In the name of Allah

The All compassionate, the All-Merciful

23^rd Jamadial-Awwal 1447 (14^th November 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 109

Further to last week’s discussion, today I would like to explain in detail Imam Ali (a.s.)’s powerful reminder about the futility of materialism in his Sermon 114, which reads: “As for tribulation, a man collects what he does not eat and builds where he does not live. Then he goes to Allah without carrying his wealth or shifting the building.”

 

1. The phrase: “A man collects what he does not eat”.
2. This refers to man’s obsession for hoarding wealth and goods. He may spend his entire life working and collecting riches, only to die before he can enjoy or consume it all.
3. This act of ceaseless accumulation is a manifestation of the love of this world; a spiritual disease that corrupts the heart and distracts man from his ultimate purpose.
4. Islamic teachings emphasize that true wealth is what one spends in charity or gives in service to others. As the Holy Prophet (s.a.) has said: “Your real wealth is what you ‘send forth,’ not what you ‘keep back’. What is left behind is the inheritance of others.” 

 

2. “And builds where he does not live”.
3. This describes the building of lavish and ostentatious homes, palaces or other structures for no practical need, other than for fulfilling a desire for worldly grandeur.
4. According to a tradition, the extravagant construction of buildings will be seen as heedless and excessive on the Day of Judgement.
5. The Imam’s statement serves as a potent reminder that a person will ultimately

leave his grand dwelling for his grave, which will be his true abode.

 

3. “Then he goes out to Allah without carrying his wealth or shifting the building.”
4. The inevitable reality is that upon death, one leaves all material possessions and worldly accomplishments behind and takes nothing with him to his grave.
5. The things that he carries to the hereafter are only his deeds. All wealth and buildings are completely irrelevant in the afterlife.
6. The final part of the statement emphasizes that man will meet Allah (s.w.t.) when he will be held accountable for his deeds, not for his worldly accumulations.

This is the moment when all illusions of worldly grandeur are shattered, and the true worth is measured only by piety and righteous actions.

 

Imam Ali (a.s.) also advises: “On Judgement Day the greatest regret will be felt by one who had earned wealth through sinful ways, although one who inherited and spent it in obeying Allah, the Glorified, will be awarded paradise for his actions, while the first one will enter the fire on account of it.” (Short Saying 429, Nahjul Balagha)

 

“The worst in concluding a transaction and the most unsuccessful in striving is the man who exerts himself in seeking riches, although fate does not help him in his aims and consequently he goes from this world in a sorrowful state, while in the next world too he will face ill consequences.” (Short Saying 430, Nahjul Balagha)

 

Second Sermon

Life of Fatima (a.s.) – Part 2

Today I will discuss Fatima (a.s.)’s life after the death of her mother, Khadija (a.s.) until her migration to Medina.

 

Fatima (a.s.) was with her father in Mecca for 3 years after the death of her mother. However, despite her pain and suffering on the loss of her mother, when she was barely 5 years old, she looked after her father with undue care and devotion to such as extent that the Holy Prophet (s.a.) called her “Umme Abiha” i.e. the mother of her father. This was the hardest time for them because with the demise of Abu Talib, who was the protector of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), the hostility of the Quraish became the severest then. She saw and dressed the wounds sustained by her father due to stones thrown on him by the disbelievers.

 

Her noble and courageous life that she led combined with her spiritual eminence made her one of the greatest women that have ever lived. She had a special place in her father’s heart. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) paid special attention to her training and development by ensuring that she accompanied him to many of his significant life events, such as to his first public declaration of Prophet Hood in the harsh and unpredictable surroundings of Mecca.

 

The following significant events occurred during the last three years of their stay in Mecca:

• In the 11th year of Biset the Holy Prophet (s.a.) visited Taif on a mission to invite people to Islam without any success. However, on his return some jinns accepted Islam.
• The historical Night of Ascension or Miraj, when the Holy Prophet (s.a.) ascended to the heavens, as mentioned in Surah Bani Isra’il, occurred in the 12th year of Biset.
• On the 1st of Rabial-Awwal, the 13th year of Biset, the Holy Prophet (s.a.) left his home in Mecca and migrated to Medina which is known as Hijrat. This migration of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and his followers was decreed by Allah (s.w.t) on account of the conspiracy by the leaders of the Quraish to murder him and obliterate the truth. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) informed Ali (a.s.) about the impending danger and his plan to migrate and asked him to sleep on his bed. Ali (a.s.) without any hesitation accepted the danger to his life. Fatima (a.s.) was left in Mecca with the rest of the family which included Umme Salama, Fatima binte Asad (Ali’s mother), and others and Ali (a.s.) was in charge of the family. They joined the Holy Prophet (s.a.) in Medina in about a month as Ali (a.s.) had to carry out some obligations and duties.