THEINFALLIBLESSERIES"COMMANDEROFTHEFAITHFULALI"YasinTAlJibouri-XKP

Published:2015Tag(s):islam"ImamAli"AliAmirAmeer"AmeerulMomineen"xkpshiaislamic

This text isaprelude,abrief introduction, forwhatwillbecoming:adetailedbiographyof the

Commander of the Faithful (as), his family members, many-faceted genius, superiority to all hiscontemporarieswiththeexceptionofonlyhisfather-in-lawandcousin,themostreveredProphetofIslam(P),hisliterarylegacy,includingNahjul-Balagha…,andmuch,muchmore.Iverybadlyneedtheprayersofmybrothersandsisterswhoreadandappreciate thismaterial inorder to fulfill thispledge.SinceIreturnedfromtheUnitedStatesbackhometoIraqinSeptemberof2003,IhavebeenlivinghereinIraqwherepeoplestruggleforbasicnecessities:waterandelectricity,andwhereonewhogoesoutofhishousedoesnotknowifhewillreturntohisfamily.Manydonot.Andithappensevery day. This morning, June 28, 2012, three bomb explosions rocked our city, al-Kadhimiyya,wakingmytwochildrenupfrightened.Theexplosionsweresoviolent,theyshookourhouse.Manysuchexplosionsarenotevenreportedinthenewsmedia…So,ifyoulikethismaterial,pleaseprayfor me and for my family especially since I am getting old… Yet even old people have to beproductive;theymustpaytherentofbeingonthisplanet!CommanderoftheFaithfulAli(as)needsnointroduction,butforthebenefitofthosewhodonot

knowmuchabouthim,wewouldliketostatethefollowing:AliwasborninMayof600A.D.insidetheKa'ba,theholiestofallholyplacesinIslam,thecubic

symbolof"Allah’sHouse"inMecca,Hijaz,northernpartoftoday’sSaudiArabia,theonlycountryin theworldnamedafter its rulingdynasty!Nootherhumanbeingwaseverborn in theholiestofholiesbesideshim.Ali(as)wasraisedandcaredforbyhiscousinMuhammed(P),theMessengerofAllah,whowishedtoreturnthefavorAli’sfatherhaddonehimwhenhewasachild.Yousee,whenMuhammed (P)wasorphaned,Ali’s father,AbuTalib, tookhim inhiscustodyandraisedhim,soMuhammed(P)wantedtoreturnthefavorespeciallyafterseeinghowAbuTalib’stradebusinesswasnotdoingwellinhisoldage.Muhammed(P)’supbringingofAli(as)polishedthelad’spersonalityandpreparedhimtoplayamajorroleinthedisseminationoftheIslamiccreed.HewasthefirstmaletobelieveinMuhammed(P)andtoofferprayerswithhim.ThesecondwasanotheryoungmanwhowasalsoraisedandcaredforbyMuhammed(P),namelyZaidibnHarithahwholatercommandedthearmyof theMuslimsduringtheBattleofMu’taof629A.D.,andsodidhissonUsamahin632A.D.,bothprovingtheirmilitaryability, insightandwisdom.ThethirdtoembracetheIslamicfaithwasMuhammed’slongtimefriendAbuBakr.When pagan Meccans wanted to assassinate Muhammed (P) in 622 A.D., Ali (as) slept in his

(Muhammed’s)bed,offeringhislifeasasacrificetosavehis,whiletheProphetsucceededinleavinghishousesafelyevenunderthenoseoftheinfidels,havingrecitedthefirsteightversesofSuratYaa-Seen(Chapter36oftheHolyQur ’an)andthrownahandfulofdustbeforetheireyes.Theycouldnotseehimleave.Muhammed(P)safelyreachedQuba,asuburbofMedinawherehecampedandwaitedforAli(as)torejoinhim.HedidnotwanttoenterMedinatriumphantlywithoutAli(as).Afterafewdays,Ali(as)walkedallalonetheentiredistancefromMeccatoMedina,about250Arabianmiles,arrivingtherewithswollenandlaceratedfeet,bleedingandfatigued.Ali (as) defended Islam in theBattle ofBadr (624A.D.) andmarriedFatima, theProphet’s only

survivingoffspring, in the sameyear.Healso fought in theBattleofUhud in thenextyear, in theBattleofMoat(Khandaq)in627A.D., intheBattleofKhayber(againsttheJewsofMedina)in628A.D.,andtookpartintheConquestofMeccain630A.D.HealsofoughtintheBattleofHunaininthesameyear.OnThul-Hijjah18,10A.H.,correspondingtoMarch19,632A.D.,andaccordingtodivine

orderswhichMuhammed(P)hadreceivedfromhisLordintheformofQur ’anicverseNo.67ofSuratal-Ma’ida (Chapter5), theProphetof IslamdeliveredaspeechataplacebetweenMeccaandMedinaknownasGhadirKhummintheJuhfavalleywhereinheenumeratedsomeofAli’smeritsandinformedthehugecrowdofanestimated132,000pilgrimswhohadaccompaniedhimduringhislastpilgrimage, the Farewell Pilgrimage, that just as they had accepted him as the Prophet, theywereboundtoacceptAli(as)as"Ameerul-Mu’mineen,"CommanderoftheFaithful,titleofonewhorulestheMuslimsasthesupremepoliticalleaderand,atthesametime,asthehighestreligiousauthority.Detailsofandreferencestothishistoriceventarerecorded,withtheentireoriginalArabictext(23pages)oftheProphet’shistoricsermon,areintheGlossarytomybooktitledKerbalaandBeyond:AnEpicofImmortalHeroismwhichAuthorHouseofIndiana,U.S.A.,publishedandstartedmarketingonAugust26,2011.BecauseofthenumerousbattlesinwhichAli(as)participatedandthenumberofthosewhomhe

killed,hewasnotpopularwiththosewhoconsideredbloodrelationsmoreimportantthanearningthePleasureoftheAlmighty;therefore,onlyafewmonthsafterthatdatedidsomepeoplepromoteAbuBakr, awealthyMeccan and a very successful businessman, to the post of “Ameerul-Mu’mineen.”This took place in 11 A.H./632 A.D. He ruled for two years and a half, dying on a Tuesday, 13A.H./634A.D.attheageof63…TheypromotedAbuBakrtobe"Ameerul-Mo’minnen"insteadofAli (as), forgettingorpretending to forgetwhat theyhadheard fromandpledged to theProphet (P)only two months and nine days ago at Ghadir Khumm. This took place immediately after theProphet’sdemiseonSafar28,11A.H./May28,632A.D.(Bytheway, likeall lunarHijriyears, thesolarcalendaryear632oftheChristianEracoincidedwithboththe10thandthe11thHijriyears.)ImamAli(as)didnotreceiveanysignificantrecognitionduringthereignofthefirstthreecaliphs,

andevenhiswife’sproperty,Fadak,wasconfiscated;thus,hisfamilywasdeprivedofagoodsourceof income.AbuBakr ordered the confiscation in 632A.D. The only just and fairUmayyad ruler,namelythelastone,OmeribnAbdul-Aziz,returnedFadaktoFatima’soffspringin718A.D.,86yearsafter its confiscationwith profound apologies.WhenAli (as)was elected as caliph in 36A.H./657A.D., tribalism and racismwere as rampant as they used to be during the pre-Islamic era. Islam’steachings were either forgotten or distorted. In Syria, Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan had declaredhimself "caliph" andwas buying people’s conscience and loyalty.Hewas, oncemore, raising onearmyafteranothertofightAli(as)justashisfatherAbuSufyanhadraisedonearmyafteranothertofightMuhammed(P),causingtensofthousandsofMuslimstobekilledintheprocess.MostofAli’stimewasspentindefendinglawandorder;hehardlyhadtimetorestandtoimprovetheconditionswhichheknewwere inneedof improvementbecauseof the injusticesofpast regimes thatdidnotprotecttheIslamiccreedfromliarsandfabricatorsoftraditions,indirectlyassistinginthedistortionoftheSunnah.CaliphAli(as)hadtofighttheBattleofJamal(Camel),whichbrokeoutattheendofRab'iII36

