AMR BIL MA'ROOF AND NAHY ANIL MUNKAR

Amr-bil-Ma’roof and Nahy anil Munkar are the 7^th and 8^th Branch of Islam (Furu’-e-Deen). There are many Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an expressing their importance; some of them are as follows:

Surah Ale Imran Ayah 104: “And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and these it is that shall be successful.”

Surah Ale Imran Ayah 110: “You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.”

Surah al-Ma’idah Ayah 63: “Why do not the learned men and the doctors of law prohibit them from their speaking of what is sinful and their eating of what is unlawfully acquired? Certainly evil is that which they work.”

Surah al-Nahl Ayah 125: “Call (the Pagans) to the path of your Lord through wisdom and good advice and argue with them in the best manner.”

It is evident that Amr-bil-Ma’roof and Nahy anil Munkar are obligatory duties which if not fulfilled, will invite Divine chastisement. Those who neglect Nahy anil Munkar are as guilty as those who commit sins and deserve punishment.

It is reported in “Wasa’il al-Shia” that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Indeed, Allah is furious with the weak believer who has no religion, and the feeble one who sees evil but does not try to prevent it.”

The King of Martyrs, the Infallible Imam Husayn (a.s.) said: “No one can be our Shiah except a person whose heart is free of deceit, malice or hatred towards others and free of corruption.”

In the same “Wasa’il al-Shia”, the Infallible Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: “The Almighty Allah revealed to Prophet Shuaib (a.s.): ‘I shall destroy a hundred thousand people from your nation; forty thousand of whom are sinners and sixty thousand righteous’. Prophet Shuaib (a.s.) said ‘O My Lord! The sinners are liable for punishment but why the righteous ones?’ Allah replied ‘Because they used to socialize with the sinners and in spite of My dislike they never disliked the sinners. They never restrained them from sins.”

It is reported in “Wasa’il al-Shia”, the Infallible Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said: “You must practice Amr bil Maroof and Nahy anil Munkar because if you do not, you will be ruled upon evil people and after that if righteous ones among you supplicate, their supplications shall not be granted.”

There are three grades of Nahy anil Munkar: Forbidding evil by heart, tongue and hands. These three are further divided into different kinds and it is obligatory (wajib) to take them into considerations.

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “Some believers perform Nahy anil Munkar with heart, tongue and hands. These people possess good qualities from every aspect. Some people perform Nahy anil Munkar with heart and tongue. They have two good qualities and lack the third one. Others perform Nahy anil Munkar only with their hearts and have only one good quality. They are deprived of two higher qualities. But the person who has none of these three qualities is like a corpse among the living! By performing Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahy anil Munkar someone’s death does not come near and neither is there any reduction in sustenance.”

Before proceeding to Karbala, the King of Martyrs Imam Husayn (a.s.) said to his brother Hazrat Muhammad Hanafiya that he was going to propagate Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahy anil Munkar to the Ummah of his grandfather the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). On the plain of Karbala, he addressed the people assembled to kill him saying: “Remember that when you see a ruler who does what has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, who indulges in sins, who oppresses people he rules and you do nothing to stop such a ruler, before Allah you are as guilty as he is.”

Siurces used: The Glorious Qur’an, Greater Sins by Ayatullah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib, Inner voice by Allama Sayyid Akhtar Rizvi, Journey of tears by Bashir Hasanali Rahim

REVENGE BY THE POLYTHEISTS OF MAKKAH FROM THE FAMILY OF HAZRAT ABU TALIB (A.S.)

In order to investigate the root causes of the Great Tragedy in Human History, the brutal massacre of the grandson of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the desecration of the daughters and other family members of the sacred Ahlul Bayt(a.s.), was not committed by none other than the so called Muslims (the Hypocrites). The Chief of Martyrs, one of the Chiefs of the youth of Paradise, in whose honor the Ayahs of Purity and whose undisputed Truthfulness was certified by the Divine Ayah of Mubahila, Imam Husayn (a.s.) was mercilessly slaughtered on the burning sands of Karbala. After decapitation of his sacred body, his bloody body was trampled by the hoofs of the horses. Imam Husayn, his near ones and his self-less companions were deprived of the water for three days. The height of cruelty was that when Imam Husayn (a.s.) brought his 6 months old infant, Ali al-Asghar, to seek water for the infant, the inhuman enemy killed the baby with a three-pronged arrow used to kill huge animals like camels!

Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) took care of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) when he became an orphan; he used to place his own sons at the place where the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) would sleep so that his own sons may be sacrificed instead of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Allah (s.w.t.) owned the services of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.); in Surah al-Zuha Ayah 6: “Did He not find you an orphan and gave you refuge?” He (a.s.) was the one who recited the Islamic wedding (Nikah) of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) with Sayyida Khadija (s.a.), the mother of the Lady of Paradise Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.). His (a.s.) son, the Conqueror of Khyber, the Gateway of Knowledge, the Infallible Imam Ali (a.s.), sacrificed his life on his cousin, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) on the Night of Migration to Madinah. Imam Ali (a.s.) protected Islam and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) in practically every battle against the enemies.

The Polytheists of Makkah severely fought many battles against Islam and lost every time due to the bravery of Imam Ali (a.s.). When they saw that they cannot defeat Islam and the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) openly, they decided to do under-ground and accepted Islam superficially (still remained enemy at heart) after the Great Conquest of Makkah. They were the hypocrites for whom the Surah al-Munafiqoon was revealed. Abu Sufiyan was the leader of such hypocrites. After his death his son Muawiyah, governor of Syria, continued the mission do dismantle Islam and used every cunning tricks including false propaganda against the protector of Islam, Imam Ali (a.s.), buying out the influential leaders of the Muslim society, mercilessly slaying his opponents including the Prophet’s companions. Muawiyah openly rebelled against the khilafah of Imam Ali (a.s.), raised the copies of the Glorious Qur’an on the spears to avoid imminent defeat at Siffin opposing Imam Ali (a.s.). Continuing the treacherous behavior, he sent a blank paper to Imam Hasan (a.s.) offering him to write any terms to cease fire. One of the terms demanded by Imam Hasan (a.s.) was that after Muawiyah’s death, he will not nominate any successor. As expected of the hypocrites, Muawiyah nominated his son Yazid as his successor, which was completely against the terms of the treaty of peace. It was a tragedy for Muslims that Muawiyah became their caliph! After Muawiyah’s death, Yazid became the caliph or king and asked the governor of Madinah to obtain allegiance from Imam Husayn (a.s.) or kill him!

Islam was protected by Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.), his illustrious son Imam Ali (a.s.), saved by Imam Hasan (a.s.) by signing a peace treaty. At that time, Muslims had distracted from the true Islam. Yazid was a transgressor (fasiq) and a debaucher (fajir), openly ridiculing the Islamic laws and practices. It was impossible for the Grandson of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Imam Husayn (a.s.) to offer allegiance to Yazid which would justify all unIslamic practices prevalent at the time. Hence Imam Husayn (a.s.) embarked upon the noble cause of saving and protecting Islam and left Madinah for Makkah and then to Iraq-Karbala. The Imam took with him his family, including women, children even one month old infant, brothers, nephews, and his sincere companions. After depriving this band of pious warriors of food and water for 3 days, on the 10^th of Muharram of 61 A.H. about 72 people were mercilessly slaughtered by the so-called Muslims, the Imams’s body was brutally trampled by 20 horsemen. Even the infant who was hen 6 months old was killed by these butchers by a 3 pronged arrow usually used to kill camels. After the carnage, the habitats of the Imam were looted and set on fire, the family of the Noble Messenger, including his grand daughters were desecrated by depriving them the veils and made to sit on the camels without seats and taken hurriedly from Karbala to Kufa then to Damascus. All along the route, the decapitated heads of the martyrs were kept on the spears, including the tiny head of the 6 month old infant! Yazid was sitting on the throne while the sacred head of Imam Husayn (a.s.) was kept beneath and he was misbehaving his (a.s.) teeth with cane saying: “There was no Revelation from God, no angels descended. It was a ploy of the Bani Hashim to acquire power! If my forefathers killed in the battle of Badr (by Muslims) were alive, they would have witnessed how I have avenged their deaths!”

