In the name of Allah

The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

    6^th Jamadial-Awwal 1446 (8^th November 2024)

Islamic Universal Association

20 Penzance Place, Holland Park

London, W11 4 PG

www.arafeh.co.uk

 

Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 54

Further to last week’s discussion I would like to add that if ever there was a reflection of the sublime qualities embodied in the Holy Prophet (s.a.), it would be seen in Ali (a.s.), who was an integral part of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s life. He was brought up by the Holy Prophet (a.s.) who educated him and imparted his divine knowledge and wisdom to him. He along with Khadija (a.s.), the wife of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), was the first to embrace Islam. He slept in the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s bed on the night of his migration to Medina, to save him from the Meccan’s plot to kill him. In Medina, the Holy Prophet (s.a.) created a brotherhood bond between pairs of Muslims. He chose Ali (a.s.) as his partner in this brotherhood and said:“Ali, you are my brother in this world and in the hereafter.” He declared Ali (a.s.) as his successor in Ghadeer Qom as commanded by Allah (s.w.t.). Ali (a.s.) married the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s daughter, Fatimah (a.s.). Through this marriage, the progeny of the Ahlul Bait grew and it continues to grow to this day.

 

Ali (a.s.) was a brave and skilled warrior and he participated in almost all the battles along with the Holy Prophet (s.a.). The Quraish sought to destroy the Muslims in Medina in a series of attacks in Badr, Uhud, Khyber, Ahzab and others. During the Battle of Uhud, the Muslims were initially victorious. However, the archers disobeyed the command of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and left their key positions to gather war booty. As a result, the Muslims were surrounded and defeated and most of them fled but Imam Ali (a.s.) bravely protected the life of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). His courage led the Holy Prophet (s.a.) to say:

 “There is neither warrior like Ali nor a sword like Zulfiqar (the name of Imam Ali’s sword)”

 

During the Battle of Khandaq, the Muslims strategically dug trenches against the enemy attack. Although these trenches created a barrier, six warriors of the enemy managed to cross over. Amr bin Abdewad was among them; he was a fierce warrior famous in the entire Hijaz for his strength and power. He dared the Muslims to fight him, but only Ali (a.s.) accepted the challenge and defeated him. The Imam’s sacrifice was so significant that the Holy Prophet (s.a.) said: “Ali’s strike in the Battle of Khandaq is higher than the worship of both the worlds.”  In the Battle of Khyber, the Muslims were unable to conquer all the forts of the Jews. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) then decided to appoint Ali (a.s.) as the commander of the army, who was suffering from severe eye pain at the time, and said: “Tomorrow, I will hand over the flag of the Islamic army to a person who is brave and who does not flee from battlefields and is absolutely courageous. One who loves Allah and His Messenger and Allah and His Messenger love him. He will not return until Allah grants victory at his hands.” The next morning the Holy Prophet (s.a.) applied his saliva to the sore eyes of Ali (a.s.), which cured him completely. He then handed him the standard banner and gave him permission to initiate the combat.    To be continued

 

 

Second Sermon

Life of Fatima (a.s) – Part 1

Although the life of Fatima (a.s.) was short, it contained valuable lessons for the Islamic nation and in particular for Muslim women. Today I will discuss her impeccable life in the following order:

• Her birth and the period until the death of her mother, Khadija (a.s.).
• The period after the death of her mother and until her migration to Medina (Hijrat).
• Her life in Medina until the death of her father, the Holy Prophet (s.a.).
• The final juncture of her life

 

Fatima (a.s.) was born on the 20th of Jamadial-Thani, five years after the initiation of the Islamic mission by her father, in Mecca. The house of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and Khadija was illuminated by her birth and there are several traditions relating to this auspicious event. It has been reported in Bahjatul-Qalb Al-Mustafa P: 142 that Imam Ali Ibne Al-Hussain (a.s.) has said that she was born during a very important era of Islam and during exceptional circumstances.

Moreover, it has been reported by many scholars that Allah (s.w.t.) had revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that he would be blessed in abundance through the birth of his daughter, Fatima (a.s.) and he was asked to prepare special food and prayer for her. According to a tradition, Gabriel revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that Surah Kauthar was specially revealed for this divine occasion, which reads:

“Verily, we have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kauthar (the abundance). So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Verily your enemy shall be the one who is cut off (in his progeny).”

The reason for the revelation of this Surah is that one day one of the polytheists’ leaders, Aas ibne Wa’el, ridiculed the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and referred to him as an ‘abtar’ (an animal whose tail is cut-off) in the presence of his followers, implying that he did not have a son or an heir. The Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s two sons, Qasim and Taher (Abdullah) through his wife, Khadija (a.s.), had died and he was very upset by this remark. To console the Holy Prophet (s.a.), this Surah was revealed with the glad tidings that the highest degree of Allah (s.w.t.)’s grace would be bestowed upon him. His enemies, on the other hand, happily thought that with the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) his mission would cease to exist, as he had no son or an heir. Hence, the revelation of this Surah was an answer to them that Islam and the Holy Quran would continue forever.       To be continued