One of the greatest privileges and favours which ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) enjoyed from Allah Ta‘ala was that he was raised in the care of none other than Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The circumstances which led to him entering the care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) are as follows:
Before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood, there was a period during which the Quraish and the other people of Makkah Mukarramah suffered a severe drought. In this difficult period, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) noticed that his uncle, Abu Taalib, had many dependents, and due to the drought, it was difficult for him to provide for them all. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus went to his other uncle, ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was very wealthy, and said, “O ‘Abbaas, my uncle! Your brother, Abu Taalib, has many dependents, and as you can see, people have been afflicted by the drought. Let us approach him and offer to lessen his burden by each of us taking one of his dependents into our care.”
‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed and they proceeded to Abu Taalib. When they came to him, they said, “We wish to lighten your burden of providing for your dependents until the drought subsides.” Abu Taalib replied, “Leave ‘Aqeel with me. You may then take any of my other children into your care.”
As a result, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) took ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) into his care, while ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) took Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) into his care. ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was thus blessed to remain in the care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) until Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood. ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then accepted Islam when he was only ten years of age.
(Seerah Ibnu Hishaam vol. 1, pg. 246)
http://alhaadi.org.za/articles-publ...dvice/3964-bearing-the-burdens-of-others.html
Before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood, there was a period during which the Quraish and the other people of Makkah Mukarramah suffered a severe drought. In this difficult period, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) noticed that his uncle, Abu Taalib, had many dependents, and due to the drought, it was difficult for him to provide for them all. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus went to his other uncle, ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was very wealthy, and said, “O ‘Abbaas, my uncle! Your brother, Abu Taalib, has many dependents, and as you can see, people have been afflicted by the drought. Let us approach him and offer to lessen his burden by each of us taking one of his dependents into our care.”
‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed and they proceeded to Abu Taalib. When they came to him, they said, “We wish to lighten your burden of providing for your dependents until the drought subsides.” Abu Taalib replied, “Leave ‘Aqeel with me. You may then take any of my other children into your care.”
As a result, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) took ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) into his care, while ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) took Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) into his care. ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was thus blessed to remain in the care of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) until Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood. ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then accepted Islam when he was only ten years of age.
(Seerah Ibnu Hishaam vol. 1, pg. 246)
http://alhaadi.org.za/articles-publ...dvice/3964-bearing-the-burdens-of-others.html