BATTLE OF TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD - KARBALA

The seeds of the Tragedy of Karbala were sown at the end of the famous Conquest of Makkah. The Noble Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.s.) entered triumphantly into Makkah without practically any blood-shed. Previously, he had to leave Makkah to avoid his own murder by the Quraysh. They had siege his house at night by joining hands with all tribes to kill the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) so that Banu Hashim may not be able to avenge his murder facing all tribes. But Allah (s.w.t.) informed His Messenger about the plot of the infidels and directed him to let Imam Ali (a.s.) sleep in his bed. The Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) migrated to Madina and later Imam Ali (a.s.) joined him after returning the properties of the Quraish to the owners who had deposited it as trust with the Messenger!

Abu Sufiyan had fought many battles with the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) but failed to dislodge and destroy Islam and the Muslims. After the Conquest of Makkah, he and other polytheists decided to change the tactics of war; instead of facing the Muslims as enemy, they decided to join the adversaries as Muslims. Hence they accepted Islam outwardly but in their hearts they were bitter enemies of Islam; the hypocrites. They waited in the wings for opportunities to attack Islam. Muawiyah, son of Abu Sufiyan also accepted Islam. He used false promises, lavishly spent the trusted wealth of the Muslims to purchase the loyalties of the corrupt and mercilessly killed those who could not be bought out. He played his role to topple the government of caliph Usman and explode the situation culminating to the Battle of Jamal. He rebelled against the popularly elected Imam Ali (a.s.) and also attacked the Muslim army of Imam Ali (a.s.) in Siffin and when his defeat was imminent, raised the Glorious Qur’ans on the spears calling for decision by Qur’an. After the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s.), attacked the Muslim forces under the Infallible Imam Hasan (a.s.), spread chaos in his army, bought out the army leaders, entered into a peace agreement sending Imam Hasan (a.s.) a blank sheet of paper soliciting to write any terms of agreement (because in his heart he did not want to fulfill the terms).  According to that agreement, it was expressly agreed that after Muawiya’s death, the khilafah will be returned to Imam Husayn (a.s.). Further, that Muawiyah will not appoint his son Yazid as his successor. But as expected of a hypocrite, Muawiyah appointed Yazid as the khalifa and spent Muslim wealth to influence people to pay allegiance to Yazid.

As soon as Muawiyah died, Yazid sent instructions to his governors to ask the different leaders to pay allegiance or to kill them. Governor of Madinah sent for Imam Husayn (a.s.). Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.), who dearly loved her brother Imam Husayn (a.s.), asked 18 brave youth of Banu Hashim, to accompany the Imam (a.s.) to the governor. Al-Waleed, the governor, met Imam Husayn (a.s.) respectfully and showed him Yazid’s letter. The Imam (a.s.) asked Al-Waleed to arrange a public gathering in the morning and ascertain their views about Yazid’s sovereignty. The cunning Marwan intervened and advised the governor to either obtain Imam (a.s.)’s allegiance or kill him. The Imam (a.s.) got angry at the audacity of Marwan and raised his voice in protest, and the Banu Hashim who were waiting outside immediately rushed in.

 After a couple of days, Imam Husayn (a.s.) left Madinah along with his family including young and infant children and went to Makkah. Yazid had sent killers in guise of Hajjis to assassinate Imam Husayn (a.s.). Imam Husayn (a.s.) in order to preserve the sanctity of House of Allah, changed the ihram of Hajj to Umrah and left Makkah towards Kufa. On the way, he met Hur with a force of 1,000 men, thirsty and desperately in need of water. Imam Husayn (a.s.) asked his brother and the commander of his small band of warriors, Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) to let the enemy and their horses  quench the thirst. In the desert, water is an invaluable commodity, but the son of Saqi-e-Kusar, Imam Ali (a.s.), sacrificed this rare commodity for the enemy! Hur tried to stop the Imam (a.s.) from proceeding further but later agreed to march with the Imam (a.s.) till they reached Karbala in Iraq on the Muharram 2^nd.of 61 A.H.

Note: Please also read other two articles on this blog; Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufiyan and Yazid ibn Muawiyah

THE OPINIONS OF ANCIENT AND MODERN SCHOLARS ABOUT "NAHJUL BALAGHA"

This precious gem of a book was compiled by Sayyid Razi which consists of sermons, letters, epistles, and sayings of the Gateway of Knowledge, the Conqueror of the Khyber, the “Nafse Rasool”, and Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.).

