AELIYA - IMAM ALI (A.S.) IN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS - 3

Mr. L.K.Bhatnagar writes in his book “Bodhiya Chamatkar” published by Adankar Pustakalia, Cawnpur, India in the year 1927:

“One day, Mahtama Buddha woke up with a scream and his companion also was awaken by his scream. He inquired if Buddha had a bad dream. Buddha replied that he was informed by a super spirit who said: “Your struggle and prayer have been accepted, recite my name and your wishes will be granted. My name is Aaliya, if you want to meet me my house is the Sacred Temple with broken wall and you will see me as a boy but that time is too far.” After this, he drew a sword and said in a thunderous voice: “Look! I am a lion, God has made me a lion. Go and cleanse the world from sins and crimes, clean the hearts of the people. My Prophet will be coming soon, obey his orders. I am sending you as my slave and follower, go and serve the people, do not be deceived, recite my name and call me if in distress.”

The word “Aaliya” is the same as “Aeliya”. Sacred Temple with broken wall is the Khana-e-Kabah and its wall was broken to let in Bibi Fatima binte Assad for the birth of The Commander of the Faithful. The sword stated is the “Zulfiqar” of the Victor of the Khyber. In a way, Imam Ali (a.s.) was sending the Saint Buddha to India and other Eastern countries for the salvation and cleansing the hearts of the people from sins and crimes. And repeated to call him if in distress as he is the “MushkilKusha”

Subsequently, as it had been the fact that there always is conflict between Righteousness and Evil, similarly forces who were against the Saint Buddha also vehemently opposed him. Hence, He called Imam Ali in the following words:

            “O’ The Beloved of the Lovers, O Aeliya, O Dominant one (Ghalib), please come

            for my help, O Lion of the Lord, foxes want to overpower me. For His sake

            whose “Hand” you are (Yadullah). For His sake whose (Divine) power is in

            you. As you promised, this is the time for help. Come as soon as possible,

            otherwise I would be ruined. Your name is the name of God. Come as looking at

            you are prayer. You are the face of God. (Wajhullah). My beloved, I am nothing

            compared to you. You are seeing everything. You are aware of my miseries.

            Only you can remove my miseries. Om Aaliya, Om Aaliya, Om Aaliya”

Reference: “Aeliya” by Hakeem Syed Mahmood Gilani – in Urdu (online)

AELIYA - IMAM ALI (A.S.) IN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS - 2

In the year 1951, when Russian researchers were probably searching for some mine’s excavation, when they came across a very old wooden plank about 14 inches long and 10 inches wide. It was noticed that other wooden planks were thoroughly damaged by the passage of time except this tablet.

At the end of 1952, the archaeological experts concluded that this was a part of the famous Boat of Prophet Noah.

According to the following authors:

Mirat ul Daqeeq Fi Tahqeeq Ateeq by Siraj As-Safani, Baghdad

Asaar al-Gharbia by Abul Fatah Zanjani, Egypt

Sirat ul-Mursaleen by M. Kabir Khan Shirazi, Iran

Prophet Noah was building the wooden boat, crying and reciting the following Dua’a:

            O’Allah, Save me by Your Mercy

            Grant me salvation and safety for

            The sake of Your Last Prophet and (Muhammad)

            For the sake of Your First Imam (Ali)

            Whose name is Aeliya

            For the sake of Chief of the Women of the Universe (Fatima)

            For the sake of The Two Martyrs (Hasan & Hussain)

            For the sake of The Infant whose neck will be pierced by arrow (Ali Asghar)

            For the sake of The Lady who will not have cover on her head (Zainab)

After the Gigantic Flood, when Prophet Noah descended on Mount Judi along with his true followers he offered prayers and thanked Allah in the following words:

            O’Allah! I offer my countless Praise and Thanks

            You saved me from this enormous chastisement

            I also thank for Prophet Ahmad and Aeliya for his help

            The same Aeliya who will be born in Your House!

