In the name of Allah

The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

1 Dhil–Qadah 1445 (10 May2024)

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 26

I quote below a relevant extract from Imam Ali (a.s)’s Sermon 105 from the Nahjul Balagha:

 

O’ People! Secure light from the flame of lamp of the preacher who follows what he preaches and draws water from the spring which has been cleaned from dirt.

O’ Creatures of Allah! Do not rely on your ignorance and do not succumb to your desires, because he who persists on such measures is like one who pitches his tent on a river bank that is threatened by floods, which will cause him devastation and grief. He wishes to uphold what cannot be upheld and to unite what cannot be united. So fear Allah and do not place your complaints before those who cannot redress your grievances, nor undo what has been made obligatory for you.

Certainly, there is no obligation on the Imam except what has been devolved on him from Allah, namely to convey warnings, to exert good advice, to revive the sunnah, to enforce penalties on those liable and to issue shares to the deserving. So hasten towards knowledge before its source dries up and before you turn away from seeking knowledge from those who have it. Desist others from the unlawful and abstain from it yourself, because you have been commanded to abstain yourself before abstaining others.”

 

Valuable points

• According to Imam Ali (a.s) guidance is highly important and it should be acquired from the right source and from those who follow what they preach.
• The word and the light of Allah (s.w.t), the Holy Quran, is the living embodiment of guidance, knowledge and reason. It benefits man for he may attain full potential of wisdom and purity of thought and action.
• Verily the Holy Quran is an inner guide through which man can worship, obey, serve and love Allah (s.w.t). It also helps him to know who he is, what is his capacity, his potential, his duties and his destiny.
• The Holy Prophet (s.a) received direct revelations from Allah (s.w.t). He was thus the bearer of that light referred to above. He was, however, only obliged to convey Allah (s.w.t)’s message to mankind.
• Man has been warned not to ignore the call of Allah (s.w.t) or to rely on his ignorance or the unreliable or to succumb to his frivolous desires. Moreover he has been advised to hasten to seek knowledge from those who have it, before it is too late and to abstain from forbidden acts and to urge others not to pursue such acts.
• The Holy Prophet (s.a)’s successors, his Ahlul Bait, were the guide to mankind after the Holy Prophet (s.a). They did not bring anything new, but they shed light on the revelations that came to the Holy Prophet (s.a), exerted good advice and revived the Sunnah wherever possible through their knowledge and by their actions. To be continued

 

Second sermon

 

Birth anniversary of Fatima Masoumeh (a.s)

 

The 1st of Dhil Qadah marks the birth anniversary of Fatima Masoumeh (a.s), the daughter of Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.) and the sister of Imam Ali Reza (a.s). On this auspicious occasion, I extend my felicitations and greetings to Imam Zamana (a.j.f), and to the followers of the Ahlul Bait.

 

There are conflicting reports about Fatima Masoumeh (a.s)’s date of birth. According to a tradition, she was born on the 1st of Dhil-Qadah, 173 Hijri in Medina. However Mullah Mohsen Fayd has narrated that she was born in Medina at the beginning of Dhil-Qadah, 173 Hijri and she died in Qom on the 10th of Rabial-Thani, 201 Hijri. Imam Sadeq (a.s.) had predicted her birth 45 years before she was born, even before the birth of his son, Imam Musa Kazim (a.s).

 

According to relevant narrations, she had a great personality and was greatly revered by the holy Imams and among the children of Imam Musa Kazim (a.s) and she held a special position after Imam Reza (a.s). Due to her piety, modesty, faith, virtuousness and training under the guardianship of the Imamate she reached such an impeccable position that she was given the title of ‘Masoomeh’ meaning ‘infallible’

 

It has been narrated that Imam Sadeq (a.s) has said:

“My son (Musa Kazim)’s daughter, Fatima, will die in Iran and she will be buried in Qom and her mausoleum will be a vital place of ziyarah. She will have the powers of intercession on Resurrection Day and on that Day she will intercede for my Shiites to enter heaven.

” Allamah Majilisi had also narrated from Imam Sadeq (a.s):

 

 “A lady from my progeny will be buried in Qom and due to her intercession whosoever visits her grave will be granted the reward of paradise.”

 

There are also various reports on the day of her death; some historians have reported that she died on the 10th or 12th of Rabial-Thani and others have reported that she died on the 8th of Shabaan. Since there is no evidence to verify any of these dates, Islamic scholars observe her death for three days from the 10th of Rabial-Thani and it is called ‘the days of Fatima’. She died at the age of 28. However, all historians agree that she died in Qom, 201 Hijri. The year of her death is further corroborated by the writings on her shrine, dating back centuries, which has the same date written on it.