Nahjul Balagha possessed the distinct merits of literary elegance (Fasaha) and matchless eloquence (Balaghah). Nahjul Balagha enjoys a position in between the speech of the human beings and the Word of God. Indeed, it is above the speech of the creatures and below the Word of the Creator!

Ancient Scholars:

Sayyid Razi, the compiler of Nahjul Balagha, remarks in appreciation and praise as: Amir al-Muminin Ali (a.s.) was the reservoir and fountainhead of eloquence which derived its principles from his speeches and revealed its secrets through him. Every orator of mark tried to imitate him and every preacher learned from him the art of eloquence. Nevertheless, they lagged far behind him while he excelled them all! His speech alone bears the imprint of Divine Wisdom and the fragrance of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)’s eloquence.

Ibne Hadid al-Mu’tazili was a masterly writer and an adept poet of 7^th Century A.H. was an adorer of Imam Ali (a.s.)’s discourse. He expressed his profound admiration for Imam Ali (a.s.) through his book. In the introduction of his famous Commentary on Nahjul Balagha, he writes: “Rightly has Ali’s discourse been regarded as being only inferior to that of the Creator and superior to that of all creatures.”

Modern Perspectives:

Shaykh Muhammad Abduh, formerly Mufti of Egypt, while writing a commentary on Nahjul Balagha said: “Among all those who speak Arabic language, there is not a single man who does not believe that Ali (a.s.)’s discourses, after the (Glorious) Qur’an and the discourses of the (Noble) Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) are the noblest, the most eloquent, the most profound and the most comprehensive.”

Ali al-Jundi, the dean of the faculty of sciences at the Cairo University, in his book “Ali ibn Abi Talib, Shiruhu wa Hikamuh” writing about (Imam) Ali (a.s.)’s prose, says: “A certain musical rhythm which moves the inner most depths of the soul is characteristics of these discourses. The phrases are so rhymed that it can be called ‘prose-poetry’

Taha Husayn, a renowned contemporary Egyptian writer, in his book ‘Ali wa Banuh’ (Ali and his sons), recounts the story of a man during the Battle of Jamal (Camel). He says to himself, “How is it possible that such personalities like Talha and Zubayr be at fault”. He informs about this to Imam Ali (a.s.).  Ali (a.s.) answers: “You are seriously mistaken and reversed the measure! Truth and falsehood are not measured by the worth of persons .Firstly find out what is truth and which is falsehood, then you will see who stands by truth and who with falsehood. After quoting (Imam) Ali (a.s.)’s reply, Taha Husayn says: “After the revelation and Word of God, I have never seen a more glorious and admirably expressed view then this reply of (Imam) Ali (a.s.)

Shakib Arsalan nicknamed “Amir al-bayan” (the master of speech), is another celebrated contemporary writer. Once, in a gathering held in his honor, in Egypt, one of the speakers, during the course of his address, remarked: “There are two individuals in the history of Islam who can truly be named amir al-bayan: one of them is Ali ibn Abi Talib and the other is Shakib.” At which Shakib Arsalan (1871-1946), irritated, left his seat, walked to the rostrum. Deploring the comparison his friend had made between Ali (a.s.) and himself, he said: “What comparison is there between Ali (a.s.) and me! I am not worth even the strap of Ali (a.s.)’s sandals.”

Michael Nai’mah, a contemporary Lebanese Christian writer, in the introduction to the book al-Imam Ali by George Jordaq, also a Lebanese writer, writes: “Ali was not only a champion on the battle field but also a hero in all other fields: in sincererity of heart, in purity of conscience, in the spellbinding magic of speech, in true humanitarianism, in fineness and warmth of faith, in the height of tranquility, in readiness to help the oppressed and the wronged, and in total submission to truth, wherever it may lie and whichever form it assumes. He was a hero in all these fields.

Source:

Selections from the Glimpses of Nahjul Balagha by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari

KNOW YOUR CREATOR

For a thinking mind, every creature on earth guides one to the Creator! If an egg of a chicken is studied in detail, one will realize the Powers of the Omnipotent Allah.

