Welcome to the 19th episode of Heavenly Call on the occasion of the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan.

Today is the tragic day in history on which in the early morning hours, while engrossed in the ritual prayer the Commander of True Believers, the Leader of the Pious, the Symbol of Justice, and the Gateway of the City of Knowledge, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), was struck a fatal blow on his head by poison-soaked sword of the renegade Abdur-Rahman ibn Muljam – a blow that resulted in his martyrdom two days later on the 21^st of Ramadhan.

We extend our heartfelt condolences on this sad occasion. Let us recite the special supplication of the 19^th day. Please listen:

“O Allah, grant me this day an ample share of its blessings; ease my way to its good and bounties; and do not deprive me from receiving its graces: O Guide to the manifest truth!”

Human being has been created as a social entity and is but natural for mankind to bond together. This closeness is on the basis of affection, compassion, respect and all other humanitarian feelings. This love is deeper in familial relations to the extent that every individual of a household is ready to make any effort to provide comfort and welfare for the other members of the family. At times, however, there is the danger of breaching humanitarian norm and violation of ethics. The only thing that can prevent such incidents in a family is firm adherence to religious values. In other words, a believer has natural tendencies, likes, dislikes, and personal and familial interests, just like all other human beings, but these tendencies in a true believer are within the firm framework of faith and the lofty goal of seeking the satisfaction of God Almighty. Hence, the best people for him are those who tread the path of God and abide by the divine laws. When faced with dilemma, a true believer chooses the way which is closer to what God has commanded and the practical precedents set in this regard by the Prophet and the Infallible Imams, irrespective of what family members and friends prefer. Ayah 9 of Surah Munafequn is a serious warning in this regard:

“O you who have faith! Do not let your possessions and children distract you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that- it is they who are the losers.”

You may ask, "Why are they the losers?" The answer is that instead of trying to satisfy God the All-Wise and All-Aware Who has guaranteed eternal bliss, they preferred the perishable profits of the transient world including obsession with material possession and unwarranted love of children who distract from the path of God. It is indeed a great loss to exchange the bliss of the eternal world with the paltry profits of the temporal world. Moreover, on the Day of Resurrection such a person has to provide answers in the Divine Court for his shortcomings and neglect of God’s commandments.

Here, it shouldn’t be forgotten that man has to work and strive to make a living but this should not make him oblivious of God and His remembrance. One of the outstanding examples in this regard was Hazrat Khadija the Mother of all True Believers and loyal wife of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). For 25 long years of her marital bliss with the Prophet this virtuous lady sacrificed her huge wealth for the promotion of Islamic teachings and the feeding, clothing and sheltering of the persecuted Muslim community.

Another example were the men and women who accompanied the Prophet in his migration from Mecca to Medina to defend and safeguard the monotheistic ideals of Islam, leaving behind all their possessions unprotected in their hometown Mecca. There was another group of people who, enthralled by the trappings of the material world and excessive attachment to their homes and hearths, failed to accompany the Prophet and continued living among idolaters.

Thus, the love of family members must not be unconditional. Ayah 14 of surah Taghabun is a warner in this regard:

“O you who have faith! Indeed, among your spouses and children you have enemies; so beware of them.”

In view of this, some of the children and spouses are barriers in the way of God. Therefore what we must prioritize in our life are the divine values and not material, familial, racial and other factors.    

AS/ME