In the name of Allah

The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful

19 Rajab 1447 (9 January 2026)

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 – advice 117 sermon 132

I would like to reiterate that acting according to vain desires and extending of hopes are obstacles that distract individuals from their ultimate purpose of worshipping Allah (s.w.t) and preparing for the eternal life in the hereafter.

 

Last week I had briefly discussed their spiritual pitfalls and today I will discuss this at greater length prior to which I quote below the advice of Imam Ali (a.s) for your ready reference. “O people! What I fear most about you are two things – acting according to desires and extending of hopes. As regards acting according to desires, this prevents from the truth; and as regards extending of hopes, it makes one forget the next world.” (Extract from Sermon 42, Nahjul Balagha)

 

Acting according to desires

Following one’s whims and desires without reason and beyond the framework of Islamic law (Shariah) is strongly discouraged for the following reasons:

• Unchecked desires can prevent a person from recognizing or following the truth and righteousness prescribed by Allah (s.w.t).
• The Holy Quran warns in Ayahs 43 and 44 of Surah Al-Furqan: “Have you seen that who takes his vain inclinations for god? Would you then be a guardian over him? Do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are but like cattle; nay, they are even further astray.” This indicates the severity of prioritizing personal will over divine command.
• Indulging in desires without restraint can lead to self-centeredness, moral and spiritual decline.
• Islam acknowledges desires as part of human nature but emphasizes the need for moderation, self-control and channeling them into permissible and productive pursuits, such as using the desire for wealth for charity or the desire for companionship through lawful marriage.

 

Extending of hopes

Extending of hopes refers to having endless worldly aspirations and a false sense of time, which makes one forget the reality of death and the hereafter.

• This attitude leads to negligence in preparing for the unavoidable journey to the next world and the associated accountability.
• It keeps individuals preoccupied with temporary worldly matters, distracting them from gathering the necessary provisions of sound knowledge and good deeds for eternal life. The Holy Quran warns in Ayah 119 of Surah An-Nisa that Satan leads people astray and instils false hopes in them: “Surely I (Satan) will mislead them and delude them with false hopes…..”
• It fosters procrastination; making a person thinks they can always repent or act righteously tomorrow, leading to a state of unpreparedness when the call of death arrives unexpectedly.  To be continued

 

Second sermon

Martyrdom anniversary of Imam Musa Al-Kazim (a.s)

I offer my condolences to Imam Al-Mahdi (a.j.t.f) and to the lovers of Ahlul Bait on the martyrdom anniversary of our 7th Imam, Musa ibne Jafar (a.s).

 

The Imam was born in Medina on the 7th of Safar, 128 Hijri and was martyred in Baghdad, Iraq, on the 25th of Rajab 183 Hijri. For 20 years he was under the authority of his father, who died 10 years before the end of the cruel Abbasid rule of Mansur. The period of his Imamate lasted for 35 years which included 10 remaining years of the caliphate of Mansur, 10 years of the rule of Mahdi, 1 year and some months of Hadi and about 12 years of the reign of Harun Al-Rashid. The Abbasid caliphs treated the followers of the Imam mercilessly and arrested them when they were alerted of their disloyalty. The Imam was fully aware of the dangerous situation, but it did not deter him from his mission and he continued to disseminate Quranic teachings as his father, Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (a.s), used to do through the Islamic schools opened in Medina during the life of Imam Baqar (a.s).

 

From time to time the Imam was brought from Medina to Baghdad and kept there either under house arrest or in prison under the most difficult of conditions. But he submitted to the Will of God in all circumstances and managed to perform his duties as the Imam of the Ahlul Bait during these trying times. It is because of these uncertain times that the Imam said: “How base is the world for people unless God gives them joy; and how great is this life if God is not angry with them.”

 

It was widely known that Imam Musa Kazim (a.s) had been given powers of healing. Once he was passing by a house where he heard children wailing and when he learnt that their mother had died and they had no one to look after them, he went inside the house, prayed to Allah (s.w.t) for her life. Moments later the woman stood up in good health. People who saw this cried out, “Behold it is Jesus son of Mary.” It has also been reported that one day when Harun Al Rashid visited the grave of the Holy Prophet (s.a) in Medina, he greeted him as follows:“My Salaams to you O’ cousin of our fathers.” Imam Musa Kazim (a.s), who was there at the time, immediately said: “My Salaams to you Our grandfather.” This enraged Al-Rashid, who walked away.

 

Imam Musa Kazim (a.s) was a paragon of moral excellence. He excelled in tolerance and forgiveness, so much so that he was known as Al-Kazim, the suppressor of anger. He never spoke harshly to anyone and even in the most unpleasant situations, he was seen smiling and bearing his pain gracefully. This was in accordance with the advice of Imam Ali (a.s) that the faithful confines his grief in his heart with a smile on his face.