Imam Ali (a) knew ducks were crying for he was Hearing death

Imam Ali (a) knew ducks were crying for he was hearing death.

Once Imam Ali (a.s.) had asked the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.); “What is the best deed in the Holy month of Ramadhan?” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) answered: “The best deed during the month of Ramadhan is to keep away from evil deeds, which Allah has forbidden”.

After that he burst into tears. Imam Ali (a.s.) was quite shocked and asked him why: The holy prophet (s.a.w.w.) explained: “I am crying because I can see a terrible scene that will happen to you in this holy month. While in sajdah (prostration), the most criminal of criminals, will hit you on your head and your beard will be dyed red with your blood.”

The Imam (as) asked: “Shall I be on the right path?” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) answered; “Yes!”

It was nineteenth of Ramadhan when Imam Ali (a.s.), in the darkness of dawn, was leaving for Fajr prayers at Masjid-e-Kufa, the pet ducks made a lot of noise. They cackled loudly and got hold of his abaa (dress). The Holy Imam understood that they were crying for him as he was nearing death.

Reaching in the mosque, he recited the adhan (call to prayers). This was to wake up all those who were asleep and among them was Ibn Muljam who was hiding the poisonous sword while sleeping on his stomach.

As the Imam was leading the prayers, while in the 2nd sajdah, the killer got up and quickly removed the poisonous sword hitting the Imam on his head with a big blow and the Imam (a.s.) said in a loud voice: “I swear by the Lord of Ka’bah, I have been successful”. Gabriel shouted from the heavens: wallahi Tahaddamat Arkaanil Hodaa”.

 By: Ghassan Al-Awad

O Ibn Moljim! Your deed cannot be undone”

Sleep reigned over the Kufan town,

As from the mosque came a godly sound.

The call for prayer filled the sky,

Moving the air with a gentle sigh.

Awakening Muslims with a gentle prod,

“O people come, and pray to God.”

And in the silent mosque, Ali (AS) stood alone,

Gazing at every wall and stone.

He knew that these walls would be stained with blood,

Innocent, pious, saintly blood.

Today his blood would be shed,

These clean walls would be covered in red.

He was eager for martyrdom I am sure,

It was then he heard a tiny snore.

In a corner a sleeper lay,

Ali (AS) knew he had not come to pray.

Gently Ali (AS) awoke the man,

“Awake awake, O Ibn Moljim.

Come it is nearly time to pray,

Awake for the coming day.

I know your work, I know why you’ve come,

Remember your deed cannot be undone.”

Ibn Moljim, nothing did say,

Quickly he rose and walked away.

Ali (AS) prepared for prayer as the Muslims came,

Ready to pray in Allah’s Name.

“Allah-u-Akbar” his voice began,

Behind him stood Ibn Moljim.

“Allah-u-Akbar” Ali (AS) said again,

And knelt before God with the other men.

Suddenly Ibn Moljim moved forward to kill,

His sword with poison was definitely filled.

He raised his sword and struck it down,

Confusion was there all around.

Ali’s neck was covered with blood,

His head prostrated before his God.

Ibn Moljim quickly ran,

He was a scared and sinful man.

And Ali (AS) reeled back not crying out his pain,

His blood-drenched lips spoke in Allah’s name.

His heart felt happy, his mind so light,

He was finally ending his worldly life.

His sons held him in their arms,

As if to protect him from this physical harm.

His smiling lips parted and then he said,

“I thank Thee O Lord for a martyr’s death.”

Soon Ibn Moljim was brought before Ali (AS),

His state was terrible, Ali (AS) could see.

His bonds were cutting deep in his skin,

Causing the blood to spurt from within.

A frown creased Ali’s brow,

He ordered the bonds be loosened NOW.

The murderer into tears broke,

Ali (AS) smiled faintly and then he spoke.

“It is not too late to repent O Ibn Moljim,

Was I an unjust or cruel Imam?”

Then to his sons, Ali (AS) said,

“Give him a drink to relieve his head.”

But Ibn Moljim didn’t trust Ali,

He refused the drink quietly.

Ali (AS) then spoke, “O Ibn Moljim,

Why do you not trust your dying Imam?

