Is the Shia claim true that Imam Ali was born inside the Kaaba?
07.06.2025 16:28
This fable was reported in Shi’ee books with extremely weak chains having Ghulat(exaggerators) Shia narrators in them or the narrations have incomplete chain or are chain-less. Even the text of those narrations suffers from multiple problems, proving these to be fabricated narrations without any shred of doubt.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When Allah’s Messenger(SAWS) arrived in Mecca, he refused to enter the Ka`ba while there were idols in it. So he ordered that they be taken out. The pictures of the (Prophets) Abraham and Ishmael, holding arrows of divination in their hands, were carried out. The Prophet (SAWS) said, “May Allah ruin them (i.e. the infidels) for they knew very well that they (i.e. Abraham and Ishmael) never drew lots by these (divination arrows). Then the Prophet (SAWS) entered the Ka`ba and said. “Allahu Akbar” in all its directions and came out and not offer any prayer therein.[Sahih al-Bukhari #4288]
Narrator Umm al-A’arah bint Ubadah is anonymous.
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Verification of the Isnad(chain of narrators) –
قَالَ يَزيدُ بنُ قعنب: فَرأَيتُ البَيتَ قَد انشَقَّ عَن ظَهرِهِ وَدَخَلتْ فَاطمَةُ فِيهِ وَغابَتْ عَنْ أبصَارِنا وَعادَ البَيتُ إلَى حَالهِ. فَرُمْنا أنْ يَنفَتحَ لَنا قُفلُ البَابِ فَلَمْ يَنفَتِحْ. فَعَلمْنا أنَّ ذلكَ مِنْ أمْرِ اللهِ تَعالَى. ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ فِي اليَوْمِ الرَّابِعِ وَعَلَى يَدِها أمِيرُ المُؤمنينَ عَلِيُّ بنُ أبِي طَالبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَتْ: قَدْ فُضِّلْتُ عَلى مَنْ تَقدَّمَنِي مِن النِّساءِ، لأنَّ آسيةَ بنتَ مُزاحِمٍ عَبدَتِ اللهَ سِرَّاً فِي مَوضِعٍ لاَ يُحبُّ اللهُ أنْ يُعبدَ فيهِ إلاَّ اضْطِراراً.
(ii). There were pictures present inside Ka’aba and we know from prophetic traditions that angels of mercy and blessings do not enter a house in which there are pictures. We read:
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Before we start the verification we would like to inform the readers about an interesting fact – The famous classical Shia scholar al-Kulayni –the author of Al-Kafi, never mentioned the birth in the ka`bah for Ali(ra) in his chapter about the History of Imam Ali. Al-Kulayni usually gives an introduction of the person, the year they were born, etc, and then mentions hadith. However, Al-Kulayni did not mention anything about the birth of Ali(ra) inside Ka’aba. This shows that even Kulayni did not trust in this fictitious fable.
(Ibn Shahr Ashoob, Manaaqib, vol. 2, pg. 23)
Ibn ‘Abbaas stated: Four people spoke while they were babies: ‘Eesaa the son of Maryam(as), Jurayj’s companion, Yusuf’s witness and Phir’aon’s daughter’s hairdresser.
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Why would Allah blast open the wall! Why the miracle was required in the first place, and the whole incident is against the principals of Miracles Allah have showed us in Quran and through His Messengers(AS).
Shia Narration #3:
Sunni Narration #2:
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حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي يُوسُفَ، قَالَ: ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَطَاءَ بْنَ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يَقُولُ: ” سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ يَقْنُتُ هَا هُنَا فِي الْفَجْرِ بِمَكَّةَ ” وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ شَرِبَ مِنْ مَاءِ زَمْزَمَ مُسْلِمًا: أَبُو ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيُّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَأَوَّلُ بِئْرٍ كَانَتْ بِمَكَّةَ: زَمْزَمُ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ أَجْرَى عَيْنًا بِمَكَّةَ: مُعَاوِيَةُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ عَمِلَ الْجِصَّ وَالْآجُرَّ بِمَكَّةَ وَبَنَى بِهِ: مُعَاوِيَةُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ وُلِدَ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ: حَكِيمُ بْنُ حِزَامٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ أَحْرَقَ الْكَعْبَةَ: الْحُصَيْنُ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، فِي زَمَنِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ وُلِدَ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ سَنَّ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ عِنْدَ الْقَتْلِ: خُبَيْبُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ
That (shall be so); and whoever respects the sacred ordinances of Allah, it is better for him with his Lord; and the cattle are made lawful for you, except that which is recited to you, therefore avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false words. (Quran 22:30).
This fictitious Fable dishonors Ali(ra) for being born at a place which was vacant from the angels of mercy and blessings.
What is the most heartbreaking thing your child has told you?
