Preface
The sixth century of the Christian era was a period during which the flood of atheism rose to its apex. Worldwide, all countries were engulfed by the deluge of paganism surging in four directions. In china, the teachings, of Confucius were forgotten; India became the cradle of idolatry; Persia was exulted in fire-worship; Europe lay wrapped in the black shroud of the Dark Ages. Arabia was, likewise, in the grip of a number of idols which were worshipped by different tribes. All immoral practices and shameful sins prevailed in that peninsula, destroying social structures and wiping out moral values.
At long last, according to the laws of reaction, the darkness of atheism was shattered by the light of divine guidance. The sun of Monotheism shone again in all its brightness, discarding the clouds of apostasy, star-worship and other pagan doctrines. In Mecca, savior of humanity started a dramatic change in the history of man.
Endowed with his God-gifted power, he brought radical changes to the decadent society. Through the medium of wise preaching, he succeeded in convincing his people, and later the world at large, that image-worship was a senseless practice, and that they ought to believe in One Supreme Being Who is the Creator, Lord and Sustainer. Rising to the zenith of political power and prowess, this reformer later commanded the ignorant folks to abandon idolatry and gambling, give up usury, andabstain
from wine-drinking.
As the greatest law-giver of all times, he set for mankind an everlasting code of ethics that ensured moral excellence. He released the poor from the grip of capitalist exploitation, relieved the oppressed from the clutches of the profiteers, and set such basic rules as would ensure the emancipation of slaves through the employment of terse and well calculated measures.
Muhammad was the name of this sage and reformer to whom all the moralists of the East and the West ought to pay homage. With incessant labor, and with the sacrifice of house and hearth, Muhammad revolutionized the moral and mental attitude of his wild-tempered, rough and unruly nation within the short span of twenty years. When he was finally called to God's mercy, he left this world satisfied and contented, having successfully and fruitfully fulfilled his mission.
He had also left behind him capable successors, from his own holy Progeny, who never ceased conveying his sacred teachings in the light of the holy QUR'AN and the exemplary SUNNAH. He had clearly and unambiguously declared that both the holy QUR'AN and his revered Progeny would survive in close connection with each other till the Day of Judgment. Indeed all moralists, rationalists, and historians of the East and the West ought to pay homage to that sublime reformer.
We feel it is our moral obligation to form an idea about the biographies of the holy Prophet and his revered descendants. This book is a humble effort to achieve this objective. We are morally bound to know as much about these sacred sages as can be by reviewing authentic and reliable sources. It is indeed a sad fact that the young generations of schoolboys and schoolgirls, as well as college students, are by far more familiar with other philosophers and reformers than with the holy Prophet and his true followers. It is a great intellectual gap the filling of which is badly needed now more than ever before.
The biographies of the Prophet and his sacred Progeny set a perfect standard of moral excellence for all humanity. In our daily life, we are doomed to encounter numerous odds. The theme of morality is to remember our duty in all circumstances, pleasant and unpleasant, however intolerable the latter may be. In order to attain this goal, it is incumbent upon us to study the biographies of individuals who exercised a complete control over their desires. These were especially blessed and guided by the Almighty. They were not ruled by sentiment; rather, they were always of their duties and moral obligations. They set the best examples in piety, perseverance, fortitude and sacrifice.
The biography of Muhammad and his sacred Progeny is a comprehensive book of morality each page of which narrates either feats of bravery and courage, or deeds of generosity, sacrifice, and self-denial. If one studies such biographies, he will come across some jewels of wisdom and knowledge. He will find in them storehouses of knowledge and theology. The pages of their biographies bring to his view sanguine scenes of battles fought against tyranny and oppression.
Those noble sages did not live their lives under the same circumstances. The bitter odds of life forced them to face various situations and fortunes, and they had to cope through various means and methods, each according to what best suited his own individual capacity and caliber. In order to learn the best methods to apply in various circumstances, we must read these biographies, one by one, so that we may go through all events and come to know of the best possible way to deal with them.
It is equally important to appreciate the lofty status they enjoy in numerous verses of the holy QUR'AN which refer to their sublime ethics and exemplary deeds. I would like here to quote only a few of them whichis
but a drop in the ocean:
On p. 244 of GHAYAT AL-MARAM, 'ALLAMA AL-BAHRANI quotes the FAQIH ABU AL-HASAN MUHAMMAD IBN ALI IBN SHADHAN as stated in AL-MANAQIB AL-MA'AHMIN TARIQ AL-AMMAH, quoting IBN 'ABBAS saying that he heard the Messenger of God (P.B.U.H.) say in a lengthy HADITH: "O people! Whoever is pleased to emulateme,
let him accept the WILAYAT of ALI IBN ABU TALIB and the Imams from my offspring, for they are the storehouses of my knowledge". JABIR IBN 'ABD ALLAH AL-ANSARI stood and asked: "O Messenger of God! How many are these Imams?" He (P.B.U.H.) answered: "O JABIR! You have asked me, God bless you,
about
Islam in its entirety!" then he added: "Their number is similar to the number of wells which gushed forth for MUSA IBN 'UMRAN when he struck the stone and twelve wells gushed forth". On p. 406-407, Vol. 2, of TAFSIR AL-BURHAN, 'ALLAMA AL-BAHRANI quotes IMAM ABU JA'GAR MUHAMMAD IBN JARIR from SHADHAN from SALMAN saying: "The Messenger of God (P.B.U.H.) said once to me: 'God the Almighty and Sublime never sent a prophet or a messenger without assigning twelve NAQIBS (representatives or deputies)'.
I said: 'O Messenger of God! I have come to know that from the People of the two Books'. He said: 'O SALMAN! Did you come to know whoare my NAQIBS
and who are the twelve men God selected for the nation after me?" I said: 'God and His Messenger know best'. He (P.B.U.H.) said 'O SALMAN! God created me of the choice of His light and called upon me and I obeyed Him, and He created IMAM ALI out of my light and He called upon him and Ali obeyed Him, and He created Fatima of both myself and Ali, and He called her and she obeyed Him, and He created AL-HASAN of me, of Ali and of Fatima, and He called upon him and he obeyed Him,
and
He created AL-HUSAIN of me, of Ali, of Fatima, and of AL-HASAN, and He called upon him and he obeyed him. Then He named us after five of His own Names: God is the Praised One (MAHMUD), and I am Muhammad; and God is the Sublime ('ALI), and this is 'Ali, and God is the Creator (FATIR; see Chapter 35 of the holy QUR'AN), and this is Fatima; and for God are all the attributes of bounty (IHSAN), and this is AL-HASAN; and God is the One Who grants (MUHSIN), and this is AL-HUSAIN. Then He created out of us and out of AL-HUSAIN nine Imams, and He called upon their souls, and they obeyed Him even before He created the heavens or the earth or the human species; for we have been but light raising God, listening unto Him, obeying Him'". SALMAN continues to say that he asked the Messenger of God (P.B.U.H.): "May both my parentsbe
sacrificed for thy sake, what shall be the reward of those who know these Imams?
" He
(P.B.U.H.) answered: "O SALMAN! Whoever knows them as they ought to be known and emulates them and befriends their friends and becomes the enemy of their enemy shall, by God, go where we shall go, and shall live where we live". SALMAN continued to ask the Messenger of God (P.B.U.H.): "O Messenger of God! Can Imam be acquired without knowing their names and lineage?" He (P.B.U.H.) answered: "No, SALMAN". Then SALMAN asked: "O Messenger of God! I would like to be one of their men, for I know them up to AL-HUSAIN", whereupon the Messenger of God provided him with the names of the rest of AHL AL-BAYT, saying, "Then the master of the worshippers ALI IBN AL-HUSAIN, then his son MUHAMMAD IBN ALI splitter of the knowledge of the early ones and the latter of the Prophets and Messengers,
then JA'FAR IBN MUHAMMAD, God's truthful tongue (AS-SADIQ), then MUSA IBN JA'FAR who suppresses his anger perseveres for the sake of pleasing God, the Almighty and Sublime, then 'ALI IBN MUSA who accepts God's destiny (AR-RIDA), them MUHAMMAD IBN ALI who is chosen from the best of God's creation, then 'ALI IBN Muhammad who guides people to God's way (AL-HADI), then AL-HASAN IBN ALI who is the silent keeper of God's secret, then Muhammad IBN AL-HASAN the guide and the truly guided one who is the living articulator (AL-QAIM) of God's Rights". Then the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) continued saying, "You shall come to see him (AL-QA'IN, AL-MAHDI) upon his Return, and so shall everyone who is like you, and whoever accepts his sovereignty out of knowledge". SALMAN continues to describe is feeling of ecstasy at such glad tidings. This proves that all those who possessed the spiritual caliber of SALMAN, who believed in an emulated these saintly souls, will have the unique distinction and honor of being risen from death to witness the return of AL-HAHDI and enjoy the kingdom of God which he will INSHA-ALLAH establish on earth.
