لطفا منتظر باشید ...
A glance over history
If you lend ear to the history of the world you will
hear the news of a great event the like of which has not
happened even after a passage of more than ten centuries.
If you reflect carefully about the various happenings
in the world you will be fascinated by a grand personality
before whose high thinking everything appears to be trivial.
The world and its life, and the children, the kinsmen,
wealth and rulership do not enjoy any importance in
his eyes.
This personality is too great to be placed in the row
of ordinary people and his insight is so keen that it
resembles the reasoning of common people only in name.
If you hear with the ears of your heart, history will
narrate to you that story of the martyrs in the path of
truth and justice with whose blood the border of the sky
is covered. If you look at the horizon you will observe
two kinds of redness; one the natural redness and the
other that of the blood of the martyrs in the path of truth
and justice.
Have a look at the history of the East and find out
that great power of comprehension and understanding
which is the centre of every circle of high thinking, and
the origin of every true reasoning and logic. Every modern
research and new idea about the life of this world and the
Hereafter is related to him. The opinions which may have
come to your notice with regard to human system and
laws, principles of civilization and rules of morality has
originated from this spring. These rules and principles
are based on the mutual relations, co-operation and partner
ship of humanity. Which reflective power1 has invented
a new policy and a new method in philosophy and placed
it at the disposal of the people who have passed it on to
the posterity? Everyone has benefited from it according
to his understanding, but none has so far reached its real
philosophy and its depth. It is necessary that other brains
and intellects should make new discoveries from what
he has said.
Who is that enlightened person who himself is
involved in suffering and pains but others are blessed
and happy because of him? He who has prepared and
continues to prepare the path for his friends as well
as enemies! A scholar who is prepared whole-heartedly
to explain things for others after discussing the cause
and effect of everything!
Who is that subtle scholar who has pondered over
everything and there is nothing about which he is not
well-informed? So much so that he knows even those
things which the people have not done but have only
thought about them. He possesses such a powerful intellect
that the knowledge which appeared in the East after him is
also associated with him; in fact it is he who is the
foundation and the fountain-head of all such sciences.
Have you ever observed so perfect an intellect as
should. have recognized the greatest reality? And that
reality is the basis for social relations, the cause for
everyone pursuing his own particular path. It tells why
one group follows the right path and the other wrong path.
This reality which was understood by Ali thirteen
hundred years ago has been made the new subject of
discussion by the scholars of the East and the West. By
this I mean the need for the necessities of life, to acquire
which the people are following different paths. One group
has transgressed its limits. It has ignored the rules of
justice and is endeavouring to mislead the people. In order
to achieve their nefarious ends deception is being practised
and illogical things are being spread by the capitalists to
accumulate wealth, by government officers to get things
done gratis and to keep the masses under control and by
the innovators to collect obedient followers.
Do you recognize that great sage who established
more than a thousand years ago a reality which superseded
thousands of superstitions and extravagant ideas and
said: "If a person starves it is due to the fact that his
share has been taken by another" and added: "I have
not seen any excessive bounty which is not associated
with a right which has been violated".
As regards hoarding he wrote to one of his governors:
"Prohibit the people from hoarding, because it is some
thing which entails loss to the public and brings bad
name to the rulers".
A great and enlightened person realized the real secret
of humanity more than a thousand years ago and concluded
that those persons who had no value in the eyes of the
kings and the rulers were endowed with virtues and good
morals, and every kind of oppression practised upon them
was considered by them (i.e. by the rulers) to be permissible.
The Italian sculptor Rapheal prepared an image of
the Virgin Mary in the shape of an Italian farmer woman
and made all good human qualities visible in it. Tolstoy,
Voltaire and Goethe also recommended and approved
with their mental labour and imagination the same thing
which had been indicated by Raphael in the image.
However, Ali clarified this concept centuries ago. He
campaigned against the aristocrats, the ruling class, the
profiteers and the selfish persons, opposed their wrong and
absurd way of thinking about the oppressed and said:
"By God! I shall realize the right of the oppressed person
from the oppressor and shall pull the oppressor to the
fountain-head of truth by putting a cavessor in his nose,
even though he may not like it".The things which he said about the people of his time
go to show that he had understood them very well. They
consisted on the one hand of the worthless aristocrats
and others who were holding high positions notwithstanding
their inefficiency, and on the other hand of persons who
were helpless and oppressed and who had no alternative
but to obey. He therefore, said briefly: "Your down
trodden are honourable and your powerful ones are base
and mean". 2
By these words he means that the subordinate people
cannot display their good morals and talents due to
their helplessness and oppression by the powerful class
and the persons holding high position keep their defects
hidden under their costly dress.