A.H./June28,632A.D.,theforcesofdissentwhichhadbeenherdedandledbyAishadaughterofthesameAbuBakrmentionedaboveandoneoftheProphet’swives.Shewasthennineteenyearsoldandwas riding a huge camel namedAskar, hence the name of the battle: Harb al-Jamal, battle of thecamel.ShekepturginghermentofightAli(as)andhismen.ItwasthefirsttimethatMuslimskilledMuslims,andsuchkillinghasbeengoingoneversince.LookatAfghanistan,Algeria,IraqandIran(duringthe1980swhenmorethanamillionMuslimliveswerelost),andrememberthecivilwarsinLebanon,Somalia,Yemen,andelsewhere…Historyrepeatsitself.Thosewhodonotlearnfromthemistakesofpastgenerationsaredoomed,condemnedanddestinedtorepeatthem,restassured.Aisha

accusedAli(as)ofhavingcollaboratedwiththosewhohadkilledherUmayyadrelativeOthmanibnAffanwhobecamecaliphin24A.H./645A.D.andruledtillhewaskilledin35A.H./656A.D.whenhewas89.Ali(as),infact,hadsentbothofhissons,Imamal-Hassan(as)andImamal-Hussain(as)(the latter being the hero of this brief report), to defend Othman who was placed by the angryprotestersundervirtualhousearrestandhismansionwastwicesubjectedtoasiege.Waterandfoodsupplieswereblockedfromreachinghim.Ali(as)usedtogetwaterandfoodsmuggledtoOthman’smansionduringthenightpassedonfromonepersontoanotherfromoneflatrooftoptoanothertillthey reached Othman’s mansion. The public outrage stemmed from Othman’s mismanagement ofpublicfundsandpreferenceofhisownrelativesoverallothersfortopgovernmentjobsevenwhensuchrelativeswerenotfitatall tooccupyanygovernmentpost.Hehimself livedin luxuryunseenbefore,gettingmansionsbuilt forhimand forhiswife,andsilkclothesandexoticperfumeswerebeing imported especially for him and for her.Hiswife,Na’ila daughter of al-Qarafisah, used towear so much jewelry that people could hear the jingle from a distance! Such should not be theconductofsuccessorsofProphets.WhiledefendingOthman,Imamal-Hassan(as)receivedawoundonhis forehead.But thehugenumberof the angry crowd finally assaultedOthman’smansion anddealt him blowswith their swords, killing him instantly. It was the first timeMuslims killed theircaliph.Na’ilatriedtodefendherhusbandwithherbarehands,gettingfourofherfingerscutoff.ShesentthosefingerstogetherwiththecopyoftheHolyQur ’anwhichOthmanwasrecitingwhenhewaskilledandwhichwasstainedwithhisbloodtoMu'awiyahinDamascustousethemtoexcitepeopleandtourgethemtoseekrevengeforOthman’smurder.Aisha,ironically,wasoneofthosewhohadurgedtheMuslimstokillOthman,makingherhistoric

statement which we would like to quote here in its original Arabic text verbatim: دقف الثعن اولتقأرفك "Uqtulu Na’thalan faqad kafar," that is, "Kill Na’thal, for he has committed apostasy."

Na’thal was a contemporary Jew famous for his untidy and too long beard; hence, Aisha wascomparingOthmanwithaJew.She,infact,wastryingtogeteitherTalhahibnUbaydullah,hercousinwhoaspiredtomarryherafterthedemiseoftheProphet(P),somethingwhichIslamprohibited,oraz-Zubairibnal-Awwam,sonofheroldersisterAsma’daughterofAbuBakr,becomecaliphinsteadofAli (as).Az-Zubair ibn al-Awwamdid, in fact, succeed in declaringhimself as the caliph afterrebellingagainsttheUmayyadsasthereaderwillcometoknowinthechapterdealingwiththeHarraincident.AishadislikedAli(as)verymuchdespiteallthepraiselavishedonhimbyherhusband,theMessengerofAllah(as),andalthoughhedidnotdoanythingtowarrantsuchanattitude.ThereisnoroomheretodetailallthegrievancestheMuslimsraisedagainsttheircaliph,Othman,

inadditiontotheabove,forthesewouldfillanentirevolume,andbookshave,infact,beenalreadywritten about this subject. One such book is titled ىربكلا ةنتفلا Al-Fitnatul-Kubra (the greatestdissension)bytherenownEgyptianscholarDr.TahaHussain(winnerofaNobelprizeforliterature)andpublished inCairo,Egypt, abookwhich the authormayhavemodelled after at-Tabari’sbookbearingtheexacttitleanddealingwiththesametheme.OneofthebestreferenceswrittenabouttheBattleoftheCamelisal-Mas'udi’sfamousbookھب ذلا جورم Murajat-Thahab.Ali(as)wonthebattle;13,000menfromaisha’scampand5,000fromAli’swerekilled,accordingtop.177,Vol.5,ofMurajat-Thahab. The heaviest casualty was the loss of thousands who knew the entire text of the HolyQur ’anbyheartandwhoseknowledge,duringthatcriticaltime,wascrucial.TheProphetofIslamhas said: ملاعلا توم ملاعلا توم “Mawt al-aalim mawt al-aalam,” that is, “The death of ascholarspellsthedeathoftheworld.”Whatistheworldwithoutscholars?Itisdarknesswithoutlight,trees without fruit, river without water… Islam very much encourages scholarship and reveresscholars,writers,intellectuals,researchers,scientists,etc.

AftertheBattleofCamel,Ali(as)hadtofighttheBattleofSiffeen(40A.H./661A.D.)againstthe

armyofMu'awiyahibnAbuSufyan,Yazid’sfather.Shortlyafterthat,andinthesameyear,andtobeexactonthe19thofthemonthofRamadan,40A.H./January29,661A.D.,Ali(as)waskilledbyIbnMuljimal-Muradi,oneoftheKharijites,thosewhowerefed-upwithcertainMuslimcaliphsandwithsomeofthelatter ’sun-Islamicpractices.TheseKharijiteshadbeencrushedbyAli(as)intheBattleofNahrawan,whichstartedonSafar6,38A.H./July17,658A.D.,buttheirremnantsscatteredthereafterthroughouttheIslamiclands.Whenhewaskilled,Ali(as)wasleadingthemorningprayersatKufa’sgrandmosque.Ali(as)wastheembodimentofeverythingIslamstandsfor.Evenhisname,Ali(as),isderivedfrom"Al-Aliyy,"oneof theAmighty’sninety-nineAttributesknownasAsma’Allah al-Husna,Allah’smostbeautifulnames.Scholarsoftafsir,exegesisoftheHolyQur ’an,haveidentifiednumerousQur ’anicversespraisingAli(as)andhisfamily,hisAhlal-Bayt تیبلا widelymostThe.أھلknownofsuchversesisNo.33ofChapter33oftheHolyQur ’an(Ayatat-Tathir,Suratal-Ahzab).ThismuchshouldsufficethereadertoformanideaaboutImamal-Hussain’sfather,soletusnow

discusstheheroofourstory.TheMessengerofAllah(ص)hassaid,“Hussainisofme,andIamofHussain;Allahloves

whoeverlovesHussain.”

Peacewithal-Hussain,withAlisonofal-Hussain,withtheoffspringofal-Hussainandwiththecompanionsofal-Hussain

1ChapterALIANDHISANCIENTFOES:MU`AWIYAHANDABUSUFYAN

AbuSufyanwasawealthyandinfluentialmanwhobelongedtotheBanuUmayyahclanoftheonce

pagantribeofQuraishofMecca,Hijaz,thatfoughtthespreadofIslamrelentlesslyduringthetimeofthe Prophet of Islam (as). He was contemporary to the Prophet of Islam (as) whom he foughtvigorously.Hisdateofbirthisunknown,buthediedin31A.H./652A.D.“AbuSufyan”ishiskunya,surname; his name isSakhr ibnHarb ibnUmayyah.He is father ofMu'awiyah andgrandfather ofYazid.AbuSufyanledpaganQuraishinitsmanywarsagainstProphetMuhammed(P)andhissmallband

ofsupporters,makingallianceswithotherpagantribesandwiththeJewsofMedinaagainstthenewrisingpowerofIslam.HekeptleadingonebattleafteranothertillthefallofMeccatotheMuslimsin630A.D. It was then that he had to either accept the Islamic faith or face a sure death for all themischiefhehadcommittedagainsttheMuslims,sohepreferredtoliveinhypocrisyasa"Muslim,"thoughonlyinname,ratherthanacceptdeath.HewasthemostcunningmaninallofArabiaandoneof itsaristocratsandmenofmightandmeans.HesawIslamas theharbingerof thewaningofhisownpersonalpowerandprestigeand thoseofhis tribe,Quraish,not tomention thedeclineofhisfaith,paganism,andthepre-Islamicwayoflifetowhichheandhislikeswereverymuchaccustomed,thelifeofpromiscuity,lewdnessanddebauchery,withallthewine,womenandwealtharistocratslikehimverymuchenjoyed.HislikesarepresentthroughouttheIslamiclandsinourtimeandineverytimeandclime…Thishasalwaysbeenso,anditshallunfortunatelyremainso…