The first in the series of biographies of these illustrious sages is the biography of Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen One, the Seal of the Prophets, peace be upon him and his Progeny. His noble conduct is an ideal to be followed by every Muslim. Nay! Since the character of that great teacher was the climax of moral excellence, all humanity ought to proudly emulate him. Then we will narrate the biography of IMAM ALI IBN ABU TALIB. It is so comprehensive that not one group of men, or inhabitants of a particular region, but rather people of the whole world can find in it their ideal model. His career was so multi-faceted that we can see numerous models of cardinal virtues in that one individual. If we analyze the biographies of great men, we will find that each excelled in one virtue or two. Take, for example, Alexander the Great, napoleon, or Cromwell.
They can be taken as models of martial talents, men who maneuvered their armies skillfully in very precarious situations, winning astounding victories. But you cannot learn a lesson in sacrifice, humbleness or generosity from them. NAUSHERWON, Persian ruler, is renowned for his unparalleled justice, but he is a model for kings only. His life does not teach people how to live peacefully as good neighbors maintaining a social order. HATIM AL-TA'I is distinguished for generosity. But how to fight for the cause of righteousness and the interest of the nation cannot be taught by that Bedouin chief.
Names of RUSTAM, RICHARD LION-HEART and KHALID IBN AL-WALID shine brilliantly in the sky of bravery, butthe
will not demonstrate for us as to how we should deal with oppressive rulers patiently for the sake of the good-will of humanity, or how to relinquish our rights to avert the calamities of a civil war. Even the combination of three or four, or even five, of such "great" personalities will not form a model to guide us in various walks of our lives.
History nevertheless brings before our view one sublime figure whose character has acquired the combination of all virtues, one who has left his footprints to guide us in all circumstances. He prompts us to fare honorably in prosperity or adversity, in success and in failure, as a king or as a laborer, as a commander or as a soldier, as an orator or as a philosopher- in all phases of life. This is the personality of IMAM ALI IBN ABU TALIB who was the true successor of the holy Prophet and the living embodiment of his teachings. In the biography of IMAM ALI, one finds all aspects of human conduct which teach him how to lead his life in changing circumstances, and how to stand before the world as a model of moral perfection. It was IMAM ALI from whom humanity can seek guidance by scrutinizing the various facets of his life and career. Another personality to be particularly cherished by half the human race, I mean the fair sex, is that of FATIMA AZ-ZAHRA, the chaste daughter of the holy Prophet.
Islamic teachings are not confined to men only; they include women, too. The personality that can be a model exclusively for women is that of Fatima, the sublime among the ladies of the world. She can singly guide half the human race as successfully towards moral perfection as the thirteenInfallible
ones can guide men. Then comes the prince of Peace, IMAM HASAN, who for the sake of the welfare of the Muslims, and for the sake of saving them from bloodshed, relinquished his right as Caliph of the Muslims and concluded a treaty with his opponent MU'AWIYA on such equitable and wise terms as would ensure, if implemented, the protection of the Divine Law,
which
was the ultimate objective of his life. He also provided chances to prepare the UMMA for JIHAD or for the great sacrifice which his younger brother HUSAIN performed on the blooded field of KARBALA. In order to attain moral excellences in a life full of hardships, a pious person has first to subdue his own desires and animal instincts. He has to tread upon and rise above his physical urges, and he has to struggle for the achievements of his principles in the light of reason and wisdom. He has also to fight external obstacles hindering his path towards the truth.
Environment, atmosphere, the pace of time and the forces of oppression, all unite to distract him from the path to righteousness. The floods of injustice, the storms of tyranny and downpour of troubles make it impossible for him to stand in their face. In such situations, it is not possible for everyone to lay down his life for the cause of defending the truth. Fortitude, forbearance, patience and courage are words written in dictionaries and are narrated as tales or legends or recorded in books of ethics.