(II) – The fictitious story of birth inside Ka’aba dishonors Ali(RA)
Sa’sa’a said to Ali: “Let me know who is superior, you or Adam.” The Holy Imam said: “It is not proper for a man to praise himself, but according to the maxim: ‘Declare the blessings that Allah has given you,’ I tell you that I am superior to Adam.” When asked why this was so, Ali explained that Adam had every means of mercy, comfort, and blessings for him in paradise. He was asked simply to abstain from the forbidden food. But he could not restrain himself, and he ate from the tree. As a result, he was expelled from paradise. Allah did not forbid him, Ali, from eating wheat (which, according to Muslim belief was the forbidden ‘tree’). But since he had no inclination towards this temporal world, he voluntarily refrained from eating wheat. (The point of Ali’s remark was that excellence of a man before Allah lies in piety and devotion, and that the height of piety lies in abstaining even from what is permissible.)
What is the meaning of sanctification here? Some have said that the meaning of sanctification here is purification from the existence of idols. Some others have said that the purpose is purification from outward dirt like blood and the contents of animals’ stomachs which people sacrificed therein, because there were some ignorant persons who thoughtlessly did such deeds as leaving these remains behind.] (The Light of The Holy Qur’an by Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and A Group of Muslim Scholars, under explanation of verse 2:125) [Screen shot]
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The next problem with the text of these reports is that, Ali(ra) spoke being a baby, however as per authentic report of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS), there were only four babies who spoke.
Verification of the Matn(text of narration) –
أخبرنا أبو طاهر محمد بن علي بن محمد البيع، قال: أخبرنا أبو عبد الله أحمد بن محمد بن عبد الله بن خالد الكاتب، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن جعفر بن محمد بن سلم الختلي قال: حدثني عمر بن أحمد بن روح، حدثني أبو طاهر يحيى بن الحسن العلوي، قال: حدثني محمد بن سعيد الدارمي حدثنا موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن علي، عن أبيه علي بن الحسين، قال: كنت جالساً مع أبي ونحن زائرون قبر جدنا عليه السلام، وهناك نسوان كثيرة، إذ أقبلت امرأة منهن فقلت لها: من أنت يرحمك الله؟ قالت: أنا زيدة بنت قريبة بن العجلان من بني ساعدة. فقلت لها: فهل عندك شيئاً تحدثينا؟ فقالت: إي والله حدثتني أمي أم العارة بنت عبادة بن نضلة بن مالك بن عجلان الساعدي .. أنها كانت ذات يوم في نساءٍ من العرب إذ أقبل أبو طالب كئيباً حزيناً، فقلت له: ما شأنك يا أبا طالب؟ قال: إن فاطمة بنت أسد في شدة المخاض، ثم وضع يديه على وجهه. فبينا هو كذلك، إذ أقبل محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال له: ((ما شأنك يا عم؟)) فقال: إن فاطمة بنت أسد تشتكي المخاض، فأخذ بيده وجاء وهي معه فجاء بها إلى الكعبة فأجلسها في الكعبة، ثم قال: ((اجلسي على اسم الله!)) قال: فطلقت طلقة فولدت غلاماً مسروراً، نظيفاً، منظفاً لم أر كحسن وجهه، فسماه أبو طالب علياً وحمله النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى أداه إلى منزلها. قال علي بن الحسين عليهم السلام: فوالله ما سمعت بشيء قط إلا وهذا أحسن منه.
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Shaykh Abu Yahya Noorpuri declared the chain as Da’eef(weak/unreliable). [As-Sunnah #55-60, page 178].
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who is superior, you or Jesus?” Ali said: “I am superior, for when Mary became pregnant by the Grace of Allah, and the time of her delivery approached, a revelation was granted to her: ‘Leave this holy House for this is a House for prayers, not a place for the delivery of children.’ Accordingly, she left the holy House and went to the wilderness where she gave birth to Jesus. But when my mother, Fatima Bint-e-Asad, felt labor pains within the precincts of the holy Ka’ba, she clung to the wall and prayed to Allah in the name of that House and the builder of that House, to lessen her pain. Soon a fissure appeared in the wall, and my mother heard a mysterious voice telling her, “O Fatima! Enter the House of the Ka’ba.’ She went in, and I was born inside of the holy Ka’ba.”. [Source: Peshawar Nights, Page 137 – 138].
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(VIII) – Who was actually born in the Ka’aba?
It is makrooh to pray facing towards a set-up image, as was stated, because it is similar to the kuffaar’s prostrating to them (images). … In al-Fusool it says: It is makrooh to pray facing a wall on which there are pictures and images, because that is similar to the worship of idols and statues. [Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘, 1/370]
Therefore, as per Shia hadeeth standards, the chain of this narration is terribly weak and unreliable, as it is filled with narrators who were either anonymous – who could possibly be liars – and there is a disconnection in the chain and it has narrators who were accused of Ghuluw(exaggeration) – the ghulat(exaggerators) were infamous for fabricating reports in merits of Ali(ra).
