Category: Ahlul-Bayt

Sakina was Imaam Husayn’s most beloved child. Our Imaam was often heard to say, “A house without Sakina would not be worth living in!” She always had a sweet and cheerful smile and a very friendly nature. Other children sought her company as much as the grown ups did. She was very generous and always shared whatever she had with others.

There was a special bond between Hazrat Abbas and Sakina. He loved her more than he did his own children. If Sakina requested for anything, Abbas would not rest until he satisfied her request. There was nothing that Abbas would not do to make Sakina happy.

During the journey from Madina to Mecca and then Mecca to Karbala’, Abbas was often seen riding up to the mehmil in which Sakina sat to make sure that she had everything she wanted. Sakina loved her uncle just as much. While in Madina she would, several times a day, visit the house in which Hazrat Abbas lived with his family and his mother, Ummul Baneen.

Like any other four-five year old when Sakina went to bed at night she wanted to spend some time with her father. Imaam Husayn would tell her stories of the prophets and of the battles fought by her grand-father Ali. She would rest her head on her father’s chest and Husayn would not move from her until she fell asleep. When from the second of Muharram the armies of Yazid began to gather at Karbala’, Husayn said to his sister Zainab, “The time has come for you to get Sakina used to going to sleep without my being there!” Sakina would follow her father at night and Husayn had to gently take her to Zainab or Rubaab.

At Karbala’ when from the seventh Muharram water became scarce Sakina shared whatever little water she had with other children. When soon there was no water at all, the thirsty children would look at Sakina hopefully, and because she could not help them she would have tears in her eyes. Sakina’s lips were parched with thirst.

On the Ashura day, she gave her Mashk to Hazrat Abbas. He went to get water for her. The children gathered round Sakina with their little cups, knowing that as soon as Hazrat Abbas brought any water, Sakina would first make sure that they had some before taking any herself. When Sakina saw Imaam Husayn bringing the blood drenched ‘alam she knew that her uncle Abbas had been killed. From that day on Sakina never complained of thirst.

Then came the time when the earth shook and Sakina became an orphan! But even then she always thought of the others first. She would console her mother on the death of Ali Asghar and when she saw any other lady or child weeping Sakina would put her little arms around her.

Yes Sakina never again asked anyone for water. Bibi Zainab would persuade her to take a few sips, but she herself would never ask for water or complain of thirst!!!!

From the time when Imaam Husayn fell in the battle field, Sakina forgot to smile! Kufa saw her as a sombre little girl lost in thought. Quite often she would sit up at night. When asked if she wanted anything, she would say, “I just heard a baby cry? Is it Asghar? He must be calling out for me!”

Knowing that her weeping upset her mother, Sakina would cry silently and quickly wipe away her tears! In the prison in Shaam she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask Bibi Zainab, “Will Sakina be going home like those birds flying to their homes?”

Then one dreadful night Sakina went to bed on the cold floor of the prison. For a long time she stared into the darkness! The time for the morning prayers came. Sakina was still lying with her eyes wide open. Her mother called out: “Wake up, Sakina! Wake up, it is time for prayers, my child!” There was only the painful silence! Our fourth Imaam walked up to where Sakina lay. He put his hand on her forehead. It was cold! He put his hand near the mouth and the nose. Sakina had stopped breathing. In between sobs Imaam Zain ul ‘Abideen said: “inna lil-Lahi wa inna ilay-hi raja’uun.”

How was Sakina buried? Zainab held the still child as Imaam Zain ul ‘Abideen dug a grave in the cell. As the grave was being filled up after the burial the mother let out a scream! How could anyone console Bibi Rubaab? What could they say? They huddled around her, and the prison walls began to shake with the cry: “ya Sakina, ya madhloomah!!” Bibi Rubaab put her cheek on Sakina’s grave and cried out: “Speak to me, Sakina! Only a word, my child! Speak to me!!”

By: adminMon 8 Safar 1433AH / 2 January 2012

His mother was a very pious lady who spent her whole life fasting.  The 10^th Imam has said that his mother was one of the ladies of paradise and one of those from ‘Ahlul Haqq’ (people of truth).

He became an Imam at the age of 8 years.  The khalifa wrote to the governor of Madina asking him to send the young Imam to a person called Junaydi for tutorage (the governor of Madina was threatened that if he did not do this than the people of Madina would be annihilated).  Junaydi was a well known poet of that time and ‘anti – Ahlulbayt’ and was 80 years old.  The Khalifa felt that if this was done than anything that the Imam did or said could be attributed to Junaydi  i.e.  it was taught to Imam by Junaydi.  When Junaydi was once asked about the progress of his student he said :

“I am the student and he is the teacher.  I now know what knowledge is.  What I say is because of what I have been taught by Imam”.  The Khalifa’s plan had failed yet again.

For a while the Khalifa left Imam in peace and freedom as they were engrossed in sorting out their own affairs (Removing the Iranians from power; adding the Turks and establishing power in Samarra). Imam used the time to open Madrasas and the atmosphere in the mosque of the Prophet was once again like in the time of the 6th Imam Ja’fer As-Sadiq (A)

He served the longest period of Imamate (besides the 12th Imam) – 34 years which can be divided into two parts – 17 years of freedom and 17 years under arrest.

In 234 AH  came one of the most tyrannical rulers of the Abbasid Khilafate – Mutawakkil.  He ruled with tyranny, killing, looting and terrorising especially those who were the followers of Ahlulbayt.  Mutawakkil is also the one who ordered the desecration of the grave of Imam Husayn (A) wanting to remove Imam’s body and burn it (He did not succeed).  He tried running water over the grave so no traces of the grave would remain but was unsuccessful.  He ordered that all those wanting to visit Karbala would have their fingers cut off, then hand and feet cut then only be able to go if one other from the family was killed.  Imam still asked Shias to visit Karbala. When Mutawakkil saw that all had failed and it did not discourage the visits than he banned all visits to Karbala completely.

