Imam Ali (AS), the Divinely-Designated Leader of Mankind
By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
"And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.’” (Holy Qur’an 2:124)
The Words of God are crystal clear. Abraham, already one of the Five Greatest Prophets, who was moreover regarded as "Khalil” or Intimate Friend by Allah, is now being made the Imam or Leader of mankind. And when he asks, whether this lofty status will be granted to his descendants, prompt comes the reply that the unjust will never be granted this divinely-decreed position.
It means, Imamate, is not the prerogative of anyone who had been unjust even for a moment, and this term includes deviation for even a fraction of a second from belief in monotheism, committing sin, oppressing others and own self, worshipping idols, or indulging in polytheism, atheism, impolite behaviour, and etc.
This means, the overwhelming majority of the descendants of Abraham, whether the Ishmaelite Arabs (offspring of his firstborn son, Ishmael), or the Israelites (progeny of his other son Isaac), are excluded from the prime position of Imamate, even if some of them happened to be chiefs of tribes, rulers of realms, kings, emperors, caliphs, presidents, and prime ministers – however democratically elected, selected, nominated and designated by people’s vote.
We also do not find any reference in any heavenly scripture of the appointment as Imams of such Great, Pious, Just and Infallible Prophets, as Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, etc. The only exception is the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), whom the Lord Most High called "Habib” (Beloved) and made "Mercy to the entire creation” (Holy Qur’an 21:107), thereby decreeing him the "Imam al-awwalin wa’l-akhirin” (Leader of all humanity from the beginning till the end).
We have no precise information on which date of the year Allah the Unseen but Omnipresent spoke with His obedient servant Prophet Abraham and granted him Imamate or Leadership of mankind.
Was it in his youthful days in his homeland Mesopotamia, where he underwent the test of fire?
Was it in Palestine, where in old age after decades of the test of childlessness, he became father of Ishmael through Hajar and then of Isaac through the aged Sarah?
Was it in Mecca, where Allah having tested his sincere offer of sacrificing Ishmael, deferred the sacrifice till some future date in the full limelight of history, then commanded him to rebuild the holy Ka’ba and call mankind for Hajj?
However, one date is sure. According to Islamic texts, it was on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah that the huge fire the tyrant Nimrod had ignited and flung the cool and calm Abraham into it, miraculously turned into a pleasant garden for the future rebuilder of the Ka’ba, the Reviver of the Hajj, and First Imam of mankind.
Interestingly, on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah some great miracles have occurred in the remote past. It was on this day that Prophet Moses on divine commandment, declared Prophet Joshua his successor, and in the following centuries Prophet Solomon appointed Asef Ibn Barkhiya as deputy, and Prophet Jesus (AS) named Simeon as vicegerent.
Praise be to Allah Almighty, Who never leaves humanity stumbling in the dark. The Source of all creation, Who had entrusted Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) with the universal mission of Islam, with the clear message that no heavenly scripture is to be sent down after the Most Complete Book, the Holy Qur’an, ensured that the seekers of truth will not be left without a guide in the period after the passing away of the Seal of Messengers and the end of life on Planet Earth.
Since Islam is the creed decreed by God for all humanity, no Tom, Dick or Harry of Arabia, could assume the leadership of mankind, after having spent the greater part of life in idolatry, adultery, and injustice and all sorts of immoralities.
Thus, on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah in 10 AH, shortly after the Prophet while returning from his Farewell Hajj pilgrimage had parted ways with the caravans of pilgrims coming from Yemen and other parts, Gabriel descended with the express commandment:
"O Prophet! Convey that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message; and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot.”
