Introduction: When Sacred Space Bears Witness to Divine Choice
Islamic history records many births, but only one birth altered the meaning of sacred space itself. The Holy Ka’bah, the House built for the exclusive worship of Allah and the direction of prayer for all believers, has witnessed prophets, worshippers, and pilgrims across centuries. Yet, it opened its walls for only one birth; that event was the birth of Imam Ameerul Momineen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).
The birth of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) within the Sacred House itself signals that the future guardian of monotheism would emerge from the center of its most powerful symbol. The Kaʿbah does not open for lineage, status, or emotion; it opens only by divine command. Its opening for this birth invites reflection on the nature of leadership after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), the relationship between sanctity and authority, and the continuity of divine guidance.
The Setting: Witnesses at the Sacred House
Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Yazid ibn Qaʿnab were sitting between the group of Bani Hashim and the group of Abd al-Uzza, opposite the Sacred House of Allah, when Fatima bint Asad ibn Hashim (peace be upon her), the mother of Ameerul Momineen, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), came. She was pregnant with Ameerul Momineen for nine months, and it was the day of her full term. She stood facing the Sacred House, while labor pains had seized her. She raised her gaze toward the sky and said:
“O my Lord, I believe in You, in what has come from You through the Messenger, and in every prophet among Your prophets, and in every Book You have sent down. I affirm the words of my forefather Ibrahim the Friend (Khaleel), who built Your Ancient House. So I ask You by the right of this House and by the one who built it and by this child who is in my womb, who speaks to me and comforts me with his words, and I am certain that he is one of Your signs and proofs that You ease my childbirth for me.”
Key Points:
Clear Testimony of Faith: Fatima bint Asad (peace be upon her) was a conscious believer in Allah and all Prophets, so how can one claim that she or her husband was a disbeliever (God Forbid)
Recognition of Imam Ali’s divine status before birth: She possessed divinely granted knowledge about the spiritual status of her unborn son and recognized Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) role as a divine proof even before his birth.
Evidence for the legitimacy of tawassul: Her supplication is made through the unborn Imam himself, demonstrating the legitimacy of seeking closeness to Allah through His chosen proofs. This establishes that in times of pain, hardship, and affliction, seeking help through the Imam is valid.
The Holy Ka’bah Opens: Not Its Door, But Its Wall
Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Yazid ibn Qaʿnab said: When Fatima bint Asad (peace be upon her) spoke and supplicated with this supplication, we saw the House split open from its rear. Fatima entered it and disappeared from our sight. Then the opening closed and was sealed by the permission of Allah. We attempted to open the door so that some of our women could reach her, but the door did not open. We knew that this was a matter from Allah, Exalted is He.
Fatima remained inside the House for three days. The people of Mecca spoke of this in the streets, and the secluded women spoke of it within their chambers.
Sermon of Bibi Fatima bint Asad (peace be upon her) when she came out of the Sacred House of Allah
After three days, the House opened from the same place by which she had entered. Fatima bint Asad (peace be upon her) emerged, with Ali (peace be upon him) upon her hands.
مَعَاشِرَ اَلنَّاسِ إِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اِخْتَارَنِي مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ فَضَّلَنِي عَلَی اَلْمُخْتَارَاتِ مِمَّنْ كُنَّ قَبْلِي
“O people! Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, has chosen me from among His creation and favored me over the chosen women before me. Allah chose Asiyah bint Muzahim and she worshipped Allah secretly in a place where Allah should not be worshipped except out of necessity. And Allah chose Maryam bint Imran, for He eased for her the birth of Isa; she shook the dry trunk of the palm tree in a barren land so that fresh ripe dates would fall upon her. And Allah, Exalted is He, has chosen me and favored me over them and over all the women of the worlds before me, because I gave birth in His Ancient House and remained within it for three days, eating from the fruits of Paradise and its leaves [its provisions].”
Key Points:
Fatima bint Asad’s (peace be upon her) distinction surpasses earlier precedents in a unique manner.
She states that Allah favored her above both Asiyah and Maryam, not by diminishing their rank, but by granting her an honor not given to any woman before.
Remaining inside the Kaʿbah for three days signifies sustained divine hospitality.
Provision from Paradise confirms the supernatural nature of the event. Being sustained by the fruits and provisions of Paradise indicates that the birth was accompanied by heavenly support, not ordinary human means.
The Sermon Continues: “When I intended to leave with my child in my hands, a caller called out to me and said:
يَا فَاطِمَةُ سَمِّيهِ عَلِيّاً فَأَنَا اَلْعَلِيُّ اَلْأَعْلَی وَ إِنِّي خَلَقْتُهُ مِنْ قُدْرَتِي وَ عِزِّ جَلاَلِي وَ قِسْطِ عَدْلِي
‘O Fatima, name him Ali, for I am al-Ali al-Aa’la. I created him from My power and the might of My majesty and the equity of My justice.