Mutawakkil called Imam to Samarra.  Imam was called under the pretext of respect and love towards him.  Imam was aware of Mutawakkil’s intentions but went knowing that this would be an opportunity to show the Turks too what true Islam was.  On arriving in Samarra the Turkish spies sent with Imam were amazed at Imam’s knowledge of the Turkish language when he had never visited the Turks before.

It was an opportunity for Imam to prepare the Mu’mineen in Samarra for ghaibat.  Imam was put up in an Inn which was meant for beggars, destitute and criminals.  From this Inn he was removed and put into the custody of an evil man called Zarraqui (who changed to be an avid supporter of Imam) and then a man called Seyyid.

Mutawakkil knew of the progress Imam had made in Madina in 14 years of spreading knowledge. Mutawakkil seeing that he could not humiliate Imam in any was he announced his arrival in Samarra as Ibnur Ridha (son of 8th Imam) and subjected him to things such as handing him a glass of wine  in his hands in his court, asking him to sing, making him run in front of his (Mutawakkil’s) carriage..etc.

Imam Hasan Al-Askery (A) was placed under separate house arrest than his father at the young age of 5 years as Mutawakkil did not want the birth of the 12^thImam. Whilst under house arrest Imam Ali An-Naqi (A)  arranged for the coming of Sayyidatinaa Nargis  to Samarra and for her to be well versed in Fiqh by his learned sister Sayyida Hakima.

Imam spent his life making the imminent ghaibat of the 12th Imam easier.

Soon after Mutawakkil was killed by his own son who could not withstand the behaviour of his father. After Mutawakkil’s death his son Muntasir was the successor and he lifted the restrictions of visiting Karbala.  His rule was unlike his father’s tyranny but remained in power for only 6 months and died at the age of 25 years.

Then came Mustan Billah (Ahmed bin Mo’tasam) followed by Mo’taz Billah who continued his tyranny on Imam and his followers.

References

Imam Ali an-Naqi (A) – Hujjat Workshop Course notes

By: adminThu 14 Dhul Hijjah 1432AH / 10 November 2011

Arafat is a mountain or a granite hill, east of Mecca. It is also known as the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). The level area surrounding the hill is called the plains of Arafah. Arafat literally means Knowledge and Science. Arafat is the place where according to the Islamic narrations, the repentance of Adam was accepted by the God after his fall from heaven, Adam and Eve were united at the mount of Arafat, prayed together, asking for forgiveness and got married by archangel Gabriel. Arafat is a site for prayer, supplication and repentance but also acquiring proper recognition of God. Arafat which is marifat mean recognition

This is a day for those present on the plains of Arafah, who stand/sit in two piece of clothes, in scorching heat and ponder over just two facts, to whom they belong and where they are going

About two and half million Muslims will converge on the plains of Arafah for Waqafa (waiting) all afternoon for sunset. It is a vivid representation in all of humanity gathering at the end of Time. It is the day of reckoning where all pilgrims are repenting, supplicating, with hands high. Arafat is the place, where Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago by proclaiming the equality of mankind, justice and freedom for all in an eloquent Human Rights manifesto. “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over non-Arab. A white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white person, except by piety”. He also emphasized the women’s rights and demanded that husband treat their wives with kindness, respect and gentleness and that abusing the wife is immoral. The pilgrims ought to remember and recite the famous sermon on the mount Arafat is where he explicitly gave instructions to the Ummah in the following words: “I am leaving behind you two weighty things (the Saqalayn) the book of God – the Quran and my progeny, the Ahlul Bayt. Hold fast to them and you will never go astray.”

The plain of Arafat is the high point of the Hajj and Prophet Muhammad has said Arafat is the Hajj. While Imam Hussein inscribe an excellent supplication of Arafah, which is one of the famous in the Shiite Annals. Thirty days separate Arafah and Ashura. There exist many similarities and strong bondage between these two days as regard to the message. One clear link is that both of these days have a direct association with Imam Hussein –Doyen of Martyrs. The day of Arafah is all about journey in to the ocean of Gnosticism, which presents in the supplication and recommended to be recited on the day of Arafah.

If one takes a journey through this supplication with understanding and pondering will realize what divine lord and his lordship is all about and how dare one commit any sins. The most trembling state of this dua comes, when he utters the statements, whereby he say “O’ Allah, if you do full fill this one desire of mine, then all other needs which have fulfilled is of no benefit to me, and whatever you have not given me will not do any damage to me. And that one desire is that you relieve my neck from the fire of Hell”. This verse of this Dua, tell us that whether my worldly desires are fulfilled or not, it won’t make any difference if at the end I cannot free myself from the fire of hell.

My question is how this disciple of Dua-e-Arafah can be relaxed and comfortable, when he can witness such an injustice around the world. How can he a follower of Imam Hussein, an inheritor of Dua-e-Arafah forget the saying “Every day is Ashura and Every Land is Karbala”? Dua-e-Arafah is the gateway to Karbala for the Greatest Sacrifice – Zibe-Azeem.

Arafat is awe-inspiring great gathering you see millions shedding tears to gain salvation, seek Allah’s forgiveness (istighfar) and repentance (Tawbah) and making a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes. However, Hajj pilgrims ought to ponder on why the Prophet’s grandson Imam Hussein cut short the Hajj pilgrimage to leave the plains of Arafat for the plains of Karbala in Iraq. The pilgrims should contemplate this wise action that saved the sacred land of Mecca from being sullied with wanton bloodshed that assassin who had come in the garb of pilgrims intended, and how Abraham’s great descendant foiled their plot in order to preserve the sanctity of the Hajj and the Holy Ka’ba. This leads me to talk about Ashura, which fall exactly thirty days after the Great Sacrifice of Prophet Abraham of his son Ishmael. A month after the 10th of Zilhaj is the Day of Ashura and the name of Imam Hussein and Karbala are associated with the virtue of sacrifice. Also refried as the greatest sacrifice.

Ashura – Imam Hussein – The Great Sacrifice Everyday is Ashura and every Land is Karbala.

One of the Hajj rituals centers on the prophet Abraham test to sacrifice his son, which is known as the Greatest Sacrifice –Zibhe Azeem. However, Ishmael was saved twice, once when he was an infant when the spring of Zam Zam miraculously gushed out and second time when Archangel Gabriel by God’s command replaced him with a ram. According to the Quran a verse was revealed immediately to console Abraham say “O, Abraham! Of course thou hast faithfully fulfilled the dream, thou art of the truthful ones, but verily it is an open test, we have substituted it with a Greater sacrifice. We have transferred it to later generation” {Quran 37:105-108}. Hence, the honor was destined for Ishmael’s descendants, Imam Hussein, Ali Asgher and other martyrs of Karbala who were martyred in the state of thirst on the banks of the river Euphrates.  It was on the 10^th Muharram known as Ashura, 61 A.H (680 A.D) that Imam Hussein became a martyr under the most tragic and dreadful conditions ever chronicled in the annals of the civilized world. A nefarious ruler, Yazid, son of Muawiyah, carried the atrocious acts

Source : sijpa.org

By: adminSat 9 Dhul Hijjah 1432AH / 5 November 2011

Prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

The Prophet had told his companion Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari that he would live to see his great, great grandson who would have the same name as himself and would be granted light and wisdom.  The Prophet asked Jabir to convey his greetings to the Imam.

Many years later Jabir did just that to the young Imam.  By this time Jabir was very old man and had also lost his eyesight.

HIS TITLES

Al-Baqir
Baqir means to split open.  He is known as Al-Baqir for two reasons.

1. Baqir ul Ulum – One who split open knowledge. 
The Prophet had said “God sends a person in every century with the responsibility of revitalising and spreading the religion” (Mujaddid).

In the 1st century it was Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (A)  His Imamate was during a time when several threats faced Islam.
(i)With the conquest of Iran and Rome, philosophy and new ideas came to Arabia.  The simple minded Arabs got deviated and started ‘Innovations’-Kiyaas [this means they tried to use their own reasoning when they faced questions or problems (masail).
(ii)The Khalifa’s were occupied in achieving more power, ‘looting’ of new countries  but were reluctant at having new converts to Islam as this would stop jizya (tax paid by non-Muslims) to come to the treasuries.
Islamic rule extended from Marrakesh to Mongolia.
iii) Imam lived in a time of rulers who claimed to be the representatives of the Prophet (SAW) but their behaviour was as follows:

WALEED IBN ABDUL MALIK (86 AH)
He poisoned the 4th Imam.
Was drunk most of the time.
Once sent a slave girl dressed in his clothes to lead fajr prayers.

SULAYMAN BIN ABDUL MALIK (96 AH)
Was very fond of eating.
Died of overeating.

UMAR BIN ABDUL AZIZ (99 AH)
Mentioned later on

YAZID BIN ABDUL MALIK (101 AH)
Allowed slave girl Hubaba to judge.
When she died lived with her corpse as normal.
Wouldn’t allow her to be buried.

HISHAM BIN ABDUL-MALIK (105 AH)
Who poisoned 5th Imam.
 
2. For his worship (ibadat)
Imam used to worship Allah with such devotion that from prostrations his forehead had split.  This is another reason for his title Baqir.

HIS LIFE AND WORKS

Imam Mohammed Baqir’s (A) main mission and message was knowledge.  He encouraged his followers to acquire a Muslim character and to have excellent morals-akhlaq, and disperse in the world for this was the best form of tableegh. He once told his companion Jabir bin Yazid Al-Jufi : 
“There is no Shia who has no taqwa and no obedience to Allah” 
ie. One cannot call oneself a Shia without these two qualities. 

He also talked of 12 signs of a Shia :   
Humility, fear of Allah, trustworthiness, remembrance of Allah, fasts, prays salaa, is good to parents, good to neighbours, is responsible towards widows, orphans & children, fulfils his/her vows, pays back his/her debts, & recites the Qur’an.    

When Umar bin Abdul Aziz became Khalifa in 99 A.H. he called Imam and asked him for some advice.
Imam gave him 3 pieces of advice:-
1. Do not ever celebrate any occasion with excessive happiness which  makes you forget ‘halal’ & ‘haraam’.
2. Never lose yourself in anger so that you forget ‘halal’ & ‘haraam’.
3 Never take away (usurp) anyone’s property.

On hearing the third piece of advice Umar bin Abdul Aziz returned to Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (A) the garden of Fadak (it was this garden which Abu Bakr had snatched from Sayyida Fatima Zehra (A).  His advisors tried to stop him but he did not listen to them [it was Umar bin Abdul Aziz who stopped the cursing of Imam Ali  (A) in the mosques]

SUMMARY OF HIS LIFE WORKS (Imamat)

In an environment where conversion to Islam was discouraged and where the Khalifas were engrossed in the world and had no morals and were unjust;  it was the light and character of Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (A.S.) which kept the message of the true Islam alive.
It was he who collected the saying of the Prophet and ‘Aimma in the form of books establishing the laws of Fiqh as we know them today.

