In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
28th Rabial-Thani 1446 (1st November 2024)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 51
In Letter 45 Imam Ali (a.s.) also advises his governor, Uthman ibne Hunayf Al-Ansari, about his close relationship with the Holy Prophet (s.a.) to make Uthman realize that his advice is based on the advice and actions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). He said:
“My relation with the Messenger of Allah is that of one branch with another, or of the forearm with the upper arm.”
I also quote an extract from Sermon 192 in the Nahjul Balagha wherein the Imam talks about his relationship with the Holy Prophet (s.a.):
Even in my boyhood I had prevailed over famous Arabs and defeated the tribal chiefs of Rabi’ah and Mudar. Certainly, you know my close kinship and special relationship with the Prophet of Allah – peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his descendants. When I was a child he took charge of me. He would hold me in his arms and lay me beside him in his bed and bring his body close to mine and make me smell his fragrance. He would chew something and then feed me with it. He found me truthful in my speech and strong and confident in my actions
From the time of his weaning, Allah had put a mighty angel with him to take him along the path of high character and good behavior through day and night, while I used to follow him like a young camel following in the footprints of its mother. Every day he would show me in the form of a banner some of his high traits and commanded me to follow it. Every year he used to go in seclusion to the mount of Hira’, where I would see him, but no one else could see him. In those days Islam did not exist in any house except that of the Prophet of Allah – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his descendants – and Khadijah, while I was the third after these two. I used to see and watch the effulgence of divine revelations and messages and breathed the scent of prophethood.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Birth anniversary of Hazrat Zainab (a.s.)
On the auspicious birth anniversary of Hazrat Zainab (a.s.), I offer my congratulations to Imam Mahdi (a.s. and the followers of the Ahlul Bait. I will commemorate this marked occasion, by summarily discussing her great personality.
According to a tradition, Zainab (a.s.) was born on the 5th of Jamadial Awwal, 5 Hijri in Medina to the two most pious and spiritual personalities in the history of Islam, Imam Ali and Fatima (a.s.). Her name is a combination of two words, Zain (adornment) and Ab (father), which means father’s adornment. The environment that she was brought up was the best of its kind, and that is why she received the best possible training and developed invaluable virtues. Her father, Imam Ali (a.s.) was the most perfect human being after the Holy Prophet (s.a.), which no one can truly deny. He was the first man to accept Islam. His entire life was a role model for us to look at and emulate. Her mother, Fatima (a.s.), was the grand lady of Islam, whose exemplary life is a lesson for us all and the Holy Quran has portrayed her purity and righteousness. Her grandfather was the Holy Prophet (s.a.), the most outstanding figure in history. His wife Khadija, a devoted woman, was her maternal grandmother and her paternal grandmother was Fatima, daughter of Asad, who mothered and nursed the Holy Prophet (s.a.). Her two brothers Imam Hasan and Hussain (a.s.) were excellent role models. She was raised in a house where Gabriel used to bring revelations from Allah (s.w.t.).
Her face reflected her grandfather’s reverence and her father’s awe and like him she was unparalleled in literary eloquence and courage. The speech she delivered in the assembly of Yazid was the pinnacle of eloquence and impressiveness. She was an exemplary woman of great ability, intelligence, knowledge, insight, courage and perseverance. She was the perfect symbol for women and those who wish to attain high spiritual status. In fact, her life has given us all a great lesson as to how to submit to Allah (s.w.t.) and to be in total obedience to His command. Her life was always laden with hardship, but she never feared coping with difficulties which enhanced her endurance and elevated her soul. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), there came the period of distress and hardship in her life. She stood by her mother as far as the question of supreme mandate of her father was concerned. When her mother delivered the Fadak sermon, she was merely a child, but she narrated the sermon so lucidly and expressively and that is why she is called Zainab the narrator of traditions. She was a pillar of strength in Karbala to Imam Hussain (a.s.) and the protector and guardian to the surviving members of their family after his martyrdom.
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