Nahjul Balaaghah about Ahlul Bayt By A S

Nahjul Balaaghah about Ahlul Bayt By A. S. Hashim. MD

Supplication ﺑـﺴـــﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ In the Name of God, Lord of Mercy and Lord of Grace

Nahjul Balaaghah l Nahjul Balaaghah, a highly valued book, consists of: – – – l l Nahjul Balaaghah is unique to Imam Ali None of the Sahaaba was ever able to produce anything like it: l l l 254 sermons, 48 letters, and 212 sayings of Imam Ali neither in substance nor in literary eloquence. No wonder Ali was referred to as: 1. 2. Sayyid al-Bulaghaa' (Pinnacle of Literary Expression) and Sayyid al-Fu'qahaa, (Pinnacle of the Jurisprudents)

Ali Describes Ahlul Bayt l Ali describes Ahlul Bayt's forthcoming generations in a startling manner: l It describes: 1. 2. 3. 4. l Their status, Their high rank, Their immaculate behavior, and Their guidance and directives, even though 9 of them (out of the 12) were not even born at this time. Ali urges people to follow Ahlul Bayt's teachings and example

The 11 References Nahjul Balaaghah contains 11 references on behalf of Ahlul Bayt. l The quotes appear in various sermons, l l said at variable occasions and l about different subjects. The quotes in Arabic are from the book of Nahjul Balaaghah, by Dr. Subhi Al-Salih, and so is the numbering of the sermons and pages, 1 st Edition, Beirut 1967. l The Number of the sermons may differ by a factor of 1 in other volumes of Nahjul Balaaghah l

Time Element l The majority of Ali's sayings and speeches were stated: l During his Khilaafah when in Kufa, l At Different Places l At Different Occasions l Often at Khutba of Jumu’ah

Imam Ali About Rasool Allah l Nahjul Balaaghah refers to the Prophet (pbuh) at least 23 times, l l l said at different occasions covering many aspects of the Prophet's life What follows is 3 references with their translation.

In Sermon 95, page 140, Ali about Prophethood ، ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻻ ﻱ ﺓ ، ﺍﻭﻥ ﻱ ﺓ ، ﺍ ﺍﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍﻻ ﺍ ; ﺍ ﺍﺍ ﺍﻻ ، ﻻﺀ ﺍ ، ﺍﻯ ﻱ ﺍﻝ ﺍﻻ ﻯ ﻯ ، ﺍ )ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭآﻠﻪ( ﻱ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ، ﺍﻟ ﻳ . ﺍ ﻯ ﺍ ﺍ Allah (swt) has sent Muhammad (pbuh) at a time when: l. Mankind was going astray, in disorientation and perplexity, and in malicious discord; l. People were in lust and mischief. They were prisoners of their avarice, and their capricious desires had deflected them [from the virtuous]; l. Conceit took hold of them, thus it swerved them l. Extremes of ignorance made fools of them. l. Society was confounded and in confusion, not only by instability but also by the evil of ignorance. It was with the advent of his Prophethood, that Muhammad (pbuh) gave superb admonitions and trustworthy advice, in abundance. He trod on the Right Path [Islam] and urged mankind towards the path of wisdom and with fitting counsel.

Comments about Society at Advent of Islam l l l Mankind was perplexed, disoriented and in malice; l People in lust and mischief. l Conceit and extremes of ignorance made fools of them. Society was in confusion due to ignorance Muhammad (pbuh) gave them: l Superb admonitions and l Trustworthy advice, l Muhammad trod on the Right Path [Islam] and l He urged mankind to the path of wisdom and good counsel.

In sermon 94, page 139, ﺍﺍ Ali eulogizes the Prophet ،( ﻯ ﺍ ﺍﻟﻠ ﺍ ﻯ ﺩ )ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭآﻠﻪ ، ﺍﻻ ﻭﺍ ﺳ ﺍﻟ ﺍﻱ ﺍ ﺍ ، ﺗ . ﺍ ﺍ ﺍ . ﻻﺍ ، ﺍ ﻭ ﺍ ، ﻱ ﻡ ، ﺍﻟ ; ﻱ ﻡ ، ﺍﻻ ، ﺍ ﻻ ، ﺍﻟ ، ﺍ ﻭ ; ﻳ ﺍ ، ﻭﺍ ، ﻳ ﺍﻯ ، ﺍ ﺍ ﻯ . ﺍﺓ ﺍﻻ ، ﺓ ﺍ ، ﺍ; ﻯ ﻳ ﺓ ﺍﻟ ، ﺍ . . . until this distinction by Allah (glory be to Him) reached Muhammad (pbuh). Allah brought forth Muhammad from a glorious origin, and honorable seed. It was the honorable lineage from which Allah had brought forth other Prophets; and from which He selected His trustees [family]. Muhammad's descendants [Ahlul Bayt] are the best descendants, his kinsmen are the cream of kin, and his lineal tree the finest. This tree grew in esteem and rose in distinction. It branched out and produced marvelous fruit. The Prophet (pbuh) is the Imam [Master or Supreme Leader] of all who fear Allah, and the light for all who seek guidance. Muhammad (pbuh) is a lamp with an ever burning flame, a meteor ever shining, and a flint of a bright spark. Muhammad's conduct is upright, his behavior is guiding, his speech is decisive and his decision is just. Allah sent him after an interval from the previous Prophets when society had fallen into abyss disoriented, and in darkness of ignorance.