HIS DEATH

In 114 AH  Hisham bin Abdul Malik arranged with Zaid bin Hasan (an uncle of Imam) to deliver a poisoned saddle to Imam as a gift.  Imam was thus poisoned and died after 3 days of illness.  His son Imam Ja’fer As-Sadiq (A) buried him in Jannatul Baqee near Imam Hasan (A)

Additional Notes

Once a Christian asked the Imam about the Muslim belief that the fruits of Paradise are not reduced by eating and asked if such an example was available in the world. Imam replied that it was like a lamp.  One may have a hundred thousand lamps lit from one lamp, but it would still not reduce the light of the original lamp.
Before his death he called the people of Madina saying that it would be Imam Ja’fer As-Sadiq (A) who would give him ‘ghusl’ and ‘kafan’, thus informing them of the next Imam.

He had seven children:  Ja’fer (6th Imam) (A); Abdullah; Ibrahim; Ubaydulla; Ali; Zaynab and Salma

The Imam gave much importance in having majlis for Imam Husayn (A); encouraging them as much as possible.

Mohammed bin Munkadir; a great ‘Shaykh’ of the time once saw Imam working in the fields under the hot sun.  He went up to the Imam and told him if death came to him then (whilst working in the fields) what would he do as he was seeking worldly benefit.  Imam answered that if death came to him then it was whilst be was obeying God; he would only fear if death came whilst he was disobeying Allah. 

References:

Hujjat Workshop, Course Notes, Imam Muhammad Baqir (A)

By: adminSat 2 Dhul Hijjah 1432AH / 29 October 2011

Muslim ibn Aqeel used to lead the prayers in the Great Mosque of Kufa. When he led Salaat-ul-Maghrib, 30,000 people were following him. The support for Muslim ibn Aqeel in Kufa had become a major threat for Yazid and his governor, Ubaydallah ibn Ziyad. During evening prayers, people were sent from the court of the governor publicly announcing that anyone found supporting Muslim ibn Aqeel will be tortured and put to death.

When Muslim ibn Aqeel finished Salaat-ul-Maghrib, 30,000 reduced to 18 only. When Hazrat Muslim completed the Isha prayers and turned back, he found the mosque empty except for one person, only Hani Ibn Urwah, at whose house Muslim was staying as a guest.

Muslim ibn Aqeel had only one thing on his mind now, which was to inform his master Imam Husayn (AS) about the treachery and betrayal of the people of Kufa.

With Muslim completely isolated in Kufa, a ferocious battle took place – Muslim on one side, all alone, and over 500 soldiers on the other side, who were fully armed. Kufa had never seen such a battle before – Muslim defeated the army of 500.  More troops were called and it was decided that it would be impossible to capture H. Muslim (AS) unless he is tricked.  A pit was dug and covered with leaves.  While fighting, Muslim fell into the pit and was captured.

Muslim was ordered to be taken to the roof of the palace to be executed and his body thrown to the ground. He was mercilessly killed on 9t^hof Dhul Hijjah, 60 AH , the day when Muslims were getting ready to celebrate the festivities of Eid al Hajj.  Thus he became the first martyr of the epic battle of Karbala.  He is buried in Kufa and thousands of people go annually to visit his grave and pay their respect.

Sources:

www.al-islam.org

Article contribution by Brother Mustafa Merali

By: adminSat 2 Dhul Hijjah 1432AH / 29 October 2011

The death of her mother had created a void in her life but her father filled it with his love and tenderness. 

Muhammad, the Messenger of God, gave the utmost attention to the education and upbringing of his daughter. If he was the ideal for all men, his daughter had to be the ideal for all women, and she was. He made her the ideal of womanhood in Islam. She was the personification of devotion and obedience to the Creator, and she was the embodiment of all heavenly purity and saintliness. In character and personality, she bore a most striking resemblance to her father. Fatima, the daughter, was the image of Muhammad, the father.

By dint of obedience and service to God, Fatima Zahra rose to the highest rank in His sight, as attested by Al-Qur’an al-Majid. God bestowed the greatest honors upon her, and the Prophet of Islam, on his part, showed her the mark of greatest respect, one which he did not show to any other man or woman at any time in his life.

When Fatima grew up, two old companions – first one and then the other – asked her father for her hand in marriage. But he turned away from them in disgust, and said:

“This matter of the marriage of Fatima, my daughter, is in the hands of Allah Himself, and He alone will select a spouse for her”.

Allah duly made His selection. He selected His slave, Ali ibn Abi Talib, to be the spouse of the daughter of His most favorite slave, Muhammad Mustafa. He wished to see Fatima bint Muhammad and Ali ibn Abi Talib married.

Two months after the battle of Badr, i.e., in the month of Zilqa’ad (the 11th month) of 2 A.H., Ali called on Muhammad Mustafa, and said: “O Messenger of God, you have brought me up as your own child. You have overwhelmed me with your gifts, your generosity and your kindness. I owe you everything in my life. Now I seek one more kindness from you.”

The Apostle understood what Ali was trying to say. His face lighted up in a broad smile, and he bade Ali to wait for a few moments until he obtained his daughter’s answer. He entered the house, told Fatima that Ali was asking for her hand in marriage, and asked her what was her response. She kept quiet. He interpreted her silence as her assent, returned to Ali, informed him that his proposal was accepted, and told him to make preparations for the wedding.

On the last day of Zilqa’ad (the 11^th month), Muhammad Mustafa, the Apostle of God, invited the Muhajireen and the Ansar, to attend a banquet, on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter. He was going to be their host. When all the guests arrived, and were seated, he obtained, once again, the formal consent of his daughter for her marriage with Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Muhammad Mustafa praised Allah, and thanked Him for all His mercies. He then read the sermon of marriage; declared Ali and Fatima husband and wife, and invoked the blessings of Allah upon both of them. All the guests congratulated the Apostle on this most auspicious occasion. After this ceremony, the guests feasted upon lamb meat, bread, date fruit and milk.

A few days later, i.e., in Zilhajj (the 12^th month), Fatima Zahra had to bid farewell to her parental home so she could go to the house of her husband. Her father assisted her in riding his she-camel. Medina rang with the shouts of Allah-o-Akbar. Salman the Persian held the reins of the she-camel, and walked in front of it, as he recited Qur’an. The Apostle of God walked on one side of the she-camel, and Hamza, the Lion of God, on the other. All the young cavaliers of Banu Hashim rode as escorts of the bride, with gleaming swords held high. Behind them were the Muhajir and Ansar women, and behind them came the Muhajireen and the Ansar themselves. They were reciting hymns from Al-Qur’an al-Majid to the glory of God. The recitation of hymns was punctuated from time to time by thunderous shouts of Allah-o-Akbar.

This heavenly cavalcade made a circuit of the Great Mosque of Medina, and then halted at its destination – the house of the bridegroom – Ali ibn Abi Talib. Muhammad Mustafa aided his daughter in alighting from the she-camel. He held her hand, and symbolically placed it in the hand of her husband, and then, standing at the threshold of the house, said the following prayer:

“O Allah! I commend Fatima and Ali, Thy humble slaves, to Thy protection. Be Thou their Protector. Bless them. Be pleased with them, and bestow Thy boundless grace, mercy, and Thy best rewards upon them. Make their marriage fruitful, and make both of them steadfast in Thy love, and Thy service.”

It was a truly happy day in the life of Muhammad Mustafa. But how he must have wished that his beloved wife and friend, Khadija, were with him so both of them together could witness the wedding of their daughter.

A few days later, the Apostle of God called on his daughter, and asked her how she had found her husband. She said that she found him the best companion in giving devotion and obedience to God. Later, he asked Ali how he had found his wife, and he said that he found her the best companion in giving service to the Creator. The greatest moments of life for both husband and wife were those when they went into the Presence of their Lord, and were absorbed in praying to Him.

Between Ali and Fatima Zahra, there was total identity of interests. Both were brought up and educated by Muhammad Mustafa, the Messenger of God, and Khadija-tul-Kubra. Both, therefore, shared the ideals of their parents. Both put service to God ahead of everything else. There was absolutely no room for any disagreement between them. Their thoughts, words and deeds, all were “conditioned” by Al-Qur’an al-Majid. Their marriage therefore, was just as perfect and just as happy as the marriage of Muhammad and Khadija had been.

As noted above, Fatima’s greatest pleasure was to wait upon Allah. She spent most of her time in prayer. Her second greatest pleasure was to carry out her duties toward her family. God was pleased to bestow upon her four children – first two boys and then two girls. She ground grain in a mill which her father had given her as part of her dowry, and baked bread for them. Grinding grain day after day caused blisters to form on her hands but she never complained to her husband or to her father about them, and did all her housework cheerfully.

The household duties could become quite exacting for Fatima Zahra but she found happiness and strength in the remembrance of God. The Book of God was her constant companion. She forgot the drudgery of work as she read passages from that book. And when she put her children to sleep in the crib, she again read selections from the same book as “lullabies” to them. They grew up hearing Al-Qur’an al-Majid from their infancy. She etched the Word of God upon their young hearts. Through such “osmosis,” Qur’an and the children of Fatima Zahra became inseparable for all time.

In the same year, i.e., in 2 A.H., public prayers on the two holidays for the Muslims, viz., Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, were made a sunnat (meritorious) for them.

Source – al-islam.org

By: adminTue 20 Dhul Qidah 1432AH / 18 October 2011

They conferred with one another and told him: ‘A person will be born in your kingdom who will wreck your power and destroy your influence.’ He asked if that person had actually been born or would be born in the near future. They told him that he was not yet born.  Upon hearing that, Namrood ordered a ban on all marriages, separating men from women and ordered the killing of all new borns.
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Allah is All Powerful and All Knowing. His intentions come to be whenever He deems them to be. The mother of Ibrahim successfully concealed her pregnancy. She went out of the city limits and gave birth to her child in a cave. She stayed in that cave with her child until the senseless slaughter of the new borns had come to an end and the king’s own fear of his destruction had abated. By this time Ibrahim had grown up to be a tall and handsome lad. They returned to their ancestral home in the city of Ur.

His Intelligence, Cognition, and Rejection of Idolatry:

In those days people believed in the celestial bodies as their deities. One night, Ibrahim also selected the brightest of all the stars for his observation. By the morning its light faded and it disappeared.  He thought that the most brilliant of the stars could not be the creator as it faded away in the brightness of another celestial body.  Similarly he noted that the moon changed phases, and was but a shadow in front of the brightness of the sun.  He concluded that the moon could not be the creator either.  He pondered if the sun were the ultimate god, as he had also noted people bowing in subjugation to the sun.  But the sun was out only for the duration of the day, and gave way to the stars and the moon at night.  He reflected upon this phenomenon and concluded that the one who put these celestial bodies in their respective places has the supreme power over them and must be the God Almighty, even though He were not visible or physically tangible.  He was pleased with this conclusion and enthusiastically began to tell people how wrong they all had been to ignore the obvious power behind their daily lives, the Supreme power of Allah.  He invited them to give up their false gods and return to the truth.

Some laughed at his idea, some ignored him as he was only a youth “with little knowledge of life,” while others were offended and admonished him for his lack of respect for their gods.

They invited him to come to the annual festival and see for himself how they had decorated their gods along with fabulous offerings brought over from far and wide.  Ibrahim excused himself and did not go to the festival.  As the towns people had all gone to the fair grounds to indulge in their festivities, Ibrahim went to their temple, broke all their idols and left his axe hanging on the shoulder of the biggest of them all in the center of the temple.

Next day when people went to the temple and saw what had happened to their gods, they knew that Ibrahim had done it, since he had made no secret of his dislike of those idols.  The village chief asked Ibrahim if he knew who had broken their idols.  Ibrahim, pointing towards the big idol said, “Why don’t you ask him?” The chef said, “How could a stone idol do such a deed?” There upon Ibrahim said, “If the stone idol was incapable of doing it, or protect itself and the other idols, how could it be a god, the provider and the protectors ” They obviously had no answer to the logic of Ibrahim.  However, they were not prepared to follow his path.  They wanted him punished for being disrespectful to their gods.  They sent a deputation to Namrood, their god-king for a judgement against Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was summoned to the court of Namrood to answer his charges and face the punishment.

When all the people had gathered in the court, Namrood arrived.  All subjects bowed down to the ground for their total submission except for Ibrahim who remained upright and did not bow to the king-god.  When asked why he refused to bow to him, Ibrahim replied that he submitted only to his God, The Creator, The Sustainer.  This was an open insult to the king who commanded an absolute power over his subjects and claimed himself to be a god.  By his act, Ibrahim had provoked the king’s wrath.  However, surprised at the courage of Ibrahim, the king decided to question him.

Debate in the Court of Namrood on the existence of Allah

The king asked Ibrahim to explain to the entire audience who his god was. Ibrahim said that his God was one who gave life and who took it away. The king said that he did that every day!

Ibrahim said that his God brought forth the sun from the east.  He asked the king that if he had the power, could he cause the sun to rise from the west!  Clearly the king was unable to carry out such a feat.

The king then turned around and asked Ibrahim why he had broken all the idols in the temple.  He gave the same reply to the king as he had given to the chief of the village before.  The king said to Ibrahim that he knew that the idols did not talk and yet he kept on referring to the biggest of them to answer the question that actually pertained to him.  Ibrahim said that since the king and all his subjects knew that idols did not talk why then they worshiped them as gods.

As there were no answers to the logic of Ibrahim the king ordered his courtiers to dig a large pit, light a wood fire and throw Ibrahim in it alive, to make an example so that nobody would again disobey or ridicule their god-king.

The Miraculous escape of Ibrahim from the fire

The pit was dug and a large fire was lit in it.  When it was roaring with flames and the heat could be felt from a distance, Ibrahim was thrown in it.  Ibrahim prayed to the true God, Allah, for His mercy in that hour of trial.  By the Grace of Allah neither the fire nor the heat touched Ibrahim.  He walked around as if in a garden and left the pit totally unharmed. This indeed was a miracle that convinced some of the onlookers who bowed to the true God and accepted the true religion of Allah and gave up idolatry.

Ibrahim left his ancestral city of Ur and migrated north to Haran where he stayed for a short period of time.  Then he moved west to Kin’an (Canan in Torah), along with his wife Sarah and nephew Lut (Lot in Torah).  After a while, Lut was appointed messenger by Allah to the people of Sidom and Gomorrah who lived north of Kin’an.

The Progeny of Ibrahim

Before finally settling in Kin’an, Ibrahim visited Egypt where the king gave him a maiden (according to some, his daughter) in marriage. Her name was Hajirah (Hager in Torah).  Allah gave Ismail as the first born child to Ibrahim through his second wife Hajirah at a old age of eighty six years.  Sarah was infertile and became jealous of Hajirah.  Under instructions from Allah, Ibrahim took his son Ismail and his wife Hajirah from Kin’an and brought them down south in the land of Arabia where they were left to live for rest of their lives.  Ismail grew up to be a handsome and tall young man who had many children and is popularly known as the patriarch of the Arabs.

Back in Kin’an, after a few years, Sarah who had grown old, and given up hope of ever bearing a child of her own, also conceived and bore a son to Ibrahim named Ishaq.  It is worth noting here that Ibrahim had then turned ninety nine years of age.  Ishaq was a great prophet of Allah in the land of Kin’an.  He remained settled in Kin’an and had several prominent prophets amongst his progeny.

After the death of his wife Sarah, Ibrahim took another wife named Qutura from whom had many sons and daughters.  These children of Ibrahim settled and populated the lands of Madain, Midyan and Saba.

The Trial of Ibrahim by Allah

One night Ibrahim saw in his dream that he had sacrificed his son Ismail to please Allah.  He wondered over this dream and pondered over its meaning.  He saw the same dream on three consecutive nights.  He called his son Ismail and told him about his dreams.  The son asked his father to do exactly what he had seen in his dreams, if that was the wish of the Creator Almighty, and that he would find him patient.  Ibrahim tied his son just as he would tie a sacrificial lamb, and placed the knife on the throat of his son to carry out the sacrifice.  The Sustainer of life and of all mankind sent the archangel Jibril (Gabrial) with salutations from Allah and told the father and the son that their belief in Allah and their resolve to give their most valued possession in life in His way had pleased Him greatly.  Allah had sent a lamb to be sacrificed in place of Ismail.  Ibrahim thanked the Lord for the acceptance of his service and returned home with humility and gratitude towards Allah.  This act of Ibrahim has been perpetuated by Allah for ever, and is celebrated by Muslims all over the world every year when they sacrifice a lamb.  This event is known as Eid-al-Adha.

The Construction of Ka’ba and Hajj

Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Ka’ba and inserted the Black Stone in one of the comers of the building in accordance with the Will of Allah.  The ritual of Hajj was initiated at that time and has continued to this day.

Solution to the question of Death and Resurrection

Once Ibrahim asked Allah how would He bring them to life again when the living had died and perished.  Allah asked Ibrahim if he had doubts over that question.  He said he had no doubt about the absolute powers of his Lord but he wanted to satisfy his curiosity over the mechanism of resurrection.

