Rafidi :
[size=14pt]Is it an Innovation to Commemorate the Birth and Death Anniversaries of Awliya Allah?[/size]

The Wahhabis consider the honouring of birth and death anniversaries of awliya and divine personalities to be forbidden and an innovation. They are the staunch enemies of the awliya Allah and religious leadrs and consider the gatherings on their birth and death anniversaries to be (haram) prohibited.

Muhammad Hamid al-Faqi, the leader of group ‘Ansar al-Sunnat al-Muhammadiyya’ in his footnotes to his book al-Fath al-Majid writes:



“Remembering and celebrating on the days of birth and death of awliya amounts to one kind of worshipping them and respecting before them”.[1]

The root of all their mistakes is that because they have not determined any limit and margin for polytheism (shirk), tawhid and specially the meaning of 'ibada, they think that every kind of respect and honour is worship. As you must have noticed, he has brought the word of 'ibada and homage close to each other and imagines that both give the same meaning.

In the one of next chapters, we shall explain the meaning of 'ibada and clearly prove that every honour and respect to the virtuous servants of God with the intention that they are the ‘servants’ of Allah, does not result in their worship at all. Therefore, we shall examine this discussion from another angle (not polytheism in 'ibada).

Undoubtedly, Qur’an has repeatedly praised the Prophets and awliya with eloquent and rhetorical words.

About Zakaria, Yahya and others the Qur’an says:



“Surely they used to hasten, one with another, in deeds of goodness and to call upon Us, hoping and fearing, and they were humble before Us.” (al-'Anbiya: 90) .

Now, if in a gathering which is held under their name, someone portrays them in a similar manner which has come down in the contents of this verse and by this way honours them, has he done anything other than obeying the Holy Qur’an?

About the household of the Prophet, Allah (swt) says:



"And they give food out of love for Him to the poor and the orphan and the captive." (Dahr: 8 )

Now if the followers of Ali come together on the birthday of Amir al-mu'minin and say that Ali is one who used to give his own food to the poor, orphan and the captive, have they by this act worshipped him!?

If on the birthday of the Holy Prophet (s) we translate the verse which praises the Prophet into a non-Arabic language or write a poem on a tablet and recite it in a gathering, have we committed a forbidden action!?

They are having enmity with the matter of honouring the Holy Prophet (s) and awilya Allah that they wish to stop this under the pretext of fight against innovation.

At this stage a question is brought up to which the loud-speakers amongst the Wahhabis lay great emphasis and it is this: ‘Since these assemblies and gatherings are held under the name of religion and are labelled as Islamic, they should be approved specifically and generally by the Islamic rules. Otherwise it would be innovation (bid’at) and forbidden (haram).

The reply to this question is quite clear because the verses of Qur’an that draw our attention to the necessisty of honouring the Prophet is sufficient in this case and these kinds of gatherings are not held for any reason other than respecting the awliya Allah. That thing is considered to be ‘innovation’ which is not approved specifically or generally by Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet.

The purpose of these honourings which is common amongst all the nations of the world is nothing but paying respect and homage and this practise is common among all the Muslims of the world except for these handful of dry wahhabi ‘Najdis’. If it was innovation and something new and not confirming with the general Islamic principles, it was impossible that the Islamic scholars would celebrate the birthday of the Holy Prophet (s) and make splendid such gatherings by reading scholarly monographs and reciting sweet and elegant poems.

Here are some logical reasonings from Qur’an permitting such respect and honourings:

First Proof
The Holy Qur’an praises that group of people who honour the Holy Prophet (s):



“So (as for) those who believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, these it is that are the successful.” (A'raf: 157)

The words which have appeared in this verse comprises of:



Is it possible for one to think that the words , and are confined to the period of the Holy Prophet? Certainly not! If such a probability cannot be given about these three words, the word of which gives the meaning of honour and respect [2] cannot be assigned to the period of the Holy Prophet (s) and thus this sublime leader should be respected and honoured at all times.

