When is Imam Ali's Birthday?
Imam Ali's Birthday is a public holiday in Iran and also a regional holiday in Uttar Pradesh, India.
It commemorates the birthday of Ali ibn Abu Talib, who was the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and considered to be the first Imam by Shia Muslims.
The birth anniversary of Imam Hazrat Ali is observed every year on the 13th day of Rajab, the seventh month according to the Islamic calendar.
History of Imam Ali's Birthday
Imam Ali, also known as Hazrat Ali, is an important figure for all Muslims worldwide.
He was born on the 13th day in the Islamic month of Rajab in the year 599 AD. He was the son of Abu Talib and Fatima bint Asda and has the unique distinction of being the only person to be born in the sacred sanctuary of the Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest place in Islam.
Ali was the first male to accept Islam, which some have argued makes him the first Muslim. Ali fought alongside Muhammad in the battles that forged the early Muslim community. After the migration to Medina, he married Muhammad's daughter Fatimah and became Muhammad's son-in-law.
After Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated, Ali was appointed Caliph. He ruled until 661, when he was struck in the head with a poisonous sword by Ibn Muljam while he was saying his prayers in the Great Mosque of Kufa, in modern-day Iraq, on the 19th of Ramadan. The wound proved fatal and Imam Ali became a martyr two days later.
While there are differences in how he is venerated by Sunni and Shia, both agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a courageous and just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
In Iran, Imam Ali's birthday was made an official holiday during the reign of Nasiru al-Din Shah, in the late 19th century.
He is held in very high regard in the Muslim community and his birthday is celebrated across countries with great fervor. Hazrat Ali is considered the first Imam by the Shia Muslim community. Meanwhile, Sunnis consider him the fourth Rashidun Caliph and celebrate him as an upright ruler of Islam.
On this day, mosques are decked up and decorated with bright lights. Devotees gather for prayer, learn about Ali's role in the propagation of Islam. Friends and families then come together for a decadent meal. Musical delights like Qawalies often accompany the celebrations.
Father's Day in Iran
Father's Day in the Persian calendar coincides with the birth anniversary of Imam Ali. In Islam, parents are given high status, and the Holy Quran has frequently urged Muslims to honour, respect, and obey their parents.
Father's Day is a national holiday in Iran. Many seek ways to ways to express their gratitude and honouring their fathers on this day.
They take the opportunity to spend more time with their fathers and grandfathers, often expressing their gratitude and paying respects with flowers and gifts.
