To understand the significance and importance of his place of birth, it is essential to know a little of the history of Kaaba. The first House of God was rebuilt and renovated at the command of Allah by the Prophet Abraham ssisted by his worthy successor, his son Ismail, under the supervision and guidance of the angel gabriel.
The verses of the Qur’an say:
“And remember when Abraham raised the foundation of the House with Ismail (praying) Our Lord accept (this service) from us; verily Thou and Thou (alone) art the All-hearing and the All-knowing”. (2:127)
“And remember when We made the House a resort for mankind and a sanctuary (saying), take ye the station of Abraham a place of prayer (for you); and covenanted with Abraham and Ismail (saying), purify ye two My House for those who make the circuit, and for those who prostrate (adoring).”
These verses clearly depict the purpose of the Kaaba, namely that it was to be a place of worship, that it was pure and sacred And it was to this sacred place, the Holy Kaaba, that Providence led Fatima the mother of Hazrat Ali (A.S.).She felt weighed down by intense pain when Ali was due to be born.
The keys of the Kaaba were brought to unlock the door, but all efforts ended in failure.
On the third day of this happening, with awe, the wonder struck crowds surrounding the Kaaba witnessed the lock of the door falling of its own accord, and to their surprise, Fatima emerged radiant from the sacred premises, cheerfully holding her new-born babe in her arms.
Yet another surprise awaited them, that Muhammad was waiting to receive her and her newly born child, and the first face the little Ali saw in this world was the smiling face of the Holy Prophet of Islam whom he greeted thus:
“Assalamo alaika ya Rasoolallah” (Peace be upon thee O Prophet of Allah). Thus it is an undisputed fact that Ali was born a Muslim and his first words testified to the Prophet hood of Muhammad. Muhammad lovingly took him into his arms. Ali’s first bath after his birth was given by the Holy Prophet, with a prediction that this child would give him his last bath. This prophecy was fulfilled on the death of Muhammad (S.A.W).
Ali accepted no other food than the moisture of Mohammed’s tongue, which he sucked for several days after his birth. Muhammad fondled him in his lap in his infancy, and chewed his food and fed Ali on it. He often made Ali sleep by his side, and Ali enjoyed the warmth of Mohammed’s body and inhaled the holy fragrance of his breath.
Ali has been described as having been found like a priceless pearl in the shell of the Kaaba, or a sword in the sheath of Allah’s House, or as a lamp found in Allah’s Abode shedding Light all around.
The sanctified birth of Ali, as that of Prophet Muhammad was foretold in the Scriptures, when God said to Abraham, who asked for a blessing on Ishmael; “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold I have blessed him and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly, twelve princes shall be beget, and I will make him a great nation.” (Genesis 17:20)
The felicitous Prophecy in Genesis 17:20 about the advent of a Prophet is said to point to the appearance of Muhammad and to Ali as the first of the twelve princes who are none other than the Twelve Imams.
Hazrat Ali’s birth in the Kaaba is unique, for this is the only known occasion on which a child was born within the precincts of the Holy place ever since its foundation thousands of years ago.
When the lovers of Hazrat Ali go for Hajj and Umra, they always remember his birth in the Kaaba and whilst making the Tawaf (the Ritual Circling of the Holy Kaaba), they feel proud and happy that Ali’s name is linked with the House of God, and at every circuit they look towards the wall which had split in two to allow Ali’s mother to enter the Sacred Premises. This particular place is known as ‘MUSTAJAR’, and here a special ritual is highly recommended.
The entire body with the cheek and the stomach are to be brought into full contact with the wall and in this position; the worshipper with palms open should seek forgiveness and ask God for his righteous desires and for the removal of difficulties. The following supplication supplication should be recited: “O God! This House is your House and this person is your slave and this place (Mustajar) is that place from where forgiveness of sins and safety from the fire of Hell are obtained.”
Amir-ul-Momineen (A.S.) said:1. I am defining Islam as no one has defined before me- Islam is submission, submission is conviction, conviction is affirmation, affirmation is acknowledgement, acknowledgement is discharge (of obligations) and discharge of obligations is action.
5. Best act is that which you have to force yourself to do.
6. When you fall in destitution, trade with Allah through charity.
7. Quran contains news about the past, foretellings about the future and commandments for the present.
8. Knowledge is of two kinds- that which is absorbed and that which is just heard. The heard one does not benefit unless it gets absorbed.
9. Knowledge is associated with action. Therefore he who knows should act, because knowledge calls out for action; if there is response well and good, otherwise it departs from him.
10. Words are in your control until you have uttered them; but when you have spoken them out you are under their control. Therefore guard your tongue as you guard your gold and silver, for often one expression snatches away a blessing and invites punishment.
11. Heart is the book of eye.
12. Contentment is a wealth that does not exhaust.
13. The best riches is abandonment of desires.
14. He who gives with his short hand is given by a long hand.
15. Keep on guard against slipping away of blessings because everything that runs away does not comes back.
Al-Murtaza – The chosen one of God.
Ameerul-Momineen – The Commander of the Faithful.
Imamul-Muttaqeen – The Guide of the Pious.
Mazharul Ajaib – The Manifesto of Wonders.
Madeenatul Ilm – The Gateway of the City of Knowledge.
Saiyyidul Ausiya – The chief of the Deputies (of Muhammad the Apostle of God).
Imamul Auliya – The Guide of the Saints.
Asadullahul-Ghaleb – The Ever Triumphant Lion of God.
Lisaanullah – The Tongue of God.
Yadullah – The Hand of God.
Wajhullah – The Face of God.
Nafse-Rasulullah – The Soul of the Apostle of God.
Valiullah – The Friend of God.
Siddeequl-Akbar – The Greatest Truthful.
Farooqul-Aazam – The Greatest Distinguisher (between truth and falsehood).
Abu-Turab – The Father of the Earth.
Faateh-e-Khaiber – The Conqueror of Khaiber.
Asadullahul-Ghaleb – The Ever Triumphant Lion of God.
Abul Aimma – The Father of the Holy Imams.
Akhu Rasulullah – The Brother of the Apostle of God.
Abu Eetam – The Father of orphans and the helpless.