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Hajj, one of the five main pillars of Islam, has a message for the benefit and wellbeing of all people of the world, be they Muslim or not. It has a further mission towards all creatures, including animals, birds, plants, etc. It is an annual celebration that gathers millions of people, men and women, from different ages, languages, races, cultural backgrounds, colors, and nationalities in a wonderful unique peaceful scene. Though hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime on financially and physically capable Muslims, every single Muslim, man or woman, rich or poor, dreams to repeatedly offer it. Hearts are attached to visiting the Ka`bah and performing hajj rituals. This is in response to Prophet Ibrahim‟s call mentioned in the Qur‟an: {Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in an uncultivable valley near unto Your Holy House, our Lord! that they may establish proper worship; so fill the hearts of some among men with love toward them, and provide them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.} (Ibrahim 14: 37)

M o n t h o f h a j j

Eid-ul-Adha Sunday October 5th Salaat-ul-Eid at Hussainia@ 8:30 am

Jashan E Ghadeer Milad

at Hussainia Speaker:

Moulana Syed Shamshad Haider

For Further Information :

Tele Message: (403) 235-1212 OR

visit: www.hussainicalgary.com

Suggestions: webenquiries@hussainicalgary.com

M e s s a g e f r o m p r e s i d e n tM e s s a g e f r o m p r e s i d e n tM e s s a g e f r o m p r e s i d e n t

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In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Salaam-un-Alykum Dear Momineen & Mominaat, With the arrival of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah; The month of blessings in which every Muslim wishes to perform Hajj in the way of Allah (swt) and only few are chosen for pilgrimage in the way of Almighty Allah. We congratulate those who have taken this spiritual journey this year. Hajj is the best opportunity for removing any differences among Muslims and harmonizing the intentions and wills in the Islamic world. The HAC Executives & Trustee wish you all Eid-ul-Adha Mubarak! A beautiful ritual of Eid Day consisted of our elders forgiving all those who they were upset with and greet them with open arms and wide smile before or after Eid prayers. Let us continue forgiving and loving each other in this great month of blessings. We ask Almighty Allah in this month of wilayat of Imam Ali (a) and Mubahila to give us tawfeeq to stay on the path of Haq and to be the followers of Imam (atfs) of Present times. Riyaz Khawaja President

Al-Hujjat (atfs) Vol.2 - Issue No 12- Dhu al-Hijjah-1435 / September-October 2014

In t h i s i s sue :

Eid-e-Ghadeer 2-3

The Tenth Imam, ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad (Al-Naqi) [a]

4-5

The Marriage of Imam Alii (a) and Lady Fatima (a) &

Nahj-ul Balagha Sermon 80

6-7

Spiritual Philosophy of Hajj 7-9

Significance of Eid-e-Mubahila

10-11

Hazrat Muslim bin Aqeel (a) 12

Picture Gallery 12-13

Advertisements 13-14

Prayer Timings 15

Ayat of the Month 16

Event at a glan c e

Significance of Eid-e-Ghadeer The 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah marks the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Ghadeer. This is the day of nomination of Imam Ali (a.s.) as the successor to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and commander of the faithfuls and the first Imam. This is also the day when the famous Ayat "Al-yaoma akmalto lakum dinakum wa atmamto alaikum naimatee" [Today we completed the DEEN for you and finalized the NAIMAT for you] announcing the completion of the DEEN and the finalization of the NAIMAT (blessings) was sent. Historical perspective of Eid-e-Ghadeer Quran 005:067 “O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou wilt not have conveyed His message. Allah will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk." The Gathering of all the pilgrims The Messenger of Allah, The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) suddenly stopped and froze on hearing the above 'Ayah' from The Archangel Jibraeel (as). The holy Prophet looked at his cousin Ali (a.s) intently, who was riding next to him. He then quickly ordered the halt of the caravan in astonishment of all his companions and followers. To stop in such a place under the hot blazing midday sun, at such a desolate and arid place in the desert called Ghadeer Khumm. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) listened patiently and confronted their complaints and pestering for halting them in such an un welcomed place. But The Holy Prophet (pbuh) would only calmly say, with a smile, that he was commanded by Allah (swt) to address the multitude of travelers, here and now, and it is not for him to question Allah (swt) for His choice of the time or place! And what was he commanded to tell them by Allah (swt) they questioned impatiently. He would only say, that he was commanded to convey to them all, of what he had been revealed to him now. Before the masses begin dispersing in all directions in the desert to their individual homes and destination. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) then quickly commanded one of his trusted faithful and close companion Hazrat Bilaal(r.a.) to immediately cry out the Azaan so that the thousands of Muslim travellers could be gathered before him. Make Shift Pulpit The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), then quickly ordered the clearing of the desert's dry prickly plants from the hot sandy ground, for the masses to stand before him. Then he ordered for some camel saddles to be piled up, so as to make shift a pulpit, upon a small elevated sandy mound, for the people to see him. Then The Messenger of God (saw) awaited patiently sweating under the hot burning sun for the straddlers of people that were still behind and those that had gone further ahead to gather together, before him. As soon as the multitude were gather before him, the holy Apostle (saw) stood on up upon the make shift pulpit of camel saddles piled up on the small sandy mound before them, so that he was high enough to be seen by all the congregation before him. The massed crowd before him quickly quietened down, the sound of their questioning murmur soon died down, as soon as they saw their Prophet (saw) standing high before them. He then gestured to Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib (a.s.) and invited him to join him and stand on his right on the make shift Mimbar of piled camel saddles upon the small sandy mound. Each one of the masses of people was standing on his thin woollen cloak on the ground to protect their feet from the burning hot sands around them, which was baked by the blazing hot noon sun. They waited and watched in wonderment at the two before them, and again started to murmur to each other. Each providing their own explanation of what was to come. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) gestured with his hand and the murmur ceased and all the masses listened attentively as The Messenger of God (pbuh) slowly began his address. He started first by praising and to Glorify Allah Almighty (swt), The Creator of all the worlds and of the Heavens. He then proceeded to give them the sad news to their dismay of all the congregation, of his own nearing death saying, I have been summoned, and it is the moment for me to answer, for the time has come for me, to depart from you. However I do leave behind me, amongst you, two weighty and precious things. And, if you cleave to them, you will surely never go astray! The Holy Book of God and, my Offspring the Ahl-ul-Bait. For they will never be separated from each other until they have led you to me, at the sacred shores of Heaven The masses of people who had gathered before him, now wept openly in sorrow at news of his nearing death. But who would lead and guide them? Who would take his place? What would become of them? What would become of Islam without him?

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E i dE i dE i d --- eee --- G h a d e e rG h a d e e rG h a d e e r

The declaration of his Successor When they all had quickened down. The Prophet (pbuh) then called out at the top of his voice. "Am I not more appropriate to rule over you than yourselves?" The people replied in earnest, "By God. Yes you are!" The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) then continued by taking hold of both of Imam Ali (a.s.)'s arms and raised them high above his shoulders, so much so that Ali (a.s.)'s sleeves slipped down his arms and rested on his shoulders, exposing Ali's(as) naked white armpits. The Prophet (pbuh) went on to proclaimed that Ali (as) as his successor and the legitimate Khalifa of Allah (swt).

Allah is my master and I am your master and whosoever, I am master of, Then this man, Ali is his master as well. O God! Befriend him, who so ever befriends him. Oppose him, whosoever opposes him.