Thalika waman yuAAaththim hurumati Allahi fahuwa khayrun lahu AAinda rabbihi waohillat lakumu al-anAAamu illa ma yutla AAalaykum faijtaniboo alrrijsa mina al-awthani waijtaniboo qawla alzzoori
Verification of Chain:
have divided this article into following sections:
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And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah .” He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.” She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?” He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.’ “So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.” But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. “(Quran 19: 16-25).
Narrator Zaydah bint Qareebah is anonymous.
3.) Muhammad bin Sinaan – is from the ghulat(exaggerators).
Similarly we read in Shia book:
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who is superior, you or Abraham?” Ali replied: “I am superior, for Abraham said: ‘My Lord! Show me how Thou Givest life to the dead.’ He said: ‘What! do you not believe?’ He said: ‘Yes, but that my heart may be at ease.’ (2:260) My faith was such that I said: ‘If the veil over the unseen were lifted, my faith would not increase.”
The Shia author[Sultan u’l-Wa’izin Shirazi], did not provide any source or chain for this report in his book, and a chain-less report is like a body without a head, which needs to be discarded.
(III) – The fictitious story of Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba dishonours Mary – Maryam(as) and degrades her status.
Narrated Abu Talha: The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or there are pictures.” [Sahih al-Bukhari #5949].
6.) `Ali bin Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Daqqaq – he is majhool(anonymous) according to al-Khoei.
عَن يزِيدَ بنِ قُعنُبٍ قَالَ: كُنتُ جَالِساً مَع العَبَّاسِ بنِ عَبدِالمُطَّلبِ وَفريقٍ مِن بَني عَبدِالعُزّى بإزَاءِ بَيتِ اللهِ الحَرامِ إذْ أقبَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ بِنتُ أسدٍ أُمُّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السّلامُ، وَكانَتْ حَاملاً بهِ لِتِسعَةِ أشهُرٍ وَقدْ أخَذها الطَّلَقُ. فَقالَت: يَا رَبِّي إنِّي مُؤمنَةٌ بِكَ وَبِما جاءَ مِن عِندكَ مِن رُسُلٍ وَكُتُبٍ، وإنّي مُصدِّقَةٌ بِكَلامِ جَدِّي إبْرَاهيمَ الخَليلِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وإنَّه بَنى بَيتَكَ العَتيقَ، فَبحَقِّ الَّذي بَنَى هَذَا البَيْتَ وَبِحَقِّ الْمَولُودِ الَّذي فِي بَطْنِي إِلاَّ مَا يَسَّرْتَ عَلَيَّ وِلاَدَتِي.
As for the text of this narration, then the issue with it is that, the Quranic verses of Surah al-Mu’minoon were revealed many years later after the Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) declared his Prophethood. So the question which arises is that, how did Ali(ra) come to know about these verses of Quran before Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) was granted Prophethood and before he started receiving the Wahi(revelation) ?. Did Ali(ra) receive Wahi prior to Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) ? Also in the similar tradition we cited above from Shia book, we find that Ali(ra) calling Mohammad(SAWS) as Rasul Allah(Messenger of Allah) – a time when even Prophet(SAWS) didn’t know that he was going to be a Messenger of Allah.
Narrated ibn Abbas that Prophet (SAWS) said: “Ladies of women in paradise after Maryam bintul Imran are: Fatima bintul Muhammad, Khadija bintul Khuwaylid, then Asiyah bintul Muzahim woman of pharaoh”. [“al-Awsat” (#1107); Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said hadith is hasan in “Fath al-Bari” (7/168)].
We read in Quran:
(i). According to the fictionalized text, Ali(ra) is claiming superiority over almost all the Prophets, and in a way is maligning some of the mentioned Prophets vis-a-vis his own behaviour. Of course any introductory student of ‘knowledge would see that this is a huge fabrication.
Hence, in the light of above mentioned facts this narration is an outright fabrication, which can never be used as evidence and needs to be discarded.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (SAWS) entered the Ka`ba and found in it the pictures of (Prophet) Abraham and Mary. On that he said’ “What is the matter with them ( i.e. Quraish)? They have already heard that angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures; yet this is the picture of Abraham. And why is he depicted as practicing divination by arrows?”[ Sahih al-Bukhari #3351]
And [mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. [Quran 3:42].
Therefore, even the text(matn) of this report proves it to be a fabrication of some intellectual weak heretics.
Sa’as’a asked: “Who is superior, you or Moses?” The Holy Imam replied: “I am superior, for when Almighty Allah ordered Moses to go to Egypt to invite Pharaoh to the truth, Moses said: ‘My Lord! Surely I killed one of them, so I am afraid that they will slay me. And my brother Aaron, he is more eloquent of tongue than I. Therefore send him with me as an aide, to help me. Surely I fear that they will reject me.” (28:33-34) The Holy Prophet ordered me, by the command of Allah, to go to Mecca and to recite the verses of the Chapter ‘Al-Bara’a’ from the top of the Ka’ba to the Quraish infidels. I was not afraid, even though there were few people there who had not lost a near relative by my sword. Obeying his order, I performed my duty alone. I recited the verses of ‘Al-Bara’a’ and returned.”
