Love & Devotion to the Holy Prophet (sa)

Hazrat Ali (ra) relates:

“During the Battle of Uhud, when the people around the Holy Prophet (sa) became scattered, I started searching through the bodies of the martyrs, but did not find the Holy Prophet (sa). I then said, ‘By God! The Holy Prophet (sa) would never flee, nor have I found him among the martyrs. Instead Allah is displeased with us and has raised up His Prophet (sa). Hence, now it is best for me to continue fighting until I am killed.’ I then broke the sheath of my sword and launched an attack on the disbelievers, which caused them to disperse. Once they had dispersed, I saw that the Holy Prophet (sa) had been surrounded by them.”

(Ali Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, Dhikr Ali bin Abi Talib [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Fikr, 2003], 45)

This is the tale of love and devotion, which began from childhood and manifested itself on each and every occasion.