Support him, who so ever supports him. Desert him, whosoever deserts him. After the pledge of allegiance ceremony had been completed, the Prophet (pbuh) looked above to the sky and wept, then he raised a finger declaring in a loud clear voice for all to hear: As God is my Judge! Bear witness then for me, that today I have surely completed and fulfilled your religion for you, and have successfully conveyed, The Message, that has been bestowed upon me by Allah..... "Oh Muslims have I not!?" The Muslims all shouted repeatedly and replied in great earnest, " Yes You have, Oh, Messenger of God! Yes you have." The Oath of Allegiance The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) then immediately prayed two Rakats on the spot, so as to commemorate the historic occasion. And when he had finished his prayers, it was then time for the noon prayers and Hazrat Bilaal(r.a.) once again he cried the Azaan. After The Prophet (pbuh) finished leading the noon prayers. He then quickly called Imam Ali (a.s.) to follow him into the tent that was pitched earlier under a lone tree. The Prophet (pbuh) then sat Ali (as) down on one side and he himself sat opposite to him on the other side of the small tent. The Great Apostle of God (pbuh), then ordered all the Muslims and his Companions to each personally make an oath of allegiance to Imam Ali (a.s.) in his very presence. All the Muslims, did so as he asked and formed a long queue and each gave of them gave his solemn 'Oath of Allegiance' with The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), standing by Imam Ali (a.s.), and he accepted their congratulations, looking on as a personal witness to their testaments of the solemn occasion. As for the accompanying womenfolk, a large bowl of water was prepared in front of Imam Ali(a.s.). Then a small makeshift screen was erected in front of him and then Imam Ali(a.s.) passed his right hand under the screen and dipped his hand in the bowl, which lay immediately near the screen. Then the women were led in one by one, and each dipped her right hand in the bowl full of water in front of her and before the screen, and gave her 'Oath of Allegiance' to Imam Ali(a.s.) who sat behind the screen. Imam Ali (a.s.) is congratulated as the Caliph As soon as the last Muslim had given his pledge of Allegiance. The Prophet (pbuh) embraced Imam Ali (a.s.) warmly and congratulated him on his appointment as the, Khalifa Rasul Allah, meaning: The Vicegerent for the Messenger of God over all the Muslims after his death The joyous crowd surrounding them were moved greatly at the sacred sight before them. They then all shouted their approval and wept with sheer happiness. But there were some who harboured envy and ill feelings in their hearts towards Imam Ali (a.s.). While these persons gave their allegiance and openly congratulated Imam Ali (a.s.) and The Prophet on the appointment of Imam Ali(a.s.) as the Successor, these same persons would later deny this wonderful day and usurp the sacred Caliphate for themselves and cause the division of the whole Muslim nation! But as for today The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) proudly praises Imam Ali(a.s.) and named him officially as, Ameer-al-Momineen, Meaning / The Commander of the faithfuls This was the very first time ever, that this term was ever heard of and ever used in addressing any Muslim. Hence this honourable title only belongs to Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib(a.s.) and no one else! Following The Prophet's (pbuh) example, rest of his Companions followed suit amongst them most notably was, Hazrat Umar ibn-e-Khattab, who joyfully said to Imam Ali(a.s.) aloud, "Oh bravo, bravo Ali son of Abu Talib! You have now become my Master and the Master of every believing Man and Woman!" Then the poets began composing their poetry commemorating this happy and wonderful occasion of the history of Islam. The Holy Messenger of God(pbuh) who was accompanied by his son-in-law Imam Ali( a.s.) at his side, then commanded the huge masses of returning Pilgrims to begin their long travel north to their home city of Medina. Others bade their farewell to their Prophet (pbuh) and dispersed in small and large groups each in the direction of their homes.

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E i dE i dE i d --- eee --- G h a d e e r G h a d e e r G h a d e e r C o n t i n u e dC o n t i n u e dC o n t i n u e d

Born in Madina on 5th Rajab (15th Dhil‟Haj as per some riwayat) 214 Hijri ( 8.9.829 AD). Died in Samarrah, Iraq 3rd Rajab 254 Hijri (1.7.868) aged 40 years. Period of Imamate 34 years.

The period of Imamate of our 10th Imam coincided with the decline of the power of the Abbasid Empire. They were threatened by the Turks and had to move the Capital from Baghdad to Samarrah. He was only 6 years old when his father Imam Muhammad Taqi (as) was martyred in Baghdad when poisoned by Mu‟tasim Billah Abbasi.

Our Imam lived in Madina for the remaining 8 years of the reign of Mu‟tasim and 5 years of the reign of Wathiq Billah. It was when Mutawakkil became caliph in 236 Hijiri (847 AD) the Imam was called over to the Abbasid capital Baghdad. Mutawakkil, was the cruelest and deadly enemy of the Ahlul Bayt (as) , who tried to drown the Grave of Imam Husayn (as) in Karbala‟ by diverting the waters of the Euphrates River.

But by a miracle the river water encircled the grave and did not go over it in spite of the fact that the surrounding ground was higher. When the Caliph failed in his action of drowning the grave he ordered that the whole area should be turned into farmland but when horses failed to take the plough over the grave, he realized his folly.

Eventually he left the hallowed ground as it was but as long as he lived he forbade any pilgrimage to the Shrine of Imam Husayn (as) . History tells us that pilgrims to the grave of Sayyidush Shohada (as) did continue to go in spite of the danger to their lives. Indeed many were killed on their way to the Shrine but the enthusiasm to visit the grave never subsided.

It was during the reign of Mutawakkil that our 10th Imam was brought to the presence of the Caliph from Madina to Baghdad. Yakubi writes in his history of the time that once the raiding party of soldiers found the Imam on his prayer mat and took him away to the caliph in the same state. Mutawakkil was engaged in his nightly drinking and frolics and asked the Imam to join him. Imam declined replying, “A liquor such as that was never yet combined with my flesh and blood”.

The half-drunk caliph asked the Imam to read some poetry. Imam said that he did not indulge in such habits. But when the caliph insisted, the Imam recited the following lines (Ibn Khalikan narrated the story word for word).

“Protected by valiant warriors they passed the night on the summit of their mountains but these mountains did not protect them. After all their power and pomp they had to descend from their lofty fortresses to the custody of the tombs. O‟what a dreadful change their graves had hardly received them when a voice heard exclaiming, “Where are the thrones and the crowns and the robes of State?

Where are now the faces of the delicate, which were shaded by veils and protected by curtains. To this the tomb replied. The worms are now reveling upon these faces. Long were these men eating and drinking, but now they are eaten by the worms in their turn.”

Many wept listening to these words uttered by the Imam. Caliph left the Imam alone for a while, but still kept him under house arrest. In the end Mutawakkil died in the hands of his protectors, the Turkish guards, and his son Muntasir became the next caliph.

Mutawakkil died in 250 Hijiri and Muntasir Billah assumed the caliphate. He ruled only 6 months. On his death Musta‟een was enthroned. But soon he was also beheaded and succeeded by Mu‟ta‟z Billah. All this time our 10th Imam was either in Madina, or called by the Caliph to Samarrah where he spent the last days of his life under house arrest.

Hardships Suffered by the Imam During This Period

Caliph Mu‟tasim remained preoccupied with war against the Byzantines and also with the troubles created by the Abbasids tribesmen in Baghdad. But he did not harass the Imam who carried his responsibilities peacefully. After Mu‟tasim, Wathiq Billah too, treated the Imam fairly. But later when he was succeeded by his brother Mutawakkil, son of Mu‟tasim, the period of persecution and tortures began in full scale for the Imam and for all members of his family. This ruler exceeded all his predecessors in bearing animosity towards Ahlul Bayt.

Our 10th Imam‟s main occupation in Madina, whenever he was left in peace by the Caliphs in Baghdad, was to impart his knowledge to the people. He attracted pupils in large numbers from the provinces where adherents of Ahlul Bayt were strongest, namely Iraq, Persia and Egypt.

During the Eight years of the Caliphate of Mu‟tasim and throughout the period of Wathik we do not hear that the Imam was molested. One of the most famous traditions he is said to have related, that had been written in the Sahifa by the hand of „Ali Ibn Abi Talib (as) at the direction of the Apostle of God, and inherited by the Imams from generation to generation is related.

It was that the Prophet had defined faith (Iman) as contained in the hearts of men, and that their works (A‟amal) confirm it, whereas surrender (Islam) is what tongue expresses which validates the union. (Masudi,Muruj‟l Dhahab.V.vii p 382).

Although the person of the Imam was not touched by the tyrannical caliphs for a while, they were always suspicions about his activities. Masudi narrates one such occasion when our Imam was called by Mutawakkil who was not happy about the methods of teachings in the schools in Madina.

Mutawakkil asked the Imam a question. “What does a descendant of your father have to say in regard to Al-Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib?” Imam answered, “What would a descendant of my father say O‟Amir, in regard to a man whose sons required his people to obey, and who expected his sons to obey God.” Caliph was pleased with this reply and let the Imam go.”

And in the same connection Masudi quotes another incident, which Ibn Khalikan has incorporated in his description of our 10th Imam „Ali Al-Hadi (as) “Secret information had been given to Mutawakkil that the Imam had a quantity of arms, books and other objects for the use of his followers concealed in his house, and being induced by malicious reports he was led to believe that the Imam aspired to the Empire. Once Mutawakkil sent some soldiers of the Turkish guard to break in on him when he least expected such a visit. They found him quite alone, locked up in his room, clothed in a hair shirt, his head covered with a woolen cloak and his face in the direction of Makka. He was reciting Verses of the Qur‟an expressive of God‟s promises and threats, and having no other carpet between him and the earth than sand and gravel.

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T h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A lT h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A lT h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A l --- N a q i ) N a q i ) N a q i ) a . sa . sa . s

He was carried off in that attire, and brought in the depth of the night, before Mutawakkil. When the caliph asked his captors about the arms and ammunitions found they said, there was nothing in the house which presents a threat to the throne. The caliph was ashamed of his misdeeds and let the Imam go. During the Sixteen years of the Imamate, Imam „Ali Naqi (as) had become famous throughout the Islamic world. Those who loved to learn the teachings of Ahlul Bayt always flocked around him. In the 4th year of Mutawakkil‟s reign the Governor of Madina Abdallah ibn Hakim started harassing the Imam. He sent hostile reports against him to Baghdad. He wrote to the Caliph that the Imam was assembling lot of supporters here which could be a danger to the security of the State. Imam became aware of this animosity and in order to counteract, he wrote a letter to Mutawakkil explaining the personal enmity of the Governor of Madina against him. As a political step Mutawakkil was quick to dismiss the Governor. At the same time he sent a regiment under the command of Yahya ibn Harthama who explained to the Imam in a friendly way that the caliph wished him to stay in Baghdad for a while. He can then come back to Madina. The Imam knew well the motives behind this request. He realized that the polite invitation meant his banishment from his ancestral city. But to refuse to go was equally impossible for it would have resulted in forcible departure. Leaving the sacred city was painful to him as it had been for his respected forefathers, i.e. the Imam Husayn (as) in 60 Hijri, Imam Musa ibn Ja‟far in 170 Hijiri and Imam „Ali Al-Ridha‟ in 200 Hijri and also of his father Imam Muhammad Taqi in 220 Hijri. This type of harassment had almost become a heritage. Mutawakkil‟s letter was respectful to the Imam and the military detachment which was sent to escort the Imam was actually a deceitful show. So when the Imam reached Samarrah and the Caliph was informed, he neither arranged for any reception no for his stay. He was ordered to be accommodated in the wilderness of the city with beggars. Although the Ahlul Bayt as the descendants of the Prophet were gladly associated with the poor and the destitute, and they did not covet luxurious living, Mutawakkil meant to insult the Imam. The Caliph him over to the custody of his Secretary Razaqi and prohibited his meeting with others. It was almost a house arrest for the Imam. It has been seen during the imprisonment of Imam Musa ibn Ja‟far (as) that his moral charm had softened the cruel hearted guard‟s attitudes towards the Imam. In the same way Razaqi was also impressed by the greatness of the Imam „Ali Naqi (as) and began to provide for his comfort. This leniency could not remain hidden from Mutawakkil who transferred the Imam to the custody of Sa‟id, a cruel and ruthless man in whose imprisonment he spent twelve years. In spite of all the hardships he had to suffer there, the Imam passed his time in Ibadah. He prayed during the night and fasted during the day. Although confined within the four walls of the house in Samarrah, his fame spread rapidly throughout the Provinces of Iraq. Every household in the city of Samarrah seemed to know the whereabouts of the Imam and somehow they got knowledge of Islam and of Ahlul Bayt from him. Fadhl ibn Khaqan, a secret follower of Ahlul Bayt , had risen to the post of Minister in the cabinet of Mutawakkil solely by virtue of his intellectual and administrative merits. On his recommendation, Mutawakkil ordered that the Imam‟s imprisonment be changed to a house arrest. He granted him a piece of land and allowed him to build a house and live there. Sa‟id was directed to keep a close watch over the activities of the Imam. His house was often searched for subversive activities but nothing was ever found. During this period too, Imam „Ali Naqi (as) set an admirable example of trust in God, ignoring all worldly gains. In spite of permanent residence in Samarrah, the Imam neither made a protest to the Caliph, nor did he ever ask for any favors. The same worshipping and hermit-like life that he led during his imprisonment was passed in this state of house arrest. The tyrant changed his behavior but the saint had maintained his own. Even in such circumstances he was not allowed to live peacefully. His followers were not allowed to approach him openly to gain the true Islamic knowledge from the Imam. But he endured all hardships for the sake of giving knowledge to all who sought that from him. Mutawakkil knew that and continued with persecuting the followers of the Imam. Another event of these wretched times was equally painful. Ibn as-Sakkit of Baghdad, the acknowledged scholar of lexicography and syntax, was tutor of Mutawakkkil‟s son. One day the cruel ruler asked him: “Are my two sons more respectable than Hasan and Husayn?” Ibn Sakkit was a true follower of Ahlul Bayt. On this question he could not control his feelings and flatly replied, “Not to speak of Hasan and Husayn (as), Imam „Ali‟s slave Qamber is more respectable than both of your sons”. Hearing these words Mutawakkil was outraged and ordered that Ibn Sakkit‟s tongue should be cut off. The order was carried out immediately leading to the death of the most excellent artist of the time and a true follower of Ahlul Bayt. Imam „Ali Naqi, was not himself physically connected with these events, but each of these was a like a blow of the sword not striking the neck but torturing the soul. Mutawakkil‟s cruelties caused common hatred and even his own children set their hearts against him. One of them Al-Muntasir, conspired with his slave Al-Rumi to murder his father while he was asleep using his own sword, thus the world had a sigh of relief. The death of the tyrant and the caliphate of al-Muntasir were proclaimed. After the assuming of power, Al-Mustasir revoked the unjust orders of his father. The Visiting of the Shrines of Najaf and Karbala were permitted without any restrictions. The tombs received minor repairs. The Caliph‟s conduct towards Imam „Ali Naqi (as) was also fair. But this Caliph‟s life was short and he died after a brief rule of only six months. After him, Al-Musta‟een too displayed no maltreatment towards the Imam. As stated, Imam „Ali Naqi (as) had built a house in Samarrah and did not go back to Madina either of his own free will or under the orders of these rulers. Due to his continued stay there and the lack of interference by the regime, the students, thirsty for knowledge, thronged around him to learn the teachings of Ahlul Bayt. This alarmed Al-Mu‟taz so much that he decided to end the sacred life of the Imam. He arranged through some courtiers to mix poison in his food. The Imam died soon after eating the poisonous food. Imam „Ali Naqi‟s conduct and moral excellence were the same as those displayed by each and every member of this sacred house. Whether in Imprisonment, confinement or freedom, in every case these sacred souls were engaged in worship and in helping the poor and the needy. Totally refraining from desire, greed and worldly ambitions, they lived dignified in misfortune, dealt fairly even with their foes. To help the destitute, were the qualities marking their conduct. The same virtues were reflected in the life of Imam „Ali Naqi (as) . During imprisonment, the Imam had a grave dug up ready by the side of his prayer mat. Some visitors expressed concern or surprise. The Imam explained, “ In order to remember my end I keep the grave before my eyes.” The Imam died in Sammara, the funeral was attended only by his son Imam Hasan al Askari (a) who led the funeral prayers and arranged his burial, laying him to rest in his house.

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T h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A lT h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A lT h e T e n t h I m a m , ‘ A l i I b n M u h a m m a d ( A l --- N a q i ) N a q i ) N a q i ) a . s c o n t i n u e da . s c o n t i n u e da . s c o n t i n u e d

The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: "In the event that Ali would not have been created, there would have been no one worthy to be Fatima's spouse." A Marriage Made in Heaven The extraordinary virtues of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her) on one hand, her blood relations with the Prophet on the other hand, and the nobility of her family furthermore, caused many of the high-ranking supporters of the Prophet to propose to her; but all heard negative answers. Each time, the Prophet would usually answer them, saying: "Her matter is in the hands of her Lord." The strangest case was the proposal of Abdul Rahman ibn Awf. A rich man who, by the customs of Age of Ignorance, looked at everything through the viewing window of materialism, he visualized a heavy dowry as a sign of the woman's personal status and the superior position of the husband. He came to see the Prophet, saying: "If you will give Fatima to me in marriage, I will make her a dower of one hundred camels with loads of precious material from Egypt, along with 10000 Dinars in gold!" The Prophet was so displeased with this meaningless proposal that he took a handful of gravel and threw it towards Abdul Rahman and said: "You thought that I was a servant of money and wealth that you are expressing pride in your money and wealth!" (Tezkerat al-Khawas) Indeed, in Lady Fatima's marriage proposal Islamic examples must be defined, the customs of ignorance suppressed, and the standards of Islamic values made clear. The people were speaking of these very things when suddenly it was heard everywhere that the Prophet wished to give his only daughter to Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) in marriage. Imam Ali did not have access to worldly wealth and possessions, nor did he possess any of the standards of the Age of Ignorance; rather, instead he was from head to toe full of faith and real Islamic values. Indeed, this blessed historical marriage was a heavenly revelation, because the Prophet himself said: "An angel of God came to me and told me that God sends you greetings and says: 'I have made Fatima the wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib in the highest heavens already, so you should also marry her to him on earth.'" (Dhakair al-Abqa) When Imam Ali went to the Prophet with his marriage proposal for Lady Fatima, his face was red with shyness. When the Prophet saw him, he became cheerful and smiled, asking him why he had come. But Imam Ali, because of the imposing presence of the Prophet, could not put forth his wish and, as such, remained silent. Aware of Imam Ali's intentions, the Prophet said: "Maybe you have come for marriage proposal of Fatima?" He replied: "Yes, I have come for that very purpose." The Prophet said: "Ali, before you, other men had come for proposal of Fatima. Whenever I informed Fatima of this matter, she would not show her approval. Right now, let me inform her of this conversation." It is true that the marriage was heavenly and must take place. But especially because of the high status of Lady Fatima, and to demonstrate the respect and freedom of women in choosing their husbands, it was necessary that the Prophet of Islam should not go ahead in this matter without the consent of Lady Fatima. When the Prophet described the virtues of Imam Ali for his daughter, he said: "I wish to make you the wife of the best of God's creation. What is your opinion?" Lady Fatima, who was submerged in shyness and modesty, lowered her head saying nothing and denying nothing. The Prophet raised his head and spoke this historical sentence, which is a proof for Islamic jurists today in relation to the marriage of previously unmarried girls: "God is the Greatest! Her silence is the proof of her agreement." Following these events, the marriage contract was concluded by the Holy Prophet Lady Fatima's Dowry It is without doubt that the marriage of the Best of Men in the world with the Princess of the World's Women must in every way be an example – one for all centuries and ages. Therefore, the Prophet turned to Imam Ali and asked: "Do you have something to stipulate as your wife's dowry?" He replied: "May my parents be your sacrifice, as you well know, my belongings consist of nothing more than my sword, armor, and a camel." The Prophet said: "That is right. Your sword is needed during battles with the enemies of Islam. And you must water your palm orchards with your camel and also use it on journeys. Therefore, you may only stipulate your armor as your wife's dowry – and I give in my daughter Fatima to you against this very armor." (Ihqaq al-Haq) This is one side of the story, but on the other side we read in narrations that Lady Fatima asked her father to make her dowry her ability to intercede for the wrongdoers of the nation on the Day of Resurrection. This request was granted, and Gabriel revealed this command to the Prophet from Heaven. (Akhbaru Duwal) The materialistic simplicity and spiritual magnificence of Lady Fatima's dowry is an example for all of humanity. It is an example of how incorrect values must be torn down and replaced with pure values, of the custom of faithful men and women, and of the way of life for the true leaders of God's servants. Lady Fatima's Trousseau For much of society throughout time, the dowry, trousseau, and wedding ceremony have been the three expensive formalities placed before families, with the traces of its rain of adversity remaining with the couple until the end of their lives. Sometimes verbal disputes or bloody fights have arisen as a result of these matters. In the end, whatever wealth we may have is wasted because of our imitations of one another and our tasteless, childish rivalry. To this day, traces of those ignorant thoughts are not rare in those who speak of Islam. Yet this dowry in itself – the trousseau of the Lady of Islam – must be a model for all. This might be surprising, but the Prophet ordered that Imam Ali's armor be sold and the money brought to him, which amounted to about 500 dirham. The Prophet divided this money into three parts: one part he gave to Bilal to buy a nice scented perfume and the other two parts were put aside for buying clothes and household goods. It is clear how simple and cheap these goods must have been, to have been bought with such an insignificant amount of money. In historical records, it has been written that the trousseau bought with this money consisted of 18 items, of which the most important are listed below: One large scarf for four dirham ,One piece of dress material for one dirham, One bed made of wood and palm leaves,Four pillows of sheep skin filled with a sweet smelling grass called Azkhar,One woolen curtain,One mat,One hand mill,One leather water-skin, One copper wash-tub, One large container for milking One large green-colored earthen pitcher These things accounted for most of the trousseau of the Lady of the Women of the Universe.

