Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance

Whom to marry & who is Mahram and Non-Mahram

Surah An- Nisa, 4:22-24

وَلاَ تَنكِحُواْ مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاء إِلاَّ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتًا وَسَاء سَبِيلاً

Wa laa tankihuu maa nakaha ’aabaaa-’ukum-minan-nisaaa-’i ’il-laa maa qad salaf: ’in-nahuu kaana fashishatanw-wa maqtaa, - wa saaa-’a sabii-laa.

22. And do not marry women whom your fathers have previously married - although what is past is past: this, verily, is a shameful deed, and a hateful thing, and an evil way.

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ وَعَمَّاتُكُمْ وَخَالاَتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ الأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ الأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ اللاَّتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَأُمَّهَاتُ نِسَآئِكُمْ وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللاَّتِي فِي حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ اللاَّتِي دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُواْ دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلاَئِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلاَبِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُواْ بَيْنَ الأُخْتَيْنِ إَلاَّ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Hur-rimat ‘alaykum ’um-mahaa-tukum wa banaa-tukum wa ’akhawas-tukum wa ‘am-maa-tukum wa khaalaa-tukum wa banaatul -’akhi wa banaatul-’ukhti wa ’um-ma-haatukumul-laatiii ’arza - nakum wa ’akhawaa-tukum-minar-razaa-’ati wa ’um-ma-haatu nisaaa-’ikum wa rabaaa-’ibukumul-laatii fii hujuurikum - min-nisaaa-’ikumul-laatii dakhaltum-bihinn, - fa’il-lam takuunuu dakhaltum bihin-na falaa junaaha ‘alaykum; - wa halaaa-’ilu ’abnaaa-’ikumul-laziina min ’aslaa-bikum wa ’an-tajma-’uu baynal-’ukhtayni ’il-laa maa qad salaf; ’in-nallaaha kaana Ghafuurar Rahiimaa.

23. Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your aunts paternal and maternal, and a brother’s daughters, and a sister’s daughters; and your milk-mothers, and your milk-sisters; and the mother of your wives; and your step-daughters who are your foster-children - born of your wives with whom you have consummated your marriage; but if you have not consummated your marriage, you will incur no sin (by marrying their daughters); and (forbidden to you are) the spouses of the sons who have sprung from your loins; and (you are forbidden) to have two sisters (as your wives) at one and the same time - but what is past is past: for, behold, God is indeed much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاء إِلاَّ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ كِتَابَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَاء ذَلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُواْ بِأَمْوَالِكُم مُّحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُم بِهِ مِن بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

Wal-Muhsanaatu minan nisaaa-’i ’il-laa maa malakat-ay-maanukum. Kitaabal-laahi ’alaykum. Wa ’uhil-lalakum-maa waraaa-’a zaalikum ’an-tab-taghuu bi-’amwaalikum-muhsi-niina ghayra musaa-fihiin. Famas-tamta - tam-bihii minhum-na fa-’aatuuhun-na ’ujuura-hun-na fariizah. Wa laa junaaha ‘alaykum fiimaa tarr-zaytum-bihii mim-ba dil-fariizati, ’innal-laaha kaana ’Aliiman hakiimaa.

24. And (forbidden to you are) all married women other than those whom you rightfully possess (through wedlock): this is God’s ordinance, binding upon you. But lawful to you are all (women) beyond these, for you to seek out, offering them of your possessions, taking them in honest wedlock, and not in fornication. And unto those with whom you desire to enjoy marriage, you shall give the dowers due to them; but you will incur no sin if, after (having agreed upon) this lawful due, you freely agree with one another upon anything (else): behold God is indeed all knowing, wise.

Terms of marriage to up to four wives

Surah An-Nisa, 4:3

وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ تُقْسِطُواْ فِي الْيَتَامَى فَانكِحُواْ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاء مَثْنَى وَثُلاَثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَلاَّ تَعُولُواْ

Wa ’in khiftum ’al-laa tuqsituuu fil-yataamaa fan - kihuu maa taabalakum-kinan-nisaaa-’i masnaa wa sulaasa wa rubaa ‘. Fa-in khiftum ’al-laa ta’-diluu fawaa-hidatan ’aw maa malakat ’aymaanukum. Zaalika ’adnaaaa ’al-laa ta- ‘uuluu.

3. And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among (other) women such as are lawful to you - (even) two, three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then (only) one - or (from among) those whom you rightfully possess. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course.

Ordained to treat all wives equally which may not be possible

Surah An - Nisa, 4:129

وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُواْ أَن تَعْدِلُواْ بَيْنَ النِّسَاء وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ فَلاَ تَمِيلُواْ كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ وَإِن تُصْلِحُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Wa lan-tastatii-‘uuu ’anta‘-diluu baynan-nisaaa-’i wa lau harastum falaa tamiiluu kul-lal-mayli fataza-ruuhaa kal-mu-‘allaqah. Wa‘in tus-lihuu wa tat-taquu fa-’in-nallaah kaana Ghafuurar-Rahiimaa.

129. And it will not be within your power to treat your wives with equal fairness, however much you may desire it; and so, do not allow yourselves to incline towards one to the exclusion of the other, leaving her in a state, as it were, of having and not having a husband. And if you put things to rights and are conscious of Him - behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.

Ordinance when accusation by husband is without witnesses

Surah An - Nur, 24:6-10

وَالَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ أَزْوَاجَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُمْ شُهَدَاء إِلَّا أَنفُسُهُمْ فَشَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ أَرْبَعُ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

Wal-laziina yarmuuna ’az-waajahum wa lam yakul-lahum shuhadaa-’u ’il-laaa ’anfusuhum fa-shahaadatu ’ahadihim ’arba-‘u shahaa-daatim-bil-laahi ’in-nahuu laminas-saadiqiin;

6. And as for those who accuse their wives (of adultery) but have no witnesses except themselves, let each of these (accusers) call God four times to witness that he is indeed telling the truth,

وَالْخَامِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ وَيَدْرَأُ

Wal-khaamisatu ’an-na la‘-natal-laahi ‘alayhi ’in-kaana minal-kaazibiin.

7. and the fifth (oath to be) that the curse of God on him (i.e. the husband) if he is one of the liars.

عَنْهَا الْعَذَابَ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

Wa yadra-’uu ‘anhal-‘azaaba ’an tash-hada ’arba-‘a shahaadaatim bil-laahi ’in-nahuu laminal kaazibiin;

8. And it shall avert the punishment from her (i.e. the wife) if she testifies four times (swearing) by God, that verily he (i.e. the husband) is one of the liars,

وَالْخَامِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

Wal-khaamisata ’anna ghazabal-laahi ‘alayhaaa ’in-kaana minas-saadiqiin.

9. And the fifth (oath) to be that the wrath of God be on her if he be of the truthful ones.

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ

Wa lau laa fazlul-laahi ‘alaykum wa rahma-tuhuu wa ’an-nal-laaha Taw-waabun Hakiim.

10. And had it not been God’s grace upon you and His mercy - and that God is Oft-Returning. All-wise (ye had been ruined indeed).