(iv). The other point to ponder over is that, as per the fabricated Shia tradition Maryam(as) was commanded by Allah to leave the sanctified house of Allah, where as mother of Ali(ra) – Fatima bint Asad – was ordered by Allah(swt) to enter Ka’aba, where in several idols were kept. And this supposed miracle didn’t occur with the mother of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS).
2.) al-Mufaddal bin `Umar – has been accused of ghuluw(exaggeration)
We see when going through Shia narrations that the merits of the different companions of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) have been instead attributed to Ali(ra). Narrations like, “I am the great Siddeeq,” or “I am the great Farooq.” Furthermore, in narrations of conquests, we also find that whenever an enemy of Islam is killed, we often read after the inclusion of the name of the person that killed him, we find: “it was also said that Ali may have killed him.”
(i). It is an agreed upon fact that, until the conquest of Makkah, several idols were present inside Ka’aba which were worshipped by people.
Verification of Chain:
(I) – Introduction
(I) – Introduction
Shia Allama al-Hilli quotes “the author of Basha’ir al-Mustafa” as recording the following hadith:
Verification of Chain and Text:
We find in these fictionalized stories that Maryam(as) who was the best woman of her time as per Quran, was ordered to leave Bayt al-Maqdis because it was a place of worship and thus she went under the palm tree and gave birth to Isa(as). However, Ali’s(ra) mother Fatima bint Asad, was ordered to go into the Ka’aba and give birth to Ali(ra). This is a clear dishonor of Maryam(as) and even degradation of her high status.
(v). Miracles are of two types: Prophetic (Mu’ajazzat) and Pious (Karamaat).
IV) – Verification of Shia and Sunni narrations about Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba.
Therefore, even the Shia Tafseer(commentary) attested to the fact that, sanctification implies purification from the existence of idols, because as we read in Quran(22:30) that idols are rijs(impure). But unfortunately the existence of idols was present inside Ka’aba before the conquest of Makkah, which implies that it was not sanctified from the rijs(impurity) of idols. This was the reason Prophet Mohammad refused to enter Ka’aba after the conquest, until the idols were taken out from it[Refer Sahih al-Bukhari #4288].
As per Quran, the idols that are worshiped besides Allah are Rijs(impure/unclean) , we read:
(IV) – Verification of Shia and Sunni narrations about Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba.
انه انفتح البيت من ظهره ودخلت فاطمة فيه ثم عادت الفتحة والتصقت وبقيت فيه ثلاثة أيام فأكلت من ثمار الجنة فلما خرجت قال علي عليه السلام : السلام عليك يا أبه ورحمة الله وبركاته ، ثم تنحنح وقال : ( بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم قد أفلح المؤمنون ) الآيات
`Ali was born within the Ka’bah with his eyes closed and his body in humble prostration before the Almighty. Fatimah stayed in the Ka’bah for three days and as the fourth day approached she stepped out, carrying her gem in her arms. To her great surprise, she found the Holy Prophet waiting to receive the newly-born child in his anxious arms. Imamate feeling the subtle touch of prophethood, Ali opened his eyes and saluted the Divine Prophet: “Asalamu alayka ya Rasula’llah” (Peace be on you, O Messenger of Allah). [A Brief History of the Fourteen Infallible, by World Organization for Islamic Services (Board of Writing, Translation and Publication) Tehran – IRAN.]
For more details on this story, refer the book of Mulla Baqir Majlisi, Jila ul ayoon vol 1, pages 272 ; 273 ; 274 ; 275 (Urdu version).
Narrator Ibrahim bin Abi Yusuf is anonymous(majhool). Hence the chain is weak/unreliable.
We find in Shia traditions regarding the fable of Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba, that how Maryam(AS)[Mary] is dishonored and her status is degraded.
Shia Narration #1:
Yazid ibn Qa`nab says: I saw the wall of Ka`bah was opened and Fatimah went inside it and the wall returned to its former state. The group of people who were sitting there rose up to unlock the door but it was not opened. We inferred that the wall had been opened on the order of the Lord and that it was a favour, God had done to that lady and her son. Three days passed and on the fourth day, Fatimah carrying the new-born infant in her hands came out of Ka`bah, saying: Beyond doubt, I am superior to the believing women of former times, for Asiyah, the daughter of Muzahim, worshipped God secretly and God did not like to be worshipped except under necessity that is in Pharaoh’s house which was the cradle of atheism and oppression. Mary, the daughter of `Imran, too came out of the mosque of Jerusalem and her place of worship on the order of Lord and then gave birth to Jesus (a.s) eating fresh date from a dry palm-tree. However, I entered Ka`bah on the order of Lord and fed on heavenly fruits. After delivery too when I intended to come out of Ka`bah, an invisible caller told me to name the auspicious infant `Ali, for Allah the most High says: I name him after My own name, reared him with special rearing, making him aware of My own profound knowledge. It is he who, in a near future, will clean My house from idols, will break them, and will declare the rule of one God on the roof of My house. He will glorify Me. Happy is one who loves him and obeys his orders and ill-fated is one who is hostile to him and disobeys his orders. (Source: Basha’ir al-Mustafa, page 8).
