In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
7th Rabial-Thani 1446 (11th October 2024)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 49
Last week I had quoted 2 paragraphs from Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Letter 45 produced in the Najjul Balagha. In the letter the Imam rebukes Uthman ibne Hunayf Al-Ansari, his governor of Basrah, for attending a banquet given by a wealthy man, who treats the poor with contempt. I quote below a few more paragraphs from the letter under reference:
“Of course, all that we had in our possession under this sky was Fadak, but we were deprived of it as a group of people felt greedy for it and we had to bear the wrench patiently. Allah is, after all, the best arbiter. What would I do with Fadak or any other worldly possession? I never wanted it for myself. I know that tomorrow my body will be in the grave and in its darkness its traces will be destroyed and (even) news of it will disappear. A grave is after all a pit, even if it is widened or the digger makes it broad and open, stones and clods of clay will narrow it and the falling earth will close its aperture. I try to keep myself engaged in piety so that on the day of the great fear it will be peaceful and steady for me in slippery places.
If I wished I could have chased after worldly pleasures, like pure honey, fine wheat and silk clothes but it is not possible for inordinate cravings or greediness to overcome or persuade me to acquire the best provisions when in Hijaz or Yamamah there are people who have no hope of getting a piece of bread or who have never satisfied their hunger fully. Shall I lie with a satiated belly while around me there are hungry and thirsty people? Do you want me to be like that person about whom someone aptly said: “Is this disease not enough for you that you lie with your belly full while around you there are starving mouths who desperately yearn even for dried leather?”
Shall I be content with simply being called ‘Amir Al-mu’minin’ (The Commander of the Believers)? Shall I not sympathise with the faithful Muslims in their calamities? Shall I not be a partner in their adversities? Shall I not be their fellow-sufferers? Have I been created to think only about my food like a tied animal whose only worry is his fodder or like a uncontrolled beast that roams around seeking to fill his belly and forgets the purpose behind his existence? Have I no religion, no conscience or fear of Allah? Have I been left uncontrolled to pasture freely and be at liberty to go astray and to wander away from the straight path or to roam about in the wilderness of greed and avarice? To be continued
Second Sermon
Death anniversary of Fatima Masoomah (a.s.)
The 10th of Rabial-Thani is the death anniversary of Fatimah Masoomah (a.s.), the honorable daughter of Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.) and the sister of Imam Reza (a.s.). Whilst expressing my condolence to Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) and the followers of the Ahlul Bait, I invoke Allah (s.w.t) to protect us from the clutches of Satan.
There are three different ways one can understand the personality of a person; firstly by studying his or her life, secondly by understanding his or her thoughts, sayings, deeds and manners, and finally by examining the analysis of scholars. Today I will try to analyses why Fatima Masoumeh (a.s.) had attained such a high position in her short life.
Fatima Masoomah (a.s.) was born on the 1st of Dhil-Qadah in Medina in 173 Hijri. She was greatly revered by the holy Imams and among the children of Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.) and she had a special position after Imam Reza (a.s.). She was trained and brought up in the best environment where she gained immense knowledge under the guidance of her father, pious mother and brother. She lived during the era of the three Imams of the Ahlul Bait, namely, her father Imam Musa Kazim (a.s.), her brother Imam Reza (a.s.) and her nephew Imam Jawad (a.s.) which helped to shape her honorable character. Due to her piety, modesty, faith, virtuousness and training she was given the title of ‘Masoomah’ meaning ‘infallible’ by her brother, Imam Reza (a.s.), and because of her worship and abstemiousness she acquired the status of intercession. She reached the highest level of faith due to her obedience and servitude to Allah (s.w.t.) and by stringently following the teachings of the Holy Quran. She was a complete role model and her life shows how one should submit to Allah (s.w.t.)’s will and to obey the Imam of the time.
Inshallah in my forthcoming session I will discuss her power of intercession and the reward for visiting her mausoleum in Qom.
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