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T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i a . sa . sa . s a n d L a d y F a t i m a a n d L a d y F a t i m a a n d L a d y F a t i m a a . sa . sa . s

The Wedding Ceremony This ceremony took place for the establishment of a family, by which an important part of Islam's history was changed, and by which the pure successors of the Prophet would all come into exist-ence. The Prophet executed such a program that his enemies became jealous and his friends be-came proud! His actions urge others to ponder and even act upon it. Lady Umm Salamah and Lady Umm Ayman – two virtuous women of Islam and had great affec-tion for the noble Lady Fatima Zahra – came to the Prophet of Islam and said: "O honourable Prophet of God! Indeed, if Khadija (peace be upon her) were alive, she would really be happy with the convening of Fatima's wedding ceremony, isn't that so?" Tears came into the eyes of the Messenger of God upon hearing the name of that devoted Lady, and he began remembering all of the kindness and generosity of Khadija, saying: "Where can a woman be found like Khadija? Those days when all of the people denied me, she confirmed me, placing all of her wealth and life in my hands for spreading of God's religion. She was the very

lady whom God ordered me to inform that an emerald castle will be granted to her in the exalted Heavens." When she heard this, Umm Salamah said: "O Messenger of God, may my parents be your sacrifice! Whatever you say about Khadija is the truth, but at any rate, she welcomed God's invitation and has rushed to the vicinity of His Mercy. Hopefully, God will house her in the best place in Heaven. But, the matter for which we have come to your blessed presence is something else, and that being this: your brother and cousin, Ali, wishes you to permit him to take his wife Fatima to his home, and in this way bring order to his life." The Prophet asked: "Why didn't Ali bring this proposal to me himself?" Umm Salamah replied: "Shyness and modesty prevented him." Here, the Prophet told Umm Ayman: "Go and tell him to come here." Imam Ali came and sat before the Prophet, but his head was lowered out of shyness. The Prophet said: "Do you wish to take your wife home?" While his head was still lowered, Imam Ali said: "Yes, may my parents be your sacrifice." What is interesting to note is that, contrary to what is usual among those people who worship opulence and who begin planning months ahead of this ceremony, the Prophet happily said: "I will arrange for it either tonight or tomorrow night." Right then he gave the orders to arrange for the preparation of a very simple celebration that was full of spirituality and holiness. As for the formalities of this heavenly celebration and its ceremonies, it was conducted so simply and without trouble that hearing about it is quite astonishing for us these days. Imam Ali said: "A bit of the money from the armour I had sold previously had been given to Umm Salamah for safekeeping, and during the nuptial ceremony, the Prophet took ten dirham from her and gave it to me, saying: 'Buy some oil, dates, and kashk with this money.' I did this. Then the Prophet himself rolled up his sleeves and mixed these things together with his own hands, preparing a meal and serving the people with this very food. "Then he said, 'O Ali, invite whomever you wish.' I left for the mosque where many companions of the Prophet were gathered. I said, 'Answer the Prophet's invitation.' They arose and headed together towards the Prophet. I told the Prophet that they were a large crowd; he covered the food with a sheet and said: 'Show them in, ten at a time', and so I did. The people kept going in, eating, and leaving, all the while the food seemed unabated. In all, seven hundred men and women ate from that (date and yogurt) dish with the Prophet's blessing." At the end of the ceremony, when all of the people had returned to their homes and the house became empty, the Prophet of Islam placed Lady Fatima on his left side and Imam Ali on his right and wished them good luck by spraying a bit of sacred saliva from his mouth on both Lady Fatima and Imam Ali and prayed for them, saying: "O Allah! They are of me, and I am of them. O Lord! Just as you removed every kind of filth and impurity from me, also remove it from them, rendering them pure." Then he said: "Get up and go home. May God bless both of you." (Tarikh al-Zahra) Those who seek the material world and the weak believers who are under the influence of the material world's sparkle, who see a family's respect, honor, status, blessings and grandeur of the wedding ceremony in backbreaking, oppressive formalities and luxurious objects should examine this example and learn a lesson. They should see and gain inspiration from this event that is a lesson in humanity, and is the substance of the happiness of all boys and girls. Learn about and act upon the Islamic teachings in a practical way, as seen in the events of the proposal, dowry, trousseau, and wedding of Lady Fatima Zahra in the annals of history. (Article by;Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi )

In what way shall describe this world whose beginning is grief and whose end is destruction? The lawful actions performed here have to be accounted for, while for the forbidden ones there is punishment . Whoever is rich here faces mischief and whoever is poor gets grief. One who hankers after it does not get it. If one keeps away from it then it advances towards him. If one sees through it ,it would bestow him sight ,but if one has his eye on it then it would blind him.

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T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i & F a t i m a ( s ) T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i & F a t i m a ( s ) T h e M a r r i a g e o f I m a m A l i & F a t i m a ( s ) C o n t i n u e dC o n t i n u e dC o n t i n u e d

N a h j ’ u l B a l a g a h N a h j ’ u l B a l a g a h N a h j ’ u l B a l a g a h S e r m o nS e r m o nS e r m o n 8 08 08 0

God’s favour to man Indisputably, God has created man of earth in order to nurture him during his worldly life with the heavenly teachings of the prophets, remove pollutions from him, make him pure, and promote him to the highest stage of affinity with Himself. Since an earthy man is not worthy of affinity with God, and if such a man is left to himself, he will be drowned in the quagmire of lusts, God Who has made man evolve from the stage of mineral to plant and from plant to animal and then to human, can promote man to a stage making him unison with the angels. God does not withhold His favor from man and protects him with His special kindness and mercy. To prepare man to ascend to a metaphysical world, God has made a house of stone and mud in this world calling it His House and inviting his helpless and shelterless servants to shower them with His special blessings. God has called all servants on the earth to make pilgrimage to Mecca, circumambulate His House, and link their hearts to the Lord of the House so as to gradually prepare themselves for visiting the Lord of the universe. God says (in a Hadith Qudsi1):

لم حسعن أزض وال سمائ ووسعن قلب عبدي المؤمن اللن الىادع“I am not contained in the earth nor in the heavens, but I am contained in the soft and tranquil heart of My believing servant.”250 Whoever goes to Mecca on foot will circumambulate the Kaaba, but whoever goes there with his heart present, the Kaaba will circumambulate him. The King Makes A Palace in A Ruined Village What a great favor God has done to human beings to choose a House for Himself on the earth! What need does God have for a house in a ruined village? To fondle the villagers and to shower them with favor, God has chosen a house of the village as His to invite the helpless people to it once a week, a month, or a year calling them His guests and bestowing gifts on them so that they will improve their living conditions, learn manners, obtain knowledge and gnosticism, come to the city from the village and come to the capital city to be worthy of being received by the king and become his favorites. God is too Great to be contained in a ruined village and take a house there. But the favor He has done to the villagers had made them feel dignified in a way to say that we are so much respected by the King that He has made a house among us and we have a link with Him. He is near us and we seek the settlement of our need from Him. What a favor it is that God Who is free from any defect and need has been so kind as to make a house of stone and mud for Himself making Him a neighbor of the servants to imply that „I am with you; ask Me for everything.‟ He has also appointed all mosques as His Houses making Himself available to His servants. God has not said: You have necessarily to come to the heavens to seek help from Me or you have to come to Mecca to visit Me. I accept any corner you choose in My Name as My House and will receive you. I consider any hour in day or night you stand for prayer at home in the direction of My House as pilgrimage to My House and will answer your call and attend to your needs. Therefore, glorify Allah, the Merciful King, there is no god but He; the Lord of the universe. Hajj, A Display of Man’s Spiritual Journey The external acts of Hajj symbolize the spiritual stages of the prophets and the Imams. Hajj is a display of the spiritual journey of the devotees and the stages of servitude. The essence of worship is the journey towards God and the external acts of Hajj, devoid of presence of the heart, are not considered as worship. The Holy Prophet (saw) says:

رمىز الري هى المقصىد والمبخغى عظمت لمإنما فسضج الصالة وأمس بالحج والطىاف وأشعسث المناسل إلقامت ذمس هللا، فئذا لم نن ف قلبل ل وال هبت فما قمت ذمسك؟

“The daily prayer, Hajj, circumambulation, and the other rites are aimed at remembering Allah. But when there is no remembrance of Him in your heart, what value will your oral remembrance have?” Hajj, Spiritual Journey Not Physical Acts The Imams‟ sayings act as warning to the ignorant ones that Hajj is the journey of soul, not distance. If a man‟s soul gets into the state of Ihram, reaches the House of God, touches the Black Stone15 with the hand of the heart, stays on Mount Arafat with full heart, stops in al-Mash‟ar al-Haram with full soul, sacrifices the sheep of the carnal desires with the knife of certitude and submission (to the Lord), he has performed a true Hajj. The Hajj of Prophet Ibrahim (as), A Spiritual One Prophet Ibrahim (as) reached such a stage of contentment and submission (to the Lord) inspired by God that he was ready to sacrifice his son for his Lord. He rolled up his sleeves without hesitation, laid down his endeared son, put the sharp knife on his throat, and thought of nothing but carrying out God‟s order. Such a degree of cognition of God is the result of his true spiritual journey. He truly visited God‟s House and out of sincerity took off the garment of pleasure and worldly inclinations from his soul

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and put on a garment of submission to God and said „Labbayk‟ from the bottom of his heart, entered into the sanctuary, stayed in the lap of the mountain of cognition, immersed his senses in divine thoughts, and saw world ornaments as worthless pebbles. He took his son to the altar and put the knife on his throat in Mina saying to himself, „I turn my face to the direction of the One Who originated the heavens and the earth.‟1664 Reaching such a state requires traversing different stages including giving up pleasures, forgetting one‟s desires, and throwing pebbles at the alluring Satan to a degree that God‟s pleasure is considered above the life of even the endeared son. Content, Not Form, Is Important It is strange to see that people in everyday life look for truth and reality but when the religion and the Hereafter is concerned, they become content with form and external feature rather than true meanings. We never expect a sugarless piece of cake to taste sweet, but consider a prayer without the presence of heart as perfect, complaining to God that we have offered our prayer but we have not seen a positive effect! A nourishing food or a trip of leisure leave certain effects, how is it then that a month-long fasting and being guest of God do not leave any effect on souls? How is it acceptable that we do not benefit by the supplications while we have the household of the Prophet -the Ahl ul-Bayt- (as) as the best spiritual food and the means for purification? How is it that a weak-long trip to the seaside changes our complexion, but seven-fold circumambulations of the Kaaba, visiting the graveside of the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Imams (as) do not change our souls? As a matter of fact, if we take the title of Hajji off most of those who have been to Mecca, what emblem of Mecca, circumambulation, or touching the Black Stone do we see in them? Where Are the True Feature of Islam and the Effect of Prostration? Do Muslims not have, according to the Holy Qur‟an, a special feature making them distinct from others, and that is the marks of prostration, humbleness, and submission to God?

سماهم ف وجىههم من أثس السجىد …“Their marks are in their faces because of the prostration. (The Holy Qur‟an; 48:29)” The effect of prostration alone in the face of a Muslim is not a sign of servitude; rather it should be seen in his business, culture, and all aspects of life. Regrettably, what is not seen in the life of the ummah is the true feature of Islam and the marks of prostration. In certain cases, the feature of unbelievers is seen in Muslims‟ lives. The Aim of Questioning the Philosophy of the Practical Laws of Islam Generally speaking, questions about the philosophy of the practical laws of Islam are raised for two reasons: To understand the philosophy of the divine laws, and to get more interested in doing religious duties, this is the result of getting to know the philosophy of the divine laws. As for someone who wishes to understand the logic of the divine laws, we should say that he is in error. Such a person needs to perfect his knowledge of the religion, get to know the prophet and the revelation as well as come to realize that the position of a prophet is above that of ordinary human beings. He should, also, realize that what the prophets say do not come from themselves, but they are inspired by the Creator of the heavens and the earth. So, we come to the conclusion that the Holy Book and the religious laws are of the same Source. In other words, it is the All-knowing and All-wise God Who has prescribed what is lawful and what is unlawful and revealed it to the heart of His Messenger. Why Are We in Need For A Divine Revelation? Since we, human beings, do not have comprehensive knowledge about life and the Afterlife, and since the only One being aware of all the details of the universe is God, we are in need for guidance and religious laws, which is the same as revelation received by the prophets. We have no option but to submit to the religious instructions. To practice the religious duties is to practice what the prophets and God have said. That is to say that I, considering myself as Muslim, obey God and His Messenger not because I have come to know about the philosophy of the religious laws, but I obey Him and His Messenger regardless of the harms and benefits that accompany certain religious acts. What Is Religious Obedience? From these sayings of the Imams (as) it is inferred that devotion is not strict adherence like an inferior‟s obedience to the orders of a superior. Obedience in religion is that when a human being realizes that his intellectual power is limited and that the religious precepts with all their benefits have their source in God‟s infinite knowledge, he will naturally feel duty-bound to submit to God‟s commandments.

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The 24th of Zil-Hajj marks the anniversary of the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Mubahila. This is the day of victory of Muslims over Christians. The event of Mubahila occurred in the 10th of Hijrah. Historical perspective of Eid-e-Mubahila Najran was a fertile land located in the Northern mountaneous region of Yemen about 20 Kms from Sanaa. About 40,000 Christians inhabited the land divided into 73 small towns. They were idol worshipers historically just like the Arabs but a priest named Femeon, a constructor by profession, preached Christianity in the area of Najran and soon all the population converted to Christianity and Najran became a powerful center of activities of Christians. They also constructed a church and named it \'Kaba-e-Najran\'. They prayed and offered various offerings there which resulted in an annual income of about two hundred thousand Dinars which was used for the priest who lived and studied there. After the conquest of Makkah when Islam started spreading rapidly and the warring groups came under the flag of Islam, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) starting sending emissaries to the tribes who had not yet accepted Islam. In 10 A.H. a similar message was sent to the Christians of Najran and they were offered either to accept the teachings of Islam or live in the protection of Muslims and give \'Jazia\' - a kind of fee for protection services. When the Bishop of Najran received this message, he invited all the scholars and influential people of Najran and asked them to think and find a solution to this situation. This news spread rapidly among the masses and some people got infuriated as well but the Bishop of Najran pacified them and advised them to be mindful of the military might of the Islamic regime and try to find a peaceful solution. Christian mission heads to Madina After deliberations, it was finally decided to send a mission to Medina and have a dialog with the Muslims. A 14 member delegation headed by Aqib Saidawar and Abu Harisa started off for Makkah. Abu Harisa was considered as the greatest Bishop and scholar of the Christian world at that time and Aqib Sadawar was the biggest strategist and negotiator of the time. When the delegation reached Medina, the people got impressed by their lavish dressing and pomp and show since it was the first time that a mission had arrived in such a manner. When they entered the Masjid-e-Nabawi, the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) looked at the precious stones, gold and silk clothes that they were wearing and turned away his face and did not pay any attention to them. After a while when no one noticed their pomp and show, they got out of the Masjid-e-Nabawi and met Hazrat Usman and Ubaid-ur-Rehman outside and asked them as to why they were invited by the Muslims and then treated in this manner. Hazrat Usman mentioned that he did not have a clue about that but if they consult Imam Ali (AS), he would be able to tell them what was going on. They took the delegation with them and arrived at the house of Imam Ali (AS) and mentioned about the whole incidence to him. Imam Ali (AS) said to the delegation that they were wearing dresses of silk and ornaments of gold which depicted their superior mentality and that they should take them off and dress simply. Only then the Prophet (pbuh) would allow them to visit him and entertain them. When they followed the instructions of Imam Ali (AS), they were allowed to visit the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) after the Prayers of Asr and have discussions with him. Proposal of Mubahila After exchange of views on several issues, the delegation did not seem to be willing to accept the observations about the incorrect beliefs of Christianity and the logical explanations proving the incorrectness of their beliefs. At that time Allah (swt) send down the famous Ayat-e-Mubahila of the Quran: Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Verse 61: And unto him who disputeth with thee therein after the knowledge hath come unto thee, Say ! (O\' Our Apostle Muhammad !) (Unto them) come ye, let us summon our sons, and (ye summon) your sons, and (we summon) our women and (ye) your women, and (we summon) ourselves and then let us invoke the curse of God on the liars ! Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) recited this Ayat and invited them for Mubahila - praying to God (swt) to destroy and banish the liars. Mubahila became necessary since the Christian delegation was adamant to accept the truth. After some hesitations the delegations asked to be given one day to reconsider their options and then accepted to have the Mubahila after two days. In their consultations among themselves, the grand Bishop Abu Harisa told his companions that if tomorrow, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) brings his companions and his tribesmen and military might with him for Mubahila then they should accept the challenge without fear but if he brings only the members of his family, then never accept the challenge. Whom did the Prophet (pbuh ) take with him The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh ) selected a place close to Medina for the Mubahila which was then cleaned and prepared by Hazrat Salman Farsi (r.a.) and the next day the Christian delegation reached the designated place. A number of muhajireen and ansaar also gathered at the site. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh ) took with him Imam Hasan (AS), Imam Hussain (AS), Bibi Fatima (S.A) and Imam Ali (AS) and headed towards the site in a manner that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was leading the group holding Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) and Bibi Fatima (s.a.) was behind him and Imam Ali (AS) was behind Bibi Fatima (SA). Saad bin Abi Waqas relates that when the Ayat-e-Mubahila was sent down, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) called Imam Ali (AS), Bibi Fatima (s.a.), Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) and said \"O my Allah (swt), these are my Ahl-e-Bait\" . ( Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, Page 287 ).