Once, Abu Shair al-Daysani came in the presence of the Infallible Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) and said: “O Ja’far ibn Muhammad, Guide me to Allah”. He had a young boy, who was playing with an egg, the Imam asked the boy to give the egg to him. The Imam said: “O Daysani, this is a concealed stronghold. It has a solid cover, and inside the solid cover there is a soft layer. Inside the soft cover layer there is the egg-yolk and the albumin. Neither does the egg-yolk mix with the albumin, nor does the albumin mix with the egg-yolk. Each remains in its state. No one knows whether it will make a male or a female. Colors like the peacock bursts out of it. Do you not think that it is a product of a Planner (Mudabbir)?

Which planning has created this eggshell of pure lime and consigned astonishing secrets in it? What planning is it that has formed this eggshell, from the feed that birds eat, into a white house that is a peaceful place for the growth of a chicken? Who placed the sperm in the egg, like the pearl in the shell? The embryo is not attached to the mother, neither is there any womb to provide nourishment. Hence, the nourishment is provided inside the eggshell. A delicate membrane is placed between the wall of the tough eggshell, the chicken and its nourishment, that protects it from being harmed. Then in the same dark surroundings, all parts of the animal are formed, such as the bones, muscles, veins, nerves, and senses, and each one is placed in its own position. From all those parts if one only pays attention to the composition of the eye, he will ponder on how delicate its creation is.

Since this chicken will have to feed by picking seeds from between the earth and stones, Allah equipped with a tough beak from the horns of the animals, so that it does not hurt itself from the earth. In order that the chicken does not miss, He gave it a craw to collect all the seeds in it and preserve it there, gradually sending them to the digestive system. Then He covered its delicate skin with feathers and wings that protect it from hot and cold, from injury and other animals. He did not only suffice the chicken with the necessities of life, but He also gave him the physical beauty of colorful feathers.

From the hen’s body, balanced heat is required for the development of the chicken. The bird that does not keep still except the darkness of the night, sits in its place to heat the eggs for the duration that is required to form embryo  and hence the chicken. What wisdom is it that makes this constantly moving bird keep still so that life comes about in the new chicken? Which teacher taught the bird how to turn over the egg in such a way that a chicken is formed, with no parts misplaced? And who taught the chicken to break the eggshell with its beak when its formation is completed and it is ready to enter a new life full of energy?

What meticulousness and mercy has entered the hen that, against its instinct, it protects the life of a chicken? A reform occurs in the life of the hen that makes her stand up to protect and defend her chicken. The hen makes her chest a shield to guard her chicken. This emotional state continues until the chicken becomes able to carry on with its own life.

It is not sufficient for us to take notice of an egg so that it may guide us to Surah al-A’la Ayah 2 and 3: “Who has created (all things) proportionately, decried their destinies, and provided them with guidance.” The Infallible Imam said: “Do you not think that it is the product of a Planner (Mudabbir)?”  

He put his head down for a long time, then said: “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, Alone. He has no associates, and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and you are an Imam and a Proof from Allah for His Creation. I repent for the misguidance in which I was in.”

Source used:

Principles of Faith by Ayatullah al-Uzma Shaykh Husayn Vahid Khorasani, Translated by Maulana Syed Ali Raza Rizvi 

THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR AND THE GATEWAY OF KNOWLEDGE IMAM ALI (A.S.)

