In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
20th Jamadial-Awwal 1446 (22nd 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 55
Having discussed Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Letter 45 to Uthman ibne Hunayf Al-Ansari, today I will revert back to our earlier discussion on Sermon 87 from the Nahjul- Balagha relating to the characteristics of a pious individual. As we know that the life of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and his divine successors was based on truth, which is highly significant according to the Holy Quran and the Islamic traditions. There are more than 200 Ayahs in the Holy Quran wherein the word truth has been mentioned in some form or another. Some relevant Ayahs are provided hereinafter:
- Ayahs 42 and 147 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “Do not mix truth with falsehood or
conceal the truth when you know it.”
It is the truth from your Lord; so do not be of those who doubt.”
- Ayahs 43 and 118 of Surah Al-A’raaf: “… indeed, the Messengers of our Lord came with the truth.” And it will be said aloud to them: “Behold this is the garden of which you are the heirs, a reward for what you did.”
Thus truth was established, rendering all that they did were in vain.”
- Ayahs 7 and 8 of Surah Al-Anfaal: “God intended to establish the truth with His words and to cut off the roots of the infidels.
That He may establish the truth to triumph and to bring falsehood to naught,
even though the polytheists disliked it.”
- Ayah 33 of Surah at-Tawba: “He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance
and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all other religions though the polytheists may detest it.”
- Ayahs 32 and 36 of Surah Younus:“This is God, your true Lord; what is apart from truth but error; whereto are you turned away?”
… surely conjecture cannot avail anything against the truth;”
- Ayah 17 of Surah Ar-Ra’d:“He sends down water from the heavens, then the valleys flow according to their measure, and the torrent bears along the swelling foam mounting to the surface; and the scum like it arises from what they melt in the fire for making ornaments and necessary implements. Thus God compares truth and falsehood. Then, as for the scum it passes away as a worthless thing; as for that which benefits man remains in the earth. Thus God sets forth parables.”
- Ayah 81 of Surah Bani Isra’il:“And say: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished; verily falsehood is doomed to vanish.”
- Ayah 24 of Surah Ash-Shura: “Had God willed He would have sealed your
heart, and yet He would blot out falsehood and prove the truth with His
words. He knows best whatever is in the hearts.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Life of Fatima (a.s.) – Part 3
Further to last week’s discussion, I would like to add that Fatima (a.s.) was the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s only daughter. Her mother, Khadija, had two other daughters from her earlier marriages. When the Holy Prophet (s.a.) married Khadija, both her daughters came to live with her in the house of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.) regarded Fatima (a.s.) as an angel in human form; she was an inseparable part of him. He would be overwhelmed with joy whenever he would set eyes on her. She has several titles; it has been reported in Bahjatul Qalb Al-Mustafa on page 147 that Imam Jafar Sadeq (a.s.) has said:
“My great grandmother, Fatima, has nine titles which have been chosen by Allah, namely, Fatima As-Siddiqah, Al-Mubarakah, At-Tahira, Az-Zakiyah, Ar-Raziyah, Al-Marziyah, Al-Muhadatha and Az-Zahra.”
Fatima (a.s.)’s childhood was intensively troubled, being the early days of Islam. She witnessed the sufferings and the increasing pressure imposed by the disbelievers on her father, but she, along with her mother, was always at his side to help him specially in the Valley of Abu Talib (She’eb Abi Talib), where the Holy Prophet (s.a.) along with Abu Talib and other members of Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib were forced to withdraw from Mecca for 3 years and live there in a painful boycott. This was very rigorous and traumatic for them and for many months they lived in misery, yet the Holy Prophet (s.a.) never stopped inviting the infidels to Islam.
However, on the 26th of Rajab, in the 10th year of Besat (Holy Prophet’s mission), Abu Talib, the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s uncle, died and 5 or 35 days later, Khadija died as well. Fatima (a.s.) was only 5 years old at the time and it brought great sadness to both her father and herself. She was with her father in Mecca for 3 years after the death of her mother and despite her pain and suffering she looked after him so devoutly that he used to call her “Umme Abiha” i.e, the mother of her father. This was the hardest time for the family because with the demise of Abu Talib, who was the protector of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), the hostility of the Quraish became the severest then. She saw and dressed the wounds sustained by her father due to stones being thrown on him by the disbelievers. She showed the world how a woman can perform diverse roles under different circumstances; at war or at peace, during economic or emotional hardship, whether people are hostile or supportive or when all support is lost and one’s only hope is Allah (s.w.t.). To be continued
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