The Prophet halted at the Ghadeer (pond, watering place) of Khom, and summoned all those who had parted ways at Juhfa. Then before a huge assembly of 120,000 Hajj pilgrims, he delivered a historic sermon, as memorable as he had delivered nine days earlier on 9th Zi’l-Hijja from Mount Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahma) in Arafaat, where he had informed Muslims of his imminent departure from the mortal world, saying:
"I am leaving behind among you the Thaqalayn (Two Precious or Weighty Things); the Book of God (Qur’an) and my progeny the Ahl al-Bayt. Hold fast to them if you do not want to go astray, for the two never part with each other, even till they return to me at the Fountain (of Kowthar on Resurrection Day).”
Here at Ghadeer, the Prophet asked the Muslims whether he was superior to them than their own selves. Yes O Prophet of God, came the unanimous reply. Then he lifted his Immaculate Cousin and Son-in-Law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) and proclaimed those immortal words ensuring continuation of divinely-decreed leadership after him:
"Man kunto Mowla fa hadha Aliyun Mowla” (For whomsoever I am Master, this Ali is his Master).
Thus, Imamate or Leadership of mankind, became the specific position of the only person to be born in Abraham’s edifice of monotheism, the holy Ka’ba. With the formal proclamation as vicegerent of the person whom the Prophet had already specified: "If you want to see knowledge of Adam, the piety of Noah, the devotion of Abraham, the awe of Moses and the service and abstinence of Jesus, look at the bright face of Ali,” Gabriel descended with a fresh message from the Lord Most High:
"Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.” (Holy Qur’an 5:3)
We felicitate all the true followers of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) on this blessed occasion, and pray to God to hasten the reappearance of the 12th Infallible Imam, the Promised Mahdi (AS), who will establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice, as the direct descendant of Imam Ali (AS) – and not the descendant of those who had hijacked the caliphate and masqueraded as caliphs, to confound the beliefs of Muslims.
"O Commander of the Faithful, I affirm that those who have doubts about you[r Imamate] do not have faith in the Trusted Prophet and that those who put others on a par with you deviate from the upright religion which has been approved for us by the Lord of all the worlds, who perfected it with your wilayah on the Day of Ghadeer.”
Congratulations on the Blessed Anniversary of Ghadeer-Khom
"And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.’” (Holy Qur’an 2:124)
The Words of God are crystal clear. Abraham, already one of the Five Greatest Prophets, who was moreover regarded as "Khalil” or Intimate Friend by Allah, is now being made the Imam or Leader of mankind. And when he asks, whether this lofty status will be granted to his descendants, prompt comes the reply that the unjust will never be granted this divinely-decreed position.
It means, Imamate, is not the prerogative of anyone who had been unjust even for a moment, and this term includes deviation for even a fraction of a second from belief in monotheism, committing sin, oppressing others and own self, worshipping idols, or indulging in polytheism, atheism, impolite behaviour, and etc.
This means, the overwhelming majority of the descendants of Abraham, whether the Ishmaelite Arabs (offspring of his firstborn son, Ishmael), or the Israelites (progeny of his other son Isaac), are excluded from the prime position of Imamate, even if some of them happened to be chiefs of tribes, rulers of realms, kings, emperors, caliphs, presidents, and prime ministers – however democratically elected, selected, nominated and designated by people’s vote.
We also do not find any reference in any heavenly scripture of the appointment as Imams of such Great, Pious, Just and Infallible Prophets, as Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, etc. The only exception is the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), whom the Lord Most High called "Habib” (Beloved) and made "Mercy to the entire creation” (Holy Qur’an 21:107), thereby decreeing him the "Imam al-awwalin wa’l-akhirin” (Leader of all humanity from the beginning till the end).
We have no precise information on which date of the year Allah the Unseen but Omnipresent spoke with His obedient servant Prophet Abraham and granted him Imamate or Leadership of mankind.
Was it in his youthful days in his homeland Mesopotamia, where he underwent the test of fire?
Was it in Palestine, where in old age after decades of the test of childlessness, he became father of Ishmael through Hajar and then of Isaac through the aged Sarah?