Comments about Muhammad’s Background l l Allah brought forth Muhammad from: l A glorious origin, and l An honorable seed of: l The same lineage that brought forth other Prophets Muhammad is the Supreme Leader of the God-fearing, and l l l The light for any who seeks guidance. He is a beacon with an ever-burning flame, He is a meteor ever shining, and He is a flint of a bright spark. Muhammad's conduct is upright, his behavior is guiding, his speech is decisive and his decision is just.

Ali continues to eulogize the Prophet In sermon #96, page 141, ، ﺍﻧ ، ، ﺕ ، ﻱ ﺍ ﺍﺍ . ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻻ ، ﺍﻻ ﺍ ، ﻭ ﺍﻧ ، ﺍﻟ ﺍ ، ]ﺍﻟﻠ[ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ، ﺍﻟ . ﺍ ، ﻻ ﺍ Muhammad is of the highest station, and his origin is the noblest, in the mines of honor and the cradles of peace. Allah made the hearts of the virtuous incline towards him and the reins of eyes turn towards him. Through Muhammad, Allah buried mutual rancor and put off the flame of rebellion. And through him Allah instilled affection in the hearts of believers, to become like brothers; And through him Allah had secluded the disbelievers all together. Through Muhammad Allah conferred honor to the lowly, and humiliation to the arrogant with disbelief. Muhammad (pbuh) spoke with wisdom and even his silence was an indication of speech.

Ali speaks about the Status of Muhammad l l Muhammad is of the highest station, and the noblest origin Allah made: l l l Through Muhammad, Allah buried mutual rancor l l And Instilled affection in the hearts of believers, to become like brothers; And through him Allah had secluded the disbelievers all together l l l The hearts of the virtuous incline towards him and The eyes of those seeking Wisdom turn towards him. Through Muhammad Allah conferred honor to the lowly, and humiliation to the arrogance of disbelief. Muhammad (pbuh) spoke with wisdom and even his silence was an indication of speech.

Ali refers to Ahlul Bayt, and describes his background In Sermon 120, page 176, . ﺍ ـ ﺍ ﺍﻻ. ﺍ ﺍﺍ ، ﺍﻟﻠ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﺍﻻ . ﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍ ، ﻻ ﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍ ﺍ ﻭﺍ. ﺍ ، ﻻ ﺍ ﺍ ، ﻯ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ، ﺍﻭﺍ ﻡ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﺍﺍ ﻳ ، ﺍﺭ ﺍ ﻳ . ﺍﺍ ﻭ ﻻ ، ﻻ ﺍﻟﺍ ﺍﻟﻠ ﻱ ﺍﻟ ﺍ By Allah, I have been taught the knowledge: lto convey the messages, lto fulfill the promises, and lto express with eloquence. We the people of the house [Ahlul Bayt] maintain the doors of wisdom and the authority to govern. O people! Look out, since the paths of religion are one, and its highways are forthright. l. The one who follows them will achieve [the aim of heavens] and will secure [his objective to gain heaven]. l. As to the one who shuns the way, with certainty he will be in anguish for he will have gone astray. O people! Prepare for your Hereafter, work hard for that Day for you will be either well rewarded or in jeopardy of the wrath of the Almighty.

Ali Describes himself l By Allah, I have been taught the knowledge: l l l to convey the messages, to fulfill the promises, and to express with eloquence. l Ahlul Bayt maintain the doors of wisdom and the authority to govern. l The one who follows them will achieve and secure his objective to gain heaven. As to the one who shuns their way, he would surely be in anguish, for he will have gone astray. l l O people! Prepare for your Hereafter, work hard for that Day for you will be either well rewarded or in jeopardy of the wrath of the Almighty.

