In the name of Allah
The All compassionate, the All-Merciful
19th Rabial-Awwal 1447 (12th September 2025)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 99
Zikr, (remembrance of Allah) has numerous positive effects on believers, which include taqwa (fear of Allah), increased piety, spiritual purification and emotional well-being. I quote below an extract from Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 198 from the Nahjul Balagha, relating to taqwa:
“Now then, I advise you to fear Allah, Who created you for the first time; towards Him is your return, with Him lies the success of your aims, at Him terminates (all) your desires, towards Him runs your path of righteousness and He is the aim of your fears (for seeking protection). Certainly, fear of Allah is the medicine for the sickness of your heart, sight for the blindness of your spirit, the cure for the ailments of your body, the rectifier of the evils of your breast, the purifier of the pollution of your mind, the light of the darkness of your eyes, the consolation for the fear of your heart and the brightness for the gloom of your ignorance.”
The Arabic term “taqwa” is often translated as “piety” or “fear of God” and being mindful of Allah (s.w.t.) and conscious of His presence. Fearing Allah (s.w.t.) is intertwined with reverence, awe and a deep respect for His power and majesty. It is a motivating force that encourages believers to obey Him, avoid sins, strive for righteousness and hope for His mercy and forgiveness. In fact, it is the shield for a believer in this life, for whoever fears Allah (s.w.t.) is protected. It is the best provision for a believer, benefiting him in this world, easing his affairs, protecting him from the devil, causing him to enjoy a high station in this world, as well as ease and good tidings at the time of death. Fearing Allah (s.w.t.) is undoubtedly a treasure which one should seek as the virtues, blessings and fruits attached to it are vast.
Allah (s.w.t.) has blessed man with faculties of seeing, hearing and understanding for acquiring knowledge and recognition of Him. The people of hell invest these abilities in worthless objectives and are evidently heedless of the real aim of man’s life, that is, to earn eternal comfort and peace in the hereafter through seeking guidance. Ayah 179 of Surah Al A’raaf provides: “Indeed We have created for hell many jinns and men; they have hearts but they do not understand, they have eyes but they do not see, and they have ears but they do not hear; they are like cattle, nay, even more astray. They are the heedless ones.” This Ayah does not mean that Allah (s.w.t.) has created some people for the specific purpose of fueling hell. What it does actually mean is that even though Allah (s.w.t.) has bestowed upon men faculties of observation, hearing and reasoning, some people do not use them properly. Thus, because of their own failings, they end up in hell. To be continued
Second Sermon
The auspicious birth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)
The 17th of the Rabiul-Awwal marks the birth anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and our sixth Imam, Jafar Sadeq (a.s) and I congratulate Imam Mahdi (a.j.f.) and the Muslim Ummah.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.) was born on the 17th of Rabiul-Awwal in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar on Friday at dawn in the holy city of Mecca. His greatness is not in the extraordinary incidents that occurred with his birth, but simply from the glad tidings and signs of his arrival, which were as follows:
- The Holy Kaaba was trembling for two days and two nights when he was born and the idols inside the Kaaba fell on their faces.
- It has been narrated that when some leaders of the Quraish visited the Kaaba, they found the idols had fallen on their faces and they heard a voice saying: “A child has been born and his light will illuminate the world from the east to the west.”
- The palace built by Nosherwah, the emperor of Persia, trembled, and fourteen of its pillars collapsed without any sign of weakness.
- The sacred fire of Persia, which was blazing for a thousand years, extinguished. In fact, no one was able to light a fire for worship that night.
- Lake Sivah, which people worshipped, dried up.
- A light appeared in the sky at night moving eastward illuminating the entire world and on the following morning the thrones of all the kings were reversed, the skill of soothsayers had departed and the magic of the sorcerers had ended.
(Manaqib ibne Shair Aashub, Vol 1)
It has been narrated by Imam Ali (a.s.) that the idols inside the Kaaba fell on their faces when the Holy Prophet (s.a.) was born, and a voice proclaimed from heaven: “‘Truth has been revealed and evil has been annihilated.’ The skies were illuminating that night, every stone, cloud and tree laughed with joy, and all creatures in the heavens and the earth glorified Allah. Iblees fled, crying, ‘The best and the dearest of Allah’s creation is Mohammad’.” This has reference to Ayah 81 of Surah Bani Isra′il which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) forty years after his birth. “And say ‘the Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Verily falsehood is vanishing.”
Until the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s birth people were troubled and submerged in polytheism and idolatry. Corruption was spreading like wild fire, superstitions and false views in the name of religion ruled the world and tribal fights and disputes were very common. Indeed the Arabian Peninsula was suffering from social, economic, political and other crisis, up to a point where Arabs were facing extinction because of their ignorance and the power of their oppressive neighbours. Hence, Allah (s.w.t.) conferred great favours and blessings on man when he sent the Holy Prophet (s.a.) on earth with guidance and the religion of truth, who was the greatest Messenger of Allah and His light on earth. In fact he has been described as a mercy to the world because the Message that he revealed was for man’s prosperity and eternal bliss. Ayah 107 of Surah Al-Anbiya provides: “And We did not send you (O Muhammad) but as a mercy (rahmah) to all the worlds.” He was very kind to the believers as according to Ayah 128 of Surah Baraah: “Certainly an Apostle has come to you from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress, solicitous regarding your welfare; to the believers he is compassionate, merciful.” His mission was to urge people to search their innate tendency towards God. He assisted them in developing their positive inclinations and instincts enabling them to grow and develop in the right direction through proper channels. He preached the basic principles of the Unity of Allah (s.w.t.) and submission to His Will despite the torment he endured so much so that Ayah 2 of Surah Taha was revealed thus:“We did not send the Quran to you (O our Messenger, Muhammad) so that you distress yourself.”
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