Salaam dear young friends and heartiest congratulations to all of you on the blessed occasions of Rajab.
Yesterday was the blessed birthday of the Infant Martyr of Karbala, Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS), who is indeed the immortal symbol of bravery for all seekers of truth, and through his intercession with God Almighty, continues to play the role of Granter of Boons (Bab al-Hawa’ej) for the young and the old alike.
And for today, we also extend the warmest felicitations to you on the birth anniversary of Imam Muhammad at-Taqi al-Jawad (AS), the 9th Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), who was only a boy of 8 years when the divine trust of leadership of mankind was placed on his tender shoulders. Like the Prophets Yahya (John the Baptist) and Jesus, the 9th Imam displayed the bezels of wisdom to guide the seekers of truth.
Saturday will be the 13th of Rajab, and as you know, it is the blessed day of birth of the Commander of the Faithful, the Leader of the Pious, the Symbol of Justice, the Epitome of Piety, the Paragon of Patience, and the Embodiment of Valour, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the cousin and divinely-designated vicegerent of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). Imam Ali (AS), who is the only person born in the holy Ka’ba, needs no introduction.
His personality is the guiding spirit behind the success of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past 43 years, and has inspired people all over the world to resist against tyranny. Examples in this regard are the people of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Arabia, Nigeria, and other places, who are ready to court martyrdom and endure sufferings, without yielding to the tyrannical powers that have imposed war and sanctions upon them.
Imam Ali (AS) offers the finest example of a person who did not pursue power even when he knew it to be his right (and was offered support to make a bid for it after the scandalous event of Saqifah Bani Sa’dah). Later, he took up the reins of caliphate because of the acute necessity of the times and his own responsibility in this regard, in view of his primordial position in Islam. If circumstances had not warranted it, he would never have agreed to become the caliph. This sense of responsibility of the Imam was misinterpreted by persons who were greedy for power themselves, as power mongering. In his own words it is clear how he viewed his commitment to the commandments of God and what he felt about merely clinging to power and leadership:
“By Allah, I shall not be like the badger, which feigns sleep on continuous (sound of) stone-throwing till he who is in search of it finds it or he who is on the lockout for it overpowers it. Rather I shall ever strike the deviators from truth with the help of those who advance towards it, and the sinners and doubters with the help of those who listen to me and obey, till my day (of death) comes. By Allah I have been continually deprived of my right from the day the Prophet (SAWA) passed away till today.”
That was a passage from Sermon 6 of the famous book Nahj al-Balagha (Highroad of Eloquence) that contains several sermons, letters and aphorisms of the cousin, ward, son-in-law, and divinely-designated vicegerent of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
Do read this wonderful book dear youngsters, since it opens us the vistas of wisdom. Once you read it and contemplate upon its dynamism, you will begin to discover the essence of faith, and will be better able to understand the timeless wisdom of God’s Revealed Word, the Holy Qur’an.
God bless you and goodbye until we meet again next week.