In Sermon 239, page 357, Who are Ahlul Bayt? ، ﺍ ، ، ، ﻻ ﺍﻭ ﺍ ﻻ ﻭ ﻳ ، ﻻ ﺍﻻﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍﻻ ﻻ ﻭﺍ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍﺓ ﺍﺓ ، ﺍ ﺍ ، ﺍﺍ ﺍﺍ ﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍ ﻱ ﺍ ، ﻻ ﺍﻉ ﺍﺓ ، ﺍ ﺍ ﻳ They [Ahlul Bayt] are the life for [Divine] knowledge and the death keel to ignorance. l. Their forbearance tells you of their knowledge, and their behavior about their integrity l. Their silence tells you of their wisdom. l. Never do they deviate from Truth, nor [among themselves] will they differ about it. l. Ahlul Bayt are the pillars in support of Islam. They are the haven to take protection in. l. With them the Right has returned to its proper place, and because of them Falsehood has retreated from its place and its tongue rooted out. l. Ahlul Bayt understood the correct spirit of Islam, attentively and painstakingly. l. They carried Islam's precepts into practice. And all this was not by heresy or from narrators. l. Lo! The narrators of knowledge are many but those who truly understand it are only few.

Ali Describes the Status of Ahlul Bayt are not only the beacon of knowledge but the death keel to ignorance. l l l Their forbearance speaks of their knowledge, and Their behavior reveals their integrity Their silence tells you of their wisdom. Never do Ahlul Bayt deviate from Truth l l They are the pillars in support of Islam, and the haven to reside in. With them the Right has returned to its headquarters, and because of them the tongue of Falsehood is rooted out. Ahlul Bayt understood the true spirit of Islam, attentively and painstakingly. They carried Islam's precepts into practice, not by heresy nor from narrators. Lo! The narrators of knowledge are many but those who truly understand it are only few.

In Sermon 97, page 143, Ali points to Ahlul Bayt: ﺍﻭﺍ ، ﺍﻭﺍ ﺍ ﻭﺍ ، ﻭ ﺩ ، ﻳﻭ ﻱ ﺩ ﻭﺍ ﺍﻭﺍ ، ﻻ ﻭ ﻭﺍ . ﻻ ﻭﺍ ﻭﺍ Lo! Ponder about the Prophet's family [Ahlul Bayt]. l. Cling to their direction and l. Follow in their footsteps, l. Since never will they mislead you, l. Nor will they lead you to malice. l. Do what they do, whither they sit so you do, and if they rise up, so rise up with them. l. Follow their example: Do not outsmart them since it would lead you astray; nor lag behind them, for surely it would be your ruin.

Ali Points to Ahlul Bayt Lo! Think about the Prophet's family and Ponder. l Cling to their direction and l Follow in their footsteps, l l Since they will never mislead you, Nor will they lead you astray. l Do what they do, whither they sit so you do, and if they rise up, so do rise up too. l Follow their example: l l Do not outsmart them for it would lead you astray; Nor lag behind them, for surely it would be your ruin.

In sermon 2, page 47 Ali Extols the Status of Ahlul Bayt ، ، ، ﻭ ، ﺍ ﻳﻩ ، ﺍ ﺍﻧﺎ ﺃ ﺍﺍ ﺍ [Ahlul Bayt] are: l. The Strongholds of the Heavenly matters, l. The Shelter for the Divine affairs, l. The Fountainheads of knowledge about Him [Allah], l. The Core for the Divine teachings, l. The Sanctuaries for Allah's books, and l. They are the Bastions of Allah's religion. l. With them Allah straightened the back of Islam and through them He removed the trembling of its limbs.

Ali Extols the Status of Ahlul Bayt Ali describes Ahlul Bayt as: l The strongholds of the Heavenly matters, l The Shelter for the Divine affairs, l The Fountainheads of knowledge about Allah, l The Core for the Divine teachings, l The Sanctuaries for Allah's books, and l They are the Bastions of Allah's religion. l With them Allah straightened the back of Islam and through them He removed the trembling of its limbs.

Shedding light on the character of Ahlul Bayt In sermon 87, page 120 ﻭ؟ ! ﻭﻯﻭ ، ﺍﻻ ﻻ ﺍ ، ﺍﻻﺍ ﺍ ﺍ ؟ ، ﺍﺍ ﻭ ﻭ ؟ ، ﺍ ! ﺍﻟ ، ﻓﻭ ﺍ ﺍﻟآ ﻭ ﻭ ﺍﻳ ﺍﺍ l. So, whither can you veer or be astray, and how can you fumble While: l. Ensigns of guidance are standing, l indications of virtue are clear, and l the Beacons of light are there. So how can you go astray while among you are the descendants of the Prophet? l. Ahlul Bayt are: l. The reins of Right, l. The ensigns of Faith, and l. The tongue of Truth. l. So, accord to them loftiness as you accord to the Quran. And for guidance hasten to them to quench your thirst, just as the thirsty creatures hasten to the water spring.

