In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
25th Safar 1446 (30th 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 43
An important characteristic of the righteous is that they have pure faith in Allah (s.w.t.) and they perform their duties only for His sake and they do not associate anyone or anything with Him. Islam is a monotheistic religion; belief that Allah (s.w.t.) is one, He is eternal, unbegotten, unequalled and without a partner. According to Surah Al-Ikhlas,“He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to him.” All the prophets preached the same universal message of belief in one God and kindness to humanity. To worship anything other than Allah (s.w.t.) is an unforgivable sin (shirk). Satan, however, has no power to beguile those who have their trust in Allah (s.w.t.). Relevant Ayahs are:
Ayah 29 of Surah Al-A’raf: “Say: “My Lord has enjoined justice and set your face upright (towards Him) while prostrating. Call upon Him sincerely, turning to Him exclusively in religion, even as He brought you forth in the beginning, so to Him shall you also return.”
Ayah 29 of Surah Al-Hijr: “Verily there shall be no authority for you over My devoted servants except those who deviate and follow you.”
Ayah 65 of Bani Isra’il: “Verily as for My servants, you shall not have any authority over them, and your Lord suffices over them.”
Ayah 99 and 100, Surah An-Nahl: “Indeed there is no authority for him over those who believe and rely on their Lord;
Indeed, his authority is only over those who befriend him and those who associate others with God.”
Ayahs 82 and 83, Surah Saad: “He said: “Then by You Might I will certainly beguile them all,Save Your servants among them who are sincere.”
Ayahs 2 and 3 of Surah Az-Zumar: “Verily, We have revealed the Book to you in truth so that you worship God alone and be sincere to Him in faith.
Beware! To God alone is all obedience due ….”
Ayahs 5 and 6 of Surah Al-Bayyinah: “Yet nothing was enjoined on them except that they should worship only God in perfect sincerity, truth in faith, and they should pay zakat; that is the correct and straight religion.
Verily those who disbelieve from among the people of the Book and the polytheists shall be in the fire of hell to abide therein forever. It is they who are the worst of creation.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Anniversary of the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)
The 28th of Safar marks the death anniversary of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hassan (a.s.). Moreover, the last day of Safar is the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (a.s.). Due to these sad events, I hereby convey my condolences to Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.), and to the lovers of the Ahlul Bait. Today I will discuss the last days of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s life.
There is no doubt that everything what the Holy Prophet (s.a.) had said was full of wisdom, whether it was admonition, encouragement or advice, but he gave his nation special advice during his last days. He was extremely concerned about the future of Muslims for he knew that Imam Ali (a.s.)’s nomination as his successor would not be acknowledged after his death. There were several incidents that occurred during the final days of his life, which have been reported in Manaqib V: 1 P: 234 as follows:
- The Holy Prophet (s.a.) became ill on Saturday or Sunday during the month of Safar, 11 Hijri, which finally led to his death. With the support of Imam Ali (a.s.) and accompanied by several of his companions, he visited Baqi cemetery where he beseeched Allah (s.w.t.) to forgive the martyrs of Islam. Then he said: “O inhabitants of the graves! May the salutations of Allah be upon you! You are free from the calamities of this world. The trials that we are encountering are far more threatening and sinister than the darkest night and they are rapidly succeeding one after another, each one is worse than the one it succeeded. You are secure and safe from the ominous insurgence and unrelenting difficulties to be faced by the Muslim community. Gabriel normally reveals to me the Holy Quran once every year, but this year he has revealed it to me twice. I cannot envisage any particular reason for this, other than the fact that my death is drawing near.”
- Thereafter, on Wednesday with a cloth tied round his head, he visited the mosque duly supported by Ali (a.s.) on his right and his companion, Fazl ibne Abbas, on his left. He addressed the people who were gathering around him and he asked them: “It is time for me to leave you. If I have not fulfilled any of my promises, I would like to know, so that I can fulfil it now.” Someone from the gathering pointed out that he had promised to help him which remains unfilled. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) ordered Fazl to help the person and he subsequently returned home.
- On Friday after his sermon, he asked the people if they wished to settle any claim or injury he might have inflicted on them, for Allah (s.w.t.) hates an oppressor: “He whom I have lashed, I offer myself to him so that he may avenge me and he whom I have humiliated, I offer my honour.” At that time, someone from the congregation, named Sawadeh Ibn Qais, expressed his grievance against him. He said that when he had come out to greet the Holy Prophet (s.a.) after he had returned from Taif, the Prophet (s.a.) was on a camel and he accidentally struck him with a stick which was intended to alert the camel. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) ordered Bilal to immediately fetch a stick from his daughter, Fatima (a.s.)’s house and to hand it to Sawadeh. When the stick was handed to Sawadeh, he asked the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s permission to kiss him instead so that he would be saved from the fire of hell. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) prayed for his salvation.
- Finally, he declared to the people: “O, Muslims! Every apostle leaves behind him something valuable; similarly I am leaving behind two most valuable things, namely the Book of Allah and my progeny.” He then returned to Umme Salama’s house and prayed: “O’ Lord! Keep my nation safe from the fire of hell and lighten their reckoning on Resurrection Day.”
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