IMAM AL-HUJJAH (AJ) – PART THREE (OF THREE)
19 August 2009 19:08
BY SHEIKH MUJAHIDALI A SHERIFF
OUR DUTIES DURING THE OCCULTATION
"And We desired to favour those who were oppressed in the land, and make them the Imams, and make them the heirs". (28:5)
We have so far discussed the following two things which we are supposed to do during the period of Intidhaar:
1. Since the primary mission of our 12th Imam (AJ) will be to revive and execute the teachings of Quran, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.), we must strive to base our life upon the teachings of these sources. The most suitable and capable people who can help and guide us in this matter are the sincere 'Ulama Islamic Religious Scholars.
2. Give utmost importance to knowledge of all sciences and education. This will enable our society to prosper and also be of help to our Imam (AJ) when he finally reappears to establish his government of justice and equity.
SELF-REFORMATION
The third thing which we should be doing is Self-Reformation. There are different methods for Self-Reformation but the most important and most effective way of doing this is by abstaining from MA'SIYAH i.e. disobedience of Allah (SWT).
This should not be very difficult because after sending all the prophets and revealing the heavenly books thereby setting His laws and regulations for us to abide with, Allah (SWT) has done three things:
Firstly, He (SWT) has identified for us those things which are the main causes of our deviation from the path of Allah (SWT).
These are two namely Shaytan and Hawa (vain desires). With regard to Shaytan, it is known to all that he had vowed to misguide mankind. When Allah (SWT) created Prophet Adam (a.s.) and instructed all the angels to prostrate before him, all did except for shaytan.
"And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam, they did obeisance except Iblees. He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the unbelievers". (2:34)
And when he was thrown out, he asked for respite which he was granted. Then he said,
"...I will certainly lie in wait for them on Your straight path. The I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from their right-hand-side and from their left-hand-side: and You shall not find most of them thankful". (7:16-17)
Allah (SWT) has identified Shaytan as an enemy for us and has cautioned us to be careful of him.
"Verily shaytan is your enemy so take him for an enemy". (35:6)
And the other thing is Hawa i.e. our lusts and vain desire.
"...and do not follow vain desires lest it should lead you astray from the path of Allah..." (38:26)
"And for him who fears to stand before in the presence of his Lord and forbides the self from low desires, then surely the garden-that is the abode". (79:40-41)
It is important to note that there are certain things which are permissible and certain things that are forbidden by Divine laws. We have been told to suppress our desires for forbidden things and not for things that are permitted. However, there are also certain permissible things which can make one to forget Allah (SWT) and may even lead to His disobedience. Those who seek spiritual elevation and wish to acquire distinction in the sight of Allah (SWT) will have to work hard to suppress their desires even from the want of such permissible things.
Secondly, Allah (SWT) has informed us about the consequences of His disobedience, both in this world and in the hereafter.
Disobedience of Allah (SWT) devalues man and causes his destruction in this life.
"And whoever disobeys Allah and His messenger has indeed strayed with a manifest straying". (33:36)
Such a person may appear to look successful and enjoying life to its fullest but close observation will reveal that it is full of different kinds of problems and the core of life which is Sa'adah "Happiness" is missing in it. Disobedience of Allah (SWT) will be the cause of humiliation and punishment in the hereafter.
"And whoso disobeys Allah and His messenger and transgresses His limits, He shall cause him to enter the fire, to abide therein forever, and for him shall be a shameful punishment". (4:14)
Thirdly, Allah (SWT) has promised to rescue and protect one who obeys Him and safeguards against evil.
"Whosoever is careful of his duty to Allah, He will make a way out for him". (65:2)
There once lived a pious man in the tribe of Bani Israel. One day he was informed that at a certain location there was a tree which some people worshipped. This information annoyed the pious man, so he took an axe and set out to cut down that tree.
Iblees appeared before him in disguise of an old man and asked, "Where are you going?". The pious man replied, "To cut down the tree which people are worshipping". Iblees tried to talk him out of it but in vain. Finally disappointed and angered by his behavior, Iblees began to wrestle the pious man. In the ensuing contest, the pious man hurled Iblees onto the ground. Iblees then came up with an appealing suggestion. He said, "Listen! You are a poor man. If you get some wealth, you will be able to give alms and help other people like yourself. If you refrain from cutting down the tree, I shall place two dinars under your pillow everyday".
The pious man accepted. For the next two days he received the two dinars and utilized them. However, on the third day there was no sign of that promised money. Upset and distressed, he picked up his axe and once again set out to cut down the tree. On the way, he encountered Iblees who asked him as to where he was going. "To cut down that tree", replied the pious man. Shaytan said, "There is no way you will do that" and one again they began to contest. This time, Iblees overcame the pious man and threatened to severe his head if he did not return. The man agreed but asked, "How was it that I had managed to overcome you on the previous occasion?".