He told the people that truth and virtue are established
and eternal things which have always been and will remain
for ever. In the heart of his hearts every human being
believes in this, although different persons may interpret it
in different ways. Even the oldest nations have flourished
under the protection of this belief although they may not
have known it. They have inherited their views and beliefs
from their ancestors and adopted them because by doing
so they have been saved from the trouble of investigation
and research. Imitation has thus become their second nature.
The basis of all the beliefs and thoughts is this that
there is an absolute reality which should be the starting
point of all discussions and opinions.The qualities of his head and heart enabled Ali to
realize this fact and he believed whole-heartedly that
anything which is based on truth does not become shaky.
He was a perfect specimen of steadfastness and found
himself successful in the event of victory as well as defeat.
In the battlefield as well as in the arena of politics it
was immaterial for him to win or lose, because he knew
that the reality was with him and it was he himself who
was the standard for distinguishing between truth and
falsehood.
Throughout the history of the world it is not possible
to find a man with such a firm determination that he
should not waver in any circumstances and the flames
of revolt should not make him tremble. No other thing
can shake the faith of a man than this that the enemies
should be accusing him of worst offences and even
deviation and heresy. And nothing can make a man more
unsettled than the threat of death or attack on one's
faith which is worse than death. However, Ali did not
waver in any circumstances and nothing could make him
deviate from his path. He did not give up his efforts
for the enforcement of Islam and did not crave for wealth
or position as a reward for these efforts. His only reward
was the success of the faith.
Have you seen in the history of the world a magnani
mous person with a kind and loving heart encircled by
greedy, rebellious and revengeful, stone-hearted persons,
keen to exploit one another, but he may be inviting them
to peace and welfare and they may still be joining hands to
fight against him?
There are many sayings which people repeat verbally
or in writing and every person selects one of them according
to his nature to serve as his motto. However, have you seen
any other person who may be the embodiment of purity
and modesty in its true sense?
Amongst the great personalities of the world Ali was
foremost in the matter of love and sincerity.
Sincerity was his habit and nature, and his heart
and soul were imbued with it. He loved the people but
did not associate love with his own self. He kept his
promises. Sincerity was the essence of his being. By his
natural and profound intelligence he found out that
freedom is the most sacred thing. The entire world craves
for it and does not consider any other blessing to be equal
to it. 3
Only the free persons possess power of correct thinking
and good habits, and true love and pure sincerity are also
not possible without freedom. He, therefore, said: "The
worst brother is he with whom you have to observe
formalities". Hence, the best man is he who is not of this type.
Do you know any ruler who never ate his fill because
many persons amongst his subjects did not get sufficient
food to fill their bellies, or did not wear fine clothes
because many persons wore coarse dress, or did not
accumulate wealth because there were many poor and
needy persons?
Ali recommended to his children and friends to
follow in his footsteps. He declined to give as much as one
dinar to his brother, because he was not entitled to it. He
took severe action against his companions, subordinates,
and officials, if they took even a loaf of bread as bribe. He
warned a person against breach of trust in respect of public
property in these words: "I swear by God that if you
commit breach of trust in respect of public property I shall
take such severe action against you that you will become
poor, burdened and disgraced". And he addressed another
person in these eloquent words: "I have been given to
understand that you have swept the earth clean, have
appropriated whatever was under your feet and have
spared nothing. You should, therefore, send your account
to me".
He also admonished in these words a person who
became rich by taking bribes: "Fear God and return the
property of the people to them. If you do not do so and
God provides me hold over you I shall perform the duty
which I owe to God with regard to you and shall strike
you with the sword which has despatched to Hell every
one whom it has struck".
Have you ever heard about a monarch who used to
grind the grains with his own hands and prepared for
himself the bread, which could be broken only by pressing
it with the knee? He who mended his shoes himself? He
who did not accumulate any worldly wealth, because he
had no object in view except to help the afflicted and
the oppressed, so that he might realize their rights from
the oppressors and make them happy? He who never
cared for his food and never thought of sound sleep,
because some persons in his country had to starve.
He who uttered this eloquent sentence: "Should
I content myself with this that people call me 'Commander
of the Faithful' and I should not share the hardships of life
with them?"
If government and sovereignty do not serve the
purpose of establishing truth and eliminating falsehood
they are the worst things of the world in the eyes of Ali.
Which person out of those who are famous for their
justice is such that even if all the inhabitants of the world
combine against him it must be said that he is truthful
and all his opponents are false. It was Ali who possessed
this qualification, because his truthfulness and justice were
not acquired but inherent and from them others learnt
lessons. His laws were not formulated on account of the
exigencies of government and polities but government
and polities were based on those laws. He purposely did
not adopt a path which might lead him to rulership, but
adopted that which might enable him to make his place in
the pure hearts. Justice was a part of his soul and was
ingrained in his heart and it had combined other virtues
also with itself. It was not possible for him to deviate from
justice and from the demands of his nature. Justice was an
element which was entwined in his entire body and ran in
his Veins like blood.