It is reported in “Ma’arij al-Nubuwwah and Zuhrat ar-Riaz”,that after 10 days of the sad demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), a Bedouin entered the Masjid-e-Nabavi wearing a veil on his face and holding a hunter in his hand. He asked: “Who is the vice-gerent of the Messenger?” Caliph Abu-Bakr pointed towards the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.). The Bedouin greeted the Imam (a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: “Wa Alaikum as Salaam Ya Muzarrah of the well” The audience in the mosque was surprised by his reply! The Bedouin said: “How did you know my name and why did you call me “the man of well?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: “I was told by my cousin, the Messenger of Allah. You are an Arab, your father’s name is “Waram” and you are 360 years old. When you were 100 years old, you warned your people and informed them about the Noble Messenger and advised them to become a Muslim. But your people did not heed to your advice, tortured you and ultimately threw you in a deep well. You were in that deep well till now, Allah (s.w.t.) destroyed your people and rescued you from the well and were told about the sad demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and that you are his companion and advised to visit his grave in Madinah.” Muzarrah started crying after hearing his episode from Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked: “O Ali! How did you know such details about me?” Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “I was informed by my brother, the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and also that you will come after his demise and sent greetings to you.” Muzarrah was delighted to hear the greetings from the Messenger of Allah for him, and he kissed Imam Ali (a.s.)’s forehead. Imam Ali (a.s.) asked him to remove his veil and as soon as he removed the veil, a light emerged from his forehead which brightened the mosque. He asked some questions from Imam Ali (a.s.) saying that it could only be answered by a Messenger or his Vice-gerent.

Muzarrah: Who was that masculine who did not have mother or father?

Imam Ali (a.s.): He was Adam.

Muzarrah: Who was that feminine who did not have a mother or father?

Imam Ali (a.s.): She was Eve (Hawwah)

Muzarrah: Who was that masculine who did not have a father?

Imam Ali (a.s.): Prophet Ei’sa (a.s.)

Muzarrah: Who was that Messenger who did not belong to humans, jinn, animals or angels?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It is that crow which was sent by Allah to educate Qabeel, who killed his brother Habeel.

Muzarrah: Which was the grave which gave ride to the occupant?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was the huge fish which carried Prophet Younus (a.s.) in the ocean.

Muzarrah: Which was that animal which warned its companions?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was an ant which warned its companions to be careful as they were climbing a beam and to be careful so as to avoid falling soil on Prophet Sulaiman (a.s.)’s head.

Muzarrah: Which was that body which ate but did not drink?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was the staff of Prophet Musa (a.s.) which swallowed the magician’s snakes.

Muzarrah: Which was the part of earth on which the sun shone only once and will never shine again?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was the river Niles which was separated for the Prophet Musa (a.s.) and his people, and once they passed ashore, the water returned to normalcy.

Muzarrah: Which was the stone which gave birth to a living thing?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was that stone from which the she-camel came out in the times of the Prophet Saleh (a.s.)

Muzarrah: Who was the woman who gave birth in 3 hours?

Imam Ali (a.s.): It was Mariyam (s.a.) who was pregnant in one hour, was in labor for one hour and Prophet Ie’sa (a.s.) was born in 3 hours.

Muzarrah: Who are the two friends who will never be enemies?

Imam Ali (a.s.): They are body and soul.

Muzarrah: Who are the two enemies who will never be friend?

Imam Ali (a.s.): Life and death.

Source:

Kaukab-e-Durri by Sayyid Muhammad Saleh Kashfi Al-Tirmizi Al-Hanafi (r.a.)

EID-E-MUBAHILAH

In the early days of Islam, Najran was a big center of learning whose inhabitants were idol-worshipers. Subsequently, they accepted Christianity as their religion. Najran is in the Saudi Arabia, south of Jeddah. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had sent letters to the heads of different countries inviting them to Islam. One such letter was also sent to the Christians of Najran.

It read as follows:

In the name of the God of Ibrahim, Ishaaq and Yaqoob. This letter is from Muhammad, the Prophet and Messenger of       Allah to the Bishop of Najran.

Praise be to the God of Ibrahim, Ishaaq, and Yaqoob. I invite you to worship Allah instead of His servants. I invite you to come out of the rule of servants of Allah and into the rule of Allah Himself.

It is also stated that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) included the following Ayah of the Glorious Qur’an:

“Say, (O’Muhammad) O People of the Book (Bible), come to an agreement between us and you; that we shall worship none but Allah and that we shall claim no partner to Him, and that none of us shall take others for Lords besides Allah” And if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).

This was the event of 10 A.H. Sixty learned priests headed by their chief monk priest, Abdul Masih, came to Madinah and went straight to meet the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) dressed in silken clothes. The Messenger did not like their attire and turned his face away from them. The Commander of the faithful, Maula Mushkil-Kusha, Imam Ali (a.s.) came to their rescue and advised them to dress in simple clothes. When they returned wearing simple clothes, the Messenger warmly welcomed them.