Is it not that arranging memorial gathering on the day of bi'that and birth of the Holy Prophet (s) and delivering speeches and poems on such occasions clear evidence to ?

Surprisingly, the Wahhabis pay homage and respect their own tribal leaders and rulers and honour even one ordinary person such that observing one hundredth of that with regard to the Holy Prophet (s), his pulpit and alter is considered to be innovation and anti-Islamic by them. As a result they introduce Islam to the world as one dry religion lacking any sentiments and affections and think that the shari'a which is in fact simple and easy, matching with the human nature and feeling and generous enough to attract the people is a dry "shari'a" which does not consider the respect of divine leaders to be of any significance and does not possess the ability to attract the people of the world.


Second Proof
What do the Wahhabis who oppose any kind of mourning ceremonies for the martyrs in the way of Allah have to say about the story of Ya'qub ('a)? If today, this great Prophet was living amongst these Najdis and the followers of Muhammad bin ’Abd al-Wahhab how would have they judged him?

Day and night he was weeping for his separation from Yusuf and all the time he was asking the people about the whereabouts of his beloved son. He was so much sorrowful by the separation of his son that he lost his eye-sight. [3]

Sickness and loss of eye-sight did not deter Ya’kub (‘a) from forgetting his son Yusuf (‘a). Instead, as the promise of re-union was drawing closer the flames of love towards his son increased manifold and he could smell Yusuf miles away. [4]

And instead of the star (Yusuf) pursuing the sun (Ya'qub ('a)) it was vice -versa.

Why expression of such affection during the life of the loved one (i.e. Yusuf) is correct and confirms to Tawhid but after his death when the heart becomes more prone to pain and suffering it amounts to polytheism and becomes forbidden?

Now if the Ya'qubs of our time gather together every year on the death anniversary of their Yusufs and speak about the value of his moral qualities due to which they start crying, will such an act amount to worshipping of their sons!? [5]


Third Proof
Undoubtedly, (love towards kinship) is one of the Islamic obligations which Qur’an explicitly commends us towards it. Now, after fourteen centuries if someone wishes to act upon the religious obligations then what should we do? Is it not that he should rejoice on their joyous days and become sorrowful on the days of their grief and sorrow?

Now, for expressing one's own pleasure, if someone holds a gathering wherein he reveals their historical life and sacrifices and describes their innocence and their deprivation from their rightful claims then, has he done anything other than expressing his affection and manifesting mawadda dhawi'l qurba? ()

If, for showing more affection, such a person visits their progeny and comes near their graves and holds such gatherings near their graves then, has he in the eyes of the wise and intelligent people, done anything other than manifesting his love and affection!?

Except that the Wahhabis may say: Such love and affection should be kept secret and confined to the heart and no one has the right to manifest and express them (openly).

During the time of the Holy Prophet (s) and the period after him which was the period of change of thoughts and beliefs, different tribes and nations with different cultures and customs were turning towards Islam and by reciting the shahadatayn (creed) their Islam was accepted. The position of Prophet and the leaders was never to investigate, censor (by establishing the ‘section for scrutinizing of beliefs’) than dissolve the entire rites and customs of the nations and tribes and bring them out in another form different from the previous ones.

Respect of leaders, establishing memorial ceremonies, attending the graves and expressing love for their signs and traces was and is the custom of all nations and tribes. At present too, the people of East and West stand for hours in que waiting to pay visit to the mummified bodies and graves of ancient leaders in order to express their love and shed tears in their grief. They consider this to be one way for expressing respect and honour.

It was never seen that the Holy Prophet (s) would accept the Islam of people only after investigating their beliefs and examining their practises and customs in practical life. Instead, expressing the ‘Shahadatain’ was enough for him. If these practices and customs were forbidden and or amounted to worshiping the ancestors, then it was necessary to accept the Islam of nations and tribes (only) after taking allegiance and promise from them about their exoneration (of such practices) while such was never the case.