If you had taken this juice of mine,

You’d be with me in Heaven divine.”

In two more days Ali (AS) died,

So “Think not of those slain in the way of Allah as dead, Nay, they are living, with the Lord they have provision.”
(Qur’an, 3:169)

 

By: Nayyar H. Zaidi
Poetess: Zainab Kazim (UK)

With Special Thanks to

Mrs. Shehnaz karim 

QUESTIONS PUT TO IMAM MOHAMMAD BAQAR.(A.S)

QUESTIONS PUT TO IMAM (A.S)

QUESTION 1: Tell me the razor blade which Adam used first to shave his head ; soon after Haj prayers in the Mina, as it was the part of haj ending ?
ANSWER : Imam (A.S) said the angel Jibraiel had brought a powder to Adam to shave his hairs.

QUESTION 2: Why the dead body is washed and bathed and why the dead body prayer is performed?
ANSWER: The dead body is to wash to make it clean. The pure and clean angels meet to him and ask, and the prayers is to ask pardon for him to Allah, he may be forgiven.
QUESTION 3: Why five Takbeers are called on the dead body prayer?
ANSWER: It is in return of five times daily prayer at a time.
QUESTION 4: Suppose a man found some eggs in a barren place cave how it should be tested and found whether those were lawful to eat or not?
ANSWER: Look at their shape making; if it is different in shape from head and tail it is lawful to eat. If it is equal in shape and size it is unlawful for eating.
QUESTION 5: Who alarmed and terrified his nation, but not from the mankind or jinn and angels?
ANSWER: She was an ant who alarmed her company from the arrival of Sulaiman’s army.

IMAM AL-BAQIR (A.S.) & THE HOLY QURAN

ON RECITATION OF THE HOLY QURAN

 

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said, “Imam al-Baqir (as) was the best recitor (of Quran) during his time. Whenever he (as) was engrossed in worship at night and recited the Holy Quran loudly, the passer-bys would stop (near the house) and get absorbed in his recitation”.

                                                                                (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

 

Imam al-Baqir (as) used to urge the people to recite the Holy Quran for it is the abundant source that guides people to righteousness, enlivens their hearts, and supplies them with abilities of light and awareness. He (as) has said, “The Apostle of Allah (saww) has said: ‘Whoever recites ten verses on a night is not written among the heedless. Whoever recites fifty verses is written among those who praise (Allah). Whoever recites a hundred verses is written among the obedient. Whoever recites two hundred verses is written among the humble. Whoever recites three hundred verses is written among the successful. Whoever recites five hundred verses is written among the strivers. Whoever recites a thousand verses, a hundred weight of gold is written for him”.

                                                                                         (Al-Bayaan)

 

 

Abu Baseer came to Imam al-Baqir (as) and said, “When I recite the Quran loudly, Shaytan comes to me and says: ‘You simply want to please your family and the people through recitation’.” Imam (as) said, “Recite the Quran in intermediate recitation. Let your family listen (to that). Read the Quran with a good voice. Indeed Allah likes recitation of the Quran with good voice”. (Al-Kaafi)

 

 

Maymoon Qadaah has reported that:

 

[Imam al-Baqir (as) once told me, “Recite the Quran”. I asked, “Where should I begin from?” Imam (as) answered, “From the ninth chapter”. As I began to search the chapter, Imam (as) said, “Recite Surah Yunus”. I started reciting this chapter and when I reached the verse that reads: ‘Those who are virtuous shall receive the best reward and an enhancement. Neither dust nor abasement shall overcast their faces..’ (10:26) Imam (as) said, “The Holy Prophet (saww) has said: ‘I am extremely surprised as to why I do not turn pale when I recite the Holy Quran’.”]

                                                                                     (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

 

Shaykh Ali Karimi states:

It should be noted that according to the present arrangement of Quran, Surah Yunus is the 10^th Chapter. However, if Surah al-Baqarah is considered as the first Surah of the Holy Quran (as stated by some scholars) or if Surah al-Tawbah (9^th Chapter) is considered as part of Surah al-Anfaal (8^th Chapter) (as some scholars strongly believe) then Surah Yunus shall be considered as the 9^th Chapter.     (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

 

HIS KNOWLEDGE OF QURAN

 

One of the titles of the fifth Imam of Ahlul-Bayt (as) is that of al-Baqir. Al-Baqir in Arabic has its roots from Baqr, which means ‘to split open’ or ‘to rip open’ or ‘to cut open’. Imam (as) was called al-Baqir because of his profound knowledge of everything including the Holy Quran, which he (as) had inherited from his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah and which, he (as) split open to impart to others.