Have you seen any brave man in the pages of history
who was oppossed by a group of self-seekers which also
included his kinsmen and then a battle took place, and
those persons were victorious and he was defeated, and
even then he dominated over them? It so happened in the
case of Ali and he dominated over them, because they
were devoid of human qualities and had risen in the
capacity of oppressors using the weapons of deceit, bribery,
covetousness and fraud, whereas he sacrificed all gains and
even his life in the path of human excellence, justice and
protection of the rights of others. It was for this reason
that the victory of his enemies was in fact their defeat and
his defeat was a great success for human virtues.
Have you come across a great warrior in the pages
of history who should love even his enemies and wish to
see them endowed with human qualities. Ali was such a
person. He was so kind to his enemies that he recommended
to his companions: "Do not take the initiative in fighting
with them. When they are defeated by the will of God do
not pursue or kill those who run away. Do not kill the
helpless and the wounded and do not molest the women''.
The army of the enemy consisting of eleven thousand
persons, who were keen to shed his blood blocked his
approach to water so that he might die of thirst. However,
when he regained control over water he said to them:
"We are quenching our thirst with water. The birds are
also availing of it. You too should come and carry away
water to meet your needs".
Imam Ali used to say: "If a person is killed while
performing jihad in the path of God his spiritual reward is
not more than one who can take revenge, but refrains from
doing so, because such a person is one of the angels of God''.
When a wicked person struck on his head and as a
result of it, he was departing from the world he said to his
companions: "In case you forgive him your action will be
nearer to piety and virtue''.
He was a great warrior, who had combined his valour
with kindness. He reproved only verbally the enemies,
who had gathered to oppose him, although he could curb
their power with his sword. Even when he went to
admonish them he was bare-headed and without any
armour whereas they were armed so heavily that their
faces could hardly be seen through their helmets and coats
of mail. Then he reminded them of old brotherhood and
friendship and wept much on account of their having
adopted the wrong path. However, even when he realized
that the advice was not having any effect on them and
they were bent upon shedding his blood he did not
commence fighting himself but delayed it till they themselves
started it. At that moment he drew his sword for
the sake of the oppressed and launched an attack which
scattered them like the particles of sand in the desert.
After the spiteful oppressors who openly displayed enmity
and rebellion were killed and he himself gained victory he
wept on their dead bodies, notwithstanding the fact that
they had met this fate on account of their selfishness and
worst greed.
Have you heard about any king who was well-
equipped with all means of sovereignty and wealth which
were not available to others, but he chose sufferings
and pains for himself? Of course, Ali made such a choice.
He was of noble descent but he said: "No dignity is greater
than humility and meekness''.
He said to some persons who loved him: "Whoever
loves me should prepare a robe of poverty for himself''.
A group of persons went to the extreme in the matter
of love for him. Thereupon he said: "Persons of two kinds
got involved in destruction in connection with me - the
friends who went to the extreme, and the spiteful enemies''.
Ali severely punished a group which considered him
to be their deity. He advised like brothers a group of
persons who were inclined favourably towards him. Some
persons abused him. His adherents did not tolerate this and
abused those people in reply. Thereupon he said: "I do not
like that you who are my friends should become persons
who use abusive language''
Some people were inimical to him. They harmed and
slandered him and rose in opposition to him. In spite of
this he used to say: "Punish your brother with goodness
and improve his nature with prizes and honours''. Ali also
said: "Your brother is not more powerful than you in
breaking the bonds of love and friendship, provided that
you try to cement them, and is not quicker than you in
doing harm if you behave well with him''.
Some persons suggested to him to behave towards
the oppressors kindly and leniently so that his government
might be strengthened. He said in reply: "Your friend is
he who prevents you from doing evil, and your enemy
is he, who induces you to do evil''. He also said: "Adopt
truth even though it may be harmful to you and refrain
from telling lies even though you may derive benefit
from it''.
Ali had done good to a person. Once the same person
came to fight with him. Ali then said addressing himself:
"If a persoh is not thankful to you for your goodness
this should not mean that you should discontinue your
goodness''.
Once the blessings of the world were being discussed
in his presence. Ali said: "Out of the worldly blessings
good morals are sufficient blessings''.
When some persons suggested to him to use all
possible means like the kings to achieve victory Ali said:
"A person whose heart is overcome by sin is not a victor,
and he who dominates by means of bad deeds is actually
the vanquished person''.