2ChapterMU’AWIYAHANDYAZID

Mu'awiyahsonofAbuSufyanwasbornoutofwedlockin602A.D.duringthejahiliyya,thetimeof

ignorance, theperiod thatpreceded Islam.Hismother,Maysun,wasoneofhis father ’s slave-girls.Maysan had a sexual intercourse with one of Mu'awiyah’s slaves and conceived Yazid by him.Mu'awiyah,intotaldisregardforIslamicortraditionalArabtraditions,claimedYazidashisson.Atestimony to this fact is the well-documented tradition of the Prophet (P) wherein he said, “Themurderer ofmy [grand]son al-Hussain is a bastard.”This tradition is quoted on p. 156,Vol. 1, ofKanz al-Ummal of al-Muttaqi al-Hindi. The stigma of being a bastard applies actually not only toYazidbutalsotobothShimribnThul-JawshanandUbaydullahibnSa'd,theaccomplicesaboutwhomthereaderwillreadlater;allofthesemenwerebornoutofwedlock.Mu'awiyahplayedamajor role indistorting the Islamiccreedbypayingwriters to tailordesign

"traditions"toservehisinterestsandsupporthisdeviatedviews.HeinstalledhimselfasrulerofSyriain40A.H./661A.D.andruledfortwentylongyearstillhisdeathattheageofseventy-eight.Shortlybeforehisdeath,whichtookplaceinthemonthofRajabof60A.H./Mayof680A.D.,hemanagedtosecure theoathof allegiance tohis corrupt and immoral sonYazid ashis successor.Hedid sobyintimidation once and once by buying loyalty and favours, spending in the process huge sums ofmoney thatbelonged to theMuslims.Theweak-mindedmajorityof theMuslimsofhis timesworeallegiance to him. This proves that the majority does not necessarily have to be right. Imam al-Hussain(as),togetherwithasmallbandofdevoteestothecauseoftruth,refusedtobowtheirheadstotheoppressiveforces,hencethistaleofheroism.Mu'awiyahdeclaredhimself"caliph"inSyriawhenhewas59yearsoldandassumedauthorityby

sheerforce.Hewasnotelected,norwasherequestedtotakecharge.Hedidnothidethisfact;rather,hebraggedaboutitoncewhenheaddressedtheKufianssaying,"OpeopleofKufa!DoyouthinkthatI fought you in order that youmay establish prayers or give zakat or perform the pilgrimage?! Iknowthatyoudopray,payzakatandperformthepilgrimage.Indeed,Ifoughtyouinordertotakecommandoveryouwithcontempt,andAllahhasgivenmethatagainstyourwishes.Restassuredthatwhoeverkilledanyofuswillhimselfbekilled.And the treatybetweenusofamnesty isundermyfeet."1Mu'awiyah’s rule was terror in the whole Muslim land. Such terrorism was spread by many

convoyssenttovariousregions.HistorianshavenarratedsayingthatMuawiyhsummonedSufyanibn'Awf al-Ghamidi, one of the commanders of his army, and said to him, "This army is under yourcommand.ProceedalongtheEuphratesRivertillyoureachHeet.Anyresistanceyoumeetonyourwayshouldbecrushed,andthenyoushouldproceedtoinvadeAnbar.Afterthat,penetratedeeplyintoMada’in. O Sufyan! These invasions will frighten the Iraqis and please those who like us. Suchcampaignswillattractfrightenedpeopletoourside.

1IbnAbul-Hadid,SharhNahjul-Balagha ةغالبلا نھج حرش ,Vol.16,p.15.Kill whoever holds different views from ours; loot their villages and demolish their homes.

Indeed,fightingthemagainsttheirlivelihoodandtakingtheirwealthawayissimilartokillingthembut ismore painful to their hearts."2 Another of his commanders, namelyBishr ibnArta’ah,wassummonedandorderedtoproceedtoHijazandYemenwiththeseinstructionsissuedbyMu'awiyah:"Proceed toMedina and expel its people.Meanwhile, people in your way, who are not from ourcamp, shouldbe terrorized.WhenyouenterMedina, let it appearas ifyouaregoing tokill them.Makeitappearthatyouraimistoexterminatethem.Thenpardonthem.TerrorizethepeoplearoundMeccaandMedinaandscatterthemaround."3DuringMu'awiyah’sreign,basichumanrightsweredenied,notsimplyviolated.Noonewasfree

toexpresshisviews.Governmentspieswerepaidtoterrorizethepublic,assistingthearmyandthepolice in sparing no opportunity to crush the people and to silence their dissent. There are somedocumentswhich revealMu'awiyah’s instructions tohisgovernors todo just that.For instance, thefollowingletterwasaddressedtoalljudges:"DonotacceptthetestimonyofAli’sfollowers(Shi’as)orofhisdescendantsin(your)courts."Anotherletterstated:"IfyouhaveevidencethatsomeonelikesAli and his family, omit his name from the recipients of rations stipulated from the zakat funds."Another letter said, "Punishwhoever is suspectedof followingAlianddemolishhishouse."4SuchwasthesituationduringthegovernmentofMu'awiyah,Yazid’sinfamousfather.Historianswhowererecording these waves of terror described them as unprecedented in history. People were sofrightened, theydidnotmindbeingcalledatheists, thieves,etc.,butnotfollowersofImamAli ibnAbuTalib(as),ProphetMuhammed’srighthand,confidantandson-in-law.AnotheraspectofthegovernmentofMu'awiyahwastheracistdiscriminationbetweenArabsand

non-Arabs.Although theywere supposed to have embraced Islamwhich tolerates no racism in itsteachings, non-Arabswere forced to pay khiraj and jizya taxes that are levied from non-MuslimslivingundertheprotectionofMuslimsandenjoyingcertainprivileges,includingtheexemptionfromthemilitaryservice.Anon-Arabsoldierfightinginthestate’sarmyusedtoreceivebaresubsistencefromtherations.Once,adisputeflaredupbetweenanArabandanon-Arabandbothwerebroughttocourt.Thejudge,namelyAbdullahibnamir,heardthenon-ArabsayingtohisArabopponent,"MayAllahnotpermitpeopleofyourkind(i.e.Arabs)tomultiply."2Ibid.,Vol.2,p.86.3Ibid.4Ibid.

The Arab answered him by saying, "O Allah ! I invoke You to multiply their (non-Arabs’)population amongus!"Peoplepresent there and thenwerebewildered tohear such aplea, so theyasked him, "How do you pray for this man’s people to multiply while he prays for yours to bediminished?!"TheArabopponentsaid,"Yes,indeed,Idoso!Theycleanourstreetsandmakeshoesforouranimals,andtheyweaveourclothes!"Imamal-Hussain’solderbrother,Imamal-Hassan(as),waselectedinMedinaonthe21stofthe

monthofRamadan,40A.H./January28,661A.D.asthecaliph,buthiscaliphatedidnotlastlongdue

to the terrorism promoted by Mu'awiyah who either intimidated, killed, or bribed the mostdistinguishedmenuponwhomImamal-Hassan(as)dependedtoruntheaffairsofthegovernment.Finally,Mu'awiyahpushedImamal-Hassan(as)outofpoweraftersigningatreatywithhimthetermsofwhichwere, indeed,honourable and fair, had theyonlybeen implemented.Findinghismen tooweakortooreluctanttofightMu'awiyah,Imamal-Hassan(as)hadnoalternativeexcepttosignthesaid treaty with a man whom he knew very well to be the most hypocritical of all and the mostuntrustworthy.SincetherearetoomanyignorantfolkswhodaretoblasphemeandcastdoubtabouttheintegrityofImamal-Hassan(as),wehavetoreviewthetermsofthattreatyandleavethereadertodrawhisownconclusion;thoseterms,inbrief,were:

1. Mu'awiyahshallruleaccordingtotheHolyQur’anandtheSunnahoftheProphet(P)intheterritoriesunderhiscontrol.

2. Mu'awiyahshallhavenorighttonominatehissuccessor.3. AllpeopleinSyria,Iraq,HizajandYemenshallleadtheirlivessafelyandsecurely.4. Thelivesandpropertiesofthefollowers(Shi’as)ofImamAliibnAbuTalib(as),wherever

theymaybe,shallremainsafeandsecure.5. Mu'awiyahshallnottry,openlyorsecretly,toharmortokillImamal-Hassan(as)sonof

ImamAliibnAbuTalib(as),hisbrotherImamal-Hussain(as),oranyothermemberofthefamilyoftheProphet(P),norshalltheybethreatenedorterrorized.

