In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful
Ramadan 1447 (13 March 2026)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 125
Guidance (Hidayah) in Islam is the divine direction provided by Allah (s.w.t), primarily through the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a), enabling believers to distinguish truth from falsehood and live according to divine principles. It acts as a moral compass, aiding in spiritual, personal, and ethical choices, aiming to connect with Allah (s.w.t) and is considered the greatest blessing a believer can receive. It is indeed a light that directs the heart and mind toward the truth of monotheism and righteous living.
I quote below an extract from Sermon 88 from the Nahjul Balagha, wherein Imam Ali (a.s) refers to those who are devoid of Allah (s.w.t) guidance:
“I wonder, and there is no reason why I should not wonder, about the faults of these groups who have introduced alterations in their religious pleas, who do not move on the footsteps of their Prophet nor follow the actions of the vicegerent. They do not believe in the unknown and do not avoid the evil. They act on the doubts and tread in (the way of) their passions. For them good is whatever they consider good and evil is whatever they consider evil. Their reliance for resolving distress is on them. Their views in regard to dubious matters is based on their conjecture as if every one of them is the Leader (Imam). Whatever they decide they consider it to be based on so-called reliable sources and strong factors.”
Scholars are of the view that Imam Ali (a.s) was referring to the Khawarij who primarily were his supporters, but subsequently rebelled against him for he had settled the conflict with Muawiya, at the Battle of Siffin. Ali (a.s) defeated the Khawaij at the Battle of Nahrawan but their insurrection continued and he was finally assassinated by a Khawarij dissident, Ibn Muljam, seeking revenge for the defeat at Nahrawan. It can be noted that the Imam (a.s) was surprised at their belief for it was not possible to be guided to the right way without the fundamental sources, namely the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a). To be continued
Second Sermon
Martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s)
Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the House of God, the Holy Kaaba, and he was also martyred in the House of God at Masjid Kufa. On the 19th morning when the Imam was in prostration whilst offering his morning prayers, Abdul Rahman Ibn Muljam dealt a heavy blow on his head with a sword, inflicting a deep wound and our dear Imam succumbed to the injury on the 21st of Ramadan and was buried in Najaf. On this sad occasion I would like to offer my condolences to Imam Mahdi (a.t.j) and to the lovers of the Ahlul Bait.
Imam Ali (a.s)’s assassination was prophesied by the Holy Prophet (s.a). It has been narrated that one day when the Holy Prophet (s.a) was delivering a sermon on the importance of Ramadan, Ali (a.s) asked him what did he consider as the best deed during this holy month, to which the Holy Prophet (s.a) replied:“The best deed during the month of Ramadan is to keep away from evil deeds as forbidden by Allah”. He then burst into tears. Ali (a,s) was distressed to see him in that state and enquired about the reason for his grief. The Holy Prophet (s.a) said: “I am crying because I can see a catastrophic event that will take place in this holy month. Whilst you will be in prostration during your prayers, the most heinous of all criminals and the one who is as vicious as the person who killed the camels of Thamood will strike your head with a poisonous sword and your beard will be stained with blood.”
The Imam then enquired: “Will I be on the right path?” The Holy Prophet (s.a) said he certainly would and declarad: “O Ali, whoever kills you, kills me, whoever abuses you, abuses me and whoever bears enmity against you is my enemy because indeed you are from me. Your soul is from my soul and your nature is my nature. Verily, Allah, the Greatest, has created me and you and He has selected me as His Prophet and He has chosen you as the Imam and Caliph after me. Hence whoever denies your Imamate has indeed denied my prophetic mission. O’ Ali, you are my successor, father of my grandchildren, my daughter’s husband and the Caliph of my people, both during my lifetime and after my death. Your command is my command and your prohibition is my prohibition. I swear by Him who made me His Prophet and the best person on earth, indeed you are the Proof of Allah for His creatures, the trustee of His secrets and the guardian of His slaves.” (The book of Amaali Sadooq, Page 95)
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