Fourth Proof:
We see Isa (‘a) asks for table (with food) from the Almighty Allah and introduces the day of its descension as the day of celebration and says:



“O Allah, our lord! send down to us food from heaven which should be to us an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and the last of us, and a sign from Thee, and grant us means of subsistence, and Thou art the best of the Providers.” (Maida: 114)

Is the value of the Holy Prophet's existence lesser than one heavenly table which Isa (‘a) declares the day of its descension to be the day of ‘Eid’. If such a day is declared to be the day of ‘Eid’ because of the table being a divine sign, then is not the Holy Prophet (s) the greatest divine sign!?

Woe to those who are ready to celebrate the day of descension of one heavenly table that feeds the stomachs but ignore and label as innovation, the celebration of the day of descension of Qur’an and the day of appointment (bi’that) of Prophet who blessed the minds of human beings with perfection of thought over the period of history !


Fifth Proof:
The Qur’an says:



“And exalted for you your esteem”? (Inshiraah: 4)

Is it that arranging gatherings for celebrating the days of birth of the Holy Prophet (s) having any purpose other than elevating his name and fame! Why in this case we should not follow the Qur’an? Is not Qur’an an example and the best model for us?

Notes:
[1] al-Fath al-Majid, page 154. At this time when these pages and papers are being composed, and in the entire Islamic countries celebrations are being held on the occasion of the birth of the Holy Prophet, the Mufti of the House of Sa’ud, Bin Baz has declared as forbidden and innovation any kind of respect for the birthday of the Holy Prophet (s). But the same person addressed King Faisal al-Sa’ud during his reign as ‘Amir al-mu'minin’ and this action was biting and shocking to the extent that the king too understood and excused for accepting this title.

[2] Refer to al-Raghib, Mufradat al-Raghib, under " ' dh r".

[3] Sura Yusuf: 84.

[4] Sura Yusuf verse: 94.

[5] Moreover, reliable traditions have come down from the Infallibles about holding of mourning ceremonies and in this connection, Allama al-'Amini has collected in one chapter of his book titled: all the traditions from Sunni books

source: http://www.al-islam.org/wahhabism/9.htm

LagosShia: it is not bid'ah to mark the birthday of the Prophet (sa),the 12 Imams (as) and members of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) and even prophets of Allah whose dates are known.

for it to be bid'ah it must be haram.any act that is not haram based on the Quran and the sunnah of Rasulullah (as) and the 12 rightly guided caliphs (as) is not bid'ah. a bid'ah must be haram act.if it is not haram act,then it is not bid'ah.that is the way to know a bid'ah.otherwise,using computer to preach Islam is also bid'ah and copying the kuffar because they invented the internet.

as for those saying birthday is pagan in origin,then must know that we are neither emulating the pagans nor worshipping the person whose birthday we are celebratory nor believing as the pagans did.

it is however not an obligatory act to celebrate birthdays of the chosen ones of Allah (swt).not marking it does not render one sinful nor does it make him less of a muslim and lover of the Prophet (sa).

Criminal Ibos: Katsina State – Dozens of members of
Muslim Brotherhood Movement from
Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and parts of Katsina
State on Saturday began a 90-kilometre trek
to Zaria, Kaduna State.
Malam Qassim Sanda, the leader of the
group, told newsmen at take-off point in
Funtua, Katsina State that the exercise was
to commemorate the martyrdom of the
grand child of Prophet Muhammad.
The grandchild, Imam Hussaini ibn Asayyid-
Ali, was killed in Karbala in the present day
Iraq.
Sanda explained that the exercise was a
symbolic representation of unity of Muslim
faithful to further draw the attention to
Islamic history.

lanrexlan: @LagosShia and Al-Baqir,these companions have worked their own way.They were among the foremost people to accept Islam
Narrated Abu Said:The Prophet(pbuh) said:Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them.[Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 5,Book 57,Hadith Number 22].We know what these companions spent during the expedition of Tabuk in the path of Allah.
The Quran says muslims shouldn't pray Janazah at the hypocrites burial,didn't muslims pray Janazah at these companions' burial? I am not forcing anything on you,just let us work our own ways and stop criticizing.
I don't expect a reply because I won't reply again.Assalam alaikum

lanrexlan: Eww,lame excuse.Ibn Hazim said Walid Ibn Jumai mentioned the names but he failed to provide the source.

