A standard of life and death set by Imam Ali.

19th Ramadan is Imam Ali's death anniversary 

Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib was martyred in January 661 CE (Ramadan 40 AH) after being struck with a poison-coated sword by Ibn Muljam, a Kharijite, on 19 Ramadan. He died two days later, on 21 Ramadan 40 AH (approximately January 28, 661 CE), at age 62–63 in Kufa, Iraq.

A Reflection on the Reality of the World 

What was the reality of this world in the eyes of Ali ibn Abi Talib?

For Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), the world was no more than a passing shadow, a brief station on the journey toward God. In his mystical view, it was a place of trials and tribulations, where the soul is tested before returning to its Creator.

On the morning that would become the day of his martyrdom, he left his home with calm certainty. It is said he sensed that the moment of departure was near, as if the hours themselves were counting down to the meeting with his Lord.

His daughter tried to stop him, and even the ducks in the courtyard gathered around him, as though sensing the sorrow of the coming moment. Yet he remained firm and composed, walking toward the mosque with the serenity of one whose heart was already with God.

Inside the mosque, the man destined to strike him, Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam, lay hidden with a sword. Yet Ali ibn Abi Talib, though a ruler, lived among the people like one of them. He wore the simple clothing of the poor and walked freely among the common folk of Arabia.

Some among the elites objected to his closeness with ordinary people. They questioned why a leader would sit with the poor, even sharing friendship with a simple seller of dates. But Imam Ali believed that the dignity of a human being did not come from wealth or status, but from justice and character.

When he saw Ibn Muljim lying on his stomach in the mosque, he gently advised him that such a posture was improper. His words carried kindness, not suspicion. Yet it seemed as though he already sensed the destiny that was about to unfold, meeting it with the calm of one whose heart was already surrendered to God.

For Imam Ali, death was not defeat but a passage, a return to the mercy of God. The world held little weight in his eyes; its power and possessions were fleeting. What endured was truth, justice, and eternal life beyond this temporary realm.

History shows that some leaders, inspired by this understanding of faith and sacrifice, speak of death not with fear but with acceptance. Figures such as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have often expressed the belief that death, when faced with dignity and conviction, is not something to hide in a bunker from but a moment that tests a person’s faith and courage.

Thus, the lesson remains: those who see this world as temporary do not cling to it in fear. They strive to live with honor and justice, ready to depart when their time comes, trusting that the final return is to God.