In the name of Allah

The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

22 Jamadial-Thani 1445 (5 January 2024)

Islamic Universal Association

20 Penzance Place, Holland Park

London, W11 4 PG

www.arafeh.co.uk

 

Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 8

 

I reproduce below the final part of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 153 from the Nahjul Balagha:

 

“One of the firm decisions of Allah in the enlightened Reminder (Quran) wherein He bestows reward or gives punishment, and through which He likes or dislikes what will not benefit man, even though he exerts himself and acts sincerely if he leaves this world to meet Allah having committed these acts without repenting, namely, he believed in a partner with Allah during his obligatory worship or appeased his own anger by killing an individual or spoke about acts committed by others or sought fulfilment of his needs from people by introducing an innovation in his religion or met people with a double face or moved among them with a double tongue. Understand this because an illustration is a guide for its like.

 

Valuable points

 

1. Man will face severe chastisement in the hereafter if he dies without seeking forgiveness for the following acts:

• Associating partners with Allah (s.w.t.) while performing obligatory prayers.
• Unjustifiably killing a person
• Indulging in acts of backbiting and damaging the reputation of others.
• Altering the tenets and principles of Islam for one’s personal needs or gains.
• Meeting and socialising with people in a hypocritical manner.

1. If a man aspires to fill his stomach and subdue others by resorting to killing and devastation, then there is no difference between him and beasts or carnivores whose aim is also to fill their bellies and subdue others by devouring them.
2. According to the scholar, Ibn Abi’l-Hadid, Ali (a.s.) delivered this sermon when he was marching towards Basra to meet the rebel army instigated by Ayesha, the widow of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). Ali (a.s.) held that women have a passion for worldly adornments and they actively create mischief as the Battle of Basra (Camel) was the result of these qualities whereby thousands of people were involved in death and destruction. It was one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Islam and a direct threat to the security of the Islamic State.
3. A true believer suppresses his passions, is humble and does not engage in mischief or disturbance for the fear of Allah (s.w.t.).

To be continued

 

Second Sermon

The life of Fatima (a.s.) – Part 6

Fatima (a.s.) did not attain her position, merely because she was the daughter of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). What made her worthy of reverence, were the qualities of sacrifice, piety and all the other values of humanity which she possessed. She was indeed like her father, in terms of her divine and humane character. Allah (s.w.t.) has promised her the privilege of intercession on the Day of Judgment, for those who love her, send salutations on her and adhere to the teachings of the fourteen infallible members of the Ahlul Bait. Allah (s.w.t.) is not worshiped by anything more meritorious than the Tasbih of Fatima Zahra (a.s.) which was gifted to her by Allah (s.w.t. ) through His Prophet, the recitation of which is a source of forgiveness, mercy and reward for her followers. Had there been any worship superior to it, most surely Allah (s.w.t.) would have granted it to her.

 

She held a pivotal place in the family of the Holy Prophet (a.s.). She had the distinction of being the daughter of the most beloved Prophet of Allah (s.w.t.), the wife of the first Imam who was purified and the only one to bear the title of ‘Amirul Momineen’, the mother of the two Imams who are the leaders of the youth of paradise and all the Imams were from her progeny. She was infallible and was gifted with divine knowledge, wisdom, reasoning, intellect and grace. Her greatness was acknowledged by the heavens before the creation of mankind and in her praise and admiration verses of the Holy Quran were revealed. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) is reported to have said: “Fatima is part of me; whosoever annoys her annoys me and whosoever harms her harms me.”

 

It is reported in the Musnad, collection of transmitted hadiths of the eighth Imam, Reza (a.s.), that the Holy Prophet (a.s.) had declared: “I named my daughter Fatima (the Weaned One) because Allah weaned her and those who love her from the Fire.” The Holy Prophet also called her Al-Batul (pure virgin), and said to his wife, Ayesha: “O Humayra’ (a well-known epithet of Ayesha), Fatima is not like the women of human kind, nor does she suffer the illness you (women) suffer! “This is explained in another tradition which maintains that she never menstruated. It is likewise reported by Sunni traditionalists on the authority of Anas ibne Malik, who heard from Umme Salim, the wife of Abu Talhah Al-Ansari: “Fatimah never experienced the impurity of menstruation, for she was created from the waters of Paradise.” It has been reported that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.) ascended to the heavens and entered Paradise, he ate its fruits and drank its water.