In the name of Allah
The All compassionate, the All-Merciful
29th Shabaan 1446 (28th 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 70
Today I will continue with my talk on faith as it is highly important for us to understand its meaning. Faith in the Arabic language means to affirm something and to comply with it. In other words, faith is affirmation and not merely belief. Affirmation includes the words of the heart, which is belief, and the actions of the heart, which is compliance. Hence, faith in Islam means to believe in Allah (s.w.t.), to affirm His truth and to submit to His commands.
One who has a pure heart and performs good deeds regularly has a strong faith in Allah (s.w.t). Faith always leads a man to a life of obedience and submission to the Will of Allah (s.w.t.). In fact, faith is the starting point that leads man to a life of submission to Allah (s.w.t) and in order to be a true Muslim and complete in belief, one has to believe and practice the core foundations of Islam. It is not sufficient just to know the truth, but the truth should be acknowledged by the heart and expressed by the tongue which is the manifestation of intelligence and finally to reflect this confidence in his activities. In this context I quote below a relevant extract from Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 156 from the Nahjul Balagha.
“This path is the lightest course and the brightest lamp. Guidance towards virtuous actions is sought through faith while guidance towards faith is achieved through virtuous actions. Knowledge is made to prosper through faith, and death is feared because of knowledge. This world comes to an end with death, while the next world is secured by virtuous actions in this world. For people there is no escape from resurrection. They are heading for this last end in its appointed course.”
The salient features of the foregoing paragraph are:
1 True faith manifests through virtuous actions.
2 Righteousness is sought through faith.
3 Faith prospers through knowledge.
4 Death is feared on account of knowledge.
5 Provisions for the hereafter is secured through virtuous actions.
6 Death is the end of life
7 There is no escape from resurrection and one’s final destination.8. Paradise is reserved for the pious and the perverse will suffer the chastisement of hell. To be continued
Second Sermon
Virtues of the holy month of Ramadan – Part 2
The month of Ramadan has specials merits for it is the month wherein Allah (s.w.t.) grants clemency and reprieve to the believers who take the opportunity by fasting, praying and supplicating him with the greatest of fervor and sincerity. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) regarded this month with great reverence and in his sermon on the holy month of Ramadan he gave extensive advice on gaining the best possible benefits during this month. The sermon itself is pretty lengthy and I quote below an extract from it:
“O’ Muslims! A month has approached you laden with blessings, mercy and forgiveness. It is a month which Allah regards it as the best of all months; its days in the sight of Allah, are the best of all days, its nights are the best of all nights and its hours are the best of all hours. It is a month wherein you are invited to be the guest of Allah and to be near Him. You have been selected as a recipient of honour and Allah’s Grace. Every breath you take during this month has the reward of tasbih (glorification of Allah), your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and so are your invocations. Your voluntary acts of worship are received favorably and your supplications are granted.
The above extract comprehensively highlights the importance and virtues of this month. The ten key features are:
- It is a month of blessings, mercy and forgiveness.
- It is the best month regarded by Allah (s.w.t); its days, nights and hours are the very best.
- It is a month of great honor, wherein we have been invited to be the guest of Allah (s.w.t.) and to be near Him.
- Allah (s.w.t.)’s blessings and mercy are bestowed on us constantly during this month.
- Every breath we take during this month has the reward of glorifying Allah (s.w.t.).
- Our sleep is worship and our deeds are accepted favorably.
- It is the best of times and Allah (s.w.t.) looks towards his creatures with kindness and answers their prayers and grants their needs if they invoke Him with earnestness.
- We should beseech Allah (s.w.t.) to have the strength and endurance to fast and recite the Holy Quran.
- We should seek forgiveness for our sins and omissions for this is best month for seeking Allah (s.w.t.)’s forgiveness.
- Those who are devoid of Allah (s.w.t.)’s forgiveness during this great month are the unfortunate.
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