If one accuses his wife of adultery, and brings no witness in support of his accusation - the accusation could be genuine and also can be a false excuse of a wicked husband to get rid of his wife. However, with such a charge of gross disloyalty against the wife, it would be against the human nature for the normal harmony of the married life to continue between the two spouses. The wedlock is automatically dissolved. But the allegation could also be correct, in which case the wife should be punished. Conversely if it is a false charge, then the husband must be punished.

While laying the charge upon the wife, the husband should swear for four times pointing to his wife saying “I bear witness before God that what I say is true that the women, my wife, has committed adultery”, and at the end of these oaths, repeated for four times he should invoke the curse of God saying, “ May the curse of God be upon me (the husband himself) if I be a liar.”

On the other hand, the wife is also given the choice of receiving the sentence or to acquit herself in a similar way - She must repeat for four times - “I bear witness before God that what my husband accuses me of adultery is a lie” and the fifth time she should say, “May the wrath of God be on me (the wife herself) if what he says is true.”

With this, the wife is forever separated from her husband, with the wedlock dissolved, never again to be effected between the two and if the wife be pregnant the issue will not be called as that of the husband but exclusively of the wife.

It is admirably noted here how the Islamic justice is tempered with mercy recognising the individual responsibility of every human being, man and woman, to his or her faith in God and God’s Authority.

Iddah period of wife after husband’s death

Surah Baqarah, 2:234

وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِي أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

Wal-lazina yutawaf-fawna minkum wa yazaruuna ’azwaajan-yatarab basna bi-’anfusi-hin-na arba-’ata ‘ash-hurinw-wa ‘ashraa Fa’izaa balagh- na ‘ajalahun-na falaa junaaha a’lay. Kum filma fa-alna fiii ’anfusi-hin-na bil-ma’-ruuf. Wal-laahu bimaa ta-maluuna khabiir.

234. And if any one of you die and leave wives behind, they shall undergo, without remarrying, a waiting-period of four months and ten days; whereupon, when they have reached the end of their waiting-term, there shall be no sin in whatever they may do with their persons in a lawful manner. And God is aware of all that you do.

Laws of Inheritance

Surah An-Nisa, 4:11-12

يُوصِيكُمُ اللّهُ فِي أَوْلاَدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الأُنثَيَيْنِ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاء فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ وَلأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ آبَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبناؤُكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعاً فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيما حَكِيمًا

Yuusii-kumul-laahu fiii ’aw-laadikum:liz-zakari mislu haz-zil-’unsa-yayn: fa-’in-kun-na nisaaa-’an -fawqas-natayni fala hun-na sulusaa maa tarak; wa’in- kaanat waahidatan-fala-han-nisf. Wa li-’aba-wayhilikul-li waahidim-min-humassudusu mim-maa taraka ‘in-kaana lahuu walad; fa-’il-lamyakul-lahuu waladunw-wa wa-risahuuu ‘abawaahu fali-’um-mihis-sulus; fa-in-kaanalahuuu’ikh-watun-fali-’um-mi-his-sudusu mim ba, ’-di wa-siy-yatin-yuusii bihaa ’aw dayn. Aabaaa-’ukum, wa abnaaa-’ukum laa tadruuna ‘ay-yuhum’aqrabu lakum naf-’aa. Farii-zatam-minallaah; ’in-nallaahakaana ‘Aliiman Hakiimaa.

11. Concerning (the inheritance of) your children, God enjoins (this) upon you: The male shall have the equal of two females’ share; but if there are more than two females, they shall have two-thirds of what (their parents) leave behind; and if there is only one, she shall have one-half thereof.

And as for the parents (of the deceased), each of them shall have one-sixth of what he leaves behind, in the event of his having (left) a child; but if he has left no child and his parents are his (only) heirs, then his mother shall have one-third; and if he has brothers and sisters, then his mother shall have one-sixth after (the deduction of) any bequest he may have made, or any debt (he may have incurred).

As for your parents and your children - you know not which of them is more deserving of benefit from you: (therefore this) ordinance from God. Verily, God is all-knowing, wise.

وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَاجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ وَلَهُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ الثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم مِّن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلاَلَةً أَو امْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ فَإِن كَانُوَاْ أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاء فِي الثُّلُثِ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَى بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَآرٍّ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ

Wa lakum nisfu maa taraka ’azwaa-jukum ’il-lam-yakullahun-na walad; fa-’in-kaana lahun-na waladun - falakumurrubu- ‘u mim-maa tarakna mimba ‘-di Wa - siyyatin-yuusiina bihaaa ’aw dayn. Wa lahunnar-rubu- ‘u mim-ma taraktum ’il-lam-yakul-lakum walad; fa-’in-kaana lakum waladun-falahun-nas-sumunu mimmaa taraktum-mim-ba ‘-di Wa-siyyatin-tuu-suuna bihaaa ’aw dayn. Wa ’in-kaana rajulun yuu-rasu kalaalatan ’a-wimra-’atunw-wa lahuuu ’akhun ’aw ’ukhtun - fali - kul-li washidim-min-humas-sudas; fa-’in-kaanuuu ’ak-sra min zaalika fahum shura-kaaa-’u fis-sulusi mim-ba ‘-di Wa-siyyatin-yuusaa bihaaa ’aw daynin ghayra muzaaarr. Wa-siyyatam-minallaah; wallaahu ‘Aliimun Haliim.

12. And you shall inherit one-half of what your wives leave behind, provided they have left no child; but if they have left a child, then you shall have one-quarter of what they leave behind, after the deduction of any bequest they may have made, or any debt (they may have incurred). And your widows shall have one-quarter of what you leave behind, provided you have left no child; but if you have left a child, then they shall have one-eighth of what you leave behind, after (the deduction of) any bequest you may have made, or any debt (you may have incurred).

And if a man or a woman has no heir in the direct line, but has a brother or a sister, then each of these two shall inherit one-sixth; but if there are more than two, then they shall have one-third (of the inheritance), after (the deduction of) any bequest that may have been made, or any debt (that may have been incurred), neither of which having been intended to harm (the heirs).

This is the injunction from God: and God is all-knowing, forbearing.

Trails, Patience

Test by Allah (swt)

Surah Ali-’Imran, 3:186

لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ أَذًى كَثِيراً وَإِن تَصْبِرُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الأُمُورِ

Latubla-wun-na fiii ’amwaalikum wa ’anfusikum; wa latasma - ’un-na minal-laziina ’uutul-Kitaaba min-qablikum wa minal-laziina ’ashrakuuu ’azan-kasiiraa. Wa ’in-tasbiruu wa tat-taquu fa-’in-na zaalika min ’azmil-’umuur.

186. You shall most certainly be tried in your possessions and in your persons; and indeed you shall hear many hurtful things from those to whom revelation was granted before your time, as well as from those who have come to ascribe divinity to other beings beside God. But if you remain patient in adversity and conscious of Him - this, behold, is something to set one’s heart upon.

Surah Al - Baqarah, 2:155

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

Wa lanablu-wan-nakum-bi-shay-’im-minal-’amwaali wal-’anfusi was-samaraat: wa bashshiris-Saabiriin.

155. And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of (labour’s) fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity.

The emphasis laid upon is basically on any kind of fear of loss of sustenance, children and suffering. The more an individual rises in his faith in God, his personal virtues and the quality of patience, more he is beset with trials through calamities to prove his personal excellence, and as he passes through his trials successfully, he is raised into higher and higher elevations of the excellence of divinity and promoted to be nearer to God. Those who do not suffer these calamities at all in this life are not much to be congratulated for it might be that these souls are not considered fit to be tried.

It was only once in the history of the creation of the earth that all the kinds of trials mentioned in the verse were enacted all together to the maximum degree conceivable, with the Holy Imam Hussein (S) and the small band of his faithful comrades in the plain of Kerbala. This verse had its fullest realization only in the suffering and the martyrdom of Hussein (S) and his faithful comrades and the suffering of the other Imams at different times under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs.

Patience in adversity is ordained

Surah Al i- ‘Imran, 3:200

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اصْبِرُواْ وَصَابِرُواْ وَرَابِطُواْ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Yaaa-’ayyu-hal-laziina ’aama-nusbiruu wa saabiruu wa raabituu: wat-taqul-laaha la-’al-lakum tufli-huun.

200. O you who have attained to faith! Be patient in adversity, and vie in patience with one another, and be ever ready (to do what is right), and remain conscious of God, so that you might attain to a happy state!

In Hadith al Qudsi, Allah (swt) says:

“A person who is not happy with My orders, not patient with my afflictions, not thankful for My bounties, not content with My gifts, then he should look for another Lord other than Me and he should get out of my Universe.

A person who does not get what he wants in this world and becomes sad by it, is as if he is angry with Me.

A person who complains of calamities to another, which has befallen upon him, is as if he has complained about Me.”

Advised to adopt patience in adversity & praise the Creator by day and by night

Surah Ta Ha, 20:130

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ آنَاء اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَى

Fasbir ‘alaaa maa yaquu-luuna wa sab-bih bi-Hamdi Rab-bika qabla tuluu-‘ish-shamsi wa qabla ghuruu-bihaa; wa min ’aanaaa-’il-layli fasab-bih wa ’atraafan-nahaari la-‘al-laka tar-zaa.

130. Hence, bear with patience whatever they (who deny the truth) may say, and extol thy Sustainer’s limitless glory and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the hours of the day, so that thou might attain to happiness.

This verse gives out in the best comprehensive way the five obligatory and optional prayers.

1. Before the rising of the sun - ‘Salatul-Fajr’ or the Morning Prayers.

2. Before the setting of the sun - ‘Zuhr’ & ‘Asr’ or the Afternoon and Evening Prayers.

3. The hours of the night - ‘Maghrib’ & ‘Isha’ or the Evening and the Night Prayers.

‘The hours of the Night’ comprehends also the time for the ‘Sunnat’ or the optional prayers which are offered past midnight i.e. ‘Tahajjud’.

Repentance

God is Most Gracious in Giving Mankind a Chance To Repent

Surah An - Nahl, 16:61

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاء أَجَلُهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

Wa lau yu-’aakhizul-laahun-naasa bi-zulmihim maa-taraka ‘alay-haa min daaab-batinw-wa laa kiy-yu-’akh-khiruhum ’ilaaa ’ajalim-musam-maa: fa-’izaa jaaa-’a ’ajaluhum laa yasta’-khiruuna saa-‘atanw-wa laa yastaq-dimuun.

61. Now if God were to take men (immediately) to task for all the evil that they do (on earth), He would not leave a single living creature upon its face. However, He grants them respite until a term set ( by Him): but when the end of their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they hasten it.

Surah Al - Fatir, 35:45

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاء أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا

Wa lau yu - ’aakhizul-laahun-naasa bimaa kasabuu maa taraka ‘alaa zahrihaa min daaab-batinw-wa laakinyu - ’akh-khiruhum ’ilaaa ’ajalim-musam-maa: Fa-’izaa jaaa- ’a ’Ajaluhum fa -’in-nal-laaha kaana bi- ‘ibaadihii Basiiraa.

45. Now if God were to take men (at once) to task for whatever (wrong) they commit (on earth), He would not leave a single living creature upon its surface. However, He grants them respite for a term set (by Him): but when their term comes to an end - then, verily, (they come to know that) God sees all that is in (the hearts of) His servants.

It is God’s mercy that the sinners in the world are left to themselves with the respite to amend their ways otherwise every one on earth would long have been perished if God had dealt everyone with His strict justice. That is why the holy Ahlul Bayt (a) have taught us to be ever prayerful saying‘O Lord! Deal us with thy Mercy and deal Thou not with Thy Justice.’

God’s acceptance of Tawbah

Surah An-Nisa, 4:17-18

إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوَءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً

’In-namat - tawbatu ‘alal-laahi lil-lazina ya-maluunas-suuu-a bi jahaalatin sum-ma yatuubuuna min-qariibin - fa’ulaaa - ’ika yatuu-bul-laahu ‘alayhim - ’ika yatuu-bul-laahu ‘alayhim: wa kaanallaahu ‘Aliiman Hakiimaa.

17. Verily, God’s acceptance of repentance relates only to those who do evil out of ignorance and then repent before their time runs out: and it is they unto whom God will turn again in His mercy - for God is all-knowing, wise;

وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الآنَ وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

Wa laysa-tit-taw-batu lillaziina ya’- maluunas-sayyi’aati hat-taaa’izaa hazara ’ahadahummul-mawtu qaala ’in-nii tubtul-’aana wa lal-laziina yamuutuuna wa hum kuf-faar: ’ulaaa-’ika ’a ‘-tadnaa lahum ‘azaaban ’aliimaa.

18. Whereas repentance shall not be accepted from those who do evil deeds until their dying hour and then say, “Behold, I now repent”; nor from those who die as deniers of the truth: it is these for whom We have readied grievous suffering.

Sustenance

Sustenance for every created thing is provided only by Allah (swt)

Surah Al - Hijr, 15:19-23

وَالأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ

Wal-’arza madad-naahaa wa ’al-qay-naa fiihaa rawaasiya wa ’ambat-naa fiihaa min kul-li shay-’im-maw-zuun.

19. And the earth - We have spread it out wide, and placed on it mountains firm, and caused (life) of every kind to grow on it in a balanced manner,

وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَن لَّسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ

Wa ja-‘alnaa lakum fiihaa ma-‘aa-yisha wa mal-las-tum lahuu bi-raa-ziqiin.

20. and provided thereon means of livelihood for you (O men) as well as for all (living beings), whose sustenance does not depend on you.

وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلاَّ بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

Wa ’im-min-shay-’in ’il-laa ‘indanaa khazaaa-’inuh; wamaa nunaz-zi-luhuuu ’il-laa bi-qadarim-ma‘luum.

21. For, no single thing exists that does not have its source with Us ; and nought do we bestow from on high unless it be in accordance with a measure well-defined.

وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ

Wa ’arsalnar-riyaaha la-waa-qiha fa-’anzalnaa minas-samaaa-’i maaa-’an fa-’as-qay-naa-kumuuh: wa maaa ’antum lahuu bi-khaa-ziniin.

22. And We let loose the winds to fertilize (plants), and we send down water from the skies and let you drink thereof: and it is not you who dispose of its source -

وَإنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ

Wa ’in-naa lanahnu nuh-yii wa numiitu wa nahnul-waarithuun.

23. for, behold, it is We - We alone - Who grant life and deal death, and it is We alone who shall remain after all else will have passed away!

Surah Ar - Ra’d, 13:26

اللّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاء وَيَقَدِرُ وَفَرِحُواْ بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَاعٌ

’Al-laahu yabsutur-Rizqa limay-yashaa-u’ wa yaq-dir. Wa farihuu bil-ha-yaatid-dunyaa. Wa mal-hayaatud-dunyaa fil-’Aakhi-rati ’il-laa mataa‘-

26. God grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills; and they (who are given abundance) rejoice in the life of this world - even though, as compared with the life to come, the life of this world is naught but a fleeting pleasure.

In Hadith al Qudsi, Allah (swt) says:

“Oh! Son of Adam! If Almighty Allah has taken the responsibility of providing your sustenance then why are your efforts directed exclusively towards it?

And if all fortunes and misfortunes are from Me, then why are you impatient.

So, you should not be disappointed when you love something and should be so happy when you gain something from this world.”

Surah Az - Zumar, 39:52

أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

’Awalam ya-lamuuu ’an-nal-laaha yabsutur - rizqa liman-yashaaa- ‘u wa yaqdir? ’In-na fii zaalika la-’Aayaatil-liqaw-min-yu’-minuun ?

52. Are they, then, not aware that it is God who grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills?

The provision of sustenance to His creation is a matter which is in the hands of God Himself. He provides everything with its sustenance. With sustenance in the hands of God, the existence of everything would naturally depend upon Him. There is no need for any creature to fear or implore anyone else save God. Any act of worshipping anyone beside Him would not only be foolishness but an unpardonable act of ingratitude and thanklessness.

Allah’s Final Messenger

Introduction

Muhammad son of Abdullah was Allah’s final prophet and messenger to humanity, who is also referred to as the Seal of the Prophets. He brought the Almighty’s last revelation to mankind, the Qur’an, and adopted and enshrined a code of conduct, a system of governance, and a morality the like of which was never seen before him in human history, nor will be seen in the future. [And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.] 21:107 Editors.

78: The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, is the role model for all humanity and the perfect example of all manifestations of good and virtue.

79: It is imperative for the Muslims, or rather, for the entire world population - if they wished good for themselves - to follow the Holy Prophet’s lead and emulate and uphold his morals and conducts.

80: In all situations, Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the finest example for trustworthiness and sincerity, truthfulness and loyalty, good manners, noble nature and magnanimity, knowledge and forbearance, forgiveness, generosity and bravery, piety and abstention from any sin or evil, asceticism and virtue, justice, humility, and tireless endeavour (or jihad).

81: Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the embodiment of all virtues and morality, the essence of honour and magnanimity, the home of knowledge and justice, piety and ethics, and the touchstone of the religion, the material world, and the hereafter.

82: Never did a similitude of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, come in the past, and there will never ever come one like him in the future.

83: Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, is the greatest and the most distinguished and virtuous personality Almighty Allah has ever created. Even when the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was asked“Are you a Prophet?” he said:“I am but one of the slaves of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family.”

84: The Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, established a comprehensive Sunnah, or a system of rules, laws and teachings for the Muslims. Like the Prophet himself, these rules, laws and teachings are the best and the most perfect for mankind.

85: The Holy Qur’an is the living eternal miracle of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family. This is because it is the only heavenly book that Almighty Allah willed to be immune from additions, deductions, changes and alterations; despite the concerted effort of those who planned and embarked on effecting such alterations. Thus it is the eternal book, and the permanent constitution for life until the Day of Judgement, and as long as mankind lives on Earth. This is because the Holy Qur’an contains superior laws and teachings that guarantee mankind’s prosperity, progress and advancement.

86: Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, never pre-emptively started a war against an enemy. Rather, it was the enemy who used to attack the holy Prophet. Imam Ali adopted the same policy, as did Imam Husayn;[18] Imam Ali’s son and the holy Prophet’s grandson. Even though the enemy had besieged him, Imam Husayn used to say,“I hate to be the one to initiate the attack.” This indeed was always the stance taken by Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them all, in confrontation with their enemies.[19]

87: Islam lays great emphasises on human behaviour, and pays significant attention to social manners and etiquette, so much so that Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, made the ultimate goal of his blessed mission to be the perfection and dissemination of noble manners and ethical conduct throughout the land, by saying:“Indeed, I have been sent to perfect and complete the noble morals.” Furthermore, when Almighty Allah praises His beloved messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, He commends his noble manners, by saying: [and you are of sublime morality].[20] When Allah reminds the Muslim nation of the mercy and blessing that have been bestowed upon them, He cites the most important of qualities of such mercy, which are the leniency and clemency of his manners; Almighty Allah states; [by the mercy of Allah you have been lenient to them].[21] These words allude to the importance of good manners and moral conduct in Islam, and their significance for a Muslim individual as a way of life.

88: A great number of people were impressed by Allah’s Messenger’s well-mannered and courteous conduct, and were attracted to Islam as a result.

89: During the Prophet’s time in Mecca - after the start of his divine mission - his teachings and policies did not become common knowledge. Thus most of his teachings were not implemented, because neither the environment was conducive to practise such teachings; nor did he have any other alternatives - in order to assess how the prophet interacted with people; during times of war or peace, and with his friends and foes. But all that became clear in Medina, when he began to lay the foundation for the blessed Islamic government; and when he and the Muslims found themselves unimpeded by the restrictions and sanctions imposed on them in Mecca. It was then that the real meaning and the ideals of the magnanimous Sharia and the pure prophetic Sunnah became evident to the Muslim nation. In this way Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, established a perfect example of the ideal model of government in existence. This was the same style of government which the Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mo’mineen), Imam Ali, peace be upon him, followed during his five-year reign.

90: You only need to study the biography of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, to see hundreds of examples [of his social and moral conducts and interactions with friends and foes, and his generosity].[22] If these examples were compiled and presented, every non-Muslim, even if zealous and fanatic - save the very stubborn ones - would get impressed by the Prophet’s virtues and teachings, and would ultimately embrace Islam.

91: If today, or any other day, the teachings and policies of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, and those of Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali, peace be upon him, were implemented; say in our homes, places of work, and our countries, then what was achieved fourteen hundred years ago would be realised today.[23] People would attain prosperity and choose Islam as a way of life.

92: The fact that great number of people embraced Islam during the time of the Holy Prophet, was not a miracle or an extraordinary phenomenon. Rather, this was a natural outcome of the policies, approach and conduct of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family.

93: The life of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, is full of inspiring examples of superior social and ethical conduct that touch the mind and soul of the individual.

94: I urge you to study the biography of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, and recount and present the great many of the sublime stances and intellectually persuasive arguments to the Jews, Christians and atheists, and you would undoubtedly convince them to embrace Islam as a religion of reason and ideals. Simultaneously, upon learning about these, Muslims will strengthen their own faith in their religion, and will encourage them to pass on their conviction to others.

95: The Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, introduced the system of social security and welfare as a gift to the world, with happy consequences for humanity. This will be achieved once again with the reappearance of Allah’s greatest Authority, the Awaited Imam Mahdi,[24] may Allah hasten his reappearance, and thus the Divine Promise will be realised.

