In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate, the All-Merciful
25th Muharram1448 (10th July 2026)
Islamic Universal Association
20 Penzance Place, Holland Park
London, W11 4 PG
Imam Ali (a.s.)’s advice in the Nahjal-Balagha – Part 149
As explained earlier, Imam Ali (a.s.) viewed this worldly life (Dunya) as an illusion or a fleeting passage, rather than our permanent home. According to him, true reality begins when the soul transitions from this mortal existence to the eternal life hereafter. He famously described it with the analogy: “People are asleep; when they die, they wake up.”
Rather than something to fear, death to him is a natural transition; a bridge that moves the soul from a transient life into an eternal one.
- He advised that hatred towards death stems from a deep emotional attachment to worldly decorations.
- He considered death a certainty, stating there is nothing between a person and paradise or hellfire except the reality of death.
- He emphasized that remembering mortality is essential for leading a mindful, ethical and purposeful existence, and he urged people to live honorably.
Relevant Ayahs are:
Ayah 158 of Sura Ale-Imran: “If you die or are slain, to God alone you shall return.”
Ayah 97 of Surah An-Nahl: “Whoever does good, whether male or female, being a believer, then We will certainly make him live a good and pure life, we shall certainly give him his just recompense with the best of what he was doing.”
Ayah 40 of Surah Ar-Rum: “God is He Who created you, then provided you with sustenance, then He causes you to die and then brings you to life again; ….”
Ayah 26 of Surah Al-Jathiya: “Say (to them): “God grants you life, then He causes you to die, then He will assemble you on the Day of Resurrection; there is no doubt about this, yet most people do not know.”
Ayahs 1 and 2 of Surah Al-Mulk: “Hallowed is He in Whose Hand is the kingdom (the heavens and the earth), and He has power over all things.
Who has created death and life, that He may try you to ascertain which of you is best in deeds; He is the ever-Prevalent, the oft-Forgiving.” To be continued
Second Sermon
Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) – Part 2
I would like to convey my condolences to Imam Mahdi (a.t.j.) and the followers of the Ahlul Bait on the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Zainul Abedeen (a.s.) who was poisoned by the Umayyad ruler, Al-Walid on the 25th of Muharram, 95 Hijri.
The Imam was present during his father’s movement from Medina until the final
Moments of his life which culminated in Karbala? He witnessed his father’s integrity and fair-play with his enemies and his attempt to guide them; his endeavor to put an end to tyranny, crime and maladministration of the Bani Umayyad regime, his sacrifice and devotion towards his companions and relatives and his supreme martyrdom. He also witnessed the cruelty of the Bani Umayyad regime, the flagrant followers of Satan who had turned their backs on God, the Prophet and Islam, when they brazenly killed the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s progeny and burnt and plundered the tents, inhabited by women and children, and subjected them to traumatic tribulations. He watched with great sadness the dead bodies of his father and other male members fully exposed on the burning sands of Karbala. He could not erase from his memory on how they had to endure the degrading and tormenting treatment after the massacre at Karbala.
It has been reported in Montahi Al-Amaal on page 187 that in Shaam an old Syrian man verbally abused the Imam and said: “I thank Allah that He has killed and destroyed you and annihilated seditious people like you.” At that time the Imam was ill and had experienced the hardships of the journey from Kufa to Shaam. He was also bereaved and had arrived in a city which was at that time the center of the enemy of Ahlul Bait. However, the Imam behaved towards the old Syrian like a kind and sympathetic teacher, as if he had experienced nothing from him except kindness and respect and asked him mildly: “Have you read the Quran?” The man replied: “Yes, why not?” Thereupon the Imam said: “Have you not read the Ayah 23 of Surah As-Shura: “Say, O Muhammad! I do not want from you any recompense for my preaching to you except that you should love my kin…” When the man replied that he had, the Imam said: “I swear by Allah that we are the kin of the Holy Prophet.” Thereafter, the Imam pointed out to Ayah 26 of Surah Bani-Israel: “And give to the near of kin his due…” and asked him if he had read it. After the man said that he had, the Imam explained: “Those relatives referred to by Allah in this Ayah are none other than us.” Subsequently, he recited Ayah 41 of Surah Al-Anfal and asked the old man whether he was aware of it: “And know that whatever you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Apostle and for the near of kin.” The man said that he was aware of the Ayah and thereupon the Imam explained: “We are that near of kin to whom a fifth has been assigned.” Then he asked the man: “Have you not read Ayah 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab: “O people of the house, Allah wants to purify you with a perfect purification.” The man replied: “Yes. I have”. The Imam then explained: “We are the people of the house whose infallibility has been testified by Allah.” On hearing these Ayahs and the rationalization of the Imam, the Syrian wept profusely and raised his hands in prayer and said: “O Allah! I sincerely regret my actions and I am truly ashamed of how I have treated the progeny of the Holy Prophet. I despise their enemies especially those who have killed them. I do not know how I misconstrued this. I have read the Quran but I did not pay attention to these verses….” Then he enquired whether his repentance would be accepted. When the Imam affirmed that it would, he heaved a sigh of relief. Shortly thereafter Yazid got him killed.
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