In the name of Allah
The All compassionate, the All-Merciful
8th Shabaan 1446 (7th February 2025)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 66
As discussed earlier, the Holy Quran intercedes for man and enriches him; it guides him at every step of his way through life, caters for his needs and resolves his everlasting problems in both the worlds. It also helps him in ascertaining his religious beliefs and in understanding the concept of monotheism. The fundamental truth is effectively articulated in the Holy Quran in numerous occasions thereby steering man towards deliverance in the hereafter. Imam Ali (a.s.) in his sermon 176 has advised that one should attain the utmost benefit from the Holy Quran for it helps man to gain knowledge and insight about Allah (s.w.t) and His affairs from different perspectives. A relevant extract from the said sermon is reproduced as follows:
“You should be among the sowers of the Quran and its’ followers. Make it your guide towards Allah. Seek its advice for yourselves; do not trust your views against it and regard your desires in the matter of the Quran as deceitful.”
True belief involves a deep inner commitment to grow close to Allah (s.w.t), and not just to a religious concept. Those who acquire knowledge and guidance from the Holy Quran will believe in Allah (s.w.t) and His attributes and will be pleased to worship Him and will not turn away from the truth. Knowledge and worship are two sides of the same coin. Hence, we should not pursue knowledge for the sake of intellectual satisfaction, but rather learn the right knowledge about Allah (s.w.t) and how to worship Him in the best way possible. Relevant Ayahs are:
Ayahs 1-3 of Surah Al-An’am: “All praise belongs to God, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and caused the darkness and the light; yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord.
He it is Who created you of clay, then decreed the term of your life; a determined term is with Him, yet you doubt thereof.
He is God in the heavens and the earth! He knows your secrets and your disclosures! And He knows what you earn (for yourselves by your deeds).”
Ayahs 1- 4 of Surah Al-Mulk:
“Hallowed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and He has power over all things.
He created death and life that He may try you to ascertain which of you is best in deeds; He is the ever-Prevalent, the oft-Forgiving.
Who created the seven heavens layer above layer; you cannot find any defect or incongruity in the creation of the Beneficent. Then look again; do you see any gap?
Then repeat your gaze again and again; your gaze shall return to you dulled, wearied.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Virtues of the month of Shabaan
Allah (s.w.t.) showers His favors and blessings all through the month of Shabaan and in fact He has made His multiple and generous bounties easily accessible to us through acts of worship and from abstaining from sins. Shabaan also invites us to a chain of birth anniversaries of our Imams and leaders. It is a string of opportunities to renew ourselves spiritually as commemorating the significant days, as specified below, is a means of seeking nearness to Allah (s.w.t.).
- Imam Hussain (a.s.) was born on the 3rd of Shabaan, 3 or 4 Hijri, in Medina.
- He arrived in Mecca on the 3rd of Shabaan, 60 Hijri, prior to his revolution.
- Abbas Ibne Ali (a.s.) was born in Medina on the 4th of Shabaan, 26 Hijri. He was the commander-in-chief of Imam Hussain (a.s.)’s army in Karbala.
- Ali Ibne Al-Hussain (a.s.) was born on the 5th of Shabaan, 38 Hijri, in Medina.
- Hazrat Ali Akbar, son of Imam Husain (a.s.), was born on the 11th of Shabaan, 33 Hijri, in Medina.
- Imam Mahdi (a.j.f.) was born on the 15th of Shabaan, 255 Hijri in Samara, Iraq. He will re-emerge after a period of a long occultation and fill the world with hope and justice and put an end to worldwide disorder and ignorance. His mission will have an immediate effect on everyone, nations and societies and will center round freedom and integrity for all.
We are now approaching the night of the 15th of Shabaan known as Shabe-Baraaat, which means refuge from hell. On that glorious night, Allah (s.w.t.) showers His blessings and clemency on mankind in abundance. Moreover, it has great significance with regards to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and our infallible Imams and it is called the Qadr of the Ahlul Bait. It has been narrated from Imam Jafar Sadeq (a.s.) that he heard from his father, Imam Baqer (a.s.), about its virtues:
“The night of the 15th of Shabaan is the best night after the night of Qadr in Ramadan. During the night Allah pays special attention to His servants and grants them their wishes, other than those that are prohibited in Islam as He has pledged to accept all supplications on that special night. It is the time for seeking nearness to Him and being repentant, as Allah in His magnanimity expiates sins and forgives those who are truly repentant. It is the night of Qadr for the Ahlul Bait and the night of worship and invocations. Whoever recites 100 times Allaho-Akbar, Alhamdo-Lillah and Sobhan-Allah, Allah will forgive their sins and fulfil their hearts’ desires and He will indeed give them more than ever in this world and in the hereafter.” (Bihar Al-Anwar V:97 P: 85)
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