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Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) sat down under a tree with these weighty personalities and said that when I pray to God, you all should say \'Ameen\'. When the Christian delegation saw a woman, two children and only one man with the Prophet (pbuh), they got scared and worried and Abu Harisa said \"O my Christian friends, I am seeing such bright faces that if they pray that God move this mountain from its place then the mountain will be moved. I warn you do not have Mubahila with them or you all will be destroyed and banished.\" The Christian delegation was still amazed and frightened when the brother of Abu Harisa, Karz ibn-e-Alqama stated that \"O my fellows, it appears that Mohammad (pbuh) is the same last apostle and prophet that has been mentioned in our sacred books. We should not have Mubahila with them because anyone who had Mubahila with the prophets in the past as well were destroyed. Look around you and observe that the signs of your destruction are appearing.\" When they looked around, they observed that the entire atmosphere had changed and it appeared that a furious storm is in offing. Result of the Mubahila Witnessing this, they backed off from the contest and requested that their friendship be accepted. Prophet Mohammad(pbuh) accepted their request and asked Imam Ali (AS) to write the agreement according to which they Najran tribes accepted to pay \'Jazia\' and live under the protection of the Muslims. This victory is a unique one in the history of this world. Birth and Imamate Imam Muhammad Baqir (a) was born in the 57th year of the Hijra, on Friday the first day of the month of Rajab, in the city of Medina. His honoured father is Imam Sajjad (a) and his revered mother, Fatima, daughter of Imam Hasan (a). He was the only Imam who was Alawiite from both the side of the Mother and the Father. Imam Sajjad (a), according to the command of Allah (swt) and the decree of the Prophet (pbuh), appointed his son, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a), to Imamate and leadership of the people in the 95 A.H. He remained Imam for the rest of his life until 114 A.H. and the total period of his Imamate is 19 years. Allama Hajr Makki writes in Sawaeq-e-Moharaqa (Page 120) that He was the true copy of his father Imam Sajjad (a) in knowledge, piousness and prayers & supplications. Meaning of Baqir Baqir is a derivate of the word 'Baqara' which means to open up or to expand. Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) was named as such since he introduced and spread the knowledge and teachings of various dimensions and implemented the knowledge streams in a manner which had never been seen earlier. Allama Noor Allah Shustri says in Majalis-al-Momineen (Page 117) that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said that Imam Mohammad Baqir (a) will introduce, spread and open up knowledge just like the ground is opened up for cultivation. Imam Muhammad Baqir (a) instructed people in precepts of religion, taught tafseer-e-Quran, taught them the ethics of life, and used to strive very hard to educate, culture and guide the people. During the course of his life, he taught the people thousands of theological and religious principles, as well as scientific subjects, and his teachings have been handled down to us. His Death and burial In 100 A.H. Hashsham bin Abdul Malik became the Caliph. He was a known enemy of the Ahl-e-Bait (a) and he did not waste any opportunity to bring hardship to the Ahl-e-Bait (a). Allama Majlisi writes that during the last days of his caliphate, Hashsham came to Makkah for Hajj. Imam Mohammad Baqir (a) and his son Imam Jaffer Sadiq (a) were also present. Hashsham was informed that Imam Jaffer Sadiq (a) delivered a sermon among the Hajis that he and his father were the Allah's vicegerent and His command on earth and whoever was their friend and well wisher will go to heaven and whoever is their enemy will be destined to hell. This infuriated Hashsham and when he reached Damascus, he ordered the governor of Medina, Ibrahim bin Walid to send the two Imams (a) to his court. Hashsham had planned to malign the Imams in his court but the Imams (a) overturned his plans which further ignited his enmity and he ordered the Imams (a) to be jailed. While in the jail, Imam Mohammad Baqir (a) gave sermons to the other prisoners which created an atmosphere of great enthusiasm and devotion towards the Imam (a) and against Hashsham and sensing the gravity of the situations and the risk of a revolt, Hashsham ordered the release of the Imam (a). He then ordered the governor of Medina that Imam Mohammad Baqir (a) should be poisoned as he is becoming a constant threat (Jala-ul-Ayoon Page 262). The governor of Medina - Ibrahim bin Walid carried out the orders and poisoned the Imam (a) in 114 A.H. Imam Muhammad Baqir (a), lived in this world for a period of 57 years, and in the 114th year of the Hijra, on the seventh day of the month of Dhil-Hijjah, in Medina he left this world. His body was buried in Baqi cemetery alongside the graves of Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Sajjad (a) in Medina.

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I m a m M o h a m m a d B a q i r a . s

S i g n i f i c a n c e o f E i dS i g n i f i c a n c e o f E i dS i g n i f i c a n c e o f E i d --- eee --- M u b a h i l a M u b a h i l a M u b a h i l a C o n t i n u e d C o n t i n u e d C o n t i n u e d

"I do not know companions more loyal and better than my companion , neither do I know a household more honourable and passionate than my household. May the Almighty reward you for the favors you have done me." (Bihar al- Anwar, Vol. 44, P. 392) The people of Kufa called upon Imam Hussain (A) to overthrow the Umayyad dynasty. He was on his way to Mecca for his Hajj pilgrimage and wanted to confirm the loyalty of the people of Kufa, so he sent Muslim, son of Aqeel, who was a famous warrior, to Kufa to observe the situation. His first finding was that they are all loyal to Imam Hussain (A) and so he sent report to Imam Hussain, who then began his journey to Kufa. Muslim ibn Aqeel used to lead the prayers in the Great Mosque of Kufa. When he led Salaat-ul-Maghrib, 30,000 people were following him. The support for Muslim ibn Aqeel in Kufa had become a major threat for Yazid and his governor, Ubaydallah ibn Ziyad. During evening prayers, people were sent from the court of the governor publicly announcing that anyone found supporting Muslim ibn Aqeel will be tortured and put to death. When Muslim ibn Aqeel finished Salaat-ul-Maghrib, 30,000 reduced to 18 only. When Hazrat Muslim completed the Isha prayers and turned back, he found the mosque empty except for one person, only Hani Ibn Urwah, at whose house Muslim was staying as a guest. Muslim ibn Aqeel had only one thing on his mind now, which was to inform his master Imam Hussain (AS) about the treachery and betrayal of the people of Kufa. With Muslim completely isolated in Kufa, a ferocious battle took place - Muslim on one side, all alone, and over 500 soldiers on the other side, who were fully armed. Kufa had never seen such a battle before - Muslim defeated the army of 500. More troops were called and it was decided that it would be impossible to capture Hazrat Muslim (AS) unless he is tricked. A pit was dug and covered with leaves. While fighting, Muslim fell into the pit and was captured. Muslim was ordered to be taken to the roof of the palace to be executed and his body thrown to the ground. He was mercilessly killed on 9th of Dhul „Hijjah, 60 AH , the day when Muslims were getting ready to celebrate the festivities of Eid al Hajj. Thus he became the first martyr of the epic battle of Karbala. He is buried in Kufa and thousands of people go annually to visit his grave and pay their respect.