– al-Sadooq’s, `Ilal al-Sharaa’i, vol. 1, pg. 136
The Prophet (SAWS) said, “None spoke in cradle but three: (The first was) Jesus, (the second was), there a man from Bani Israel called Juraij. While he was offering his prayers, his mother came and called him. He said (to himself), ‘Shall I answer her or keep on praying?” (He went on praying) and did not answer her, his mother said, “O Allah! Do not let him die till he sees the faces of prostitutes.” So while he was in his hermitage, a lady came and sought to seduce him, but he refused. So she went to a shepherd and presented herself to him to commit illegal sexual intercourse with her and then later she gave birth to a child and claimed that it belonged to Juraij. The people, therefore, came to him and dismantled his hermitage and expelled him out of it and abused him. Juraij performed the ablution and offered prayer, and then came to the child and said, ‘O child! Who is your father?’ The child replied, ‘The shepherd.’ (After hearing this) the people said, ‘We shall rebuild your hermitage of gold,’ but he said, ‘No, of nothing but mud.'(The third was the hero of the following story) A lady from Bani Israel was nursing her child at her breast when a handsome rider passed by her. She said, ‘O Allah ! Make my child like him.’ On that the child left her breast, and facing the rider said, ‘O Allah! Do not make me like him.’ The child then started to suck her breast again. (Abu Huraira further said, “As if I were now looking at the Prophet (SAWS) sucking his finger (in way of demonstration.”) After a while the people passed by, with a lady slave and she (i.e. the child’s mother) said, ‘O Allah! Do not make my child like this (slave girl)!, On that the child left her breast and said, ‘O Allah! Make me like her.’ When she asked why, the child replied, ‘The rider is one of the tyrants while this slave girl is falsely accused of theft and illegal sexual intercourse.”[ Sahih al-Bukhari #3436]
Esteemed Shia Ayatullah Asif Mohsini admitted in his book “Masharaat Bihâr al-Anwar”, that there are NO RELIABLE CHAINS for the reports regarding Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba. [Masharaat Bihâr al-Anwar, vol 2, page 83-84].
(IX) – Other Myths related to the Fictitious Fable of Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba.
With this in mind, it is not all too strange to find this story of birth in the Ka’aba, being attributed to Ali, because this story was regarding Hakeem bin Hizam’s birth inside Ka’aba, We read in Sahih Muslim: Hakeem bin Hizam was born inside the Ka’bah and lived for one hundred and twenty years.[Sahih Muslim #1532]. For if Hakeem bin Hizam’s story was a fabrication, it would have been attributed to a more famous Sahabi, like Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman, Mu’awiyah, or Amr bin Al-Aas. It simply does not make sense to attribute narrations of merits to companions that are relatively unpopular in comparison to Ali.
We read in infamous Shia book , ‘Peshawar Nights’:
Perhaps the most surprising is a quote by Ibn Taymiyyah in Minhaj Al-Sunnah where he says, “A trustworthy person from our peers met up with a sheikh I know, who was religious and an ascetic but within him was some Tashayyu(shi’ism). He claimed that he had a book of secrets that he took from one of the treasuries of the caliphs and praised the book. He then brought it, and it was in a good handwriting, and within it are the narrations in praise of Abu Bakr and Omar in Saheeh Al-Bukhari and Muslim, but those narrations were attributed to Ali.”
Shia Tafseer, “The Light of The Holy Qur’an” states:
Therefore, the Ka’aba was despoiled with the idols, before the conquest of Makkah. This fact is even affirmed by famous Shia Tafseer(commentary) of Quran.
It is a well known fact between the people of knowledge that, the (Ghali)extremist Shianarrators used to steal the narrations regarding merits of different Sahaba of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) and would attribute those to Ali(ra). In this process they fabricated thousands of reports regarding virtues and merits of Ali(ra).
Yazid ibn Qa`nab says: I saw the wall of Ka`bah was opened and Fatimah went inside it and the wall returned to its former state. The group of people who were sitting there rose up to unlock the door but it was not opened. We inferred that the wall had been opened on the order of the Lord and that it was a favor God had done to that lady and her son. Three days passed and on the fourth day, Fatimah carrying the new-born infant in her hands came out of Ka`bah, saying: Beyond doubt, I am superior to the believing women of former times, for Asiyah, the daughter of Muzahim, worshipped God secretly and God did not like to be worshipped except under necessity that is in Pharaoh’s house which was the cradle of atheism and oppression. Mary, the daughter of `Imran, too came out of the mosque of Jerusalem and her place of worship on the order of Lord and then gave birth to Jesus (a.s) eating fresh date from a dry palm-tree. However, I entered Ka`bah on the order of Lord and fed on heavenly fruits. After delivery too when I intended to come out of Ka`bah, an invisible caller told me to name the auspicious infant `Ali, for Allah the most High says: I name him after My own name, reared him with special rearing, making him aware of My own profound knowledge. It is he who, in a near future, will clean My house from idols, will break them, and will declare the rule of one God on the roof of My house. He will glorify Me. Happy is one who loves him and obeys his orders and ill-fated is one who is hostile to him and disobeys his orders. (Basha’ir al-Mustafa, page 8).