Why shining your teeth? I've been asking the question since,check my posts.

I never denied that since,his companions are humans and they fall short.

You are still talking about the same battle of Uhud,I repeat those that turned their heels in the battle of Uhud has been forgiven.We know some arabs turned apostate after the death of the prophet(pbuh) and those are the people that the verse of the Quran you quoted
[Surah Al-Imran 3:144] is talking about.Read this
Narrated Abu Huraira:When the Prophet(pbuh) died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief,'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said,'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say:'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,'and whoever said,'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah',Allah will save his property and his life from me,unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly,and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders).
By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle,I would fight with them for withholding it." Umar said,"By Allah:It was nothing,but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight,therefore I realized that his decision was right[Sahih Al-Bukhari Book 58,Hadith Number 59].These were those people that verse was pointing to,are they among those whom you have in mind??

Provide evidences please,what deed is greater than running away from the battlefield that can make a person falls into disbelief? Just curious.

Does Allah ask you to curse the hypocrites? If they are alive,admonish them and if they are dead their reward is with Allah(swt).
The prophet (pbuh) forbade us when he said;Do not curse the dead;they will get it for what they had done (in this life).

Reported by Abud-Darda’ (RA):The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:When a person curses somebody or something,the curse goes up to heaven and the gates of heaven get closed.Then it comes down to the earth and its gates get closed.Then it turns right and left,and if it does not find an entrance to go anywhere,it returns to the person or thing that was cursed;if he or it deserves to be cursed;otherwise it returns to the person who uttered it.[Abu Dawud].I hate hypocrites as much as you do but that doesn't mean I should curse them.

I think we draw curtains on this,keep to your belief and let me keep to mine.

bashir: Why are Shia people doing some trekking ritual or whatever from Kano to Zaria?

I normally could care less about whatever they choose to do with their time but when they decide to Block one side of a federal highway and declare it as their camp then it kind of becomes a problem for me and other people who are trying to get to their destinations peacefully and quickly.

What's even more surprising is that not even the Security Agencies seem to do anything about it. If they want to do some crazy trekking then let them follow the woods because i see no reason why my journey of 2 hours should become 6 hours because of some idiots who think they are so above the law that they can block a whole road for their personal reasons.

In the end its all the Governments fault for just looking at them while they do what they like anyway.

lanrexlan: Sunni sources that made mention of the hypocrites were the saying related by Hudhaifah in Ibn Kathir and Sahih Muslim and no name were mentioned there.

Funny,let us have the names of those hypocrites.If they fall under the categories of the characteristics of hypocrites listed by the prophet(pbuh),then no problem.

Nobody says these companions of the prophet(pbuh) were perfect.These people are humans just like everyone and there aren't infallible.

When some of the sahabas ran away from the battle of Uhud,we know it's bad to do that and that's a sin but their Lord has forgiven them.Allah says in the glorious Quran in Surah Al-Imran 3:155 -Those of you who turned back on the day the two hosts met (i.e. the battle of Uhud),it was Shaitan (Satan) who caused them to backslide (run away from the battlefield) because of some (sins) they had earned.But Allah,indeed has forgiven them.Surely,Allah is Oft-Forgiving,Most Forbearing.If Allah(swt) has forgiven these people whom some Shias termed hypocrites because they ran away from the battlefield,then what's Shias problem with them?
The prophet(pbuh) gave the characteristics of an hypocrite,the question is does those whom Shia cursed fall under these categories listed by Muhammad(pbuh)?

