In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful
30 Ramadan 1447 (20 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 126
With reference to my discussion last week on divine guidance, I quote below further evidence from the Holy Quran relating to it:
Ayah 221 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
“…They beckon to the Fire, but God beckons to the Garden and forgiveness …”
Ayah 25 of Surah Yunus:
“God calls (you) to the abode of peace and guides whomsoever He pleases to the right path.”
Ayah 108 of Surah Yusuf:
“Say (O Our Messenger Muhammad) “This is my way; I invite (all of you) with clear sight to God, which I and he who follows me possess. Glory be to God, I am not one of the polytheist”
Ayah 14 of Surah Ar-Ra’d:
“….and the prayer of the infidels does nothing but goes far astray.”
Ayah 9 of Surah Bani-Isra’il:
“Verily, this Quran guides to that which is most upright and announces glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds that they shall have a great reward.”
Ayah 46 of Surah An-Nur:
“We have, indeed. Sent down manifest signs and God guides whomsoever He pleases to the Right Path.”
Ayahs 45 and 46 of Surah Al-Ahzab:
“O Our Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner.
And the one who invites to God by His command, and an illuminating lamp.”
Ayah 41 of Surah Al-Ghafir:
“And O my people! How is it that I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire?
Ayah 17 of Surah Al-Hujurat:
“They impress on you as a favor that they have submitted to God in Islam; say: “Lay no obligation upon me by your submission; rather, God lays an obligation upon you that He guided you to Faith, if you are truthful.”
Ayah 3 of Surah Al-Insaan:
“Verily We have shown him the (right) way, be he grateful or ungrateful.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Eide Fitr
The blessed month of Ramadan is nearly over and Muslims around the world will soon be celebrating Eide Fitr which is a unique festival. I take this opportunity to congratulate Muslims on this auspicious day of Eide Fitr, which is a great day of festival for them as they bid farewell to the blessed month of Ramadan.
The significance of Eid-Fitr stems from the special meaning it holds for the entire Muslim community in the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t). However, Imam Ali (a.s) explained its significance in greater details. According to him, its purpose is more profound than mere celebrations and relaxation. It is a day of victory for believers who have completed their duty by fasting, for their souls have returned to the pristine state of purity because Allah (s.w.t) has forgiven their sins and transgressions, and they now have the opportunity to start afresh. They should therefore emulate their character and Islamic values which they have focused for the past month and continue in worship and prayers. He addressed Muslims on the Day of Eide Fitr along the following lines:
“O people! Verily this day of yours is the day when the righteous are rewarded and the wretched are losers. It is a day which is similar to the Day of Resurrection when you will be standing before your Lord in awe. Therefore, when you come out of your homes to go to the place of worship to perform your Eid prayer, remind yourselves about the day when you will be emerging from your graves to meet your Lord. When you take your places for prayer, visualize yourselves standing in the presence of your Lord in the divine court. Moreover, when you return to your homes after prayer envisage the joy or the horror you will experience when proceeding to your eternal abode in paradise or hell after judgement.
O Servants of Allah! Verily the minimum reward for those men and women who fasted during Ramadan is precisely what the angel announces to them on the last day of the month of Ramadan: ‘O servants of Allah! Rejoice! All your sins have been forgiven. Therefore, be careful of your duties and responsibilities to Allah on this day and the days to follow’.” (The book of Amaali, page 100)
The valuable points of the above sermon are provided hereunder:
- The believers will be rewarded for having completed their duty as ordained by Allah (s.w.t) by fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. Hence, Allah (s.w.t) has forgiven all their sins.
- They now have the opportunity to start with a clean slate but they should be careful of their duties and obligations henceforth.
- Eide-Fitr is similar to the Day of Resurrection, when everyone will be standing before Allah (s.w.t) in awe.
- Muslims should visualize, whilst travelling to the mosques to perform their Eid prayer, the day when they will rise from their graves to meet with their Lord. When they take their place for prayer they should imagine that they are standing in Allah (s.w.t)’s divine court.
- After prayer, they should bring to mind that the judgement has been pronounced and the joy or misery they would then feel.
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