Sunni view of Ali
Encyclopedia
Sunni Muslims hold Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...

 in high respect as one of the Ahl al-Bayt
Ahl al-Bayt
Ahl al-Bayt is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family of the House. The phrase "ahl al-bayt" was used in Arabia before the advent of Islam to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe. Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the...

, a foremost authority on the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...

 and Islamic law, and as one of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Views

Sunnis maintain that Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...

 was the first male to convert to Islam, when he was 8 years old.

Sunnis view Ali as one of the greatest warrior champions of Islam. Examples include taking on the Quraish champion at the Battle of the Trench
Battle of the Trench
The Battle of the Trench also known as Battle of Ahzab, Battle of the Confederates and Siege of Medina , was a fortnight-long siege of Yathrib by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the...

 when nobody else dared. After multiple failed attempts of breaking the fort in the Battle of Khaybar
Battle of Khaybar
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Muhammad and his followers against the Jews living in the oasis of Khaybar, located from Medina in the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula, in modern-day Saudi Arabia....

, Ali was summoned, miraculously healed and conquered the fort.

Family life

He is also seen as honored for marrying a daughter of Muhammed,
an honor they believe is shared with Uthman
Uthman
Uthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....

, whom Sunni Muslims believe married two of the Prophets daughters. However, Ali is given distinction in this regard due to the high status accorded to Fatima in Islam, her being the sayyeda of the women of paradise.

Marrying Fatimah
He is also seen as honored for marrying Fatimah, an honor they believe is shared with Uthman, whom Sunni Muslims believe married two of Muhammad's biological daughters.

However, while Sunnis do call Uthman as "the holder of two lights", they do not call Ali "the holder of the light", although Fatimah is considered by Sunni Muslims as the "the lady of Paradise."

Narrated by al-Bukhari, 3671.

External links

  • Sunni view of Ali and the rest of the Ahl al-Bayt
    Ahl al-Bayt
    Ahl al-Bayt is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family of the House. The phrase "ahl al-bayt" was used in Arabia before the advent of Islam to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe. Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the...

    .
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