Hadrat Ali’s sons names

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him), had two sons named Mohamed among his many children.  One was Mohamed bin Hanafiyya and other was Mohamed bin Ali Al Asghar.

The reason the elder Mohamed bin Ali was called Mohamed bin Hanafiyya, was probably to distinguish him from the Hadrat Ali’s (r.a.) other son Mohamed bin Ali Al Asghar.  Mohamed bin Hanafiyya’s mother was from a very famous tribe called Banu Hanifa and her name was Khawlah bint Jaafar.  Mohamed bin Hanafiyya, was known as Mohamed bin Ali during his life, but later to distinguish him from his foster brother, he became famous and was recorded in history as Mohamed bin Hanafiyya.  

It is well known that Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) married Hadrat Fatima bint Mohamed Rasool Allah (r.a.) and had two sons from this marriage; Imam Hassan ibn Ali (r.a.) and Imam Hussain ibn Ali (r.a.).

After the death of Hadrat Fatema bint Mohamed Rasool Allah (r.a.),  Hadrat Ali (r.a.)  married several times and had in excess of 20 children.  

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) married a woman from the tribe of Banu Kilaab and her name was Muhaiyya bint Imr-ul-Qais.  The children from this marriage were:

Abbas al Akbar bin Ali (Abbas Alamdar).

Uthman bin Ali.

Jaafar bin Ali.

Abdulla bin Ali.

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) later married Laila bin Masood Nashaliyyah and the children from this marriage were:

Abu Bakr bin Ali.

Obaidullah bin Ali.

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) also married a woman from the tribe of Banu Taglab and the children from this marriage were twins: a boy and a girl named:

Umar bin Ali

Ruqqayyah bint Ali

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) later married a very famous woman named Asma bint Umais, who incidentally was the widow of both, Jaafar Al Tayyar (r.a.) and Abu Bakr as Siddiq (r.a.).  From this marriage they had a son named Yahya bin Ali.

I just want to point out something here:  If what some sects of Islam say about the relationship betweeen Hadrat Ali (r.a.) and Abu Bakr as Siddiq, Umar Al Khattab and Uthman bin Affan is true, then why would Hadrat Ali (r.a.) keep the names of his sons Abu Bakr,  Umar and Uthman?  Hadart Ali (r.a.) only married and fathered these children after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws).  If Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman were indeed enemies of Hadrat Ali (r.a.), as some people would have us believe, why would Hadrat Ali (r.a.) name his children after their names?    

Some people have tried to explain this by saying that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) kept these names, despite his enmity with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, because of political reasons!   That is absolutely absurd!  Those who claim this, actually dishonor and degrade the high position and the noble character of Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.), and have just not recognized the ‘maqaam’ of Hadrat Ali (r.a.).  By explaining that Hadrat Ali (r.a.) kept these names for political reasons, they actually accuse Hadrat Ali (r.a.) of hypocrisy…. And I swear by Allah, whoever claims thus are liars!!  Hadrat Ali’s (r.a.) bravery, courage, boldness, daring, heroism and fearlessness have been praised by the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself, and has been appropriately recorded in Islamic history.  The truth of the matter is that there was no enmity between all these noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).  This enmity was manufactured and invented by unscrupulous and venal people for their own political gains, years after the death of these noble and close ‘sahabees’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws)!   And by doing so, they succeeded in breaking up Islam into various sects, and made each into a small kingdom of its own!  May Allah take full retribution with the people who have played this mischief and caused chaos in the One ‘ummah’ of Islam.  

Just look at the Anger and Wrath of Allah described on those who break up their religion into sects:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Mu’minoon verse 52-56: And you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am your Lord; so fear Me Alone!  Yet afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time.  What?  Do they think that, by continuing to provide them with wealth and children, We are solicitous for their welfare?   Nay, they do not understand the reality of the matter!

And Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan