By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

 

Today, the 17th of the blessed month of Ramadhan happens to be the anniversary of two very important days in the history of civilization.

The first is the emergence of the dawn following “Me’raj” or Ascension to the highest point in the heavens and back to Mecca on Planet Earth in a fraction of the night on Divine Commandment by the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger.

The second is the victory of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his lightly armed force of 313 in 2 AH when the pagan Arabs of Mecca imposed the first ever battle on Muslims at a place called Badr.

Both the events, which are a testimony to the peerless spiritual and physical positions of the Seal of Messengers, also testify the God-given status of his Vicegerent both in the ethereal heavens and in the transitionary mortal world.

The “Mercy unto all creation” is the only being summoned so near to the Celestial Throne, where no other creature, including Archangel Gabriel, has ever approached. It is narrated that from behind the dazzling curtain of celestial light the Voice chosen by God – Who is far glorious to have any place, form, shape, or voice – to speak was that of Imam Ali (AS), because it was the most soothing voice for Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

“Immaculate is He who carried His servant on a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose environs We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. Indeed He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing.” (Holy Qur’an 17:1)

“While he was on the highest horizon; then he drew nearer and nearer, until he was within two bows’ length or even nearer, whereat He revealed to His servant whatever He revealed. The heart did not deny what it saw. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw? Certainly, he saw it yet another time.  Certainly he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.’ By the Lote Tree of the Ultimate Boundary, near which is the Garden of the Abode, when there covered the Lote Tree what covered it. The gaze did not swerve, nor did it overstep the bounds. Certainly he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.” (Holy Qur’an 53:7-18)

It was on this night in Mecca, before the Prophet’s migration to Medina that Gabriel descended with the celestial mount “Buraq” – faster than the speed of light. Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) travelled to the Masjid al-Aqsa or the Remote Mosque, which could be the one in Bayt al-Moqaddas, or as per other narrations, located in the heavens. Narrations also speak of his lightning visit that night to the Grand Mosque of Kufa in Iraq that used to be the house of Prophet Noah and was in ruins in those days. He also made stops at Medina, which in the near future would be the capital of his ideal government, and at Mount Sinai where God Almighty used to speak to Prophet Moses.

The 17th of Ramadhan is also the resounding victory of the little band of Muslims over a strong fully armed almost 1,000-strong pagan army.  

Of the 70-odd infidels who fell in battle, while the rest fled or were taken captive, 36 were dispatched to the bowels of hell by Imam Ali (AS), including Otba, his son Walid, Shayba, and Hanzala ibn Abu Sufyan. 

This heroic epic waged a millennium, four centuries and forty-three years ago, continues to inspire Muslims to confront heavily armed enemies.

A couple of day later, Ramadhan 19, is the tragic anniversary of the fatal stroke on the blessed head of Imam Ali (AS) in 40 AH in the mosque of Kufa while in the state of the ritual morning prayer, by the renegade Ibn Muljam.

Two days later on 21 Ramadhan, the Commander of the Faithful left for his heavenly abode and laid to rest in Najaf where his sprawling grand golden-domed mausoleum continues to beckon believers from all over the world.

This year Ramadhan 19 happens to be the Spring Equinox, marked in Iran and the Iranic and Persianate communities in the region and beyond as Nowruz or new year, as the first day of the calendar in the Islamic Republic.

The year 1404 solar hijri, dated like its lunar counterpart from the Prophet’s auspicious migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina, begins at Iranian time 12:31:30 (09:01:31 GMT). The majority of Iranians usher in the New Year with supplications to God Almighty at the mausoleums of the Ahl al-Bayt. The holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, at the holy shrine of his sister Hazrat Ma’sumah (SA) in Qom, and the Jamkaran Mosque – associated with Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance to establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice) – are the most frequented places.

The following famous supplication is recited throughout Iran and on radio and TV channels:  

“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).