Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Awakening the Muslims

The Shia believe that it is the duty of every Muslim individual, according to the words of the Prophet (S): ‘Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock’191 , to work to awaken the Muslims so that they become the leaders of the world as they were previously. This is possible, indeed easy if the required effort is spent. Muslims have a number of advantages including large fertile populations, a strategic region, great wealth, healthy methodologies, and a strong, progressive way of life. If they were to, as a whole, make faith all encompassing, cleanse society of inappropriate things which Islam has forbidden, ensure freedoms, open the door of deriving legal opinions from the sources - the Quran, the traditions, consensus and reason and make these four the only source of legislation, make the basis of government consultative with the just jurists who have knowledge of worldly affairs and the exigencies of the time, and bring back the idea of Islamic brotherhood as opposed to nationalism, sectarianism, or parochialism etc.

then the Muslims would return to power in the twinkling of an eye by the will of Allah. Almighty Allah has said: “If you assist Allah He will assist you and He will make your feet firm.192

Shia Culture

General Statistics

The latest statistics show that the Shia number more than 500 millions.193 They are to be found in all countries of the world, in the east and west, and are distributed throughout all Islamic lands and in many non-Islamic countries. They have a civilisation which is derived from the Holy Quran, and the Prophetic traditions, and the conduct of the household of the Prophet (S).

In Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, the Gulf, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Arabia, and the uemen they have many scholars and jurist-consults, religious schools, educational institutions, mosques and Islamic centres, charitable bodies, libraries and centres with all types of books, Quran schools and many other Islamic projects. In one Islamic land there are almost a quarter of a million scholars, speakers, writers and students. Throughout Islamic history they have had governments, scholars, writers, poets, philosophers, thinkers, schools, writings, libraries, speakers and guiders.

Since the time of the Messenger of Allah (S) they have taken noble religious stances and that continues until today. Whoever seeks more information about the precious knowledge of the Shia, and their dedication and struggle in the way of Allah should refer to any country where the Shia are to be found.

The Shia and the History of Islam

The Shia played a prominent role in the early Islamic conquests and also in stemming the tide of attacks on Islam and the Muslims. They helped to consolidate the pillars of Islam in the land and sent 47 missionaries and preachers to guide mankind and propagate the teachings of the Quran all throughout the history of Islam:'

1. The Buwayhids played a great part in propagating Islam in Iraq and its environs.

2. The .amdanids played their role in Syria and the surrounding area.

3. The Safavids did a great service to Islam in Iran and Afghanistan.

4. In India the kings of Qutb Shah: played their role.

5. The great statesman Nasir al-Din al-Tusi had a great role in stemming the attacks of the Mongols.

6. Allama .ill: did a great service in protecting the land from deviation in the affair of ‘Khuda Bandeh’.

7. Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali al-Tabatabai al-Hairi’s struggle against the Tsarist Crusaders.

8. The struggle of Mirza Muhammad Hasan al-Shirazi against the western colonialists.

9. The struggles of Sharaf al-Din al-Musaw: to free Syria and Lebanon from French colonialism.

10. Mirza Taq: Shirazi’s fomenting of the 1920 revolt in Iraq to expel the colonisers.

All of this and more is the best evidence to prove the continuing struggle of the Shia and their protection of the land, their concern with propagating and protecting Islam, their sacrifices for it, and their defending it against attack.

As for their efforts at the current time, it is sufficient to know that a number of prominent Shia scholars have spent their lives in exile or in prison and under arrest in defence of Islam and protecting the Muslims. Similarly they have played a well acknowledged part in defending Palestine and Jerusalem and other occupied territories.

In addition, the services the Shia have provided to Islamic culture and economics, peace and politics, developing the land and industry, are great in number and would require large volumes to enumerate.

The Shia and Islamic Sciences

The Shia laid the foundation of Islamic sciences.194 For example, Abu Aswad al-DuvAli (605-688 C.E.) was the first to write about grammar under the tutelage of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Al- Khalil ibn Ahmad195 was the person to lay down the science of prosody. Jabir ibn .ayyan the student of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) was the pioneer of modern chemistry. In over 700 books he dealt with subjects such as: metals and their oxides and salts; nitric, sulphuric, and chloric acids; he also dealt with the preparation of alkalis and their purification through crystallisation, distillation, filtration, and sublimation. He added to Chemistry the fields of experiment and method and hence the world considers him to be the father of Chemistry.

According to Abdul-Rahman al-MiNr:, Jabir alluded to the radioactivity present in bodies. He also discovered new chemical elements unknown to the ancients. He would say: ‘I know from my experiments that there are other elements present in earth. However, I do not have the means at present to extract them.’ Historians say that Jabir pioneered the telephone and telegraph. He had a kind of small box connected to another box with wires with which he communicated with other people at long distances. He also invented a small aeroplane in which Khalid al-Barmak: used to sit and fly in the air. This aircraft could remain in flight for extended periods of time and was perhaps was of the helicopter type.

