings - was Ali.

That magnificent King who on the night-of-ascension18(to heaven) was with the Prophet Muhammad (S.A. W) - was Ali.

The mystery of both the worlds, reflection of Divine light, who descended from the heaven to become apparent upon the earth - was Ali.

The meanings of Holy Qur’an whose virtues and purity have been praised throughout the holy book by God Almighty – was Ali.

That valiant warrior who was able to lift the mighty gate Khaybar19 Fort, with a lightning fierce attack (bringing a victory for Islam) - was Ali.

That honored hero, who for the sake of Islam never took a shy of relief till the task was accomplished perfectly - was Ali.

That valiant lion of God20 who for the greed of his self; did not get his paws involved into the world’s allurements - was Ali.

The one whose relationship was exactly similar to the relationship of Aaron21 with Moses. By God! The one inherited the Wilayah (Governance) from the Prophet (S) - was Ali.

• 1. Ali. Refer to footnote 11, (Translator’s Introduction).
• 2. Hal-Ata. Refer to footnote 4 iii below under the section of Hymns of Molavi
• 3. Khaybar. Refer to footnote 7, below under the sections of
• 4. Ahl al-Bayt. Refer to footnote 4 (Translator’s Introduction)
• 5. Fatimah. Refer to footnote 2, (Translator’s Introduction)
• 6. Karbala. Is a plain located about seventy kilometres from Kufa (Iraq), where the prophet’s grandson al-Husayn bin Ali was martyre with his seventy-two companions by Ommayad Caliph Yazid bin Mu’awiya on 10th Moharram 61 A.H., October 12, 680. At Karbala' clouds of blood rained and generations of martyrs and revolutionaries took root and sprouted. The sound of the fearless voice of Imam Husayn still echoes in the valley of al-Tufoof, ringing in the ears of time. It is a hurricane that chafes and shakes the tyrants. It is a volcano of blood, violently jolting the despot's thrones. It awakens free consciences and stirs within man the spirit of revolution and jihad. His voice is still echoing in the ears of mankind.
• 7. Sa'di. Mushraf-ud-din Masleh bin Abdullah famous as Shaykh Sa'di was a great learned scholar and poet of Iran in the seventh century. He was born in a religious family in Shiraz Southwestern Iran in 606 A.H. He received his earlier education in Shiraz and then went to Baghdad for higher education. He traveled a lot and visited Syria, Hijaz, and North Africa, and used to mix socially with the people in those journeys. His famous works are Gulistan and Bustan, after studying the Bustan of Sa'di, Earnest Renon wrote:
  “Sa'di is no stranger among us, he is in fact one of us."
  Barbier de Minaro, translator of Sa 'di 's Bustan, wrote in his preface of translation:
  “Sa'di is a combination of the delicacy of Horace, the smile of Rabe-liais, and simplicity of La Fontaine.”
  French poetess Contesse de Noaille writes in her book, “The Enchanting Garden”: I Read this point in a fragrant, pleasant and sad book the reading of which imparted an enchanting intoxication to me and I now know that an enchanting garden really exists and can be seen by the eyes.
  O my soul would it be possible for my body to accompany you and fly to this paradise, where the nightingale frenzied with love sings from spring to summer, the tulips blossom, the air becomes fragrant, the evening breeze entrusts the roses to the winds and from atop the aspens, during the fiery summer, the winds twist while panting with burning breath. The town which is all metal, porcelain and plaster, shines as bright as silver and gold. Every vaulted dome is like a blue fruit and the intertwining arcs are high points that cast their shadows with their enameled tiles and flowery turquoise design on waters below.”
  Sa'di's tomb is located in Shiraz which attracts large number of tourists throughout the year.
• 8. Sharyar: Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Behjat Tabrizi, the famous Iranian mystic poet, son of Haji Mir Agha Khoosganabi, was born in the year 1285 A.H. (lunar) in the city of Tabriz in Azerbaijan province of Iran. His father, an attorney in Tabriz, and a learned person was famous for his excellent handwriting and generosity.
  In his early verses, he used his Takhalus (pen-name) as Behjat, but after an Estekhara (consultation) with Diwani-Hafiz, as revealed by Hafiz, changed it to Sharyar. He received his early education in Tabriz and later on continued his higher studies of medicine in Tehran, but unfortunately due to some personal circumstances left the medical school unfinished in the final year.
  Sharyar was a mystic poet and has composed his poetry in the fields of monotheism and Gnosticism. Quoting a verse from Hafiz, Sharyar himself describes his beliefs as follows:
  “Whatever I have accomplished -it was due to the blessing of the Holy Qur'an.”
