In the name of Allah
The All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
11th Jamadial Thani 1446 (13th December 2024)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 58
Further to last week’s discussion, I hereby reiterate that truth is the most important and powerful aspect in Islam. The Holy Quran describes truth in various contexts, sometimes referring to Allah (s.w.t.) Himself, and at other times it refers to facts, realities and righteousness.
Truth is well established in the foundation of the universe, which ensures the proper functioning of the heavens and the earth. It also highlights the fine beauty of Allah (s.w.t.)’s creation as seen in the creation of man. It also makes clear that everyone will ultimately return to Allah (s.w.t.). Relevant Ayahs are:
- Ayah 73 of Surah aAl-An’am:“He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in truth, The Day He says ‘Be’, behold and it is. His Word is the truth. His is the authority on the Day when the trumpet is blown. Knower of the unseen and the seen; the all-Wise, the all-Aware.”
- Ayah 44 of Surah Al-Ankabut: “Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth. Verily that is a sign for the believers.”
- Ayahs 38 and 39 of Surah Ad-Dukhan: “And We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in sport.
We created them both with the truth, yet most of them do not know.”
- Ayahs 22 of Surah Al-Jathiya:“God created the heavens and the earth in truth, and every soul shall be rewarded for what it earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.”
- Ayah 3 of Surah At-Taghabun: “He created the heavens and the earth and fashioned you and perfected your forms; and unto Him is your return.”
Allah (s.w.t.) has sent His Messengers with truth and as mercy to mankind. The worldly and religious affairs of man can only be adequately established through the guidance with which the Messengers were sent. Allah (s.w.t.) has made them a means between Him and His creation – a means which informs mankind about Allah (s.w.t.), and identifies for them with what is beneficial or harmful. A messenger explains the rulings; the recommended, the prohibited and the permissible. There is no way of knowing these matters except through them. Relevant Ayahs are:
- Ayahs 43 and 53 of Surah Al-A’raaf: “….Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord came with the truth. And it said aloud to them: “Behold! This is the garden which you are made heirs, a reward for who you did.”
“… On the day when the final fulfilment comes those who neglected it before will
Say: “Verily, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth;…”
- Ayah 33 of Surah Baraah: “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.”
- Ayah 81 of Surah Bani Isra’il:“And say: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished; verily falsehood is doomed to vanish.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Anniversary of the death of Fatima Umm Al-Banin (a.s.)
According to the some narration the 13th of Jamadial Thani is the death anniversary of Fatima Umm-Al-Banin (mother of sons) and due to this sad occasion I offer my condolences to the followers of the Ahlul Bait. According to this narration she died in 64 Hijri at the age of 59 and was buried in Jannat Al-Baqi cemetery in Medina.
Fatima binte Ḥuzam, better known as Umm Al-Banin, was an accomplished and cultured lady. She belonged to the Banu Kilab tribe and she married Ali (as) sometime after the death of his first wife Fatima Zahra (a.s.). She came to the house of Ali (a.s.) knowing fully well that before her the leader of women in paradise, Fatima Zahra (a.s.), lived in that house. She served Imam Ali (a.s.) in the same manner as Umme Salma had served the Holy Prophet (s.a.) after the demise of Khadija and she dearly loved his children more than her own.
The Shia-leaning historian Abu Al-Faraj Al-Isfahani has given some information about her marriage to Ali in Maqatil al-Talibiyyin, a historical-biographical compilation about the descendants of Imam Ali (a.s.). He writes that Aqil, a brother of Imam Ali (a.s.) who was knowledgeable in Arab genealogy, introduced Fatima binte Huzam to Imam Ali (a.s.) because her tribe was renowned for courage in the hope that she would bear Ali (a.s.) brave sons. Through their marriage they had four sons; Abbas, Abd Allah, Jafar and Uthman. It was because of her sons’ courage that she became known as Umm Al-Banin. All her four sons fought alongside their half-brother, Imam Hussain (a.s.), in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, 61 Hijri and were martyred. When Umm al-Banin received the news of their martyrdom, she said that she would have given her sons and everything on earth to see Hussain (a.s.) alive again. This expression from her is a sign of her devotion to the Ahlul Bait. Zainab binte Ali (a.s.) on her return from Karbala, is also said to have personally visited her to offer condolences. Umm Al-Banin regularly visited the Al-Baqi cemetery in Medina to mourn with her grandson, Ubaid-Allah, who was Abbas’ son. Her poems would bring those present to tears, including the Umayyad, Marwan ibn Hakam. She was buried in the cemetery of Al-Baqi, but the year of her death is unknown.
It has also been reported that when she learnt about the tragedy of Karbala she gathered the women of Medina in her house and narrated to them how Hussain (a.s.) and his entourage were martyred and they all wept bitterly. This was the first Majlis conducted after the martyrdom of Hussain (a.s.) after the arrival of Imam Sajjad and Zainab (a.s.) in Medina she continuously held such gatherings in her house. She also regularly visited Jannat Al-Baqi cemetery and would recite her nohas (lamentations) there. She transformed the cemetery as ‘The Centre of the Azadari of Hussain.’ The nohas recited by her are recorded in history and are considered as masterpieces in Arabic literature.
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