Ali sheds light on the character of Ahlul Bayt l Ali questions: “How can you fumble when Ahlul Bayt are among you? !” While: l l l So how can you go astray while among you are the descendants of the Prophet? Then he refers to Ahlul Bayt as: l l The signs of guidance are obvious, Indications of virtue are clear, and The Beacons of light are there. The fountain of Right, The headspring of Faith, and The tongues of Truth. So, accord to them reverence as you accord to the Quran, and for guidance hasten to them to quench your thirst, just as the thirsty creatures hasten to the water spring.

Ali About Love of and Spite for Ahlul Bayt: In sermon 109, page 162 ، ﺍﻟ We [Ahlul Bayt] are: l. The lineage of Prophethood, ، ﺍﻟ ﺍ l. The distinguished place of the ، ﺍﻻ Heavenly Message, l. The descending place of angels, ، ﺍ ﺍ l. The mines of knowledge, and ، ﺍﻳ ﺍ l. The fountainheads of wisdom. ، ﺍﻧﺎ ﺍ ﺍﻟ l. Our supporters and devotees anticipate Divine mercy; . ﻧﺎ ﺍ ﺍﻟ l. Our opponents who malign us anticipate Divine wrath.

Comments about the Previous Slide l l l Ahlul Bayt as the Fountainhead of Wisdom and the Mines of Knowledge: Of the many attributes Ali ascribes to Ahlul Bayt, these stand out. Ali says Ahlul Bayt are the fountainheads of wisdom, who: l learned it in the family, and were endowed with it by the Divine endorsement. Men are to seek them for their spiritual guidance and counsel.

In sermon 100, page 146 Ali Sheds a Simile About Ahlul Bayt: ﻻ آ ﺩ )ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭآﻠﻪ ،( ﻭﺳﻠﻢ : ﻭ ﺍﻟ ﻣ ، ﺍﻯ ، ﺍ ﺍﻟﻠ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﺍ . ﺍﻡ ﺍ ﻭ Lo! The similitude of the descendant (Aali) of Muhammad is like that of the stars in heaven. When one star sets another will rise. Thus the Merciful Lord has completed His blessings amongst you. And the Almighty has shown you that which you wish for.

Ali About the Lofty Status of Ahlul Bayt: In sermon 154, page 215 ، ﻭ ﺍﻟ ﻣ ، ﻳ ﺍ ﺍآ . ﻭﺍ ﻭﺍ ، ﻭﺍ ﻭﺍ . ﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍﻻ ، ، ﺍ . ﺍ ﻟ ، ؟! ﺍ ﻯ ﻳ : ﻭ ، ﺍﺍ ﺍ ، ﺍﻟﺍ ﺍ ﺍﺍ ﺑﺎ ، ﺍﺍ ﻡ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻯ ﻏ ﻳﻖ ﻻ ﻳ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍﺍ ﻻ ﺩ ﺍ ! ﺍ ﺍ؟ : ﺍ ، ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻯ ﺍﻟ ﻳ ﺍﺍ The grace of the Holy Quran is about them, [by virtue of Ahlul‑Bayt’s deeds]. They are the treasure-houses of the Merciful Lord. When Ahlul Bayt speak they speak the Truth. If silent, then prudence was indicated. l. As the prototype Ahlul Bayt report the truthful and the correct, so believe them. l. They use their wisdom for man's wellbeing, so trust them. l. They think more of the everlasting life [so learn from them], and l. They teach people to pay heed to the hereafter; because man came from the origin and would go back to it.

Comments about the Previous Slide Virtue of Ahlul Bayt: l l l Ali implies that for Ahlul Bayt’s deeds, for their virtue, and for their piety, Allah honors them in the Quran. As such, Ali urges the society to reflect about them, not only then but through the ages. For Ahlul Bayt would always utter the Truth, offer the spiritual best, and lead man toward his salvation. The teachings of the Prophet are passed down in its pristine manner through them. In effect, Ali says to believe in them, trust them, and follow their example. Once more, how did Ali know Ahlul Bayt were going to be of this exceptional character and of this lofty status, after all, most of them were not even born as of yet. The answer is, by virtue of Ali's accuracy to the letter, what he had said must have come through the Prophet (pbuh) [by way of Jubra'eel].