Page 12

H a z r a t M u s l i m B i n A q e e l a . s

H A C M u l t i f a i t h R a l l y a g a i n s t I s i s & g l o b a l t e r r o r i s m

Page 13

AIRWAYS TRAVELS

Pakistani Passport

Nicop /Visa

Canadian Citizenship/PR Card

Forms & Photos

Photocopies/Bookbinding/

Lamination/Bill book/Logbook

Business Cards/Letterhead/

Flyers

S u n d a y S c h o o l P i c n i c / M i l a d I m a m R e z a S u n d a y S c h o o l P i c n i c / M i l a d I m a m R e z a S u n d a y S c h o o l P i c n i c / M i l a d I m a m R e z a a . s a . s a . s / A l d e r m a n C h a b o t / A l d e r m a n C h a b o t / A l d e r m a n C h a b o t

Page 14

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Info & Contact:

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(For Ladies Only) QUALITY DRIVING SCHOOL DEFENSIVE DRIVING SKILLS

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Planning for Extension of Hussainia

Launching New Website for Hussainia.

New Flag for Alam-e-Abbas(a) (Parking Area)

Central Air Conditioning Installed

New Part i t ion in Washrooms Installed!

Drywall & Repair Side entrance.

New pavement in Hussainia parking lot

Sunday School Every Week 10:30 am –3 pm

Volunteer’s Welcome!

Please send you children to Sunday School to learn

Quran/Deeniyat

For any inquiries or suggestions ;

Please contact

Executive's of HAC Or

School Administrator Br. Shabbir Rizvi Tel: (403) 796-5110

C u r r e n t P r o j e c t s C u r r e n t P r o j e c t s C u r r e n t P r o j e c t s

S u n d a y S u n d a y S u n d a y

S c h o o l a t S c h o o l a t S c h o o l a t

H u s s a i n i a H u s s a i n i a H u s s a i n i a

D h u a l - H i j j a h — 1 4 3 5 / O c t o b e r — 2 0 1 4

Page 15

Please Recite

Surah Fatiha

For All

Shuhadas &

Marhoomeen.

Sept ذو الحجة Fajr Sunrise Zuharain Maghrabain Programme

26 Fri 1 5:49 7:29 1:26 7:40 Wedding of Imam Ali & Bibi Fatima

27 Sat 2 5:51 7:31 1:26 7:38

28 Sun 3 5:52 7:32 1:37 7:36

29 Mon 4 5:54 7:34 1:36 7:33

30 Tue 5 5:55 7:35 1:36 7:31

1 OCT 6 5:57 7:37 1:26 7:29

2 Thu 7 5:59 7:39 1:26 7:27 Shahadat of 5th Imam

3 Fri 8 6:00 7:40 1:25 7:24 Jum’ma Prayers

4 Sat 9 6:02 7:42 1:25 7:22 Shahadat of Muslim bin 'Aqil

5 Sun 10 6:03 7:43 1:25 7:20 Eid ul Adha

6 Mon 11 6:05 7:45 1:24 7:18

7 Tue 12 6:07 7:47 1:24 7:16

8 Wed 13 6:08 7:48 1:23 7:13

9 Thu 14 6:10 7:50 1:23 7:11 Shab-e-Jum’ma

10 Fri 15 6:12 7:52 1:23 7:09 Shahadat Imam Naqi (a)

11 Sat 16 6:13 7:53 1:23 7:07

12 Sun 17 6:15 7:55 1:22 7:05

13 Mon 18 6:17 7:57 1:22 7:03 Eid -E-Ghadeer

14 Tue 19 6:18 7:58 1:22 7:00

15 Wed 20 6:20 8:00 1:22 6:58

16 Thu 21 6:22 8:02 1:21 6:56 Shab-e-Jum’ma

17 Fri 22 6:23 8:03 1:21 6:54 Shahadat (sons of Mus-lim )

18 Sat 23 6:25 8:05 1:21 6:52

19 Sun 24 6:27 8:07 1:21 6:50 Eid Mubahila

20 Mon 25 6:28 8:08 1:21 6:48

21 Tue 26 6:30 8:10 1:21 6:46

22 Wed 27 6:32 8:12 1:21 6:44

23 Thu 28 6:33 8:13 1:20 6:42 Shab-e -Jum’ma

24 Fri 29 6:35 8:15 1:20 6:40 Jum’ma Prayers

25 Sat 30 6:37 8:17 1:20 6:38

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

President: Riyaz Khawaja (403) 999-4614

Vice President: Imtiaz Ali Khan (587) 435-7714

Secretary:

Syed Ali Zulqarnain (403) 512-4514

Treasurer:

Syed Zaheer Abbas (403) 607-4742

Coordinator:

Syed Mansoor Naqvi (403) 975-7313

Trustee:

Syed Muzaffer Tahir

4755-34th Street SE, Calgary, AB, Canada

T2B 3B3

Hussaini

Association Of

Calgary, AB

Annual Membership Fee For 2014

Approved by AGM

Family Membership- $400 per year Single Membership- $200 per year Senior Membership- $150 per year Student Membership- $100 per year

Cheque: Please contact executives Credit Card: via credit card machine

in Hussainia/online/PayPal or Online: visit

www.hussainicalgary.com PLEASE PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUESPLEASE PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUESPLEASE PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES

M a k e A D I F E R E N C E : D o n a t e t o h a cM a k e A D I F E R E N C E : D o n a t e t o h a cM a k e A D I F E R E N C E : D o n a t e t o h a c

Donate Online:

www.hussainicalgary.com

As for those who

practice without

guidance, they

are like him who

walks without

choosing a

definite path.

The more he

walks, the

remoter he

becomes .

-Imam Sadiq (as)

Ayat o f t he m o n t hAyat o f t he m o n t hAyat o f t he m o n t h

Page 16

Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed,

Allah does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful.

Quran 22:38

I m p o r t a n t A n n o u n c e m e n t s !I m p o r t a n t A n n o u n c e m e n t s !I m p o r t a n t A n n o u n c e m e n t s !

Jashan Eid Ghadeer 12th & 13th October Speaker: Moulana Syed Shamshad Haider

Subsequent HAC General body Meeting

Saturday, October 11th 2014 @5:30 pm

Imam Hussain Rally (Juloos Ashura) Saturday Nov 1st 2014 @ 1:30 pm

Hussainia Blood Drive

@ 737-13TH AVE SW Oct 30th at 6 pm & Nov 1st at 9 am

(Register for blood donation) Ashra-e-Muharram

Speaker: Moulana Maqbool Hussain Alavi