My friend,Allah never ask you to curse the hypocrites.If Allah needs you do something he will reveal it in the Quran.When Allah needs the believers to send blessings on the prophet(pbuh),he revealed a verse for it[Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:56].
Allah doesn't ask you to curse the hypocrites,he ask the prophet(pbuh) to admonish them and speak words that will be effective on them.The curse of Allah is also on the disbelievers[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:89].Did Allah ask the prophet(pbuh)to curse them when inviting them to Islam? The prophet(pbuh) was even in deep grief over the disbelievers turning away from the Quran.He never gave up and I haven't find where the prophet(pbuh) cursed the hypocrites in Aqabah in that narration related by Ibn Kathir in his book.
Allah doesn't require you and any Shia to curse the hypocrites.These companions have worked their own way,if they were hypocrites then they will receive their due reward from Allah(swt) and Allah is never unjust to his slaves.

maclatunji:

Hahahahahahahaaaa... let us put things in perspective. You are saying you do not think the 4 pious caliphs are grand abi? We will leave you to think whatever you want on that whilst we put a question mark on your comprehension skills.

However, to say anyone is a hypocrite is to say they are not Muslims and any serious Muslim has to take you up on it. Thankfully, Al-Baqir seems to have a list from the Qur'an according to him. We have to ask him to provide that list or simply keep quiet because the faith of a man would be impossible to determine beyond what he claims and does. Unless you want to tell us you are clairvoyant, we will need definitive proof.

maclatunji:

Hahahahaha... I have not made any assertion regarding the Qur'an, your like-minded poster did and no one forced him to make it. It is one thing not to like the 4 rightly guided caliphs (RA), it is another to claim companions of the Prophet (SAW) are hypocrites.

By the way, I dislike hypocrites, who says they do not love the household of the prophet (SAW)? Definitely not moi.

lanrexlan:

Who among those people stated in your link falls into these categories?
Funny enough,you directed me to a link of one of your Shia brothers.What I will write will be based on what's posted in that link.

When Walid Ibn Jumai was among the narrators of a saying recorded in Ibn Kathir which is a sunni source,they called him a liar and that saying of Hudhaifah a fabricated lie.
.
Ibn Hazim claimed this narration of Hudhaifah is not reliable because it contains Walid Ibn Jumai among his narrators,therefore nullifying it.[Source:Al-Muhalla. Vol. 11, Pg. # 224.].This means Walid Ibn Jumai is unreliable and this saying was fabricated because it's a sunni source.

But when Ibn Hazim said that this same Walid Ibn Jumai revealed the names of the hypocrites in Shia sources[which wasn't even given in that link],then your brother agreed with him and quoted some scholars[which we don't know maybe they Shia scholars with Shia sources] praising Walid Ibn Jumai whom Ibn Hazim has already called 'unreliable' when he narrated through a sunni source.He says

Eww,it's very easy when a narration doesn't favor you it becomes fabricated.
So you decided to go with the story that favors your belief that the first three caliphs which Sunni believe in are hypocrites[Stated in your source].
You know what? Keep to your belief,we know they are hypocrites among the companions of the prophet(pbuh).Some which the prophet(pbuh)knew of and didn't know others.
Allah says in the glorious Quran in Surah An-Nisa 4:63 -They (hypocrites) are those of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts;so turn aside from them (do not punish them) but admonish them,and speak to them an effective word (i.e. to believe in Allah,worship Him,obey Him,and be afraid of Him) to reach their innerselves.Those hypocrites the prophet(pbuh)knew of,Allah has asked him to admonish them.

So why are Shias cursing the hypocrites??

maclatunji:

You are the one that claimed the Qur'an as justification for your rather unislamic position. I have asked you to provide the names of those hypocrites named in the Qur'an so that we may dislike them with you.

maclatunji: ^The arguments in the opening post are sound. Moreover, how does your argument improve your personal standing in relation to your individual reckoning and deeds? The people and issues you are writing epistles on and arguing bitterly about are long gone. Are you afraid that Allah will not give justice to everyone? To the point that you and your ilk have to bring the same issue into virtually everything from brushing your teeth to smashing rocks for making gravel.