 Following conversation took place:

The Messenger: I invite you to the belief of Tauheed and the worship of one God and submission to His will. (Then he recited Ayah 64 of Surah Aale Imran.)

Abdul Masih: If Islam means faith in one God of the universe, we already believe in Him and follow His commands.

The Messenger: Islam has a few other signs and some of your actions show that you have not accepted true Islam. How do you claim worship of one God when you worship the cross and do not abstain from eating pork and believe that God has a son?

Abdul Masih: Certainly he [Isa (a.s.)] was the son of God because his mother Mary [Mariyam (s.a.)] had given birth to him without marrying anyone in the world. Therefore, obviously his father is the God of this universe. And also because he used to bring the dead back to life, cure the sick and create birds from clay and make them fly. It shows that he is God.

The Messenger: No, he was the servant and creature of God, and placed in the womb of his mother Mariyam (s.a.). All his power and strength was granted to him by God.

At this time, Archangel Jibra’eel brought the following Ayah 59 of Surah Ale Imran:

“Surely, the example of Isa to Allah is like that of Adam; He created him from dust and then said to him, “Be” and he was”

It means that if Isa (a.s.) could be called the son of God because he was born without father, then Adam (a.s.) deserves this title more because he was born without a father and a mother. The priests could not reply to this argument and continued to argue out of obstinacy.

Then the following Ayah 61 of Surah Ale Imran was revealed:

              “And whoever argue with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge then say, come, let             us call our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us             humbly pray (to our Lord) and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars” 

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) produced this verse before the priests and challenged for “Mubahilah”. The priests consulted each other and accepted the challenge. It was agreed that the two parties' contest would take place the next day in the open desert outside Madinah. On 24^th Zilhajj, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) came out for Mubahilah. He was holding Imam Husayn (a.s.) in his arms, and held Imam Hasan (a.s.) by his hand; Lady of Paradise Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was behind him, while the Lion of Allah, Imam Ali (a.s.) was behind her. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said to them, “When I pray for curse of Allah, you should say Ameen”.

In compliance of the Ayah of Mubahela, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) brought Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn (a.s.) as his “SONS”, Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) in place of “WOMEN” while he could have brought three women, and Imam Ali (a.s.) as his “SELF “while the Ayah had the accommodation for three.

The priests, by seeing these shining faces emitting light, were spellbound. Their hearts trembled and they began to shake on seeing the light radiating from The Sacred Panjetan (a.s.).

Their leader asked: “who are these persons who have come with Muhammad”

A man told their names and their relationship with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). He could no longer hold his patience and cried out:

“By God, I am seeing such faces that if they were to pray to God to move the mountain, God Almighty would move the mountain for them. O You People of Najran, if you contest with Muhammad in this prayer of invoking curses on the liars, then I warn you that all of you will be destroyed and not a single soul will remain on this earth. I feel that it would be better to surrender to them and obey them”

After the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) heard these words, he later remarked:

“By God, had the Christians of Najran contested with us, they would have been transformed into monkeys and swine. Fire would have rained over them”  

It is a historic event of a unique triumph of Islam. This event unquestionably established the truth about Islam and the spiritual purity of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). It proved beyond doubt as to who were the members of The House of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and their “unquestionable Truthfulness!”

There is a point to be remembered here that in Arabic language the plural tense is used for more than three. Allah had provided the place for three or more than three persons in the categories of “SONS”, “WOMEN”, and “SELVES”. But the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had to decide as to who were the persons who were “TRUTHFUL” and never lied in their life time, because Mubahilah would bring up Allah’s wrath on the “LIARS”. It was a crucial test for Islam. Hence, he picked-up Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.); only two persons for the place in “SONS”. While in the place of “WOMEN”, he picked-up only his daughter, The Lady of Paradise, Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.). Similarly, in the place of “SELVES”, he picked up The Conqueror of Khyber, Imam Ali (a.s.).

After the sad demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), when Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) claimed her gifted property of Fidak, which was given to her by her father, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), the Caliph did not accept her testimony, that of Imam Ali (a.s.) nor Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.). These were the same Panjetan, whose Truthfulness was accepted by Allah on the eve of Mubahilah!