            And your Prophet Muhammad’s daughter and her sons

The Russian Government of the Soviet Union formed a commission of seven archaeological experts on February 27, 1953 to investigate and after eight months they concluded that it was written in Samani language, which was prevalent in the time of Prophet Noah. It was translated in English by Mr. N.F.Malks, an expert in Ancient Languages, Manchester, England as under:

            O My God my Helper, Keep my hand with Mercy,  

            And with Your Holy Bodies;

            Muhammad

            Alia

Shabbar

Shabbir

Fatima

They are all biggest and Honorable

The world established for them

Help me by their names, You can reform to right.

It was published in the following:

Monthly, Star the Britannia, London, January 1954

Newspaper, Sunlight, Manchester, January 23, 1953

Weekly, Mirror, London, January 1, 1954

AELIYA - IMAM ALI (A.S.) IN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS

Syed Mahmood Gilani was an Ahle –Hadees Muslim for about 32 years. He was editor of many newspapers and had also written many books. Subsequently, he found the right path and became a Shi’a after conducting through research and investigation. His research produced a book called “AELIYA” and published by Islamic Book Center, Islamabad.

The book is written in Urdu. Following are the extracts from the book:

Priest J.B.Gladoon of the Church of London, had written in his book titled “A Note on the Old and New Testament of Bible" published by William A Hollered Press England in 1908. He wrote:

            “In the language of oldest and present Hebrew, the word Allia or Aille is not in the meaning of God or Allah but this word is showing that in the next and last time of this world any one will become nominated Allia or Aille”

If we study the following manuscripts, we can easily conclude that people in every known religion, when in distress, called for Amir ul Mumineen Imam Ali (a.s.) to redress their problems.

In the Hindu Mythological stories of “the struggle between the saint Krishan and Kuroos and Pandoos”, saint Krishan realized that the pursuers of Truth are few while followers of Falsehood are unlimited. He prayed: “Permishwer (God), for the sake of those who were the cause of creation of skies and the earth, your loved-one, for the sake of “Ahli” who will be born in the world’s biggest temple near the Black Stone, please defeat the wrongdoers and give victory to the Truthful, O God, Eila, Eila, Eila”

If we ponder over each and every word used in the prayer; he talked about those who were the cause of creation of the skies and the earth. It is the Hadees-e-Qudsi when Allah addressed the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) saying “Laulaka Lama Khalaqt al Aflaak” meaning “O Muhammad! I would not have created the universe but for you” He was praying for the sake of the Holy Prophet and his beloved; Imam Ali and used the word “Ahli” which is Sanskirit word equivalent to Ali in Arabic. Saint Krishan further elaborated that he will be born in the word’s biggest temple or Khana-e-Kabah near the black stone or “Hajr-e- Aswad”. At the end he used the word ”Eila” three times. To know who is Eila, let us go to the book Nagar Sagar written by Pandit Krishan Gopal published by Narain Book Depot, Agra India in the year 1917. Pandit Gopal writes: “Eila means a man high in rank and the word “Aahil” or “Aahili” or “Aali” is like in Arabic “Aala” or “Aali” or “Ali”

Hence it is evident that Saint Krishan called Imam Ali (a.s.) for help.

Now let us study Urdu translation of few sentences from “Zuboor” of Prophet Dawood in Hebrew:

            “It is obligatory to follow “Aeli” for the fulfillment of worldly problems and that of Hereafter. That exalted personality is also called “Hadar” or “Haider” who is the caretaker of poor, Lion, Super strong, to be born in “Kaaba” or Kabah. It is obligatory to follow him as a slave. Listen who has ears, comprehend who has brain, think who has intellect. Make haste before it is too late. I completely depend on him.”

Reference:

“AELIYA”                                    By Hakim Syed Mahmood Gilani

PERFECT MAN

Human nature has always been to look for perfection.

There are two ways of knowing a person; one way is to see how Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Traditions have defined a perfect man. The second way is to regard perfect individuals who are built upon the models of Holy Qur’an and Islam, a real and objective personality who exists in various stages of perfection at its highest level or even at slightly lower level stages.

