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Chapter 13
Ali
The Prophet gave Ali the title of Bu Turab, which meant the master of clay. Ali was part of the expedition sent by the Prophet to storm Khyber, an almost invincible stronghold of the enemy, and Ali is reported to have unhinged the gate of the citadel single-handed. On one occasion, he is said to have also turned back the sun. His intellectual prowess matched his physical powers and the Prophet is reported to have said, “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is the Gateway.”
“Devotion to his family inspires me with life so that I am as a shining pearl,” says Iqbal as you enter a chapter about the mysteries of the names of Ali.
THE MASTER OF CLAY
“Whosoever in the world becomes a master over one’s own clay turns back the sun from the west,” says Iqbal. “Here the might of Khyber is under the feet of such a person and hereafter their hand will distribute the water of Kausar. Through self knowledge, the person acts as God's Hand and reigns over all. Such a person is the gate of the city of the sciences and has dominion over the whole world. Reshape your clay to form a person and then build a world for it,” Iqbal says to you now. “Life is wholly action and to delight in creation is the law of Life. Potentials are displayed in willing acceptance of what is difficult but mean spirits have no weapon except resentment.”
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This is a unique interpretation of Bu Turab (“the Master of the Clay”), the title given by the Prophet to his cousin Ali.