6. Theabusivelanguage,thecursingofImamAli(as)duringprayerservices(orderedbyMu'awiyahandcontinuedafterhisdeathforalongperiodoftime)attheGrandMosqueofDamascusshallbestopped.

Mu'awiyah had ordered all Imam s who led congregational prayers not to descend from theirpulpitsbeforecursingAli(as),apracticewhichtheylabeledas"Sunnah."It isdocumentedthatonesuchImamforgotoncetocurseAli(as),whereuponpeopleshoutedathimthathehadviolatedtheSunnah.ThosewhoprayedathomeandwhoforgottocurseAli(as)aftertheirprayersfeltobligatedto repeat them, being convinced that such cursingwas an integral part of the compulsory prayerswithoutwhichtheywouldnotbeacceptedbyAllah…SuchabominableblasphemycontinuedfromtheyearwhenOthmanwaskilled, that is,35A.H./656A.D. till itwas terminatedbyordersof theonlyrighteousUmayyadcaliph,namelyOmeribnAbdul-Aziz,oneyearafterhisbecomingcaliph,thatis,in 100 A.H../718 A.D., for a total of 62 years. Historians say that the public actually did not stopcursingAli(as)eventhenbutcontinuedtodosoforatleast18moreyears,extendingthetotalto80years…OmeribnAbdul-Azizwaskilledin101A.H./719A.D.afterhavingruledforonlytwoyearsandfivemonthsbecausehewasfairandjustand,mostimportantly,becausehewassympathetictotheProphet’sfamily(Ahlal-Bayt);peaceandblessingsofAllahbewithhim.Shortlyafterconcludingthesaidtreaty,Mu'awiyahluredImamal-Hassan’swife,Judadaughterof

al-Ash'athibnQays,intopoisoningherhusbandwiththepromisethathewouldmarryherofftohissonandheirapparentYazid.JudakilledherhusbandwhodiedonSafar28,50A.H./March30,670A.D.ShewascursedbytheAlmightywithanembarrassingailmentforwhichnobodycouldfindanycure.Mu'awiyah,asexpected,didnotfulfillhispromise.Having succeeded in getting Imam al-Hassan (as), Imam al-Hussain’s older brother, killed,

Mu'awiyahsent letters tooneofhisUmayyadrelatives,namelyMarwan ibnal-Hakam,acousinofOthmanibnAffanandbearerofhisseal,asealwhichheusedquiteoftenforhisowngainsandeven

withouttheknowledgeoftheagingcaliph,instructinghimtoobtaintheoathofallegianceforhissonYazid as his (Mu'awiyah’s) successor. By the way, the Umayyads succeeded in making this sameMarwancaliphin64A.H./683A.D.,andhisgovernmentlastedforseventeenmonthstillitendedin65A.H./684-85A.D.whenhediedat theageof63andwasburiedinDamascus.Marwan,accordingly,deliveredaspeechfollowingtheprayersandconcludeditbysaying,"Thecommanderofthefaithful(meaningMu'awiyah) is of the view that he chooses his son Yazid to succeed him as your rulerfollowing in the footsteps of Abu Bakr and Omer ibn al-Khattab… " He was at that momentinterrupted by Abdul-Rahman son of first caliph Abu Bakr. "Nay!," Abdul-Rahman ibn Abu Bakrshouted,"Youmeanin thefootstepsofKisra(Khosro,emperorofPersia)andCaesar(emperorofRome)!NeitherAbuBakrnorOmerappointedtheirsonsorrelativesastheirsuccessors…!"In51A.H./671A.D.,Mu'awiyahperformedthepilgrimagethenwenttoMedinawherehecalledto

hispresenceAbdullahsonofsecondcaliphOmeribnal-Khattab.Hisfather,Omer,succeededAbuBakrasthecaliphin13A.H./634A.D.;heremainedcaliphfortenyearstillhewaskilledbyaPersianslaveinthemonthofThul-Hijja,23A.H./November644A.D.HewassucceededbyOthmanibnAffanwhoruledforelevenyears(till35A.H./656A.D.).Mu'awiyahsaidtoAbdullahibnOmer,"OsonofOmer!YouusedtotellmethatyouneverlikedtosleeponenightwithoutknowingwhoyourImam(herethewordmeans"ruler")is,andIwarnyouagainstspreadingtheseedsofdissensionamongtheMuslims or corrupting their views."Abdullah praisedAllah then said, "Therewere other caliphsbeforeyouwhohadsonswhowerenotinferiortoyours,yettheydidnotdecidetodowhatyouhavedecidedtodoregardingyourson.Rather,theylettheMuslimsmaketheirownchoice.Youwarnmeagainstdissension,andIamnotanadvocateofdissension.IamjustoneoftheMuslims,andiftheyareunanimousregardinganissue,Iwillthenaddmyvoicetotheirs."Havingsaidso,Abdullahleft.ThenMuhammed,sonoffirstcaliphAbuBakr,referredtoabove,waspresentedbeforeMu'awiyah.ThelatterstartedhisrhetoricbutAbdul-Rahmaninterruptedhimbysaying,"AllyouwanttosayisthatyouwishweobeyyoursonafterobeyingAllah,andthis,byAllah,wewillneverdo.And,byAllah,weshallsettlethisissuebymutualconsultationamongtheMuslims;otherwise,wewilltreatyouasyouweretreatedatthedawnofIslam…!"Thenhe,too,stoodupandleft.YazidsonofMu'awiyahwasbornin17A.H./645A.D.andinheritedhisfather ’spostin60A.H./680

A.D. He ruled for only three years and one month then died in mid-Rab'iul-Awwal of 64A.H./December14,683A.D.at theyoungageof38.Hewasaplayboy,adrunkard,andamanwhoused to enjoy seeing animals fight.He used to playwith animals.Monkeyswere dressed in gold-embroideredmulti-coloredclothes and trained todance forhim, andhehad salaried "officials" tolookafterhis animal collection.Suchcollection includedmonkeysand racedogs.Hewas fondofgamblingandwinedrinking,andhedemonstrateddisrespecttowardstheMosqueoftheProphet(P)andtowardstheKa'baitself,causingveryseriousdamagestoitsstructureasthereaderwillcometoknow in a later part of this book.He forcedwomen to take their veils off andkilled thousandsofinnocentpeopleandencouragedtherapeofwomen,girls,andchildrenduringtheuprisingsthattookplaceinHijaz,particularlyintheHarraincident,detailsofwhichwillfollow.Inshort,YaziddidnothaveoneiotaofrespectforIslamictenetsormoralethics.Strangeenough,therearesomeignorantMuslimswhosinghispraise,justifyanddefendhisbarbaricconduct…ThismuchgivesthereaderanideaaboutwhattypeofpersonsAbuSufyan,Mu'awiyah,andYazid

were.Nowletusreviewthebriefbiographyoftheiropponents.

