By Yusuf Abdullah
….Despite the lies, tales and increasing calumniations against Shiism, the result, to greatest surprise is in favor of the faith. The world witnesses how the blind critics are sponsored by the petrodollars in collaboration with their Western masters writing the baseless freely distributed versions across the glove. Most recent criticism apparently intended to undermine the Arba’een…
In the name of Allah Who states "Surely, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to turn men away from the way of Allah. They will surely continue to spend it; but then shall it become a source of regret for them, and then shall they be overcome. And the disbelievers shall be gathered unto Hell." Q8:37
May the everlasting peace and blessings of Allah be upon His noble servant, our master Muhammad and his pure progeny.
Despite the lies, tales and increasing calumniations against Shiism, the result, to greatest surprise is always in favor of the faith. The world witnesses how the blind critics are sponsored by the petrodollars in collaboration with their Western masters writing the baseless freely distributed versions across the glove. Most recent criticism apparently intended to undermine the Arba’een – the greatest human gathering on earth – was the BBC program on what it called women sexual exploitation in the name of Mut’a and related to the faith. The drive was specifically against Shi’ism and generally Islamophobic. Ideally, the station ought to seek religious perspective of temporary marriage from the Shi’ah religious authorities, not to ignorantly and deformably in the name of investigative journalism. The criticism was clearly intended to affect the forthcoming Arba’een not only in Iraq where the world converge to celebrate Imam Husain (AS), but the world at large. It was clearly meant among others to make Sunnis criticize the Shiites thereby widening the gap as the West has no concern for morals. However, among other questions we always ask are; what does future hold for Shi’ism? What impacts do the joint efforts of the media and other paid agents make against the spread and growth of Shi’ism? Of what significance are the conspiracies of the world arrogant and Wahhabism in an attempt to jeopardize the faith? What will transpire on the Shiite persecution in Bahrain, Yemen, and Nigeria among others? Inevitably, justice will finally prevail.
To do justice as Allah enjoins, why people do not read Shi’ah books to logically disprove their claims? If proof is the weapon of a believer, why are those opposed to Shiism afraid of reading their books or discussing with them on any topic of interest? Why is the geometric spread of Shiism amidst unending conspiracies? Is it due to ignorance or brain wash? Allah states “O you who believe! Stand out firmly For Allah, as witnesses To fair dealing, and let not The hatred of others To you make you swerve To wrong and depart from Justice. Be just: that is Next to piety: and fear Allah, For Allah is well – acquainted With all ye do” Q5:8
Shi’ism is no doubt the original Islam. We have established this times without number. In a prophetic tradition narrated by Ibn Athir who died in 606 AH, the Prophet (S) addressed Ali "O Ali! you and your Shi’ah will reach Allah being pleased with him and well pleasing Him, and your enemies will reach Him, being angry and will be seized by their necks. Then the Prophet demonstrated how this would be by putting his hand on his neck". In the narration of Ibn Abbas by Ibn Hajar who died in 974, the Prophet said to Imam Ali after the revelation of "Surely those who believe and do good deeds are the best of creation" Q98:7. Those are you and your Shi’ah. On the day of resurrection, you will be pleased and well pleasing (to Allah) and your enemies will come angry and will be seized by their necks. Then the Prophet demonstrated how this would be by putting his hand on his neck. (Ibn Hajar, Section 11, Chapter 1, Verse 11. In a prominent narration by Ibn Asakir who died in 571 AH, from Jabir Bn Abdullah who said: "Once we were with the Prophet Muhammad, when Ali arrived, upon which he said, I swear by Him Who has my life in His hand that surely this man and his Shi’ah will be happy on the day of resurrection" then the verse "Surely those who believe and do good deeds are the best of creation"Q98:7 was revealed. From then, whenever companion saw Ali coming, he would say, the best of creation has come. -Ibn Asakir, Volume, 2, page 442 and al-Suyuty, Volume, 6, page 589
