In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful
7th Shawwal 1447 (27th 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 127
In continuation with my discussion on divine guidance, today I will talk about Hadith Al-Thaqalayn (Hadith of the Two Weighty Things); a highly significant tradition in Islam which has been accepted as authentic by both Sunni and Shia schools. It records the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s declaration regarding the two sources of guidance he was leaving behind for his followers; the Holy Quran and his progeny, the Ahlul Bait.
- The first weighty thing: The Book of Allah (Holy Quran), which is guidance and light and a rope extended from heaven to earth.
- The second weighty thing: The Holy Prophet (s.a)’s progeny (the Ahlul Bait). The Holy Prophet (s.a) had famously stated: “They will never separate from each other until they meet me at the Pond of Kawthar”. This hadith is a cornerstone for the doctrine of Imamate. Scholars are of the view that because the Ahlul Bait are paired with the inerrant Holy Quran and they will never separate from it, they are therefore also infallible guides whose obedience is mandatory.
Imam Ali (a.s.) explained to his close companion, Kumayl ibn Ziyad, the profound and inseparable connection between the Holy Quran and the Ahlul Bait, which are the dual sources of guidance after the Holy Prophet (s.a.). He said: “O’ Kumayl!
We are Thaqalayn Al-Asghar, the smaller weighty thing and the Holy Quran is Thaqalayn Al-Akbar, the bigger weighty thing, as declared by the Holy Prophet to the Islamic nation in his mosque in Medina, where he assembled his followers. He sat on the pulpit and beckoned me to come towards him and he made me sit on the pulpit, where my head was as high as his chest, and Hassan and Hussain were by his right and left side. After praising Allah, the Holy Prophet said: “What I am about to declare is a message from Allah and it is not from me, so whoever accepts this message accepts Allah’s divine guidance and he will be rewarded in paradise. On the contrary, whosoever denies this message will be punished in hell.” He then continued: “O’ people! I am about to leave this world and Gabriel has conveyed to me Allah’s message whereby I am ordered to declare that I am leaving behind two weighty things, the Holy Quran (Thaqalayn Al-Akbar) and my successor (Ali) and my two grandsons, Hassan and Hussain, and whoever comes after them from their loins are my Ahlul Bait (Thaqalayn Al-Asghar), each of them is to testify to the other and they will always be inseparable until they come to me on the Day of Rrésurrection when Allah will judge between them and His servants.” (R: Safina V:1 P:132) To be continued
Second Sermon
The month of Shawwal
Today is the first Friday of the month of Shawwal and believers are encouraged to continue the spirit of gratitude and giving in the path of Allah (s.w.t) even after the month of Ramadan. After the Eide Fitr celebrations, many Muslims choose to continue the spiritual momentum gained during Ramadan by fasting a further six days in Shawwal for added divine blessings. Some consider the additional fasts as a way of seeking forgiveness for any shortcomings during Ramadan.
Last week I had quoted Imam Ali (a.s.)’s sermon delivered on the day of Eide Fitr wherein he called upon us not to forget our future obligations and to seek forgiveness for our sins and omissions with sincerity. Similarly, he gave another sermon (quoted below) in the city of Basra that contained these valuable points:
“Time is elapsing and the past is a lesson for the present. The past cannot come back and one cannot have peace of mind about the future. People are departing from this world, but their places are being filled. The first lot is visitor for the incoming ones who are leaders of the next in line. They will all separate from one another, but everyone will ultimately reconnect. Death will dominate over us all and the Harrowing Day will soon be upon us when wealth and children will not be profitable other than a pure heart.
O my followers! You should be patient and perform actions that you will need tomorrow and avoid actions that will attract chastisement. You will find that performing your duty with patience is far more desirable than punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Your time is limited and your life will be accounted for and certainly time and desires will all end.” Then the Imam wept and recited Ayah 10 of Surah Infitar: “While verily watchers (angels) are appointed over you.” (Amali Shaikh Sadooq, page 109)
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