#Bothersome

I'd answer your words,by just reminding you in case you've forgotten,that just few posts ago,you brought us a forged hadith which issues a blank cheque to the title of "companions",and asks us to follow the Prophet (sa) and the "companions",without specifying which of the companions;was it one of the companions who converted to Christianity?!

if we don't look back into the past to know who we are following,then how can we just blindly follow them? It doesn't make sense.

Go to the book of Allah (swt),and you will find the stories of Musa (as) and the Pharoah,Nimrod,Zhul-Qarnain,Dawud (as) and Jalut,and many.why is Allah (swt) taking us to all these past stories and condemning Fir'awn and praising the prophets (as),calling them His "righteous servants" and "pious" ?just story telling? I don't think so.ponder about it,and see why we must know our past,and who the trustworthy and praiseworthy were and who the blameworthy and villains we must shun were,as per the standard of the Quran and the Ahlul-Bayt (as).only going back to the Thaqalain,which Prophet Muhammad (sa) left for us can guide this ummah and unite us.any other is waste of time and straying from Islam into either misguidance or disbelief.

We turn to old issues particularly the caliphate because those issues have contributed to the reality that the majority of Muslims today are ignorant and on false beliefs,and many are ready to blow themselves up to kill those who disagree with them.is this the Islam of Muhammad (sa) and his Ahlul-Bayt (as)? I doubt.in fact if you go to Bukhari and Muslim,you find fabricated Sunni hadiths demonizing the Prophet (sa) and portraying him as a tyrant who oppressed people,just in order to justify the oppression the caliphs perpetrated and the torture men like al-hajjaj ibn yusuf al-thaqafi used to punish muslims with.you can take the hadith which accuse the Prophet (sa) of nailing the eyes of people (this is in sahih muslim) as example.false hadith that the Prophet (sa) committed mass murder against the jews (in sahih bukhari) also.this is the sunnah of jahiliyyah which quraysh and the arabians practiced.once Muhammad (sa),the mercy unto mankind passed away,they wanted to revive this sunnah of criminality and terror,which the Prophet (sa) fought against in self-defense.his family members (the Ahlul-Bayt) were first to suffer once the Prophet (sa) died.as an example,you have the tragedy of Karbala,where the grandson of the Prophet (sa)-Imam Hussain (as)- was beheaded,his women (including the grand-daughters of the Prophet) were taken as captives to the sunni caliph yazeed.how does that affect us today? We both follow two different paths.you follow the path of those sahaba who usurped power and imposed themselves on the ummah,and caused bloodshed,and we follow the legacy of the prophet of mercy and his Ahlul-Bayt (as).this is a fundamental difference that many don't see,but have made Islam synonymous with terrorism since the majority of muslims are on the former (path).our paths and the legacies we follow are not the same.

Take for instance what was done to Muhammad (ra) son of abu bakr.he ironically was a Shia of Imam Ali (as).on the authority of Muawiya,the sunni caliph and a successor of abu bakr,Muhammad (ra) was killed by Amr Ibn Aas and his corpse was loaded on a donkey and both were burnt! Where is the grave of Muhammad ibn Abu bakr? Do you know?well that is not the issue.the issue and catastrophe for this ummah is when the names of muawiya or amr ibn aas are mentioned,sunnis exclaim: "may Allah be pleased with him".in that way,its not bad too if you say "may Allah be pleased with fir'awn".it sounds funny,no doubt,but we are in deep trouble.the ummah of Muhammad (sa) fails to see that the legacy of jahiliyyah and bloodshed of pre-islamic times crept back with the death of the Prophet (sa),and even the Ahlul-Bayt (as) were victims.when the head of Imam Hussain (as) was taken to damascus,as a sign of triumph to the court of yazeed (whom by the way salafists do not condemn but even praise),yazeed made it clear that the grandson of Muhammad (sa) was beheaded as part of vengeance for his pagan ancestors whom the Prophet (sa) had killed in the battle of badr.you expect me to unite with someone who hold a favorable view of yazeed?