He also invented a robotic doorkeeper made of iron for the abode of a certain minister. This doorkeeper would move and walk and deal with gatecrashers who did not obey the protocols for visiting a minister. In sum, Jabir ibn .ayyan had a far-reaching influence on many modern inventions, and this age is indebted to him for his laying the foundations of Chemistry. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi was the founder of the famous astronomical observatory at Maragheh. He produced some original ideas about astronomical bodies and critiqued the Ptolemaic system in a scientific manner. He was the first to lay down the science of triangles and because of this he is considered by the west to be the founder of the science of missiles. He had many new and useful ideas in all other fields of mathematics. He also invented the new equipment which was used in the observatory to great effect. Shaykh Bahav al-Din al-wmil: (d. 1622 C.E.) discovered laws relating to sound waves which he put into use in some mosques in Isfahan, Iran. He also made use of the laws of water pressure and surface tension in the Fayn gardens in Kashan, Iran. He laid down new principles in Arithmetic.

There are many other Shia scholars and thinkers whose lifestories may be found in the relevant literature.

Successors of the Prophet

As was mentioned previously, the Shia believe that the Prophet Muhammad (S) appointed twelve successors to come after him and made it mandatory for the Islamic nation to follow them and learn from them and refer to them. He said in a well known tradition: ‘My successors will be twelve in number.’196 He also said: ‘I am leaving with ye the two weighty things (thaqalayn); the book of Allah, and my family; the people of my house(Ahl al-Bayt). As long as you adhere to these two you will never go astray after me ever’.197

These successors as appointed by the Prophet (S) in the tradition of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-AnNar: and others are in the following order as in the table below, together with the dates of their births and deaths and the location of their graves. The names of the other two of the fourteen inerrant ones - the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his daughter Fatima (a.s.) are included.

The twelve Imams and Fatima al-Zahra (a.s.) the foremost of the women of the worlds (Sayyidato-Nisa al-wlamin) the daughter of the Prophet are all like the great Prophet Muhammad (S) as regards knowledge and wisdom, virtue and morals, purity and inerrancy, and all other spiritual virtues and perfections; all except the station of prophethood which is particular to the Prophet Muhammad (S). They are all one light and whoever adheres to them will be saved and whoever lags behind them will drown and perish.198 Fatima al-Zahra is the wife of the Imam, mother of the purified imams, but she is not an imam.

A Brief History of the Imams

The Prophet Muhammad (S), his daughter Fatima (a.s.) and the twelve Imams, his successors who he ordered the Islamic nation to obey and follow, laid down a complete plan for a good life. They provide a complete constitution for a virtuous life and are role models for mankind for all times and in all their affairs:

governmental, economic, political, commercial, moral, military, agricultural, industrial, cultural, judicial, individual, familial and so on. This is because they undertook different roles in life such as ruler, minister, leader, soldier, revolutionary, teacher, educator, reclusive, trader, farmer, defender, prisoner, exiled, warrior, peacemaker etc. If the world were to follow the way of these leaders it would become an earthly paradise. Such a day is in store at the coming of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

What follows is a brief history of each one of these twelve infallible Imams and their mother Fatima (a.s.), the wife of the first successor of the prophet, with a selection of hadith from each one of them, together with what notable people, including their enemies, have said about them:

Fatima al-Zahra’ daughter of the Prophet

Fatima al-Zahra (a.s.) is the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (S) and her mother was the great lady Khadija, Mother of the Believers (a.s.). Fatima al-Zahra was married to Amir al-Mo’mineen Ali ibn Abi Talib the master of the successors of the Prophet. Her sons and grandsons are the pure Imams (a.s.). She was born on the 20th day of Jamadi I in the 45th year of the Prophet’s life. She died unjustly at the age of 18 on Tuesday the 3rd of Jamadi II in the 11th year of the migration or hijra. She was prepared for burial by her husband who buried her in a secret location in Medina according to her will. She was like her father in her worship of Allah and in her asceticism and virtue. Allah revealed a number of verses about her in the Holy Quran199 . The Messenger of Allah (S) named her the ‘foremost of the women of the worlds (Sayyidato-Nisa al-wlamin)’200 , and the ‘foremost of the women of paradise.’201 The Messenger of Allah (S) used to love her a great deal and whenever she came to visit him he would welcome her and stand up for her and sit her in his place and would often kiss her hands. He used to say that ‘Allah is pleased when Fatima is pleased and angry when she is angry.’202 He would also say: ‘Fatima is a part of me.’203 She had a number of children to her husband Ali (a.s.) who were Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husayn (a.s.), Muhassin (a.s.) who was miscarried due to an injury she sustained [when she was brutally assaulted], Lady Zaynab (a.s.), and Lady Umm Kulthum (a.s.).

Hadith from Fatimah al-Zahra’(AS)

‘He (Allah) invented all things not from a thing which existed before, and designed them not by emulating other samples. He created them by His might, and gave them life by His will; not because of a need He had for their creation, or a benefit He had for their design, except for the establishment of His wisdom, awareness (of His creation) about His obedience, appearance of His might, (to invite) His creation to servitude and worship, and to glorify His invitation.

‘ . So my father (Muhammad (S)) rose amongst the people to guide them. He saved them from perversion and aberration, and turned their blindness into enlightenment, and guided them towards the right religion, and invited them to the straight path.’

‘The holy Qur’an . following it leads to the pleasure of Allah, listening to it (implementing its teachings) results in salvation. Through it can be achieved the clear and enlightening proofs and evidences of Allah, His forewarned prohibitions, His conspicuous arguments, His comprehensive reasoning, His desired virtues, His bestowed permissions, and His written divine laws.’

‘Therefore Allah set faith as the purifier, for you, from polytheism, And (He set) the daily prayers to distance you from arrogance and egoism, And the (giving of) Salah as the purity of your soul and the growth of your sustenance, And rendered fasting for the firm establishment of sincerity, And the Hajj pilgrimage for the consolidation of the religion, And rendered justice for the harmonisation of the hearts, And (He set) the obedience of us (the Ahl-ul-Bayt) as the order (organising factor) for the religion, and our leadership (the Imamah) as the guarantor against disunity and division, And Jihad as the honour for Islam, and humiliating for the infidels and hypocrites, And perseverance as an aid for obtaining reward, And the ‘Enjoining good and forbidding evil’ for the interest and correction of the society and the public, And He rendered kindness to the parents as a shield from displeasure, And (He set) keeping bond with the kinship the cause for lengthening of life span, ‘O Allah! Belittle myself in my eyes, and glorify and magnify uour Station to me. Inspire me uour obedience, and the practice which brings about uour pleasure, and (inspire me) the avoidance of anything which may bring about uour wrath, O most merciful of all.’

The First Imam

He is Imam Ali the son of Abi Talib (a.s.) and Fatima bint Asad. Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (S) since he married his daughter Fatima. Ali is the Prophet’s successor to follow him and is the ‘commander of the believers’ and the father of the Imams (a.s.).

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib was born inside the holy house of the Kaba in Mecca on a Friday, the evening of the 13th of Rajab in the 30th year of the Prophet’s life. He was martyred on a Friday evening in the mosque of Kufa in Iraq while praying in the prayer niche, by the sword of the accursed Kharijite Ibn Muljam who struck him on the head on the night of the 1hth Ramazan. After three days he died from the blow at the age of sixty-three. His funeral was conducted by the two Imams Hasan and Husayn (a.s.) and he was buried at Najaf, Iraq where his tomb stands to this day.

The Virtues of Ali

Imam Ali ibn Abi talib, commander of the believers (a.s.) had innumerable merits and virtues. Firstly, his faith and belief in Almighty Allah - he was the first man to submit to and believe in the message of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (S)204 He never prostrated to any idol whatsoever. He took part in several battles in defence of Islam including the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khaybar, Hunayn, The Confederates (al-ahzab) and others. Victory was under his banner in all his battles and he was never defeated. On the night of the Prophet’s (S) migration from Mecca to Medina, Ali (a.s.) slept on the Prophet’s (S) bed to make those who wanted to kill the Prophet (S) think he was in bed.

He had abundant knowledge. So much so that the Prophet (S) said:

‘I am the abode of wisdom and Ali is its gate.’205 The Prophet (S) also said: ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.’206 This tradition has been related by many scholars including Ahmad ibn .anbal.

His good legal judgement was so far-reaching that it the Prophet (S) said of him: ‘Ali is the best judge amongst you.’207 The Prophet also said of him: ‘Ali is with the truth and the truth is with Ali.’208 He was just, fair and equitable with the people, and abstinent in the things of this world. He would go to the public treasury and look at the gold and silver and say: ‘O yellow stuff, O white stuff, tempt someone else.’209 Then he would distribute it to the people. He would be merciful to the indigent people, would sit with the poor and needy and help people in their needs. He would judge with truth and justice. In essence he was like the Prophet (S) in all respects except the station of prophethood to the extent that - as in the Quranic verse 3:61 - Almighty Allah considers him to be the same ‘self’ as the Prophet (S).210

There is also the tradition of the ‘station’ (manzila). This is the tradition that the Prophet (S) said to Ali (a.s.): ‘uour station to me is as the station of Aaron to Moses, except that there will be no prophet after me.’ This tradition has been narrated by many scholars including Bukhar:, Muslim, and many others.211 Ibn .ajar al-Haytham: relates212 : ‘Ahmad relates that a man asked Muawiya about an issue. He said: ‘Ask Ali about it for he is more knowledgeable.’ The man said: ‘I would prefer your answer to that of Ali.’ Muawiya said: ‘What you say is foul, you have disdained a man that the Prophet honoured with knowledge and said to him: ‘uour station to me is as the station of Aaron to Moses, except that there will be no prophet after me’, and whenever Umar [ibn al-Khattab] found a problem he would refer to him.’

There is also the tradition of the ‘barring of the doors’. This came about when the Prophet (S), at the command of Almighty Allah, barred all the doors of the houses which led on to the mosque at Medina except the door of the house of Ali (a.s.). A collection of scholars have related this including al-.akim in the mustradak213 . It was such that Umar [ibn al-Khattab used to say: ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib has been given three things any one of which would be more dear to me than red camels: his wife Fatima daughter of the Messenger of Allah, his dwelling in the mosque so that what is lawful for the Messenger of Allah is lawful for him too, and the banner on the day of the battle of Khaybar.’214 There is also a consensus of Quranic exegetes215 that the verse eIndeed your patron is Allah and His messenger and those who believe; those who establish prayer and give alms while they bow down in prayer g And whoever takes Allah and His messenger and those who believe as his allies . for indeed the party of Allah are the triumphant ones”216 Many books have been written by Sunni scholars about the virtues of Ali (a.s.) including al-manaqib of al-Kharazm: al-.anaf:, and yanabi al-mawadda of al-Qanduz: al-.anaf:, and others.

Hadith from Amir-ul-Mu’minin (AS)

On the Almighty’s attributes Imam Ali peace be upon him states: aHe cannot be conceived of by the imagination and He cannot be determined by comprehension. He cannot be perceived by the senses and He cannot be compared with any person. He is One but not numerable and He is Eternal without end. He is the One who supports without being supported.” Imam Ali (AS) also said:

‘He is Allah, the Clear Truth, truer and clearer than the eyes perceive. The intellects cannot reach Him by any definition, since that would be to compare Him; and the imagination cannot reach Him by any evaluation; since that would be to give Him a likeness. There is no beginning to His primacy and there is no end to His eternity. He is the First and the Eternal, and He is the Everlasting without end. Foreheads bow down before Him and lips declare His Oneness. He gave all things limitations when He created them, so as to make it clear that He is not like them.’ Amir-ul-Mu’minin (AS) also said:

‘Time never changes for Him so as to cause a change in His state, and He is never in any particular place so as to entail His moving to another place. He knows of the secrets in the minds of the secretive, and the intimate meetings of those who meet behind closed doors, and the thoughts and opinions of those who speculate.’

Amir-ul-Mu’minin, Imam Ali (AS) also said:

‘The eyes cannot perceive Him with the sense of sight, but the heart can perceive Him through the realities of trust. He is close to all things without being associated with them. He is remote from them without being distanced from them. He speaks yet without speech. He wills yet without wanting. He creates yet without physical means. He is Subtle yet obscurity cannot be attributed to Him. He is Great yet aloofness cannot be attributed to Him. He is Seeing yet sensory perception cannot be attributed to Him. He is Compassionate but sentimentality cannot be attributed to Him.’

Imam Ali (AS) also said:

‘The first part of the deen is knowledge of Him. The perfection of knowledge of Him is affirmation of Him. The perfection of affirmation of Him is affirming His Oneness. The perfection of affirming His Oneness is being sincere towards Him. He who makes a comparison to Him has set up a second with Him. He who sets a second with Him has divided Him. He who divides Him is ignorant of Him. Whoever tries to indicate to Him has given Him limitations, and whoever gives Him limitations has rendered Him finite.’ [On another occasion Imam Ali (A) says ‘The perfection of sincerity is avoiding disobedience’.] ‘No one accompanies the Qur’an except that when he departs from it he does so with a gain and a loss. (He leaves with) a gain of guidance (to the truth) and a loss of ignorance. Rest assured that there is no destitution for anyone after (knowing) the Qur’an, and no one has any riches before (knowing) the Qur’an.’

‘Do not enslave yourself to another person, for Allah has made you a free person.’ ‘Make your own self as a judge between yourself and others. Therefore, love for others whatever you love for yourself, and dislike for others whatever you hate for yourself.

Do not transgress just as you do not like to be transgressed upon, and be kind to others just as you like to see kindness from others. What you regard as bad and ugly to come from others also regard it bad and ugly (if it were) to come from yourself. If it pleases you what you do to others, then be pleased with that if they do it to you. Do not talk about what you do not know, still do not say all that you know.