96: Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the best human being and Allah’s chosen messenger, and he brought the best law and policy that promised material and spiritual fulfilment to mankind. This begs the question: who wouldn’t like to follow such a convincingly rational path and pride oneself of belonging to a superior system of justice and equality?!

97: The progressive laws which were put in practice by the Prophet Muhammad, and by the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali, peace be upon them, upheld human honour and dignity and provided social security to the masses. These laws have no similitude anywhere in the world and no laws measure up to the unparalleled laws of Islam.

98: Without doubt, Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, is matchless in creation, and commands the most distinguished stature in Almighty Allah’s view. He is the most honoured in creation, rather, Almighty Allah did not create anything except for the sake of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family. On the night of ascension, Almighty Allah addressed the prophet by saying,“O Ahmad! Were it not for you, I would not have created the galaxies.”

99: If Almighty Allah had not commanded us to obey His Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, it would not have been obligatory for us to obey the Prophet.

100: Obeying the Prophet and obeying the Imam, peace be upon them, is part of the obedience of Almighty Allah, and if Almighty Allah were to order us to obey someone other than them, we would have done so in obedience to His command.

101: The disbelievers used to connive against Islam and the Muslims, show animosity towards Allah’s Messenger personally, belie him, and attribute rude things to him. Yet, despite all this, they used to live in peace and harmony among the Muslims and enjoyed freedom and welfare under the rules of Allah’s Messenger and of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon them. It is not reported that any one of the offending disbelievers was ever harmed in any way for their actions under the Muslim rule. Rather, history records that when a disbeliever activist, who used to harass the Prophet did not show up for a few days, the Prophet enquired about him, and it was said that he was ill. The Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, paid him a visit to wish him well, together with a group of his companions.

The Ahl al-Bayt

Introduction

Ahl al-Bayt, or People of the House (of the Prophet), is in reference to Lady Fatima al-Zahra’, her father Prophet Muhammad, her husband, Imam Ali, and her sons, Hasan and Husayn, as well as Husayn’s nine ma‘soom descendants. They are also referred to as the fourteen ma‘soom or infallible. In this respect, Allah Almighty has revealed about them, [Indeed Allah wills to repel all impurity from you, O People of the House, and purify you a thorough purification.] 33:33. Imam Ali, his sons Imams Hasan and Husayn, along with Imam Husayn’s nine ma‘soom descendants are the twelve Imams who have, on divine instructions, been appointed by Prophet Muhammad to succeed him and lead humanity after him. The first of the ma‘soom Imams is Imam Ali, and the twelfth is Imam Mahdi who is hidden from view and will reappear to fill the earth with justice after it is filled with tyranny and injustice. Prophet Muhammad said of the Ahl al-Bayt,“The example of my Ahl al-Bayt is that of Noah’s Ark; whoever boards it is saved, and whoever abandons it drowns.” Towards the end of his blessed life, the Prophet said,“I leave behind with ye two momentous entities - Allah’s Book and my kin the Ahl al-Bayt - as long as ye adhere to them both ye would never go astray after me.” Editors.

102: Almighty Allah has put all the forces of the universe under the authority/command of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, and this is evident from the declarations and words of the ma‘soomeen themselves, peace be upon them all.

103: Almighty Allah has established only one path for the fulfilment of his creation and legislation and that is the path of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them.[25]

104: Everything that concerns our fate, or any changes to our fate; whether concerning us as individuals or the family, or the community, or nations at large, is reflected in the honourable hadith of Imam Sadiq,[26] peace be upon him, in which he states, addressing Imam Husayn, peace be upon him:“The ordinance of the Lord concerning His commands descend upon you, and are issued from your houses.”

105: It is evident from numerous hadith - as well as logical reasoning - that all aspects of existence and its forces are put in the hands of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, by Almighty Allah; whether relating to humans or to objects; in the past or in the future.

106: The Imams, peace be upon them, are Allah’s authorities upon the entire creation; they are the auspicious successors to His Prophet, and they are all from the light of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, blessed with the same holiness as the Prophet’s.[27]

107: The Imams were like the Prophet, peace be upon them all, in their knowledge, forbearance, virtue and piety, justice and infallibility, noble morals and magnanimous nature, and all other qualities and praiseworthy traits. How could it be otherwise, given that they are his divinely appointed successors, the leaders of the people and creation, and Allah’s authorities over all mankind after the Prophet himself?!

108: There is no doubt that the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, is the most superior and knowledgeable of Allah’s creation, who has a lofty spirit which transcends all creation, yet he has a heart full of passion which surpasses that of all humanity, despite having the most superior and rational mind.

109: The Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, have unparalleled qualities but regrettably there are those amongst us who do not fully understand and appreciate these unique attributes.

110: Obedience to the Messenger and the Imam, peace be upon them, are directly derived from obedience to Allah Almighty which is primary and central to faith.

111: Since obedience to Almighty Allah is mandatory, and as He has ordered us to obey Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad, and his Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them; then their obedience is also mandatory upon us, as per His command.

112: If Almighty Allah, Glory be to Him, had ordered us to obey people other than Ali ibn Abu Talib and his descendant Imams, peace be upon them, we would have complied with such order.

113: Since obedience to the Prophet and the Imam are, in essence, the same, Almighty Allah did not differentiate between the two by using the word“obey” in the holy verse [Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of authority amongst ye] as opposed to His obedience. A distinction is made between His obedience and the obedience of the Messenger and of the Imam, by repeating the word“obey” to reveal the difference.

114: We believe in the imamate (leadership) of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, peace be upon him, and the imamate of Hasan[28] and Husayn, peace be upon them, and also the imamate of the other Imams, the descendants of Husayn, peace be upon them, because Almighty Allah commanded us to do so.

115: As the Imams lived in different times, the actions and styles of each Imam differed according to his time. Also his conduct differed from that of the Imam who lived in a different time and under different circumstances. This explains the apparent difference in the conduct and style of the Imams, peace be upon them. However, this does not mean that there are differences between them individually, since“they are all one light” .[29]

116: The example of the Imam, peace be upon them, is not like that of twelve lanterns similar to one another, rather their example is like a single lantern.

117: The difference we observe in the conduct of our Imams, peace be upon them, reflect the instructions they received from Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, who in turn received them from Almighty Allah, through Archangel Gabriel, each according to their respective prevailing circumstances.

118: It is obligatory for us to learn the biography and history of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, in order to be guided by it and follow his example.

119: What do we gain by merely professing to be following the Imams such as al-Sajjad, al-Baqir,[30] and al-Sadiq, peace be upon them, if we remain ignorant about their biography and history?!

120: It is essential for us to study, even if briefly, the history and biography of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, so that our faith is underpinned by better knowledge and understanding about those blessed personalities Almighty Allah has commanded us to obey.

121: Our role models are our Imams, peace be upon them. The Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mo’mineen) Imam Ali, peace be upon him, gave up his right [to succeed the Prophet as the head of state] for fear of the people turning back and apostatizing. If we claim to be followers of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, we should follow our Imam in this respect too.

122: However eloquent and knowledgeable one purports to be, one would not be able to grasp the deepest meanings of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, because they are the mainspring of language and the masters of literature and eloquence.

