In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
4th Safar 1446 (9th August 2024
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 40
Today I will discuss Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 87 from the Nahjul Balagha which highlights the characteristics of a faithful believer as opposed to a disbeliever; an extract from the Sermon reads:
“O creatures of Allah! The most beloved of Allah is he whom Allah has given power to act against his passions, so that his inward feelings are submerged in grief and his outward emotions are covered with fear. The lamp of guidance is burning in his heart. He has provided pleasure for the day that is to befall him. He regards what is distant to be near him and considers what is the difficult to be ease He looks and perceives; he remembers Allah and enhances his good actions. He drinks sweet water to ensure that his way is made easy. He drinks to satisfaction and takes the correct path. He has discarded his desires and got rid of worries except one worry peculiar to him. He is safe from misguidance and the company of people who follow their passions. He has become the key to the doors of guidance and the lock for the doors of destruction. He has seen his way and is walking on it. He knows his pillar of guidance and has crossed over the deep water.”
Part of the sermon, quoted above, contains the following valuable points:
- A believer is one who deserves Allah (s.w.t.)’s love and pleasure for he has control of his impetuous desires. He is indeed the successful one as Allah (s.w.t) has promised him a place in paradise. According to Ayah 12 of Al-Hadid, “On the Day you shall see the faithful men and women with their light running before them; and on their right hands they shall be given glad tidings on that Day! Gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein; that is the great achievement.”
- He consistently thinks of salvation and seeks deliverance from the fire of hell.
- He has unshakable trust in Allah (s.w.t.); he knows fully well that everything, good or bad, is determined by Allah (s.w.t.). No matter how difficult a situation may be, he will not compromise his faith
- He performs lawful and righteous deeds and is safe from evil and misguidance.
- He is not overwhelmed by worldly desires and does not fall victim to the vanities of this world.
- He is guided by the Holy Quran and strives to act upon its teachings, thereby strengthening his
- He is aware of the purpose of his creation and understands that he is responsible for himself and his family. Ayah 6 of Surah At-Tahrim: “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel shall be men and stones,
- over which angels shall be stern and strong; they do not disobey God in what He commands them, and only act as they are bidden.”
The above characteristics are found in faithful believers who know Allah (s.w.t.) well and fear His punishment because those who know Him do not think much of this material life, and wish only to achieve the performance of as many good deeds as possible in order to be rewarded in the hereafter. To be continued
Second Sermon
Divine revolution of Imam Husain (a.s.) Part: 4
As we enter the month of Safar, we remember the oppression that was meted out against the family of Imam Husain (a.s.). The first day of Safar was considered a day of rejoicing for the Bani Umayyah, while it was a day of mourning for the Ahlul Bait. The period after Ashura was far worse for the surviving members of his family for they were treated mercilessly and made prisoners by the tyrannical powers of the time. Despite this, in Kufa as well as in Damascus, they commenced their mission of informing the people of the true facts with determination and they availed even the smallest opportunity to achieve their motive.
It has been reported in Amaali Sheikh Sadooq on page 166 that when the members of the Ahlul Bait were standing by the gate of Jamie Masjid in Damascus, an old Syrian man came to them and said: “I thank Allah that He has killed and destroyed you and annihilated seditious people like you.” Imam Zainul Abedin (a.s.) kept quiet and allowed him to speak without any interruptions. After he had his say, the Imam behaved towards him like a kind and sympathetic teacher, as if he had experienced nothing from him except kindness and respect and asked him mildly: “Have you read the Quran?” The old man replied: “Yes, why not?” Thereupon the Imam said: “Did you understand these verses: “Say! I do not ask you for any reward for it, save the love of my kin…” (Ayah 23 of Surah Ash-Shura), “Give to the near of kin his due….” (Ayah 26 of Surah Bani Isra´il) and “And know that whatever you acquire, a fifth of it is for God, the Prophet and the Prophet’s near of kin …” (Ayah 41, Surah Al-Anfaal)? When the man affirmed that he had read and understood the Ayahs, the Imam declared: “I swear by Allah that we are the household of the Holy Prophet and we are entitled to one-fifth of your acquisitions.” The Imam then asked him: “Have you not read Ayah 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab, which provides: “Verily God intends to keep you from every kind of abomination, O you people of the Prophet’s household and purify you with a perfect purification’?” After the old man replied in the affirmative, the Imam explained: “We are the people of the house whose infallibility has been testified by Allah through this verse.” The old man asked him if they were really the Ahlul Bait or the people of the house. The Imam replied: “I swear by our grandfather that, without any doubt, we are the same people.” The old man thereupon wept bitterly, threw his turban on the ground and raised his hands towards the sky and said: “O Lord! I hate the enemies of the Holy Prophet’s progeny, both from among the jinns and men and those who have killed them.” He then asked the Imam if there was any chance for him to be forgiven. The Imam said: “Yes. If you repent, Allah will accept your repentance, and you will be with us.” The old Syrian then declared:“O Allah! I am truly repentant and regretful for what I have said and done” When Yazid learnt about this incident, he ordered the man’s execution. To be continued
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