3ChapterTHENAHJUL-BALAGHATREASURE

There is hardly any averagely educatedMuslimwho has not heard, read or acquired a copy of

ImamAli’s treasure titledNahjul-Balaghaalthough this isnot theonlybookcredited for the Imam(as). The very first book which the Imam (as) was called by his Ahl al-Bayt (as) Al-Jami`a, thecollectivework, the “university”.Unfortunately, very limited details are available about thiswork.TheImam(as)usedtowriteitspartsonpiecesofdeerskinandhangitonhissword,Thul-Fiqar,andhehangsomuch,itwasnoteasytoliftthesword.Hisfamilyanddescendantsinheritedthispreciouswork,andthereaderknowsthat theyallweresubjectedtothemostcruelpersecutionwhichstartedimmediatelyafter thedemiseof theMessengerofAllah(P).For this reason,nopartof this jami`asurvived.Butthankstotheeffortsofal-Sharifal-RadiwhowasabletopreserveagoodnumberoftheImam’ssermons,letterstorulers,armygenerals,governmentofficials,etc.whenheruledtheIslamicworld,inadditiontosomespeeches.Hecalledhiscollection“Nahjul-Balagha”whichmeans“thepathorwayormethodofeloquence”,abookwhichhasbeentranslatedintomorethan20languageandisnowbeingread,studiesandcritiquedintheWestmoresothanintheEast.AllahAlmightyhasblessedmewithopportunitytoeditthistreasureofknowledgeforNewYork’sTahrikeTarsileQur ’an,Inc.which so farhas reprinted it7 timesand ispreparing todo so in thenext fewweeks, InshaAllah,honoringmeagainwitheditingits8thprinting.

4ChapterLINGUISTICGENIUSOFIMAMALI(as)INTWOOFHISSERMONS

Thetextbelowisoriginallypublishedonpp.188–197ofmybooktitledMaryandJesus in

IslamwhichwaspublishedbyAuthorHouseofBloomington,Indiana,andreleasedtothepubliconDecember19,2011.Itisslightlyeditedfromtheoriginal,andtheeditingincludestheremovalofaccentedcharacters,Arabicsalutations,etc.,soitmaybeeasiertobereadbyanyMSWorduser. You are at liberty to quote this text, re-print it, circulate it, use it in your thesis,dissertation,termpaper,postitonyourwebsiteoruseitinanyotherwayyouseefit,andwhenyoudo,restassuredthattheAlmighty,WholovestheImam(as)verymuch,willbeverypleasedwithyouandwillrewardyouinthelifeofthisworldandintheHereafter.MayAllahenableallofus toachieve suchagreatblessingbeyondwhich there isnootherblessingatall,AllahommaAameen.BalaghaorBalaghah:wiserhetoric,elocution,masteryoforatoryandlanguage;refertoNahjul-

Balaghabooktowhichreferenceismadeinthisbookinmorethanoneplaceinordertoenjoyandbenefit from the wisdom of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). In order to portray for the reader thecommand which Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) had of Arabic, two miraculous sermons which hecomposed serve as testimonies not only to such mastership but also to his genius: One of themcontainsanArabictextinwhichtheImam(as)didnotusethe“elongatedaleef”,alpha,“A”,andintheotherhedidnotuseasinglealphabetthathasanydotsinit:Oneday,aheateddiscussionwentonamongtheArabsandMuslimsduringwhichitwassaidthat

there is no alphabet that recurs in speech more often than the "aleef", alpha ("A"). All attendantsagreed.Itwasthenthatthemagnificentlanternoflanguage,itsdeepoceanandprecisephilosopher,namelyImamAliibnAbuTalib(as),stoodupanddeliveredalengthysermonwhichincludedpraiseofAllahAlmighty, prayers and salutations untoHisProphet,Muhammed ibnAbdullah ibnAbdul-Muttalib(P)(peaceandblessingsofAllahbewithhimandhisprogeny).Thestatementsoftheentiresermon,frombeginningtoend,didnotcontainasinglewordhavingthe"elongatedaleef"(alpha).Theauthor ’shumbletranslationofitisasfollows:IpraisetheOneWhoseboonisgreat,whoseblessingoverwhelms,whosemercyisfasterthanHis

anger,theOnewhosewordisperfect,whosewillreigns,whoseargument(issue)iswise,whosecaseisjust. I praise Him as one recognizing His Godhead, submissive while adoring Him, dissociatinghimselffromhissin,recognizingHisUnity,seekingrefugewithHimagainstHiswarning,hopefulforthemercy (forgiveness)of hisLord that saveshim [from theFire]onaDaywheneveryonewill bedistractedevenfromhisoffspringandtribe.WeseekHishelp,guidanceanddirections.WebelieveinHimanddependonHim.IhavetestifiedtoHimasasincereandconvincedservant/slave;IrecognizeHisUniquenessasapiousbeliever,andIhaverecognizedHisUnitylikeasubmissiveservant/slave.

HehasnopartnerinHisdomain;HereliesonnoneindoingwhateverHedoes.Heisexaltedabovehavinganadvisorora vizier.He isaboveusingamodeloranassistantorahelperorapeer.Heknows, so He covers; He is acquainted with the innermost, so He is most familiar [with ourintentions].Hecastalook,soHeassisted;Heownseverything,soHesubdues.Heisdisobeyed,yetHeforgives;Heisadored,soHethanks.Herules,soHeaffectsjustice,andHeisgenerousandgrantsfavors.Heshallnevercometoanend,andHehasalwaysbeenasHeis;thereisnothinglikeHim.He,first and foremost, is a unique Lord in His exaltation, able through His might, holy through Hissublimity,proudofHisMajesty;no(mental)visioncanrealizeHim,norcananyoneeverseeHim.Heis strong, invincible, seeing, hearing, clement, wise, affectionate and kind. One who attempts todescribeHimcanneverdoso;onewhoattemptstodescribeHisattributescanneverdoso[either].HisblessingreachesthosewhogettoknowHim:Heisnear,soHeisfar[abovementalorphysicalvision];HeisfaryetHeisnear[closertousthananythingelse].HerespondstothecallofthosewhocallonHim;HesustainsHisservantandsurroundshimwithHislove;Hisnicetiesarehidden[fromour comprehension];His power ismighty;Hismercy iswide;His penalty is painful;Hismercy isbroad,aGardenofgrandeur(Paradise);HispunishmentisHellfilledwithhorrorsandchains.I have testified thatHe sentMuhammed (P) asHis servant andmessenger, prophet, chosen one,

lovedone,friend,alink[withtheAlmighty]thatgrantshim[Muhammed(P)]fortune,bringinghimcloser toHim, elevating him, granting him nearness and closeness [to the Almighty]. He sent himduringagood(opportune)periodoftime,whentherewasdisbelief,asmercyforHisservantsandaboon for more. Through him He sealed His prophetic messages, strengthened (explained) Hisargument.Soheadmonished,advised,conveyed themessageandworkedhard[forpeople].Hewasaffectionatetowardseverybeliever,merciful,easytoplease,thefriendofanyonewhoisgenerousandpure: mercy, salutation, blessing and honor with him from a forgiving, affectionate, kind, near,responsiveandwiseLord.Ihaveadmonishedyou,Ofolkswhoarepresentherewithme,tobepioustowardsyourLord(asHe

hasadmonished),andIhaveremindedyouoftheSunnahofyourProphet;so,taketoawethatcalmsyourhearts, fear thatdrawsyourtears,piety thatsavesyouonaDaywhichwillpuzzleyourmindsandputyoutothetest,adayonwhichoneshallwiniftheweightofhisgooddeedsisheavywhilethatof his sins is light. Let your plea be in humility and surrender, appreciation and submission,repentanceanddissociation[fromsin],regretandreturn[torighteousness].Leteveryoneofyouseizetheopportunitywhenheishealthybeforethetimewhenheissick,whenheisyoungbeforeheisaged,oldandsick,[theopportunity]ofhiseasebeforeheispoor,ofhavingfreetimebeforeheisbusy,ofbeingwealthy before being impoverished, of being present at home before he is away traveling, ofbeingalivebeforehisdeath.Heshallgrowold,becomeweak,aged,sick,ailing,somuchsothatevenhis doctor is fed-upwith him, even thosewho love him turnaway fromhim.His lifespanwill havecometoanend.Hiscolorofcomplexionischanged.Hismentalpowerisdecreased,soitissaidthathe isailingandhisbody is failing.He ishavingahard timeashe findshimself suffering from thethroesofdeath:He isattendedby thosewhoarecloseandwhoaredistant.Hegazes,yearnsasheturns his eyes, his forehead sweating, his [physical] senses being snatched away fromhim [one byone].Hissighsarenowsilent,hissoulhasdeparted,soheismournedbyhiswife.Hisgraveisdug,hischildrenarenoworphans,thosewhowerearoundhim(hisfriendsorfoes)arenowdispersedfromhim.Whathehadaccumulated (legacy)hasnowbeendivided[amonghisheirs].Gonearenowhisfacultiesofseeingandhearing;sohereceivesTalqeen;heisstretched[ontheground]anddirected[towardstheQibla].Heisstrippedofhisclothes,bathednaked,bodywipedthendirected[towardstheQibla].Somethinghasbeenspreadonthe floor forhimashisshroudsarebeingprepared.Hischin