Was it in Mecca, where Allah having tested his sincere offer of sacrificing Ishmael, deferred the sacrifice till some future date in the full limelight of history, then commanded him to rebuild the holy Ka’ba and call mankind for Hajj?
However, one date is sure. According to Islamic texts, it was on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah that the huge fire the tyrant Nimrod had ignited and flung the cool and calm Abraham into it, miraculously turned into a pleasant garden for the future rebuilder of the Ka’ba, the Reviver of the Hajj, and First Imam of mankind.
Interestingly, on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah some great miracles have occurred in the remote past. It was on this day that Prophet Moses on divine commandment, declared Prophet Joshua his successor, and in the following centuries Prophet Solomon appointed Asef Ibn Barkhiya as deputy, and Prophet Jesus (AS) named Simeon as vicegerent.
Praise be to Allah Almighty, Who never leaves humanity stumbling in the dark. The Source of all creation, Who had entrusted Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) with the universal mission of Islam, with the clear message that no heavenly scripture is to be sent down after the Most Complete Book, the Holy Qur’an, ensured that the seekers of truth will not be left without a guide in the period after the passing away of the Seal of Messengers and the end of life on Planet Earth.
Since Islam is the creed decreed by God for all humanity, no Tom, Dick or Harry of Arabia, could assume the leadership of mankind, after having spent the greater part of life in idolatry, adultery, and injustice and all sorts of immoralities.
Thus, on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah in 10 AH, shortly after the Prophet while returning from his Farewell Hajj pilgrimage had parted ways with the caravans of pilgrims coming from Yemen and other parts, Gabriel descended with the express commandment:
"O Prophet! Convey that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message; and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot.”
The Prophet halted at the Ghadeer (pond, watering place) of Khom, and summoned all those who had parted ways at Juhfa. Then before a huge assembly of 120,000 Hajj pilgrims, he delivered a historic sermon, as memorable as he had delivered nine days earlier on 9th Zi’l-Hijja from Mount Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahma) in Arafaat, where he had informed Muslims of his imminent departure from the mortal world, saying:
"I am leaving behind among you the Thaqalayn (Two Precious or Weighty Things); the Book of God (Qur’an) and my progeny the Ahl al-Bayt. Hold fast to them if you do not want to go astray, for the two never part with each other, even till they return to me at the Fountain (of Kowthar on Resurrection Day).”
Here at Ghadeer, the Prophet asked the Muslims whether he was superior to them than their own selves. Yes O Prophet of God, came the unanimous reply. Then he lifted his Immaculate Cousin and Son-in-Law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) and proclaimed those immortal words ensuring continuation of divinely-decreed leadership after him:
"Man kunto Mowla fa hadha Aliyun Mowla” (For whomsoever I am Master, this Ali is his Master).
Thus, Imamate or Leadership of mankind, became the specific position of the only person to be born in Abraham’s edifice of monotheism, the holy Ka’ba. With the formal proclamation as vicegerent of the person whom the Prophet had already specified: "If you want to see knowledge of Adam, the piety of Noah, the devotion of Abraham, the awe of Moses and the service and abstinence of Jesus, look at the bright face of Ali,” Gabriel descended with a fresh message from the Lord Most High:
"Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.” (Holy Qur’an 5:3)
We felicitate all the true followers of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) on this blessed occasion, and pray to God to hasten the reappearance of the 12th Infallible Imam, the Promised Mahdi (AS), who will establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice, as the direct descendant of Imam Ali (AS) – and not the descendant of those who had hijacked the caliphate and masqueraded as caliphs, to confound the beliefs of Muslims.
"O Commander of the Faithful, I affirm that those who have doubts about you[r Imamate] do not have faith in the Trusted Prophet and that those who put others on a par with you deviate from the upright religion which has been approved for us by the Lord of all the worlds, who perfected it with your wilayah on the Day of Ghadeer.”
Congratulations on the Blessed Anniversary of Ghadeer-Khom