And furthermore,in both sunni and shia hadiths,the Prophet (sa) said: "he who dies without knowing the imam of his time,has died the death of jahiliyyah".who is the imam of the time for sunnis? If you as a sunni die today,who is the "imam of your time"? You don't know wallah!then in both Shia and Sunni hadiths,the Prophet (sa) said : "the successors after me are twelve".obviously,they can't be 13! To the Shia the awaited 12th Imam (aj) is our imam of the time.do sunnis know their 12 successors? Wallah you deny the most authentic of your hadith.the hadith of 12 imams is found in Sahih Muslim.again you fabricate or twist interpretations to suit your beliefs.the sunni caliphs were more than 30!

Beware! By Allah the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) dressed himself with it (the caliphate) and he certainly knew that my position in relation to it was the same as the position of the axis in relation to the hand-mill. The flood water flows down from me and the bird cannot fly up to me. I put a curtain against the caliphate and kept myself detached from it.
Then I began to think whether I should assault or endure calmly the blinding darkness of tribulations wherein the grown up are made feeble and the young grow old and the true believer acts under strain till he meets Allah (on his death). I found that endurance thereon was wiser. So I adopted patience although there was pricking in the eye and suffocation (of mortification) in the throat. I watched the plundering of my inheritance till the first one went his way but handed over the Caliphate to Ibn al-Khattab after himself.

It is strange that during his lifetime he wished to be released from the caliphate but he confirmed it for the other one after his death. No doubt these two shared its udders strictly among themselves. This one put the Caliphate in a tough enclosure where the utterance was haughty and the touch was rough. Mistakes were in plenty and so also the excuses therefore. One in contact with it was like the rider of an unruly camel. If he pulled up its rein the very nostril would be slit, but if he let it loose he would be thrown. Consequently, by Allah people got involved in recklessness, wickedness, unsteadiness and deviation.

Nevertheless, I remained patient despite length of period and stiffness of trial, till when he went his way (of death) he put the matter (of Caliphate) in a group and regarded me to be one of them. But good Heavens! what had I to do with this "consultation"? Where was any doubt about me with regard to the first of them that I was now considered akin to these ones? But I remained low when they were low and flew high when they flew high. One of them turned against me because of his hatred and the other got inclined the other way due to his in-law relationship and this thing and that thing, till the third man of these people stood up with heaving breasts between his dung and fodder. With him his children of his grand-father, (Umayyah) also stood up swallowing up Allah's wealth like a camel devouring the foliage of spring, till his rope broke down, his actions finished him and his gluttony brought him down prostrate.

At that moment, nothing took me by surprise, but the crowd of people rushing to me. It advanced towards me from every side like the mane of the hyena so much so that Hasan and Husayn were getting crushed and both the ends of my shoulder garment were torn. They collected around me like the herd of sheep and goats. When I took up the reins of government one party broke away and another turned disobedient while the rest began acting wrongfully as if they had not heard the word of Allah saying:

That abode in the hereafter, We assign it for those who intend not to exult themselves in the earth, nor (to make) mischief (therein); and the end is (best) for the pious ones.(Qur'an, 28:83)

Yes, by Allah, they had heard it and understood it but the world appeared glittering in their eyes and its embellishments seduced them. Behold, by Him who split the grain (to grow) and created living beings, if people had not come to me and supporters had not exhausted the argument and if there had been no pledge of Allah with the learned to the effect that they should not acquiesce in the gluttony of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed I would have cast the rope of Caliphate on its own shoulders, and would have given the last one the same treatment as to the first one. Then you would have seen that in my view this world of yours is no better than the sneezing of a goat.

