In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
13th Muharram 1446 (19th July2024)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 36
I quote below another valuable advice of Imam Ali (a.s.) provided in Sermon 120 from the Nahjul Balagha, which I will analyse in my forthcoming session Inshallah:
“By Allah, I have knowledge of the conveyance of messages, fulfilment of promises and expressions. We, the people of the house (of the Prophet – Ahlul Bait), possess the doors of wisdom and the lights of governance. Remember that the paths of religion are one and its highways are straight. He who follows them achieves his aims and secures his objectives while he who stands away from them goes astray and incurs repentance.
Act for the day for which provisions are stored, and when intentions are tested. If a person’s intelligence which is part of him does not help him, the wits of others which are remote are unhelpful and those who are away from him are more useless. Dread the fire whose flame is severe, whose hollow is deep, whose dress is iron and whose drink is bloody pus. Beware! The good name of a man retained by Allah, the Sublime, among the people is better than wealth inherited by those who would not praise him.”
Second Sermon
Divine movement of Imam Husain (a.s.) – Part 1
It has always been in our minds as to why the divine movement of Karbala continues to live in the hearts of people after almost fourteen centuries, and why do we reflect on Imam Hussain (a.s.)’s aims and thoughts especially during this month. In order to understand this, it is highly imperative for us to study the following:
- Divine element of Karbala.
- Aspects of human and social life which seek to create peace and harmony.
- The personality of a leader
With regard to the first element, I would like to emphasise that the movement of Karbala was based on the principles of Islam; the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). In many of Imam Hussain (a.s.)’s talks, sermons and letters he highlighted the importance of fulfilling the divine duties of Islam. He addressed a large group of scholars in a long and powerful speech and reminded them of their duty to inculcate Islamic conscience and not to mislead the masses who trusted them. He criticised them for not addressing the issues of oppression and prevention of vile and corrupt acts by ignoring the principles of amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar.. According to the Holy Quran in Ayah 63, Surah Al-Ma’ida, “Why do the scholars and rabbis not forbid them from uttering what is sinful and their eating of what is forbidden? Evil is indeed what they do.” Moreover Ayahs 78-79 Surah Al-Ma’ida provides: “Cursed were those among the children of Israel who did not believe in David and Jesus, son of Mary, for they disobeyed and persisted in their excesses. They did not forbid each other from the hateful things which they wrought; indeed how evil was that which they were doing.”
Allah (s.w.t.) mentions the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil before all other duties, because if it is performed and established in the society all other duties will also be established. The reason for this is that amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar summons people to Islam, and it resists injustice, opposes and struggles against the oppressors, and it endeavours to ensure that public wealth and income derived from war are distributed in accordance with the just laws of Islam and that taxes are collected, levied and expended in due and proper form.
The Imam also exhorted the scholars not to pander to rulers who had paid them to keep away from the truth. He said: “O Scholars! You are required to assist us to win back our rights from those powers who consider it appropriate to wrong us and who attempt to put out the light kindled by our Holy Prophet. God suffices for us – upon Him we rely; to Him we turn for help and to Him we shall all return.”
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