 

Imam al-Baqir (as) himself has been quoted saying: “We have been taught the language of the birds and bestowed with knowledge of everything”.

                                                                          (Manaqib Aali Abi Talib)

 

Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari (r.a.) has narrated:

 

[The Holy Prophet (saww) had told me, “O Jabir! I hope you be alive till you meet a son from the progeny of my grandson al-Husayn whose name shall be Muhammad. He will split open the knowledge of religion and impart it to others. O Jabir! When you meet him, convey my salutation to him”.

 

Thereafter, I always searched for this young man. Finally, when I met him, I witnessed the attributes in him, which the Messenger of Allah had described to me. I conveyed the salutation of his grandfather to him and said, “O Baqir (Splitter)! You are the Baqir in truth. You are for certain the one who will split open the knowledge”.] (Ahsan al-Muqaal)

 

 

DO NOT INTERPRET QURAN WITH YOUR OPINION

 

Qutadah bin Da’amah visited Imam al-Baqir (as) and the following conversation ensued between them.

 

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Are you the scholar of the people of Basra?”

 

Qutadah: “This is what the people say”.

 

Imam (as): “Do you interpret the Quran with knowledge or with ignorance?”

 

Qutadah: “Ofcourse I interpret it with knowledge”.

 

Imam (as): “Alright then, if you are interpreting the Quran with knowledge, I will ask you a question”.

Qutadah: “Please do so”.

 

Imam (as): “Tell me what does Allah (SWT) mean in the following verse: ‘…And We had ordained the course through them: Travel through them in safety, night and day’.?”

 

Qutadah: “This refers to one who departs from his home with the intention of visiting the sacred mosque (Masjidul-Haraam). He gathers his provision for the journey and hires his transport all through Halaal means. Such a person is in safety until he returns to his family”.

 

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Take the oath of Allah and tell me. Do you know of any person who has departed from his home for the House of Allah and arranged for his provision and paid for his transportation all through Halaal means yet robbers attacked him, took away his possessions and physically injured him?”

 

Qutadah: “Yes! Indeed I know of such a person”.

 

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Woe unto you! (In such a case) if you are interpreting the Quran with your own opinion then you are misled and have misled the people. And if you are interpreting it from what you have heard from others, then again you are misled and have misled the people. Woe unto you O Qutadah! This verse refers to one who departs for the House of Allah after arranging his provisions and paying for his transportation from Halaal means and in addition, he is also cognizant about our rights (the rights of Ahlul-Bayt) then Allah (SWT) will most certainly incline his heart towards us, just as He (SWT) says: ‘So make the hearts of a part of the people fond of them…’ (14:37) By Allah! We are the answered prayer of Ibrahim (as). Whoever inclines his heart towards us, his Hajj shall be accepted otherwise not. O Qutadah! If one performs Hajj in this manner (as stated) then on the Day of Judgement he shall be safe and protected from the Hell-fire”.

 

When Qutadah heard this, he said, “By Allah! I will henceforth interpret the Quran as you have taught”. Thereupon, Imam al-Baqir (as) added, “O Qutadah…only he truly understands the Quran whom the Quran addresses”. (Rawdhat al-Kaafi)

 

AN INTERESTING INCIDENT

 

Hisham bin Abdul-Malik called Imam al-Baqir (as) to Shaam. When the Imam (as) arrived at the doorstep of Hisham’s palace, he (as) was made to wait outside while Hisham talked to his courtiers and the members of Umayyad clan saying, ‘When you see me stop after abusing him, I want each and everyone of you present here to abuse him’. Thereafter, Hisham allowed Imam (as) to enter.