Shia Narration #2:
Similarly, Shia Allama al-Hilli quotes “the author of Basha’ir al-Mustafa” as recording the following hadith in Shia book:
The chain of this Shia narration is incomplete which qualifies it to be rejected out rightly, because without a proper chain one cannot verify whether it is true or false, as anyone can fabricate a lie and attribute to someone.
We believe that, the honourable status of Ali(ra) is not dependent on these fabricated and baseless stories. In the view of Sunnis, the status of Ali(ra) is very high and it will be the same, regardless of the place of his birth.
Narrated ibn Abbas that Prophet (SAWS) said: “Ladies of women in paradise after Maryam bintul Imran are: Fatima bintul Muhammad, Khadija bintul Khuwaylid, then Asiyah bintul Muzahim woman of pharaoh”. [“al-Awsat” (#1107); Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said hadith is hasan in “Fath al-Bari” (7/168)].
Some scholars combined between this Hadeeth and the one collected by al-Bukhari by saying the first Hadeeth only mentions those who spoke while they were actually in the cradle. So this fourth baby spoke, however he was not in a cradle and this is how some of the people of knowledge combined between these two Ahaadeeth. The conclusion being that according to the authentic Ahaadeeth; four babies spoke, but only three while in the cradle and Allaah knows best]. For more information please refer this {link}.
In the infamous Shia book Peshawar Nights, we read:
As for the text, then it has multiple problems:
Narrator Abu Tahir Yahya bin al-Hasan al-alawi is anonymous.
1.) The person who is an eye-witness account of this story is Yazeed bin Qa`nab, who doesn’t seem to be in mentioned in the Shi’i books of Rijaal (See: al-Shahrudi, Mustadarakaat `ilm al-Rijaal vol. 8, pg. 258), nor is he ever mentioned in any Sunni Rijaal book. Essentially Yazeed bin Qa`nab came out of nowhere to narrate this one hadith about the birth of Ali(ra) in the Ka`bah, and was never seen or heard from again. Not to mention Sa`eed bin Jubayr was a Tabi’i born in the year 45AH and died 96AH, so it is impossible that Sa`eed bin Jubayr heard this directly from Yazeed bin Qa`nab. Since this story is relating what had happened during the birth of Ali, making this story take place 10 years before revelation, and 23 years before hijrah. And if people say it was al-`Abbas bin `Abd al-Mutallib who narrated this story as well, then they are incorrect since it was Yazeed narrating the story and saying he was sitting with al-`Abbas), and even if it is considered for argument’s sake then, this is impossible as well since al-`Abbas died in the year 32 AH, 13 years before the birth of Sa`eed bin Jubayr.
There is no mention of Fatima bint Asad in the list of best woman mentioned in any authentic tradition, where as in the fabricated Shia tradition Fatima bint Asad claimed superiority over all the women of former times. What needs to be pondered as well is that, if giving birth inside Ka’aba would make a women superior to believing women of former times, then why didn’t the Mother of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) – Aminah bint Wahb – attain this honor? This kind of miracle could have helped Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) in his propagation of Islam among the Makkans.
(iii). Birth in the Temple is no major feat and many people were born in the Temple. So this tradition that was cited in Peshawar Nights is an outright lie for yet another reason. Here is an excerpt from [Faiths of Man: A Cyclopaedia of Religions by JGR Forlong, page 235].
Affirmation by Shia Scholar:
حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد الدقاق رحمه الله قال : حدثنا محمد بن جعفر الأسدي قال : حدثني موسى بن عمران النخعي عن الحسين بن يزيد عن محمد بن سنان عن المفضل بن عمر عن ثابت بن دينار عن سعيد بن جبير قال : قال يزيد ابن قعنب كنت جالسا مع العباس بن عبد المطلب وفريق من عبد العزى بإزاء البيت الحرام إذ أقبلت فاطمة بنت أسد أم أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام وكانت حاملة به تسعة أشهر وقد أخذها الطلق فقالت رب انى مؤمنة بك وبما جاء من عندك من رسل وكتب وانى مصدقة بكلام جدي إبراهيم الخليل عليه السلام وانه بني البيت العتيق فبحق الذي بني هذا البيت وبحق المولود الذي في بطني لما يسرت علي ولادتي قال يزيد بن قعنب فرأينا البيت وقد انفتح عن ظهره ودخلت فاطمة وغابت عن أبصارنا والتزق الحائط فرمنا ان ينفتح لنا قفل الباب فلم ينفتح فعلمنا ان ذلك أمر من الله تعالى ثم خرجت بعد الرابع وبيدها أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام ثم قالت انى فضلت على من تقدمني من النساء لان آسية بنت مزاحم عبدت الله سرا في موضع لا يحب ان يعبد الله فيه إلا اضطرارا وان مريم بنت عمران هزت النخلة اليابسة بيدها حتى اكلت منها رطبا جنيا وانى دخلت بيت الله الحرام وأكلت من ثمار الجنة
Yazid ibn Qa`nab: I and `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib and a group of the tribe of `Abd al-`Uzza were sitting near Ka`bah when we saw Fatimah Bint Asad, the mother of Amir al-Mu’minin while she was nine months pregnant and signs of delivery were manifest in her, came from afar raising her hands in prayer and saying: O Lord! I believe in You, Your Messengers and their books while accepting as truth the words of the prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who rebuilt this house. O Lord! I ask You through the one who built this house and the one I have in my womb to make the hardship of his birth easy for me.