  Some of his famous verses are the Voice of God, the Arising of Muhammad, Ali and Qazi Shureh, the Caravan of Karbala, Gift of Eid-e­ Ghadir, Islam and Social Service, and Jihad & Commitment.
  His poetic works Diwan of Sharyar has been published in four volumes. Shaaryar died in the year 1967 A.H. and was buried in Tabriz.
  Following is an interesting quotation from Sharynr.
  “I do not consider myself as a salik (seeker of God). Of course, why I became attached to gnosticism requires some more explanation. Everyone who develops some Spiritual inclination, naturally feels some mystical connection with God. True dreams are bestowed upon him, and he might see the future events in his dreams, but he is not obliged to tell it to others.
  The only path of receiving real prosperity is - gnosticism, and it is not in conflict with any civilization and advance pace of life. I think a human being in each situation, and belief in any ideology, may find a path to reach God.”
• 9. Following is the story of Imam Ali's giving his ring in (Rukoo) and revelation of the following verse:
  “Your friend [wali] can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor-due, and bow down (in prayer) [or, and this reading is accepted by ‘Allamah Tabataba’i: …’pay the poor-due while bowing down (in prayer)]” (Qur’an, 5: 55).
  Sh'ite and Sunni commentators alike agree that this verse was revealed concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib, and many Shi’i and Sunni traditions exist supporting this view. Abu Dharr Ghaffari has said: “One day we prayed the noontime prayers with the Prophet. A person in need asked people to help but no one gave him anything. The person raised his hands to the sky saying, 'Oh God! Be witness that in the mosque of the Prophet no one gave me anything.’ Ali ibn Abi Talib was in the position of genuflection in the prayer. He pointed with his finger to the person, who took his ring and left. The Prophet, who was observing the scene raised his head toward heaven and said: 'Oh God! My brother Moses said to Thee, “'Expand my breast and make easy my tasks and make my tongue eloquent so that they will comprehend my words, and make my brother, Harun, my help and vizier·” [cv, Qur'an, 28:35] Oh God! I am also Thy prophet; expand my breast and make easy my tasks and make Ali my vizier and helper.”: "Abu Dharr says, "The words of the Prophet had not as yet finished when the verse [cited above] was revealed.”
  -Shi'a, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai pp. 177-176.
• 10. Ibn Muljam. In the morning of the 19th of Ramadan in the year 40 A.H., while praying in the Mosque of Kufa, he was wounded by one of the Khawarij ibn Muljam, and finally died as a martyr during the night of the 21st. During these three days Imam Ali's condition was serious; when milk was brought for him, he instructed his sons to carry the milk also, for his assassin.
• 11. Al-Husayn. Refer to note 1 (Translator's Introduction).
• 12. Hafiz. Khuwaja Shamsuddin Hafizi-Shirazi the most eminent mystic poet of Iran was born in the year 726 A.H. in Shiraz. All the Gnostics of the world humbles themselves before the exaltedness and sacredness of Hafiz who is considered as their Qibleh-Gah (patron). His contentment, surrender, absolute freedom from wants, and truthfulness had bestowed a unique sacredness upon his poetry.
  After passage of more than six hundred years his poetic work Diwan of Hafiz is widely used for Estekhara (consultation), hut only those who have purified their souls thoroughly may receive guidance from his poetry. Following are some examples of his poetry:
  “Thanks God whatever I requested from God, eventually my wishes were granted”
  ''Each treasurer of prosperity which was bestowed upon Hafiz by God­ was due to the blessings of night prayer and dawn supplications."
  Upon knowing Hafiz Goethe wished to be one of his disciples. He said:
  Oh Hafiz, your word is as great as eternity for it has no beginning and no end. Your word as the canopy of heaven solely depends upon itself. It is all signs, beauty and excellence."
  After studying the lyric poems of Hafiz Hitche wrote:
  “O Hafiz, you have created a tavern of philosophy greater than any worldly palace. In it you provided a wine of grace and world beyond the capacity of the world to drink. The highest pinnacle of any amount is but a sign of your greatness and the unfathomable depth of any vortex is just a mark of your perfection, and the excellence of your world.”
  Hafiz, after blessing the humanity with precious gift of his poetic works died at the age of 65 years in the year 791 A.B. His tomb is located in Shiraz. His verses like immortal sign still show light to the world's deviated ones whose hearts are full of intense darkness. Following is an example:
  “Inside of this tired and broken hearts of mine, I don't know, who is there.
  I am silent but he is still groaning and full of uproar.
