Introduction

Generally, whenever we mention and remember Hazrat Imam Ali (a.s.) in our gatherings, we mention his merits, his bravery, his generosity, his knowledge, his forgiving nature, his love for children, etc but seldom do we remember him for the troubles that he went through, for the loneliness that he faced, for the sufferings that befell on him, how he was forsaken, how he lived heartbroken, for the taunts that he faced, for the hatred and jealousy that he faced from the followers of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

No doubt that Hazrat Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is the possessor of the highest merits and perfections after the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but sadly, the other aspect is also equally true, that he is the most oppressed, the most troubled, the most heart-broken and aggrieved of all the Imams (a.s.).

Imam Ali (a.s.) is the oppressed one in the true sense, rather he is the greatest amongst those who have been oppressed. This is because he is the greatest and loftiest of all after the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

Just as it is true that none can recognize the stature of Imam Ali (a.s.) except Allah, The Almighty and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), similarly, no one knows the extent of sufferings of Imam Ali (a.s.), except Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

Imam Naqi (a.s.) has saluted Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) in these words,

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰه اَنْتَ اَوَّلُ مَظْلُوم

“Salutations be upon you, the Vicegerent of Allah, you are the foremost of مظلوم”

When we look up the meaning of مظلوم in English, we find words such as, aggrieved, maltreated, oppressed, wronged, unjustly treated, injured, prejudiced and victim of injustice.

Sadly, all these meanings of مظلوم are true for Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), for he was maltreated by the people, wronged by those who knew his merits and excellences, oppressed by those who owed their very existence to him, deeply aggrieved from the passing away of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) till his own martyrdom, who suffered one injustice after another, one oppression after another, while there was not a friend with him to hear the pain of his heart or to console him. No one whom he could trust while going through this agony. Not an intimate one to wipe away his tears. He was the first victim of Islam, like Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) himself said to him, O Ali, you are the oppressed one after me, woe be to whoever oppresses you.¹

It is therefore not odd, that he used to lean into the well and complain of the pain and sorrows of his heart.

This short treatise is a compilation of incidents which highlight this aspect of his personality, that is, the loneliness of Imam Ali (a.s.) and the sufferings of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) from different aspects.

Footnotes

1. Uyoon e Akhbar e Reza (a.s.), Vol. 1, Chp 38, Hadith 58, pg 303 ↩