Hazrat Ali's Birthday 2026 हज़रत अली का जन्मदिन

Why Hazrat Ali's Birthday is celebrated

Muslims remember Hazrat Ali as a man of deep faith, fairness and plain living. He was the Prophet's cousin, grew up in his house and later married his daughter Fatima. Shia Muslims honour him as the first Imam. Sunni Muslims honour him as the fourth of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs. Both traditions hold him in very high regard, so the day carries meaning across the community.

His titles say much about how people saw him. He is called Asadullah, the Lion of God, and Haidar for his bravery. A saying attributed to the Prophet calls him the gate to the city of knowledge. His sermons, letters and short sayings were later gathered in a book called Nahj al-Balagha, which is still read for its advice on governance, honesty and care for the poor.

In India the day also has a Sufi link. Most Sufi orders, including the Chishti order that is so loved in the subcontinent, trace their spiritual chain back to Hazrat Ali. The famous qawwali Man Kunto Maula, credited to Amir Khusrau, is built on words the Prophet is believed to have spoken about him.

History and story of Hazrat Ali's Birthday

Ali was born in Mecca around 600 CE to Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, and Fatima bint Asad. Muslim tradition, especially Shia tradition, holds that he was born inside the Kaaba itself. As a boy he was among the very first people to accept Islam.

When the Prophet left Mecca for Medina in 622 CE, Ali slept in his bed that night so that enemies would not notice the departure. He later fought in the early battles of Islam, including Badr, Uhud and Khaybar. In 656 CE, after the killing of the third caliph Uthman, he became caliph and moved his capital to Kufa in present-day Iraq.

His rule saw civil strife. In 661 CE he was struck with a poisoned sword while praying in the mosque of Kufa during Ramadan and died two days later. His shrine in Najaf, Iraq, is one of the most visited places of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims.

How Hazrat Ali's Birthday is celebrated

There is no fixed set of compulsory rituals for this day. Families and mosque committees mark it in simple, joyful ways. Imambaras, mosques and homes are cleaned and lit with lights. In the evening people gather for a mehfil or jashn, where poets recite qasida and manqabat in praise of Hazrat Ali and scholars speak about his life and teachings.

Sweets and food are distributed as niyaz. Many people give charity, feed the poor or help a needy family, since generosity to the weak is closely tied to his memory. Some offer extra voluntary prayers and read from Nahj al-Balagha. People greet each other with wishes for the day and children are often told stories of his courage and fairness.

Hazrat Ali's Birthday across India

Lucknow, with its long Shia heritage, sees some of the largest celebrations in North India, with lit-up imambaras and evening gatherings in the old city. Hyderabad, Amroha, Rampur and the Kargil area of Ladakh also hold large events. In Mumbai and Gujarat, the Dawoodi Bohra community marks the day in its own centres. In 2026 the day comes twice, on 3 January and again around 23 December, because the Islamic year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year.