hasbeentied,hissoulhasalreadydepartedfromhisbodyandhehasbeenbiddenfarewellbyall.Heisnowshrouded,hisheadwrapped,so ishisbody,andhehasbeenhandedover[forburial].Heiscarried inawoodenbox (coffin); his funeral prayershavebeenperformedwithTakbir butwithoutprostrationortherubbingoftheforehead.Heistakenawayfromadecoratedabode[thislife],fromwell-builtmansionsandchamberstoppingeachother,soheisnowinanenclosureofagravewhichisverynarrowandseparatedfromothers;itisbuiltwithbakedclayontopofeachotherandissealedwithaheadstone.Dusthasbeenhealedonhim,sohenowissureaboutthatofwhichhewaswarned;hischestisnowheavy;heisnowathingofthepast.Hisfriends,chosenones,companions, in-lawsandclosefriendshavealllefthimbehind.Hiscompanyandlovedonesarenowchanged,forheisnownothingbut the fillingofagraveand thepawnofawaste:Wormscrawlalloverhisbody,hispusdripsfromhisnostrilsonhisneckandchest.Soilcrusheshisfleshashisblooddriesandbonedecays.HeremainsinhisgravetilltheDaywhenheisherdedwithothersandisgivenanewlife;so,heistakenout of his grave.His trumpet is blown, he is calledon to gatherwith others and stand trial.Graves are scattered around, the innermost in the hearts is recordedand computed.Every prophet,Siddiq,martyr,anyonewhospeaksisbroughtandmadetostandforthefinaljudgmentofanAbleGodWhois fullyknowledgeableofHisservants,seeing[allwhat theydo].Countlessexhalationsengulfhim,sighsfadehim(distancehim),inahorrificpositionandanawesomescenebeforeaGreatKingWhoknowsabouteverythingsmallandbig.Heisreinedbyhissweat,hisworrycrushinghim,yethistearhasnonetofeelsorryfor,hisscream(defense)isnotaccepted.Hisrecordofdeedsisbrought,hisinnermostbecomesvisible,andeverypartofhisbodynowspeaksofhiswrongdoings:Hiseyestestifyaboutwhathehadseen,hishandsaboutthosewhomhebeat,hislegsaboutwherehehadgone,hisskinaboutwhathehadcontacted,hisprivatepartsaboutwithwhomhehadhad intercourse.He isthreatenedbyMunkirandNakeer;anditisunveiledforhimwhereheisheading;sohisnecknowistiedwithchainsandhishandsarecuffed.Heistakenalone,draggedandbroughttoHellasheisinagreatdistressandhardship.Heremainsinthetormentofhellgiventodrinkofveryhotpusthatgrillshisfaceandseparateshisskinfromhisbody.Heisbeatenbythetortureangelsofhellwithironclubs.Hisskinreturnsagainandagainanewafterhavingbeenbaked.Hecriesforhelp,yeteventheangelsinHellturnawayfromhim.Hepleadsformercy,sohestaysforawhileregretful,yethefindsnonetocareabouthisregret.Hisregretwillthenbeinvain.We seek refugewith an Able Lord from the evil of any final end such as this, andwe plead for

forgivenesssimilartothatofonewithwhomHeispleasedandforanoverlookingsimilartothatofonewhosegooddeedsHehasaccepted;forHeismyMaster,ultimatepursuitandtheoneWhograntssuccess towhat I seek.Surelyonewho ispushedaway from the tormentofhisLord shall reside inParadise nearHim and shall remain forever inwell-builtmansions, having huriswith large lovelyeyesandservants.Heisgiventodrinkoffreshcoolwatermixedwithgingerandsealedwithmuskandfragrance that perpetuates happiness and provides the sense of pleasure.He drinks ofwines in anorchardfilledwithalltypesofpleasures,winethatdoesnotcauseanyheadachetoonewhodrinksit,anditneverrunsout;suchistheultimateendofonewhofearshisLord,whoisonguardabouthissin, about the insinuations of his nafs (self), and thatwas the penalty of onewhogoes against the[sinless] way [in which] he was created, the one whose evil self-decorates for him to do what isagainsthisnature.SuchisthefinaljudgmentandtherulingofOneWhoisjust:Henarratedparables,admonishedthroughtexts,sentrevelationsfromaPraiseworthyWiseOne,revelationswhichHesentdownwithaclear(able)HolySpirit[arch-angelGabriel]fromaGloriousLorduntoaProphetwhoisrightlyguidedandwhoguidesothers,onewhoshowsotherstherightway,amercytothebelievers,clearlyfromaGreatLord,amasterfrequentedbymessengers(angels)whoarehonoredandobedient[oftheirLord].

IhavesoughtrefugewithaLordWho isknowing,wise,able,merciful, fromtheevilofanenemy

whoiscursedandstoned;so,leteveryonewhopleadsplead,andleteveryonewhoseeks[favorsofhisLord]seekandaskforgivenessoftheLordoflordsformyselfandforyouall.Having finished his miraculous sermon, the Imam (as) recited this following verse of the

Holy Qur ’an: "We shall grant that (eternal) abode of the hereafter to those who intend neitherhighhandednessnormischiefonearth,andsuchendis(thebestreward)fortherighteous"(Qur ’an,28:83).FollowingisasermonbytheCommanderoftheFaithfulImamAliibnAbuTalib(as)allArabic

lettersofwhichdonotcontainanydotsatall:PraisetoAllahWhoisthepraiseworthy,theaffectionateownerofeverything,theOnewhoforms

everyoneborn,theultimateendofeveryonewhoisexpelled,theOneWhospreadsouttheearth,Whofirms the mountains, Who sends out rain, who facilitates the attainment of goals, Who knows thesecretsandrealizesthem,Whodestroysthepossessionsandannihilatesthem,whofoldsouttimesandrepeatsthem,whocausesmattersandis theirsource.Hisforgivenesscoversall,Hiscreationof theclouds is perfected:Rain showers succeed it.He prolongs pursuits and hopes, broadens sands andplacesthem.IpraiseHimanextendedpraise,andIrecognizeHisunityjustasthosewholoveHimthemostrecognize:HeisAllah,thereisnogodforthenationsbesidesHim,noristhereanyonetocauseadefecttowhatHestraightensanddoes.HesentMuhammed(P)asabannerforIslamandanImamforthosewhorule,ahelper to thecommonersandonewhoputsanend to the judgmentsofWaddandSuwa' (idols).He knowsandHe informs,He rulesandHeperfects:He is theoriginof origins.He[Muhammed(P)]pavesthepath[totheAlmighty]andemphasizesthePromisedDay,warningaboutit.Allahhasmadehonorsinordertoreachhim,depositinginhissoulIslam,blessinghishonorablefamilyandoffspring so longas there isanything that shines like lightning,anyonewhohurrieshispacetowardshispursuit,wheneveracrescentappearsandtheannouncementaboutitismade.Do,mayAllahlookafteryou,righteousdeeds, treadthepathsofwhat ispermissible,putwhat is

prohibitiveasideandabandonit,listentothecommandofAllahandrealizeit,keepintouchwithyourkinsfolkandlookafterthem.Disobeyyourinclinationsandcurbthem,giveyourdaughtersbywayofmarriage to thepeopleofrighteousnessandpiety,andstayaway fromthe folkswhosportandwhocovet,soyourmarriage tiesmayproduce themostpureof freemen, themosteminentdescent, thosewho will let you achieve your dreams. This should be before your eyes, your domain will thus berightful,yourbrideshonored,andletherdowerbejustastheMessengerofAllah(P)hadpaidUmmSalamah, while he is the most honored of all in-laws, the most kind of all offspring, and he hadwhatever he wanted, though having it was not easy, nor did it worry him, nor did his epics everdiminish, nor was he ever stigmatized. I plead to Allah to grant you the most praiseworthy ofconnectionwithHim,theperpetuationofpleasingHim;mayHeinspireeachofyouaboutthatwhichreformsyourconditionandpreparesyouforwhatyoushallreceive[intheHereafter].EternalpraisebelongstoHim;laudingbelongstoHisMessengerAhmed(P).