وَ اِشْتَقَقْتُ اِسْمَهُ مِنِ اِسْمِي وَ أَدَّبْتُهُ بِأَدَبِي وَ فَوَّضْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَمْرِي وَ وَقْفْتُهُ عَلَی غَامِضِ عِلْمِي وَ وُلِدَ فِي بَيْتِي وَ هُوَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُؤَذِّنُ فَوْقَ بَيْتِي وَ يَكْسِرُ اَلْأَصْنَامَ وَ يَرْمِيهَا عَلَی وَجْهِهَا
I derived his name from My Name, taught him My discipline, entrusted to him My affairs, and made him aware of the hidden aspects of My knowledge. He was born in My House, and he will be the first to give the call to prayer upon My House, to break the idols and cast them upon their faces.
وَ يُعَظِّمُنِي وَ يُمَجِّدُنِي وَ يُهَلِّلُنِي وَ هُوَ اَلْإِمَامُ بَعْدَ حَبِيبِي وَ نَبِيِّي وَ خِيَرَتِي مِنْ خَلْقِي مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِي وَ وَصِيُّهُ
He will glorify Me, magnify Me, and declare My oneness. He is the Imam after My beloved, My Prophet, and My chosen one from My creation, Muhammad My Messenger, and his successor.
فَطُوبَی لِمَنْ أَحَبَّهُ وَ نَصَرَهُ وَ اَلْوَيْلُ لِمَنْ عَصَاهُ وَ خَذَلَهُ وَ جَحَدَ حَقَّهُ
Blessed is he who loves him and supports him, and woe to him who disobeys him, forsakes him, and denies his right.’”
Key Points:
Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) name was chosen directly by Allah: The command to name him “ʿAli” came from Allah Himself, establishing that his identity was divinely assigned rather than chosen by human will. Allah identifies Himself as al-ʿAli al-Aʿla (the Most High, the Supreme), and from this Divine Name the name of Imam ʿAli (peace be upon him) is derived, indicating a special honour and elevation granted by Allah.
Affairs were entrusted to him by Allah: Allah’s statement, “I entrusted to him My affair (al-amr),” establishes that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was granted divinely delegated authority. This delegation is by Allah’s command and permission, not independent power. Therefore, seeking needs or assistance through Imam Ali (peace be upon him) does not constitute shirk, as the authority over all affairs remains with Allah, who has chosen to operate them through His appointed proof.
He was granted access to hidden divine knowledge: Allah’s statement about making him aware of hidden knowledge affirms that his knowledge is God-given, not acquired through conventional means.
Imamate after the Prophet is explicitly declared: Allah clearly states that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the Imam after the Prophet Muhammad and his appointed successor, leaving no ambiguity about leadership.
Loyalty to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is tied to salvation: Love and support for him are described as a source of blessing, while rejection or denial of his right is warned against with severe consequences.
Recitation of the Holy Qur’an
When Abu Talib (peace be upon him) saw Imam Ali (peace be upon him), he rejoiced. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: “Peace be upon you, O my father, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”
Then he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) entered. When he entered, Ameerul Momineen (peace be upon him) moved toward him, smiled at him, and said: “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”
Then, by the permission of Allah, Exalted is He, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) cleared his throat and said:
بِسْمِ اَللّٰهِ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ اَلرَّحِيمِ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ`اَلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاٰتِهِمْ خٰاشِعُونَ إِلَی آخِرِ اَلْآيَاتِ
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate: Successful indeed are the believers—those who are humble in their prayers…” until the end of the verses.
Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: “They have indeed succeeded through you,” and he recited the verses in full up to His saying: “Those are the inheritors, who shall inherit Paradise; they shall abide therein forever.”
(Surah al-Mu’minun 23:1–11).
Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: “By Allah, you are their commander, the Commander of the Faithful. You provide them from the abundance of their knowledge, and they seek provision thereby. By Allah, you are their guide, and through you they are guided.”
[Reference: Bihar Al Anwaar, v. 35, pg. 35 narrating from Amali-e-Tusi, pg. 704, Al Burhaan Fee Tafseer-e-Quran, v. 4, pg. 12, Madinatul Ma’ajiz, v. 1, pg. 45]
Conclusion: A Birth that Defines Divine Leadership
The birth of Ameerul Momineen Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) inside the Holy Kaʿbah is a unique event in Islamic history, marked by divine command, public witness, and clear theological meaning. It affirms the complete faith of Fatima bint Asad, her divinely granted certainty regarding the status of her son, and the legitimacy of seeking Allah through His chosen proof.
The heavenly proclamation concerning Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) name, knowledge, entrusted authority, and Imamate after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) leaves no ambiguity about divinely appointed leadership. The Prophet’s affirmation and the Imam’s recitation of the Qur’an from infancy further establish that guidance and authority were united in him from the beginning.
The Kaʿbah opening its walls was not merely a miracle, but a testimony: that the guardian of monotheism and the guide of the believers was born at the heart of Tawheed itself. Love and loyalty to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) thus stand as a response to divine designation, upon which guidance and salvation are promised.