  The sound of yor love, which wa heard by me last night is still echoing within me.
  The space within Hafiz’s chest is still full of cry for the beloved
• 13. Molavi. Molana Jalaluddin Muhammad (604-672 AI-I.), son of Muhammad bin Khatibi famous as Bahauddin was the most eminent scholar and mystic poet of Iran. Also, his father was a great scholar and mystic of his time. He received his early education under the tutorship of his learned father, and later on after his demise continued his studies under the most learned scholar Burhaduddin Mohaqeq Tirmizi, who encouraged Molana to pursue his higher studies at the prestigious Literary Learning Center in Damascus.
  Molana was the complete manifestation of a perfect human being of his period, who after journeying through various intermediate spiritual stations reached to the highest peaks of enlightenment, discovering the absolute realities. He describes his gnostic journeys are follows:
  “The accomplishment of my life could be defined into three short words. I was like a row stuff, become ripe, and then eventually was burnt (in love).”
  He was an intellectual, learned scholar, lecturer issued religious decrees, and solved the most complicated jurisprudential issues. He was a man of God and a pure Monotheist and believed that the education of science and technology is all limited to worldly affairs and is not of much help in realization of God and the next world. In order to be enlightened regarding the most higher sublime realities something higher than this education is required. According to Molana the real education is the heavenly light through which God illuminates the heart of believers.
  Molana met with Shams Tabrizi in 642 A.H. This meeting has a tremendous impact upon him and brought a great spiritual revolution within his personality. Following are few examples of his poetry:
  “Oh, my beloved! Oh, my soul! Oh, my faith and infidelity, I wish that may you change this raw stone within me into a precious jewel Convert my infidelity into faith by changing my animal instincts into
  higher human characteristics; thus, curing my pain - oh my pain and remedy.
  With your looks, this earthly creature will be transformed into an illuminous subject, crying all over that – I am from you and you are from me.
  Change this copper within me into pure gold, and habitat my ruins.
  Oh, the one who fills the river with precious jewels – oh, my ocean of infinite depth.”
  His most famous mystical poetry works are:
  Mathnavi, consists of six volumes, containing 26,000 verses of poetry, describing the religious and gnostic sublime realit1es in a simple language.
  Divani-Kabir, consisting of 50,000 mystical verses is another literary mystical master pieces left by Molana.
• 14. The Holy Prophet had said: “I am the city of knowledge, and All is the gate; so whoever wants to enter the city should come through the gate.”- al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak p. 3, p. 26.
• 15. Ali's sword:
  At the battle of Ohod, a heavenly voice was heard saying:
  “There is no youth full of manhood but Ali, and no sword comparable to Zulfiqar (Ali's sword).”
  ‘Umar said: “A man like Ali is entitled to be proud. By God, without his sword the pillar of Islam could not have been erected.”
  -Ibn Abu al-Hadeed, his commentaries on Nahj al-Balaghah vol. 3, p. 179.
  In the battle of trench when Ali killed Amy the Holy Prophet (S) said:
  The duel of Ali ibn Abu Talib against Amr ibn Wodd at battle of the Moat outweighs the good deeds of my whole nation until Day of Judgment.
  -Al-Mustadrak part 3 p. 32
• 16. Some of the verses of Holy Qur'an revealed in praise of Imam Ali (‘a) or Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) may be listed as follows:
  (i) When Imam Ali (‘a) gave his ring to the beggar in the state of genuflection, the following verse was revealed:
  “Your friend can be only Allah; and his messenger· and those who believe who establish worship and pay the poor due and bow down (in prayer).” “(The Holy Qur’an 5:55).
  For complete narration refer to note 2, 51-2
  (ii) At the time of fasting by the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) for three consecutive days, and when each evening they gave their food to the needy, orphan, and a captive, the Almighty God revealed the following verses:
  “Surely the righteous shall drink of a cup the admixture of which is camphor” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:5).
  “A fountain from which the servants of Allah shall drink; they make it to flow a (goodly) flowing forth.” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:6).
  “They fulfill vows and fear a day the evil of which shall be spreading far and wide.” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:7).
  “And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:8).
  “We only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:9).