The Golden Chain of Narration l Thousands of Hadiths were narrated and quoted by Ahlul Bayt l Each Imam said: "My Hadith is the Hadith of my father, and his is the Hadith of his father, up to Ali, who directly narrated the Hadith from Prophet Muhammad " This is the Golden Chain of Narration. ﺍﻟﺴﻠﺴﻪ ﺍﻟﺬﻫﺒﻴﻪ l These Hadiths were of immense importance, since they corrected the inaccuracies and set right the corruption that crept into this science.

Ali Challenges on Behalf of Ahlul Bayt: In sermon 144, page 201 ، ﺑ ﻳ ﺍ ، ﺍﻳ ﻭﺍ ﺍﻟ ﺍﻭ ﻱ ﺍ ﻭﺍ ﻳﺶ ﻭﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍﻟﻠ ، ﺍﺍ . ﺍ ﺍﻻ. ﺍ ﻯ ﺍﻯ ، ﻱ ﻫﺍ ﺍ ﺍﻡ ، ﻻ ﻯ ﺍ . ﻻ ﺍﻻ ﻫ Where are those who falsely claim that they are deeply versed in knowledge, as compared to us. In so saying it is an affront. Lo! l. While Allah has ennobled us in prominence, He made them inferior. l. And while Allah has privileged us with His bounty, He deprived them of that bounty. l. And while Allah welcomed us in the fortress of knowledge, He kept them out. Lo! With us [Ahlul Bayt] guidance is to be sought as a gift; and through us blindness of ignorance is exchanged for Light. Surely the Imams are from Quraish. The Imamah have been planted in this lineage through the clan of Hashim. Thus the Imamah does not suit others nor would others be suitable for it.

Comments about the Previous Slide l Ali says about Ahlul Bayt: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. None of the Ummah can measure up to the Prophet's progeny [Ahlul Bayt], nor considered equivalent to them. One who is under their domain cannot be a match to his superior. For there can be no parallel between the distributor of bounties and the ones who receive them, ever. Ahlul Bayt are the castle of Islam and the pillars of faith. Both the best of men or the ordinary man will approach them for guidance. What belongs to Ahlul Bayt is the right of Wilaayah [Imamah and Khilaafah] and in their favor exist the privilege of the Legacy and Will of the Prophet. The Khilaafah has now come back to its rightful place and has reached the position assigned to it by the Divine.

Ali Speaks of the Authority of the Imams: Part of sermon 152, page 212, ، ﺍ ﻯ ﺍ ، ﺍ ﺍﻻ ﺍ ﺍﻟﻠ ﻯ ، ﻻ ﺍ ﻻ ﻭ . ﻻ ﺍﻟ ﺍ ﻻ ﻣ ﻭ ، ﺍﻟﻠ ﺍﻻ ﻻ ، ﺍ ، ﺫ ﻻ ﺍ ﻻﺓ ، ﺍ ﺍﺓ ، ﺍﻯ ﺍﻟﻠ ﺍﻯ ، Certainly the Imams are the sovereign of Allah over His creatures, and they are the ones to enlighten and inform about the Almighty. l. By virtue of this knowledge, no one will enter the Heavenly Bliss except he who comprehends their teachings about Him, glory be to Him. l. And no one will enter Hellfire except he who denies their Islamic teachings, thus denies the Almighty. l. Allah the glorified has distinguished you [O People!] with Islam and has chosen you for it. Islam indicates [to mankind] and honors the [deserving]. Allah chose Islam’s way and disclosed its pleas through open knowledge and undisclosed maxims.

Comments about the Previous Slide l l l Imam Ali draws a pen‑picture of the mind on behalf of Ahlul Bayt. He says that after the Prophet (pbuh), Ahlul Bayt are the source for knowledge about Islam in all its dimensions. Ali urges people to pay homage to Ahlul Bayt, and He implores people to learn from them. It was to be 329 years from the Hijrah, throughout twelve generations, that Ahlul Bayt: 1. Unfailingly continued to educate the people about Islam. 2. They taught Islam sincerely, correctly, with heeding Allah in every move or thought. 3. They did that despite the hurdles and the frightful barriers put in their way by politics of the time. Ali says the lights of truth and wisdom became evident and mankind could come out of the darkness of heathenism and decadence

Finally let us Read Al-Asr Together

Be in Allah’s Care Thank you and May God Bless you. Dr. A. S. Hashim