5ChapterLINGUISTICGENIUSOFIMAMALI(as)INTWOOFHISSERMONS

The text below is originally published on pp. 188 – 197 of my book titled Mary andJesus in Islamwhichwas published byAuthorHouse ofBloomington, Indiana, and released to thepublic on December 19, 2011. It is slightly edited from the original, and the editing includes theremoval of accented characters,Arabic salutations, etc., so itmaybe easier to be read by anyMSWord user. You are at liberty to quote this text, re-print it, circulate it, use it in your thesis,dissertation,termpaper,postitonyourwebsiteoruseitinanyotherwayyouseefit,andwhenyoudo,restassuredthattheAlmighty,WholovestheImam(as)verymuch,willbeverypleasedwithyouandwill reward you in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.MayAllah enable all of us toachievesuchagreatblessingbeyondwhichthereisnootherblessingatall,AllahommaAameen.BalaghaorBalaghah:wiserhetoric,elocution,masteryoforatoryandlanguage;refertoNahjul-

Balaghabooktowhichreferenceismadeinthisbookinmorethanoneplaceinordertoenjoyandbenefit from the wisdom of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). In order to portray for the reader thecommand which Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) had of Arabic, two miraculous sermons which hecomposed serve as testimonies not only to such mastership but also to his genius: One of themcontainsanArabictextinwhichtheImam(as)didnotusethe“elongatedaleef”,alpha,“A”,andintheotherhedidnotuseasinglealphabetthathasanydotsinit:Oneday,aheateddiscussionwentonamongtheArabsandMuslimsduringwhichitwassaidthat

there is no alphabet that recurs in speechmore often than the "aleef", alpha ("A"). All attendantsagreed.Itwasthenthatthemagnificentlanternoflanguage,itsdeepoceanandprecisephilosopher,namelyImamAliibnAbuTalib(as),stoodupanddeliveredalengthysermonwhichincludedpraiseofAllah Almighty, prayers and salutations unto His Prophet, Muhammed ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib(P)(peaceandblessingsofAllahbewithhimandhisprogeny).Thestatementsoftheentiresermon,frombeginningtoend,didnotcontainasinglewordhavingthe"elongatedaleef"(alpha).Theauthor’shumbletranslationofitisasfollows:Oneday,aheateddiscussionwentonamongtheArabsandMuslimsduringwhichitwassaidthat

there is no alphabet that recurs in speechmore often than the "aleef", alpha ("A"). All attendantsagreed.Itwasthenthatthemagnificentlanternoflanguage,itsdeepoceanandprecisephilosopher,namelyImamAliibnAbuTalib(as),stoodupanddeliveredalengthysermonwhichincludedpraiseofAllah Almighty, prayers and salutations unto His Prophet, Muhammed ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib(P)(peaceandblessingsofAllahbewithhimandhisprogeny).Thestatementsoftheentiresermon,frombeginningtoend,didnotcontainasinglewordhavingthe"elongatedaleef"(alpha).Theauthor’shumbletranslationofitisasfollows:IpraisetheOneWhoseboonisgreat,whoseblessingoverwhelms,whosemercyisfasterthanHis

anger,theOnewhosewordisperfect,whosewillreigns,whoseargument(issue)iswise,whosecaseisjust. I praise Him as one recognizing His Godhead, submissive while adoring Him, dissociatinghimselffromhissin,recognizingHisUnity,seekingrefugewithHimagainstHiswarning,hopefulforthemercy (forgiveness)of hisLord that saveshim [from theFire]onaDaywheneveryonewill bedistractedevenfromhisoffspringandtribe.WeseekHishelp,guidanceanddirections.WebelieveinHimanddependonHim.IhavetestifiedtoHimasasincereandconvincedservant/slave;IrecognizeHisUniquenessasapiousbeliever,andIhaverecognizedHisUnitylikeasubmissiveservant/slave.HehasnopartnerinHisdomain;HereliesonnoneindoingwhateverHedoes.Heisexaltedabovehavinganadvisorora vizier.He isaboveusingamodeloranassistantorahelperorapeer.Heknows, so He covers; He is acquainted with the innermost, so He is most familiar [with ourintentions].Hecastalook,soHeassisted;Heownseverything,soHesubdues.Heisdisobeyed,yetHeforgives;Heisadored,soHethanks.Herules,soHeaffectsjustice,andHeisgenerousandgrantsfavors.Heshallnevercometoanend,andHehasalwaysbeenasHeis;thereisnothinglikeHim.He,first and foremost, is a unique Lord in His exaltation, able through His might, holy through Hissublimity,proudofHisMajesty;no(mental)visioncanrealizeHim,norcananyoneeverseeHim.Heis strong, invincible, seeing, hearing, clement, wise, affectionate and kind. One who attempts todescribe Him can never do so; one who attempts to describe His attributes can never do so[either].HisblessingreachesthosewhogettoknowHim:Heisnear,soHeisfar[abovementalorphysicalvision];HeisfaryetHeisnear[closertousthananythingelse].Herespondstothecallofthosewho call onHim;He sustainsHis servant and surrounds himwithHis love;His niceties arehidden[fromourcomprehension];Hispowerismighty;Hismercyiswide;Hispenaltyispainful;Hismercy is broad, a Garden of grandeur (Paradise); His punishment is Hell filled with horrors andchains.I have testified thatHe sentMuhammed (P) asHis servant andmessenger, prophet, chosen one,

lovedone,friend,alink[withtheAlmighty]thatgrantshim[Muhammed(P)]fortune,bringinghimcloser toHim, elevating him, granting him nearness and closeness [to the Almighty]. He sent himduringagood(opportune)periodoftime,whentherewasdisbelief,asmercyforHisservantsandaboon for more. Through him He sealed His prophetic messages, strengthened (explained) Hisargument.Soheadmonished,advised,conveyed themessageandworkedhard[forpeople].Hewasaffectionatetowardseverybeliever,merciful,easytoplease,thefriendofanyonewhoisgenerousandpure: mercy, salutation, blessing and honor with him from a forgiving, affectionate, kind, near,responsiveandwiseLord.Ihaveadmonishedyou,Ofolkswhoarepresentherewithme,tobepioustowardsyourLord(asHe

hasadmonished),andIhaveremindedyouoftheSunnahofyourProphet;so,taketoawethatcalmsyourhearts, fear thatdrawsyourtears,piety thatsavesyouonaDaywhichwillpuzzleyourmindsandputyoutothetest,adayonwhichoneshallwiniftheweightofhisgooddeedsisheavywhilethatof his sins is light. Let your plea be in humility and surrender, appreciation and submission,repentanceanddissociation[fromsin],regretandreturn[torighteousness].Leteveryoneofyouseizetheopportunitywhenheishealthybeforethetimewhenheissick,whenheisyoungbeforeheisaged,oldandsick,[theopportunity]ofhiseasebeforeheispoor,ofhavingfreetimebeforeheisbusy,ofbeingwealthy before being impoverished, of being present at home before he is away traveling, ofbeingalivebeforehisdeath.Heshallgrowold,becomeweak,aged,sick,ailing,somuchsothatevenhis doctor is fed-upwith him, even thosewho love him turnaway fromhim.His lifespanwill havecometoanend.Hiscolorofcomplexionischanged.Hismentalpowerisdecreased,soitissaidthathe isailingandhisbody is failing.He ishavingahard timeashe findshimself suffering from the