This is what Iblees had to say, "On that occasion, you had set out only for Allah and you were sincere in your intention that is why Allah subjugated me for you, but this time you were angry for your own self and for your dinars and so, I could overpower you". (Ihyaa al-'Uloom)
If we understand these things which Allah (SWT) has done for us, it will not be very difficult for us to abstain from His disobedience and shall be able to reform ourselves to become good Muslims thereby preparing ourselves for the arrival of Imam al-Hujjah (AJ).
AMR BIL-MA’ROOF & NAHYI ANIL-MUNKAR
The fourth thing is Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahyi ‘Anil Munkar which means “to enjoin people to do good and forbid them from evil”. This is a strict divine instruction upon us which has also been highly emphasised in traditions:
“And the believing men and the believing women are the guardians of one another, they enjoin good and forbid evil, and they establish the prayer, and pay the poor-rate and obey Allah and His messenger. On them will Allah bestow His mercy…” (9:71)
“O my son! Establish prayer, enjoin good, forbid evil and bear with patience what befalls you. Verily these are the acts of steadfastness”. (31:17)
“You are the best group that has been brought forth for mankind, you enjoin goodness and you forbid prayer, and you believe in Allah”. (3:110)
Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) has said, “The foundation of Sharia’h (divine laws) are enjoining people to do good and forbid them from evil and establishment of divine limits”. (Ghurar al-Hikam)
When a person came to Imam Ali (a.s.) during the battle of Siffeen and said, “You return to your ‘Iraq and we shall go back to our Shaam, he (a.s.) responded by saying, “It is unacceptable to Allah that He is disobeyed on this earth while those who love Him remain quiet and submissive (to what is happening around them). They do not enjoin others to do good and forbid them from evil. I have found that fighting is easier for me than to rescue myself from the fire of jahannam”. (Nahj al-Sa’adah)
To enjoin people to do good and forbid them from evil is certainly not an easy task. This has also been acknowledged in Quran:
“O son! Establish prayer, enjoin good, forbid evil and bear with patience what befalls you..” (31:17)
Explaining the meaning of “Bear with patience what befalls you” Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “What befalls upon you from the difficulties and pain in discharging Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahyi ‘anil Munkar”. (Tafseer Nur al-Thaqalayn).
Friends turn into foes, one is discarded and disowned by his family and community, faces humiliation and even sent into exile or even killed. These are some of the difficulties. But the beauty of all these hardships is that the more the difficulties one encounters doing Amr bil Ma’roof & Nahyi ‘anil Munkar, the more the truth emerges and such a person is seen victorious.
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is one of those Imams who gave lot of importance to Amr bil Ma’roof & Nahyi ‘anil Munkar. He (a.s.) invited people to righteousness and stood firm against tyranny and injustice.
Hisham bin Abdulmalik was an oppressive ruler during the time of Imam al-Baqir (a.s.). He considered himself the successor of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) but he was unjust to people. He used to oppress them and spend public wealth for himself. Many Muslims lived in poverty whereas Hisham built palaces for himself. At that time, Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) was in Madina where he used to educate people about their rights and the value of rising up against tyranny in order to establish true Islam in the society. News of Imam (a.s.)’s teachings reached Hisham who was very annoyed and called the Imam (a.s.) to Damascus. The government ministers and leading men of Damascus were all present when the Imam (a.s.) arrived. He entered and sat down in the court of Hisham without paying any attention to him. Hisham was more furious and said, “O Muhammad ibn Ali! I have heard that you are encouraging the people to rise against me. If this is true, you better stop it or your life is in danger”. Some vile ministers and courtiers also added their own words to threaten the Imam (a.s.). It was here that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) stood up and began his speech.
He (a.s.) first praised Allah and then addressing the people, said: “O ignorant and deceived people! Around what type of person have gathered? Whose pleasure have you acquired? You have made God angry with you and purchased degradation in the world and punishment in the hereafter. Do you know who has been threatened in your presence? Do you know who I am? I am the son of your Prophet. I am the Imam and leader of the Muslims. God has entrusted me with this responsibility. I understand Islam. I know the contents of the Quran. I know the path to your prosperity and success. Why do you support this tyrant? Don’t you see his injustice and oppression? Are you unaware of the poverty and need of the people? Are you not Muslims that you sit silently in the face of injustice and oppression and quietly endorse it? Fear God and rise up for Him and destroy this oppressive government. In this way, you will acquire for yourselves felicity and honour in this world and in the hereafter”. Hearing these words, Hisham was so enraged that he ordered Imam (a.s.) to be imprisoned but this too, did not silence the Imam (a.s.). He preached the prisoners and told them to rise up for Allah. The prisoners liked him and began to revolt against the government within the prison walls. Hisham felt the pressure of danger from all sides and finally released the Imam (a.s.) and sent him back to Madina.
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) has also said, “One who sees an evil thing happening and does not refute it when he has the power to do so then he has chosen Allah to be disobeyed. And whoever chooses Allah to be disobeyed then he has confronted Allah with enmity”. (Mustadrak al-Wasail)
