HAZRAT ALI –MAN OF KNOWLEDGE AND VISION

Abstract

"Qur’an is source of revelatory knowledge i.e. from Allah and Prophet’s knowledge was innate rather than acquired and Ali’s knowledge was what the Prophet passed on to him and hence called ‘ilm ladunni as well as what was born of his vision of the society. Prophet was insane-ekamil i.e. perfect human being and Ali next to him in perfection. Hence for sufis Muhammad and Ali were two sources of inspiration. The Prophet (PBUH) lived in this world and yet was never attached to it. Ali, who always tried to closely follow the Prophet, never felt attracted towards the allurements of the world. Je is even reported to have said I divorce the world thrice i.e. never to be attracted by it. Ali, like the Prophet, was basically a deeply spiritual person and yet, like the Prophet, was conscious of the fact that millions of people live in this world and this world should be such as to provide meaning and guidance to human life and to minimize human suffering. Renunciation of the world is no solution. This is possible only if one fulfills bodily needs but does not become slave of ones body."(PG 1)