Nahjul Balaaghah about Ahlul Bayt

1. Nahjul Balaaghahabout Ahlul Bayt By A.S. Hashim. MD

2. Supplicationبـســـم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the Name of God, Lord of Mercy and Lord of Grace

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

4. Ali Describes Ahlul Bayt • Ali describes Ahlul Bayt's forthcoming generations in a startling manner: • It describes: • 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

5. The 11 References • Nahjul Balaaghah contains 11 references on behalf of Ahlul Bayt. • The quotes appear in various sermons, • said at variable occasions and • 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, 1st Edition, Beirut 1967. • The Number of the sermons may differ by a factor of 1 in other volumes of Nahjul Balaaghah

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

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

8. In Sermon 95, page 140,Ali about Prophethood

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

10. In sermon 94, page 139,Ali eulogizes the Prophet

11. Comments about Muhammad’s Background • Allah brought forth Muhammad from: • A glorious origin, and • An honorable seed of: • The same lineage that brought forth other Prophets • Muhammad is the Supreme Leader of the God-fearing, and • 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.

12. In sermon #96, page 141,Ali continues to eulogize the Prophet

13. Ali speaks about the Status of Muhammad • Muhammad is of the highest station, and the noblest origin • Allah made: • The hearts of the virtuous incline towards him and • The eyes of those seeking Wisdom turn towards him.  • Through Muhammad, Allah buried mutual rancor • And 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 arrogance of disbelief. • Muhammad (pbuh) spoke with wisdom and even his silence was an indication of speech.

14. In Sermon 120, page 176,Ali refers to Ahlul Bayt, and describes his background

15. Ali Describes himself • By Allah, I have been taught the knowledge: • to convey the messages, • to fulfill the promises, and • to express with eloquence.   • Ahlul Bayt maintain the doors of wisdom and the authority to govern. • 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. • 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.

16. In Sermon 239, page 357,Who are Ahlul Bayt?

17. Ali Describes the Status of Ahlul Bayt Ahlul Bayt are not only the beacon of knowledge but the death keel to ignorance. • 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 • 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.

18. In Sermon 97, page 143,Ali points to Ahlul Bayt:

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

20. In sermon 2, page 47Ali Extols the Status of Ahlul Bayt

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

22. In sermon 87, page 120Shedding light on the character of Ahlul Bayt

23. Ali sheds light on the character of Ahlul Bayt • Ali questions: “How can you fumble when Ahlul Bayt are among you?!” While: • The signs of guidance are obvious, • Indications of virtue are clear, and • The Beacons of light are there. • So how can you go astray while among you are the descendants of the Prophet? • Then he refers to Ahlul Bayt as: • 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.

24.  In sermon 109, page 162Ali About Love of and Spite for Ahlul Bayt:

25. Comments about the Previous Slide • 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: • 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.

26. In sermon 100, page 146Ali Sheds a Simile About Ahlul Bayt:

27. In sermon 154, page 215Ali About the Lofty Status of Ahlul Bayt:

28. Comments about the Previous Slide Virtue of Ahlul Bayt:  • 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].

29. The Golden Chain of Narration • Thousands of Hadiths were narrated and quoted by Ahlul Bayt • 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 • These Hadiths were of immense importance, since they corrected the inaccuracies and set right the corruption that crept into this science.   

30. In sermon 144, page 201Ali Challenges on Behalf of Ahlul Bayt:

31. Comments about the Previous Slide • Ali says about Ahlul Bayt: • 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.

32. Part of sermon 152, page 212,Ali Speaks of the Authority of the Imams:

33. Comments about the Previous Slide • 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: • Unfailingly continued to educate the people about Islam. • They taught Islam sincerely, correctly, with heeding Allah in every move or thought. • 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

34. Finally let us Read Al-Asr Together

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