In the name of Allah

The All compassionate, the All-Merciful

8^th Muharram 1447 (4^th July 2025)

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 86

 

Further to last week’s discussion I quote below the following extracts from Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 198 from the Nahjul Balagha on piety and taqwa:

 

“Therefore, make obedience to Allah the way of your life; make it your inner habit instead of only outer routine, subtle enough to enter through your ribs (up to the heart), the guide for all your affairs, the watering place for your getting down (on the Day of Judgement), the intercession for the achievement of your aims, asylum for the day of your fear, the lamp in your graves, company for your long loneliness, and deliverance from the troubles of your abode. Certainly, obedience to Allah is a protection against encircling calamities, expected dangers and the flames of burning fires.

Therefore, whoever entertains fear of Allah, troubles remain away from him after being near, affairs become sweet after their bitterness, waves of troubles recede from him after causing distress, difficulties become easy for him after the strain, generosity rains fast over him after famine, mercy bends over him after it had been loath, the favors of Allah spring forth on him after they had been dried, and blessing descends over him in showers after being scanty. So, fear Allah Who benefits you with His good advice, preaches to you through His Messenger, and obliges you with His favors. Devote yourselves to His worship, and acquit yourselves of the obligation of obeying Him.”   To be continued

 

 

Second Sermon

Divine movement of Imam Husain (a.s) – Part:2

It has always been in our minds as to why the divine movement of Karbala continues to live in the hearts of people after almost fourteen centuries, and why do we reflect on Imam Hussain (a.s)’s aims and thoughts especially during this month. In order to understand this it is highly imperative for us to study the following:

1. The divine element of Karbala.
2. Aspects of human and social life which seek to create peace and harmony.
3. The personality of a leader

With regards to the first element, I would like to emphasize that the movement of Karbala was based on the principles of Islam; the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). In many of Imam Hussain (a.s)’s talks, sermons and letters he asserted the importance of fulfilling the divine duties of Islam. He addressed a large group of scholars in a long and powerful speech and reminded them of their duty to inculcate Islamic conscience and not to mislead the masses who trusted them. He criticized them for not addressing the issues of oppression and prevention of vile and corrupt acts by ignoring the principles of amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar.. He said: “O people, take lesson from the counsel Allah gave to His friends when He rebuked the rabbis by saying: “Why do the scholars and rabbis not forbid them from uttering what is sinful and their eating of what is forbidden? Evil is indeed what they do.” (Surah Ma’ida, Ayah 63) And Allah says: “Cursed were those among the children of Israel who did not believe in David and Jesus, son of Mary, for they persisted in their excesses. They did not forbid each other from committing vile and corrupt acts; indeed how evil was that which they were doing.” (Surah Ma’ida, Ayahs 78-79).

 Allah mentions the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil before all other duties, because He knows that if it is performed and established in the society all other duties, the easy and the difficult, will also become established. The reason for this is that amr bil ma’ruf and nahya anil munkar summons people to Islam, and it resists against injustice, opposes and struggles against oppressors, and it endeavors to ensure that public wealth and income derived from war are distributed in accordance with the just laws of Islam, and that taxes are collected, levied and expended in due and proper form.”

The Imam also exhorted the scholars not to pander to the rulers who paid them to keep away from the truth. O Scholars! You are therefore required to assist us to win back our rights from those powers who have considered it appropriate to wrong us and who have attempted to put out the light kindled by our Holy Prophet. God suffices for us – upon Him we rely; to Him we turn for help and to Him we shall all return. “To be continued