In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
9th Rabial-Awwal 1446 (13th September 2024)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 44
The Arabic word ʿadl’ (justice) comes from the root verb ‘a-d-l’, which means to be equal to, just, straight, and temperate, but a broad definition of justice is to render to everyone his due. Islam, however, proceeds further in its definition of justice. It lays down that to maintain a proper standard of justice it is necessary that recompense of good should in no case be less than what a person has earned, and that, on the other hand, the penalty for wrong should not exceed the wrong or transgression committed. A contravention of either of these principles would amount to injustice. I quote below some relevant Ayahs from the Holy Quran, which I will analyse in my forthcoming session Inshallah:
Ayahs 40, 58 and 135 of Surah An-Nisa: “Verily God commands you to return to the owners what was entrusted to you, and when you judge between men, to judge with justice; how excellent is that to which God exhorts you; indeed God is the Hearer and Seer.
Verily God does not do injustice even to the weight of an atom, and if there be any good deed He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses for God’s sake, though it be against your own selves, or your parents, or your kindred, be he rich or poor, for God is closer than you to them both; therefore do not follow your inclination lest you should deviate from the truth and if you swerve from the truth or turn aside, then verily God is well aware of what you do.”
Ayah 8 of Surah Al-Maida: “O you who believe! Be always upright for God, bearing witness to justice and do not let hatred of others incite you not to act equitably; act equitably that is nearer to piety and fear God; verily God is fully aware of what you do.”
Ayah 90 of Surah An-Nahl: “God enjoins justice and benevolence to others and giving to kindred and forbids lewdness and evil and rebellion. He exhorts you that you may take heed.”
Ayah 15 of Surah Ash-Shura: “For this then you invite on, and be steadfast as you are commanded. Do not follow vain desires and say:“I believe in what God has sent down of the Book, and I have been commanded to do justice among you; God is our Lord and yours; upon us is the responsibility of our deeds, and upon you yours. No contention need be between us and you; God will gather us together, and to Him is the ultimate return.”
Second Sermon
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.)
According to a tradition, the 8th of Rabial-Awwal was the martyrdom anniversary of our eleventh Imam, Hasan Askari (a.s.). I express our condolences to his son, Imam Mahdi (as), and to the followers of the Ahlul Bait.
Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) was born in Medina, on the 8th of Rabial-Thani, 232 Hijri. However, according to some tradition he was born in Samara. He was martyred by poisoning on the 8th of Rabial-Awwal, 260 Hijri when he was 28/29 years. He lived for almost 23 years with his father, Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.). After his father’s martyrdom, he took over the reins of Imamate for 6 years which coincided with the regimes of the Abbasid Caliphs including Motaz, Mohtadi, and Motamed. He was martyred during the reign of Motamed and was buried in Samara by his father’s grave, which has been transformed into a great mausoleum and pilgrims from all over world come to pay their homage to them.
Although the Abbasid dynasty was involved in constant turmoil and disorders, each and every Caliph thought it necessary to keep the Imam imprisoned. During his short life he had to endure great sufferings in their hands. Most of his life he spent in the house in Samara where his father, Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) remained under house arrest. From time to time he was taken to Baghdad, questioned and put in prison there. But despite strict surveillance, sufferings and confinements he conducted his duties as Imam from within the house and many students of Islam benefited from his gifted knowledge and later became scholars in their fields. He taught people the Holy Quran and instructed his followers the true teachings of Islam as taught by the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and his Ahlul Bait. He also dictated many traditions of the Holy Prophet and completed the explanatory notes on the Holy Quran which has been mentioned by many scholars and exegetes.
It has been reported that while he was a prisoner in Baghdad there was a severe draught. Rain had not fallen for some time and the crops were drying up. People were facing a famine and they did not know what to do. A Christian priest came to the rescue. He lifted his hands, towards the sky, in prayer and immediately there was heavy rainfall. The Caliph became concerned lest the people would forsake Islam in favour of Christianity. When the Imam was consulted, he said that he would soon remove scepticism from the minds of people.
He was subsequently allowed to leave the prison to witness the miracle of the priest. He stood there with the crowd and watched the priest raise his hands towards the sky in prayer and there was sudden downpour. The Imam asked one of his companions to remove what was in the priest’s hand. He then asked the priest to pray for rain. The priest was embarrassed as he tried his utmost and yet there was no rain. The Imam then showed everyone that the priest was holding in his hand, a small piece of bone of a Prophet of God. It was the effect of the holy bone, when lifted in prayer, brought rain to the land by Allah (s.w.t.)’s mercy. Thereafter the Imam prayed for rain and it rained heavily until the drought was over. The Imam was thus able to remove doubts from the minds of people and they realised that the priest had tried to trick them.
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