In the name of Allah

The All compassionate, the All-Merciful

15^th Rabiul-Awwal 1446 (28^th August 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 – Part: 149

According to Imam Ali (a.s.)’s Sermon 131, the chief leader of the Muslim community or a Caliph, acts as the successor to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) to maintain order, guard faith and manage public resources. This can be classified under: Responsibilities; and 2. Qualities of a Caliph. Today I will talk about the primary responsibilities of a caliph which include political governance, religious protection and social welfare.

 

Governance and Law

• Implementing and upholding Islamic law.
• Choosing trustworthy governors, administrators and judges across the regions.
• Managing public funds, state budgets and collecting taxes like Zakat and Fay.

Security and Defense

• Directing military forces and protecting the borders and safety of the community.
• Resolving public grievances and ensuring internal peace and order.

Religious and Social Duties

• Leading communal prayers and delivering sermons as the leading Imam, when required.
• Supporting the poor, needy and vulnerable through proper distribution of charity and state revenues.

 

Inshallah I will discuss in my next session, the final part of Sermon 131 which reads as follows:

“You certainly know that he who is in charge of honor, life, booty, (enforcement of) legal commandments and the leadership of the Muslims should not be a miser as his greed would aim at their wealth, nor be ignorant as he would then mislead them with his ignorance, nor be of rude behavior who would estrange them with his rudeness, nor should he deal unjustly with wealth thus preferring one group over another, nor should he accept a bribe while taking decisions, as he would forfeit (others) rights and hold them up without finality, nor should he ignore the sunnah as he would ruin the people.” To be continued

 

Second Sermon

The auspicious birth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.)  

The 17th of Rabiul-Awwal marks the birth anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and our sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadeq (a.s.) and I congratulate Imam Mahdi (a.j.f.) and the Muslim Ummah.

 

The Holy Prophet (s.a.) was born on the 17th of Rabiul-Awwal in the

Year 570 of the Gregorian calendar, on Friday at dawn in the holy city of Mecca. His greatness is not in the extraordinary incidents that occurred with his birth, but simply from the glad tidings and signs of his arrival, which were as follows:

 

1. The Holy Kaaba trembled for two days and two nights when he was born and the idols inside the Kaaba fell on their faces.
2. It has been narrated that when some leaders of the Quraish visited the Kaaba, they found the idols had fallen on their faces and they heard a voice saying: “A child has been born and his light will illuminate the world from the east to the west.”
3. The palace built by Nosherwah, the emperor of Persia, trembled and fourteen of its pillars collapsed without any sign of weakness.
4. The sacred fire of Persia, which was blazing for a thousand years, extinguished. In fact, no one was able to light a fire for worship that night.
5. Lake Sivah, which people worshipped, dried up.
6. A light appeared in the sky at night moving eastward illuminating the entire world and on the following morning the thrones of all the kings were reversed, the skill of soothsayers had departed and the magic of the sorcerers had ended. (Managib V:1)

 

It has been narrated by Imam Ali (a.s.) that the idols inside the Kaaba fell on their faces when the Holy Prophet (s.a.) was born, and a voice proclaimed from heaven: “‘Truth has been revealed and evil has been annihilated.’ The skies were illuminating that night, every stone, cloud and tree laughed with joy, and all creatures in the heavens and the earth glorified Allah. Iblees fled, crying, ‘The best and the dearest of Allah’s creation is Mohammad’.” This has reference to Ayah 81 of Surah Bani Isra′il which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) forty years after his birth. “And say ‘the Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Verily falsehood is vanishing.”

 

Until the Holy Prophet (s.a.)’s birth people were troubled and submerged in polytheism and idolatry. Corruption was spreading like wild fire, superstitions and false views in the name of religion ruled the world and tribal fights and disputes were very common. In fact, the Holy Prophet (s.a.) has been described as a mercy to the world because the Message that he revealed was for man’s prosperity and eternal bliss. Ayah 107 of Surah Al-Anbiya provides: “And We did not send you (O Muhammad) but as a mercy (rahmah) to all the worlds.” He was very kind to the believers as according to Ayah 128 of Surah Baraah: “Certainly an Apostle has come to you from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress, solicitous regarding your welfare; to the believers he is compassionate, merciful.” His mission was to urge people to search their innate tendency towards God. He assisted them in developing their positive inclinations and instincts enabling them to grow and develop in the right direction through proper channels. He preached the basic principles of the Unity of Allah (s.w.t) and submission to His Will despite the torment he endured so much so that Ayah 2 of Surah Taha was revealed thus: “We did not send the Quran to you (O our Messenger, Muhammad) so that you distress yourself.”     To be continued