 

Imam al-Baqir (as) entered the court of Hisham and after greeting everyone loudly at once; he (as) took a seat. Hisham was very disappointed that the Imam (as) neither took his permission to sit nor had he (as) addressed him as Khalifa, so he looked towards him and abused him. Hisham also accused Imam (as) saying, ‘O Muhammad son of Ali! Someone or the other from amongst you (Ahlul-Bayt) keeps disuniting the Muslims and inviting them towards him. And because of ignorance and insanity, he keeps considering himself as the Imam.’ After saying all that he wanted, Hisham fell quiet and as instructed, all those present began to verbally abuse the Imam (as). Finally, when everyone had spoken, Imam al-Baqir (as) said, “O people! Where are you heading to? And where are you being dragged to? It is through us that the Exalted Lord guided your predecessors and it will only be through us that people after you shall be guided. If in the present time you have the leadership then know that in future we shall be the leaders – and ours shall the final and exceptional leadership – because we are the outcome mentioned by Allah: ‘…And the outcome will be in favour of the Godwary’. (28:83)

 

Hisham imprisoned Imam al-Baqir (as). There was not a single prisoner who did not immensely benefit from Imam (as)’s knowledge. When Hisham was made aware of Imam (as)’s popularity in the prison and cautioned about its consequences, he ordered the Imam (as) to be returned to Madina. He also insisted that Imam (as) should be treated roughly and denied water and food during the journey. No one should entertain him in any way.

 

For three days, Imam (as) and those who had accompanied him were denied food and water. When they arrived at Madyan, the gates of the city were shut to disallow them an entry. The companions complained of extreme hunger and thirst. Thereupon, the Imam (as) climbed a nearby mountain and called out loudly, “O the unjust inhabitants of the city! I am BAQIYYATULLAH (what Allah has left behind for you as a clear proof). Allah, the Exalted says: ‘That which is left to you by Allah is better, should you be faithful, and I am not a keeper over you’. (11:86)

 

In the city of Madyan lived a very old man. When he heard this call, he said, “O people! By Allah! This call is of Shu’ayb – the Prophet of God. By Allah! If you do not respond to his call, Allah will punish you from the heavens and the earth…” Hearing this, the inhabitants rushed in aid of Imam al-Baqir (as) and his companions. Later on when Hisham was informed about what had transpired, he ordered the arrest of the old man and nobody knows what happened to him thereafter.] (Al-Kaafi)

By Mulla Mujaheedali Sheriff

 

 

 

 

Kindness towards Your Brother in Faith

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

 

Kindness towards Your Brother in Faith

One of Imam Baqir’s (PBUH) companions, Abi Obadiah, narrates:

I used to accompany Imam Baqir (PBUH) in journeys. During the journeys, I would always climb my mount first, and the Imam would climb his mount after I was seated (This act of Imam Baqir (PBUH) was out of utmost respect). 

Whenever our mounts were next to each other, he would converse with me and ask about my health in such a way that seemed as if he had just seen an old friend he had not seen for a long time, even though he had seen me just a few moments ago. 

I asked him: “O! Son of Prophet Muhammad, you act completely different from all others when you socialize with others.  Your kindness and amenity towards your companions and friends is quite different. Truly it would be appreciable if others did the same in their first contact with each other.”

Imam Baqir (PBUH) replied: “Do you not know the value of Musafihah (shaking hands kindly with friends and believers)? Every time believers do Musafihah, and squeeze the hand of a friend, their sins fall (are forgiven) similar to how the leaves of a tree fall.  And they are under Allah’s grace until they separate.”¹

In addition, many other sayings by the Imam have been recorded about kindness towards friends and brothers in faith:

“A prayer that is more likely to be answered, and more quickly to be granted, is a prayer for a brother in faith in his absence.”²

He also said: “A pious believer is the brother of a pious believer. One does not insult the other, does not refuse the other, and does not falsely suspect the other.”³

And he advised his companions: “Be lenient when talking to a hypocrite (Munafiq), love the believers with all your heart, and behave well even if you are sitting with a Jew.”⁴

And finally, he considered one of the most important duties of a believer helping his brother in faith financially.⁵

 

(Selected from: “The Political Life of Imam Baqir (PBUH)” by Ahmad Torabi, and “The Family of Infallibles” by Sayyid Taghi Dawoodi)