Ali overlooked those bad deeds of his enemies of
which only he was aware and said repeatedly: "The best
habit of a manly person is that he should treat what he
sees to be unseen''.
If his enemies or the simpletons among his friends
said something which he did not like he used to say:
"If you hear something from someone and there is a
possibility of its being good do not be suspicious about it''.
Do you know any religious leader who has given
directions to his officials in these words: ''The people
are either your brethren-in-faith or equal to you in the
matter of creation. You should, therefore, overlook their
shortcomings in the same manner in which you wish
God to overlook yours''.
Do you know any king who may have forsaken his
kingdom to establish truth? And have you seen any wealthy
person who may have contented himself with only a loaf
of bread to sustain his life, and life in his eyes should mean
doing good to mankind and he should have told the world'
not to deceive him but someone else?
Amongst the monuments of the East have you read
Nahj al-Balaghah (The English version of the glorious book
has been published by Islamic Seminary) and seen how
eloquent and impressive its sentences are? It deals with
various matters and also provides information about the
other world. It is like the events of the world which cannot
be altered, and if even one word is removed from its place
the entire purport will undergo a change.
This book will continue to remain attractive so
long as man and his intellect and sentiments exist. Its
eloquence surpasses every other eloquence. It contains
all the attributes of the Arabic language which existed
at that time and were introduced later. Hence, it has been
said that it is lower than the word of God and higher
than that which has been said by God's creatures.
Great wisdom, knowledge of the highest standard,
unparalleled eloquence, perfect valour and unlimited love
and kindness were all combined in Ali. If a person possesses
even one of these attributes it is sufficient to dazzle others
and when they are combined in one person his greatness is
evidently beyond comprehension.
At times it so happened that this philosopher, man
of letters, scholar, administrator, ruler and commander
sequestered himself from the world, and did not have
any dealings with others. He then desired only to stimulate
human qualities and rouse the sentiments, and made these
nice and pure words, which are the proof of love and
intense feelings, reach the ear of the hearts gently:
"To lack friends is tantamount to poverty''.
"Do not express joy on the adversity of others''.
"Bring people nearer to you by means of gentleness
and munificence''.
"Forgive one who oppresses you''.
"Do not deprive of your munificence a person who
deprives you of his munificence''.
"Establish new relations with the person who cuts
off his relations with you''.
"Be friendly towards one, who is inimical towards
you''.
He was a great man, who surpassed the philosophers
of the world in high thinking, the righteous of the world
in beneficence, the scholars of the world in the matter
of vast knowledge, the researchers of the world in the
matter of deep insight, all the philanthropists as regards
love and kindness, all the pious persons in the matter of
abstemiousness, and all the reformers of the world in
the matter of reformatory views. He shared the sorrows
of the helpless and helped the oppressed in their distress.
He taught the literary persons of the world the art of
literature and trained the brave men in the methods of
warfare. He was always prepared to sacrifice his life
for the establishment of truth. He went higher than the
highest stage of human virtue and perfection. He displayed
these qualities equally in his words and actions. He was
so great that the domination of his enemies over him was
meaningless and their victory carried no importance,
because at that time everything had turned upside down.
The right hand was on the left side and the left hand was
on the right side. High and low, light and darkness, the
earth and the sky, had all assumed a reverse shape.
It makes no difference in the position of Ali whether
or not history recognizes him and whether his eminence
appears greater or lesser. Notwithstanding this, history has
testified that he was the deepest stage of human thought.
He sacrificed his life for the sake of truth and reality. He
was the father of the martyrs and the proclaimer of justice.
He was the unique man of the East, who will live for ever!1
In fact the knowledge of Ali should not be treated to be the outcome of reflection because it was derived from divine inspiration and was communicated to his heart through the prophet. The knowledge which was possessed by him or even a small part thereof cannot be acquired by reflection and reasoning however profound and extraordinary it may be.
2
Here the Commander of the Faithful has referred to the trouble which was created during the period of his caliphate and which did irreparable harm to the Muslim nation. Although these words do not carry the meaning inferred by the writer still it is an established fact and is evident from his other remarks.As a matter of fact the greatest object of the appointment of the prophets to their mission and the means of their success was this that they introduced freedom of the individual and freedom of thought as opposed to the policy of the tyrants like Nimrud and Pharaoh who controlled the lives and property of the people and kept their power of thinking paralysed.
3
Man loves freedom. In case, therefore, a person is put in a prison and all amenities of life are provided to him he will even then prefer freedom to the prison life. The prophets campaigned against the tyrants and succeeded, because they declared that man is entitled to possess control on his own activities and property whereas the despotic rulers deprived the people of this right and subjected them to all sorts of torture and tyranny.