By Allah I shall not be like the badger, which feigns sleep on continuous (sound of) stone-throwing till he who is in search of it finds it or he who is on the look out for it overpowers it. Rather, I shall ever strike the deviators from truth with the help of those who advance towards it, and the sinners and doubters with the help of those who listen to me and obey, till my day (of death) comes. By Allah I have been continually deprived of my right from the day the Prophet died till today.
Reference:
• Sermon #6 in Nahjul Balagha

One of Amir al-mu'minin's companions (from Banu Asad) asked him: "How was it that your tribe (Quraysh) deprived you of this position (Caliphate) although you deserved it most." Then in reply he said:
O' brother of Banu Asad! Your girth is loose and you have put it on the wrong way. Nevertheless you enjoy in-law kinship and also the right to ask, and since you have asked, listen. As regards the oppression against us in this matter although we were the highest as regards descent and the strongest in relationship with the Messenger of Allah. It was a selfish act over which the hearts of people became greedy, although some people did not care for it. The Arbiter is Allah and to Him is the return on the Day of Judgement.
Come and look at the son of Abu Sufyan (Mu`awiyah). Time has made me laugh after weeping. No wonder, by Allah; what is this affair which surpasses all wonder and which has increased wrongfulness. These people have tried to put out the flame of Allah's light from His lamp and to close His fountain from its source. They mixed epidemic-producing water between me and themselves. If the trying hardships were removed from among us, I would take them on the course of truthfulness otherwise:

"... So let not thy self go (in vain) in grief for them; verily Allah knoweth all that they do." (Qur'an, 35:8 )
Reference:
• Sermon #162 in Nahjul Balagha

Where are those who falsely and unjustly claimed that they are deeply versed in knowledge, as against us, although Allah raised us in position and kept them down, bestowed upon us knowledge but deprived them, and entered us (in the fortress of knowledge) but kept them out. With us guidance is to be sought and blindness (of misguidance) is to be changed into brightness. Surely Imams (divine leaders) will be from the Quraysh. They have been planted in this line through Hashim. It would not suit others nor would others be suitable as heads of affairs.
They have adopted this world and abandoned the next world; left clean water and drunk stinking water. I can almost see their wicked one who committed unlawful acts, associated himself with them, befriended them and accorded with them till his hair grew grey and his nature acquired their tinge. He proceeded onward emitting foam like a torrential stream not caring whom he drowned, or, like fire in straw, without realising what he burnt.

Where are the minds which seek light from the lamps of guidance, and the eyes which look at minarets of piety? Where are the hearts dedicated to Allah, and devoted to the obedience of Allah? They are all crowding towards worldly vanities and quarrelling over unlawful issues. The ensigns of Paradise and Hell have been raised for them but they have turned their faces away from Paradise and proceeded to Hell by dint of their performances. Allah called them but they showed dislike and ran away. When Satan called them they responded and proceeded (towards him).

Reference:
• Sermon #144 in Nahjul Balagha

...None in the Islamic community can be taken at par with the Progeny of the Prophet (Alu Muhammad). One who was under their obligation cannot be matched with them. They are the foundation of religion and pillar of Belief. The forward runner has to turn back to them while the follower has to overtake them. They possess the chief characteristics for vicegerency. In their favour exists the will and succession (of the Prophet). This is the time when right has returned to its owner and diverted to its centre of return.

Reference:
• Conclusion of Sermon #2 in Nahjul Balagha

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Do you (as a Shia) deny that anybody who calls himself a muslim and does not believe in the wilayat of Ali is kafir and should be killed?
Do you (as a Shia) deny that at the time of the Al-Raj'ah anyone who does not believe in the wilayat of Ali will be killed?

vedaxcool: This article contains a huge lie, muawiyyah was not responsible for Ali death, the Kariwajites who ironically were shias who turned against Ali r. a for accepting arbitration with muawiyyah. Like wise Hussein death had the the despicable hands of hypocrites who pretended to be his followers. A great lesson to learn is standing up for what is right and being careful of the sort of followers u have.

kaybyte: Salamu alaykum. Please brothers and sister i beg of you to leave al baqir and lagosshia and other shias alone. They intention is to make you muslims hate Ali r.a. I believe they have given there allegiance to the west. They are friends with obama and they been used to destroy islam.