It was narrated as recorded in Mustadrak and Kanzul Ummal; the Prophet said “whoever wishes to live and die like me, and to abide in the Garden of Eden after death should acknowledge Ali as his patron and follow Ahlul-bait after me, for they are my Ahlul-bait and they have been created out of the same clay, and were blessed with knowledge and understanding as myself. Woe unto those followers of mine who will deny their distinctions and who will disregard their relationship and affinity with me. My Allah never let them benefit from my intercession”. Did any of the companions compare to Ali in Badr, Uhud, Hunain and Khandaq among others? After the non-tactical retreat of the famous companions in Khaibar, the Prophet said “Tomorrow I will give my flag to a man who loves Allah and His messenger, and Allah and His messenger love him, ever going forward and never retreating, Allah had tested his heart with the faith”. On that very day, he handed over the flag to Imam Ali in whose hands Allah gave the victory. Virtually, the Imam categorically compared to none in knowledge, bravery, brevity, piety and other sterling qualities. But out of envy some fabricated a number of sayings linking same to the noble messenger and his purified progeny for promotions and demotions on selfish grounds. For example, why could not Imam Ali narrate more with his young age, exceptionally gifted talent and retentive memory? On the day of Ghadeer, the Prophet declared; “Do you witness that I have a prior right to and superior authority over all the faithful? They replied yes o messenger of Allah. There upon he said” Ali is the master of all those of whom I am master. O Allah! Love him who loves him and hate him who hates him, help him who helps him, forsake him who forsakes him, and turn justice with him wherever he turns.
Unfortunately, the dirty politics in the early history of Islam turned things upside down leading to stopping the great Prophet from writing for the Ummah his will. In Bukhari, Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet was in his last moment and many people had gathered in his house at that time. He said “I want write a will for you so that you will never go astray after me” Some people said “the prophet was affected by pain. We have the Qur’an with us; the book of Allah is sufficient for us” people gathered in the house started opposing one another on this point. When the noise increased, the Prophet ordered the people to leave him alone. The questions commonly asked; why was the Prophet not allowed to write his will? And what would he write if he were allowed? Could we relate the oft-related sayings of the Prophet on his pure progeny as the will? In relation to this, Abdullahi Ibn Abbas described deterring the messenger of Allah from writing his will as the greatest calamity that has befallen the Ummah. And no doubt, the perpetrators must pay expensively being the cause for the misguidance and confusion witnessed today.
Allah states “….if ye turn back (from the path), He will substitute in your stead Another people; then they would not be like you” Q47:37. Abu Hurairah narrated as recorded by Imam al-Tabari, the companions asked the messenger; with whom should we be substituted if we turn back? He touched the shoulder of Salman saying this and his people! Imam Jaafar al-Saadiq (as recorded in volume two of Bihar al-Anwar, pages 445 and 446) said “A great man of Qom will invite people towards truth and freedom, and they will accept his call resolutely and with an iron will gather round him. They are individuals who fear no calamities and unpleasant happenings and never tire of combat and endeavor. Their only hope and refuse is Allah. Ultimate victory and success belong to chaste and virtuous people and those who follow the way of Allah”
Glory be to Allah, the creator and disposer of all things. It is very clear today that it is the Shi’ah that practice the actual Islam which is neither approved nor accepted by the White House, in other words, the original Islam. It is the Shi’ah following the teachings of Imam Husain (AS) as revived by Imam Khomeini (QS) as individuals, or Islamic republic as a nation that are neither subservient to West nor East "O ye who believe! take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. And whoso among you take them for friends is indeed one of them. Verily, Allah guides not the unjust people" Q5:52. They are the actual people who practice the teachings of Islam and the ones to prosper in due course. The Arba’een is a harbinger of good news whose effect will be multifaceted, multidimensional and global. For those claiming absolute compliance with the teachings of Islam but apparently subservient to West persecuting the believers for Shiism, no doubt Allah will humiliate them for their tyranny “Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall we treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?" Q38:28
For the believers who persevere the persecution of tyrants for their faith strictly complying with the prophetic mission, success and salvation await them here and hereafter "We will give a pure and wholesome life to every one man or woman who acts righteously and has faith and we will reward them in accordance with the best of what they used to do" Q16:97
While wishing well for millions multinational pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala and other symbolic trekkers across the world, I call for the unconditional release of Sheikh el-Zakzaky (H) and his disciples.
Wassalamu alaikum.