Allah instructed Ibrahim: ‘gather four birds, let them become familiar with you, then sacrifice them, mix their meat and scatter it on four hills across from one another.  Then call the birds by their names, and they will come to you.’ Ibrahim did as instructed, and verily the same happened as predicted by the Supreme One, Allah.  Thus Ibrahim solved the riddle of resurrection of the dead on the Day of Judgement.  Allah will call His creation as He Wills, and they will all rise from their graves.

The Ritual of Circumcision

When Ibrahim turned ninety nine years of age, Allah ordained that he himself, his male progeny, and all believers be circumcised.  The divine order was obeyed.  It might be noted here that Ishaq was born to Ibrahim at that old age and after the ritual of circumcision.  This ritual is practiced by the Muslims and the Jews, the followers of Ibrahim, and all those who recognize the hygienic advantages of circumcision.

The Death of Ibrahim

This great prophet and a friend of Allah, also known as the patriarch of all subsequent prophets, died at the age of one hundred and seventy five years.

Major Lessons from the Life of Ibrahim

1.Do not remain ignorant about religion,nor be stubborn about the old ways of our forefathers. Seek the truth. Accept it when discovered.

2. Do not associate any thing or any one with The Creator. Nothing can share with Him the glory of His Oneness.

3. Submit to Allah in total submission to enjoy His bounty and benevolence.

4. When it is difficult to practice your faith in safety and in peace, move to another place, for His territory is vast and His bounty limitless.

5. Whenever occasions arise requiring sacrifice to preserve or protect Faith, do not hesitate, for all we have, came from Him.  We are independent owners of nothing in this world.

References: al Qur’an: Sura Baqra, ale Imran, Nisa’, An’am, Taubah, Lud, Yusuf, Ibrahim, Hajar, Nahl, Mariyam, Anmbiyaa, Hajj, Shu’raa, Ankaboot, Sa fat, Jinn, Zakhraf, Hadeed, Mumtahna, Zariyat, Najam, Taha. from www.al-huda.com

By: adminTue 20 Dhul Qidah 1432AH / 18 October 2011

A’bd al-Salaam Ibn Saaleh al-Hirawi states: I heard Imam Ridha (A) say: “May God have mercy on one who revives our mission!”
I said to him (peace be upon him): How can one revive your mission?
He (peace be upon him) said: “He should learn our teachings and impart them to the people, for if the people become aware of the beauty and charm of our words and teachings, they shall surely follow us.”
(Ma’ani al-Akhbaar, pg. 180; U’yun Akbaar al-Reza, vol, 1, pg. 3)

He is Ali son of Musa son of Ja’ffar son of Muhammad son of Ali son of al-Husayn son of Ali son of Abu Talib (A), eighth in the series of the Imams belonging to the Ahl al-Bayt (A), in whose personalities all the standards of greatness have been personified; so, they became its most magnificent example and most genuine fountainhead. 

His birthplace is Medina, and his resting place is Mashad, Iran.

Historians disagree a great deal about the year of his birth and even in determining the month as well, and they also disagree about determining the year and the month of his death.

He was born in Medina on Friday, or Thursday, Dhul-Hijja 11, or Dhul-Qi’da, or Rabi’ul-Awwal, of the Hijri year 148 or the year 153. He died on Friday, or Monday, near the end of the month of Safar, or the 17th of Safar, or Ramadan 21, or Jumada I 18, or Dhul-Qi’da 23, or the end of Dhul-Qi’da, of the year 202 or 203 or 206. In his ‘Uyoon Akhbar al-Rida, al-Saduq states: “What is accurate is that he died on the 13th of Ramadan, on a Friday, in the year 203.”

What is most likely is that his death took place in the year 203 as stated by al-Saduq. It is the same year in which al-Mamoon marched towards Iraq. To say that he died in 206 is not to agree with the truth because al-Mamoon marched towards Baghdad in the year 204, and the Imam died while he was heading in the same direction. 

There is a great deal of dispute regarding the name of his mother and the number of his offspring and their names.

His life was characterised by a somber tragic stamp from its grievous beginning till its painful end. Bitterness seldom parted from his soul during the periods he lived, i.e. the reign of Harun al-Rashid and the beginning of the regime of Ma’mun, the latter’s son. 

Imam Ali ar-Ridha was brought up under the holy guidance of his father for thirty-five years. His own insight and brilliance in religious matters combined with the excellent training and education given by his father made him unique in his spiritual leadership. Imam ar-Ridha was a living example of the piety of the great Prophet and the chivalry and generosity of Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Imam Musa al-Kadhim was well aware of the aggressive designs of the government in power against the Imamate and therefore, during his lifetime he declared Imam ar-Rida as his successor in the presence of hundred and seventy-one prominent religious divines and called upon his sons and his family to submit to him and refer to him in all matters after him. He also left behind a written document declaring the succession of Imam ar-Ridha duly signed and endorsed by not less than sixteen prominent persons. All these necessary steps were taken by the great Imam to avoid any confusion that may have arisen after his death.

Imam Musa al-Kadhim was poisoned while he was still in prison and passed away on 25^th Rajab 183 AH, and on the same day Imam ar-Ridha was declared as the Eighth Imam of the Muslim world. Imam ar-Ridha had the great task before him of coming out with the correct interpretation of the Holy Qur’an; specially under the most unfavourable circumstances prevailing under the government of Harun ar-Rashid. Many belonging to the faith were imprisoned and those who were free and could not be jailed faced untold atrocities and sufferings. Imam ar-Rida, of course, stamped his impression upon his age by carrying on the mission of the Great Prophet in a peaceful manner even during the most chaotic periods, and it was mostly due to his efforts that the teachings of the Holy Prophet and his descendants became widespread.

