During the 4th year of Be’sat (The year of
Proclamation of Prophet hood), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was ordered by
Allah (s.w.t.) to preach Islam to his near relatives and admonish them. Suarh
al-Shu’ara Ayah 214: “Warn your close relative.” refers to it.
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked young Imam Ali
(a.s.), who was about 12 years old, to prepare meals and invite the sons and
grandsons of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib. About 40 members of the Abdul Muttalib clan
attended the feast but before the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) could address,
Abu Lahab broke the gathering. The next day, another invitation was extended,
meals served and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) addressed the gathering as
follows:
“O
Sons of Abdul Muttalib, Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) has assigned me to warn you of
the painful torments of the wrongdoers
and give you the good news of the rewards to His pious believers. Become
Muslims and follow me to achieve
salvation. I swear by Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) that among all Arabs I do not know
anyone who has brought his
people anything better than what I have brought you. I have brought you prosperity and salvation both in this
world and in the hereafter. The Gracious Allah (s.w.t.) has commanded me to
call you all to worship Him. Now which
one of you is willing to help me with the task? Anybody who announces his readiness to help me to bear this burden will
be my brother, my successor, and the executor of my will, as Aaron (Harun) was unto Moses (Musa).”
The gathering was mute with astonishment. No one ventured
to accept the offer. Only Imam Ali (a.s.) stood up and declared his allegiance and
full support for the mission of Islam. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked
him to sit down. He (s.a.w.a.s.) repeated the offer three times but no one
except Imam Ali (a.s.) replied to support him. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
locking hid hands around this generous and courageous youth declared: “Behold my brother, my Vazir (successor) and the
executor of my will among you. Listen to him and Obey him.”
The famous writer, Thomas Carlyle, the author of Heroes
and Hero Worship said: “They laughed, but these two proved to the world that
there was nothing laughable and they had the wisdom and courage to make their
mission a success. Young Ali had such a
personality as he could be liked, loved and venerated by everybody. He was the
man of excellent character, loving and lovable, so intensely brave that if anything stood against his bravery it
was consumed as if by fire, yet he was so gentle and kind that he represented
the model of a Christian Knight.”
This was first and the greatest service done for Islam! What
would have happened if Imam Ali did not offer his support?
It is worth-noting here to compare the word “burden” used
here and also in Suarh al-Nashrah: “(Muhammad), did We not comfort your heart,
relieve you of the “burden” which had been a heavy weight upon your back (by
creating Ali ibne ibi Talib to help you against your atrocious enemies) and
grant you an exalted reputation?
The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) kept his
promise to help the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and protected Islam and Allah’s
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) throughout his life and practically demonstrated that he
lived for Islam and was Martyred for Islam.
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