In the name of Allah

The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

Muharram 1446 (2 August 2024)

27 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 39

 

Further to last week’s discussion today I will continue with my discussion on Imam Ali (a.s)’s Sermon 120, which I had quoted earlier:

 

• I reiterate that Imam Ali (a.s) was blessed with the knowledge of the Holy Quran as attested by Ayah 43 of Surah Ar-Ra’d. He was also blessed with the knowledge of the unseen (ilmul-ghayb), which is not accessible to normal human beings. In other words, he had knowledge of both the seen and the unseen. It was on the basis of the knowledge of the Book that he had universal
• Moreover, according to a hadith Allah (s.w.t) had instructed the Holy Prophet (s.a) to convey whatever knowledge was given to him to Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s). Soon after the people had accepted the Imam as their leader, he sat on the pulpit and said: “O People! Ask me before you lose me for this is the basket of knowledge, this is the breath of the Messenger of Allah, and this is what the Messenger of Allah fed me. Therefore, ask me for I have the knowledge of the first and the last ones.”
• The other Imams, successors of Imam Ali (a.s), also had access to ilmul-ghayb. No author or teacher was seen to instruct any one of them, but they were incomparable masters of knowledge. Shaykh al-Muzaffar explains: “We maintain that the powers of the Imams to receive inspiration have reached the highest degree of excellence, and we say that it is a divinely given power.” Sermon 120 of Imam Ali (a.s) states: “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.”
• We should prepare ourselves for the Day of Resurrection by being righteous as that Day will be very challenging when all our deeds, good or bad, will be manifest. According to Ayahs 7 and 8 of Surah Al-Zilzal’
• “Then he who has done an atom’s weight of good deed will see it. And he who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall also see it.” The Sermon states: “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.”
• The Imam describes the fire of hell to deter us from evil. The Sermon states: “Dread the fire whose flame is severe, whose hollow is deep, whose dress is iron and whose drink is bloody pus.”
• The good reputation of a person among the people is far better than wealth and that is why the Imam says: “Beware! Thegood name of a man retained by Allah, the Sublime, among the people is better than wealth inherited by those who would not praise him.”       To be continued

 

 

 

Second sermon

 

Divine revolution of Imam Husain (a.s) – Part-3

 

As I explained last week the reason for the Imam’s revolution was amri bil al-Maroof and al-nahi an al-Munkar, which he emphasized time and time again. The second reason why Imam Hussain (a.s) proceeded to Karbala was because the people of Kufa sent numerous letters to him, inviting him to be their Imam as they did not have a divine leader to guide them to the path of Allah (s.w.t).

It has been reported in the book of Irshad Mufid on page 203 that within two days they had sent about 150 letters. Imam Hussain (a.s) therefore asked his cousin, Muslim ibne Aqeel, to proceed to Kufa to ascertain the veracity of the hundreds of letters written by them.  Imam Husayn’s (a.s.) reply was as follows:

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

From al Husayn Ibn ‘Ali, to the leaders of the believers and the Muslims .Hani and Said have brought me your letters; they are the last two of your messengers who have come to me. I have understood everything which you have described and mentioned. The (main) statement of your great men is: “There is no Imam over us. Therefore come; through you, may God unite us under truth and Guidance.”I am sending you my brother, Muslim Ibn Ail, who is my cousin and my trustworthy (representative) from my House. If he writes to me that the opinions of your leaders and the men of wisdom and merit among you is united in the same way as the messengers who have come to me have described and as I have read in your letters, I will come to you speedily, God willing. For by my life, what is the Imam except who judges by the Book, one who upholds justice, one who professes the religion of truth, and one who dedicates himself to the essence of God.

When Muslim reached Kufa with some difficulty, he stayed in the house of the great warrior, Al-Mukhtar ibne Abu Ubaydath-Thaqafi, where he was warmly received by the people of Kufa, who had gathered in great numbers. Within a few days, over 18,000 of them took the oath of allegiance whereby they accepted Imam Hussain (a.s) as their Imam.

Muslim wrote to Imam Hussain (a.s) about the warm welcome and the oath of allegiance he had received from most of the residents of Kufa and confirmed the need for him to come to Kufa for religious guidance of the Ummah.

Based on this advice, Imam Hussain (a.s) left for Kufa on the 8th of Dhil-Hajja, 60 Hijri from Mecca al-Mukarrama and he reached Karbala on the 2nd of Muharram, 61 Hijri.The tragedy and heartache began as soon as Muslim’s letter was dispatched, as the situation in Kufa took a drastic turn for the worse. At the incitement, bribery and force of Ubaidullah ibne Ziyad, the Governor of Kufa, the Kufians deserted Muslim and showed their support for Ibne Ziyad. Later when Imam Hussain (a.s) saw this turn of event of the Kufian and their support of the Umayyad, he reminded them in many of his talks and sermons about how they had invited him to be their Imam and guide and yet they have failed to honor their oath of allegiance to him.

To be continued