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CHILDHOOD

There are three phases in every human being’s life: childhood, youth and old age. There are different requirements in every phase of ones life. Childhood is for play. In this phase, the individual does not have full sense of things. The childish activities prove this. They cannot distinguish between right and wrong while at play

The aptitude of Abū-Talib’s son was different from the other children. He was never seen at childish games and play. He was away from other activities that children enjoy indulging in. His looks indicated courage, determination, and his actions dignity. His physical and mental activities were different from those of other children. The development of his physical identity was faster than that of the children of his age. He grew in a day as much as another child in a month. Therefore, his body was strong and the sense of comprehension far advanced. The author of Arja al-Matalib, Najmuddin Fakhr al-Islam Abū-Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Marandi writes in Manaqib al-Ashab about the reason for giving the name Haydar to `Ali (a.s) that while he was still a baby in arms, his mother once left him alone at home. The house was at the foot of a hill. A snake came down from the hill, came near the baby and started hissing. The baby caught the snake in one hand and pressed it until it died. When his mother came back, she noted the dead reptile in the hand of the baby and said,

“O my tiger! May Allah keep you alive!”

When he grew up and started walking around, he used to lift heavy stones with ease and bring them down from the top of the hills. He was fond of breaking the idols.

According to the norms of Arab upbringing, Abū-Talib trained his children in archery, horse riding and wrestling. He used to gather his sons and nephews together and arrange their matches in these disciplines and taught them the finer points of the martial arts. `Ali (a.s), though he was the youngest of all, was never subdued by the others. He used to defeat all his brothers and cousins without any difficulty. This was a Divine Gift to him. Ibn Qutaybah writes:

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With whomsoever he wrestled, he defeated him![1]

Besides this physical strength, `Ali (a.s) was far advanced in the development of his mental capabilities. He had a great sense of distinguishing between the right and wrong from his very childhood. He recognized the Real Creator (Allah) as soon as he opened his eyes. Living in the environment of idolatery, he never thought the idols fit for worship! When people were hesitant to accept Islam for long after the Prophet declared his Annunciation, he had understood its importance prior to this declaration. Therefore, he himself has said:

“I see the light of Revelation and Prophethood and get the Fragrance of Prophethood,”[2]

His high vision saw the light of Prophethood and smelled its fragrance. Even before the Annunciation of the Prophet (a.s), he made him his role model. Therefore, `Ali’s childhood, like his youth and old age, was a mountain of greatness. Viewing the period of his childhood, one understands that a great personality was in the making. This greatness was a gift from the Almighty Allah!