Do not say (to others) what you do not like to be told.’ ‘Do not look at who is talking but look at what is said.’ ‘He who corrects his covert affairs, Allah would correct his overt (aspects of life). He who worked for his religious affairs, Allah would take care of his material life. He who enhances what is between him and Allah, Allah would improve what is between him and other people.’ ‘The example of the world is that of a snake; it is soft to touch but inside it carries a deadly poison. The ignorant one may be charmed by it, but the sage and the sane person would avoid.’ ‘How plenty are the lessons to learn from and how few are those who would learn from them.’ ‘Get rid of your wrong actions before they get rid of you.’ ‘Being thankful for every blessing is being careful to avoid what Allah has forbidden.’ ‘The least of what Allah demands of you is that you do not use His blessings to disobey Him.’

‘Be in awe of Allah in your dealings with His servants and His lands, for surely you are responsible, even if it is for a small piece of land and a few animals. Obey Allah and do not disobey Him. if you see good then take hold of it, and if you see evil then turn away from it.’

‘Beware of being disobedient to Allah when you are alone, for surely the One who witnesses is also the One who judges.’ ‘Well-being consists of ten parts; nine of them are in being silent - except in the remembrance of Allah - and one of them is in leaving the company of the foolish.’ ‘Supplication is the key to divine mercy.’ ‘Deflect the waves of misfortune by supplication.’ ‘Fortunate is he who remembers the promised Day of Judgement, and who acts with the Reckoning in mind, and who is content with what is just enough, and who is pleased with Allah.’

‘Perfect happiness comes with knowledge, and partial happiness come with abstinence. Worship without knowledge and without abstinence merely exhausts the body.’ ‘The most excellent worship is refraining from disobedience . ‘Wherever there is wisdom, there is fear of Allah, and wherever there is fear of Allah, there is His mercy.’ ‘The most glorious thing to come down from the heavens is divine succour, and the most glorious thing to rise up from the earth is sincerity.’ ‘There are three things that set you free:

Fear of Allah in secret and in public, Moderation in times of poverty and wealth, and Being just in times of anger and contentment.’ ‘He who takes his self into account will profit, and he who is heedless of it will loose. He who is fearful will be secure, and he who reflects will discern, and whoever discerns will comprehend, and whoever comprehends will have knowledge.’ ‘The best way of life is the one that does not make you do wrong or make you distracted.’

‘Always observe your appearance in the mirror, and if it looks good consider it repulsive to associate an ugly action with it and so spoil it, and if it looks ugly consider it even more repulsive by combining the two forms of ugliness!’ ‘Train yourself in good behaviour with regard to what you dislike in others.’ ‘The devil of everyone is his own self.’

‘I am amazed at the heart of man: It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as the opposites contrary to it . for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by covetousness; and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it. If despair possesses it, self-pity kills it; and if it is seized by anger, this is intensified by rage. If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be careful; and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes preoccupied with being cautious. If it feels secure, then it is overcome by vain hopes; and if it is given wealth, then its independence makes it over-extravagant. If want strikes it, then it is smitten by anxiety. If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to exhaustion; and if it goes too far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner becomes clogged up. So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its excesses corrupt it.’ ‘Ask your hearts about friendship, for surely it is a witness that cannot be bribed.’

‘Kindle your heart with courteous behaviour just as you kindle a fire with fuel.’ ‘Surely hearts grow tired just as bodies grow tired, so seek out the novelties of wisdom for them.’ ‘The most self-sustaining wealth is the intellect.’ ‘The intellect is a king and the characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder overtakes it.’ ‘The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you king over your destiny, and desire makes you a salve of your destiny.’

‘Bodies are sustained by food, and intellects are sustained by wisdom, and whenever either of them is deprived of its sustenance then it perishes and disintegrates.’ ‘Keep company with the people of intellect, whether they are your enemies or your friends, for surely one intellect is only confirmed by another intellect.’ ‘If the intellect is given a free reign, and if it is not imprisoned by the desires of the self or by religious customs or by partisanship, then it will lead the one who possesses it to salvation.’

‘When Allah wishes to remove a favour from His servant, the first thing He changes in him is his intellect.’

‘The spirit gives life to the body, and the intellect gives life to the spirit.’ ‘Knowledge is the most precious of treasures, and the most beautiful. It is easy to carry, tremendously useful, beautiful in its completeness, and delightful in its uniqueness.’ ‘Life is too short for you to learn all the knowledge that find attractive, so learn what inspires you, only what inspires.’ ‘Knowledge is accompanied by action, for whoever has knowledge (should) act (accordingly). Knowledge calls out for action: if it responds to the call then it lives on . otherwise it perishes.’ ‘Nobility of characters consists of ten qualities: generosity, modesty, sincerity, and fulfilment of trust, humility, selfesteem, courage, forbearance, patience, and gratitude.’ What others have said about Imam Ali Abu Bakr [ibn Abu Quhafah] said to Amir al-Mo’mineen (Commander of the Faithful) Imam Ali: ‘O son of Abi Talib, you have become the mawl" (authority/patron) of every Muslim man and woman.’217 Umar ibn al-KhaUUab used to say: ‘May Allah not allow me to live after Ali ibn Abi Talib has died.’218 And he said: ‘He is my mawl" (authority/patron)219 .’ He said also: ‘Congratulations to you O son of Abi Talib, you have become my mawl" (authority/patron) and the mawl" of every Muslim.’220 Uthman ibn Affan used to say: ‘Were it not for Ali, Uthman would have perished.’221

