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Commemorating the Death of Imam Ali (AS)
The night of 19 Ramadhan 40 A.H. marked the beginning of one of the greatest losses to humanity. A man who had given everything to others, who had been oppressed but never thought of revenge, who forgave his enemies, who helped the weak and fathered the orphans was preparing to meet his Lord. On this night, a wicked and impure man was going to besmear his hands with the blood of the Commander of the Faithful so that it might serve as a dowry for a wicked and impure woman.
It was a terrible night. The Imam (AS) was awake. He remembered his childhood which was spent under the shade of the Holy Prophet, the night of Migration when he slept on the bed of the Prophet, the battles in which he defended the Prophet, the times when the Prophet embraced him declaring: "This is my brother." He remembered the night when the Prophet came to his house while he was asleep. Fatima (AS) wanted to awaken him but the Prophet said: "Let him sleep because after me, he will be deprived of sleep for a long time."
When it was dawn, Imam Ali (AS) proceeded to the mosque slowly. He stopped at the gate for a short while and looked at the mourning ducks. Imam arrived at the mosque and prostrated himself before Almighty Allah (SWT). At that time, ibne Muljim (May the curse of Allah and all his creatures befall him) dealt such a blow on his head, everything in this world became heartbroken except the face of Ali who cried out: "By the Lord of the Kabah, I have been successful!" People started attacking ibne Muljim and captured him. When he was brought in front of the Commander of the Faithful, he said: "Give him good food and a soft bed."
The Imam recommended to all his children and close ones to be kind to neighbours, care for the needy, to have good relations amongst themselves, to observe simplicity and justice at all times.
On the 21st of Ramadhan 40 A.H. a great man departed from this world. The Commander of the faithful received a wound on his head. The best physicians of Kufa were called for the treatment of the Imam but the blow was too deep. In his last moments, his lips parted into a prayer of thanksgiving: "O Lord! I thank thee for rewarding me with martyrdom." Then he expressed orders that his murderer should not be tortured before his execution, his body should not be mutilated, his family should not be be made to suffer on account of his crime. Imam Ali’s justice was always tempered with mercy even to his worst enemies.
Recommendations were made to his sons Hassan and Hussain (AS). He entrusted all his children to the care of Imam Hassan (AS) except for Abbas, who was crying. Imam Ali (AS) asked him to come near, gave his hand into the hand of Hussain and said: "Hussain, this child is in your care, he will represent me on the day of the Supreme Sacrifice."
Imam recommended to all to do good to the needy and helpless. He breathed his last on the night of the 21st Ramadhan 40 A.H . When the Two imams were returning after the burial of the Commander of the Faithful, they heard someone crying. As they approached, they saw a diseased old man, sitting in a corner and crying. Upon their asking, he replied: "There was a man who used to visit me every day, used to put me to sleep on his lap, used to feed me with his own hands, it has been 3 days he has not come.." Even after his martyrdom, his deeds and words are alive. They are a beacon of light in the path of guidance for making our lives illuminated.
Let Us Prepare For Laylatul Qadr
The Night with Power to change the Destiny
Is there a need to prepare for Lailatul Qadr?
In order to answer this, let us define what the word PREPARE means? Simply put, it means to make ready or fit, to bring into a suitable state, to make one ready.
"Preparing for Lailatul Qadr " means making ourselves ready to take full benefit of the Night.
It is important that we first understand the significance of LAYLATUL QADR in order that we know what sort of 'ingredients' are required for our preparation to reach the Ultimate Goal which is earning the pleasure of Allah (swt).
What is Laylatul Qadr?
You are all aware of its importance so I will just briefly re-run through it
In surah AL Qadr Allah (swt) clearly states: "Surely We revealed it (the Holy Qur'an) on the grand night. And what will make you comprehend what the grand night.
- The grand night is better than a thousand months.
- The angels and Gabriel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair,
- Peace! It is till the break of the morning." (97:1-5)
Allah (swt) is inviting all the believers for a Divine feast; the invitation which has been brought by the messengers. Allah (swt) is the host, his most favourite angels are the servants and the believers are the guests. The table is spread with Divine blessings containing all sorts of rewards and favours. Though the eyes cannot see them nor the ears hear them nor the human hearts imagine them, yet the bounties are all kept in readiness to be awarded to the guests in accordance to their actions.
Lailatul-Qadr is a blessed night because the Almighty brings down during it goodness, bliss, and forgiveness for His servants. It is a feast which has come with a message that shows one the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds. Laylatul Qadr is a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and prayers.
