In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All Merciful
19th Rajab 1444 (10th February 2023)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Jihad An-Nafs – Part 118
Purification of the heart-Part 60
Last week I had explained that on the Day of Judgement man will be questioned about the bounties and blessings he enjoyed on earth and in this context I had cited Surah At-Takathur. However, today I quote below a few more Ayahs on that Day’s questioning on polytheism and covenants:
Polytheism
Ayahs 92 and 93 of Surah Ash-Shu’ara: “It shall be said to them: “Where are those whom you used to worship.
Besides God? Can they help you or can they help themselves?”
Ayahs 62-66 of Surah Al-Qasas: “On that Day, God will call unto them and say: “Where are the partners whom you ascribed to me?
Those against whom the sentence has been passed will say: “O Lord! These are they whom we led astray; we led them astray as we ourselves were led astray. We declare to You to be free of them; they were not worshipping us.”
It will be said to them: “Call upon your associate (gods)”. So they will call them, but they will not answer them and they will witness the chastisement and wish they had been rightly guided.
On that Day, He shall call them and ask: “How did you answer My messengers?”
The tidings that Day shall be obscured for them and they shall not question one another.”
- In the hereafter when people will learn that their guides and leaders had misled them and caused their ruin, they will hold them responsible for it.
- Allah (s.w.t.) will question those who had set up others as associates with Him, but before they can answer, their leaders will defend themselves and plead their innocence.
- The disbelievers will turn enemies against one another and will hold the other responsible for their doom.
- The Holy Quran has presented this catastrophic scene of the hereafter at several places so as to admonish and warn the blind followers to see and judge carefully whether they are being led to the right path.
Promises and covenants:
Ayah 34 of Bani Isra’il: “Do not approach the property of an orphan except in a way that is good, until he attains maturity and you fulfil your promise; verily there shall be questioning about every promise made.”
Ayah 15 Surah Al-Ahzab: “Indeed they made a Covenant with God before that they will not turn their backs, and the Covenant with God shall be questioned….”
Fulfilment of pledges is a guiding principle of Islam and man will be questioned about it on the Day of Reckoning.
Second Sermon
Martyrdom Imam Musa ibne Jafar (a.s.)
We are approaching the martyrdom anniversary of our seventh Imam, Musa ibne Jafar (a.s.), and I offer my sincere condolences to Imam Zamana (a.s.) and my brethren in faith. I take this opportunity to discuss the life of our dear Imam.
Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.) was born in Abwa, located between Mecca and Medina, on the 7th of Safar, 128 Hijri. His mother was Hamidah and his father was Imam Sadeq (a.s.). He lived 20 years of his life under the patronage of his father. The Imam’s inherent genius and gifted virtues combined with the enlightened guidance and education from his father carved his personality. His father was martyred under the orders of Mansur, the Abbasid ruler, and he took over the reins of Imamate for 35 years.
Time and circumstances did not permit him to establish an institution to impart religious knowledge to his followers as his father and his grandfather had done for he lived in an era when the rulers were the cruelest and their hatred for the Ahlul Bait and their followers was intense. However, in the first decade of his Imamate he executed the responsibilities of his sacred office and carried on with the propagation of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). He witnessed the reigns of the Abbasid rulers, namely, Mansur, Mahdi, Hadi and Haroon Ar-Rashid. Both Mansur and Haroon were despotic kings who killed many innocent descendants of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and their followers were constantly harassed and tortured. The Imam was saved from the tyranny of Mansur because he was occupied with his project of constructing the new city of Baghdad. After Mansur, his son, Mahdi ascended the throne; for a few years he remained indifferent towards the Imam. However, when he came to Medina and heard about the great reputation of the Imam, he could not resist his jealousy and his ancestral malice against the Ahlul Bait was rekindled. He somehow managed to take the Imam with him to Baghdad and got him imprisoned there. But after a year he realized his mistake and released him. Mahdi was succeeded by Hadi who lived only for a year.
Later the most cruel and tyrannical king, Haroon Ar-Rashid, appeared at the realm of the Abbasid Empire. It was during his reign that the Imam passed many years in a miserable prison until he was poisoned by the prison warden, Sandi ibne Shaheck, under his instruction. He was martyred on the 25th of Rajab, 183 Hijri and buried in Kazamain. Despite all these hardships, the Imam was always patient and would spend his nights in the worship of Allah (s.w.t.). His piety had an impact on prison wardens who converted and became his ardent followers. It has been reported that he would perform the optional prayers of the night until the Morning Prayer and thereafter recite supplications until sunrise. He would then go down in prostration during which he praised, thanked and glorified Allah (s.w.t.) until noon. He would beg Allah (s.w.t.) for forgiveness and recite supplications whilst in prostration along the following lines: “O Lord! The sins of your servant are repugnant. Let your forgiveness and pardon be bountiful.” After prostration, he would pray: “O Lord! You know that I have been imploring you to give me the opportunity to dévote myself to Your service and You have accepted my prayer. Praise be to You.”“O my Lord! I beseech You that my soul be removed from my body with ease at the time of my death and I seek your forgiveness and leniency after my death.”
Comments are closed