The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself is an example of a perfect man in Islam. Imam Ali (a.s.) is another example. After knowing his whole personality, we will take him as our role model and accept him as our leader and Imam, follow and emulate him, we then be called a Shi’a follower of this “Perfect Man”.

A Shi’a means one who follows Imam Ali(a.s.), not only with oral words, but with the acts of following him, in letter and spirit.

In Arabic, the words “Perfect” and “Complete” are close to each other but not exactly similar in meaning. The word “Complete” means something which is prepared according to a plan like a house, and if any part of which is unfinished, it is incomplete and defective. But something may be complete but yet there may exist a higher degree of completion or many degrees higher than that, and that is called Perfection.

Complete is a horizontal progress to maximum development and Perfect is a vertical climb to the highest degree possible.

A person has a physical personality and a spiritual one with two distinct reckonings.

The first proposal of the Holy Qur’an is the purification of self from ailments, complexes, ignorance, and deviations. We have heard that in the past there were people who, because of excess of sins, were cursed by the Prophets of their times and they were converted into animals like monkeys etc. One may become animal mentally or spiritually. How that can happen? Man’s personality depends on his ethical and spiritual qualities, without which he would be a beast. It is reported that once a companion of Imam Zainul Abedin (a.s.) was present at Hajj. Seeing the multitude of Hajjis, the Imam said: “There is much uproar but few are true pilgrims” The man said ”I do not know how the Imam gave me that insight, but when he asked me to look down again, I saw a desert full of animals among them only a few human beings were moving around.” There are individuals whose life revolves around eating, sleeping and satisfaction of carnal desires. They have lost their human qualities.

Religious leaders have repeatedly said that only one group of people among the dead who will be raised as human beings; others would appear as animals. Does God do so without reason? No, there are reasons. When a human being has done nothing in this world but to sting and hurt others, he takes real form in the next world that is scorpion.

All people will be raised from the dead according to their intentions, desires and true characters. That is why we are forbidden from worshipping anyone but God. If we worship money, it becomes a part of our nature, and as the Holy Qur’an says that molten metal will be with us on the Day of Resurrection.

So a human being with a complex is defective, and one who worships matter is imperfect.

Perfection in every kind of creature is different from perfection in another kind. A perfect human being is different from a perfect angel, and each has separate degree of perfection. Those who have told us of the existence of angels, say that they are created with pure intelligence and thought and in whom the earthly aspect, lust, anger etc are absent, whereas animals are wholly earthly, and lack what the Holy Qur’an terms as divine spirit.

But man is a mixture of the two, angelic and earthly, both high and low.

Man is granted many talents and left free to show whether he deserves reward or punishment for his acts, where as other creatures do not possess this liberty. He must choose his own and attain perfection through moderation and equilibrium and by employing all his talents.

Imam Ali (a.s.) is a Perfect man since all the human values have had their maximum growth in him in a harmonious manner.    

Just like tide in the sea due to attraction of the moon, human beings as well as societies undergo such ebb and flow and such attraction is some times to one direction to such an extent that all other values are forgotten.

One of the human values confirmed by Islam is devotion, which is communion with God.

In Islam, every act performed for the sake of God is devotion. Supporting the family, serving community etc is devotion. But devotion, in its special sense, is private communion with God in prayer; supplications etc are all part of the religion and cannot be omitted. Sometimes, we see people drawn only to one side of the devotion, which will ruin the society. One should develop every aspect of his personality without being disbalanced.

Love, intellect, justice, freedom, service, and devotion are all values. When all these values are developed harmoniously, then he may be considered Perfect, Imam Ali was such a man.

Sayyid Razi, who was the compiler of Nahjul Balagha, says: “The amazing thing about this book is that you see (Imam) Ali in so many different worlds as you read it, that is in the worlds of devotion, philosophy, mysticism, military affairs, court of justice, religious  jurisprudence and so on, and he is never absent from any human world.”

Saifyeddin Hilli, a poet of the Sixth Century Hijiri, says about (Imam) Ali that he is a collection of all contraries; he is both a ruler and a sage, docile and brave, poor and generous, gentle and resolute, and a devotee and a man of action. He is a hero in all human spheres, some thing we cannot be, but we can at least maintain a certain degree of equilibrium among all values to be called a True Muslim in all walks of life.

Reference:

Perfect Man       By: Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari

IMAM MUHAMMAD TAQI AL-JAWAD (A.S.)

Imam Muhammad bin Ali, al-Taqi-al-Jawad was born on 10^th Rajab 195 in Madinah. His parents were Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) and Bibi Khaizarun. He became the Imam at the age of 8.

The caliph Mamun invited the young Imam to Baghdad to get him married to his daughter for his political aims. This infuriated his Abbasid clan. To prove his choice, Mamun arranged a meeting between the Imam and the leading scholars headed by Yahya bin Aktham, the Chief Justice. It was a grand occasion with 900 other scholars present.

Yahya asked:

                     What is the compensation (kaffarah) for a person in Ehraam who hunted and

                      killed his prey?

Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could answer the question:

1.      Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the Haram or outside?

2.      Did the Muhrim know the Sharia or not?

3.      Did he hunt intentionally or not?

4.      Did he hunt the first time or was this one of many times?

5.      Was he free or a slave?

6.       Was his prey a bird or an animal?

7.      Was it big or small?

8.      Had he hunted by day or night time?

9.      Was he adult (baligh) or not?

10.  Was he repentant or not?

11.  Was his Ehraam for Hajj or umra?

Yahya was stunned and looked down and started sweating.

Mamun requested the Imam to answer the question himself. The Imam replied: “If he had killed the animal outside the sacred ground and it was winged and large, an atonement of a sheep would have been necessary for him. If he had struck it down in the sanctuary, the penalty would  be doubled. If he killed a young bird outside the sacred ground then the atonement of a lamb which has been weaned off milk would have been required of him. If he had killed it in the sanctuary, then he would have been required to sacrifice a lamb and the value of the young bird. As for wild animals, if it was a wild donkey, he would have been required to sacrifice a cow. If it was an ostrich, the sacrifice of a camel would be necessary. If it had been a deer, then a sheep would have been necessary. If he had killed any of those in the sanctuary, the penalty would have been doubled. Mamoun said to the Imam: “You have done well Abu Jaffer and God has adorned you”

Mamoun asked the Imam to ask any question from Yahya bin Akhtam.

The Imam asked the Chief Justice:

“Can you describe the situation when a man looked at a woman at dawn when it was forbidden (haram) to do so; but then at sunrise it was permissible (halal) for him to look at her? Then at noon hour, it became haram for him to look at that woman; but in the afternoon, it became permissible for him to look at her? Then at sunset it became haram for him to look at that woman; but at night, it became halal for him to look at her? Then at midnight, it became haram for him to look at her; but at dawn, it became halal for him”

Yahya bin Akhtam said: “By Allah! I do not know the answer to this question. We would, however, benefit from your answer”

The Imam explained the answer as follows:

“At dawn, the woman was a slave of someone else; however, by sunrise, the man had already bought her for himself so it became halal for him to look at her.

“At noon, he made her free, so she became haram for him; but by afternoon, he had married her, so she became halal for him”

“At sunset, he did zihar by which one’s wife becomes haram for a person; but by night time, he paid the penalty for Zihar, and so she became halal for him again.

“At midnight, he divorced her; but by next morning he revoked his divorce, so she became halal for him”

After Mamoun married his daughter Umme Fadhl to the Imam, he refused to stay in the royal palace, hence he moved to simple house with his wife. After one year, when Mamoun realized that the Imam was not comfortable in Baghdad, he allowed the couple to move to Madinah.

In order to uphold the imperialistic and luxurious ways of life, these monarchs wanted to do away with these Godly saints who demonstrated righteousness, compassion, faith, piety, fraternity, and justice as the main teachings of Islam. Yazid’s demand of allegiance from Imam Hussain (a.s.), or Mamoun’s appointment of Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) as heir apparent were two different aspects of the same wicked desire.

Contentment: The Imam used to live a simple and austere life wearing ordinary clothes. One day someone told him that since he sat besides the king, it did not befit him to wear such simple clothes. The Imam said: “If my value had been due to my clothes, it would have befitted me to wear expensive clothes, when it is not so, why should I give up simplicity. My present dress is concealing my body and it is comfortable, then why should I give up for fashionable ones. We Ahlul Bayt are content on whatever we get and we do not allow greed to approach us.”

Hospitality: The Imam was very hospitable. Once, a guest arrived at his place in the middle of the night. The Imam asked him if he would like to have dinner. The man replied that although he was hungry but would not bother the Imam at such odd hour and that he would sleep hungry. The Imam said: “Guests do not sleep hungry at our place”

The Imam went inside and with the help of a servant, prepared the food and personally brought to the guest. Seeing this the man started crying and on inquiry from the Imam, said: “I am crying at the thought that how the world did not recognize such Godly people”

Patience: The Abbasid clan did not approve of the marriage of Umme Fadhl with the Imam hence they continued to poison her ears. And Umme Fadhl herself was of a haughty nature and these instigations increased the gulf between the couple. She made the Imam’s life miserable, but the Imam exercised utmost patience.

Forgiveness: The relatives of the Imam were against him because of inheritance. Some of the allegations were that the Imam’s complexion differed from Imam Reza (a.s.) and they refused to accept that he was Imam Reza’s son. The Imam heard such taunting remarks but said nothing. One day, some money of Khums arrived and he distributed it to every one including one who was most inimical to the Imam. When people pointed out, the Imam said that he has left the affair to Allah. On hearing this, the person felt ashamed and fell on Imam’s feet and asked forgiveness. The Imam had forgiven him.

References:

Fourteen Masoomeen                                                by Muhammadi Trust, London

Akhlaq-e-A’imma                                                     by Sayyid Zafar Hasan Amrohi

The Infallibles                                                            by workshop@dir.com.Co.UK

AMEERUL MUMINEEN, IMAMUL MUTTAQEEN ALI (A.S.)

Imam Ali (a.s.), the partner of the “First Light” – Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), was born inside the House of Allah, Khana-e-Kabah, on 13 Rajab in the 30^th Aamul Feel (Year of Elephant). The world has never seen such a birth in a sacred place like this and will never see it again. When Bibi Mariyam was pregnant with Prophet Issa, she was ordered by Allah to vacate the place of worship, Baitul Muqaddas, and go out to deliver the baby.

The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Commander of the Faithful were created by Allah as a single light (Noor) long before the creation of Prophet Adam and the universe. This partner of the “First Light” was delivered to this world through Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and Bibi Fatima Binte Assad (s.a.).

When Hazrat Fatima Binte Assad felt the delivery pain, she proceeded towards Khana-e-Kabah in accordance with the command and advice of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.). She approached the Sacred House of Allah to perform “Tawaaf”. Afterwards she leaned against the wall of Kaabah and supplicated to Allah in these words: “My creator and my Lord, I have faith in You, in all the Holy Prophets You have sent and faith in all the Holy Books You have revealed. I pray by the Truth of the Builder of Khana-e-Kabah, Hazrat Ibraheem (a.s.) and by the Truth which is with my child who is inside my womb, please make my delivery easy. Before Bibi Fatima uttered her last word of supplication, the wall of Kabah opened up for her and Bibi Fatima stepped inside. When she entered the wall of Kabah was closed and turned into its real position. We are all aware of how pure the Sacred Khana-e-Kabah is, and then can we understand the purity of the Holy mother of our First Imam (a.s.) who was invited inside the Holy Kabah to give birth to her child? No we cannot. She gave birth to not an ordinary child but to an infallible Imam, brother and successor of the Last Prophet (s.a.w.s.).