123: It is one’s utter misfortune and wretchedness to seek knowledge and understanding from other than Ali and his descendants, peace be upon them. And that knowledge, if gained, would be nothing like the one [gained from Ali and his descendants] because it would be devoid of moral and spiritual values, and removed from the spirit of the Sharia.[31]

124: The struggle of al-Mostafa,[32] peace be upon him and his holy family, his sincerity in conveying the Almighty’s instructions, and the blood of the Ahl al-Bayt that were shed in the cause of Islam were instrumental in preserving the laws of Almighty Allah. This helped the religion to endure and survive in the face of obstacles.

125: Our Lady Fatima al-Zahra’, peace be upon her, was like her father in the way she devoted herself to worship, in asceticism, piety and ethics. Almighty Allah revealed many verses in the Holy Qur’an about her.

126: Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, gave our Lady Fatima al-Zahra’ the title“Sayyidat-o-Nisa’ el-‘Alameen” meaning the“Chief of the Women of the Worlds” , and the agnomen“Umm-o Abeeha” meaning the“mother of her father” . The Prophet used to love her immensely, and revered her greatly such that when she used to come to see him he used to greet her by rising up for her out of respect, seating her in his place and kissing her hands. Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, used to say,“Indeed what pleases Fatima pleases Allah, and what angers her angers Him.”

127: As we approach the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, I would like to recommend three simple courses of actions, which every one of us can do. In this way, maybe we can make up for our failure towards Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Inform everyone you meet, whether in workplace or on your way home, or a friend you come across, that the 3rd of Sha‘ban is the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. I would not be exaggerating if I said many of those you live amongst do not know that.

On the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, let’s give a gift to our children, to those in our custody, and those in our care, so that they grow up with the love of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Let’s express joy and happiness and give presents and sweets to our colleagues in our workplace and in our neighbourhood on the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

128: In our daily lives we spend a lot of money on various matters, and also we spend a lot of effort and time with the children and wife at home, and in the workplace and suchlike. Let it be known that whatever wealth is spent and effort made in the cause of Imam Husayn is of best benefit and outcome, because one attains a higher station and a greater value.

129: During the ziyarah of 15th of Sha‘ban, millions of pilgrims from around Iraq, and also from the continents around the globe, converge on the holy city of Karbala to visit the master of the martyrs Imam Husayn, and his brother Abul-Fadl al-Abbas, peace be upon them, and the chosen pure ones from amongst the descendants of Ahl al-Bayt, and from amongst the loyal devout supporters who were martyred along with the master of the martyrs Imam Husayn. By the blessing of this visit, these pilgrims will have the privilege to greet the souls of the one hundred and twenty four thousand prophets and messengers, and they all are the guests of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and the guests of the people of Karbala.[33]

130: Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen,[34] peace be upon him, had a great role in destroying the Umayyad rule. However, the role of Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen was not like that of his father Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, because if he were to utter a single word against the regime, that would have guaranteed his extermination. Thus he adopted other ways.[35]

131: Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen, peace be upon him, managed to demolish the Umayyad rule without engaging in a military battle against them, because it was not possible for him to unsheathe the sword under those extremely savage and harsh circumstances.

132: The primary principle of the existence of the Imam of the Time [i.e. Imam Mahdi], and the acknowledgement of him as the Imam whose obedience is obligatory [upon every Muslim] is deemed one of the fundamentals of Islam, and it is one issue that is undisputedly established and frequently reported. And when something reaches the level of frequent recurrence, then argument about it would be of the category of sophistry and denial of the obvious.

133: We need billions of books about the Imam of the Time, peace be upon him, since there are billions of souls around the globe. So from now on, let every one of you allocate an amount of money to publish a book about the Imam of the Time, and in doing so there is no objection to seeking help from one’s family; one’s spouse, offspring and siblings. It is not compulsory that the book is massive; everyone should endeavour according to their abilities. If you cannot give the sum in a day you may be able to give it in a month. This is a simple task and it is the least we could do for the service of the Imam of the Time, may Allah hasten his honourable reappearance.

134: Let us make a covenant with Almighty Allah on the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance, that we start to follow the path of Almighty Allah, so that we may attain the goal after a while, however long or short it may be, for whoever treads the Path will ultimately reach the goal.

135: We should try and make every effort to seek the contentment of the Imam [of our Time] for this is Almighty Allah’s contentment; and the Imam’s contentment is that we faithfully discharge our obligations according to our creed.

Allah’s Final Messenger

Introduction

Muhammad son of Abdullah was Allah’s final prophet and messenger to humanity, who is also referred to as the Seal of the Prophets. He brought the Almighty’s last revelation to mankind, the Qur’an, and adopted and enshrined a code of conduct, a system of governance, and a morality the like of which was never seen before him in human history, nor will be seen in the future. [And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.] 21:107 Editors.

78: The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, is the role model for all humanity and the perfect example of all manifestations of good and virtue.

79: It is imperative for the Muslims, or rather, for the entire world population - if they wished good for themselves - to follow the Holy Prophet’s lead and emulate and uphold his morals and conducts.

80: In all situations, Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the finest example for trustworthiness and sincerity, truthfulness and loyalty, good manners, noble nature and magnanimity, knowledge and forbearance, forgiveness, generosity and bravery, piety and abstention from any sin or evil, asceticism and virtue, justice, humility, and tireless endeavour (or jihad).

81: Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the embodiment of all virtues and morality, the essence of honour and magnanimity, the home of knowledge and justice, piety and ethics, and the touchstone of the religion, the material world, and the hereafter.

82: Never did a similitude of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, come in the past, and there will never ever come one like him in the future.

83: Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, is the greatest and the most distinguished and virtuous personality Almighty Allah has ever created. Even when the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was asked“Are you a Prophet?” he said:“I am but one of the slaves of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family.”

84: The Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, established a comprehensive Sunnah, or a system of rules, laws and teachings for the Muslims. Like the Prophet himself, these rules, laws and teachings are the best and the most perfect for mankind.

85: The Holy Qur’an is the living eternal miracle of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family. This is because it is the only heavenly book that Almighty Allah willed to be immune from additions, deductions, changes and alterations; despite the concerted effort of those who planned and embarked on effecting such alterations. Thus it is the eternal book, and the permanent constitution for life until the Day of Judgement, and as long as mankind lives on Earth. This is because the Holy Qur’an contains superior laws and teachings that guarantee mankind’s prosperity, progress and advancement.

86: Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, never pre-emptively started a war against an enemy. Rather, it was the enemy who used to attack the holy Prophet. Imam Ali adopted the same policy, as did Imam Husayn;[18] Imam Ali’s son and the holy Prophet’s grandson. Even though the enemy had besieged him, Imam Husayn used to say,“I hate to be the one to initiate the attack.” This indeed was always the stance taken by Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them all, in confrontation with their enemies.[19]

87: Islam lays great emphasises on human behaviour, and pays significant attention to social manners and etiquette, so much so that Allah’s messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, made the ultimate goal of his blessed mission to be the perfection and dissemination of noble manners and ethical conduct throughout the land, by saying:“Indeed, I have been sent to perfect and complete the noble morals.” Furthermore, when Almighty Allah praises His beloved messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, He commends his noble manners, by saying: [and you are of sublime morality].[20] When Allah reminds the Muslim nation of the mercy and blessing that have been bestowed upon them, He cites the most important of qualities of such mercy, which are the leniency and clemency of his manners; Almighty Allah states; [by the mercy of Allah you have been lenient to them].[21] These words allude to the importance of good manners and moral conduct in Islam, and their significance for a Muslim individual as a way of life.