But to demonstrate the actual meaning of these words during times of hardship, or advance bravely towards the valley of death, or to quicken the staggering legs towards a real challenge, we need a living guide who serves as a model of such caliber. We desire the presence of a seasoned and experienced hero who braves the storms of calamities, swims through the ocean of blood and calls upon the whole world to: "Come up and follow me to the zenith of truth, the apex of righteousness, and the heights of fortitude…!" Such a personality can undoubtedly be none other than HUSAIN IBN ALI.
Among the Fourteen Infallibles, tall stands IMAM ZAIN AL-ABIDIN, IMAM ALI son of HUSAIN, the embodiment of patience and devotion. He was strong enough to undergo the hardships of fetters, shackles and imprisonment in the way of God on one hand, while, on the other hand, we find him given to worshipping his Lord in the loneliness of dark nights. These days, the human race is stooping into materialism, forgetting the Creator, living in a world where the mighty and powerful wish to trample upon the weak and the meek, the majority desiring to crush the minority. It was always needed, and it is now needed more than ever before, to cultivate in our hearts a feeling for devotion and worship since a true worshipper will never shrink from serving humanity.
A true devotee of God will always serve His fellow human beings. If he is strong, he will not abuse his strength by oppressing the weak; rather, he will protect them with his God-given strength. This feeling will obligate the majority to defend the minority instead of crushing it.in
order to cultivate this feeling in our hearts, we ought to narrate the biographies of those purified persons who, even during times of extreme desperation and dismay, did not forget their Lord.
When composed and enjoying all conveniences, one can enjoy the freedom of worship. But when the clouds of calamity and misery rest heavily on the mind, and the heart-rending shocks of the massacre of a whole family overwhelms the soul, worshipping the Lord so sincerely as to receive the title "ZAIN AL-ABIDIN", that is "chief of the prostrates", is the task of none but IMAM ALI son of HUSAIN.
IMAM MUHAMMAD AL-BAQIR and IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ were scholars who revived the passion for learning and the pursuit for knowledge. The highway of the Divine Law, paved by Prophet Muhammad, the last Messenger of God, was blocked by doubts, fallacies and superstitions. Yet every individual among the Prophet's Descendants attempted to preserve the message of God and offered while doing so precious sacrifices, but alas the grip of political persecution always choked his voice and in the end brought him to an untimely death. IMAM AL-BAQIR and IMAM AS-SADIQ, however, had the chance to present to the world the sacred teachings of the Prophet which can ensure the reform of ht sinful human race. IMAM MUSA AL-KAZIM suffered the hardships of prison cells while upholding the banner of truth. IMAM AR-RIDA was appointed as the heir-apparent to the 'ABBASIDE monarch during the hey-days of the dynasty. He was surrounded by the elites, princes and ministers of the most significant and powerful empire of its time.
But he always sought to please his Lord, ignoring the pomp and power bestowed upon him even against his own will. He kept his escutcheon stainless, spotless, and he demonstrated how to perform that noble duty for which man was placed on earth. IMAM MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI lived the shortest span of life among the Imams, yet he demonstrated that when a person is resolved to be the model of moral perfection, he can leave an immortal impression of his conduct on the human mind.
Such a life, in spite of its short span, can be as important in moral history as any other of a longer duration. The biographies of IMAM ALI AN-NAQI and IMAM HASAN AL-'ASKARI are characterized with the same virtues which were the legacy of this household of Prophet-hoodAlthough
both Imams lived in exile and imprisonment, they incessantly continued to propagate the teachings of the Prophet, braving all odds.
It is a fact that the religion of Islam is not merely a collection of doctrines. Islam came to bear the torch and shed the light on the zigzag of the human life. This is the way which may be described as 'thinner that hair and sharper than the sword'. One method, considered right at one time, may become wrong at another. It was, therefore, necessary to set up before the world different models of behavior to be emulated at every possible turn in the ever-bending path of life. Such cross-roads are usually met in man's journey. At every bend, it is possible that the traveler might take the wrong road and thus strays. The study of the biographies of these Infallible Leaders viz. the Prophet and his holy Progeny, consisting of Fatima and the twelve Imams from her descendants, is now available to the discreet reader on the pages of this book. Its size could not permit comprehensive details; therefore, we had to be satisfied with narrating the basic events only. May God render our humble effort the means of recognizing the real legacy of the holy Prophet and his truesuccessors.
ALLAHOMMA AMIN.
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Author: Sayyid 'Ali Naqi Naqawi