(II) – The fictitious story of birth inside Ka’aba dishonors Ali(RA)
Hence, the fictitious story about Ali(ra) being born inside Ka’aba actually dishonors Ali(ra) for being born at a place which was not sanctified, there was the rijs(impurity) of idols there, and the place which Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) refused to enter until sanctified from the existence of idols.
It can also be argued that, the Quraysh during the days of ignorance(jahiliyya) de-sanctified the House of Allah(Ka’aba) by placing the idols around it, making tawaf in a naked state around it, and allowing woman to give birth in it. But when Islam came there, it put an end to all these practices of the days of ignorance. And this is the reason we don’t find any son or daughter of Prophet Mohammad(SAWS) taking birth inside Ka’aba, even though his wife Khadija(ra) is one of the best woman and one of their daughter Fatima(ra) was also one of the best woman. Neither did Fatima(ra) who is the mistress of the ladies of paradise[who is superior to the mother of Ali] did not give birth to Hassan(ra) and Hussain(ra) inside Ka’aba.
(VI) – Scholars who rejected the fable of Ali(RA) taking birth inside Ka’bah.
[Akhbar Makkah, vol 3, page 226, #2018].
On the top of that we read in Shia book that Ali(ra) was born in “prostration” at a place which is known to be surrounded by idols.
So, there is no mention of Fatima bint Asad in the list of best woman mentioned in any authentic tradition, where as the fabricated Shia tradition degrades the status of Maryam(as) by claiming Fatima bint Asad superior to the believing women of former times.
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who is superior, you or Noah?” Ali replied: “I am superior. Noah called his men to worship Allah, but they did not obey. Their shameful mistreatment was torture to him. He cursed them and invoked Allah: ‘O my Lord! Leave not on the earth a single person of the unjust ones.’ After the death of the Prophet, even though the people caused me extreme difficulty, I never cursed them. I suffered their torment with patience.”
– al-Sadooq’s, Ma`aani al-Akhbaar, pg. 62
Sunni Narration #1:
Al-Suyooti(rah) said: Al-Khattaabi said: What is meant is the angels who bring mercy and blessings, not the recording angels. [Sharh al-Nasaa’i, 1/141]
Shaykh Abu Yahya Noorpuri declared this report as fabricated. [See as-Sunnah #55-60, page 177-178].
This report was narrated by a several Majhool(anonymous) narrators, hence it’s unreliable report.
(III) – The fictitious story of Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba dishonours Mary – Maryam(as) and degrades her status.
[Manaqib Ali ibn Abi Talib by Maghazili, page 26- 27, #3].
Problems with the chain:
(VII) – As per the other view Ali(ra) was born in Shu’ab bani hashim.
Hence, in the light of above mentioned facts this narration is an outright fabrication, which can never be used as evidence and needs to be discarded.
Here is that narration with its chain(isnad) from ilal al-Sharaa’i and Ma`aani al-Akhbaar (same chain is used in Bashaarah al-Mustafa)
This story was taken from al-Sadooq’s `ilal al-Sharaa’i and Ma`aani al-Akhbaar (same chain is used in Basha’ir al-Mustafa), and this is the most famous narration that is repeated by Shia speakers in their majaalis. This narration is extremely weak and was reported from narrators who were accused of ghulu(exaggeration).
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ اصْطَفَاكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفَاكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ
(XI) – The anticipated accusation of Nasibism for shattering the Fictitious Fable about Ali’s(ra) birth inside Ka’aba.
The birth of Ali(ra) inside Ka’aba was a fictitious story, fabricated with the purpose of showing the high status and merit of Ali(ra). But those who fabricated this fictitious story failed to realize that they were actually dishonoring Ali(ra) with this fabrication and also degrading the status of another Prophet of Allah – Isa ibn Maryam(AS) also known as Jesus(AS) and his mother Maryam(AS).
`Ali was born within the Ka’bah with his eyes closed and his body in humble prostration before the Almighty. Fatimah stayed in the Ka’bah for three days and as the fourth day approached she stepped out, carrying her gem in her arms. [A Brief History of the Fourteen Infallible, by World Organization for Islamic Services (Board of Writing, Translation and Publication) Tehran – IRAN.]