88: A great number of people were impressed by Allah’s Messenger’s well-mannered and courteous conduct, and were attracted to Islam as a result.

89: During the Prophet’s time in Mecca - after the start of his divine mission - his teachings and policies did not become common knowledge. Thus most of his teachings were not implemented, because neither the environment was conducive to practise such teachings; nor did he have any other alternatives - in order to assess how the prophet interacted with people; during times of war or peace, and with his friends and foes. But all that became clear in Medina, when he began to lay the foundation for the blessed Islamic government; and when he and the Muslims found themselves unimpeded by the restrictions and sanctions imposed on them in Mecca. It was then that the real meaning and the ideals of the magnanimous Sharia and the pure prophetic Sunnah became evident to the Muslim nation. In this way Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, established a perfect example of the ideal model of government in existence. This was the same style of government which the Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mo’mineen), Imam Ali, peace be upon him, followed during his five-year reign.

90: You only need to study the biography of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, to see hundreds of examples [of his social and moral conducts and interactions with friends and foes, and his generosity].[22] If these examples were compiled and presented, every non-Muslim, even if zealous and fanatic - save the very stubborn ones - would get impressed by the Prophet’s virtues and teachings, and would ultimately embrace Islam.

91: If today, or any other day, the teachings and policies of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, and those of Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali, peace be upon him, were implemented; say in our homes, places of work, and our countries, then what was achieved fourteen hundred years ago would be realised today.[23] People would attain prosperity and choose Islam as a way of life.

92: The fact that great number of people embraced Islam during the time of the Holy Prophet, was not a miracle or an extraordinary phenomenon. Rather, this was a natural outcome of the policies, approach and conduct of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family.

93: The life of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, is full of inspiring examples of superior social and ethical conduct that touch the mind and soul of the individual.

94: I urge you to study the biography of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, and recount and present the great many of the sublime stances and intellectually persuasive arguments to the Jews, Christians and atheists, and you would undoubtedly convince them to embrace Islam as a religion of reason and ideals. Simultaneously, upon learning about these, Muslims will strengthen their own faith in their religion, and will encourage them to pass on their conviction to others.

95: The Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his holy family, introduced the system of social security and welfare as a gift to the world, with happy consequences for humanity. This will be achieved once again with the reappearance of Allah’s greatest Authority, the Awaited Imam Mahdi,[24] may Allah hasten his reappearance, and thus the Divine Promise will be realised.

96: Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his holy family, was the best human being and Allah’s chosen messenger, and he brought the best law and policy that promised material and spiritual fulfilment to mankind. This begs the question: who wouldn’t like to follow such a convincingly rational path and pride oneself of belonging to a superior system of justice and equality?!

97: The progressive laws which were put in practice by the Prophet Muhammad, and by the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali, peace be upon them, upheld human honour and dignity and provided social security to the masses. These laws have no similitude anywhere in the world and no laws measure up to the unparalleled laws of Islam.

98: Without doubt, Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, is matchless in creation, and commands the most distinguished stature in Almighty Allah’s view. He is the most honoured in creation, rather, Almighty Allah did not create anything except for the sake of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family. On the night of ascension, Almighty Allah addressed the prophet by saying,“O Ahmad! Were it not for you, I would not have created the galaxies.”

99: If Almighty Allah had not commanded us to obey His Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, it would not have been obligatory for us to obey the Prophet.

100: Obeying the Prophet and obeying the Imam, peace be upon them, is part of the obedience of Almighty Allah, and if Almighty Allah were to order us to obey someone other than them, we would have done so in obedience to His command.

101: The disbelievers used to connive against Islam and the Muslims, show animosity towards Allah’s Messenger personally, belie him, and attribute rude things to him. Yet, despite all this, they used to live in peace and harmony among the Muslims and enjoyed freedom and welfare under the rules of Allah’s Messenger and of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon them. It is not reported that any one of the offending disbelievers was ever harmed in any way for their actions under the Muslim rule. Rather, history records that when a disbeliever activist, who used to harass the Prophet did not show up for a few days, the Prophet enquired about him, and it was said that he was ill. The Prophet, peace be upon him and his holy family, paid him a visit to wish him well, together with a group of his companions.

The Ahl al-Bayt

Introduction

Ahl al-Bayt, or People of the House (of the Prophet), is in reference to Lady Fatima al-Zahra’, her father Prophet Muhammad, her husband, Imam Ali, and her sons, Hasan and Husayn, as well as Husayn’s nine ma‘soom descendants. They are also referred to as the fourteen ma‘soom or infallible. In this respect, Allah Almighty has revealed about them, [Indeed Allah wills to repel all impurity from you, O People of the House, and purify you a thorough purification.] 33:33. Imam Ali, his sons Imams Hasan and Husayn, along with Imam Husayn’s nine ma‘soom descendants are the twelve Imams who have, on divine instructions, been appointed by Prophet Muhammad to succeed him and lead humanity after him. The first of the ma‘soom Imams is Imam Ali, and the twelfth is Imam Mahdi who is hidden from view and will reappear to fill the earth with justice after it is filled with tyranny and injustice. Prophet Muhammad said of the Ahl al-Bayt,“The example of my Ahl al-Bayt is that of Noah’s Ark; whoever boards it is saved, and whoever abandons it drowns.” Towards the end of his blessed life, the Prophet said,“I leave behind with ye two momentous entities - Allah’s Book and my kin the Ahl al-Bayt - as long as ye adhere to them both ye would never go astray after me.” Editors.

102: Almighty Allah has put all the forces of the universe under the authority/command of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, and this is evident from the declarations and words of the ma‘soomeen themselves, peace be upon them all.

103: Almighty Allah has established only one path for the fulfilment of his creation and legislation and that is the path of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them.[25]

104: Everything that concerns our fate, or any changes to our fate; whether concerning us as individuals or the family, or the community, or nations at large, is reflected in the honourable hadith of Imam Sadiq,[26] peace be upon him, in which he states, addressing Imam Husayn, peace be upon him:“The ordinance of the Lord concerning His commands descend upon you, and are issued from your houses.”

105: It is evident from numerous hadith - as well as logical reasoning - that all aspects of existence and its forces are put in the hands of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, by Almighty Allah; whether relating to humans or to objects; in the past or in the future.

106: The Imams, peace be upon them, are Allah’s authorities upon the entire creation; they are the auspicious successors to His Prophet, and they are all from the light of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, blessed with the same holiness as the Prophet’s.[27]

107: The Imams were like the Prophet, peace be upon them all, in their knowledge, forbearance, virtue and piety, justice and infallibility, noble morals and magnanimous nature, and all other qualities and praiseworthy traits. How could it be otherwise, given that they are his divinely appointed successors, the leaders of the people and creation, and Allah’s authorities over all mankind after the Prophet himself?!