Ahadith indicate that the fate of every believer for the coming year is decreed on this night.
When our Prophet (saw) was asked how man could enjoy the favours and good grace of proximity to, and mercy of, Allah (swt) he quoted Nabi Musa 's (as) conversation with Allah swt:
"Oh My God, I seek proximity to You; He (Allah) said: Proximity to Me is for him who stays awake on Laylatul Qadr.
"Oh My God, I am in need of Your Mercy; He said: My Mercy is for him who shows mercy to the poor on Laylatul Qadr.
"Oh My God, I am in need of the passport to cross the bridge; He said: that is for him who give alms on Laylatul Qadr.
"Oh My God, I am in need of the trees in Paradise and their fruits; He said: that is for him who seeks forgiveness on Laylatul Qadr.
"Oh My God, I seek deliverance from fire; He said: that is for him who remembers Me on Laylatul Qadr.
"Oh My God, I seek Your good pleasure; He said: that is for him who says a two rakat prescribed prayers on Laylatul Qadr.
What do we therefore have to remind ourselves about Laylatul Qadr?
That it is:- A unique once in a year opportunity to do a life times worth of activity.
- Full of long lasting blessings
- The night of unsurpassed grandeur when the absolute Grand God revealed the Grand Qur'an through the Grand Wahy - Jibraeel into the heart of the Grand Holy Prophet (saw)
- A once in a year occasion for influencing our future destiny - "QADR" - taqdeer. The Masumeen have explained to us that god in his infinite wisdom had planned the system of the universe in such a way that every persons destiny will be determined on a yearly basis in the angelic spheres through the agency of the Imam of the Age, (who is the leader and focus of the whole spiritual world). This gives MANKIND a unique opportunity to influence his own future (gains, loss/health/sickness, richness/poverty/ etc by performing certain acts, e.g. dua salat, sadaqah, jihad, acquiring knowledge, Quran recitation etc.
- The night when the whole multitude of angels and the great spirit (ruh) descend on earth, greeting and praying for the believers and conveying messages to the Imam of Age.
Do we than still need to PREPARE OURSELVES FOR LAYLATUL QADR after knowing its significance?
Yes, Let us imagine for a moment that we are invited for a special feast by the president of our country, who also tells us in advance that he is going to reward us with magnificent gifts as per the way we present and behave ourselves during the feast - What would we do ?
After the initial euphoria, we would leave no stone unturned to present themselves in the best possible manner. Preparations of what to wear, how to get there, what will I speak with the president, If I have to go through his secretary what will I say to him, what sort of gifts will I take with me, what sort of conversation will I have with him, all this and more will be thought about, rehearsed and re-rehearsed. Correct me if I am wrong!! All this 'tension' in honour of an invitation from the President of a country.
Lailatul Qadr is an invitation from the President of all Presidents, The Supreme One. Do we need to make preparations for this Night?
Undoubtedly, we must start our preparations way ahead of time, after all going by human fitra, there is more than profit that can be got from this feast of Lailatul Qadr unless out of sheer carelessness we end up amongst those negligent and idle ones, who do not achieve anything except tiredness, loss and eternal doom, who will gain nothing except regret and cry out aloud on the day of Reckoning: "Ah! Woe upon me! In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah."
What sort of Pre-preparations are needed before the advent of this Grand Qadr?
Jibrael was asked; "What has the Almighty Allah done on this night with the wishes of the believers among the nation of Muhammad (pbuh)?"
He answered, "The Almighty Allah has looked upon them on this Night and forgiven them, all of them, except the following:
"One who is addicted to drinking, One who severs his ties with his kin, and One who is a trouble-maker."
We have been advised to beseech Allah (swt) during the whole year before the arrival of the Night of Power to keep us alive for this night,
- To bestow upon us the tawfiq to remain vigilant during this night and pray for blessings and forgiveness.
- To bless us that we are able to do the best of deeds on this Night
- To comprehend fully the importance of this Night which is superior to one thousand months.
- To pray that we can become one of the favourites of Allah (swt) and be blessed with His love, learning, nearness, union, pleasure, together with health, happiness, and welfare;
- To yearn and act so that Allah (swt) be so pleased with us in such a manner, that after this Night He would never be displeased us again.
- To pray that our Aimma a.s. esp. the Imam-ul-Asr be pleased with us & intercede on our behalf.
Source: www.dartabligh.org
The Martyrdom Of The Faithful: Imam Ali(A.S.)
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