Aisha bint Abu Bakr said: ‘I never saw a man more beloved to the Messenger of Allah than him.’222 ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said to a man who had said I loathe ‘Ali, aMay Allah loathe you! Do you loathe a man one of whose virtues is superior to the world and whatever is in it?”223 Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan used to ask Ali ibn Abi Talib about difficulties he would come across and when he heard news of Ali’s death he said: ‘Knowledge and understanding have died with the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib.’224 Hasan of Basra said of Ali that he was: ‘a straight arrow from Allah’s bow against His enemies, and he was the divine of this nation.’225

The Second Imam

He is Hasan son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and Fatima al-Zahra (a.s.) daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (S). He is the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (S) and the second of his successors and the leader (imam) of the people after his father Ali, Amir al- Mo’mineen - the Commander of the Faithful. He was born in the enlightened city of Medina on a Tuesday, the 15th of the month of Ramazan in the second or third year of the hijra or migration of the Prophet (S), that is 2/3 A.H. or 624/625 C.E. He died as a martyr to poison on Thursday the 7th of the month of Safar 49 A.H (17th March 669 C.E.). His funeral was undertaken by his brother Imam Husayn (a.s.) and he was buried in the cemetery of Baqi in Medina where he lies to this day. He was the most devoted to Allah of his peers and the most knowledgeable and virtuous of them. He most resembled the Prophet (S) of all people and he was the most generous of the Prophet’s household in his time and he was the most clement of people.226 An example of his generosity is that one of his maidservants presented him with a bouquet of fragrant herbs so he said to her: ‘uou are free for the sake of Allah.’ Then he said:

‘Such has Allah taught us, for He has said: “And when you are greeted with a greeting then greet with a better one or return itf.227 ,228

An example of his clemency is that a Syrian once saw him riding and began to curse him but Imam Hasan did not reply to him. When the Syrian had finished Imam Hasan approached, greeted him and laughed and said: ‘O master, you seem to be estranged and you may have mistaken me for another. Were you to seek favour and goodwill we would show you favour and goodwill, and were you to ask of us we would give you, and were you to ask us for directions we would direct you, and were you to ask us for a mount we would give you a mount, and if you are hungry we will let you eat your fill, and if you have no clothes we will clothe you, and if you are in poverty we will enrich you, and if you are in exile we will give you sanctuary, and if you have any need we will fulfil it.’ When the man heard these words he wept and said: ‘I testify that you are Allah’s vicegerent (khalifa) on earth, eAllah knows full well where he places His missionf.229 230

Hadith from Imam Hassan (AS)

‘He who claims he does not like wealth is, to me, a liar, and if his truth is established in this respect, then, to me, he is stupid.’ ‘Have you seen an oppressor who is more like an oppressed one? The Imam was asked: ‘How is that O son of Rasulollah?’ The Imam (A) replied: ‘He is the jealous person who is in perpetual anguish whereas the envied is in comfort.’

Imam Hassan (A) used to encourage the people to gain more and more knowledge, and used to say: ‘Teach others and learn from others’ knowledge, in this way you would have perfected your knowledge and learnt things you did not know . and to ask a question is half of the knowledge.’

‘He who does not have intellect, does not have etiquette, and he who does not have determination, does not have goodwill, and he who does not have a belief does not have morality. The peak of intellect is to socialise with, and treat the people nicely and kindly. Through intellect you can achieve the prosperity of both worlds and without it you would loose all.’ Someone asked Imam Hassan (A) about politics, the Imam replied ‘Politics is to attend to the rights and duties of Allah and to protect the rights of the people; dead or alive. As for the rights of Allah, it is to fulfil what He ordered and abstain from what forbade. And as for the rights of the living it is to discharge your duties towards your Muslim brethrens and not to hesitate serving your community, to be sincere towards leader as long as he is sincere to the Ommah, and to raise your objection to him if he deviated from the straight path. As for the rights of the dead, it is to commemorate their good deeds and conceal their bad deeds, for they have their Lord to deal with them.’ ‘There is no poverty like ignorance.’

‘The peak of wit and intelligence is the good conduct with the people.’

‘The distance between right and falsehood is (the width of) four fingers (i.e. the distance between the eye and the ear). What you see with your eyes is the truth, whereas you could hear many false things.’ ‘The people who practice consultation are guided (towards perfection).’ ‘(The beneficences of) both worlds are achieved through reasoning.’ ‘Do not hasten punishment for offence, and allow room for reason for the offence.’

‘I am surprised at one who takes care at what he eats, but does not do so about what he believes in. He avoids that which hurts him from entering his stomach, but allows that which makes him inferior to enter his heart (and mind).’ What others have said about Imam Hasan Anas ibn Malik, one of the Prophet’s companions said: ‘There was no-one among them who more resembled the Messenger of Allah than Hasan.’231

Abu Hurayra said: ‘I always loved Hasan ever since I saw how the Messenger of Allah used to treat him.’232 Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr said: ‘Let me tell you of the person from his [the Prophet’s] family who most resembled him and who was most beloved to him - it was Hasan son of Ali.’233 Ibn Sirin said: ‘Often Hasan ibn Ali would reward a single person with one hundred thousand coins.’234

WaNil ibn AUav said: ‘Hasan ibn Ali had the mark of a prophet and the aura of a king.’235 Abul-Fidav ibn Kothayr said [of him]: ‘If only they [the Muslims] knew, they would have venerated the blessings of Allah upon them when they swore allegiance to the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah and the chief of the Muslims and one of the most knowledgeable and intelligent of the companions.’236

The Third Imam

He is Husayn son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and Fatima al-Zahra (a.s.) daughter of Muhammad (S). He is the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (S) and the third of his successors and the progenitor of the nine Imams who came after him and the leader (imam) of the people after his brother Hasan (a.s.). He was born in the enlightened city of Medina on the 3rd of the month of Shaban within a year of the birth of his brother Hasan and was killed unjustly by the sword and in dire need of water at the battle of Karbala on the day of Ashura (Ashura), Saturday the 10th of the month of Muharram in the year 61 A.H. After three days, his son Imam Zayn al-wbidin (a.s.) undertook his funeral and buried him at Karbala in Iraq where his shrine is to this day. His virtues are countless. He is the Messenger of Allah’s rayhanah or (blessed) flower, as he is quoted as saying regarding Husayn and his brother Hasan (a.s.): ‘Those two are my favourite blessed flower of this world.’237 Allah’s messenger also said: ‘Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.’238 He also said: ‘Hasan and Husayn are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise.’239

He also said: ‘Hasan and Husayn are two Imams whether they rise up it or not.’240 Husayn (a.s.) was the most knowledgeable of the people and the most worshipful of Allah and he used to pray one thousand units of prayer every night as did his father Imam Ali (a.s.). He often used to carry sacks of food at night to the poor, which left their marks on his body and they were visible after his death. He was noble, generous, and clement, and he could not bear that Allah be disobeyed.

By his brave and unique uprising he revivified the way of Islam and the religion of his grandfather the Messenger of Allah (S) which had become corrupted so soon after his death. Indeed, he revivified the entire world until the day of resurrection. He is the Masters of the Martyrs and the best of mankind after his brother. Hadith from Imam Hussain (AS)

‘I do not see death except prosperity and life along with the oppressors except anguish.’ ‘O Allah! uou know that all there was from us was not in competition to seek power, nor to gain refuse of the world (i.e. wealth), but it was nothing other than to present the signs and essence of uour religion, and to promote reform in uour land, (so that) oppressed members of your servants find safety and security, and uour laws, orders and obligations are acted upon.’

‘I have not arisen for the purpose of exuberance, arrogance, corruption, or oppression, but I have done so in order to seek reform in the nation of my Grandfather, Muhammad (S). I want to enjoin Good and forbid Evil, and I want to go down the path and tradition of my Grandfather, Muhammad (S), and the path of my father Ali ibn Abi Talib (A).

‘There are people who worship Allah out of desire (for reward), and this is the worship of traders, and there are people worship Allah out of fear (of punishment), and this is the worship of slaves. Whereas certain people worship Allah out of gratitude, and this is the worship of the free, and this is the best of the worships.’ ‘There are seventy benefactions for saluting, sixty nine for the one who initiates it and one for the replier.’ ‘Do not say about your brother in his absence other than that which you would like him to say about you in your absence.’ ‘(O Allah) . How can uou be reasoned about with that that is in need of uou in its existence? ‘(O Allah) . What did he find he who lost uou? And what did he loose he who found uou? Truly he has failed who is contented with other than uou.’