108: There is no doubt that the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, is the most superior and knowledgeable of Allah’s creation, who has a lofty spirit which transcends all creation, yet he has a heart full of passion which surpasses that of all humanity, despite having the most superior and rational mind.

109: The Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, have unparalleled qualities but regrettably there are those amongst us who do not fully understand and appreciate these unique attributes.

110: Obedience to the Messenger and the Imam, peace be upon them, are directly derived from obedience to Allah Almighty which is primary and central to faith.

111: Since obedience to Almighty Allah is mandatory, and as He has ordered us to obey Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad, and his Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them; then their obedience is also mandatory upon us, as per His command.

112: If Almighty Allah, Glory be to Him, had ordered us to obey people other than Ali ibn Abu Talib and his descendant Imams, peace be upon them, we would have complied with such order.

113: Since obedience to the Prophet and the Imam are, in essence, the same, Almighty Allah did not differentiate between the two by using the word“obey” in the holy verse [Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of authority amongst ye] as opposed to His obedience. A distinction is made between His obedience and the obedience of the Messenger and of the Imam, by repeating the word“obey” to reveal the difference.

114: We believe in the imamate (leadership) of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, peace be upon him, and the imamate of Hasan[28] and Husayn, peace be upon them, and also the imamate of the other Imams, the descendants of Husayn, peace be upon them, because Almighty Allah commanded us to do so.

115: As the Imams lived in different times, the actions and styles of each Imam differed according to his time. Also his conduct differed from that of the Imam who lived in a different time and under different circumstances. This explains the apparent difference in the conduct and style of the Imams, peace be upon them. However, this does not mean that there are differences between them individually, since“they are all one light” .[29]

116: The example of the Imam, peace be upon them, is not like that of twelve lanterns similar to one another, rather their example is like a single lantern.

117: The difference we observe in the conduct of our Imams, peace be upon them, reflect the instructions they received from Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, who in turn received them from Almighty Allah, through Archangel Gabriel, each according to their respective prevailing circumstances.

118: It is obligatory for us to learn the biography and history of the ma‘soom Imam, peace be upon him, in order to be guided by it and follow his example.

119: What do we gain by merely professing to be following the Imams such as al-Sajjad, al-Baqir,[30] and al-Sadiq, peace be upon them, if we remain ignorant about their biography and history?!

120: It is essential for us to study, even if briefly, the history and biography of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, so that our faith is underpinned by better knowledge and understanding about those blessed personalities Almighty Allah has commanded us to obey.

121: Our role models are our Imams, peace be upon them. The Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mo’mineen) Imam Ali, peace be upon him, gave up his right [to succeed the Prophet as the head of state] for fear of the people turning back and apostatizing. If we claim to be followers of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, we should follow our Imam in this respect too.

122: However eloquent and knowledgeable one purports to be, one would not be able to grasp the deepest meanings of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, because they are the mainspring of language and the masters of literature and eloquence.

123: It is one’s utter misfortune and wretchedness to seek knowledge and understanding from other than Ali and his descendants, peace be upon them. And that knowledge, if gained, would be nothing like the one [gained from Ali and his descendants] because it would be devoid of moral and spiritual values, and removed from the spirit of the Sharia.[31]

124: The struggle of al-Mostafa,[32] peace be upon him and his holy family, his sincerity in conveying the Almighty’s instructions, and the blood of the Ahl al-Bayt that were shed in the cause of Islam were instrumental in preserving the laws of Almighty Allah. This helped the religion to endure and survive in the face of obstacles.

125: Our Lady Fatima al-Zahra’, peace be upon her, was like her father in the way she devoted herself to worship, in asceticism, piety and ethics. Almighty Allah revealed many verses in the Holy Qur’an about her.

126: Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, gave our Lady Fatima al-Zahra’ the title“Sayyidat-o-Nisa’ el-‘Alameen” meaning the“Chief of the Women of the Worlds” , and the agnomen“Umm-o Abeeha” meaning the“mother of her father” . The Prophet used to love her immensely, and revered her greatly such that when she used to come to see him he used to greet her by rising up for her out of respect, seating her in his place and kissing her hands. Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his holy family, used to say,“Indeed what pleases Fatima pleases Allah, and what angers her angers Him.”

127: As we approach the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, I would like to recommend three simple courses of actions, which every one of us can do. In this way, maybe we can make up for our failure towards Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Inform everyone you meet, whether in workplace or on your way home, or a friend you come across, that the 3rd of Sha‘ban is the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. I would not be exaggerating if I said many of those you live amongst do not know that.

On the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, let’s give a gift to our children, to those in our custody, and those in our care, so that they grow up with the love of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Let’s express joy and happiness and give presents and sweets to our colleagues in our workplace and in our neighbourhood on the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

128: In our daily lives we spend a lot of money on various matters, and also we spend a lot of effort and time with the children and wife at home, and in the workplace and suchlike. Let it be known that whatever wealth is spent and effort made in the cause of Imam Husayn is of best benefit and outcome, because one attains a higher station and a greater value.

129: During the ziyarah of 15th of Sha‘ban, millions of pilgrims from around Iraq, and also from the continents around the globe, converge on the holy city of Karbala to visit the master of the martyrs Imam Husayn, and his brother Abul-Fadl al-Abbas, peace be upon them, and the chosen pure ones from amongst the descendants of Ahl al-Bayt, and from amongst the loyal devout supporters who were martyred along with the master of the martyrs Imam Husayn. By the blessing of this visit, these pilgrims will have the privilege to greet the souls of the one hundred and twenty four thousand prophets and messengers, and they all are the guests of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and the guests of the people of Karbala.[33]

130: Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen,[34] peace be upon him, had a great role in destroying the Umayyad rule. However, the role of Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen was not like that of his father Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, because if he were to utter a single word against the regime, that would have guaranteed his extermination. Thus he adopted other ways.[35]

131: Imam Zayn al-‘Abideen, peace be upon him, managed to demolish the Umayyad rule without engaging in a military battle against them, because it was not possible for him to unsheathe the sword under those extremely savage and harsh circumstances.

132: The primary principle of the existence of the Imam of the Time [i.e. Imam Mahdi], and the acknowledgement of him as the Imam whose obedience is obligatory [upon every Muslim] is deemed one of the fundamentals of Islam, and it is one issue that is undisputedly established and frequently reported. And when something reaches the level of frequent recurrence, then argument about it would be of the category of sophistry and denial of the obvious.

133: We need billions of books about the Imam of the Time, peace be upon him, since there are billions of souls around the globe. So from now on, let every one of you allocate an amount of money to publish a book about the Imam of the Time, and in doing so there is no objection to seeking help from one’s family; one’s spouse, offspring and siblings. It is not compulsory that the book is massive; everyone should endeavour according to their abilities. If you cannot give the sum in a day you may be able to give it in a month. This is a simple task and it is the least we could do for the service of the Imam of the Time, may Allah hasten his honourable reappearance.

134: Let us make a covenant with Almighty Allah on the anniversary of the birthday of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance, that we start to follow the path of Almighty Allah, so that we may attain the goal after a while, however long or short it may be, for whoever treads the Path will ultimately reach the goal.

135: We should try and make every effort to seek the contentment of the Imam [of our Time] for this is Almighty Allah’s contentment; and the Imam’s contentment is that we faithfully discharge our obligations according to our creed.