Shaykh Tusi has mentioned in his Majalis through two chains of narrators that Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a) has reported through his ancestors that: Abbas Ibne Abdul Muttalib and Yazid Ibne Qanab were seated amidst a group from the Bani Hashim and a group from the worshippers of Uzza in front of the Holy Kaaba. Sayyida Fatima binte Asad Ibne Hashim (s), the venerated mother of Amirul Momineen (a) arrived there while she was nine months (pregnant) and expecting to give birth to Amirul Momineen (a); rather it was the day of the completion (of her pregnancy).
They observed that she stopped in front of the Holy Kaaba while she was having labor pains. She looked towards the sky and said, “O my Lord! Surely, I am a believer unto You and what the Holy Prophet (s) has brought from Your side. (I believe) in all the Messengers from your Messengers, and in all the (divinely) revealed books. Surely, I testify to the words of (my ancestor) Ibrahim, the friend of Allah (a). Surely, he built Your Ancient House. I beseech you by the right of this House and the one who built it. (I beseech you by the right of) this child, the one who is in my womb, who speaks to me and comforts me through his speech. I am certain that he is one of Your signs and Your proofs, that (O Allah) make my delivery easy for me.”
Abbas Ibne Abdul Muttalib and Yazid Ibne Qanab say that when Sayyida Fatima binte Asad spoke these words of supplication, we saw the Holy Kaaba split from its back and Sayyida Fatima entered through the crevice and vanished from our sight and the split closed behind her with the permission of Allah. We tried to open the door (of the Holy Kaaba) to send some of our women to (aid) her (s) but the door did not open.
Then we realized that it was a matter from the matters of Allah. Fatimah binte Asad remained in the House (of Allah) for three days. During this period, the people of Mecca discussed this matter continuously; the women discussing it inside their homes.
After three days, the Holy Kaaba split again from the place where she had entered and Fatima binte Asad stepped out with Imam Ali (a) on her hands. She said: O people! Surely, Allah the Majestic has chosen me from among His creation and granted me excellence over the chosen ladies of the past before me. Surely, Allah chose Asiya binte Muzahim while she worshipped Allah secretly in a place where Allah did not like that He should be worshipped there except out of compulsion. Surely, He eased and facilitated the birth of Isa (a) for Maryam binte Imran (s); she shook a dry date palm tree in a desert of the earth and it rained “fresh ripe dates” upon her.
Whereas Allah chose me and granted me excellence over both of them and over all of the ladies of the universe who have passed before me because I gave birth in His Ancient House and I remained there for three days and ate from the fruits of Paradise and its sustenance. When I intended to leave and my son was on my hands, a caller called out to me and said, O Fatima! Name him Ali (the High) because I am Ali al-Aalaa (the Highest). Verily, I created him from My Power, My Grandeur and My Justice, and I derived his name from My Name. I inculcated in him My morals and I handed over to him My affairs. I made him steadfast in the depths of My Knowledge and He shall be the first to recite the Adhaan on top of My House. He shall break the idols and shall throw them on their faces. He shall praise me and testify to My Unity (La ilaaha illa Allah) and he is the Imam after My beloved, My Prophet and My chosen among My creation, Muhammad My Prophet (s). He is his successor. Paradise is for the one who loves him and helps him, and Hell is for the one who disobeys him and abandons him and disregards his right.”
When Amirul Momineen (a) saw Abu Talib (a), he became happy and said, “Peace be upon you, O father, and His mercy and blessings.” Thereafter, Holy Prophet (s) arrived and at his arrival, Amirul Momineen (a) shook himself and had a smile on his face and said: “Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah and His mercy and blessings.” Then he cleared his throat by the permission of Allah and said, “In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Successful indeed are the believers, those who are humble in their prayers”…till the end of the verse.
At this Holy Prophet (s) exclaimed, ”Indeed they are successful because of you.” Then, he recited the remaining verses till His words, “Surely they are the inheritors, those who shall inherit the Garden of Paradise and shall abide in it eternally.” He added, “I swear by Allah then that you are their Commander; you command them from your knowledge and they obey you. By Allah! You are their Proof and through you, they shall be guided.” Then the Prophet said to Fatima binte Asad: Go and convey the good news to his uncle, Hamza. She asked: Who will feed him, if I go away? The Prophet said: Go, I will feed him.
The Holy Prophet (s) placed his tongue in the mouth of Ali and twelve springs flowed from it; that is why that day is called as Tarwiya. When Fatima returned, she saw effulgence emanating from Ali (a), which had illuminated the heavens. After that he bathed Ali and wrapped him in a cloth. Ali tore up that cloth and put out his hands. Now, Fatima brought a stronger cloth and wrapped him in it, but he tore up that cloth as well. She wrapped him in many layers of cloth, but the child tore them all. Finally, she brought thick silk and leather, but it met the same fate. Ali said: Mother, leave my hands free, so that I may supplicate God through them.
Abu Talib told her to leave the child to his devices as he was extraordinary. The following day, the Prophet came to Fatima binte Asad and took Ali from her. Ali (a) greeted the Prophet and said smiling: Give me today also what you gave me yesterday. Fatima smiled and said: By the right of the Kaaba, this child has recognized the Prophet. That is why that day is called as Arafah. On the third day, it was the tenth of Zilhajj. Abu Talib asked people to attend the Walima feast of his son and slaughtered three hundred camels, one thousand cows and sheep and fed all the people saying: Whoever wants to eat in the Walima of Ali, should circle the Kaaba seven times and then salute my son as Almighty Allah has exalted him. That is why the day of sacrifice is considered sacred and a day of Eid and sacrifice became customary from that time.1
1 Amali, Shaykh Tusi, Vol. 2, Pg. 317.
Ibne Shahr Ashob has written that there is consensus of the Shia on the fact that Hazrat Ali (a) was born inside the holy Kaaba. Sunni scholars have also accepted this fact and they have written that Hazrat Ali (a) was born inside the holy Kaaba.1
1 Manaqib Aale Abi Talib, Vol. 2, Pg. 175; Hilyatul Abraar, Pg. 230; Manaqib, Ibne Maghazali, Pg. 6, Tr. 3; Fusulul Muhimma, Ibne Sabbagh Maliki, Pg. 30; Kifayatut Talib, Ganji Shafei, Pg. 405, Ch. 7.