What others have said about Imam Husayn

Umar ibn al-KhaUUab said to Imam Husayn: ‘It is Allah and then you that have made us what we are today.’241 Abu Hurayra said: ‘Husayn ibn Ali entered the room wearing a turban and I thought that the Prophet himself had been raised from the dead.’242 Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As said when Imam Husayn passed by him once: ‘Whoever wishes to see the most beloved of the people of the earth to the people of the heavens then let him look at this man who is passing by.’243 Muawiya said: ‘I cannot fault Husayn. I swear by Allah that there is no fault in him.’244

Ibn Sirin said: ‘After John son of Zechariah, the heavens never wept for anyone except for Husayn (a.s.). When he was killed the sky became dark and the stars appeared during the day and red dust fell.245 aOn the day of the martyrdom of al-Hussein (AS) the sky rained blood . .”246 aThere was not a stone which was not lifted but underneath it was found blood . . ”247 Records show that the skies wept blood for Imam Husayn throughout the globe. Christian monks in Britain recorded the following:

“685. In this year in Britain it rained blood, and milk and butter were turned into blood.”248

The Fourth Imam

He is Imam Ali son of Husayn (a.s.). His mother was Shahezanan, daughter of the Persian king uazdegird. He was born in the enlightened city of Medina on the 15th of the month of Jamadi I in the year 36 A.H. (hth November 656 C.E.) the day that his grandfather the commander of the faithful Ali (a.s.) captured the town of Basra in Iraq.

He died of poison on Saturday the 25th of the month of Muharram in the year 95 A.H. (20th October 713 C.E.) at the age of 57 years. His funeral was conducted by his son Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) and he was buried in the cemetery of Baqi In Medina, Arabia. He was, in knowledge, worship of Allah, virtue, abstinence, and helping the afflicted the foremost of his age. Jurists have used him as a source for abundant traditions and he gave many sermons and taught a great many supplicatory prayers.249

He used to go out in the dark of the night and carry a sack on his back containing gold and silver coins as well as food and fuel until he went to each door in turn of the poor people’s houses where he would knock and give to whoever came to the door. He used to cover his face so that the poor would not recognise him. When he died, the people of Medina realised that it was him that was the bearer of the sack. He used to love to host the poor and the orphans and the sick at his table.

Among his fine moral traits is that every month he would call his maidservants and say to them: ‘Whoever wishes that I marry them off I will marry them off; and whoever wishes that I sell them I will sell them; and whoever wishes that I free them I will free them.’ Whenever someone came to ask him something he would say: ‘Welcome to he who bears my provision to the afterlife.’ His piety was such that he would pray one thousand units of prayer every day and whenever the time for prayer came he would get goose bumps and turn white and shake. Among his names was ‘he of the calluses’ because of the effects of prolonged prostration to Allah on his forehead and palms and knees.’ Once a man swore at him and said awful things to him but he was calm and didn’t reply. After a moment he went over to the man and those present supposed that he was going to give the man a taste of his own medicine. But he recited the Quranic verse: “And those who contain their anger and forgive the people and Allah loveth those who do good”250 Then he stood before the man and said: ‘My brother, you stood before me before and spoke and spoke. If you said what is true about me then I ask Allah for forgiveness; and if you have said what is not true about me then may Allah forgive you.’251

Hadith from Imam Zayn al-A idin (A)

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (A) said to his son, al-Baqir (A): ‘Do good to whoever seeks it from you. For if he deserved it then you have achieved your goal, and if he did not deserve it, you are the kind to do so. If someone swore at you, and he is on your right hand side, and he then turns to your left and apologised to you, accept his apologies.’ On the subject of trustworthiness and honesty, Imam Zayn al- Abidin (A) says:

‘By He who sent Muhammad (S), with the Truth (I swear that) if the killer of my father al-Hussain (A) entrusts me with the sword which he killed him (A) with, I would return it back to him.’ ‘Contemplate and strife for what you have been created for, for Allah did not create you in vain.’ ‘Do not have animosity towards anyone even if you thought he would not harm you, and do not fail to befriend anyone even if you thought he would not benefit you.’ ‘Indeed the ultimate knowledge and the perfection of the religion (and way of life) of a Muslim is to avoid talking about things which do not concern him, lack of his boasting, his forbearance, perseverance, and well-manners.’

‘Do not stop from refraining from evil even if you have been known to commit it.’ ‘The best keys to (one’s) affairs is truthfulness, and the best endings is faithfulness and loyalty.’ What others have said about Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin Abu .azim said: ‘I never saw a Hashimite more meritorious than Ali ibn Husayn nor more knowledgeable than him.’252 Al-Zuhr: said: ‘I never saw anyone more knowledgeable than Zayn al-wbidin.’ If Ali ibn al-Husayn was mentioned he would weep and say: ‘The adornment of the worshippers.’253 Malik ibn Anas, the Imam of the Maliki sect, said: ‘He was named aZayn al-wbidin (the adornment of the worshippers)” because of the great amount of his worship of Allah.’254 The Ummayad Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz said after he had just left his presence: ‘Who is the most noble of people?’ Those around him said: ‘uou.’ He said: ‘Not at all, the most noble of people is he who has just left my presence.’ Nafi! said addressing Zayn al-wbidin: ‘uou are the chief of people and the best of them.’255