  “Surely, we fear from our Lord a stern, distressful day” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:10).
  “Therefore, Allah win guard them from the evil of that day and cause them to meet with ease and happiness” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:11).
  “And reward them, because they were patient, with garden and silk” (The Holy Qur'an, 76:12).
  (iii) Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Manthoor, al-Hakim, ibn Mardawaih and al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan, all recorded the report of Om-Salemah, wife of the Prophet (S) in which she said:
  “In my own house the (Qur'anic) verse (from chapter 33): ‘Certainly God wants to keep away all abomination from you, members of the House (of Muhammad) to make you pure and spotless." Ali, Fatimah, al­Hassan and al-Husayn were at my house. The Messenger of God covered them with a garment, then said: “These are the members of my House. God, keep away abomination from them and make them pure and spotless.”
  -al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, part 5 p. 238 hadith no. 3875
  (iv) At the time of a debate between the Holy Prophet (S) and Christians from Najran the following verse was revealed:
  “If anyone disputes in this matter with thee now after full knowledge has come lo thee, say: Let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves; then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of God on those who lie.” (The Holy Qur'an 3:61).
  According to Muslim in his Sahih, “the Messenger of God called Ali, Fatimah, al-Hassan and al-Husayn and said: God, thee are the members of my family.” -Muslim, Sahih Muslim Part 15, p.176
  (v) The following verses were revealed at Ghadir Khumm and concern the spiritual investiture
  (Wilayah) of Ali ibn Abu Talib. which have been confirmed by many Shi’i and Sunni commentators:
  “Oh Messenger! Make known that which had been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if not, thou will not have conveyed His message. God will protect thee from mankind.” (The Holy Qur'an 5:67).
  Abu Sa'id Khudari says: “The Prophet in Ghadir Khumm invited people toward Ali and took his hand and lifted it so high that the white spot in the armpit of the Prophet of God could be seen. Then this verse was revealed: ‘This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion AL-ISLAM.’ Then the Prophet said, 'God is great (Allahu Akbar) that religion has become perfected and that God's bounty has been completed, His satisfaction attained and the wilayat of Ali achieved. ‘Then he added, ‘For whomsoever I am the authority and guide Ali is also his guide and authority. Oh God! Be friendly with the friends of Ali and the enemy of his enemies. Whoever helps him, and whoever leaves him, leave him.’”
  -Shia, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai p. 179.
• 17. Ascetic: Following are some examples of Imam Ali (‘a) about his state of asceticism:
  In answer to some who had complained of Ali's anger toward them, the Prophet (S) said, ‘Do not reproach Ali for he is in a state of Divine ecstasy and bewilderment.’ Abu Darda, one of the companions, one day saw the body of Ali in one of the palm plantations of Medina lying on the ground as stiff as wood. He went to Ali's house to inform his noble wife, the daughter of the Prophet, and to express his condolences. The daughter of the Prophet said, ‘My cousin (Ali) has not died. Rather, in fear of God he has fainted. This condition overcomes him often.”
  -Sh’a, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai p. 194.
• 18. The of Ascension (Shabi-Meraj) is the night when the Holy Prophet made his Heavenly journey.
• 19. Khaybar: Abu Rafi, a companion of the Prophet said:
  “We went with Ali Ibn Abu Talib when the Messenger of God sent him with his banner. When he came near the fortress, the dwellers of the fortress came out and be fought them. A man from them hit Ali and made him lose his shield Ali took a door at the fortress and shielded himself with it. He kept in his hand until the battle ended, I found myself with seven men trying to move that door, but we could not.”
  -Ibn Husham, Biography of the Prophet, p. 2, p. 335.
• 20. Lion of God: Abu Talib's wife, Fatimah, the daughter of Asad (the lady whom the Messenger used to consider his second mother), gave birth to Ali at the Holy Kaba. Thus, he was the first human to be born inside the Ancient and Sacred House of God. His birth was thirty years after the birth of the Prophet, and twenty-three years before the Hijrah. His mother named him Haidrah (lion) or Asad. His father named him Ali (high). The two names were appropriate, for he was destined to be the lion of God and His Messenger, as he was the highest person after the Messenger who “brothered” him among all Muslims.
• 21. Refer to Footnote 123.