In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All Merciful
3rd Rabial-Awwal 1444 (30th September 2022)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Jihad An-Nafs – Part 99
Purification of the heart-Part 41
As advised earlier, we should remind ourselves of our mortality and be prepared for death, for death is among the very few certainties of this world, and in its remembrance, we come to reflect on how to use our time. It also teaches us that status and amassing wealth are ultimately useless and instead we should focus on worshipping Allah (s.w.t.) and performing good deeds. These are the actions that will help us to gain benefits that will last beyond the grave, and bring us success on the Day of Judgement. Ayah 9 of Surah Al-Munafiqun says: “O you who believe! Let not your wealth and your children distract you from remembering God; whoever does so will be a loser.” Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Letter 31 to his son, Hasan (a.s.), clearly sets out the importance of remembering death; an extract from his letter in the Nahjul Balagha reads as follows:
“O my child! Remember death at all times and the place where you have to go suddenly after death, so that you will be ready for it and you will be on your guard against it and would have prepared yourself for it, so that it will not come to you unexpectedly and surprise you.
Beware, lest you become deceived by the leanings of the people towards worldly attraction and their hastening towards it. Allah has warned you about it and the world has informed you of its mortal character and unveiled to you its evils. Surely, those who go after it are like barking dogs or devouring carnivore who hate each other. The stronger amongst them eat away the weaker and the big amongst them tramples over the small. Some are like tied cattle whilst others are like untied cattle who have lost their wits and are running in unknown directions. They are like flocks of calamities wandering in rugged valleys. There is no herdsman to detain them nor any tenderer to take them to grazing. The world has put them on the track of blindness and has taken away their sight from the beacons of guidance. They are therefore perplexed in its bewildering and sunk in its pleasures. They consider it as their god and so it plays with them. They too play with it and forgot what is beyond it.
Darkness is disappearing gradually. Now it is as though the travellers have got down and the hasteners will soon meet their fate. Know, O’ my child, that everyone is riding on its carriage by night and day and they are advancing towards the unknown although it may appear to be stationary, it is covering the distance even whilst it is staying and resting.” To be continued.
Second Sermon
The blessed month of Rabial-Awaal
Today is the first Friday of the blessed month of Rabial-Awaal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. It is a highly significant month and according to Islamic references some very important events occurred during this month, which is enumerated below:
- Migration of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) from Mecca to Medina (Hijrat) which started on the 1st of Rabial-Awwal.
- Quba mosque was built during this blessed month.
- Imam Hassan Askari (s.a.) was martyred on the 8th of Rabial-Awwal
- The 9thof Rabial-Awaal is a day of rejoicing and celebration as it is the anniversary of the first day of Imam Al-Mahdi (a.t.f.)’s I
- The 17th of Rabial-Awwal marks the auspicious birth anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.a) and Imam Jafar Sadeq (a.s), the Shiite sixth Imam and the highly eminent philosopher, scientist and theologian.
On account of the momentous events listed above, I congratulate Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) and the followers of the Ahlul Bait. However, today I will discuss Hijrat or the migration of the Holy Prophet (s.a), which was one of the greatest events in the history of Islam.
Although the Holy Prophet (s.a.) lived in Mecca for 13 years after he commenced his mission, he was well aware of the fact that people who were plunged in prejudice, superstition and ignorance would not abandon their beliefs and ways easily and that it would take extensive struggle, severe hardships, and sincere self-sacrifice to save them from the pit of corruption and guide them onto the path of virtue and monotheism. He could easily read in the faces of the people of Mecca, the opposition to Islam and their bigoted determination to fight the Muslims. This divine foresight of the Prophet of Islam had given him a dark image of the future. With such an insight and divine knowledge, he held high the banner of prophecy and adopted patience and tolerance. He struggled with the enemies of Islam in Mecca and resisted all their torments and obstructions, but the opponents of Islam did not give up their devilish beliefs and manners and utilized all their power to destroy Islam.
The Holy Prophet (s.a) finally left his home after 13 years of his mission in Mecca, and moved towards Medina as ordained by Allah (s.w.t), on account of the conspiracy by the leaders of the Quraish to murder him and obliterate the truth and the laws against tyranny, oppression and injustice which the Holy Prophet (s.a) was in the process of establishing. In other words, their purpose was mainly to demolish the foundation of the Islamic State, the Sunnah of the tradition of the Prophet (s.a) and to thwart the revelation being delivered by Allah (s.w.t)’s messenger to mankind. Their plan was, however, unsuccessful as Allah (s.w.t) informed the Holy Prophet (s.a.) about their plan to kill him and ordered him to leave Mecca and for Ali (a.s.) to sleep on his bed.
This migration or Hijrat of the Holy Prophet (s.a) has many blessings for Muslims and a very valuable lesson for man. The Islamic calendar was officially set after the Holy Prophet (a.s.)’s migration to Medina. The people who migrated with the Holy Prophet (s.a.) from Mecca to Medina were called Muhajirs. Medina was called Yathrib before this migration, but after the Holy Prophet (s,a.)’s arrival there, it became known as Medinatun Nabi (The City of the Prophet).
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