throesofdeath:He isattendedby thosewhoarecloseandwhoaredistant.Hegazes,yearnsasheturns his eyes, his forehead sweating, his [physical] senses being snatched away fromhim [one byone].Hissighsarenowsilent,hissoulhasdeparted,soheismournedbyhiswife.Hisgraveisdug,hischildrenarenoworphans,thosewhowerearoundhim(hisfriendsorfoes)arenowdispersedfromhim.Whathehadaccumulated (legacy)hasnowbeendivided[amonghisheirs].Gonearenowhisfacultiesofseeingandhearing;sohereceivesTalqeen;heisstretched[ontheground]anddirected[towardstheQibla].Heisstrippedofhisclothes,bathednaked,bodywipedthendirected[towardstheQibla].Somethinghasbeenspreadonthe floor forhimashisshroudsarebeingprepared.Hischinhasbeentied,hissoulhasalreadydepartedfromhisbodyandhehasbeenbiddenfarewellbyall.Heisnowshrouded,hisheadwrapped,so ishisbody,andhehasbeenhandedover[forburial].Heiscarried inawoodenbox (coffin); his funeral prayershavebeenperformedwithTakbir butwithoutprostrationortherubbingoftheforehead.Heistakenawayfromadecoratedabode[thislife],fromwellbuiltmansionsandchamberstoppingeachother,soheisnowinanenclosureofagravewhichisverynarrowandseparatedfromothers;itisbuiltwithbakedclayontopofeachotherandissealedwithaheadstone.Dusthasbeenhealedonhim,sohenowissureaboutthatofwhichhewaswarned;hischestisnowheavy;heisnowathingofthepast.Hisfriends,chosenones,companions, in-lawsandclosefriendshavealllefthimbehind.Hiscompanyandlovedonesarenowchanged,forheisnownothingbut the fillingofagraveand thepawnofawaste:Wormscrawlalloverhisbody,hispusdripsfromhisnostrilsonhisneckandchest.Soilcrusheshisfleshashisblooddriesandbonedecays.HeremainsinhisgravetilltheDaywhenheisherdedwithothersandisgivenanewlife;so,heistakenout of his grave.His trumpet is blown, he is calledon to gatherwith others and stand trial.Graves are scattered around, the innermost in the hearts is recordedand computed.Every prophet,Siddiq,martyr,anyonewhospeaksisbroughtandmadetostandforthefinaljudgmentofanAbleGodWhois fullyknowledgeableofHisservants,seeing[allwhat theydo].Countlessexhalationsengulfhim,sighsfadehim(distancehim),inahorrificpositionandanawesomescenebeforeaGreatKingWhoknowsabouteverythingsmallandbig.Heisreinedbyhissweat,hisworrycrushinghim,yethistearhasnonetofeelsorryfor,hisscream(defense)isnotaccepted.Hisrecordofdeedsisbrought,hisinnermostbecomesvisible,andeverypartofhisbodynowspeaksofhiswrongdoings:Hiseyestestifyaboutwhathehadseen,hishandsaboutthosewhomhebeat,hislegsaboutwherehehadgone,hisskinaboutwhathehadcontacted,hisprivatepartsaboutwithwhomhehadhad intercourse.He isthreatenedbyMunkirandNakeer;anditisunveiledforhimwhereheisheading;sohisnecknowistiedwithchainsandhishandsarecuffed.Heistakenalone,draggedandbroughttoHellasheisinagreatdistressandhardship.Heremainsinthetormentofhellgiventodrinkofveryhotpusthatgrillshisfaceandseparateshisskinfromhisbody.Heisbeatenbythetortureangelsofhellwithironclubs.Hisskinreturnsagainandagainanewafterhavingbeenbaked.Hecriesforhelp,yeteventheangelsinHellturnawayfromhim.Hepleadsformercy,sohestaysforawhileregretful,yethefindsnonetocareabouthisregret.Hisregretwillthenbeinvain.We seek refugewith an Able Lord from the evil of any final end such as this, andwe plead for

forgivenesssimilartothatofonewithwhomHeispleasedandforanoverlookingsimilartothatofonewhosegooddeedsHehasaccepted;forHeismyMaster,ultimatepursuitandtheoneWhograntssuccess towhat I seek.Surelyonewho ispushedaway from the tormentofhisLord shall reside inParadisenearHimandshallremainforeverinwellbuiltmansions,havinghuriswithlargelovelyeyesand servants.He isgiven todrinkof freshcoolwatermixedwithgingerand sealedwithmuskandfragrance that perpetuates happiness and provides the sense of pleasure.He drinks ofwines in anorchardfilledwithalltypesofpleasures,winethatdoesnotcauseanyheadachetoonewhodrinksit,anditneverrunsout;suchistheultimateendofonewhofearshisLord,whoisonguardabouthis

sin, about the insinuations of his nafs (self), and thatwas the penalty of onewhogoes against the[sinless] way [in which] he was created, the one whose evil self decorates for him to do what isagainsthisnature.SuchisthefinaljudgmentandtherulingofOneWhoisjust:Henarratedparables,admonishedthroughtexts,sentrevelationsfromaPraiseworthyWiseOne,revelationswhichHesentdownwithaclear(able)HolySpirit[arch-angelGabriel]fromaGloriousLorduntoaProphetwhoisrightlyguidedandwhoguidesothers,onewhoshowsotherstherightway,amercytothebelievers,clearlyfromaGreatLord,amasterfrequentedbymessengers(angels)whoarehonoredandobedient[oftheirLord].IhavesoughtrefugewithaLordWho isknowing,wise,able,merciful, fromtheevilofanenemy

whoiscursedandstoned;so,leteveryonewhopleadsplead,andleteveryonewhoseeks[favorsofhisLord]seekandaskforgivenessoftheLordoflordsformyselfandforyouall.Having finished hismiraculous sermon, the Imam (as) recited this following verse of theHoly

Qur ’an: "We shall grant that (eternal) abode of the hereafter to those who intend neither high-handedness nor mischief on earth, and such end is (the best reward) for the righteous" (Qur ’an,28:83).FollowingisasermonbytheCommanderoftheFaithfulImamAliibnAbuTalib(as)allArabic

lettersofwhichdonotcontainanydotsatall:PraisetoAllahWhoisthepraiseworthy,theaffectionateownerofeverything,theOnewhoforms

everyoneborn,theultimateendofeveryonewhoisexpelled,theOneWhospreadsouttheearth,Whofirms the mountains, Who sends out rain, who facilitates the attainment of goals, Who knows thesecretsandrealizesthem,Whodestroysthepossessionsandannihilatesthem,whofoldsouttimesandrepeatsthem,whocausesmattersandis theirsource.Hisforgivenesscoversall,Hiscreationof theclouds is perfected:Rain showers succeed it.He prolongs pursuits and hopes, broadens sands andplacesthem.IpraiseHimanextendedpraise,andIrecognizeHisunityjustasthosewholoveHimthemostrecognize:HeisAllah,thereisnogodforthenationsbesidesHim,noristhereanyonetocauseadefecttowhatHestraightensanddoes.HesentMuhammed(P)asabannerforIslamandanImamforthosewhorule,ahelper to thecommonersandonewhoputsanend to the judgmentsofWaddandSuwa' (idols).He knowsandHe informs,He rulesandHeperfects:He is theoriginof origins.He[Muhammed(P)]pavesthepath[totheAlmighty]andemphasizesthePromisedDay,warningaboutit.Allahhasmadehonorsinordertoreachhim,depositinginhissoulIslam,blessinghishonorablefamilyandoffspring so longas there isanything that shines like lightning,anyonewhohurrieshispacetowardshispursuit,wheneveracrescentappearsandtheannouncementaboutitismade.Do,mayAllahlookafteryou,righteousdeeds, treadthepathsofwhat ispermissible,putwhat is

prohibitiveasideandabandonit,listentothecommandofAllahandrealizeit,keepintouchwithyourkinsfolkandlookafterthem.Disobeyyourinclinationsandcurbthem,giveyourdaughtersbywayofmarriage to thepeopleofrighteousnessandpiety,andstayaway fromthe folkswhosportandwhocovet,soyourmarriage tiesmayproduce themostpureof freemen, themosteminentdescent, thosewho will let you achieve your dreams. This should be before your eyes, your domain will thus berightful,yourbrideshonored,andletherdowerbejustastheMessengerofAllah(P)hadpaidUmmSalamah, while he is the most honored of all in-laws, the most kind of all offspring, and he hadwhatever he wanted, though having it was not easy, nor did it worry him, nor did his epics everdiminish, nor was he ever stigmatized. I plead to Allah to grant you the most praiseworthy of

connectionwithHim,theperpetuationofpleasingHim;mayHeinspireeachofyouaboutthatwhichreformsyourconditionandpreparesyouforwhatyoushallreceive[intheHereafter].EternalpraisebelongstoHim;laudingbelongstoHisMessengerAhmed(P).

www.IslamicMobility.com"WisdomisthelostpropertyoftheBeliever,lethimclaimitwhereverhefindsit"-ImamAli(as)"