Imam ar-Ridha had inherited great qualities of head and heart from his ancestors. He was a versatile person and had full command over many languages. He was described as the greatest sage, saint and scholar of the second century (AH). Once, on his way to Khurasan, when he (the Imam) was brought by force by the guards of Ma’mun from Medina, he arrived on horseback at Nayshabur. Myriads of people gathered around him and all roads were over crowded as they had come to meet and see their great Imam. Abu Dhar’ah ar-Razi and Muhammad ibn Aslam at-Tusi, the two great scholars of the day, stepped out of the crowd and begged the Imam to halt there for a moment so that the faithful may be able to hear his voice. They also requested the Imam to address the gathering. The Imam granted the request and in his brief address told the mammoth gathering the real interpretation of la ilaha illa Allah. Quoting Allah, he continued to say that the kalimah is the fortress of Allah and whoever entered the fortress saved himself from His wrath. He paused for a moment and continued that there were also a few conditions to entitle the entrance to the fortress and the greatest of all conditions was sincere and complete submission to the Imam of the day; and very boldly and frankly explained to the people that any disloyalty to the Prophet and his descendants would withdraw the right of the entrance to the fortress. The only way to earn Almighty Allah’s pleasure was to obey the Prophet and his progeny and that was the only path to salvation and immortality.

The above-mentioned incident speaks clearly of the great popularity of Imam ar-Rida, and the love, loyalty and respect the Muslims gave their beloved Imam. Ma’mun, the king during that time, was conscious of the fact that he would not survive for long if he also did not express his loyalty to the great leader and his intelligence department had made it clear to him that the Iranian people were truly and sincerely loyal to the Imam and he could only win them over if he also pretended to give respect and sympathetic consideration to our eighth Holy Imam.

Therefore, being the very shrewd person that he was, Ma’mun made a plan to invite Imam ar-Rida and to offer him the heirship to the throne. The Imam was summoned by a royal decree and was compelled, under the circumstances, to leave Medina – where he was living a quiet life – and present himself at the royal court of Ma’mun. On his arrival, Ma’mun showed him hospitality and great respect, then he said to him: “I want to rid myself of the caliphate and vest the office in you.” However the Holy Imam refused his offer. Ma’mun further repeated his offer in a letter saying: “If you refuse what I have offered you, then you must accept being the heir after me.” Yet again however, the Holy Imam refused his offer vigorously.  However Ma’mun rejected the Imam’s refusal. Eventually Imam accepted his offer on the following conditions:

“I will agree to what you want of me as far as succession is concerned on condition that I do not command, nor order, nor give legal decisions, nor judge, nor appoint, nor dismiss, nor change anything from how it is at present.”

Ma’mun accepted all of the conditions.

On the day when Ma’mun ordered to make the pledge of allegiance  Imam – ar-Ridha,  one of the close associates of the Holy Imam who was present, narrates:

“On that day I was in front of him. He looked at me while I was feeling happy about what had happened. He signaled me to come closer. I went closer to him and he said so that no one else could hear, ‘Do not occupy your heart with this matter and do not be happy about it. It is something which will not be achieved.”

Therefore why did Ma’mun offer his leadership to our 8th Holy Imam?

Accrording to Allamah ash-Shibli, Ma’mun could not help but hold him in great esteem because of the Imam’s piety, wisdom, knowledge, modesty, decorum and personality. Therefore, he decided to nominate him a the rightful heir to the throne. Furthermore earlier in 200 AH Ma’mun had summoned the ‘Abbasids to his palace.  Thirty-three thousand ‘Abbasids responded to the invitation and were entertained as royal guests. During their stay at the capital he very closely observed and noted their capabilities and eventually arrived at the conclusion that not one of them deserved to succeed him. He therefore spoke to them all in an assembly in 201 AH telling them in categorical terms that none of the ‘Abbasids deserved to succeed him. He demanded allegiance to Imam ar-Rida from the people in that very meeting and declared that royal robes would be green in future, the color which had the unique distinction of being that of the Imam’s dress. A Royal decree was published saying that Imam ar-Rida would succeed Ma’mun.

However even after the declaration of succession when there was every opportunity for the Imam to live a splendid worldly royal life, Imam ar-Ridha did not pay any heed to material comforts and devoted himself completely to imparting the true Islamic conception of the Prophet’ s teachings and the Holy Qur’an. He spent most of his time praying to God and serving the people. Taking full advantage of the concessions given to him by virtue of his elevated position in the royal court, he organized the majalis commemorating the martyrdom of the martyrs of Karbala’. These majalis were first held during the days of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir and Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, but Imam ar-Rida gave the majalis a new impetus by encouraging those poets who wrote effective poems depicting the moral aspects of the tragedy and the suffering of Imam Husayn and his companions.

Ma’mun had been very scared of the growing popularity of the Imam and he had appointed him as his heir to the throne only for the fulfillment of his own most ambitious and sinister designs and getting the Imam’s endorsement to his tricky plans. However the Imam naturally refused to give his endorsement to any such plans which were against the teaching of Islam. Ma’mun therefore became very disappointed with him and as a result of the Imam’s growing popularity as well as to ensure his own (Mam’uns) survival, he decided to act in line with the old traditions of killing the Imam.

Seeking to do so in a subtle manner, he invited the Imam to dinner, and fed him poisoned grapes. The Imam died on 17^th Safar 203 AH, he was buried in Mashad and his Grand Shrine speaks well for the great personality the Imam possessed. Myriads of followers visit his Shrine every year to pay their homage to this Imam.

Imam has promised the following to all those who visit his shrine in Mashad:

“By Allah I swear that this place – my shrine – is one of the Eden Gardens- he who visits me in the shrine is like visiting the shrine of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and that of my ancestors and I will be his intercessor on the day of reckoning.”

Therefore, motivation for us all to visit – inshallah.

Sources:
1. www.al-islam.org
2. Hussaini Youth
3. Last quote – from terminal in Mashad Airport

By: adminFri 2 Dhul Qidah 1432AH / 30 September 2011