In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All Merciful
14 Muharram 1444 (12 August 2022)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Jihad An-Nafs – Part 94
Purification of the heart-Part 36
Imam Ali (a.s) also advised his son, Hasan (a.s), in letter 31 to visualize the calamities and misfortunes of this world so that he can fully understand and gain insight (basirat) about the end result. This is good for the heart and it will keep it safe. Moreover, he will be in position to bear adversities and misfortunes with patience and fortitude and have faith in his Lord.
Those who study the life of this world spend their days being fully aware that they are travelers in this calamitous world and they have to embark on a journey to the next world and hope for eternal peace. They willingly accept the sufferings and the hazards on the way, so that they may reach their destination in paradise. In fact they do not resent bearing hardships, and they do not begrudge giving charity and assistance to the poor and the needy. Each step they take towards their goal, as exhausting as it may be, is a happy event in their lives. On the contrary, people who are attached to this world are sadly engulfed in its short-lived and depraved pleasures. Could anything be more loathsome and abhorrent than the journey of theirs?
Nothing in this world is truly useful unless it has some utility and value in the next world. Man should not lament over things that he has lost in this world, but rather he should worry about the loss of eternal benefits in the hereafter. I quote below relevant Ayahs and traditions.
Ayahs 14 and 15 of Surah Al-Qiyamah: “Nay! Man shall bear witness even against his own self!
And even if he puts forth excuses!”
Ayah 108 of Surah Yousuf: “Say (O’ Our messenger Muhammad): This is my way; I invite you with clear sight to God which I and he that follows me possess. Glory to God and I am not one of the polytheist.”
Imam Ali (as) said: “Whoever takes account of himself, benefits, and whoever remains neglectful, suffers. Whoever fears, remains safe; whoever is aware of things around him, discerns; whoever discerns, gains understanding, and whoever gains understanding, secures knowledge.” (Short Saying 208, Nahjal Balagha)
The Imam has also said: “Certainly this world is the end of sight for the (mentally) blind who sees nothing beyond it whereas the sight of an onlooker, who looks with the eye of his mind, perceives and realises that his real house is beyond this world. The onlooker therefore wants to get out of it whilst the blind wants to continue to live in it. Moreover, the onlooker collects provisions from it for the next world, whilst the blind collects provisions for this world.” (Sermon 133, Nahjal Balagha)
Second sermon
Divine revolution of Imam Husain (as) – Part-3
In continuation on the subject matter under reference, I would like to add that the mission of Imam Hussain (a.s) was not to fight Yazid or take control of his empire but it was to reawaken the spirit of Islam that was nearing extinction and from the day he left Medina he made this absolutely clear. In fact, the sole cause for which he set out from Medina was to perform his duty of amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar as the people had not only accepted the evil that had been flowing from the court in Damascus but, sadly, they begun to emulate it. The inevitable consequence of this would lead to a total destruction of Islamic values.
The philosophy and reason for his revolution was therefore clearly set out by the Imam in a testament, which he handed to his brother, Muhammad Hanifiya, before he left Medina for Mecca along with members of his family. His brother, however, did not accompany him, but he continued to reside in Medina to look after the affairs of the Muslims. He was the son of Ali (a.s), and his mother belonged to a tribe named Bani Hanafiya, and that is why he was called Muhammad ibne Hanafiya. Although the Kaisaniya sect considered him to be an Imam, he believed in the Imamate of his brother, Hassan (a.s), after his father, Ali (a.s), and thereafter in the Imamate of his second brother, Hussain (a.s), and after that in the Imamate of his nephew, Ali ibne Hussain (a.s). He was very virtuous principled and brave and displayed great valour in the battles fought by Ali (a.s). The letter and/or testament which was handed to Muhammad ibne Hanafiya has been narrated by Ibne Tawus wherein the Imam pointed out the motive for his rising and clarified the policy which he intended to pursue in all circumstances. The testament reads as follows
“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
This is the testament of Hussain ibne Ali ibne Abi Talib written by him to his brother Muhammad, known as ibne Hanafiya. Indeed Hussain testifies that there is no god except Allah and no one other than Him is worthy to be worshipped and He has no partner. He also testifies that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger, who has brought the truth from Him, and that heaven and hell do exist and the Day of Judgment will inevitably come and there is no doubt about it, and on that Day, Allah will bring the dead to life and resurrect everyone from their graves.
Indeed this movement of mine is not instigated by arrogance or pride, rebellion, worldly passions, corruption or injustice. It is also not my intention to create trouble or to oppress anyone. I have risen to reform the Ummah of my grandfather, as Yazid will massacre the innocent. I would like to promote good and forbid evil (amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar) and follow the traditions of my grandfather, the Holy Prophet, and my father, Ali ibne Abi Talib.
Whoever accepts the truth, Allah will be their protector and whoever refuses to accept it, I will be patient until Allah will decide between me and them. He is the best of judges. This is my will to my brother and all success depends on Allah, and only on Him do I rely.”
The testament clearly shows that in 60 Hijri, the Muslim ummah was faced with a dreadful social and religious crisis, which could not be overcome by a bloody revolution, but on the contrary by the guidance of a leader like Imam Hussain (a.s), whose infallibility has been testified by the Holy Quran in the Verse of Purification of Surah Al-Ahzab (Ayah 33), which reads. “Verily Allah intends to keep off from you every kind of abomination, O members of the Prophet’s household and to purify you with a perfect purification.” To be continued
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