IMAM ALI (S) Sunshine of Civilized Islam
Chapter2
HOW AND BY WHICH WAY CAN WE REACH THE TRUTH OF ISLAM?
Imam Ali (s) wrote in his will to Imam Hasan: “O my son, know that... (if you do not like to follow your ancestors and virtuous people) , first you have to search the truth by the way of understanding and perceiving so that you do not fall into doubts or become involved in disputes... ”
Nowadays man has progressed in the field of science vastly and is able to think over the whole social problems. On the other hand we understand from the history the cause of the decline of a great civilization by a small one and for what reason a small nation can obtain a victory over a great nation. We can say that the real cause is believing in the goal and steadfastness in the belief. Now the world is in the same situation that the Muslims were facing at the beginning of Islam. They confronted many widespread corruptions and crimes so that we have to confront them at the present time too. Although the Muslims were few in number, but they encountered the greatest empires in the history, whose force; men, equipments and wealth were incomparable to the force of the Muslims. In spite of the great difference in force, the Muslims could overcome those empires in less than fifty years and the Muslims took the reins of the two great governments of the world. Therefore we have to study how this miraculous advancement took place.
Neither the material powers nor the economic schools can justify this wonderful happening. The only thing that can be said is that the reason behind that was the steadfastness in belief; the same belief that made every Muslim say to the enemy, as the Holy Qur’an says: (Say: Do you await for us but one of two most excellent things? (Victory or martyrdom in the way of God and eventually the Garden of Eden) And we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or by our hands. So wait; we too will wait with you) 9: 52.
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Then they attacked the enemy's line fearlessly to get one of the two honors. Yes, the only way to this holy aim is the faith in God and nothing else. There may be some people, compassionately or in order to destroy the morale of the Muslims, may say that the only way to reach our goals is material tools and specially armaments.
Of course we are in need of arms of different kinds but it is of secondary importance. First we have to strengthen our faith and then to stand up to the oppressors of the East and the West. We do not have to expect unreal dangers but we have to devote ourselves to the progress and to withstand the colonial policies in order to secure the public welfare throughout the world.
The Holy Qur’an says:
(And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly) 8: 60.
The Islamic revolution that will bring down the oppressors and shake the foundation of the tyrants is going to take form to spread its holy aim widely by the help of material and moral forces. The aim is to spread the social justice. The Muslims bear glad tidings of a new world that humans will not be cornered by material forces or be captured by economical necessities.
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As it was said before that some Islamic groups are fighting now against the devilish forces in their own countries for the sake of freedom and social justice but unfortunately they are suppressed by some internal xenophiles, who are more dangerous than the foreigners.
Imam Ali said:
“Jihad is one of the doors of Paradise that Allah has opened for His close saints. It is the dress of piety and the protective armor of Allah and His firm shield. Whoever turns away from it (jihad) , Allah will clothe him with a dress of disgrace and distress, his heart is covered with a curtain of ignorance, rightfulness is hidden from him, he is to live in abjection and he is prevented from justice because he refused to go to Jihad. ”
Anyhow these xenophiles have to know that since these movements support Allah's religion, Allah will support them too and eventually they will achieve their aim.
The Holy Qur’an says:
(And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good) 29: 69.
Of course it is necessary for the Islamic ummah to be self-sacrificing and devoted to reach their goals as the first Muslims did during the time of the Prophet and made the peoples hear that the world of Islam is full of goodness and welfare. The Muslims also have to know that these self- sacrifices will never be in vain, and that they will be guaranteed on the earth by Allah the Almighty. Imam Ali (s) always exhorted the people to seek their rights and to stand up to the oppressors. He said: “I will never show any indolence in fighting against one, who opposes the rightness or leads people astray... ”
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The Holy Qur’an says:
(And be not infirm and be not grieving, and you shall have the upper hand if you are believers) 3: 139.
Imam Ali said again:
“O people, help me to cleanse your hearts. By Allah, I will revenge the oppressed on the oppressor and I will pull the oppressor with (his halter) to the fountain of rightfulness even if he is unwilling. ”
Nowadays, it is suggested to start arguments among the civilizations and so it is necessary for the intellectuals and the sociologists of the different countries to attend conferences and assemblies to find suitable answers for the politico-social crisis of the world and to treat the moral deviation and confusion among the youths. The Europeans acquired different sciences from the Muslims during the Crusades. Those sciences enlightened them and then led to the Renaissance of Europe. Now the Western and the Islamic civilizations have to communicate with each other to follow the best examples of both sides and to find the right way to achieve a lasting peace.
Now the Islamic countries have to follow the policies of their own great leaders and to practice the wise laws of the Holy Qur’an and to seek inspiration from the outstanding personalities of Islam.
Although all the Islamic statesmen and executors of the divine law were worthy personalities and they acted according to the spirit of Islam, but the most famous of them was Imam Ali (s) , whose sayings and deeds were given an account in this book to be a guide to civilized Islam.
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We argue with the other civilizations by virtue of this great personality with mutual respect and without interfering in the civilian affairs of each other.
On the other hand the Islamic countries are greatly recommended to unite with each other as the Holy Qur’an says:
(And hold fast by the covenant of Allah together and be not disunited) 3: 103.
The Muslim countries have to suffice their needs themselves as far as possible so that whenever an enemy made an attack against one of them, the other Muslim countries can cut off the political and economical ties with the aggressive enemy.
All of us must know that the only way of protecting our independence and regaining our initial glory is to be united and to follow the principles of the civilized Islam.
REFERENCE BOOKS
The Holy Qur’an.
Nahj al-Balaghah (the sermons, letters and sayings of Imam Ali (s) ).
Shabhay Pishawar, speeches of Sultan al-Wa’izeen ash-Shirazi.
Forough Abadiyyat: written by Jaafar Sobhani.
Marde-na-Motanahi (the infinite man) written by Hasan Sadr Esfahani.