In the Shia tradition we even read that the mother of Ali(ra) – Fatima bint Asad claimed to be superior to the believing women of former times. But the fact is that, as per authentic traditions of Prophet(SAWS) the status of Fatima bint Asad is no where closer to the status of those women with whom she compared herself. We read in Prophetic Hadeeth:
[Then, it refers to the covenant that He made with Abraham (a.s.) and Ismail (a.s.) about the purification of the Ka’bah, where it says:{“… And We enjoined Abraham and Ismail (saying) : ‘ Sanctify My House for those who go around it, for those who abide in it and pay devotion, and to those who bow down and prostrate themselves ‘.”}
4.) al-Hussayn bin Yazid – He is al-Nawfali, and the Qummis accused him of becoming ghuluww at the end of his life, but al-Najashi says that he doesn’t agree with that based off of his narrations. He is still majhool(anonymous) nonetheless.
[Tahhira (to purify) implies that a house for the worship of Allah already existed there before Ibrahim, which like the Ka’aba in the times of the Holy Prophet, was despoiled with idols. It was in ruins. Ibrahim rebuilt it. As verse 127 of this surah suggests, after purification, the place was reserved for worship of Allah only.] (Tafseer Pooya/Ali, for verse 2:125)
Hence, in the light of above mentioned facts this narration is an outright fabrication, which can never be used as evidence and needs to be discarded.
As for Karamaat then these occur to pious in times of great need usually to save the ‘pious’ from death. Other than this karamaat are also included on the acts of great insight that the pious have experienced, such as on battlefields. In the case of this story there was no such reason for this miracle to occur. Why a hole needed to be blown in to the ka’bah simply so for a sahabi to be born or his mother (RA) to be kept in private is not typical of other karamaat.
The meaning of Sanctification, itself means that the place should be free of idols as per another Shia Tafseer.
(V) – Is there Mutawatir(numerous) Evidence that Ali was Born in the Ka’aba?
In the Shia tradition we even read that the mother of Ali(ra) – Fatima bint Asad claimed to be superior to the believing women of former times including Maryam(as). But the fact is that the status of Fatima bint Asad is no where closer to the status of Maryam(as), as her superiority over women was attested in Quran. In the light of explicit verse of the Quran Maryam (as) is superior to all the women. We read:
Al-Nawawi(rah) said: With regard to these angels who do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image, they are the angels who go round with mercy, blessings and prayers for forgiveness. With regard to the recording angels, they enter every house and never leave the sons of Adam under any circumstances, because they are enjoined to list and record their deeds. [Sharh Muslim, 14/84]
Al-Bahooti al-Hanbali(rah) said:
Al-Hafidh Abu Yala al-Khaleeli said: “Rawafidh fabricated 300,000 narrations about Ali and Ahlel-bayt“. [ “Al manar wa munif fi saheeh wa dhaif”, page 292]
Verification of Chain and Text:
Shia Tafseer states:
5.) Musa bin `Imran al-Nakah’i – he is majhool(anonymous)
Sa’sa’a said to Ali: “Who is superior, you or Jesus?” Ali said: “I am superior, for when Mary became pregnant by the Grace of Allah, and the time of her delivery approached, a revelation was granted to her: ‘Leave this holy House for this is a House for prayers, not a place for the delivery of children.’ Accordingly, she left the holy House and went to the wilderness where she gave birth to Jesus. But when my mother, Fatima Bint-e-Asad, felt labor pains within the precincts of the holy Ka’ba, she clung to the wall and prayed to Allah in the name of that House and the builder of that House, to lessen her pain. Soon a fissure appeared in the wall, and my mother heard a mysterious voice telling her, “O Fatima! Enter the House of the Ka’ba.’ She went in, and I was born inside of the holy Ka’ba.” [Source: Peshawar Nights, Page 137 – 138].
Mu’ajazzat usually occurs to give authenticity to the Prophet and help the followers of that Prophet. If we understand the fissure in the wall of Ka’aba was to do with Ali(ra) then it cannot be mu’ajazzat.
Here is another narration that mentions the birth in the Ka`bah but without a complete chain of narrators, and says after Fatimah bint Asad brought Imam Ali out of the Ka`bah, then Imam Ali as an infant says Salaam and then recites the beginning verses of Surah al-Mu’minoon. (See: Ibn Shahr Ashoob, Manaaqib, vol. 2, pg. 23).
(ii). Quran mentions about the birth of Jesus(as), but it nowhere hints that Allah(swt) ordered Maryam(as) to leave the mosque of Jerusalem as that place was not ment for delivery of children, rather she did that from herself, because when she found out that she was pregnant, she was astonished because she had never been touched by a man. This obviously upset Maryam(as) greatly and to avoid any embarrassment she withdrew from her family and the public’s eye and went to a place east of Jerusalem.
(X) – Answers to common references cited by Shiites.
Similarly, we read in Prophetic Hadeeth: