IMAM ALI (A.S.) IS THE CHIEF OF THE WORLD

George Jordac, a Lebanese Christian authored a book in Arabic titled “Sautul Adalatil Insaniyah” translated in English as “The Voice of Human Justice” and was published in 1987 (second edition) by The Islamic Seminary under the patronage of His Eminence Ayatollah al-Uzma As-Sayyid Abul Qasim al-Musavi al-Khu’i.

Excerpts from the last chapter of the book titled “Let them mourn”, is reproduced below:

“A stranger is sitting in a corner of the world. Time did not recognize him. This stranger used to spend everything he possessed on others but did not seek anything from them. He was subjected to great oppressions, but he never thought of revenge. He forgave his enemies after gaining victory over them. He never did any injustice to his enemies and never performed any unlawful act for the sake of his friends. He was the helper of the weak, the brother of the indigent, and the father of the orphans. He was an erudite, and extremely forbearing. However, his heart was full of grief. His majesty and loftiness were resounding in all the mountains and deserts. He cut off the heads of big giants but was himself overcome by love and kindness. During day time, he administered justice and enforced the divine laws and in the darkness of the night, he wept bitterly for the sake of the indigent and helpless. He was stranger whose thundering voice made the oppressors tremble when any oppressed person approached him with a complaint. Whenever a man complained to him his sword flashed like lightening and consumed the darkness of the deceitful. He was stranger on the face of the earth whose word was true and correct. He wore coarse dress and walked meekly. He was stranger and a lovely person who suffered all sorts of hardships so that the people might remain happy. He sought the welfare of the people in this world and in hereafter although they always grieved and harmed him. Who was this unique and angelic person whose enemies denied his virtues on account of their envy and avarice and whose friends deserted him on account of fear? He fought alone against corruption and destruction. He was never enamored of victory.

Who could this unique person be except Ali, the vexed and distressed Commander of the Faithful? That night he reviewed his entire life. He remembered that from his boyhood, his sword made the Quraysh tremble and he did his best to spread Islam. He remembered the night of migration when he slept in the bed of the prophet under the shadow of the swords of the Quraysh with the hope that the polytheists would be mistaken and would not harm the prophet. He remembered the time when the prophet came to his house one day while he was asleep. Fatima wanted to awaken him but the prophet said: “Let him sleep, because after me he will be deprived of sleep for a long time!”  He recollected the time when the prophet had said: “O Ali! God had adorned you in the best manner. He has endowed you with the love for the poor and the helpless. They will be happy to make you their Imam and you will be pleased to see them as your followers.” He also recollected the faces of the companions of the prophet who used to say: “During her time of the prophet we could identify the hypocrites because of their enmity with Ali.”

Ali recollected his own friends like Abu Zar Ghifari, the distinguished companion of the prophet who could not tolerate that the human life should be insulted and hence stood up to oppose oppression and injustice. In the time of the third caliph, he opened a campaign against the Bani Umayyah. As a consequence, he was exiled to a barren place called Rabazah, where his children died before his own eyes. Abu Zar died of hunger, whereas Bani Umayyah had the entire wealth of the earth at their disposal.  Similarly, he remembered his pious and faithful brother Ammar Yasser who was martyred by a rebellious and oppressive group in the Battle of Siffin.

The eagles were sitting in their nests with their heads cast down, because on the following day their feathers were going to fall and they were to go in mourning for the chief of the world.

     

 Source:

                The Voice of Human Justice                                                                        by George Jordac

TRADITIONS COMMUNICATED BY THE INFALLIBLE IMAM ALI AL-REZA (A.S.)

The traditions reported by any of the Infallible Imams of the Progeny of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) are the most authentic because every member of the “Golden Chain” were the Infallible Imams because the chain of narrators goes upwards that any Imam when he narrates a tradition had heard from his father who was also an Infallible Imam.

Reproduced below are the two traditions as narrated by the eighth Infallible Imam, Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.):

“The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “One who desires a long life and increase in his livelihood should exhibit goodness towards his parents and establish bonds of kinship with his relatives.”

The Glorious Qur’an emphasizes about the status of parents in the following Ayahs: Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 83 and 180: “We made a covenant with the children of Israel that they should not worship anyone except Me, that they should serve their parents, relatives, orphans and the destitute….” and “If one of you facing death can leave a legacy, he should bequeath it to his parents and relatives, according to the law.”

Surah al-Nisa Ayah 36: “Worship Allah and consider no one equal to Him. Be kind to your parents, relatives, orphans, the destitute, your near and distant neighbors…..”

Surah al-An’am Ayah 151: “(Muhammad), say, “Let me tell you about what your Lord has commanded :Do not consider anything equal to Allah; Be kind to your parents; do not murder your children out of fear of poverty for We give sustenance to you and to them. Do not even approach indecency either in public or in private. Take not a life which Allah has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you that you may learn wisdom.”

Followers of other religions presume that keeping away from society and praying in seclusion enhances piety and virtues. But Islam is a religion which lays more emphasizes on family and community. Prayers in mosques and in congregation are recommended. The bottom line is caring and sharing with our families, kin, neighbors, community members.  

As for the increase in the life-span, two actions have been recommended by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Progeny (a.s.); one is the “sadaqa” and the other is the “Silae Rahm” or good behavior with the kin. Kin include all near and far relatives. Silae Rahm includes; being in contact with them, extend every possible help and assistance, financial or otherwise, visits if they are sick, caring for their social and emotional needs.

“The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “The elder brother in a family holds the position of the father.”

If the siblings are minor, the elder brother should provide the comfort of the home as his father would have provided. He should feed them, be kind to them, provide every possible comfort of life, think of their safety and security, and protect them from any danger from outside. Provide financial support for clothing, schooling etc. Provide all and every care so that they may not miss their father.

If the siblings are adults, the elder brother should be supportive in all their needs; financial, emotional and psychological. He should become their friend so they ma confide in him and share their problems and concerns. 

The siblings in turn respect his elder brother, follow his advises and take care of him.

  Sources used:

 The Glorious Qur’an (English Translation)              by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

 The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation)                 by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

 The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation)                 by Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Muhammad                                                                                                    Husayn Tabatabai

 The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation)                 by Maulana Sayyid Farman Ali

           www.imamreza.net

THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN AND THE ANATOMY OF LIE

The Almighty Allah, the Creator created the man and in His profound Wisdom imparted knowledge to mankind, planted a prophet or guide in every man in the form of his conscience. He also sent 124000 prophets at different stages of the march of the civilization. When the intellectual standard significantly improved, He sent the Glorious Qur’an at the heart of the Noble Messenger, the last of the divine prophets and guides. He was aware of the future generation’s power of logical enhancement and scientific advancement. The Creator is thoroughly aware of the anatomy of man and he had given the knowledge to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Progeny (a.s.)

The polytheists of Makkah opposed the Message of Islam and its Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Abu Jahal who was a cousin to the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)’s father and an indirect paternal uncle of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) used to oppose him to pray salaat in the House of Allah-Ka’ba and he was also a liar. One day he tried to stop the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s) and used foul language against him. He told his companions: “You see that Muhammad prays in front of you and puts his forehead on the earth and you do not stop him if I see him pray I will put my foot on his face and kill him” After saying this ,he walked towards the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) but returned with a  pale face and shivering. Someone asked what had happened, he replied; “I saw a trench between me and him, huge snakes with open mouths were attacking me.”

When the Surah al-Rahman was revealed, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) asked: “Who among you can recite this Surah in front of the polytheists of Makkah. Abdullah ibn Masood offered to recite it. He went and recited the Surah. Abu Jahal slapped Abdullah ibn Masood with such a force that his ear started bleeding. He returned to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) who was very sad and depressed. Momentarily, Archangel Jib’raeel descended and looked very happy. On inquiry from the Noble Messenger for his happy countenance, he replied that the Messenger will know the reason shortly. After a month, at the end of the battle of Badr, Abdullah ibn Masood was passing through the dead when he saw Abu Jahal was still breathing his last. He sat on his chest. Abu Jajal said: “O shepherded! How can you sit on the elevated place?”Abdullah Ibn Masood replied: “Islam is elevated; nothing else can be elevated than Islam.” Abdullah Ibn Masood severed his head but could not carry it; hence he dragged his head by his hair. Hence the meaning of the following Ayah was interpreted in this world.

 The Ayahs from 9 to 16 of Surah al-Alaq which reads as: “Have you seen the one who prohibits a servant of Ours from prayer? What will happen if the praying person is rightly guided or if he commands others to maintain piety? What will happen if the prohibiting person rejects the Truth and turns away from it? Did he not realize that Allah sees him? He must know that if he did not desist, We shall certainly drag him by the forelocks, his lying sinful forelock….”

It also reveals the parts of the personality of Abu Jahal.

According to the modern science, the “cerebrum” is located in the front portion of our skull. A book entitled “Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology” (by Seely and others page 211) says about this area, “The motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior portion of the frontal lobes, and also the functional centre of aggression.”

So this area of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating, and initiating the good and sinful behavior and is responsible for the telling lies and the speaking of the truth. Hence, it is proper to describe the front of the head as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the Glorious Qur’an says’ “….A lying and sinful naseyah (front of the head)

The Omnipotent Allah (s.a.w.a.s) had stated this 1400 years back. Science had reached this conclusion now!

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation)                                  by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

The Glorious Qur’an (English Translation)                              by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M.Pooya Yazdi

The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation)                                  by Maulana Sayyid Farman Ali

Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology                                     by Seeley

MUZAR, THE MAN FROM THE WELL AND HIS NINETEEN QUESTIONS

The following account had been mentioned in the books, “Mua’raj-un-Nubuwwat” and “Zuhrat-ul-Riaz”:

Ten days after the sad demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), a man entered the Masjid-e-Nabawi” (The Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah and inquired from the audience as to who was the vice-gerent of the Messenger of Allah? Hazrat Abu Bakr pointed towards the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.). The man greeted Imam Ali and Imam Ali (a.s.) replied his salutation as “Alaykassalaam! O Muzar of the well”. The audience and the man himself were surprised by this. On inquiry from the man, Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: “My brother, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had informed me about you. Your name is Muzar and your father’s name was Waram. Your age is three hundred sixty years. When you were one hundred years of age, you warned your community and told them about the coming of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). As usual your community did not like your counsel and opposed you and ultimately imprisoned you in a well. After the demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Allah destroyed your community by flood and set you free from the well. You heard a voice saying that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had died and that you are one of his companions, hence go and visit his grave. My brother (s.a.w.a.s.) told me to convey his greetings (salaam) to you” The man, Muzar, cried and kissed Imam Ali (a.s.)’s forehead. Imam Ali (a.s.) told him to remove his face-cover and he complied.

Then Muzar said that he had some questions which could only be answered by the Prophet or his vice-gerent. Muzar asked,” Who is that masculine who had no father or mother? Who was the feminine who did not have a mother or father?  Who was the masculine who was born without a father? Who was the messenger who was neither man nor Jinn, neither angels nor animals? Which was that grave which travelled along with the occupier? Which was that animal who warned its companions? Which was the body that ate but did not drink? Which was the piece of land on which sun shone only once since the beginning and will never shine again? Which was the stone which gave birth to a living thing? Who was the woman who gave birth in 3 hours? Who are the two motionless who will never move? Who are the two movers who will never become stationary? Who are the two friends who will never be enemies? Who are the two enemies who will never be friendly? What is the Shay ‘Thing’? What is La Shay ‘Nothing’? What is the most beautiful thing? What is the ugliest thing? What is that thing which is formed first in the human embryo?  What part of the body  falls at the end in the grave?

The Gateway of Knowledge, Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: “The masculine who did not have parents was Adam. The feminine who did not have parents was Hazrat Hawwa. The masculine born without a father was Prophet Ei’sa. The messenger who was neither man nor Jin, neither angels nor animals was the crow sent by Allah to educate Qa’beel to bury his brother Ha’beel. The grave which traveled along with its occupier was the fish which carried Prophet Younus in its stomach for thirty days. The animal which warned its companions was an ant warning its companion ants who were climbing the crown of prophet Sulayman to take care that no soil falls on him. The body that ate but did not drink was the staff of prophet Musa which ate away the snakes of the magicians. The piece of land on which sun shone only once was the bed of the river Niles which was exposed only once to facilitate prophet Musa and the Children of Israel to cross it. The stone which gave birth to a living thing was the camel of prophet Saleh which appeared from stone. The woman who gave birth in three hours was Lady Mariyam who gave birth to Prophet E’isa in three hours. The two movers are the earth and the sun. The two movers who will never become stationary are the sun and the moon. The two friends who will not become enemy are the body and the soul. The two enemies who will never become friendly are life and death. The “Shay” is the faithful and the “La Shay” is the unbeliever. The most beautiful thing is the face of a human being and the ugliest is a body without head. The first thing formed in the embryo is the index finger and the last thing which falls in the grave is the end of spinal cord.”

                Extracted from “Kaukab-e-Durre” (Manaqib-e-Murtazavi) by Sayyid Muhammad Saleh al-Hanafi

THE EIGHTH INFALLIBLE IMAM OF ISLAM - IMAM ALI AR-REZA (A.S.)

Imam Ali ar-Reza (a.s.) was the eighth link of the “Silsila-e-Zahabiyyah” or “The Golden Chain”. His father was the Seventh Infallible Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) and the mother was Sayyidah Najma (s.a.). He was born in Madinah on 11^th Zi’qaadah 148 A.H. He was 29 years when his beloved father was martyred by poison by the Abbasside Caliph Ma’moun, and he lived for 20 years as the divinely appointed Infallible Imam of Islam.

During the reign of Ma’moun, there were many bloody revolts by the Alawites, but the Imam did not support them. Ma’moun cleverly thought of a plan to contain such uprisings. He first offered the caliphate to the Imam which he flatly refused but Ma’moun insisted the Imam to accept successor ship. Ultimately, the Imam accepted it under a threat to his life but demanded the condition that he will not participate in the affairs of the state.

When the Imam was travelling from Neshapour, thousands of Muslims surrounded his camel and requested for a tradition of his great grandfather (s.a.w.a.s.). The Imam said that the Archangel Jib’raeel communicated Allah’s words: “La Ilaha Illallah is My fortress and whoever enters it is save from My punishment.” The Imam said: “There are certain conditions and I am one of them.”

Imam Reza (a.s.) said: “Doing six things without doing other six things is self-mockery;

                Asking forgiveness from Allah verbally without repenting from heart.

                Asking for Allah’s help without undertaking any effort.

                Beseeching deliverance from Hell Fire without refraining from lusts.

                Asking Paradise from Allah without enduring related hardships.

In late 202 A.H. Ramazaan, Ma’moun requested the Imam (a.s.) to lead the Eid prayers. The Imam (a.s.) accepted the request on the condition that he will perform the Eid prayers exactly as his grandfather (s.a.w.a.s.) performed it. The Imam (a.s.) started from his house dressed in plain clothes and bare-footed and advised all his followers to do the same. The Imam (a.s.) and his followers all shouted “Allah-o-Akbar” and the sound was audible from every corner of the city. Ma’moun was deeply alarmed by the magnificence and splendor of the demonstration and requested him not to proceed towards the mosque for prayers!

The Imam (a.s.) was also known as the “Imam-e-Zaamin” meaning “The Guarantor Imam”. Muslims, when travelling, used to carry the coins as a mark of safety, on which Imam Reza’s name was engraved on it being the successor of the caliph. Once, while travelling from Madinah to Khorasaan, the Imam came across a hunter who was about to kill a deer. The deer saw the Imam (a.s.) and came near him and said something in his ears. The Imam (a.s.) asked the hunter to free the deer so that she will go to feed her babies and come back. Although, the hunter freed the deer but he knew that the deer will not return. Imam Reza (a.s.) waited with the hunter until the deer returned with her babies. The hunter was amazed on witnessing this miraculous event and had set free the deer as a mark of respect for the Imam (a.s.). After this historical event, Imam Reza became famous as “Imam Zamin”

Traditions narrated by Imam Reza (a.s.):

1.       Faith has four pillars; Trusting and relying upon Allah, contentment and pleasure with the divine will, submitting to the ordinances of Allah, and total submission to Allah.

2.       Faith means performing the obligatory duties, avoiding the committing of the forbidden acts, recognition and knowing through the heart, admitting and confessing through the tongue, and practicing through the limbs.

3.       The Glorious Qur’an is the firm cable of Allah, ideal path; it leads to Paradise and is the savior from Hell Fire.

4.       Allah may take pity and be merciful to the servant who resurrects and revives our affairs by learning our knowledge and teaching them to the people.

5.       Allah has commanded three things which approximate with three others; He ordered prayers and alms, one who offers prayer but does not give alms, his services are unacceptable. He ordered his Thanksgiving with that of the parents, so the one who does not thank his parents has not thanked Allah. He commanded fear of Allah and connecting with kinship, so the one who does not connect with blood relations is not afraid of Allah.

Sources used: Ayoun Akhbar al-Riza, 14Five.com, Duas.org/ Imamreza.htm, al-Islam.org/story of the Holy Kaaba

SURAH BAYYINAH (THE CLEAR EVIDENCE) OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

Surah Bayyinah containing 8 Ayahs was revealed in Madinah. Bayyinah means clear evidence. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “If people knew how blissful this Surah is, they would leave their property and family to learn it. There would be no servant who recites it at night but that Allah sends angels who protect him in his faith and his present life and that seek forgiveness and mercy for him; and when on the day he recites it, he will be rewarded as much as  what the day sheds light upon and what the night darkens.”

The Surah depicts the fact that the doctrine of the prophets was faith, monotheism, prayers and fasting are eternal and unchangeable principles in all the divine religions.

The message in this Surah is that the Jews and Christians were waiting for the coming of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and when he did come they rejected him because they were not really searching the truth but they followed their own desires for their worldly gains.

The disbelievers among the People of the Book and the polytheists shall be in the fire of Hell where they will dwell forever and that they are the worst creatures.

The believers who do righteous deeds are the best of creatures. Their reward will be gardens of eternity beneath which rivers flow. Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. That reward is for him who fears his Lord and Cherisher.

There are great many narrations quoted by the famous Sunni and Shi’ah sources in which the Ayah: “…they are the best of all creatures” is rendered to mean the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) and his followers.

Hakim Haskani Neshapuri, one of the famous Sunni scholars of the fifth century A.H. has cited some narrations with different references whose number is more than twenty in his well-known book Shawahid-ut-Tanzil.

The following are some example:

1.       The famous Ibn Abbas says that when the above-mentioned Ayah was revealed, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) told Imam Ali (a.s.): “It is you and your followers who will come on the Day of Reckoning when you and your followers are well-pleased (yourselves) and well-pleasing Him and your enemy will come angrily pushed into Hell. (Shawahid-ut-Tanzil ) volume 2 page 357 tradition 1126)

2.       Abu Barazah has narrated a tradition from the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) who recited the above Ayah and said: “They are you and your followers. O’Ali! The appointment for you and me is (beside) the Pool of Abundance.” (Shawahid-ut-Tanzil volume 2 page 359, tradition 1130)

3.       According to Ja’bir ibn Abdullah Ansari that they were sitting with the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) near Ka’bah when Imam Ali (a.s.) came. He (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “My brother is coming. By the Lord of this structure (Ka’bah), this man and his followers will be triumphant on the Day of Judgment.” (Shawahid-ut-Tanzil volume 2 pg. 362 #1139)

4.       Ibn Abbas in Durr-ul-Manthur (volume 6, page 379) narrates that when the above Ayah was revealed, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) told Imam Ali (a.s.): “It is you and your followers, who on the Day of Reckoning are well-pleased (yourselves) and well pleasing Him.”

Many other Sunni scholars have cited the same meaning in their works including:Khatib Kharazmi in ‘Manaqib’, Abu Na’im Isphani in ‘Kifayat-ul-Khisam’, Allama Tabari in his ‘Tabari’, Ibne Shabbaq Maliki in ‘Fusul-ul-Muhimmah’, Allama Shoukani in ‘Fath-ul-Qadir’, Shaykh Sulayman Qanduzi in ‘Yanabi-ul-Muwaddah’, Alusi in ‘Ruh-ul-Ma’ni and some others.

This is the manifestation of the enormous potentiality of Man that if he strives and sincerely work hard and strictly obey the Commandments of Allah (s.w.t.) and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and struggle to follow his guide-Imam Ali (a.s.), he can fit into the title of “Khair-al-Bareiyyah” (Best of all creatures)

Sources used:

 The Glorious Qur’an

                                       Urdu translation                                by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

                                       English translation                            by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

                                       An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur’an

SURAH AL-SAFF OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN

Surah al-Saff was revealed in Madinah. It contains 14 Ayahs. It emphasizes on the superiority of Islam over other religions and the struggle in the cause of Allah and His Messengers.

The important points of this Surah are:

Whatever is in the heavens and the earth, glorifies Allah (s.w.t.), Who is omnipotent and Wise.

Act upon whatever you say.

Allah (s.w.t.) loves those who fight in His cause like an iron structure.

Allah (s.w.t.) does not guide those who are disobedient to Him.

Prophet Ie’sa (a.s.) foretold his people that a Prophet will come after him whose name will be “Ahmad”.

Despite the fruitless efforts by the enemies of Islam to extinguish the Light of Allah- Islam, Allah will grant triumph to it.

Allah informs the Muslims about a trade to save them from the torments of the Day of Judgment; believe in Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and fight in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. The trade-in will be that Allah will forgive their sins and send them in Paradise, receive help from Allah and a near victory.

In this Surah, Allah (s.w.t.) is defining the degree of firmness, steadfastness, courage, and fortitude in a true believer when Allah tries the believer against the disbelievers. A believer on such occasions of trials has to stand by the Truth like a compact wall immovable by any attack from falsehood. This quality was singly and only exhibited by the Commander of the Faithfull, the Lion of Allah, and the bearer of Zulfiqar, Imam Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) in the battles of Uhad, Badar, Khandaq (Trench), Khyber, and Hunain. Imam Ali (a.s.) in his entire life never surrendered any ground to the enemies of Islam. It is a historical fact that during the battle of Khyber, when previously people went to capture the fort of Khyber but returned unsuccessful, the Noble Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.) before awarding the standard of Islam declared; “Tomorrow I shall give the standard to one who loves Allah (s.w.t.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Allah (s.w.t.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) love him. He is the one who attacks forcefully and does not run away from the battlefield and he will not return until Allah (s.w.t.) grants victory on his hand.”

Next morning The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) warded the standard of Islam to the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) even though he was suffering from eye disease and could not see properly! Imam Ali (a.s.) killed the famous strongman of the enemy, Mar’hab, and extricated the mammoth gate of the fort with his divinely gifted strength, placed it on the trench so that the Muslims crossed over the trench.

The majority of the commentators and the historians unanimously agreed that the addressee of this Ayah is the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.). An impartial reader of history will also come to the same conclusion that Imam Ali (a.s.) was the man whose whole life was dedicated to Islam and the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) and he defended and protected Islam and the Messenger at all fronts, he was the undisputed hero of all the defensive battles during and after the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), he was never defeated by any one in his life time, he never unsheathed his sword Zulfiqar for his personal gains, he possessed inimitable degree of piety, matchless and the unconquerable Godly strength, and the divinely gifted knowledge and wisdom.

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an (English translation)                             by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi

The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation)                                 by Maulana Sayyid Farman Ali

An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur’an