By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

     "Have they not regarded how Allah originates the creation? Then He will bring it back. That is indeed easy for Allah. Say, ‘Travel over the land and then observe how He has originated the creation.’ Then Allah shall bring about the genesis of the Hereafter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.” (Holy Qur’an 29:19-20)
     The words of God Almighty are the Ultimate Truth which humanity and science are gradually beginning to discover, while the true believers in the light of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams of his Blessed Household, have long known that the transient world of nature and its various phenomena, have nothing to do with the mythology of the warped minds, but guide us towards the everlasting life of the Hereafter.
     We are on the threshold of the blessed birthday of the only person that was born in the holy Ka’ba – the holiest spot on Planet Earth – and who, as the Divinely-Designated Heir of the Seal of Messengers, presented to the world the finest example of the government of social justice.
     Since the auspicious 13th of Rajab has coincided this year with the Vernal Equinox or Nowrouz (New Year Day), as it is called in Iran and the world of Persianate culture, it would not be out of context to mention a few milestones from the life of the One and Only Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), that are associated with the first day of spring.
     The year 1398 solar hijri, dated like its lunar counterpart from the Prophet’s  auspicious migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina, starts in Iran in the early hours of Thursday, March 21, exactly at 01:28:27 sharp (21:58:27 GMT, March 20), with the overwhelming majority of the people ushering in the New Year amidst supplications to God Almighty at the mausoleums of the Ahl al-Bayt, especially in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, in the holy shrine of his sister Hazrat Ma’sumah (SA) in Qom, and the Jamkaran Mosque which is associated with the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance to establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice)
     Here is a famous statement attributed to Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), the 6th Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) on the Spring Equinox:        
      "The sun attained its brightness, the wind started to blow, the Ark of Prophet Noah (AS) stopped at Mount Joudi and was saved from drowning; Prophet Abraham (AS) broke the idols of his community; Archangel Gabriel brought the first revelation to our Prophet (Muhammad - SAWA); the Prophet lifted Imam Ali (AS) on his shoulders to enable him to topple the idols from atop the Ka'ba; and (years later) the Prophet proclaimed Imam Ali (AS) as his (divinely-designated) vicegerent at Ghadeer-Khom (on 18th Zilhijja 10 AH by the command of Almighty Allah).”
     According to chroniclers, the auspicious event of Ghadeer in Arabia occurred on the Spring Equinox (Nowrouz of the Iranians). Historical accounts also confirm that twenty-five years later in 36 AH, following the killing of Othman bin Affan, when Imam Ali (AS) reluctantly took up the reins of political power on the pleas of the Muslim masses, it was the 18th of Zilhijja and incidentally the Day of Nowrouz.

      In view of these facts, here is a glimpse of the morally upright politics for the sake of social justice of the Leader of the Pious, during his four-and-a-half year rule as political head of the vast Islamic realm, which today covers some twenty countries, stretching from North Africa to Central Asia.
   
      Politicians, especially in today’s world, are mostly dishonest, corrupt, and self-serving, and love wealth and power. They do anything to get into office, and once they are in office, they do anything to hold on to power. In order to get into office, politicians make all sorts of promises, most of which they fail to keep. Thus, for many people, politics is synonymous with lies, treachery, broken promises, corruption and nepotism. An honest politician who doesn't want to line his own pockets, and is not after wealth, high office, and power, is almost unheard of in today's world, and was certainly very rare indeed throughout history. Has there ever been such a politician?

     The answer is yes. He was Imam Ali, whose main concern as caliph was social justice – making sure that everyone received his fair share of Bayt al-Maal or the public treasury, and making sure that no one’s rights were ignored or denied.
 
     Indeed, Imam Ali (AS) accepted the caliphate in order to establish justice throughout the Islamic realm. He believed that the ruler of the land plays a huge role in determining the fate of the society over which he rules. According to him, a ruler  or governor not only manages the economy, the social affairs, the security and prosperity of the people he rules, but he also has a very significant effect on the conduct of society, the social norms, and the way society behaves.
      The politics of the Commander of the Faithful were a world apart from either western or eastern politics, or the dubious political theories of today. In actual fact, the politics of Imam Ali (AS) are based on monotheism, the Qur’anic teachings and the needs of mankind. His politics were inextricably linked to the genuine precepts of Islam in conformity to the nature of mankind and the needs of the society. The Imam was very concerned about all sections of society, but he took a special interest in making sure that the less-well-off and the poor were looked after, and had a decent life, on the basis of honesty, piety and human dignity.

     Imam Ali (AS) showed that breaking a promise, uttering lies, and resorting to deceit for worldly gains, are grave sins. He always kept his promises and honoured his pledges throughout his blessed life. The importance he gives to this subject is evident in part of Sermon 41 of the book, Nahj al-Balagha:

     "O' people! Surely fulfillment of pledge is the twin of truth. I do not know a better shield (against the assaults of sin) than it. One who realises the reality of return (to the next world) never betrays. We are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom. In these days the ignorant call it excellence of cunning. What is the matter with them? Allah may destroy them. One who has been through thick and thin of life finds the excuses to be preventing him from orders and prohibitions of Allah but he disregards them despite capability.
 
    To end this brief column, here is another famous saying from the 6th Imam on the Spring Equinox, followed by the famous supplication in Arabic which is recited throughout Iran on the start of Nowrouz:
     "Today is the day on which God made a pact with His servants to pray to Him not to follow polytheism but to follow the Prophets and the Ahl al-Bayt. On this day the last Imam, the Awaited Mahdi (AS) is expected to reappear...”
"Ya Moqallab al-qoloub wa'l-Absaar; (O Rotator of hearts and eyes).
"Ya Modabber al-layl wa'n-nahaar; (O Regulator of the day and night),
"Ya Mohawwel al-howl wa'l-ahwaal; (O Transformer of state and situations)
"Hawwil halana ila ahsan il-haal. (Turn our state into the best of conditions).
Congratulations on the Birthday of Imam Ali (AS) & Nowrouz











Holiday Notice
We hope our readers a happy Nowruz. Our next issue will return to newsstands on April 6.