She stayed inside the Holy Khana-e-Kabah for three days and survived by eating the food of Heavens. At his birth, the Holy Imam prostrated before Allah and testified that there is no God but Allah and Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.) is His Prophet. Bibi Fatima Binte Assad said: “When Ali was born, he did not open up his eyes for three days. I was very worried but soon our Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) arrived when he was informed by Allah that his successor had been born. As the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.s.) took the new born Imam in his arms immediately my child opened up his eyes.” Imam Ali had seen the “Other part of the Light” – the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and was happy to lay his eyes on him and saluted him and recited verses from all the Divine Scripts.  The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) embraced Imam Ali (a.s.) and said: “O’ Ali, when you are mine, I too am yours.” After these words, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) gave his tongue to Imam Ali for him to suckle. The tongue of the Prophet Hood was in the mouth of the Imamate when twelve springs opened up and Imam Ali was satisfied and pleased by his Holy saliva.

On the fourth day Bibi Fatima Binte Assad stepped outside the Holy Kabah to go home.

When the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) asked Bibi Fatima Binte Assad as to what name they had given to the new born, Bibi replied: “The father has named him Zaid, and the mother has named him Assad.” Then the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “You should also name him Ali” No one before him was given this name. Bibi Fatima Binte Assad said: “This is indeed what I heard when I was inside Khana-e-Kabah that a concealed voice was telling that his name should be Ali but I kept it secret until now.” Another famous name of Imam Ali was Haider.

When Imam Ali was a baby, one day his mother went out of her house to a neighbor and Imam Ali was in the cradle. A huge snake came in the house and tried to get into his cradle. Imam Ali caught the snake and tore open its mouth. When Bibi Fatima Binte Assad returned and saw the dead snake in the cradle, she cried loud “You are Haider”

Another distinction bestowed by God on Imam Ali was that he never bowed in front of any idol. For this reason, Muslims call him “Karram Allahu Wajha” meaning “He whose face was honored by Allah”

Imam Ali’s other epithets and names are many, some of them are:

Abul-Hasan, Abu-Turab, Ameerul Mumineen, Imamul Muttaqeen, Al-Mutaza, Asadullah, Yadullah, Nafsullah, Haider-e-Karrar, Nafse Rasool, and Saqi-e-Kausar.

Imam Ali was brought up by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Fountains of all Divine Knowledge was opened up to him. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had said: “ Ana Madinat ul Ilme wa Aliun Babuha” meaning “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gate”

The Khateeb-e-Member-e-Salooni, has himself said: “The Holy Prophet has fed me with his knowledge like a dove feeds a young dove with bird’s seeds.”

On the pulpit of Masjid-e-Kufa, he said: “Saloni Qabla An Tafqiduni” meaning “Ask me before you lose me, I am more aware of the knowledge of the Heavens than the knowledge of the earth.” Point to remember is that he did not say “Ask me before I die!” He did not use the word death!

When Imam Ali was five years old, he was adopted by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and from that moment they were never to part with each other. The Noble Prophet and Bibi Khadija adopted the young Imam Ali after the death of their sons. Imam Ali filled the void in their lives. Another reason why The Noble Prophet picked up Imam Ali was that he wanted to educate him and groom him for the great destiny that awaited him in the times to come. Dr. Taha Hussain of Egypt says that the Messenger of God himself became Ali’s guide, teacher and instructor, and this is one more distinction that he enjoys, and which no one else shares with him (Imam Ali).

Sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.):  

The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to the friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects.

Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through the bone (ears), and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).

When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness.

If someone’s deeds lower his position, his pedigree cannot elevate it.

Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts.

When you get ill, do not get nervous about it and try as much as possible to be hopeful.

The best form of devotion to the service of Allah is not to make a show of it.

Take warning! He has not exposed so many of your sinful activities that it appears as if He has forgiven you (it may be that He has given you time to repent).

IMAM ALI (A.S.) AND SCIENCE

Apes, Lemurs, Monkeys and Human beings are member of highest order of mammals. They are called “Primates”. All Primates use thinking to fulfill their materialistic needs. But human beings are the only Primates to have the faculty of Mathematical and Philosophical thinking. The difference between human beings and other Primates is because of the difference in weight and the anatomy of their brains. Human beings have the heaviest brains as large number of neurons is packed in a very small volume. A neuron is a nerve cell that is the building block of the nervous system. Neurons are the specialized cells to transmit information throughout the body. Hence the human beings think about their creation, material things around them and also about the earth and skies etc.

The first western philosopher who gave importance to this type of thinking was an Englishman, Rene Descartes. He was a Mathematician also. He invented co-ordinate geometry. His cogito ergo sum: I think, therefore I exist came as a fresh breath to the materialistic western philosophy. Through Cogito, Descartes established the superiority of “Mind” over “Matter”. When mind which is the seat of thinking is the proof of the material (his body), then it means the “invisible” is superior to “visible”. It was finally established that the knowledge gained through thinking is superior to the knowledge gained through the senses. The senses give us the knowledge of the visible world whereas thinking gives us the hidden knowledge of the laws governing the world.

Descartes philosophy is a preference of mind over matter; soul over body and God over the universe. Just as mind exists in us, God exists in universe.

Descartes’ philosophy of Cogito can be visualized in the following sayings of Imam Ali (a.s.):

1. Perceptions by the eyes are not real observation because eyes sometimes deceive people: but wisdom does not deceive whomsoever-it-counsels. Here Imam Ali (a.s.) says that senses specially eyes deceive. Wisdom is nothing but a kind of thinking.
2. Thinking is a clear mirror. Thinking is a flawless tool for gaining genuine knowledge just as a clear mirror gives a clear image to the observer.
3. There is no knowledge like thinking.
4. There is no honor like knowledge. All the great theories of Physics are the result of thinking by the great minds of the times. The greatest honor for the man is thinking. If you don’t ponder, you are not a human being. Descartes said it about four hundred years back but Imam Ali (a.s.) said it about one thousand years before Descartes. Imam Ali (a.s.) was a warrior, a man of letters, a caliph, an administrator, who did not have time to think and ponder like Descartes.

IMAM ALI (A.S.) AND GEOLOGY

In Nahjul Balagha, sermon 209, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “It is through the strength of God’s greatness and His subtle power of innovation that He made solid dry earth out of the water of the fathomless, compact and dashing ocean. Then He made from the oceans, skies and separated them into seven skies (seven layers of atmosphere) after they have been joined together.” Nahjul Balagha was compiled by Syed Razi, a student of Shaikh Mufeed (r.a.) in 1000 AD (422 AH).

It is only about 40 years back that modern science established the “seven layers theory” of the atmosphere which are named as follows:

1.      Troposphere

2.      Stratosphere

3.      Ozonosphere

4.      Mesosphere

5.      Thermosphere

6.      Ionosphere

7.      Exosphere

The Noble Qur’an says: “It is He (God) who created everything for you and then directed His attention to the sky (samawaat) and arranged it into seven layers. He has knowledge of all things.” (2:220)

Imam Ali (a.s.) also talked about the seven skies and attributes their (atmosphere’s) origin to the oceans of the earth. The Modern Geologists also holds the same theory as enunciated by The Gateway of Knowledge, Imam Ali (a.s.). The atmosphere contains oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen and hydrogen is supposed to be formed by the break down of water by ultra violet rays of the sun. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide can be attributed to the nitrates and carbonates of the oceans.

In sermon # 210, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “He (God) also created high hills, rocks of stone and lofty mountains. He put those (mountains) in their positions and made them remain stationary. Their peaks rose into air while their roots remain in the water.”

In the above sermon, Imam Ali (a.s.) introduced the concept of Mountain Roots which has been discovered in the Nineteen Century while studying the concept of Isostasy (state of equilibrium between earth’s crust and atmosphere). The concept of mountain roots was discovered in India by a British scientist, John Hayford, in 1917 while studying Isostasy of Himalayan Mountains. Mountain Roots may be inferred in the following Ayah of Holy Qur’an: “Have We not made the earth as bed and the mountains its pegs” (78:6-7)

It is indeed miraculous for a man of Seventh Century A.D. to be aware of a concept which is considered as a discovery of Nineteenth Century A.D.: FAITH IS ALWAYS AHEAD OF SCIENCE.

References:

Holy Qur’an

Nahjul Balagha

History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Islam Science and Imam Ali