In the name of Allah

The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful

21^st Jamadiul-Thani 1447 (12^th December 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 113

The following excerpt from Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 114 serves as a reminder to priorities our religious obligations and to pursue good deeds over excessive worldly pursuit of livelihood, which is guaranteed by Allah (s.w.t.).

 

“Allah has guaranteed your livelihood and has commanded you to act. Therefore, the pursuit of that which has been guaranteed to you should not take preference over the performance of what has been enjoined upon you. But by Allah, most certainly the position is that doubt has overtaken and certainty has been shattered and it seems as if what has been guaranteed to you is obligatory on you and what was made obligatory on you has been taken away from you. So, hasten towards good actions and dread the suddenness of death, because the return of age cannot be hoped for, but the return of livelihood can be hoped for. Whatever is missed from livelihood today may be recovered or increased tomorrow, but whatever is lost from the age (life) yesterday, its return cannot be expected today. Hope can be only for that which is to come, while there is only disappointment about that which is passed. So “fear Allah as He ought to be feared and do not die until you are (true) Muslim.” (Quran, 3:102)

 

Key points

• The above passage highlights the theological principle that Allah (s.w.t) has assured sustenance (rizq) for every individual. Hence the pursuit of guaranteed livelihood should not take precedence over the performance of duties commanded by Allah (s.w.t).
• People mistakenly treat the guaranteed (livelihood) as an obligation and the obligatory (religious duties) as secondary or optional.
• A key analogy is drawn between age (life) and livelihood. Livelihood missed today may be regained or increased tomorrow, but lost time is gone forever and is irretrievable. This emphasizes the urgency of righteous actions and preparing for the afterlife before the suddenness of death.
• The passage concludes with an urgent call to hasten towards good deeds and not to be complacent over moral and religious duties with the citation of a powerful Quranic verse (Ayah 102 of Surah Aale Imran), urging believers to fear Allah (s.w.t.) as He deserves to be feared and to maintain their faith until their final breath.

 

We should therefore re-evaluate our life choices and focus on eternal spiritual well-being over transient worldly concerns. To be continued

 

 

Second Sermon

 

Birth anniversary of the unique lady Fatima (a.s.)

I congratulate the Muslims on the auspicious birth anniversary of Fatima (a.s.), the daughter of the Hoy Prophet (s.a.).

 

Fatima (a.s.) was born on the 20th of Jamadiul-Thani, five years after the initiation of the Islamic mission by her father, in Mecca. The house of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and Khadija was illuminated by her birth and there are several traditions relating to this auspicious event. It has been reported in Bahjatul-Qalb Al-Mustafa P:142 that Imam Ali Ibne Al-Hussain (a.s.) has said she was born during a very important era of Islam and during exceptional circumstances.

 

Moreover, it has been reported by many scholars that Allah (s.w.t) had revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that he would be blessed in abundance through the birth of his daughter, Fatima (a.s.) and he was asked to prepare special food and prayer for her. According to a tradition, Gabriel revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that Surah Kauthar was especially granted to him for this divine occasion, which reads: “Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kauthar (the abundance). So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Verily your enemy shall be the one who is cut off (in his progeny).”

 

The reason for the revelation of this Surah is that one day one of the polytheists’ leaders, Asim ibne Wa’el, denounced the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and referred to him as an ’abtar’ (an animal whose tail is cut-off) in the presence of his followers, implying that he did not have a son or an heir. The Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s two sons, Qasim and Taher (Abdullah) through his wife, Khadija, had died and he was very upset by this remark. To console the Holy Prophet (s.a.), this Surah was revealed with the glad tidings that the highest degree of the grace of Allah (s.w.t.) would be bestowed upon him. His enemies, on the other hand, happily imagined that with the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) his mission would cease to exist, as he had no son or an heir. Hence, the revelation of this Surah was in answer to them that Islam and the Holy Quran would continue forever.